#i... really need to go back and add sources to all that rip

[commanderofthegrey]

Thank you so much for working on and sharing the timeline! I hope you don't mind me asking, I was just wondering if everything in that was canon, or is some inferred? For example, the Battle of Denerim happening in Wintermarch :) I picked a later time in the year for that and... may need to change some things lmaoo

a little of both! like for the battle of denerim—we're never told explicitly it happens in wintermarch, but the expansion of origins, awakening, starts in mid justinian and claims it happens six months after the end of the blight, and other sources (WOT, mainly, but i believe some of the codexes might too?) claim the blight ended in 9:31, which leaves wintermarch of 9:31 Dragon as pretty much the only time that would fit with both of those, though you could maaybe squeeze it in very early guardian as well

also i absolutely do not mind being asked, i love talking about this stuff!!

[nochepsicodelica]

"Really?" Toji asks, nudging your shoulder to wake you up, when he gets a good look at your back turned to him. His voice is slightly raspy with sleep, low in volume from its lack of use.

"Mm..." you hum in response, eyes shut as you try to ease back into slumber. You're in a curled position, your limbs wrapped around one of your extra pillows.

"Really?" Toji repeats, pawing at your shoulder, again.

"Yes, Toji," you say, quietly, not understanding what he's talking about, but agreeing just so that you can get back to sleep.

"Be serious, ma. Really?"

"What?" You ask, your tone somewhat laced with irritation, now.

It goes quiet for a few seconds, and then out of nowhere you hear the sheets rustling and the bed feels lighter. You're thinking there's no way he's so upset that he's leaving the room to sleep on the couch. He's the one who seemingly didn't want to cuddle, so you made do with what you had and grabbed a pillow.

You're snapped out of your attempt to go back to sleep when you feel your pillow trying to be yanked out of your arms.

"Let go of it," Toji mutters.

"What-" you grunt as you pull back and attempt to keep the pillow in your grasp. "What are you doing? Get back in bed, Toji." You hold on as tight as you can to the pillow that is slowly being torn out of your hands. "You're not gonna like when I let go and you're flung towards the wall."

"And you're not gonna like the punishment you earn if that happens. Let go of the pillow. Now."

You stare Toji down, holding your own against him. You know this isn't all of his strength and that he can easily rip the pillow out of your clutches, if he really wanted to, but like a dog with something it shouldn't have in its mouth, you're unwilling to do what he says.

"Listen up, doll, if you don't let go in the next five seconds, you're in for it."

"You're the one who pushed me away."

"Five."

"I need to hug something to sleep comfortably."

"Four."

"It's a pillow, Toji," you say, incredulously.

"Three."

"You're gonna take away my source of comfort?"

"Two."

"Toji."

"One. Let go."

"Oh my god," you groan, irritatedly. "Fine." You release the pillow, allowing Toji to take it away. You watch in disbelief as he throws it at the door so you can't get it without leaving the bed. You huff and scoot as close as you comfortably can to your end of the bed without falling off, before he returns to his side.

"Geeet back here." An arm is thrown over your waist, dragging you closer towards the center of the bed, until your back meets his front and his legs are tangled with yours. "Where are you going, huh? Still chasing after that pillow?"

"All of a sudden you wanna be close to me?" You scoff, in disbelief.

"So much attitude," he murmurs. His hand goes under your shirt, gliding up your warm skin to rest on your tummy. "Need me to give it to you all seven days, now?"

"No," you grumble.

"Well, that's what it's sounding like, to me." A kiss is planted on your shoulder. "Fix that tone, mama."

"You're so unfair. You're the one who didn't want to be held, but as soon as you noticed that I wasn't holding you, you took away my source of comfort. What did you want me to do, Toji?"

"I didn't even push you away, I rolled away in my sleep. It doesn't count."

You just hum in response, no longer in the mood to bicker about something so trivial when you could be working on getting back to sleep. A few seconds of silence go by, a spark of tension formed due to your lack of words.

"Ma?" He calls, barely pinching your soft, warm skin.

You sigh, blinking your eyes open. "What?"

"You mad?" His hand flattens on your tummy, rubbing slowly, as he waits for you to respond.

"No," you say, quiet and icy, even in its subtlety.

"That's a lie," Toji says, chuckling. "Come on, doll. What's got you all hot?"

It's hard not to melt into his touch. The kisses he presses to your shoulder only add on to the difficulty.

"Doesn't matter," you say, still trying to remain stoic.

"Yeah, it does. Now, tell me," he insists. "You're really gonna make me beg at almost two in the morning?"

"I was sleeping, and you woke me up 'cause you were butthurt over me hugging a pillow. There. Does that satisfy you?" You respond, and Toji has the audacity to laugh. You want to laugh too, but your stubbornness and pride will not easily allow you to.

"Poor baby," he coos, a mocking lilt to his tone. "You wanna tell me how to make it better?"

"You're an ass," you bite, no sharpness in your tone whatsoever.

"Ooh, I can hear that pout. You want a kiss? 'Cause I can give you one," he whispers, in your ear.

"Shut up," you mumble, trying not to give away the curling of your lips.

"You want a baby in here?" He asks, gently pressing into your stomach with his index finger.

"No! What?" You say, your giggles finally beginning to surface.

"Gotcha. Made you laugh," he says, pressing his face into the nape of your neck. He presses a kiss to the area before squeezing you in his arms, tight enough to make you groan until he eases up. "Now, tell me how to make it better. Come on, ma. It's not good to go to sleep mad."

You sigh, not wanting to argue with this annoying, yet, charming man, anymore. "Just help me get back to sleep," you mumble.

"Oh, I can do that," he says, a low chuckle homing into your ears. His hand lifts your shirt up more, aiming to get more access to your chest.

"Not like that, you perv!" You chide, pinning his hand on your mid-center. "Can you do that thing you always do?" You guide his hand down, until it rests just above your navel. He knows what you mean, and if this is what it takes for you to not be mad at him, he'll do it.

"You're like a baby that needs to be soothed to sleep," Toji murmurs, as he begins caressing your tummy, drawing little shapes on your skin that fuel your tiredness.

You huff out a laugh. "Acting like you don't drool and snore the second I start playing with your hair when you lay your head on my chest."

[ablobwhowrites]

https://www.tumblr.com/ablobwhowrites/777791359957532672/hear-me-out-on-this-yandere-crk-ramble-guys?source=share

Sorry if this is annoying but idea to add onto yap since I love it so much it activated my 'I want to make ideas based off this...'

The moment the cookies get y/n to the other side...y/n is shocked at first but next thing they know...the cookies are spoiling y/n and taking complete care of them. Massages often to work out stress, having y/n just relax all day instead of work, kid cookies loving to hang out with y/n to color in coloring books with then or playing games with them...and when y/n has that office work instinct...to do paperwork and stuff...cookies work on that so fast...lol!

(this is going to happen in some time as the cookies are trying to find a way to get y/n into their world. And y/n is oblivious to it rn)

Y/n would be reluctant to rest. They would bascially have to have every single strongest cookie in earthbread to make them take one single rest day as everyday they have a need to do something. Cause trust me if y/n told the cookies that y/n is a workaholic, always having a urge to get things done and without fail y/n will secretly try to get more work done because it's due in two weeks and the work is just to send it in but y/n wants to redo the whole thing because they see one mistake on a paragraph and now y/n is forced to under one of the cookies watch because of y/n's tendency to forget to sleep or eat or anything except to work.

But when y/n finally decides to rest instead of working, y/n doesn't know how to really relax as when they do it's weird to them because what if someone needs help or if work needs to get done then what would happen if they don't. They really act like it's going to be that important but it's really not. Also the beast trying to steal y/n back to their domains kinda freaks out y/n so they mostly try to stay away from them. I do imagine y/n not being able to walk around in their new form became of cookies being flat so it's hard for them to go around places for right now so some cookies help out y/n to walk around because y/n will fall flat on their face again like last time. Dr bones of course is a worrywart about y/n's health after being transported to the cookies world so some daily checkups are made by them. Plus y/n is kinda a celebrity now on earthbread and off earthbread because like they are the baker and seeings that they are actually nice and friendly makes them really really popular.

Choco Werehound Brute hangs around y/n a lot more and does growl at other cookies who try to get to close (I love Choco Werehound Brute dude) as they help y/n around more and is kinda like a bodyguard for y/n. Choco Werehound brute also sometimes gets into fights with other cookies who are physically strong but when y/n comes around all of them act as if they weren't going to rip each other apart. Y/n's pets and basically all of y/n's personal belongings where transported to the cookies realm and y/n finds that kinda scary cause what does their parents think in the real world cause y/n basically is missing in that world but the cookies try not to dwell on that but y/n is scared of them for that reason but hey at least they got their pets with them and don't have to pay rent now (and in this au, earthbread is a actual place like other games and the cookies severed on of the many connections to the human world so y/n will have a tougher time getting back home if they tried.) y/n does get a little freaked out about that.

When y/n actually decides to let the cookies help them relax. 100%, Sauna Egg Cookie would help y/n relax at a nice bathhouse he works at and he will try his hardest to give y/n the relaxation they deserve and then after y/n will kinda be forced to do yoga with yoga cookie and y/n if actually freaked out about how bendy and flexible yoga cookie is. She is obviously do only simple yoga stretches and stuff but y/n is struggling because they worked at a office cubicle and have such a shitty posture sometimes and now it's coming to haunt them. Butter Pretzel Cookie will get y/n into doing some painting and even if y/n can't paint at all or is actually good at painting, she is putting that painting in the fanciest frame known to man and treasuring it for the rest of time but then she'll ask y/n to be her model and yeah that'll be y/n's whole evening. Starfruit Cookie would probably have y/n star gaze with her as she tells stories about constellations and things like that as y/n falls asleep. Y/n does like living here but at the same time wants to go home but they'll never let y/n leave, not now, not ever.

(that's it for my yapping session for today. If you guys like it and want more please don't be shy and request any ideas for stories or y/n's. But for now please stay safe and drink water!)

[green-static]

Writing Sam and Max’s dialogue, some tips!

Yeah, so I just wanted to get on here and try to talk about how I write Sam and Max. No one asked me to I just kind of felt like sharing.

So the biggest thing that I noticed when reading fanfiction is that a lot of people tend to make Sam more mellow. Essentially they try to make him seem sane compared to Max which yes you can do, but you need to make sure that you keep Sam not seeming mentally stable all the time.

I mean, he literally killed a fast food employee because they didn’t make his food right. Sure he let Max do the torturing to death thing, but he did pull his gun out on him. And he told Max to do it. He also murdered like a hundred people at one time and only said “man I kind of feel bad about this” did we forget that he and Max kept a man locked in their closet until he died? What I’m trying to get at is Sam is not the sane member of the freelance police. He just has some semblance of self-control is well spoken and relatively soft mannered.

Examples of Sam being generally violent

For example, let’s say they’re going to commit murder. Sam might say, “I think I’ll shoot this guy to make him stop talking.” But Max might say “ if I rip out your vocal cords and tie your small intestines around your throat will that keep your trap shut?” The point is Max is more unhinged with what he says but Sam still says the same thing just in a way that makes it come off as more normal. (Compared to max anyway.) they are both violent, but Max comes across as more violent due to the way he says it.

You also have when Max says something batshit insane and Sam just adds on to it.

“Sam, what do you think would happen if I threw Harry Moleman into an industrial frier? His face makes me seethe with anger.”

“Just make sure to throw away oil after, I don’t wanna eat anything that had his body anywhere near it”

My biggest piece of advice when it comes to writing them is just don’t be normal. Sam and Max deeply care about each other. They may show aggression towards each other, but most of the times it’s still in an affectionate manner and neither one of them gets seriously hurt. Sam and Max are unconventional characters so your writing needs to be unconventional as well.

When I write them, the first thing that I do is I read the dialogue and I think to myself “would a well adjusted member of society say this?” if the answer is no, then I’m on the right track. ��

And make sure that you’re engaging with a canon media and not just fanon media. It can be really easy to have your perception of a character changed based off of the fanfiction or fan works that you’re reading/engaging with. So making sure that you’re regularly going back to the source material is important . 

OK, I guess that’s all for now. If y’all have any specific questions you want asked about how I write them go ahead. I run an ask blog so if you wanna read what I do to see how I write them then yeah you can do that.

Ask blog -> @freelancepolicedotcom

And just to clarify, you don’t have to write them this way. this is just how I write them and I’m just sharing in case any aspiring writers out there need help with these funny guys. If this helped you write anything, please send them to me I love to read fanfiction. 

[threepandas]

Hate Like Ours: Yandere Dabi

You couldn't rest until he was DEAD.

No matter how much it hurt. And God, did it HURT. Every moment, every DAY. A fucking reminder of what that BASTARD had DONE to you. Your fucking so called Father.

Ha! What a joke.

A so called Heroooo~☆! Moral and true! He would NEVER abuse his own KID! NEVER abuse the power he held over them for his own GAIN! Don't be SILLY, sweetie! You're just GRUMPY. Like a FUCKING TODDLER. Now do as you're told and DIE FOR US!

You'll kill him.

You'll KILL HIM!

If it's the last thing you ever do.

No matter the pain. The failing lungs. The brittle bones and bruising skin. The agony of each fucking step. You'll hunt him down. Show him EXACTLY what sort of monster he's made. He RUINED you. Took EVERYTHING! You were just a KID! A KID!! And he USED YOU.

Whored out your Quirk until there was nothing let to give!

Thought he could dump you in some hospital to DIE like a dirty little secret! As though you'd be a good little girl and take his crimes to the grave for him! Fuck that. Fuck HIM and everyone who KNEW something was wrong, KNEW something didn't add up, and looked the fucking other way!

Fuck so called Heros.

Everyone thinks healing quirks are some magical god damned gift from god. The ticket to a better life. A guaranteed life of doting and being catered too. HA! Ha ha HA HA HA!!!

Try endless emotional manipulation! You don't want this person to DIE do you? It would be YOUR FAULT! You just have to try a little bit longer! I know you feel sick, honey, but look how much PAIN they're in! Don't be SELFISH. Just one more.

Oh! And let's not forget the SOURCE. Where do you think all that fuel COMES FROM? Not every Quirk is like Recovery Girl's! Hell, she's an OUTLIER! It's why she's FUCKING FAMOUS! She can heal and heal and HEAL for DAYS. Other people? Have to STOP.

Or they'll DIE.

But tell that to DEAR OL DAD! Did HE care? No! He got the golden goose, then abused it til it DROPPED! It's FINE! He'll just pump another one out of his wife! To HELL with what he's done!

Your Quirk ATE YOU ALIVE. He KNEW it was doing it. In bits and pieces, your stamina, your strength, your muscles and organs. Past the point of no return. Past the point any amount of rest could FIX. But, HEY! At least he got his little promotion in the ranks! At least HE benefits!

You'll kill him.

As you slowly, painfully, put one foot infront of another. That's what keeps you going. You're going to KILL him. No matter what it takes. All you need to do... ALL YOU NEED TO DO! Is get him immobile long enough to RIP the life out of HIM.

Because, oooooh ho ho! That's RIGHT! Hospital beds and agony gave you time to THINK. If you can PUSH? Surely you can PULL right? Pull and pull and PULL all that health away? Take BACK what was stolen? He should PAY. He's GONNA pay.

They ALL will.

There! After walking for so long. Plotting for so long. The BASTARD. Getting chummy with Endeavor. Ha ha! Trash really does call to trash, huh? He never could resist ass kissing. Pity he doesn't have his pet healer to whore out anymore.

It's time.

The grin on your face, trapped beneath your oxygen mask, must be something ugly and terrible to behold. You feel insane. The world sharp. The crowd between you and him immaterial. You'll take them too! Take ALL OF IT! Ha ha! Why not?! All you need to do is-!

An almost burning hot hand grabs the back of your stolen hoodie and yanks, hard. You go crashing back and to the ground in a clatter of oxygen tank, cords, and quickly bruising limbs. You sprained something. You can FEEL it. Possibly cracked bone. The pain is so much worse.

You wheeze, barely manage to roll over to face your attacker.

Burned skin and burning eyes. Staples barely holding beautiful ruin together. Grin? Or baring teeth? He crouchs, looming, his eyes too intent as he informs you that Endeavor is HIS. You were stepping on toes. Ah. Got it.

You tell him that you want Regenerate. Not Endeavor. Apologize for the mix up, you didn't know if there was like... a formal way to declare that, oooor...

He laughs. Then asks the million yen question. How are you going to kill Regenerate, busted up as you are? You're kinda miffed. You WERE going to walk up and suprise attack him. Maybe use the crowd as a boost. But now? You'll be lucky to stand under your own power. Asshole.

He prods you for answers. You're kinda trapped on the disgusting ground, so like? Why the fuck not? Might as well. Your health was transferred away. You got used as fuel. Regenerate is your bastard of a sperm donor and you plan to deliver unto him, what he did to YOU. But you have to be able to MOVE for that.

The burned man above you tilts his head in consideration. Leans back, looking around, before rising to his feet. With a smirk, he tell you not to go anywhere.

Ooooh fuuuuuck YOU!

He knows DAMN well you can't move! Well, maybe crawl. But you're not there YET. You ARE curious to see what Hot N Staple-y has planned though...

He comes back. Dragging an unconscious Sidekick.

.......okay that's kinda hot. He then OFFERS you the unconscious Sidekick. Which? You take it back. REALLY hot. You manage to move your arm. Slap your hand against the fucker's face. Aaaand? Just like you practiced....?

Oh...

Like kitten fluff against the soul. Warm soup on a cold day. Relief. Pain stopping and aches you've leaned to live with, ending. You can MOVE. You... God, you could CRY. You sit up. It... for the first time in MONTHS, it's EASY.

You're not sure what expression your making. But you don't care. You thank the burn guy. Genuinely. He seems to get it. Tells you his name.

Dabi.

He seems to think you'll be seeing more if each other. And..? Yeah. Yeah you can see that. You'd work well together. Heck, with enough Health? You could probably do something about those burns. Might be nice. Teaming up. He seems pretty level headed, experienced. Maybe he could show you the ropes.

We could get our revenge.

Together.

[daughterofheartshaven]

Okay I need to talk about the River Song box set Last Words, and especially about how it ends.

So, the conceit of Last Words is that the Earth is going to die. Solar flares are going to rip the Earth apart in a matter of weeks. This isn't a manmade crisis - there's no recrimination. This is just an inevitability.

And Earth has lost contact with its colonies. They're on their own. (If I may add a headcanon, I believe this is because of the Great Catastrophe from the Dalek Empire series - the Daleks conquered the human empire, and were defeated by a pulse being sent through all Daleks causing them to destruct - taking out all the Daleks, but also most of the structure and technology of the conquered Earth Empire, too.) So there's no rescue. No large-scale evacuation. Nothing. Some people are retreating to underground bunkers, but everyone basically knows they're not going to work. A company called Lotophage has created a VR simulation where people can live out their last few weeks with their loved ones however they want.

And in the middle of this, a businessman named Garrison Clay manages to connect to the Library, and rips River from it into a clone body after about a thousand years of being there. He has a task for her: find a missing scientist. She has six weeks until the clone body dies, but if she can find the scientist, he will transfer her mind back to the Library. He gives her her diary and screwdriver, recovered from the Library, as well as a data sphere and access to Harmony, a worldwide computer network. River is not happy about being separated from her family in the library, but she can't really do anything other than what Clay wants.

And so River ends up travelling the world while it falls apart. There a lot of different characters she meets and we see how the whole world is reacting to everything falling apart. And in the end…

well. Spoilers.

It turns out that the missing scientist was one of the people who was helping to get Nerva Beacon online as an arc (this story is very much a prequel to The Arc in Space, and actually shares a few characters). Clay is trying to sabotage the Arc, because he wants to inherit the Earth with no one left to compete with him.

River has made friends with one Samuel Avner, and they manage to outmaneuver Clay's agents. The primary power source for Nerva's launch is sabotaged, but River and Clay manage to activate a backup power source and Nerva is safely launched and maneuvered past the danger zone. But River's body is falling apart, Sam has been shot, they both have radiation poisoning, and the Earth has mere minutes before the flares hit. River and Sam are left just trying to make each other comfortable before the end. River has the device that can return her to the library, but she refuses to leave without Sam.

And then… well. I'm gonna type this all out, I think. I highly recommend listening to it (I'd upload the audio itself here if I had any idea how to do that). But I want everyone to experience this.

[scene - power bays] Harmony (over loudspeakers): Professor Song, may I remind you that the Library return portal is still awaiting your re-upload? River: I'm not leaving him, Harmony. Sam: Take it, River. Go home. River: It's not what my husband would have done. Harmony: Professor. River. River: Harmony. Harmony: Come home, River. Come home. River: Harmony? Harmony: I am the Library return system. And you, River Song, are overdue. River: Overdue? Wait a second, it's you. Chasburgoh, the refuse chute, getting us out of our cell. You've been my guardian angel all along, haven't you? Why? Harmony: If you suddenly up and disappear, River Song, do you really think your family won't send me looking for you? You're wanted home, Professor. River: Oh. I love them, too. Sam: Then go, while you still can. Think of them, think of your husband. It's what he would have wanted. River: Oh but - it's not what he would have done. My husband wouldn't leave you behind. My husband would have waved his magic wand and… Sam: River? River: …and saved everyone. [gets up] Harmony? Where's my sonic screwdriver? Harmony: Your confiscated sonic device is in Lazar's quarters. Level four. River: And I'm all out of shape, too. Ugh, I wish this return portal was lighter. Urrrrgh! Sam: River! River, what are you doing? River: Don't worry! I've got a plan! [runs off with return portal]

[scene change - Lazar's quarters] River: Come on, come on. If I was a screwdriver, where would I be? Yes! Harmony? Uh, Librarian? Can you hear me? Harmony: We can hear you, River. River: Okay. This is a really big ask. But here's what we're going to try. Harmony, you're going to use this station's simulator system to-to patch us into the Lotophage platform. Can you do that? Harmony: I can do my best. River: And your best is brilliant! As for you and me, Librarian, we're going to boost this return portal's power by, oh, uh, I'd say about… half a billion times? We're going to try to upload every Lotophage user on Earth to the Library. We can't save everyone left on Earth, but we must be able to save some! Harmony: It's possible, River, but even with this base's waveform projection system, the portal can't channel that many dataforms. River: Well, that's where this little bit of Time Lord magic comes in. It was a gift, you know! From my husband! [wires the screwdriver into the return portal] How's that helping your bandwidth? Harmony: Catalogue returns portal capacity increasing. River: Good girl! Harmony, how are we getting on? Harmony: Access granted, but terminal solar event imminent. River: Oh, we'd better hurry. Put me through to Lotophage.

[scene change - Lotophage hq] Tech one: This place is finally breaking up, gov! Tech two: At least it will be over quick. River (over comms): Hear me! Hear me! Tech two: What the - who the hell's that? River: This is a message to all Lotophage staff and users not currently plugged into the platform. Get yourselves inside the simulation and prepare to be uploaded to safety! I repeat, get yourselves inside the simulation and prepare to be uploaded to safety! This is not a drill! Tech two: This has got to be a joke! Tech one: That's not what the readouts are saying - look! All dataforms are being transferred! Where are they going? Tech two: You know what? Never question a miracle. [opens comms] Attention all samaritan shift com-techs. Get yourselves plugged into your sim stations. I repeat, all samaritan shift com-techs to your sim stations, now! [closes comms] Come on. Let's go save our lives.

[scene change - Lazar's quarters] River: Harmony. Well, is it working? Harmony: Lotophage platform upload in progress. One billion, nine hundred million saved, and counting. River: Oh, that's what I like to hear. Keep it up! Harmony: However, Samuel Avner's vital signs are fading. River: Sam. [runs off]

[scene change - power bays] River: Sam! Sam: [moans in pain] River: Sam! Stay with me! I'm here. Sam. Harmony: Lotophage platform upload in progress. Four billion, two hundred million saved, and counting. River: Don't worry, we'll be out of here in a second, too, I promise you. I swear. Harmony, activate virtual simulation and commence our uploads too. Samuel Avner and River Song. Harmony: I am having difficulty, River. River: Harmony? Just two more? Please? Harmony: Upload commencing. Upload error. Error. Error. River: Harmony? Commence our uploads! Samuel Avner and River Song! Now! [gasps] No! Sam: It's okay. It's okay. River: I'm sorry, Sam. It looks like we really are the last unicorns. Sam: You tried, River. That's good enough for me! Not a bad way to go, holding hands with a friend. [sounds of the building beginning to break up as the flares hit] River: I'm sorry, Sam. Sam: Over four billion saved and counting. Your husband would have been proud. River: You know, I think he would have been. You close your eyes- Harmony: Upload. Upload commencing. Samuel Avner and River Song. River: Hold on, Sam. Hold on! Harmony: Upload commencing. River: What? Oh please, yes! Thank you! Thank you! Sam: What's happening, River? Are we dying? River: Oh, this isn't death, Sam, I promise you! As a matter of fact, I think we're about to join a library!

I… this is the essence of Doctor Who to me. Hope in the face of an impossible problem. Going out fighting with the hope of living for another day. Love for your family. Love for your friends.

Last Words did not need to do this. It had its happy ending in the launch of Nerva. We know right from the start that the Earth is doomed. We know what happens next. We've seen the Arc in Space.

But instead we got this moment. We get a moment of hope.

This entire sequence brought me to tears when I first listened to it on Monday. I… I just can't. This is about hope. Last Words, and especially its last scene is about hope in the face of hopelessness. Hope when all is lost. Because sometimes, hope really does prevail, even at the end of the world.

[thealexandriaarchives]

'Oh I'm Really Dune-it Now!' Masterpost

Welcome to the blog, the usual mishmash of nonsense will continue but for anything I'm creating myself lately it will likely be for the Dune Fandom, mostly a hodgepodge of Villeneuve Movie & Book Canon.

If you want to opt-out of this, all my original posts related to Dune will be tagged #duneposting for blacklisting.

Finally, add me on twitter @montager7 & Discord as montager if you use either for fandom stuff. I'm trying to get a feel for the size & shape of the Dune fandom, I think we can get writing & art events going in hiatus!

My Live & Updated Fiefdom of Dune Creations:

Dune Meta Rants, AKA:

Dune Fandom, We Need to be Hornier About Fluids

The One Where I Scream About Sand and Balance in Dune's Rigged Fights

Brian Herbert's Bitchy Dune Messiah Intro

The One Where I Talk About Feyd-Rautha's Introductory Scene and How We Were Too Distracted By Rizz to See Trauma UPDATED: The DEFINITIVE Version With Duke Leto (2.0) (New)

(Optional Alternate Early Cut): (1.1) Where I Went Back & Had Even MORE Traumatic Realizations about Feyd-Rautha that later got validated somewhat by Villeneuve's interviews confirming he wanted the final fight to be a 'consummation' of what never was.

Hey Do You Guys Remember in the Book Paul Was Going to Let Gurney Halleck do War Crimes on Feyd-Rautha? (New)

Meta Coming Soon - Yell at Me in DMs:

Heavily Academically Source-Cited Essay on Why Blacking Feyd-Rautha's Teeth was a More Insane and Correct Decision than Even Villeneuve Could Have Probably Considered.

Pollution, Shaving, Hierarchy of Nobility, & Gendered Clothing on Giedi Prime

The Detailed Breakdown of Bullfighting Imagery & Metaphor in Villeneuve's Dune 1 & 2.

The Impassioned Defense of Why Villeneuve's Feyd-Rautha Actually Might Like Rabban, Siblings in Abusive Homes, the Relationship Therein, and Fandom Mischaracterizations.

Dune Memes & Misc Shitposts:

The Arrakeen Royal Ballet AU (Fair game to write or draw) (New)

FeydPaulChaniIrulan needs to be called 'The Paulycule' (New)

Dunewave Exists, It Fucks, and I Need You All To Listen To It (New)

Paul Atredies, Cinnamon Roll Evolution (New)

Dune: MerMay Edition (New)

"Feyd-Rautha is a Cannibal"

Focused Feyd-Rautha Meme

RIP NoHo Hank i know you would have rocked just the sluttiest little couture Feyd-Rautha Halloween costume

Dune Fanvids / Crackvids

Big New Feelings Paul Atredies & Lady Jessica w/ PaulChani & FeydPaul Comedy/Crack - 2:41

Family Secrets Always Come Out... (1.0?) Lady Jessica & Paul Atredies/Muad'dib & Glossu Rabban Comedy Crack/Character Study? - 0:50 CW: Canon-Level Emetophobia & Violence

[BIG WIP - REDACTED] (Coming Soon) Kwisatz Haderach General / Drama - 3:30+

Dune Fanfiction:

Detailed Outline Stages, yell at me to stop making low effort memes and write.

[adrianlikesdinos]

while it is funny to think and joke about, i think the genuine belief that Erik's wife and daughter were used for the main purpose of trying to erase Cherik is just such a truly awful take. there is no contextual evidence to even back up the claim, by the end of the movie Erik still choses Charles yet again.

so I'm here to present my succinct, evidence-based claim: Erik's wife and daughter only worked to further cement his and Charles shared narrative.

in the film, these two girls act as flat characters; very little information is given about them, no character development takes place, and they take up very little screentime. what they add to the films story however is a point emotional attachment outside the world of mutant vs. humans for Erik to settle into, heal, and escape from his previous life as a literal terrorist. unfortunately for die hard Cherik truthers, this means an emotional attachment out side the world Erik shares with Charles. this is a genuine attempt by Erik to remove himself from the cycle of fear and rage he has been a slave to since his childhood, and it really did all work out for him. he had a job, a community, and he was able to create a life perfectly for himself. despite needing to hide his powers, this was probably the best outcome he was ever going to achieve.

but, now that the franchises main antagonist has settled into a life of warmth and comfort, its time for the narrative to get moving again. you cant tell a story without its antagonist. yes, Apocalypse is the main antagonist for this specific movie as he is the source for the majority of the films tension and conflict, but this movie is a part of the over arching narrative primarily concerning Professor X, his X Men, and their arch-nemesis, Magneto. being each others narrative foils and their decades old disputes they are quite literally a package deal, there will never be a Professor X without his Magneto. So, what better way to pull our protagonist his literal other half into the mix than a good old fashioned fridging?

"women in refrigerator's" is a literary trope originally coined in 1999 by comic book fan Gail Simone. this term is used to refer to the trope in which a female loved one is killed, injured, or otherwise hurt in order to further the plot. the trope is one in which women are used as disposable. (there is so much more i could say about the sexism rooted in this fairly common trope but its fairly self explanatory and doesn't pertain to directly to the topic at hand.) once you actually learn about this you cant stop noticing it (ever seen a Disney movie?). it is particularly common in comic books as a heavily male dominated field of media. it is an easy, fast way to get emotion and anger out of a character and gives them the motive to fulfill whatever is needed for the story to continue. in this case, the rage born from Erik's grief lead him to join Apocalypse as one of his horse men. ultimately pushing him towards yet another fated conflict with Charles, the climax of almost any X Men film.

if the writers were truly conscious and concerned with fans perception of Erik and Charles questionably platonic relationship, they wouldn't have used a trope to sling shot the man directly back into his fandom assigned love interest. its incredibly unreasonable to claim a device clearly intended to send him closer to his other half was in an attempt to separate them.

and, claiming that his family was just an attempt to erase Cherik feels like completely ignoring Erik's past experiences with fridging that truly work to build the complexities and tragedy of their strictly canon relationship. this is the second time he has had his whole world ripped away from him. the second time he has turned to rage and violence to protect what little of himself he has left. this is the first time however that he realizes he has more than just a little broken piece of himself left. this is the first time he is able to realize there is another soul out there who can see past the rage he is blinded by. the first time he has had someone who continues to see the good in him.

and this is me looking at this from as unbiased a perspective as i can. this is hardly even subtext. Erik's flashback wasn't stuck in there just because they needed more screen time, everything holds significance. it was blatantly telling us that in that very moment Erik realized he still had Charles, the one person who can actually claim to know someone, the one person who genuinely knows HIM.

[thearcanecat]

I really like memory loss in fiction.

Not knowing yourself, feeling confused or unsafe in what should be familiar situations. Things on the top of your tongue or deja vu with things you're sure you’ve never seen before but at the same time know so intimately. Becoming a new person and leaving the past behind until it catches up with you. Choosing to keep running or to turn and embrace it. Constantly seeking to learn about who you used to be and discovering flaws within them or beliefs that disgust you. Paying for the sins of the father but it was just you the whole time. Or living your life happily only for the past you to resurface, transforming you into a monster you never wanted to be. Wondering what happened to past you that made them the way they were. Not knowing you lost anything at all, living your life as you always have until something surfaces and shatters your whole worldview. Or recognizing things you always do, little habits you had never paid a second thought to, that belong to a ghost. How are you similar to them? What carries over? Do you have the same speech patterns? Do you fidget the same? Do you like the food? Feeling a connection to someone you can never meet because for them to come back you have to stop existing. Staring in the mirror and wondering who else has looked out of your eyes. Who had to die for you to exist. A sibling or parent or friend because there isn’t a word to describe what they are to you. And what things stay? What random pieces of information refuse to leave your colander of a brain? A vivid picture perfect memory of staring up at the moon and stars, a completely normal day at the office, the smile of a sibling. Clinging to the little that is left as your last lifeline to who you used to be. A tiny clue that only leads back to the face in the mirror. So foreign yet familiar. Wondering who you will be in the future. Will your future self forget this moment? How much of your new experiences will fade away with time? Recording every minute detail or simply letting things go. You’ve already lost so much, does it matter if more is taken? Or trying your hardest to make sure future you never has to feel that loss and confusion that you did. Preparing for the future because you’ve already lost your past and in doing so missing out on the present. Constantly trying new things to add to your experience bank. Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, sometimes all the way to panic just because you need to do something extreme if you want it ingrained in your mind.

Rediscovering the things that bring you joy. Rebuilding connections with people who know you but you don’t know them. Or growing past them into a new person. Turning your life around and making something solely yours, not haunted by the ghost of someone who was in your body. Having to retrace the steps of who you were, connecting pieces in a never ending puzzle that comes fully completed for everyone else. A constant game of catch-up. Filling in the blanks with your new memories or things people have said. Contradicting sources telling you about who you are. Trying to find yourself and grow when you are constantly being dragged backwards to fill the shoes of someone dead and gone but whose features stare out of your face. Someone who no longer exists. Because without memory who are you? Your past experiences inform so much of your life and the choices you make. Making the same mistakes as your past self because you forgot that important life lesson. Or still knowing who you are but being so totally aware of what is missing. Starting at a ripped out page in a book and trying to piece together what if left. Knowing it meant something to you but being unable to recall what it was only feeling the ache in your heart of what is missing. Like phantom pain, a hurt in a place that doesn’t exist anymore. A mourning for something you can’t even name. Instinctively turning to a place of comfort only for it to be swept out from under you. People talking to you like you know them or mentioning inside jokes you're supposed to get. Having the patient to sit down with you and explain your life, answer your endless questions. Or having to play a part that should come so naturally but your missing pieces of the script. Having to pretend to be you. And why can’t you be you, the new you? What restraint have you put on yourself or why is it unsafe for you to say “I don’t remember” “I don’t know” Why aren’t those acceptable answers? Why can’t you be yourself, whoever that is? Or admitting you’ve forgotten and seeing the grief and sadness and pain and worry in those around you. And you can comfort them say it’s okay but you're not the one missing your friend, they are. They are the ones who have lost a loved one while you walk around like a zombie. A constant reminder of what is gone. And they treat you kindly, say they love you but there is doubt. Always doubt whispering in your ear that it’s not you they love but the other you. The you you can not be. Because people change all the time, so what makes losing your memory of self any different?  If some long lost relative or childhood friend approached you, would they even know? Or after so much time apart does it even matter? Or what if you have one? You simply appear with no one to guide you. Do you even know your name, how old you are, where you are from? Why do you feel a connection to something, is it important or not? Will you ever know? Forgetting and not knowing how much you’ve lost. Bring a completely new place or in exactly the same with one tiny detail slightly off. A cup turned the other way, a new cloud in the sky. Has it been a minute? An hour? A week, a month, a year?

Who are you? Who were you? Who will you be?

[neverenoughmarauders]

Changing the narrative

My first @jilymicro-oops - how fun! January 2025 Prompt #30: Narrative. Word count 1,736 (pre inevitable editing when I spot mistakes)

'Did you ever consider not coming back?' Lily asks James, watching his hazel eyes skim her conclusion.

It's just the two of them in the common room. The only source of light, the dying embers from the fireplace, the only source of sound, the scratching of quills, the occasional flutter of parchment being passed back and forth, and the odd question.

This question is different. It's not about Transfiguration.

They'd returned rather later than planned from a meeting with Dumbledore this first Sunday in September. As they had walked back to the common room, Lily had confessed that she had planned to spend the evening that she had watched slip through her fingers finishing her transfiguration homework for the following morning. 'I've not done it either,' James had said, 'we can help each other.'

James hadn't done the homework, if Lily knew the first thing about him, because he'd probably planned to do it after his morning run tomorrow, before breakfast. Give him a quill, parchment and thirty minutes to spare, and that boy would write an essay Professor McGonagall would grade to an Outstanding. Help each other - she could have laughed. But she didn't look a gift horse in the mouth. She could need the help, and it was an excuse to keep James to herself for a little longer.

'Many times,' James replies as he passes her the labour of the last two hours. Their hands touch briefly. James clears his throat: 'Sometimes I don't know why I returned. It's not like I need the grades. Dumbledore is happy enough to have me. He knows what I can do. What I want to do.' 

There's no false modesty with James Potter; there never has been. 

The dying light is reflected in his glasses, his hair impossibly messy the way it always is. He seems relaxed and yet Lily can sense the alertness in her friend. James sits tall, ready to fight, the way he has been since he first came to Hogwarts. Only now the enemies are no longer childhood antagonists, but cruel and deadly foes, who kill and torture for sports. Though some times, the two categories overlap. 

'Why did you return?' 

James shrugs. When he makes no further reply, Lily lets her eyes fall to her conclusion. He has made a couple of corrections on a spare bit of parchment, but overall, not bad from her! "You're in for an E, the question is do you want to settle for second best?" he has written at the top of the note. 

Lily doesn't want to settle for second best, yet she does not know how to tell him that. Looking up, she finds him staring out the window, though, in the darkness, there's nothing to see. The windows might as well have been painted with black ink.

'I sometimes worry it was fear,' James confesses. 'Avoiding the real war for one more year.'

His eyes drift back to her face. He looks so grown up, so serious, when he continues: 'Make no mistake, we're losing this war.' 

Lily shivers, despite the heat.

'I know.'

The war has destroyed any childish illusions she might have held that if she fought on the right side of history, she would be fighting on the winning side. Good families were ripped apart; innocent lives destroyed; and there was no end in sight. Nobody could promise them a happy ending. 

'Only idiots would want to join up.'

'And those of us who have no choice,' Lily adds. What is she meant to do? She can't very well go about pretending that the war doesn't exist. Muggle-borns are not afforded that luxury.

'Of course,' James nods, his eyes softening. 'Though it's not really any of our choices. We've all got to fight! It's all our war.'

For nearly a year, Lily has watched James Potter carefully, waiting for the other shoe to drop; waiting for the moment she can finally see the outlines of why he's bad for her. Just like Severus. Just like Petunia. But she's drawing a blank. 

The war brings out the best in some, and the worst in others. Maybe the other shoe had been discovering how pure James' heart is - despite everything. A former bully made man. Someone who needs action - the way humans need air - suddenly finding himself in a position to act.

'I don't think fear would ever have let you return to Hogwarts,' Lily says finally. 

'Maybe not,' James agrees. 

They're sitting in an armchair each. It feels impossibly far away. Too far to accidentally touch James. Yet, it's close enough that she feels the familiar pull; the need to gravitate towards him; be with him. She would gladly take on another essay for their Transfiguration professor just to delay the inevitable goodbye. 

'Maybe I needed to change the narrative,' James muses, scratching the back of his neck. 

Read the rest on AO3

[darkspellmaster]

I also think Aladdin would've been greatly improved if he had more competition for her hand. The only source of conflict in that whole movie, outside of Aladdin's self esteem issues, is Jafar, who wants to use him to get into the Cave of Wonders and then only wants him out of the way when he's disguised as a prince. By adding in another good option like a version of Jafar who's the same age as her, it would add more personal conflict for Aladdin and make him need to actually prove himself to win her over. As is, it does seem like Jasmine picked the best option out of the shitty hand that was dealt to her and Aladdin just needs to go to therapy instead of trying to get another partner. Again, that's just me.

Well the series did allow for a few. The most well known was, of course, Mozenrath, (favorite of mine, not gonna lie, Rip Johnathan Brandis), who sometimes flirted with her and clearly had a thing for her, but also lusted after power, so there was that. And then there was Daru Tavelevil, who was this conman like dude who came off as cultured and impressed Jasmine a bit with it, turned out to be selling iron to one of the other villains. Prince Wazoo was a snooty guy who tried to win her over, but, um...he was more of a joke character, and some people have shipped her with Arbutus, who was a kind of cross between Beast in personality, and Poison Ivy.

In the original Arabian Night's story there was a small conflict in the form of Aladdin, using his Jinn to beat the son of the Vizier who was an option for the Princess to marry, though, depending on the retelling if she was into the guy or not. Some versions have him a clown, some have him a threat, others just have him as like, parents wanted them to marry because. From what I've read and seen of the making of Aladdin, there was going to be more to it. Aladdin's mom was going to be in the movie, being the moral voice to her son with the Genie, helping him to see that he had to make it up to the princess, and be better for her. Basically, what you're saying is Mozenrath should have been in the original movie. XD I mean, given what Iago said about how strong he was in magic, and then later we see what he does when he brain washes here, I can see where people would want that to happen. I do really wish they would have kept his mom involved somehow, it could have helped with some plotting beats, but at the time, most animated movies were between 89 and 93 minutes long. You didn't have the 2 hour plus run time some of them get now to expand on dynamics, so the songs had to do the heavy lifting. Could it have made for more drama, yes. But I'm not totally sure it would be as needed in this case, as the romance, while important to the story, was more about the growth and bonding between Genie and Aladdin. Showing how their friendship allows him to become more honest and true to who he is. And while I'm all for the romance in the story, I'm okay with it being the B plot of the relationship dynamic. Opposed to Beauty and the Beast, where the Romance is A plot, and everything else is B plot. Aladdin was a shift from that formula at the time.

Same kinda with Hercules, Mulan, and Hunchback. Family and Friendships took the mainstage, and romance moved to the back. Aladdin kinda was a bit of a start of that.

It's fun discussing these sorts of things. Ps. if you ever get the chance, and you can find it (since Disney still doesn't have it up on Disney Plus) look up the Aladdin series episode The Secret of Dagger Rock. It's the one where Jasmine fights Mozenrath to free Aladdin. (Additionally for Evil Jasmine, look up Forget Me Not, where she gets tricked into thinking she's a famous villain and totally leads the hell out of a team of baddies, forcing Abis Mal to ask for help to stop her from Aladdin. It's where her black outfit first shows up)

Hope the answer is good for you.

[minindo]

What are some general mixing tips? Ofc i know every rip is different and stuff is suggestive but i mean like when and how would i use eq, when and how would i use reverb, when and how would i use delay, when and how would i use compression

You have a good point in that every rip (or song or whatever you're doing) is different, even if it's derivative you're making a piece of art so there's plenty of ways to approach it. There's definitely ways to mix that most people would consider sounding better than others, but getting that right is tricky if you can't reliably hear the difference. For a while I didn't really have an ear for these things (hearing clashing and/or subpar mixing) so I just had to go off what other people told me. Eventually, to my surprise, I started to develop an ear for this and now I can judge both my own rips and other people's rips on various criteria. I think that's probably just from raw practice. (Note: I don't have perfect pitch but you don't need that, I have a decent sense of relative pitch now and often use Melodyne to more accurately measure what I'm hearing.) Here's a handful of examples of when I use all of the things you mentioned. This is really not comprehensive, it's just a lot of different tips I remembered.

EQ

Note: You might want to keep the names of frequency ranges in mind here for what I'm saying. If you open Fruity parametric EQ 2 in FL, you can see at the top that it's divided into SUB, BASS, LOW MID, MID, HIGH MID, PRS, and TREBLE. You can find this out by testing, but generally:

bass instruments will be in SUB and BASS (of course). But that's not the only thing that will be there, "bass" is not only an instrument name but a range of frequencies.

Vocals will be roughly around the MIDs, usually.

hi-hats, cymbals and other "wispy" sounding things (like sibilants, the "sh", "t", "ch" in vocals etc) will tend to be in the highest range, near TREBLE or whatever PRS is meant to mean.

Everything else varies wildly, but the good thing is that with visual EQ you can test and hear for yourself what sounds are spread across what frequencies, by reducing or raising them.

Golden rule of EQing mashups: In general, you want to strike a balance in the frequencies between the sources. If one source is naturally strong in the high mids (like in its vocals), you may want to reduce the high mids of the other source to compensate. These songs were not originally designed to be together, so the goal is to somehow make them feel like a cohesive whole. This is why using split stems/multitracks really helps, because you can more accurately reduce certain instrumental elements than a soft EQ would have (for example, by totally removing the bassline of one of the sources so that it doesn't sound muddy against the other source's bass.) Like everything here though, how much you should follow this "rule" would vary in practice depending on the music.

Specific EQ tips:

On DIY vocals I always remove the sub and some of the bass (not too much to where it heavily affects how they sound) because those don't need to be there. I think it cleans up the mix a little bit.

If vocals sound too harsh or piercing, I often lower the high mids. Melodyne pitch-shifting and stretching on certain vocals can sometimes cause that.

Similarly, if percussion is too harsh-sounding, I may lower the highs (treble) a bit, but carefully and not too much.

Reverb

This is another one where… I just use it when it sounds nice. I like putting a little bit of reverb on vocals when it feels like the mix needs it, and sometimes I do it when it probably doesn't need it. Taking FL Studio's Reeverb as an example, the knobs you may want to fiddle with the most would be SIZE, DEC (decay), DRY/WET, H.CUT/L.CUT and maybe BASS?

If I used a de-reverb algorithm on vocals so that I could pitch-shift them better, I would always put a reverb effect back on when I add the vocals into the mix.

One useful thing to note: when you add reverb (particularly to vocals) it's probably a good idea to increase the low cut, this can make the reverb sound less muddier and generally better. This is a tip I gathered from a friend, and posted to Twitter last year.

(There's also stuff to say about convolvers and impulse responses in regards to matching reverb in sequenced music, but I feel like that's outside the scope of this post.)

Delay

Delay makes echo(es) repeated across intervals. You can make the delay panned if you want (even back-and-forth between the ears), or you can make its frequency cutoff reduce with further echoes (sort of a "going underwater" effect), among other options. One thing I use delay for in mashups is when I'm covering a lead melody with vocals and the lead in the instrumental has a delay channel or effect, so I find it fun to match that effect on the vocals too, with the same delay time and panning.

Sometimes you might just want to do it for fun, or to make something sound less empty. In Circus (HQ Audio) - Five Nights at Freddy's I added delay to the vocals. The original Right Foot Creep vocals don't really have any; the Most Mysterious Song vocals might have a little but that didn't matter to me. I added them because it sounded cool and more "full" (one reason might have been the short syllables with more empty space between lines than Right Foot Creep's lyrics normally provide.)

Compression

This one is actually an area I'm less familiar with. I certainly didn't understand compressors for a while, and I usually prefer to use the limiter because the visual aid really helps me understand what's happening to the sound. (That's really just me though, plenty of people I know use other things like Fruity Compressor or common third-party VSTs like OTT, look into these if you're interested.) But they're a very important tool for mixing, and I can definitely think of reasons I would use compressors or limiters:

Evening out the level of vocals. It helps the sound of vocals to have most words be roughly around the same volumes. DIY vocals can especially have this issue, for various reasons relating to how the instrumental may have affected them. A limiter that just smoothes off the high peaks of vocals can be a simple way to solve that. If you want to do it more "finely" for a possible better sound, there's lots of ways syllable volumes can be changed individually. That includes volume automation, clips in the newer versions of FL, Melodyne's amplitude tool, etc.

Compressing drums to make them sound tighter. Again, something that's hard for me to describe at my current level of knowledge/skill lol. I would suggest to put the "Drums" preset in Fruity Compressor on a drum stem and hear what happens to it, as one example of how you can change the texture of a sound through compression.

I can use this topic to talk about the master limiter too. Generally when I'm mixing a rip I like having the volume sort of generally approach the limiter ceiling, maybe going over it a little bit on occasion but not too much of the time. If you compress/limit something too hard, it can become a "brick wall" and will certainly sound like it. (Again, sometimes that could be what you're going for!)

Final note - don't be afraid to use automation clips to change any of these effects' values throughout the track. It's possible that you may want to EQ certain words or lines harsher than others, for example, or that it's appropriate for one section of a melody to have more reverb than the other. Once you get a good feel for what sounds better, you might start going crazy with automation like I have on occasion, but that's not usually expected.

I wrote a lot, but there's definitely parts of this that are lacking in detail either because I thought it was too much for this post, don't have enough knowledge or just couldn't explain it well. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

[milfzatannaz]

Goth wardrobe advice

hiiiii baby bats!!!! I just wanted to write a lil post on how to start building a goth wardrobe! I started around 6 months ago and I’ve been very happy with the looks I’ve been able to create, and I thought to just write down how I was able to rlly curate my aesthetic! (though I will tack onto this post that goth is a music based subculture so you can be goth without fancy elaborate looks)

when it comes to shopping for clothes, my personal advice is buy individual pieces, not outfits. meaning you buy clothes with the intention of mixing and matching which will save money and help you from over-buying. plus flexibility in your wardrobe allows for more fun and creativity!

the look

The first step to creating your style is to envision what kind of look you want to go for. goth style pulls from so many different sources! Trad goths from the 80s evolved from punk, and subsequent iterations of the style have Victorian, glam, etc sentiments. you can lean more romantic or more edgy, it’s up to you! the first step is to create a vision board. I love Pinterest personally. from there I typed “trad goth” “casual goth” “90s goth” and streamlined what I want to emulate. Don’t forget to watch goth rock music videos for style inspo- siouxsie is my personal icon and wore such interesting things, as well as Patricia Morrison! there’s also a level of gender nonconformity in goth that you can lean into. for instance, I’m femme but with a shaved head that really compliments my style and makes me feel really confident. It’s all so variable and individual. one of the original tenets of goth was the DIY aspect, which I think is super important. don’t be afraid to rip, cut, add safety pins, or paint on clothes you buy.

shopping

shopping for goth clothes has a lot of misconceptions. you really don’t need to ever buy from a fast fashion site like killstar or dollskill to get the looks you want. In fact most goths would prefer that you look elsewhere at first, bc a lot of us aren’t comfortable with the way our subculture has been commodified and commercialized. thrift stores have given me tons of luck. I typically prefer red white and blue, but goodwill can have good stuff too! (now, thrifting is more environmentally friendly, but that doesn’t mean that the company is ethical, like Salvation Army and goodwill. it’s a matter of choosing what’s right for your personal values.)

you can buy black clothes at pretty much any store which makes creating outfits somewhat easy. shop where you can afford it and what has good options for your body type and comfort level. I buy most of my stuff secondhand but I own a few things from H&M and Pacsun. pacsun has amazing corset tops that are affordable during their sales, and H&M has foundational pieces for okay quality. Try Depop too because I LOVE vintage clothes and you can find amazing things on the app, like dresses from the 90s and 70s blouses!

General wardrobe items

here’s what I bought when building my wardrobe:

- black trousers

- black skirts (midi AND mini. I prefer long skirts but I like to have choices)

- band tees for my fav goth bands

- a white button down blouse

- bustiers/corsets. I have incredible luck thrifting them but some I’ve gotten new. They’re sexy and fun on their own but even cooler layered over something!

- tights! fishnets are a must as well as solid sheer black and other fun patterns

- dresses in plaid or solid colors. you don’t have to JUST wear black, in fact siouxsie wore tons of color back in the day. black is just what we’re known for but maroon, purple and white are great too.

- long sleeve sheer tops. I have one black mesh and one black lace top. These can be worn over bras for an edgier look or under band tees to add texture and complexity.

- SHOES! I don’t buy secondhand shoes only bc I have wonky feet. My two main pairs are my doc martens Jadon platforms and Mary janes. Shoes are an entirely personal decision so do your research! A lot of ppl like Demonias but I haven’t swung for those yet.

- accessories, accessories, accessories. Perhaps what makes someone recognizably goth is our funky accessories. I have multiple belts, ranging from the standard black with grommets to a triple belt and a corset waist cincher. I buy my jewelry off Etsy or I buy them from flea markets, and I lean towards ankhs bc I’m a sandman nerd lmfao. (I own 3 ankh necklaces, a bracelet, and two pairs of earrings oops). I also have a few silver crucifixes and a spiked collar.

- outerwear. I’m a leather jacket aficionado and I hand painted a trad goth jacket, but other options are black long coats and blazers. vests are pretty great too.

final notes

I’m a baby bat myself so I, too am learning the ropes and exploring my style. remember that it’s about self expression and making yourself stand out, not uniformity. there are so many unique alternative subcultures and no one is stopping you from pulling from all sorts of inspo! Remember to have fun when shopping or getting dressed above all else!!!!

other great resources can be found on r/gothfashion and from goth YouTubers!

[axl-ion]

As much as I do think period accuracy is important, sometimes you just get an idea that isn't too period accurate but cooler than the period accurate option or you can't find a similar thing.

So here's how to bullshit period accuracy, explained on examples:

Use only if you really must.

1. Think of the materials.

You can't give your 1820s fisherman character rubber boots. Vulcanised rubber wasn't invented/patented untill 1839. How do you achieve the look of the rubber boots? You consider available materials.

You can do leather and describe it as very very shiny. You can say the fisherman applied oil to the boots to make them more water resistant, which while maybe not something people actually did, is possible. Search the materials and material combinations! If you know your materials well enough, you can bullshit effectively.

2. Keep shapes in mind!

If you want your character to read to the modern reader as a goth, but the period is 1920s, YOU DON'T SNATCH THE WAIST! Instead you look at the popular silhouettes and build from there. 1920s silhouettes were very rectangular so you keep the rectangular dress and add little things that make it more goth - black colour, lace, pearls. All in moderation tho, which is the next point:

3. Hold yourself back!

It's very easy to put patterns on a design as a source of interest. It's easy to put a bunch of accessories on a guy to signify wealth or status. HOWEVER it's not a good choice! It will look very tacky and unless your character is very tacky, you don't need to do it. Pick 1 or 2 period accurate accessories and maximum 1 pattern unless the period does have this grandiose and maximalist thing going on. Put it front and centre. Then bullshit.

4. Keep in mind the technology!

Alastor's fucking undercut is actually possible, since razors were a thing in 1930s. What does make him read as period inaccurate is the shape of his hair, but again, the undercut is actually possible.

However this is the route you shouldn't really take, because like... If it breaks any point above it will be a punch to the eye. It will break the immersion. So maybe just don't UNLESS you REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. The arguably best way to preform this bullshitary is on low notice things.

For example if you want to give a character said bob... Actually reconsider that haircut is so ass. However having a character with greased hair before the invention of hair gel... Have them use natural wax.

5. Use ignorance to your advantage!

Let's be honest, trying to bullshit Victorian fashion is hard, because there are so many Victorian fashion nerds, you may actually come across someone nagging at you like "ehem, that's the wrong shade of arsenic purple colour!" to set an example. Meanwhile if you try to bullshit like renaissance style clothes and accidentally put in some references from classicism... Depending on how big, it may actually be overlooked.

It's kinda like the lighter vs. match where it may seem at first that the matches were made first, bur it's actually the lighter. Sometimes stuff just looks old enough and that's kinda it.

AND LASTLY

6. Figure out why!

Why does your punk coded character have ripped pants in the 1940s? He's clumsy as fuck and trips all the time.

Why does this character have so many frills on them, that's not how these dresses usually look! She's a magical girl.

Have fun with the explanations, but make them plausible for the setting.

[sunnywalnut]

For my tboys(and anyone else) that want to try transtape but are in way over your heads:

-get waterproof muscle tape instead. It's basically the same thing but cheaper. And you can get it in bulk on the Big Daddy Bezos Website

-depending on the size of your chest, you'll need enough to cover it and then add an extra two inches or so. The extra length is so that you don't have too much tension

-round out the corners of your tape with scissors. It's okay if it isn't perfect. All you really need is to make sure there isn't any sharp edges that are going to lift when you shower/move

-rid your skin of all oils before applying tape. You can do soap and water and wait for it to dry completely, or just wipe yourself down with rubbing alcohol. I usually do rubbing alcohol. It's faster.

-if you stretch the tape too far, it can and will rip your skin. This usually starts as your skin feeling tight or itchy. This is because your skin is stretching too far. Take the tape off. Try again. Less tension this time.

-you want around 25% of the tape to not be stretched at all. This is your anchor point. Usually somewhere underneath your armpit.

-for the love of the universe, PLEASE cover your nipples. A thin piece of gauze, bandaids, whatever. Just cover them. They're sensitive as fuck and if you get tape on them, you could possibly rip them off, rip out the hair surrounding them, or just have a really uncomfortable time. Trust me. It's not fun. Keep those bad boys safe.

-transtape/muscle tape is generally hypoallergenic, however make sure you look into it anyways. If they don't tell you what's in it, run the other way. Chemical rash is no fucking joke and makes it IMPOSSIBLE to wear your binder afterwards.

-while you can apply tape standing up(and most do) you can also apply it laying down on your back. Some people say this is for people with larger chests bc gravity or whatever, but honestly. I say anyone should do it. Less unneeded tension added, and also you don't have to angle yourself all weird just to work against gravity. Plus this is a win for those of us with back pain. Easier, faster, and much more comfortable. Wins all around.

-you can get muscle tape that is up to 4 inches wide. However. I find the regular 2 inches is fine for me. Just make sure you don't overlap the tape too much. More chance of peeling that way.

-IF YOU SHOWER WITH YOUR TAPE ON, MAKE SURE IT'S JUST WARM. I CANNOT stress this enough. Just because it's WATER proof does not mean it is HEAT proof. And also rubbing on top of the tape is not good. Instead, wash the skin around the tape and try not to rub at the edges. You can always clean the skin underneath after you take the tape off.

-try not to wear tape for longer than 2-3 days and shower/clean thoroughly afterwards. Bacteria still grows underneath, even though it is covered. Pat dry. Your skin may be sensitive from being under glue. That's normal.

-THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR: extremely itchy skin on application site. Redness. Swelling. Tiny "pinpricks" of red(this is your skin beginning to tear). Open sores. Skin breaking open when scratched lightly(again. Tearing). While these all may LOOK like symptoms of an allergic reaction, don't freak out!! You likely just have your tape on too tight. Take it off and give your body time to heal. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT put body tape over open wounds. It is VERY POSSIBLE that it can cause tearing, infections, and other not very good side effects. And please. If your skin itches or starts to tear, remove the tape. I still have scars from when I ignored mine, thinking it was just normal. And that was on my hands.

Sources:

And personal trial and error^^

Be safe!!

[i-literally-cant-with-this]

In The Still Of The Night

Song Inspo ::: Welcome To The Panic Room // by: Au/Ra

A/N ::: I wish I could tell you all why. But I really can't. It just sort of poured out of my fingers. This is probably the most ... different? ... thing I've ever written. I 100% blame the song for this shit. Ok, like 50/50. 70/30. Fuck. It was 100% my fault.

C/W ::: Toji AND Megumi are in this. Talk of consumption of blood. Not a lot though (talk, or blood). Without going into too much detail, sex stuff happens when the three of you are in the same space. Oral {F -> M}, P -> V, masturbation, dry humping, Dubcon, brief mention of bad past, if I missed any please let me know and I'll add them to the list. Aged up Megumi (21).

You walk in and see Megumi from across a dark gothic bar. He stares at you like you're his next meal and he's a vampire out for the games of the night.

You see his blue-green eyes as the dull lights bounce around the room. Multi-color shifts dancing on the people in the cages hanging from the ceiling while they cut themselves and drip onto the freaks below them. Lapping up their self-hatred because they can't face their own in the cold light of day.

He tips his head up at you, but he doesn't smile. You know what he wants. You know that by the look of his clenched fists. 

Sneaking into the crowd to disappear for just a second longer before you succumb to this violent dicking down you so desperately need after the day you had in corporate America.

You dance.

You dance like you don't know he's watching your every move. Stalking you like you’re a lamb that strayed too far from the herd.

It's dangerous out here.

The wolves are everywhere. And they will eat you whole. They're counting on you to come to them when you're lost.

They promise to help you find who you so badly want to be. They vow to help you find your way out of this dark forest that is existence.

Megumi goes to you and pulls you close to his netted chest. The buckles and clasps hurt as he squeezed you to him. Telling you how bad you are for not coming to him right away when he summoned you.

"You defy people a lot, lost girl?"

You laugh in his face and lean in to kiss him. Biting his lip, sucking on the blood and spitting it right back into his pretty mask.

He rips your shirt right down the center and sucks on one of your tits. Returning the favor of the mild injury.

But it's ok. It's ok because you feel again.

His sharp teeth pulled at your potential life source.

"Get on your knees." He yells at you over the music. It was already beating you down. If he had waited a few more seconds you would have fallen willingly to his cock. But he is not a patient man.

You simp down and cower to his gaze. Undoing his belt. The button on his pants. The zipper. You pull them down just enough to free his angry, red dick.

It tastes sweet. Like blackberries after you bite your tongue.

He puts his hand on the back of your head as he pushes through the pathetic whimpers. You can't even think of begging him to take it easy on your poor soul.

But then he just laughs as the tears and black makeup streams down your cheeks.

He can't tell, but you’re really smiling. Those are tears of joy. He's fucking your mouth into oblivion.

Gagging on him, he finally cums into your tight throat. He moaned loudly, too. But the music was at its peak the same time he was. So you’re inclined to think they canceled one another out.

You stood as he composed himself as best he could, and pulled him to the corner of the large black room.

He shoves you roughly into the poster-covered wall and gets a hair's breadth away from the shell of your ear and tells you how good you did for him just now when you let him take your mouth.

You shivered against his hard body.

There was nothing warm about him. Even his cum felt cold as you swallowed it.

Though he assures you he is alive, no matter how dead his conscience may be.

Megumi pushes a code into the wall behind a square sheet of metal disguised as a poster. You never would have noticed it was different from the others had you not seen him move it.

You wonder if he feels the same way about you. Are you his metal poster? Did he see someone else touch you and he wasn't content with simple voyeurism so he has to force you into this secret room amongst the more "normal" people in this succulent place?

Hedonistic place.

"Sit. Down." He says to you, as he scans the smokey room. It's no bigger than a jail cell. But they still managed to fit a couch and a few chairs in here. "Sit down over there." He points to a stained bean bag chair next to a woman who was sucking on the ring finger of a man who was guiding another woman on his lap to fuck him how he wanted to be fucked.

Megumi lays down with you, he's between your legs. His eyes have a spark in them. Like he knows something you don't, but you'll find out soon enough.

He starts rolling his hips into you. You can feel how hard he is again.

Already.

Like father, like son.

You feel your hair get pulled roughly to the side and then his lips graze your pulse point. He sinks his teeth into you and you feel heat spread through your soon to be vetted body.

Your shirt is agape, much like your mouth, as you try to comprehend all of these things you’re feeling. 

It's hard. 

To feel, you think.

Megumi kisses down your chest to where your skin is covered again by yet more clothing.

Nothing special. Just black pants and a cheap belt.

He slips his hand through the half fastened belt and pulls it out.

"Get up."

You do as he says.

"Everyone out."

They grumble.

"Everyone get the FUCK out, I SAID."

The room clears out and for now, it's just you and him.

There are no cameras. None that you can see, anyway.

You’re just standing there, shivering because it’s cold and you’re more than just a little excited. More than just a little scared.

You hear a noise from the other side of the wall.

Someone is coming in. The door opens.

It's Toji.

You know his dad.You used to be his favorite fuck toy until one night things went too far.

But you three don't speak of that.

"What's he doing here." You try not to let your voice shake. But it doesn't listen. It's like a dead leaf falling from a tree.

Toji crushed your words.

"Hi, princess. Fancy meeting you here." He says in that sexed out voice of his. You hate that it turns you on so much to be standing in here with both of them.

But you can't help it. The heart wants what the brain can't comprehend.

Megumi steps out for a few minutes and Toji comes over to you and without saying a word, he removes your remaining articles of clothing.

He puts his large hands on your shoulders and doesn't even try to sugarcoat what's about to happen.

"It won't be like last time, doll. I'm a different man now. You believe me, right?" He begs without actually begging. His words are as sweet and sticky as honey.

You actually believe him as you fall into his arms and kiss him. Feeling his familiar tongue tipping the scales in his favor.

"Oh honey, if I were a bettin' man, I'd risk it all for your pussy. S'cute that Megs thinks he gets you all to himself tonight. Heh. Dumbass kid, that one."

He bends down and picks you up by the backs of your knees, wrapping your legs around his fine, tapered waist, and takes you to sit down on the overstuffed couch.

Toji's mouth latches on to your right nipple as his hand plays with the left. Pinching and pulling, just like you told him you liked it.

You’re honestly surprised he remembers.

You moan and start to grind that bared and wet pussy against the huge bulge in his pants just when Megumi walks in. Tucking your chin down, you turn and look at him sickly. 

"Hi, Megs. Wanna play with us?" 

Your eyes go to the back of your head because you're getting close to cumming all over Toji's lap. His dick just feels too good not to rub up against. Your clit keeps hitting the knot that's holding his pants up. Hoping and hoping your cunt will magically untie it and his pants will fall victim to the bitch that is gravity.

But Toji is a big boy and he has been dressing himself for longer than you've been alive. So they're not going anywhere until he decides it’s time.

Megumi moves to stand behind you and he spits on his fingers.

"Ass. Out."

"Magic word, asshole." You’re feeling braver now that Toji is here. That false confidence gets you into trouble every single time.

"What the fuck did you just say to me? Give ... me ... your ... ass, slut."

That was the magic word. It shocks you that Megs remembers your magic word, too.

These two must be more fond of you than you give them credit for.

Megumi slams his hand down on your ass and picks through your reaction with a fine-toothed comb.

Toji starts to baby you. Pulling you all the way onto his lap, your knees to your chest as you nurse a broken ass.

Which is much better than a broken heart.

You can feel Toji's precum through his pants sticking to you.

It feels cold and gross. Maybe he's a dead man, too, and you were too busy being on your knees to realize who you were dealing with.

The music is still hitting those low bass vibes out on the floor.

You want to dance.You want to put on a cloak of invisibility and shove these two into traffic and then dance around their bodies.

Megumi takes your hand and pulls you off of his dads lap and pushes you back onto the beanbag chair.

"Stay there."

You nod.

"Why'd'ya take my toy, Megs? That was awfully shitty of you." Toji stands and towers over you. Finally undoing the knot that kept his glorious cock.

"You need somethin', sweet pea."

You were hoping he'd ask. But it fell through the floor and landed as a statement. He was going to give you something whether or not you really wanted it. This so-called 'gift' he was going to bestow upon you.

"Yeah? Wha'do I need, daddy."

He loved when you called him that. It made him feel important. Like he was raising you to be better than you are now.

But you both knew that wasn't true. You are all you will ever amount to.

"You need … ahhh … my cock."

He pulled his pants down and kicked them to the side. His dick was already hard. Just like his son's. It was scary how alike they were.

But maybe that's why you loved them so much.

Toji picked you up and sat you back on his lap, his cock in your pussy as he thrust into you with every ounce of strength he had.

Megumi stood behind the both of you, again, watching. Jerking off to it all.

You felt him cum on your back at some point. But you were too busy focusing on the pleasure you were getting from the Zenin men.

It was everything you had been waiting for. 

Toji was fucking you in all the right ways. Filling you up with his cum, telling you how good you were for taking it all.

"You're gonna get pregnant, princess. You want that?"

"I don't care. Fuck me."

And he did. He fucked you so good you thought you would die. You wanted to die.

You came on his dick, squeezing him for every last drop.

You’re shaking in Toji's arms.

He kissed you on the forehead. "It's ok, babydoll. You can let go. It's ok to let go."

And you did.

You let go of everything. The job, the stress, the bills. The bad memories and the good ones, too.

You were free.

You were free from it all.

But it wasn't long before you found myself in the same situation.

It's like a circle. One you can't ever get out of.

It's like being stuck in a hamster wheel. Running but never making it anywhere.

Maybe it was the cycle of your own birth and death. 

These two were the literal symbols of your birth and death.

Megumi was young, gentle. Though not much more gentle than his father.

Toji was the older, more bitter Megumi. More experienced.

He is going to be the death of you if you aren't careful.

But it's so easy to be reckless when other people tell you they're going to look out for you.

"Princess." Toji said, “It’s his turn now.”

Taglist ::: @arlerts-angel @millennialmagicalgirl @callm3senpaii