#it wasn't a horror concept but it had that potential

[daddyplasmius]

every once in a while I remember this scene from Moulin & it kills me. FECing is now a regular part of my vocabulary & no one even knows what it means because I'm a chronic doesn't-public-fics dumbass. FEC me

[inkdemonapologist]

Way back before we got the BatDR trailer I had this wild theory -- basically, that the reason they couldn't show any concept art/trailers/etc was that BatDR was gonna pull a wizard of oz and suddenly be in colour partway through. So then that's why we were getting teasers like "look, its a model of A SHELF," because all the actual interesting stuff would've obviously been in colour and spoiled the surprise.

Part of the reason I thought this would work really well was that I assumed Nathan's acquisition of the Bendy IP and "revival" of the franchise in-world would be thematically relevant, rather than just... an excuse to have a second game. Like, Bendy is in new hands now, the cartoons are essentially being rebooted, and there's a LOT of thematic potential in that concept of Old vs New or the good and bad aspects of Change, and the idea that reviving Bendy in the real world would impact the ink realm was a fascinating concept to me. Now that we know the main thrust of the story........... actually I still think this could've worked with it? The sepia-toned Memory of Joey's Regret and the evil of the Ink Demon lingers over the studio and corrupts this new colourful world, while Wilson, the Man Who Killed The Ink Demon, is the one trying to forcibly extinguish these old stains and make the machine useful again.

Geez, you could tie Wilson's motivation in pretty directly actually if you dropped the ENTIRE thing where he says he's trying to BETTER THE WORLD THRU THE POWER OF THE MACHINE or whatever and instead just make him an actual janitor whose dad just gave him this bottom-tier job at his company. Give Nathan one audiolog about how his son is neglectful at work and its hard to find a job he can actually do or some such, and then you have Wilson as someone desperate to prove he deserves more. He sees his father's idolisation of Joey is naive, is able to realise the memory of Joey may be literally corrupting the business through the machine, and wants to eradicate that -- including Audrey, the most subtle infiltration of Joey Drew's influence. He's essentially the force of the New applied with no respect for the Old -- and then you could still give Wilson ties to that psychedelic neon ink from the Shipahoy battle; in fact, you could probably lean into it more: colour taken to the extreme, colour taken too far, something just as destructive as Joey's monochrome obsession.

(I've always loved the idea that Wilson isn't actually an artist and just stole the Shipahoy design while janitoring, which works great with the Shipahoy Monstrosity at the end being part crab because he couldn't actually create an isolated model to feed the machine... in this current era of The Threat Of AI Generation, the idea of wilson introducing a lot of mechanical innovation and incompetently dumping artwork into the machine to make new, too-colourful horrors in the interest of impressing his father while destroying all the old things these cartoons were first built on feels apropos lmao. obviously AI wasn't a huge talking point while BatDR was in production, but "ppl who assume more technology automatically makes art better while inadvertently destroying its heart" is extremely not new)

So the ink realm could be partially in colour (a world changed by the new cartoons), partially sepia (the infected memories of the old studio), and partially glowy neon (wilson's overzealous renovation). It'd be neat if Audrey became a bit of both -- partially colour, partially sepia -- and represented the new cartoons' ties to the old. Learning about the horrors that befell her father's old studio and the Gent technology that Wilson is now using are both relevant -- Joey's exploitation of actual artists who care was bad, and so is Wilson's complete disregard for the heart of these artists' work. The memory of Joey can't fix it because he is part of the problem -- he and the demon are the source of the monochrome infection -- so you have to be the one to bring heartfelt colour into this world, a power none of the others have; find a way to heal those trapped by old wrongs and restart the cycle in a better direction. Then, when Audrey says she wants to create a kinder cycle at the end, we have an idea of what that means and that she can do it b/c there's simple symbolism associated with it -- the new, colourful world that's neither corrupted by festering wrongs nor torn apart by Wilson's machines.

anyway. thats my half-baked idea. i still think its a shame that there WAS colour in there for like 2 seconds and they did NOTHING WITH IT!!!!

[pharawee]

Back in May I bought Khemjira's Rescue on meb, happy that there finally was an official English translation because I love horror and actually liked the first pilot teaser for Spirit Reborn - even though it wasn't well received.

I now know why the teaser wasn't well received (the official version has since been deleted and there's only some re-uploads left) and I agree. Khemjira isn't really a classic QL where the story centres around two people falling in love. It's a horror novel first (and the novel's content warning is very open about this). Much of the romance only happens in the bonus chapters. It's also steeped in Isan folklore and Theravadin Buddhist teachings and virtues, with heavy and uncompromising themes of karma, rebirth, right action and non-attachment (which I really appreciate but might not be everyone's cup of tea because it completely ignores concepts of justice and revenge).

The novel itself is translated really well with only a few editorial slip-ups but tons of footnotes to explain potentially unfamiliar concepts and give translations for the recited khatha. The bonus chapters are plentiful and rewarding if you're into romance and the usual level of BL novel spiciness, but even without them the narrative flows really well and comes to a satisfying conclusion. I really liked the novel - it might be my favourite right after I Feel You Linger in the Air - so I was slightly apprehensive when Mandee announced that they had acquired the rights for a new adaptation.

I don't know the actors at all so I only have the novel to go by, but all in all I'm really happy with Mandee's pilot teaser. It's so close to the novel that even seemingly short filler scenes are recognisably taken from moments in the story. And while I still think Keng Harit is a bit too young as Por Kru Parun, he manages to capture his commanding and alluring presence very well.

My only worry now is that they'll downplay the religious themes in order to elevate the romance between, well, basically everyone. I couldn't even blame them though, because most of the audience will be expecting romance, and the series probably wouldn't be very well received if both couples remained chaste until the very end. I don't think Khemjira's Rescue even qualifies as slow-burn for reasons I'll explain a bit later (and behind a spoiler warning).

But first, a bit more about the main characters because I've seen some confusion about their names etc. I'll keep these as spoiler-free as Mandee's pilot teaser was so if you've watched that then you're all set.

Khemjira is cursed, as are all male descendants of his family, doomed to die before their 20th birthday (the series changes it to 21). His mother gave him a traditionally female name to confuse the curse but to no avail: as he grows older he's more and more troubled by the heavy and malevolent presence of spirits. These are kept at bay by an amulet given to to him by a venerable Por Kru (a practicioner of Buddhist white magic) but when that's no longer enough, his friend Jhet introduces him to his teacher Por Kru Parun who lives in a small Isan village. Despite the burden of bad karma, Khem is a good person who always tries his best even when he feels like giving up.

Por Kru Parun (the series calls him Karan) is a respected practicioner of Buddhist white magic. He lives in a traditional wooden house outside of a small Isan village and protects his community from spiritual harm. He learned from his grandfather (who was himself a respected Por Kru) and also spent many years ordained as a monk. Because he lives by the precepts (which go beyond the five precepts of laypeople) he seems detached and aloof, often wearing dark sunglasses so others won't get charmed by him. His real (nick)name is Peem but he only starts using it with Khem once the two get romantically involved.

Jhettana and Charnvit (aka Jhet and Charn) are Khem's best friends. Khem meets Jhet during freshman orientation when Jhet senses the malevolent spirits around him. It's also Jhet who suggests visiting his teacher Por Kru Parun in his home province. They do this during a university excursion. This is how they meet Charn who's part of the student trip and very suspicious about what they're doing. Charn is extremely polite, addressing everyone as Khun. He wears glasses to aid his bad vision. Both Jhet and Charn are extremely protective of Khem, choosing to become Parun's students in order to help save him. They're also the secondary couple with a surprising past connection.

These two boys are Thong and Ake, Parun's spirit servants. They're the ghosts of 12-year-old twins that already served Parun's grandfather. They also have a surprising role to play in things to come.

SOME SPOILERS FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE NOVEL

As for why the romance can only happen after Khemjira's curse has been lifted: as practitioners of white magic, Parun and his students Jhet and Charn have to adhere to the precepts. These include abstinence from unchastity, so they should remain non-attached to thoughts of sexual and romantic nature. If one of these precepts is broken, all of them are considered broken (which makes it impossible to practice white magic) - Khemjira's rescue would fail if any of them got involved romantically. Parun knows that he's mindful enough to remain non-attached until the curse has been dealt with. He also knows that he can't expect the same of Khem so he refuses to take him as his student (which is fortunate because that way we get to read about Khem's pining).

And beyond the horror and the romance, there's also a third element that heavily features in the story: rebirth. All of the characters' fates are interwoven through several past lives, and I'm really curious how Mandee will decide to tackle this added layer of complexity and identity. In The Sign, Idolfactory used the same actors througout every past life (while 1000 Years Old used different actors with the same identifying birth mark). In Khemjira's Rescue the past identities of some of the characters are incredibly important and I'd hate to see them getting erased by using the same actors to better fit with BL marketing. It was so rewarding to find out that Jhet and Charn were starcrossed lesbian lovers in a past life and I'd love it if they kept that reveal for the series as well.

Oh, and also? Yes, there's going to be at least one naga. 🙌

END OF SPOILERS

Ultimately, if Mandee truly commits to playing the long game and doesn't simplify the story in order to appeal to marketing opportunities, this could end up being one of the best Thai BL series to come. From what I saw, the actors can definitely pull it off, and the fact that the 11 minute long trailer focuses so much on novel-accuracy is very promising already. Just don't have Parun and Khem get it on too early. Sometimes you have to keep it in your pants for a bit in order to save the day. 🙏

[some-pers0n]

Memoir of an Albatross

Chapter 1 - The Legacy of a Monster

[1] [2] [3] [4]

(Art by Loquatic)

Chapter Description: Turtle and the Jade Winglet have decided to spend a night at the long forgotten Island Palace. Turtle is petrified. This is where Albatross, the mass murdering animus, had killed dozens. But, late into the night, he spots something strange.

The Island Palace was quite possibly the last place Turtle wanted to visit. Why would he? It remains as a scar on Pyrrhia, a reminder of the dangerous potential of animus magic. A stain on the Sea Kingdom's history of what happens when animus magic goes unchecked.

Albatross was not a dragon Fathom wanted to be. A mad dragon. A terrifying murderer. An animus who could not control his own magic. Simply thinking about him made his stomach churn. Knowing that it was a possibility he could end up like Albatross horrified him. He would be better than that monster.

So, hearing that the Jade Winglet wanted to spend a night at the Island Palace was definitely something he was not interested in doing. 

Unfortunately, Qibli and Kinkajou were firm in their decision to do just that.

"Oh come on," Qibli said, "it's only one night!"

"We shouldn't...be here," Turtle mumbled. "Isn't this disrespectful? I mean, we are just going to run around in a place where so...so many dragons lost their lives."

"And? It's not like they're alive to see it. They've been dead for a long, long, LONG time," Kinkajou called out. "Who cares? It's going to be fun! Trust us."

"It's supposed to be scary anyway. It's Faust's Hallow. Wouldn't it be a little fun to spend it at some creepy old palace? We rarely get together nowadays, and besides, didn't Queen Coral give us permission for this? Turtle, this is our one chance!"

Turtle reluctantly looked at her, sighing. "If you say so..."

He was never fond of Faust's Hallow. It was a biannual "celebration" of one of the forgotten brother of Imperial, Oracle, and Perception. As the NightWing legend goes, while the other dragons ascended into the night sky to become the moons, Faust remained. He was tied to the world with his earthly connections. Thus, becoming the first-ever spirit. It was the basis for SandWing spirituality, so to say that Qibli was interested in it was most definitely an understatement.

Turtle on the other talon? Well, all he could think about was death and horror. His older brothers took joy in dressing up as ghosts and scaring the living daylights out of the younger ones. Not to also mention the constant imagery of skeletons and mourning, with Coral always having a memorial for her lost daughters.

Then, of course, Albatross himself. The reason they were coming here. A legend was that Albatross's spirit had never passed on. That his soul remained at the Island Palace, restless and still just as mad as the day he died. There had been stories of overly curious and confident dragonets running home after an encounter with Albatross at the Island Palace. But, those were just silly rumours. Little myths. That's what it is, certainly. 

Albatross wasn't there. How could he be? Well, the story of Faust was based on him wandering the continent for eternity. Perhaps, maybe- no. It's a made-up story. Turtle wasn't going to fall for some sort of story his brothers would tell to scare him. He already had enough sleepless nights, filled with anxiety and worry over the concept of Albatross still being around.

He's not. He's dead. This was just going to be a nice, if a bit restless, night out in the ruins of the abandoned Island Palace. He will not be scared.

They touched down on the beach around it. If Turtle remembered correctly, this was the Sunrise Beach. It was empty, completely devoid of any sort of life. The palace in front of them was crumbling and tattered. The lavish white walls were discoloured and washed out from weathering an impossible amount of storms. It was covered in moss and sea flora, with barnacles growing on the base of the palace. The light of the setting sun basked the palace in an ominous glow of oranges and purples.

A deep, horrible feeling persisted within Turtle. It made him aware of the light sensation in his claws. The tiny burning from within. Only a little ways away, tragedy had taken place. Two thousand years ago, Albatross, his great-grandfather, slaughtered twenty dragons. He carries the same power he does. Even right now, he could kill all of his friends. One stray thought and who knows what would happen.

"Well, don't just stand there!" Kinkajou bounced ahead. "We've got a whole palace to explore! I call looking on the upper floors with Moon!"

"Wh- me? Uh...okay then?" She stepped forward, following after her. "See you, I guess?" She waved to Qibli and Turtle before disappearing off into the courtyard.

"So, that just leaves me and you." Qibli rested his wing on Turtle, pulling him closer.

"Hurray..."

"Where you wanna go? If they're going up, let's check out the ground floor. Gardens. See some cool old statues that've been crumbling from age."

"What fun..."

Qibli frowned. "Hey, look. I know you're a bit freaked out. You didn't really want to come here. I'm sorry for dragging you along. But, I promise it'll be fun! There's nothing here to hurt any of us. Even if Albatross is still floating around somewhere, I'll be there protecting all of you." He raised his tail, showing off his obsidian-black barb.

Turtle awkwardly chuckled. "I don't think you can really stab a spirit."

"Are you saying I've never fought a spirit before?" the SandWing grinned confidently. "I'll have you know that, as Queen Thorn's personal guard and adoptive son, I had to fend off armies of spirits. Vengeful ghosts of dragons. Such is the way of being queen, I suppose. Anyways, I just need to fight them. Give them the ol' one-two. Beat 'em off with a stick." He swung his arm, mimicking hitting something.

He laughed, feeling his anxieties melt away. Qibli looked back at him, a soft, genuine smile on his face. "Feel a bit better?" He patted him on the back. "Right, let's go exploring."

The experience was dampened by Turtle's constant anxiety, but even then he couldn't doubt the majesty of the palace. Despite its decaying state, it was beautiful. Quiet, with only the sounds of waves crashing in the distance and the gentle trill of the breeze blowing through. Roaming the vast, empty halls was an experience to say the least. 

It made him picture the nights that happened in this palace. Legends say that it was originally used for diplomats to rest, but also for parties and special occasions. Turtle, having the soul of a writer, felt his mind wander as he imagined the sorts of stories that would've spawned from such a place. The balls and weddings. The ceremonies and speeches.

...then, of course, there's the massacre, but Turtle would still rather not think about that.

After a long while of exploring through forgotten gardens, they reached the main gathering room. It was central to the rest of the palace, with several collapsed balconies around it. Dried-up ponds and steams littered the floor. In the middle of it all was a large, grand statue of a SeaWing. Despite the ruin around it all, the statue remained somewhat intact. Turtle could even make out the royal blue of which it used to be.

Off to the side was a large archway leading out onto the other beach. The setting sun was just about on the cusp of the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant oranges and yellows. The sapphire blue ocean pulled in and out rhythmically. It was as though it was the sea's own heartbeat.

"Woah..." he whispered, awestruck.

"Sure don't see places like this too often." Qibli walked ahead, eyes glazing over every detail.

"Hey!" a voice called from ahead. Turtle looked up, seeing Moon and Kinkajou on a balcony.

"What did you find?" Kinkajou asked.

"Not much. Bunch of gardens. Cool statues in them though," Qibli said. "How about you?"

"Bunch of old bedrooms," Moon replied. "Kinkajou thought she could find some treasure still. Checked all over. Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like it," Qibli said, "palace has been picked clean for centuries. Any chance for any sort of gems are probably all lost."

"Yeah..." Turtle quietly said. "Is anybody else feeling a little tired? Like they don't want to explore a big ruined palace that a bunch of dragons died in anymore and just sleep?"

The SandWing laughed. "I don't know about that."

"I'm feeling a little tired myself," said Moon. "It's been a long day of flying. I can probably lay down with Turtle if you don't mind."

"Oh come onnnn guys!" Kinkajou wined. "This is supposed to be a cool adventure for us! Sleep? Bleh! Gross! I want to stay up all night and look for all of these ghosts. It'll be fun!"

"I know, but...I just want to rest. Besides, this was all mostly for you two anyways." Moon opened her wings, flying down to the ground floor. "Sorry for being disappointingly boring..."

"No, no! It's all good." Qibli waved them off. "It's fine, really. Kinkajou and I can stay up and face those spirits ourselves. Buuutttt if you hear us screaming and calling out for help as we're being chased by a very scary old murderer dragon, you wouldn't mind helping us out, right?"

Moon and Turtle chuckled. "No, not at all." She turned her attention to Turtle. "I guess we can settle down here. I doubt we'll find a blanket of some kind."

"Ah, so we have to lie on the cold, hard floor."

"Yes, probably."

"Hey, if it'll make it up to you, I could try and find something. There's gotta be a stash of blankets that are still around," Qibli said, lifting himself into the air.

"Even after two thousand years?" Turtle asked.

"Worth a shot!" He shrugged, flying up to Kinkajou. "See ya around." He dipped his head before wandering back into the palace with the RainWing, leaving them both to themselves.

"Well, see you in the morning." Moon walked in a circle, patting the ground before lying down.

"Hey, quick question," Turtle said, "do you feel scared?"

Moon tapped her claws. "A little."

"You aren't just saying that to make me feel better, right?"

"Of course! It's just that, you know, being alone in a big palace. Makes me think about Darkstalker and that whole...thing." She sighed. "I know you're freaked out too."

"It's nothing, really. I'm just a little anxious over nothing. Spirits don't last forever, right? They move on. Pass onto some new stage of life we can't even comprehend. I doubt that he would still be here."

"He isn't, and, well, if he is, then we'll do everything to protect you."

Turtle glanced at his talons. There was a gentle tingling within them, a feeling he had only noticed when his magic was briefly taken away. "You shouldn't need to protect me."

"Hm?"

"I have magic, don't I? I should be able to protect myself. I should be the one protecting you in case something goes wrong."

"Nothing's going to happen though."

"I know, but, I still feel like I should be using it in case things happen. Stop being so scared of it. But..."

"But you don't want to end up like Albatross?" Moon asked.

He smacked his lips. "Yeah, pretty much."

She exhaled. "I'm sorry. But, it'll be a nice night, I'm sure. We can just sit and sleep if that makes you happy. The night will pass and we can listen to Kinkajou and Qibli and their adventures in the morning."

"That sounds nice." Turtle laid down next to her, yawning before resting his head against the marble floor. It'll be fine. He just has to sleep. When morning breaks, it'll all be over. When morning comes, Albatross will be gone.

He didn't know what time it was when he woke up. All he knew was that it was dark. Pitch black. Turtle blinked, his eyes slowly adjusting to the night around him.

He didn't wake up from some nightmare or anything. He didn't dream much these days. Instead, he felt a presence around him. A shift in the air. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but it was uncomfortable enough to drag him out of his sleep.

Around him were the rest of the group. Kinkajou and Moon were huddled together while Qibli held his wing over Turtle. Looks like the hunt for a ghost didn't turn out so well if they were all asleep here.

He wiggled out from under there, slowly rising to his feet. He looked around, trying to see if it was just his paranoid imagination or if there was really something amiss.

Then, off in the distance, he noticed something. A dim light. A faint glow out by the ocean up ahead.

Immediately, Turtle's stomach dropped. His mind instantly went to the worst thing possible. It was him. He was here and he was going to kill them all. Why would there be glowing right there if not for being the aura of some spirit?

No, no... It's fine. Deep breaths. It's all okay. It's probably a moonlight jellyfish. They glow in the dark. Maybe it washed up on the shore. He could help it out a little. If he did that, then maybe he'd realize there was nothing to be scared of. That there is no ghost. No dangerous, vengeful spirit of a long-dead murderer.

He steadied himself as he walked forward. He repeated to himself over and over that he's got nothing to worry about. It's all okay. He walked up to the edge of the archway, right before his talons would touch the sand.

It was a glowing dragon with a massive spear plunged right through its neck.

His weight slipped beneath his talons and he fell forward. He tried to quickly turn around and fly, but, clumsy as he was, he tumbled and was now barreling towards it. He rolled along the sand like the most terrified armadillo to walk this continent before finally stopping. He froze completely. Paralyzed. His heart pounded against his chest as he tried to comprehend what to do.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting for an attack that never came, he sheepishly looked up.

Gazing back at him were two eyes, darker than the night around them. Their scales were a sickening pale grey. The most eye-catching thing of all was the silver spear that was lodged in his throat. Its hilt was stinking out one end, with the blade poking out the other. Faded stains of blood were dotted around his body, the most being around where the spear had hit him. Outlining the body was a gentle blue light that flicked like a lit candle.

The two stayed like that, staring. Turtle did not dare to blink, fearing that one small movement would instantly set him off. This was him. This was Albatross.

"Fathom?" the spirit asked. His voice was calm, if rather confused and surprised. "No, you can't be him. Fathom must have died ages ago. You're someone new. Someone in his likeness."

"...please don't kill me..." Turtle squeaked. He wanted to say something with more meaning. Cast a spell or anything. Yet, he was trapped in his fear. He couldn't think.

Albatross's expression dimmed. "Right. You must be terrified of me. I was so distracted by you looking like my grandson that I forgot about that horrible, horrible night. That night which made me what I am now." He tapped the spear. "Though, I do think you're the one to last the longest when seeing me. Most run. Maybe they'll throw something at me or try attacking me. Never works. Can't exactly kill a ghost, now can you?" He quietly laughed.

Turtle tried speaking again, but all that came out were mere whimpers.

"Goodness, you're petrified of me. I mean, anybody would. I haven't left the palace since the day I died, but I know enough to understand. I've been there when visitors come around. They steal the things out of my own house, cursing me and what I've done. It's upsetting to know what I am remembered as, but I don't blame you for being scared. I don't blame anybody. I should be condemned for what happened."

He finally shut his mouth. The more Turtle looked at Albatross, slowly, the less fearful he was. Granted, he was still very much horrified, but there was an air to the way the spirit spoke that resonated with him. That he was being genuine.

This wasn't what he expected. He pictured Albatross, the mad animus, as a being of chaos that the world has never seen. Some dark, twisted dragon who could barely control himself. He was imagining him to be vicious, bloodthirsty, and wanting nothing more than to kill.

Instead, he seemed mournful. He spoke warmly. There was reason and understanding in his body language. Even if it was idiotic, Turtle let his guard down somewhat.

"How...what..." he stammered.

"How am I here? I couldn't tell you myself. I've never read that much on spirituality and ghosts. But, I'm the only one left here. The rest have all gone away. Yet, I remain. I'm bound to this palace. I can't leave. If there was a way, I would've found it years ago. Then maybe I wouldn't be here, scaring you."

"You sound...sad," Turtle blurted out.

Albatross snorted. "Pff, do I really? I didn't know I sounded so melancholic. I haven't had anybody to talk to in ages. You're good company. Thank you for listening to an old sea dragon ramble, even if you're still scared. I know it's not much to you, but I promise I mean no harm. I've never meant harm. Ever. It's just..." He glanced away, breaking eye contact. "I was emotional. I had no excuse. I let my own instincts and desires take over my own better wishes. Despite doing everything right and trying my hardest to avoid it, it still happened."

He looked back at Turtle. "I'm sorry for what I've done for our tribe. You can run away now. I'll just be happy I had somebody to talk to, even if it was a one-way conversation." He smiled a crinkly, awkward smile.

Turtle stared. Then, he made what should've been the stupidest decision of his life:

He stood up but did not flee. He sat there. "My name is Turtle," he said quietly.

"Turtle?" he echoed. "You aren't flying away screaming?"

"Not unless you give me a reason to, I guess?"

"Isn't looking at a dragon who's killed dozens of dragons in one night enough of a reason?"

"It...should be, but I'm not that scared of you. You seem too sad to hurt me."

"Hurt you? I'd never do that! My magic is limited. I can't do much besides lift some rocks and play around with the water." He waved his talons. Behind him, a small amount of water rose into the air, shaping and twisting into the shape of a bird. A seagull.

"Even if I could do more, I wouldn't dare to hurt another soul. I've already done enough damage," he continued.

"You confused me for Fathom earlier. Your grandson, right?"

"Yes, Fathom." Albatross's eyes narrowed. "You have the wing patterns. You're royalty as well?"

He nodded. "...and I am also an animus."

He barked a laugh. "Really? I've never believed in reincarnation, but you're the spitting image of Fathom if I've ever seen it."

Turtle shuffled his talons. "Thanks. I got that once before."

"Hm? By who?"

"A big evil NightWing who wanted to kill the entire IceWing tribe. He was friends with Fathom as well. How did I meet him if he was alive two thousand years ago? It's a long story."

"Don't we all have long stories to tell." Albatross turned his back to Turtle, staring back at the ocean. "If you don't mind, may you sit next to me? I enjoy watching the sea."

Turtle hesitated, but he followed. He joined the spirit.

It was a tranquil night. A clear sky, the moons beaming down in their full glory. The cool salty breeze brushed against Turtle. Strangely enough, he felt at peace. He never would've thought in a million years he'd say that when right beside him is the ghost of Albatross, but what can you do?

"I'm sorry if this is selfish," Albatross began, "but do you have the time to listen to an old dragon's story?"

"Huh?"

"You seem like a wonderful dragon, Turtle. You're far too sweet than what I deserve. I apologize if it's a bit much, considering how I am still a murderer in your eyes, but could you listen to me tell my story?"

"Your story?"

"My life. Nobody ever heard about it. They only see me as a monster. I am, but I can't help but want something else. I want to tell at least one dragon about it. Set it all straight. Pour my heart out if only to get everything that's been festering inside me out into the world."

"That'd be alright. I like stories."

"It's not a very happy story. There's a lot of tragedy. Too much, now that I think about it. I'm sorry."

"No no! It's alright. I do want to hear it. What life was like for you," he said.

Albatross cracked another smile. "Thank you..." He sounded as though he was fighting back tears.

He waved his talons, the water rising once more. "I suppose I should start it when it all went wrong." The water slowly began to shift into the form of a dragon. "The day when I discovered my magic." 

[rassicas]

I think the concept behind Grizz is solid: a Former Bear who inadvertently Ship Of Theseus'd himself into Not Being A Bear Anymore ties neatly into the running theme of Judd and Lil Judd being the Only Mammals left: Mr. Grizz, whatever he is now, no longer counts as a mammal. But in execution... Yeah. They should have focused on the "Ship Of Theseus angle" and the fact that, in his attempts to bring back mammals, he's become more like the organisms that he's trying to destroy.

Ive gotten about a good few dozen comments on YT about this exact thing. but half of them being annoyingly condescending in the process for not bringing up this analysis in my Live (keyword live) reaction of me hating on the bear. i dont think ive really addressed how i feel about this particular thing because of how rude ppl were, but its been a while and youre being nice so long post incoming Anyway yes im very much aware of this 'ship of Theseus angle to grizz, I did see that "in defense of grizz" video. And honestly I do agree it is something about him that has interesting potential if they'd leaned into it more. Much of my distaste with the ending of ROTM is the build up and execution. They made the bear foreshadowing laughably obvious years too early, and then all the poor fools like me who care too much about splatoon's story had faith that "surely the splatoon team, who just made a story as surprising and serious as Octo Expansion, wouldn't handle foreshadowing the identity of their next major villain that badly" took the biggest L. IF the splatoon team had been more blatant that the Judds were the last mammals left throughout the series (the only time it was directly stated that all mammals were extinct before ROTM? in a dev interview. and for years nobody wanted to believe it whenever i tried bringing it up lmao.) if they weren't that on the nose about the bear imagery. if the only solid piece of deception they had about Grizz not being a bear in the entirety of splatoon canon wasn't in a paid artbook... if they were more deceptive about the fact, I'm sure i wouldve been a bit more accepting of the idea of him secretly being a bear from earlier on, and it would've been a cooler reveal. But surface level knowledge should be called into question by looking at the deeper evidence, not the other way around.

The ineffectiveness of the bear reveal is a culmination of Splatoon doing a frankly, bad job at putting whats supposed to be basic, important, worldbuilding knowledge in the game. I think the intended effect of the bear reveal was that the general audience of fans were supposed to have been like "woah, but all mammals are supposed to be all dead holy shit i cant believe hes a bear." and that info was supposed to put a wedge in the bear theories. but when 95% of the player-base anticipating splatoon 3 had no idea that all mammals (except the judds) are supposed to be extinct in the splatoon world and how that's an important part of its worldbuilding up until the announcement of the story mode, if at all...idk man thats pretty bad.

The way the info about mammal extinction was worded in the official news posts sounds like it was supposed to be common knowledge for Splatoon fans, not a surprise like it ended up being.

Anyway back to the execution, it would've been cooler if they'd leaned into that horror element, the fact that he's hardly even a mammal anymore. I think the implication is there. It is cool and fucked up in Splatoon's signature way! But again, I agree it would be better if it was played up or even acknowledged once directly, like in log.exe. Even with all the potential for bear Mr. Grizz to be cool, the years of too-blatant foreshadowing leading to a frustratingly disappointing reveal and the exact annoying plot holes i feared of has permanently soured the concept of him being a bear to me.

[pawpunkao3]

My personal ranking of how hard the lords in black slap (in my opinion)

1. Blinky

We only got one NMT with him but MAN was it fucking TIGHT. Blinky has such a clear and coherent theme (watching) which gives him a degree of predictability, but it's tempered by the fact that that theme has so many different offshoots. Blinky's power manifests in spectacle, capitalist surveillance, paranoia about relationships and the resulting controlling behavior that comes from that, sexual threats, false selves, and each of those themes could have easily been a whole episode alone, but instead they were woven together so well! There's clearly so much to explore with him. Also the fact that he's based on the concept of an audience that prefers its characters interesting more than happy is. Well it could have been stupid but it WASN'T okay it WASN'T

2. Pokey

Man I'm a sucker for a hivemind. His biggest draw for me is, well, the implications. Pokey pulls off the "seems goofy, is actually horrifying" better than the other lords in black in my opinion, and not just because he was the first, but because his mere presence subverts the whole medium TGWDLM was made in, reframing ordinarily harmless scenes as horror. The loss of self is a very human fear to play on, and opens up the potential for so much delicious tragedy.

3. Wiggly

Coherent theme of greed. I like that he manifested more subtly than Pokey-- rather than taking people over, he preyed on urges they already had and redirected them to himself. (The fact that he was going to be summoned ruined that a little for me, but not terribly.) I also liked the stress that Wiggly didn't have to do a ton of work because of the fact that humans already fucked up their world. Made in America SLAPS man.

4. Nibbly

I mean, you can't go wrong with a hunger themed monster. Nibbly had a bit of the multifaceted theming Blinky did with physical hunger and a strong "hunger" or desire to win, but the fact that he was kept as a late reveal meant that couldn't be explored as much. Overall, Nibbly didn't seem to have a strong corrupting influence or even a will or desire to conquer humans-- Roman was the real villain, Nibbly just helped.

5. Tinky

What even is this guy's deal? Yes, I know that he's "the bastard of time and space" but what does that mean? Why do we only see him interacting with time and not space? His persona has some karmic aspects, since his one victim was revealed to have caused all his own problems with time travel, but it's not emphasized enough to make it a coherent theme. It seems like his main thing is being obsessed with a terrible man, which nearly every tumblrina manages without magic powers. I would still like to see him expanded on though.

[imacaprisun]

If Disney ever decides to reboot Epic Mickey, whether that be as a game or a TV show, they really need to make it for a mature audience. No, I'm not talking about adding gore (I don't even think the toons would have organs, let alone bleed??) or letting Mickey say fuck even though he should be allowed to.

I really feel like there was so much missed potential in the concept art that really would've added to the atmosphere of Wasteland. Epic Mickey is essentially a horror game disguised as a kid-friendly game that would've had it's best chance at telling its story if it wasn't made for a younger audience. There are so many horror and overall mature elements in the game that, if the game was targeted to an older audience (at the very least towards an older teen demographic), we could've gotten so much more out of the story itself.

The Thinner Disaster and Blot Wars are such an important aspect of the story, yet we don't get much out of it besides how it changed Wasteland physically and Mickey's relationship with Oswald. Those two important parts of the story would have a chance to be expanded upon if the story was for an older audience. For crying out loud, it's a natural disaster that literally wiped out parts of Wasteland and a full-blown war against an eldritch monster!

The game being kid-friendly really hinders the story from showing just how horrifying those two events really would've been, even in a world meant for forgotten cartoon characters. I love the games for bringing attention back to Oswald and other forgotten Disney characters (albeit, not very many). Both of the games held a special place in my heart ever since they came out, but the games could've been so much more if it had less restrictions holding it back. I also think it'd be funny to see Disney's mascot character having to face Silent Hill type eldritch horrors and monstrosities while desperately trying to keep himself from losing his mind.

[eastgaysian]

Sincere question: I don't understand your reaction here: "also the fact i had to look up lottie's actress to be like wait is she mixed. it's just a bit silly to me tbh" . Are you saying the show should have explicitly discussed her ethnic background? Is it because you think her possible powers are related to her being Maori, or like in general it should have been more obvious?

this is a complicated one to answer because i feel like i have to go macro -> micro to get all my thoughts out sensibly. but we'll get there i promise

the genre of survivalist fiction, more specifically the deserted island/stranded in the wilderness narrative, is racially loaded. sometimes this is patently obvious, ie robinson crusoe and the character of friday, but even with a cast of entirely white characters the concept of uninhabited and untamed wilderness (which the white characters either tame or are degraded by) is tied to colonialism*, as is the tension between what is viewed as civilized or uncivilized behavior, good christian morality vs primitive/barbaric 'savagery', etc.

(* this isn't necessarily constant throughout history/a global context but is absolutely a part of this genre and the american context of yellowjackets)

yellowjackets seems to promise a deconstruction of the genre by focusing on the psychological horror angle with a diverse cast of teenage girls, as well as reflecting on how the trauma of that event would carry on into life after rescue. and like, i like it! i think it's fun to watch, it succeeds at entertaining me. but i really think it drops the ball when it comes to examining the racial implications of this kind of story.

it's clear that there's some degree of thought and significance put into taissa as a Black female character: her conversation with van about Black characters dying first in horror movies, the conversation with that potential donor who feels entitled to her trauma because of All She's Done For You People, her being the first Black female senator of new jersey.

...so what exactly are we supposed to make of the fact that she has an Evil Personality that first emerged after the crash, who eats dirt and bites people and makes shrines with broken dolls and dog heads, just lurking under the surface waiting until she loses control? the other characters are definitely psychologically disturbed, but the regression to this 'wild' state is extreme and reserved for taissa. why? it doesn't critically examine or deconstruct the ways in which the behavior we view as 'feral' is racialized. at best it's thoughtless, at worst it's actively engaging in racist tropes.

on the other hand you have lottie, whose racial identity isn't brought up in the text, but is at least a consistent casting decision for teen/adult lottie and her parents. the role she fills of being converted (to a point?) and baptized by a devoted white christian girl and then becoming an occult mystic who communes with the wilderness and wears deer antlers to try and lead a ritual human sacrifice is extremely racially loaded. i wouldn't have been irked by the lack of acknowledgment if this wasn't her role. but because it hasn't been brought up and it's not critically examined, i'm not sure whether the show wants me to think her possible powers are related to her being māori, and either way the implications are really troubling to me.

i'm not #cancelling the show i'm just disappointed by what feels like a huge oversight with regards to the racialized aspects of the genre. narratively i also think the build up of the maybe-supernatural elements was kind of all over the place which doesn't help but that's not really here nor there. it just doesn't sit well with me!

[local-pr1nter]

Mikan Tsumikis Execution: Bye Bye Ouchies!

TW!!! Gorey subject matter, syringes, needles, blood, surgery, and other hospital/medical related themes, and implied past trauma of a character

Mikan is one of my favorite characters in Danganronpa and has so much potential as a character besides fan-service or a punching bag for other characters.

Her trial and execution did her dirty, and that's not news to anyone here. It stands as one of the most unpopular trials in the franchise, and I have to agree. While I don't wanna get into the writing of the whole trial itself, I'd like to talk about her execution.

As an execution, it's lackluster, strange, and overall just disappointing (which is cruel to say, but Danganronpa is known for its executions) Some aspects of the execution make sense, such as her fear of large objects and her past trauma, but they didn't do anything creative with those concepts (Plus I'm still iffy on them including her trauma at all - it just seems to play into the over sexualization of her character, making many people believe her execution to be one last piece of fan-service before she's out of the game.) They threw a giant arm in there, then launched her into space with it. It just seemed lazy.

If you compare that to the two previous executions, it gets worse.

Teruteru was prepared and cooked alive in a volcano. It wasn't randomly thrown in there just for the sake of it - it made sense for the setting and played into his talent, then the creators turned a famous gag (tar + feathers = chicken) and implemented it into the execution (I presume it's buttermilk + flour + hot oil = fried chicken). It's all connected, it's unique, and it makes sense.

Peko willingly let herself die to the robot warriors thinking she accidentally hurt/killed Fuyuhiko. Once again, it played into her talent and made sense with her character. She was a "puppet", made to protect her young master by any means necessary. That own mentality is essentially what made her hurt/kill him in the end, filling her with despair and guilt before the very end. As a plus! It was the first execution in Danganronpa to show another student involved - Fuyuhiko had the balls to try and save her - to stop her. That made it one of the most devastating executions throughout the franchise, becoming beloved by many fans.

With Mikan...she's in a hospital bed, then thrown into an arm, and launched into space as the said arm is injected with some sort of drug. Fear of large objects? Check. Talent? Check. Played into her character? Not at all. It only came off as one last bit of fan service before she bit the dust, becoming an unforgettable execution when compared to the others in the entire series. But not for the best reasons.

Here's where I throw my ideas out there. First, addressing Mikans character.

She's a nurse and passionate about it. Likes knowing that other people's lives depend on her.

Had to learn to help herself, as no one else would.

Weird obsession with blood/gore/horror/needles/syringes/injections

Timid, paranoid, self-deprecating, meek, and fragile.

Experienced mental and physical abuse from a very young age. Bullied and used by others throughout her life.

Has an obsessive personality.

A klutz.

We could incorporate a variety of these points, but it will be easier if I simply explain my idea for Mikans execution.

Mikan appears in one of the hospital rooms on a cot, apparently waiting for something. The door opens, revealing Monokuma with a large syringe.

Mikan runs past Monokuma in fear, running out of the room and into the hospital. Other Monokumas are working in the hospital, who all eventually join in the chase for Mikan instead of helping her.

It looks like Mikan is about to escape when the door she goes through (the sign above is a poorly made exit sign merely taped on, which would later drop to reveal it as the OR) leads to an operating room. The doors would shut behind her, trapping her. I'm thinking it's one of the operating rooms that has seats so people can observe as the surgery goes on, so the seats would be filled with multiple Monokumas to observe the execution.

Another Monokuma would already be on the operating floor, dressed in scrubs. The Monokumas that were previously chasing her would bust through the doors and force Mikan towards the OR table. That's when it's revealed they intend to do a heart transplant to "save" another Monokuma. Mikan would be forced onto the table and restrained, and then the "operation" would begin.

I can imagine this would warrant a shift in style change, merely showing the silhouettes or shadows of Mikan and the surgeon to imply what's happening. Absurd shadows and body movements would imply the surgeon has not applied any anesthesia and is merely torturing Mikan, presumably cutting and maiming her. The style would shift back to normal to reveal a cartoonish heart being picked up by the surgeon, already previously wounded to match with Mikans bandages.

Then one of two things can happen here- the surgeon can make a big show of tripping and dropping the heart, rendering it useless now that it's been contaminated, then disposes of it. Or the surgeon can place the heart in the wounded Monokuma and stitch it back up, only for it to flatline, rendering it dead.

Both would make Mikans death meaningless (I think it would be pretty fucked up if she was still alive and able to witness either of the previously mentioned outcomes, then shortly flatlining afterwards) and instill that last bit of despair before the execution ends.

Mikan would flatline as well, and then, after another shadow style change that shows the surgeon covering her body, we see her covered up by a cloth. The execution would end with her blood soaking through the cloth. Fade to black, and it goes back to the game.

I can imagine this is probably an extremely gorey and horrific execution, even for DR standards, but I think it would make sense and make for a final goodbye before Mikans out of the game for good.

Plus, it aligns with some of the previous ideas I mentioned earlier, such as her obsession with blood, gore and needles. While she's the one usually in control of a medical setting, it would be flipped for the execution, forcing her to be the patient, unable to help or save herself due to the Monokumas forcing her through it. She's not in control of any of it, forced to endure it all before she finally bleeds out from her injuries. And the twist of the knife would be making her death meaningless- either from her heart being discarded, or the injured Monokuma dying regardless of the new heart.

Overall, I think this execution would be a better fit for Mikan. It incorporates her talent, relates back to her past, and ultimately full of despair.

The execution would be called: Emergency Operation!

[themanwhomadeamonster]

oh my GOD i deleted my rant by accident im gonna cry lemme try to remember what i wrote but tl;dr not really a theory but me trying to arrange my understanding of albrecht and tmitw

i title this: wallbrecht is everything everywhere all at once

also i wrote this at 5-6am and didnt sleep so shit's probably messy

ok so a major theme in warframe that recurrs in warframe is the loss of identity or sense of self. natah/lotus/margulis, erra becoming pazuul, teshin being controlled by the worm queens, the operator dissociating and believing they're our warframe, then the operator losing themselves to the worm queen and the operator (+rell) confusing ourselves with tmitw himself , the drifter in duviri, warframes themselves losing their sense of self (umbra at some point, and potentially arthur and aoi down the line), albrecht worrying who really left the void dimension, the remaining entrati family themselves!. we're also told many times that the void gives but it also takes, and that it's heavily influenced by strong emotions

in cosmic horror stories usually the horror is a representation of something else. in lovecraft's works it's often his disgust with people of colour, viewing them as something completely alien. in bloodborne part of it is the fears of pregnancy and dealing with offspring. i haven't played darkest dungeon but i've heard that it's about trauma and how the overwhelming traumatic events become too much to bear that people go mad. in the lighthouse, part of the horror is that people will fight and kill just to know the truth, or what they believe to be salvation

so i think albrecht's horror was his fear of losing his identity. we knew from the clock's archives that his experiments hadn't been going well prior to the bell incident. he was losing respect as an archimedian, maybe he lost respect as a father and husband too. i think a lot of us theorise already that albrecht IS the man in the wall, not a doppelganger like tmitw literally was with the operator. but tmitw being omnipresent means that they can freely simultaneously be and not be other people, the paradox of eternalism. albrecht is now the void, he knows every timeline and every outcome and potentially every person (except operator/drifter because they're already void in multiple senses of the word) but he is also still one human. the human mind can't reconcile knowing everything, that's just madness. lucky that kids aren't as self aware as adults!

the void isn't evil nor good. it gives and takes merely because that's the way the universe works, very vaguely dare i say the law of conservation in (a very sci-fi way) action. the void is in the grand scheme of things is just a natural phenomenon of the universe. but the overwhelming emotion present during the 10-0 accident (if that even was an accident) and albrecht's own experiment just happened to be fear, so the void literally embodied the concept of fear and became a person, vecause that's just what the void does. it became an unknowable being behind a veil just beyond our perceptive reality that understands the plights of humanity a little too well. it could have manifested into something friendly and offered us and albrecht a deal in a polite way if the circumstances were right but it wasn't. tmitw is a manifestation of the void so whether the man - albrecht - wanted to or not, he had to approach our operator in their greatest moment of fear. what he did have a choice in, though, was to offer a deal. and what better way to secure a time loop, multiple ones even, that will guarantee your becoming wally than to be a time-space hopping entity who can exploit a bunch of scared kids who didn't know any better.

i don't know what we'll be using the vessel for but i don't think we'll be using it to fight a giant wall (and if we are it won't be the climactic final fight). i don't think we'll ever overcome the void, and we don't need to. the void just is. but the man in the wall literally is just a man. and i know people dunk on bad cosmic horror when the spooky thing is actually just a person or has sympathetic motivations but i think here warframe may be able to pull it off well. it's a cosmic horror that's made life miserable over multiple lifetimes, but the horror simultaneously is just a victim partially of his own doing because the cosmic horror never was alien, it's just a person who's scared of losing himself, just like the lotus was and just like our operator was. the cosmic horror IS the person in the stories who faced the horrors, who faced themselves in the seriglass bell - all it took to differentiate us and albrecht was an *accident* (though at this point it was probably intentional)

we need to confront albrecht/the man in the wall and try to stop his madness. but like many cosmic horror stories go, i think he's trapped no matter what. he'll either overcome his fear of losing himself and become one with the void, leaving us for good, or he'll try to return to gomaitru. but the fact that he's not the same as he was before and neither is gomaitru, with what he's seen and experienced as tmitw will be so maddening that he'll have to leave for the void once again in a suicide mission if he still can't reconcile with *what he is* now. in true cosmic horror fashion we will probably never fully know his motivations till the end, being a greater being than our scope of thinking - and with eternalism in place, maybe albrecht reconciling with himself was what already happened back in the seriglass bell

[liskantope]

Today I finished reading Uncle Tom's Cabin. A few thoughts below (some spoilers, of course).

Both the story and the dialogues are gripping in a number of areas but sometimes the tension fails to pay off and things work out a little too perfectly. While certainly a social justice tale (I hadn't realized how very explicit the author would constantly expound upon her moral motive for telling the story), it ultimately has a sort of feel-good quality, where most people are fundamentally good and things generally come out all right in the end, which seems not to be the accepted norm in today's fiction media wherever it has overt social justices messages (e.g. Orange Is the New Black). My biggest complaint about the plot was really a matter of timing: I disliked being kept hanging about George and Eliza's escape for nearly two hundred pages of focusing on Uncle Tom, only to get one more chapter thrown in wrapping up their escape arc much too neatly (there was more potential there, especially in the development of one of their pursuers who wound up staying with them to recover from bullet wounds). The timing of that arc with the main arc doesn't seem to match properly: a year has passed in Uncle Tom's life before we return to George and Eliza, who are still in the midst of their escape to Canada which seems to have only gone on for several more weeks.

(Interesting random observation: the author wasn't afraid to give different major characters the same first name. There is another character named Tom besides Uncle Tom, namely the aforementioned pursuer who got shot, and there are two Georges who each play a fairly significant role. This adds some verisimilitude to the story, but as far as I can tell, it's rare in fiction even if not rare in real life, and I can't think of many other examples of it outside of longer book series with much vaster arrays of characters such as Harry Potter and A Song of Fire and Ice, and even there it's never between two fairly prominent characters.)

The entire focus of the stories revolves around the current nature of slavery, and the author preaches her anti-slavery message very explicitly to the reader (dripping with explicit Christianity and often breaking the fourth wall in doing so). This was done powerfully enough to resonate well with me even though I grew up in a time when a universal message that slavery is evil was instilled in me from a young age so that this feels like "old news"; Stowe brought her contemporary knowledge of what slavery looks like to life in a vivid way that enriched my conception of the depths of its horrors. At the same time, I found it interesting that it felt like 80-90% of her anti-slavery message focused on the separation of families rather than other aspects of slavery.

Harriet Beecher Stowe clearly had a profound belief in the humanity of people of all races but also showed signs of racism popping up from time to time in talking directly to the reader and characterizes people of African descent as having a simpler, less refined, and less industrious nature, in ways that sometimes (though not always) imply that these differences are innate rather than a product of interracial history. Apparently the book has been criticized for indulging in a number of black stereotypes through several of the black characters. While the development of these stereotypes is unfortunate, I'm not sure we can fairly blame her for helping them to solidify, as it seems she was genuinely trying to base her characters off of amalgams of enslaved people that she had come in contact with.

What was gripping me the most while reading the last quarter or so of the novel was the view of the meaning of Christianity that it suggested to me, and I surprised myself, as someone who's never felt like much of a friend to Christianity, at how I was responding. Having finished the book, now I would say that it makes the most effective moral case for Christianity that I've ever encountered anywhere; certainly it does a better job of making Christian faith attractive than anything I've read by C. S. Lewis. Not that it ever bothers to argue any of the concrete claims of Christianity, mind you, not even the existence or nature of God. Rather, I'm saying it reaches me in some part of my gut which somehow gets the intuition behind why we should stand unyielding with our moral convictions because a higher power above affirms them, and that God or Righteousness or whatever you want to call it being on our side means infinitely more than whatever we'll suffer at the hands of less enlightened humans around us by refusing to budge an inch. (It's strange that I'm even typing these words on this website, where I'm usually better known for talking in a very different and much more pragmatic way about ethically contentious issues.) Stowe's religious convictions, as channeled through her character Uncle Tom, highlight what I've always called my favorite feature of Christianity: the exhortation to turn the other cheek and to love the sinner while hating the sin. It's hard for me to see Uncle Tom as anything other than a hero for resisting internal corruption even in the face of horrific oppression, refusing to be "broken in" by whipping one of his fellow slaves, and being willing to die for what he believes in rather than become a cog in the machine that he abhors. (It's very much like the climax of the original Star Wars trilogy, and there are notes of these ideas in other modern popular fantasy series, of course.) It's a shame that Uncle Tom has become known as an epithet referring to something related but quite distinct, which grew not directly from the Uncle Tom in this novel but from the evolution of the character through various stage adaptations afterwards that Stowe had nothing to do with.

As a final note, it may seem strange that I'm applauding the "turn the other cheek" idea as exemplified by Stowe's character and yet wrote this post expressing horror at the passive "be good to your master" acceptance that Jupiter Hammon preached to his fellow slaves in the 1780's. I think my main crucial issue with the Hammon speech is not that it advised remaining passive and placating one's oppressors (which, I might be inclined to agree with Hammon, however reluctantly, was probably the safest way to minimize harm in most individual's cases when escape really wasn't an option), but rather that it argued that slavery existed for the time being because it was God's will and it should be accepted for now as God's will (regardless of the fact that Hammon hoped to see the institution end, when God should will it). That message was clearly a recipe for inaction, as in reality as well as even in many theistic models of the world, things aren't just going to change on their own because of God's will without humans taking deliberate action to change them.

Neither Stowe nor her Uncle Tom character followed Hammon's idea that slavery should just be accepted for now, even if Tom (just like Hammon) at one point early on claimed not to care for his own emancipation and only hoped to see his younger fellows emancipated (although in fact Tom is later overjoyed when his master St. Claire promises to free him). Rather, Uncle Tom sees slavery for what it is, objectively a great evil, and simply believes that evil can only be fought with pacifistic good and a refusal to abandon one's deepest principles. He encourages others' escapes even though he doesn't attempt to escape himself; at the same time he is not all right with other enslaved and oppressed people violently attacking their oppressors or not seeing their oppressors' humanity. I'll acknowledge that this ultra-pacifistic approach isn't the whole story of how to resist oppression and that sometimes there is a time and place for violent aggression against one's oppressors. But still I see a lot of beauty in the approach Uncle Tom stood for, and as a character he did not deserve to be reduced to the derogatory trope that later became the popular notion of "an Uncle Tom".

[forestwhisper3]

Welcome to [Not Quite] Midnight Meditations (it's 2 am), inspired by boredom, bad choices (I just know I'm going to be tired at work in...6 hours), and that DP/JLU crossover snippet I posted a while back.

In this series, I'm basically gonna be posting stuff from my flash drive, and by stuff, I mean other fic snippets. These snippets are ideas/concepts that are not likely to ever become actual fics, but were interesting enough at the time to have me write a bit for them. I might eventually post something for an idea that will be a future fic, but that'll probably be rare. I'll be going in order of how my folders are organized, so we'll be starting with Digimon.

Tonight's snippet is a Gen 1 and 2 crossover during the whole Myotismon thing when Gatomon was still a "bad guy." Looking back at it, it seems my younger self was just as much a sucker for angst as my current self, because wow, I really made poor Davis go through it. I love him, though. I always thought his character had a lot of potential, story-wise...which is probably one of the reasons why I did it. I always seem to put my favorites through the wringer for some reason.

Anyway, let's get this show on the road, shall we?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gatomon tried her best not to fidget anxiously as group after group of frightened children was herded into a semblance of a line, all of them brought before her. She had no idea if Kari was in there or not, but she desperately hoped she wasn't. Although she was confident in her ability to keep her face straight with the knowledge that, should her partner pop up, she could lie, it vanished the moment Myotismon appeared through a portal to oversee the rest.

"Bring the next one," he demanded of the Bakumon.

Gatomon felt her heart race in fear at the sight of the small boy with maroon-colored hair, even though she had never seen him before. All she knew was that it wasn't fear of him rather than for him. Something inside of her screamed to protect him. To keep him safe because he was special…important…

Chosen.

She was barely able to hold back a gasp at the realization. Another chosen? Kari was supposed to be the last! Just what was going on here?! Despite the shock and the confusion, she grit her teeth and raced to come up with a plan. She hadn't expected this, but there was no way she could leave this boy, either, now that she knew.

It was made pointless when DemiDevimon announced that he'd found Kari.

Gatomon felt her heart sink at the look of triumph on Myotismon's face as he made another portal, and then felt it skip a beat in horror when- just as he'd been about to leave -he looked back. Gatomon hoped it was to address her but felt that hope drain as he turned right to the boy. It seemed he had sensed something as well.

"You, child, what is your name?"

It was obvious the boy was terrified, but that didn't stop him from glaring defiantly at the large demon digimon. "Why?"

Myotismon's eyes narrowed, and faster than Gatomon could blink, there was a sharp crack in the air, and the boy was on the floor, an angry red welt appearing on his chest through a tear in his shirt.

"Do not test my patience," he said, the calm tone of voice a complete contrast to the dangerous look in his eyes. "When I ask, you answer. What is your name?"

The boy sat up, tears streaming down his face as he gingerly placed a hand on the injury. It looked as if he was considering rebelling again, but finally looked away from Myotismon.

"D-Davis," he sniffled.

Myotismon regarded him a moment further before turning to DemiDevimon. "Bring him along."

"But we already found the last child-"

"Are you questioning me?"

"No! No, not at all!" He quickly called forth some Bakumon. "We're bringing the kid! Carry him!"

Each Bakumon took an arm and lifted the boy- Davis -into the air. To his credit, he seemed determined not to cry, and was even struggling somewhat.

"Such courage," Myotismon hissed, freezing everyone in place. "Perhaps…" He leaned down to be face-to-face with Davis, who had resumed his defiant glare. "…We shall see if I'm correct, I suppose."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I wouldn't be too sure of your victory," the demon sneered. "For while you have the advantage now, I hold the future in my grasp."

"What're you talking about, Myotismon?" Tai demanded.

Myotismon laughed cruelly. "It's ironic that you were the one to ask." With a snap of his fingers, the Bakumon reappeared, and the digidestined's eyes widened at the unconscious boy in their grasp.

"This child has brought forth questions. What is it that has granted him this power…? His personality? His resemblance to you? Or was it random?"

"What power?! Let him go and start talking!" Tai snarled, hating to see a kid within that monster's clutches.

"What power, you ask?" he smirked. "Ask Angewomon. I'm sure she sensed it as well."

They turned to look at Angewoman, whose head had hung low since the kid had popped up.

"He's a Chosen," she told them wearily. "He was among the children gathered at the convention center. I don't know how he was missed, but there's no hiding the feeling he has about him."

Everyone's eyes had widened at this information, unsure of what to think.

"How was he missed? It is because it was not yet his time. This boy is undoubtedly a Chosen, but his destiny awaited him in the future." Smug maliciousness shone in Myotismon's eyes as he approached him. "The future…I had no idea something like this was in store. To think that more would come along to take your place. No doubt I would have been caught unaware, thinking that you were the only ones that needed to be dealt with. But now that I have him, how will the future turn out? How will the future survive without courage?"

Matt was the first to get the insinuation and paled dramatically. "You don't mean-"

"Mean what?! What's he saying?!"

"Still don't get it? Not surprising. Still, it won't change that this is a rare find."

He reached out a bony finger and trailed it across the boy's face in a mock caress. As if sensing the ill intent, his eyes snapped open, and he leaned back as far as he could.

"Get away!" he managed to ground out, though his voice was raspy and weak.

"I see the Bakumon failed to break you," he hummed, the casual tone of his voice practically mocking them. "No matter. That will make this all the more fun."

"Fun?!" he yelled indignantly before breaking out into harsh coughing that wracked his small frame. "This isn't fun you-…you Count Chocula freak!"

Crack!

The girls let out stifled cries of horror while the boys gasped. Meanwhile, the boy howled in agony as the whip cut into already sensitive and damaged skin.

"You will respect me," Myotismon said with a deadly glare.

Davis was panting, tears streaming down his face, and his expression one of deep pain. With more than a few shuddering breaths, he lifted his head to meet Myotismon's glare straight on. "No."

A bright light suddenly engulfed him, forcing Myotismon to pull back and forming a shape that floored everyone but Matt.

"That's the Crest of Courage," Tai gasped.

A warm red glow lit up the older boy's chest as if reacting to the statement. From it, a beam of light shot into the sky, meeting the first and joining together before vanishing. Myotismon lunged forward with a snarl, taking a tight hold of the boy's throat.

"You weren't supposed to tap into your power yet."

"W-What power, you w-wierdo?" he choked out.

The response was a backhand that started to bruise almost immediately. Davis whimpered, reaching the limit of the limits he'd already pushed himself passed. With a choked sob, he let his head hang down, desperately wishing for someone, anyone, to help him. Myotismon smiled in victory, but before any more damage could be done, a flash caught their gaze. Looking up, they saw the sky was rippling, and from a small section, they could make out the image of a brightly lit cave.

Davis…

They turned their heads at the voice, wondering where it came from.

What's wrong, Davis…?

"Look, the cave!" TK pointed.

The image sharpened, and now all could see the cave as if it were right in front of them. On a small rock platform, a red egg with a bladed horn rested, the symbol of courage beneath it.

You're calling me…but it's not time to meet yet…

It began to glow softly. Davis coughed- his face red from the lack of air -but couldn't help but feel immense comfort from the voice.

"H-Help…" he gasped out. "P-Please…"

"No, you idiot boy! Don't call out to it!"

You're in pain…Why are you hurting…?

The group was surprised to see the nervousness that entered the vampire's face.

Digimon…There's a digimon there…You're not supposed to meet digimon yet…

The light pulsed around Daisuke. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, but then, he gave a start, a shuddering gasp escaping him.

"V-…V-Mon…"

The Chosen all exchanged curious looks.

"V-Mon?…Could it be Daisuke's partner?" Izzy mused. "If he is a Chosen Child, it would make sense."

"But how does he know his digimon's name?"

"Special circumstances, I'll bet," Matt guessed grimly. "You heard Myotismon. The kid- Davis -isn't meant to be a Chosen yet. Then there was that symbol. I think…I think he was supposed to take Tai's place."

"So…does that mean there are other children that will take our place too?"

"I don't think this is the time to worry about that," Tai cut in. "It doesn't matter what he is, he's just a kid. We've gotta help him."

By this point, Myotismon seemed truly panicked. "Don't let him say any more!" he snarled at the Bakemon.

"V-Mon!" Davis cried, getting everyone's attention. "V-Mon, help!"

"Silence!"

The whip was raised once more, but everyone there could sense that if they let this blow hit, it wouldn't be good. Immediately, all the digimon rushed forward, hoping to make it in time. Before they could get very far, the egg in the cave shimmered and shot out of the portal, destroying the Bakemon and knocking Myotismon out.

Davis screamed as he fell.

Hang on, Davis!

The light, which had taken a winged shape, quickly caught him. The others watched in slight awe as it reached them. Up close, they could vaguely make out some slightly draconic features through the light. With great care, Davis- having finally passed out -was placed in a startled Tai's arms.

Myotismon is not yet defeated. Guard him well, Courage.

Tai blinked, a little panicked. "But- Can't you-"

I would stay, but it is not yet my time, just as it is not yet his.

"You're here now, aren't you?" Matt asked. "Can't you stay? We could use your help."

I am only here in spirit- my true self remains in the digital world. The form you see before you is a result of Davis's strength, aided by the power he will one day wield.

"That's what that light that came from me was? My crest brought you here because he's going to replace me?"

Dear Courage, no one can replace you. All he will be doing is continuing a legacy. A legacy that will continue for many generations. Never doubt your place in its noble line.

"That…doesn't really answer my question."

A warm feeling enveloped them, and they somehow knew the figure was laughing.

It is a partial reason. Mostly, I was brought here because Davis needed me.

"So you're his partner. V-Mon."

Essentially, yes, but I am also much more than that. I am the light of your combined Courage, Tai, mixed with an incredible amount of willpower and belief in the impossible. It is doubtful that I will ever appear to you in this form again.

The digimon reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from Davis's face, a slightly wistful feeling permeating the air. Davis smiled slightly, leaning toward the touch as dark bruises began to fade before their eyes.

This power you have given me allows me to heal some of his wounds but not all. Do not fret, for the scars he bears from this day forth will only remind him to never abandon his beliefs. By taking him in an attempt to destroy him, Myotismon has only succeeded in making him stronger.

"About that. When is he supposed to take my place? And does that mean there are others out there to take on the other crests?"

The figure was silent for a moment, considering the question.

I suppose there's no harm in telling you, seeing as Myotismon has already ruined the stream of events. There are two others meant to be Chosen with Davis. Together, with Hope and Light, they are to be the next group.

They looked at Kari and TK, who seemed surprised.

"But- that's still not enough people. How-?"

The virtues will be paired together in order to give the next Chosen greater strength. Hope and Light will grow to their full potential, and Friendship will reach for Kindness, who is lost in darkness.

There was a rumbling sound, and to their horror, Myotismon was waking up.

Now, however, it is your time, not theirs. Defeat this monster, and bring peace to the Digital World. Do not worry about future threats, for just as there will always be a threat, so must there always be those who fight against it. Take care, Children of Virtue, and good luck.

The digimon burst into light, and they briefly felt a warmth envelop them.

"He healed us a little," Joe noticed. "Just like with Davis."

Tai was looking down at the boy, his eyes lingering on some of the injuries that were still there. "So…you're the next Courage, huh?" He smiled sadly. "It must have been tough being Myotismon's prisoner…I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

"There's nothing you could have done," Matt said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Nothing any of us could have done. But we know now that this kid is going to be incredible. He has a stubbornness to match yours if he was still talking back to Myotismon after what he went through."

"Yea…and we'll have to make sure there's no chance of it ever happening again."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I've been thinking a lot over what V-Mon said," Izzy told the group as they rested at his house.

"About?"

"The next Chosen."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about it with everything that happened."

The others smiled at Tai's admission. It had slipped their minds somewhat too, but it was understandable. It hadn't really been until they'd come back and discovered that Davis had been picked up by his family that they'd given it any thought at all.

"What about it?" Sora asked, curious.

"The virtues will be paired together," Izzy quoted. "Before he left, he called us the Children of Virtue. I think he meant our crests, and that each new Chosen will get the power of two of them."

"So…Davis will have Courage…and something else?"

"He'll embody Courage and something else," he corrected. "The crests won't go to any random person, after all."

"That's true. But then…there's only going to be one new Chosen? Because of TK and Kari?"

"No, he mentioned that too, remember?" he mused. "He said there will be two more. Besides, Hope and Light are powerful, we've all seen that, so I think for them, it'll just be getting full control. The other six crests will be divided among three new Chosen. Then there's the other thing he said…I think…I think there might be another kid out there with a different crest. One that wasn't with us because they couldn't join us."

"Kindness," Mimi cut in, her eyes widening in realization.

"Exactly. Somewhere out there is a Chosen who's in trouble. I can't imagine the sorts of things being lost in darkness would do to a kid that embodies Kindness."

"Can't we help them?"

"We might not need to," Matt said. When everyone looked at him, he clarified. "Friendship will reach for Kindness, who is lost in darkness."

"So the one that gets the crest of Friendship will save them?"

"Not necessarily. V-Mon just said that they'll reach for them. That doesn't guarantee that they'll succeed. We'll just have to keep a lookout when the time finally comes."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Kari, I saw him!"

Kari turned at TK's frantic whisper. "Who?"

"Davis!"

"What?!"

"He was playing soccer outside, and I kind of thought he was Tai at first, but it was definitely him!"

Before she could ask more, the bell rang, and they had to make their way inside. TK stood at the front of the class, although he was surprised that Davis was there too.

"We have two new students today, Takeru Takaishi and Davis Motomiya."

TK quickly greeted the class, well aware of the whispers that had started about both his looks and the distinct scar that fell diagonally across Davis's right eye. If the other boy heard them too, he didn't show it.

"Hey!" Davis greeted with a smile. "I'm looking forward to being in class with you. Please treat me kindly."

At lunch, their plans to befriend Davis were hindered by the small group surrounding him.

"What happened to your face?"

Davis paused mid-slurp, a noodle still hanging out of his mouth, something briefly flashing in his eyes before he shrugged. "Accident."

"Did it hurt?"

"It's my eye," he pointed out with a good-natured laugh.

The one who asked smiled sheepishly. "Point taken."

"I saw you playing soccer earlier. You're really good, how come you're not in the soccer club?"

"I wanted to be," Daisuke groaned. "But after the accident, my mom got really protective. She pulled me out of the school I was going to and homeschooled me. I couldn't even go outside without my parents or my sister. I just managed to convince them to let me come here."

"Sounds tough."

"Oh you have no idea. I hate being stuck inside."

"I'd hate it too. Hey, now that they let you out, though, you could join the soccer team! We're short a player, and you'd be great!"

Pink tinged Davis's cheeks as a pleased smile spread across his face. "You think so? I didn't think I was that good."

"Not that good? Please. Coach is gonna have kittens. He's always complaining about how his best player had to grow up on him and graduate."

Another boy snorted. "You got that right. It's always 'Tai never made that mistake,' or 'Tai got that move down in just one week.'"

"Don't get us wrong, though," a third boy cut in. "Tai is actually really nice. He taught us a lot, and he still plays with us sometimes."

"Sounds like a cool guy. Maybe I'll get to meet him too."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Past me actually ended up writing a lot for this one, haha. Hope you liked it! Now, I really should go to sleep, so...later!

[some-pers0n]

I'm in a bad writer's block right now, but! I'm trying to cook up something real soon. Here's the first little bit of a new fic of mine I've got in the works. Take four guesses as to what it's about. Winner gets to eat bricks.

Oh and also small Turtbli moment happens if you like Gay Dragons.

The Island Palace was quite possibly the last place Turtle wanted to visit. Why would he? It remains as a scar on Pyrrhia, a reminder of the dangerous potential of animus magic. A stain on the Sea Kingdom's history of what happens when animus magic goes unchecked.

Albatross was not a dragon Fathom wanted to be. A mad dragon. A terrifying murderer. An animus who could not control his own magic. Simply thinking about him made his stomach churn. Knowing that it was a possibility he could end up like Albatross horrified him. He would be better than that monster.

So, hearing that the Jade Winglet wanted to spend a night at the Island Palace was definitely something he was not interested in doing.

Unfortunately, Qibli and Kinkajou were firm in this decision.

"Oh come on," Qibli said, "it's only one night!"

"We shouldn't...be here." Turtle mumbled. "Isn't this disrespectful? I mean, we are just going to run around in a place where so...so many dragons lost their lives."

"And? It's not like they're alive to see it. They've been dead for a long, long, LONG time," Kinkajou called out. "Who cares? It's going to be fun! Trust us."

"It's supposed to be scary anyways. It's Faust's Hallow. Wouldn't it be a little fun to spend it at some creepy old palace? We rarely get together nowadays, and besides, didn't Queen Coral give us permission for this? Turtle, this is our one chance!"

Turtle reluctantly looked at her, sighing. "If you say so..."

He was never fond of Faust's Hallow. It was a biannual "celebration" of one of the forgotten brother of Imperial, Oracle, and Perception. As the NightWing legend goes, while the other dragons ascended into the night sky to become the moons, Faust remained. He was tied to the world with his earthly connections. Thus, becoming the first-ever spirit. It was the basis for SandWing spirituality, so to say that Qibli was interested in it was most definitely an understatement.

Turtle on the other talon? Well, all he could think about was death and horror. His older brothers took joy in dressing up as ghosts and scaring the living daylights out of the younger ones. Not to also mention the constant imagery of skeletons and mourning, with Coral always having a memorial for her lost daughters.

Then, of course, Albatross himself. The reason they were coming here. A legend was that Albatross's spirit had never passed on. That his soul remained at the Island Palace, restless and still just as mad as the day he died. There had been stories of overly curious and confident dragonets running home after an encounter with Albatross at the Island Palace. But, those were just silly rumors. Little myths. Th- that's what it is.

Albatross wasn't there. How could he be? Well, the story of Faust was based on him wandering the continent for eternity. Perhaps, maybe- no. It's a made up story. Turtle wasn't going to fall for some sort of story his brothers would tell to scare him. He already had enough sleepless nights, filled with anxiety and worry over the concept of Albatross still being around.

He's not. He's dead. This was just going to be a nice, if a bit restless, night out in the ruins of the abandoned Island Palace. He will not be scared.

They touched down onto the beach around it. If Turtle remembered correctly, this was the Sunrise Beach. It was empty, completely devoid of any sort of life. The palace in front of them was crumbling and tattered. The lavish white walls were discoloured and washed out from weathering an impossible amount of storms. It was covered in moss and sea flora, with barnacles growing on the base of the palace. The light of the setting sun basked the palace in an ominous glow of oranges and purples.

A deep, horrible feeling persisted within Turtle. It made him aware of the light sensation in his claws. The tiny burning from within. Only a little ways away, tragedy had taken place. Two thousand years ago, Albatross, his own great-grandfather, slaughtered twenty dragons. He caries the same power he does. Even right now, he could kill all of his friends. One stray thought and who knows what would happen.

"Well, don't just stand there!" Kinkajou bounced ahead. "We've got a whole palace to explore! I call looking on the upper floors with Moon!"

"Wh- me? Uh...okay then?" She stepped forward, following after her. "See you, I guess?" She waved to Qibli and Turtle before disappearing off into the courtyard.

"So, that just leaves me and you." Qibli rested his wing on Turtle, pulling him closer.

"Hurray..."

"Where you wanna go? If they're going up, let's check out the ground floor. Gardens. See some cool old statues that've been crumbling from age."

"What fun..."

Qibli frowned. "Hey, look. I know you're a bit freaked out. You didn't really want to come here. I'm sorry for dragging you along. But, I promise it'll be fun! There's nothing here to hurt any of us. Even if Albatross is still floating around somewhere, I'll be there protecting all of you." He raised his tail, showing off his obsidian-black barb.

Turtle awkwardly chuckled. "I don't think you can really stab a spirit."

"Are you saying I've never fought a spirit before?" the SandWing grinned confidently. "I'll have you know that, as Queen Thorn's personal guard and adoptive son, I had to fend off armies of spirits. Vengeful ghosts of dragons. Such is the way of being queen, I suppose. Anyways, I just need to fight them. Give them the ol' one-two. Beat 'em off with a stick." He swung his arm, mimicking hitting something.

He laughed, feeling his anxieties melt away. Qibli looked back at him, a soft, genuine smile on his face. "Feel a bit better?" He patted him on the back. "Right, let's go exploring."

[caspalooza]

It sounds dramatic, but growing up, I agonized over the fact that I was repulsed by sex. I thought I wanted to be in a relationship but that it wouldn't be possible (or at the very least, not fair to the other person) to be in one without sex in it. I was convinced that romance is The Thing That Completes You, so I thought my options were "deal with sex against my will" or "be alone forever".

When I finally learned the term "asexuality"... well, I didn't really grasp the concept of attraction types, so I pretty much went, "man, I WISH I was asexual, instead there's just something wrong with me" and carried on.

I think I was nearing 17 when I finally decided to look into asexuality for longer than 5 minutes, mostly out of sheer desperation. I had vaguely known that sexual attraction and romantic attraction were separate terms, but I had always thought of sexual attraction as being a hyperbolic term for romantic attraction. And that sexual attraction only actually existed in movies and books and the like for dramatic effect or comedy. I don't remember what made it click, but when it hit me that it was fucking REAL and that most of the people around me had been experiencing it for a LONG TIME I finally felt that moment that I guess every person has at some point in their life of lost innocence. At SIXTEEN. LOL.

It is undoubtedly funny, but it was also scary. Over my life I had experienced things and acted in ways I thought were fine and normal, purely because I was straight up clueless about sexual attraction. It was never taught to me in any form because I guess there's an assumption everybody experiences it and therefore knows for themselves what it's like. So while there was a feeling of elation, I guess, because I wasn't alone and I wasn't broken, there was also a lot of horror and disgust that came with it because a lot of memories from my life were being dug up and put in this new context in a very not good way. And I can be more careful now, but dear lord what I would give to have been taught these things way, way sooner.

The romantic side is a nightmare in a different way. Ages ago, I developed a pretty silly-sounding fear that I secretly had crushes on all the people I met (and/or worse, that they reciprocated) that still won't go away no matter how hard I ignore the voices! That's paranoia for you, I guess. So it's hard to know for sure if I actually have a crush on somebody or if it's just the paranoia, but I think the fact that I know how it feels means I probably have, at least once, even if the thought of actually acting on romantic feelings sounds like the worst thing ever. I used to be really big into the idea of it, though, that's for sure. For years, I lived vicariously through my hundreds of fandom and oc ships. And I do still love exploring romantic relationship dynamics through fiction, but now it's more because I think The Inner-Workings of People and Relationships Are Fascinating than because I have any desire to live it for myself.

At the very least, the realization that I was ace and potentially aro helped me to pull myself out of my sad pit. And though I've never been super involved with the aspec community (out of shyness), If nothing else I credit all the lovely people in it for indirectly teaching me how important and fulfilling friendships and platonic bonds of all kinds can be. And that platonic/romantic/etc. love and attraction shouldn't be tiered as more or less important or fulfilling than one another, just different. It seems like a simple and obvious concept to me now, but it genuinely changed my outlook on life when I was first exposed to it.

Looking back at the things I actually wanted (and didn't want) out of my hypothetical "perfect romantic relationship" (no romantic gestures, just cuddling lol) I realized I pretty much only ever wanted an affectionate, possibly committed friendship (something like a qpr) and only assumed it was romance because... well, everybody is supposed to want romance! And seeing as my early friends and family weren't super affectionate people, it was pretty easy for me to believe that physical affection only came from a romantic partner.

All in all though, I've realized that, at least for me, it's not super helpful to think of different relationship types as strict categories or boxes. Humans are just more complex than that. And It's kinda ironic that the same community that often faces the "loveless" stereotype is the same one that opened my eyes to the fact that there are so, so many ways to experience profound and fulfilling love. And I think that's beautiful!!!!! HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!!

[lady-charinette]

An Analysis of Halloween Ends

The movie isn't that bad, I liked the concept they introduced; to show Allyson also had conflict via Corey, being tempted by evil, clashing with her grandmother, old vs new generation and their differences.

Laurie still being blamed and ostracized for Michael's killings, despite her heroic and survivor role in it and trying to make things better.

But why not show that conflict between Allyson and Laurie by having Haddonfield try to get Allyson on their side, to convince her that her grandmother is also a monster just like Michael, to convince her that her entire family is evil and Allyson tries to distance herself from that by trying to distance herself from Laurie?

Blaming Laurie for all her past deeds, how she barricaded and weaponized herself for years, wasting her life, waiting for Michael to come and finally kill him. Laurie coming to terms with that through writing her memoirs, self reflecting her role, her family's role but also Haddonfield's role in the creation of Michael Myers.

Allyson fighting with what she knows about her family and what the people are telling her, maybe going to the local library and reading about what happened all those years ago. Reconnecting with Laurie again and reaffirming her role in the family.

IMO it was a bit...odd to introduce a new character in the last trilogy that didn't really have any impact on the main storyline. Corey was supposed to bear Michael's legacy, he was supposed to contradict what the town thought of Michael's creation: the nature vs nurture debacle.

A lot of people justified Michael's creation and evil by saying he was born that way, it wasn't due to the abuse he suffered or anything else, it was in his nature to be evil.

Corey started out a good guy, he was babysitting a kid and trying to play with him (ignoring that he watched a horror movie with a little child). But the accident and the town's accusations and stigmatization of him, along with the constant bullying and harassment, caused him to go down a dark path. Corey was nurtured into evil.

Allyson was this beacon of light in his life, just like family was Laurie's light that prevented her from turning evil. It was supposed to be that silver lining that made Corey tried to do better.

The first encounter between Michael and Corey could've went like this:

Michael choking Corey, them locking eyes and Michael seeing Corey's memories of the accident; seeing the potential to kill in him.

He passes on the legacy to Corey, the power of the Shape to wreak havoc and finish what Michael started. Cue the Master Splinter-ification of Michael in the sewers, chilling with the rats to sort of "mentor" Corey; showing how to wield and hold the knife, calmly staring into Corey's eyes whenever he has a panic. Or not even that. Michael just...slithers away back into the sewers and disappears.

Michael Myers would be gone. But The Shape stays and slays.

If Michael stayed and the scene between Corey and Laurie went differently:

Corey goes on his monolog about, if he couldn't have Allyson then nobody will.

He goes in for the kill, to finally kill Laurie, but Michael intervenes and brutally kills Corey instead. While staring into Michael's eyes, Corey stutters:"...I...I thought you...wanted...to kill....her."

Michael, of course, doesn't say anything. Just before Corey dies, Michael turns back to Laurie. Laurie was in shock that Michael showed up, but quickly recovered and slams a frying pan at his head or stabs Michael.

When Michale gets paraded around town and before he gets thrown to get shredded, Laurie stares at his remains and finally jumps into the shredder herself. Allyson is devastated, but it's necessary for the new generation to grow.

It was all set up perfectly too: Laurie was already writing her memoirs, she was old and at peace with herself and her past, she managed to kill Michael and secure her family's safety. Laurie choosing to die on her own terms and end the 'curse' of Michael Myers would've been an ideal ending to the Halloween franchise. It would've truly ended.

Which one of them dies at the end? They both die. They both die and mark an end to the past and mark the new beginning, the new future ahead of the younger generations. A future without the curse of Michael Myers to haunt people anymore.

[starry-blue-echoes]

45, 47, 49

45. Scariest/creepiest Jojo moment?

If I'm being honest? There wasn't a whole lot in Jojo's that flat out scared me. Sure there were a handful of bits which gave me the jeebies, but most of the feelings were a looming dread for who was going to die or just me feeling very very sad, which I wouldn't say was quite fear

There is one off the top of my head that was Fear though. When Kira confronted Hayato and when the kid went through the loop the first time. There was just such an eerie vibe that I couldn't quite pinpoint going on and that unknown was really freaky. I genuinely wasn't sure what Kira was going to do to him and everything about the framing and score was just chilling

(also, as an honorable mention from the one time I watched the last 10 minutes of it, just. Dio in the OVA. That was fucking terrifying and while Dio in Part 3 had more dramatics and unhinged vibes, OVA Dio was just flat out more intimidating)

47. Moment you wish could have happened?

this one's pretty easy, Mista and Trish reacting to Bucciarati's death. It felt kinda abrupt that it cut off before they got back to the Colosseum. Mista especially had been really close with the man and had been under the impression he was alive this whole time. Maybe it could've been something like the Jojolion ending, with Giorno narrating over them seeing Bucciarati's corpse and it slowly phasing to the final shot showing him as Don

heck..... maybe they could've even played a bit with Mista having some guilt about it. After all, he'd been the one to shoot his body. Maybe this could then lead to Giorno explaining what actually happened. There was just a lot that could've happened that didn't

49. If Jojo had a genre swap, what genre would you want it to be?

So according to Wikipedia, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is considered an "Adventure, Fantasy, and Supernatural" and I'll be basing my choice off that

and after looking over a quick list of genres, I'd probably have to pick horror. Now, normally I'm not much of a straight horror fan myself, however Jojo's being a horror is just such a fun concept in my head. Playing with just how terrifying Stands can be, really diving into the psychological and physical terrors that arises from it, there's just so much potential for it