#of course i'm very sad for the people who will lose their jobs and it represents the end of an era for a super dedicated fandom

[kkoraki]

HA HA HA… YES! good riddance to godawful rubbish!

[wearepurplejackets]

Little recap of episode 4 of season 4 of Wakfu

Look at this!!

You saw this beautiful smile???? This smile can stop babies from crying (and Nora). This smile can revive a puppy.

You saw it???

Well, I hope you did because I think we'll not see it in a really loooooooong time~ (maybe 9... Or 10 episodes.) The storm is coming... violently with a bat.

(BEHOLD SPOILERS OF EP 4 OF SEASON 4 OF WAKFU)

I remember Tot said season 4 was gonna be sad a f*ck and that Yugo will have to pass some kind of "hard trial" (AGAIN) in this season because this kid will never have a good rest. Not even a breath. Stop. Give this little boy some holidays c'mon, the lord is always testing our little angel to the limit. (And by lord I mean Ankama I'm looking at you...)

So it's very likely that Yugo will start to suffer even more in the next episode. And of course, in the entire season :))))))) Let this boy have something, someone precious by his side more than an instant and stop take it from him in the next second, I beg you. (He just found his family... And... Qilby I guess. And Adamai just abandoned him already to investigate by his own way...)

Just seeing how the kings and queens of every nation were so disrespectful in front of him and just called his mother a monster and made her cry, well. (I want to riot! When Joris said they were "quite tense" he fell short.)

Okay, yes, I understand the eyes in the sky~ are pretty creepy and of course I don't trust her either, at least, like this is so suspicious for sure, no one was born yesterday even when she is trying to be so kind and helpful monitoring the entire planet (yeessss mom, way too much).

But, c'mon, this is a goddess as tall as... I don't know, as much as she wants, girl she is made of f*cking magic. If she wanted she could erase you from existence. She didn't have to give a f*ck about anyone and HERE WE ARE~

The best thing you can do is looking for a fight with her in the moment you meet her with no hesitasion? Do you want to die that much? Do you know about survival? Did you skip that class maybe? (I'm going for a tea BECAUSE-)

It was so necessary to (be a little racist dear rich people and) insult the giant blue mother of your hero in his f*cking face and the people who are at least trying to do your job (which any of you losers did well, like ever, btw. When Sadida kingdom was about to be destroyed by the chaos of Ogrest what did you do?? Eh, where were you???)

Jobs like protecting and saving your citizens from, nothing, being robbed and I don't know: imminent death??? I mean, really? Was that all you thought about in this situation? Being a d*ck was your best choice.

These same guys here were talking about stolen freedom?? What freedom? The brotherhood of Tofu had to save your asses for like 3 season. 3 ovas and dozens of comics. The same people who criticize others actions but never assist and reunite when they are needed, Cause I don't know Rick, it seems a little fake....

Yugo just met his mom and his sis and he already has the world of 12 hating them... Like wow, the rulers are all going to die in the hands of that kind of white demon/zombies of TLOU/soul suckers or whatever they are. And I really don't give a f*ck for any of them, ladies and gentlemen. Only the crowns are going to remain. (Down with the monarchy.)

Weeeeeeeell.

You know what? I don't care what Yugo will do from this point. Nop, not a bit. But I'm with him to the end of everything. I will support you honey, I will defend you no matter what. I mean, I'll be totally okay if he decides to save the world for the third f*cking time and I also will be okay if in the end he prefers to let all these motherf*ckers die in an instant with no mercy and no regre-

And it could even happen that Yugo loses someone important in season 4... (The same way I will lose my mind.) Hope that never happens, I just swear to god-

Anyway, Yugo fans, unite and brace yourselves.

[simphornies]

So my sad gay self found this while scrollin: https://youtube.com/shorts/KTjKsm2uLPA?si=aHCxEMjey1iZ_u0A

Very cute, very wholesome I AM YEARNING. So if I may request a mlm!reader who will just casually people soda tabs as a subtle means of flirting or asking for affection (mostly because its such a uncommon practice that it removes most of the actual stress of flirting) with Vox?

No pressure, please take you time! Kisses darling <3

-📽

A/N: Honestly the soda tab thing is SO CUTE. I'm experimenting with more with how I write Vox so hopefully this is good

Word Count: 1.7k (1,755)

Soda Tab [ Vox x M!Reader ]

“Vox what the fuck is that?” Velvette pointed at a jar full of soda tabs on his desks.

“I’m gonna be real honest with you.” He took a deep breath in, “I have no fucking idea.”

You were just a regular sinner in the Pride Ring. You grew tired of the one time dates that ended with your date wanting to take you home into their bedroom. You held yourself to a standard. It made sense why you were placed in this ring considering your pride never allowed you the speak freely, not wanting to damage whatever was left of your reputation after a failed relationship.

You eventually landed a job with VoxTek as an operation’s manager. The job wasn’t easy but it paid and gave you shelter. Your soul remained intact but your sanity was slipping.

Then it all changed when the fire nation attacked when Vox personally invited you into his office to discuss a promotion. He needed someone that could hold their composure better than the Vees during important meetings and speak on their behalf. You were basically Vox’s representative so they wouldn’t have to deal with whatever, or whoever, you had to deal with. You held your status with pride and Vox admired the way you didn’t take anybody’s shit professionally.

After years of working with the Vees, you became close with them. Conversations with the three weren’t easy but they were mandatory for you to be able to represent them properly. You and Vox were particularly close.

So when he invited you to a celebratory dinner, you donned yourself in the best suit money could buy and set off. You never admitted it but Valentino definitely caught onto your secret crush on Vox.

Vox rarely faltered his usual persona in front of you, only losing composure a couple of times when his emotions were at an all time high. What you didn’t know is how he admired your consistency with perfection. Perfection. Running this business with Velvette and Valentino, who are both hot-heads in their own way, was difficult at times but since you stepped in, it’s been smooth sailing. Your constant shower of praise fueled his ego and he enjoyed keeping you around, just so he can get his fill of ego juice.

This dinner he arranged was to celebrate your work, and to boast about how he’s so smart and picked perfectly because of course he picked perfectly. He was the Vox after all. So when he saw you running up to him a couple minutes early before the arranged meeting time at the limo, he was taken aback at your suit. He was enamored.

You matched him in colors, even wearing the same bowtie as him but blue. Your suit was a darker shade of his and he loved it. It was perfect. You were perfect to him. He didn’t know why his heart pounded louder so he assumed that he was just excited to talk about how he made an amazing decision to you.

“Vox, sir! I hope you weren’t awaiting my arrival.” You said, anxiously fixing your suit and straightening out any loose ends.

“Oh don’t worry about anything. I just got here. The suit is perfect. Where did you get it?” Vox spoke, looking down at you with his hands behind his back.

“I listened to your suggestion, sir, and went to Velvette to get suited. I paid her in full, of course.” You spoke formally. So formal that it somehow bothered Vox in a way. As much as he loved being perfect, he wanted to see you when you weren’t so…tense.

“Paid? You shouldn’t have to worry. You are a part of the Vees, services are free for us.” He laughed. He took note of how you looked in front of him. You stood up straight, not a single thing out of place. He wondered what exactly could break this perfectionist standard you held yourself to.

.

“He likes you, Vox.” Valentino said, “I’m fuckin’ blind and I can see the way he eye fucks you whenever you start talking about how you’re the shit and you know what’s right or whatever.”

“And how can you be so sure, Val? I think he just respects me.” Vox scoffed, “Not any of that nonsense.”

“Yeah and because any other demon would willingly hang out with your egocentric bullshit. I’ve known you for years and I can’t stand hearing you say you were right. Even if you were.” Velvette rolled her eyes, “He literally posts romantic bullshit all the time and they’re all about bosses.”

“Are you stalking our employees?”

“Cut the shit. It’s not ‘stalking’ if his account is open to me.” She flipped him off, “And he’s basically a Vee. He likes you. And now you’re going on a date. Be a dear and stop beating around the fucking bush and own up to it.”

.

Vox recounted the conversation he had with the two other Vees. This wasn’t a date. Or at least he didn’t arrange it to be one to begin with but with this revelation, it might just turn out to be just that.

As the limo began to slow, he glanced over at you. He sees you fiddling with…a soda tab? He squinted at it, trying to understand why you kept fidgeting. “We’re here.”

You quickly shoved the tab in your pocket and looked at him, “I’ll get the door for you sir.” You reached for the door on your side but he stopped your hand with his own.

“No, I got it. Come on.” He opened his own door and pulled you out, keeping your hand in his as you stepped on the curb. Your hands were warm and he enjoyed it. He looked at the way you instinctively held his hand back and he couldn’t help but feel how perfect it fit in his own.

“Thank you, sir.” Your thanks got a scoff and you stiffened, pulling your hand back down to your side. “I’m sorry.”

“No. Not that.” He said, grabbing your hand again, “For tonight, call me Vox. No more of that sir bullshit.”

You nod in response, unaware of why he’d grab your hand to say that. You were even more confused when he didn’t let go until you had to sit across from him.

“Regarding today’s meetings, I’d like to discu—”

“Hush. Please. No business talk. This is to celebrate you!” He proudly spoke, “I picked the best demon to be our representative and I’d like to give you another promotion. To be one of the Vees.”

You choked on your wine, “Excuse me? Me? No, I can't possibly be a fit person for that.”

“Look. You’re aware of our image, correct?”

“Yes. Perfection.”

“Well that’s exactly why you’re going to stand by us and be part of us. I have contracts ready for you to sign so you can get a couple of souls under your belt. Some goons to do your dirty work.”

“Sir—Vox. Vox, I thought this was a business dinner regarding my work quota for the week?” You questioned.

“What—No. You already exceed the quota triple the amount majority of the time. Consider this a…date.” He grinned, taking enjoyment in your flustered state. “A congratulatory gift for your hard work and your promotion. I called it too, by the way, your success with us.”

You were dying on the inside. He just gifted you a promotion and a dinner and now the dinner’s actually a date? You panicked, not having anything to give him.

“Well…I’m flattered but I don’t have anything to give you a gift in exchange.” You rummage through your pockets. Your fingers grazed the soda tab and your cheeks flushed a light red. “Actually…Here. A small token of my appreciation.”

Vox squinted at the soda tab you held towards him. “A soda tab?” He asked, “Do you just carry soda tabs? Why?”

“Just…trinkets! You know, my little collection. Actually you’re right, I’m sorry. It’s probably stupid.” You start to retract but he swipes the soda tab out of your hand.

“No. I’ll keep it. It’s weird and a little stupid but it’s…” He flips the soda tab around, looking at it from different angles, “Admirable. In a sense. Thank you.”

Oh if only he knew what he unlocked. Ever since the date, he’s been getting soda tabs from you. You were greeted with confused acceptance every time you gave Vox one out of nowhere. He tried asking you what they’re for exactly but you’d just run off, using work as an excuse.

“Vox, when are you going to cash these in?” Velvette asks, picking a pink soda tab out of his container.

He looked up, confused, “Cash them in? What are you talking about?”

Velvette bursts into laughter, “Oh my god. You’ve just been collecting these and didn’t know?!” She taps through her phone and shows him a video explaining the soda tab trend.

His face turned red, “These…these are for kisses? He didn’t tell me these were for kisses—I thought they were just trinkets! That’s what he said!”

“Vox for someone as smart as you, you’re really fucking dumb.”

“Velvette.”

“What?”

“Can you go get him for me?”

“I guess.”

.

You walked into his office thinking it was to talk about the latest update on his Angelic Security System. “Vox, I’m pleased to inform you that production is 80% complete. I was thinking the best workers get compe—” He cuts you off by placing a single soda tab on the stack of papers you had in front of you. You look at him confused.

“I’d like to cash one in.” He says, looking at you with a confident smile.

“Cash one in…” You think for a bit and as soon as you realize he knew what they were for, panic sets in and your face turns red. “Oh! Uh—Haha. What do you mean?” You lie.

“Y/N, dear, you’re terrible at lying. You’re perfect at everything but lying. And if you wanted some special attention, you should’ve said so.” He leans closer to you as he gestures to the jar on his table, “Also. I’d like to cash in half of this jar. 280 of them, including this one, I believe.”

“Sir! I can’t possibly—” He shuts up you with a sudden peck on your lips.

“Ah ah. None of that sir bullshit. I told you to call me Vox. Now…” He leans back and pats his lap, “I believe I have 279 left? Chop chop.”

[smytherines]

Not to get too serious about something that was super fun and we all enjoyed immensely, but I keep thinking about the Mega Bastards headcanon video because the thing is...

in A1P1 Agent Mega is already shown to be drinking alcohol at inappropriate times (i.e. trying to escape a Russian weapons facility with his boyfriend). We tend to focus on Curt's drinking post-banana because of course we do. It's a traumatic event (even if it's his fault, ugh agent Mega) and definitely accelerates his drinking to the degree that he can't do his job for four years.

BUT he clearly already has a drinking problem at the beginning of the show. Owen reacts to him drinking out of the flask like this is a thing Curt regularly does, a thing Owen is at least somewhat concerned about. Curt even (very defensively) teases Owen into taking a swig himself.

So thinking about what Actor Curt Mega believes about Agent Curt Mega, that he regularly used to have to seduce women despite having no interest in women, it just makes the Mega bastards lore (as much fun as I've had with that) incredibly fucking sad. Like most things with SAF, first it's a farce, then it's a tragedy.

Curt Mega even uses the term "masking" (which definitely shot me in the heart as an AuDHD person), and while I personally headcanon Agent Mega as ADHD, there are still plenty of things that ADHDers have to conceal about themselves. A gay neurodivergent man in the 1950s-1960s would have to conceal so much about themselves that it absolutely could lead to substance use as a way to deal with it. Substance use is a pretty serious problem for ADHD & autistic (and queer!!) people precisely because we live in a society that is not built for us, that is often actively hostile to us, and we have to find ways to survive that.

Maybe this is too personal but I'm a chronic oversharer- my dad had alcohol use disorder. It destroyed his life. He passed away several years ago, and one of the hardest parts of my getting diagnosed with ADHD & autism as an adult was having to really reckon with the fact that he wasn't drinking because he was a bad person or because he didn't love me- he was drinking because he was born in the 50s and things like ADHD & autism weren't as well-understood, and as someone who was certainly autistic and possibly ADHD (there's a heavy genetic component there) he had to hide so much of himself. All the time. He was masking 24 hours a day. And I think he coped with that incredible pressure and physical and emotional distress by drinking. That drinking often made him defensive and petty and irresponsible.

Anyways, the more I think about the Mega bastards lore, the more heartbreaking it becomes. Agent Curt Mega's job requires him to have sex he doesn't want to have with people he is not attracted to. His life, safety, reputation, freedom all depend on nobody knowing he is in love with a man.

Actor Curt Mega kinda nailed it when he used the term "masking." There is really no part of Agent Mega's life where he is allowed to be himself, except for **maybe** when he and Owen are alone together, so when Owen "dies" and Agent Mega loses that one tiny place where he gets to be his authentic self, his drinking just goes over the edge.

As an Owen Carvour apologist I sometimes feel like the narrative doesn't really punish Agent Mega for being kind of an asshole in A1P1, but I'm sort of reframing it after the headcanon video, because it does make me wonder how much of that asshole behavior stems from his persistent alcohol use, his defensiveness when people point out issues arising from his alcohol use (Owen, Cynthia criticising his job performance), and the general macho tough guy affect Agent Mega has adopted to just survive living as a neurodivergent gay man in the 1950s.

I know it was just a fun unofficial kickstarter goal (and I got to make like six tinlightenment promo posts out of it so thank you for the promo content, sir), but it has legitimately kinda forced me to extend empathy to Agent Mega in a way that I didn't really do before.

Goddamn, this show has l a y e r s

[lives-in-midgard]

Afterglow

(Musician AU Part 5)

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Summary: After Steve made a bad decision he tries to apologize and get you back but can you forgive Steve?

Word Count: 2270

A/N: This is officially the last part of this AU with Steve! I'm sad to post the last part because I really enjoyed writing this AU but who knows maybe we will read about them again. I hope you all enjoyed this series and of course the final part!

I chose Afterglow as the titel of this part because I think that this song from Taylor Swift has a few lyrics that fit very well with it.

Divider made by @firefly-graphics .

Part 4 | Part 5

Masterlist | Musician AU

 It’s been a week since Steve published your song without asking or telling you. You haven’t spoken to him or seen Steve since you yelled at him that night. Steve tried calling and texting you a few times, but you never picked up or looked at his messages. You were so mad at him but also sad because he stole your song. You had known Steve long enough to know that he would never do anything without a good reason, but you needed your time to think about it.

You didn’t want to spend another day alone in your apartment and decided to go to Romanoff’s bar to visit Yelena at work. After the bodyguard Alexei let you in, you went straight to the bar to talk to your friend. Yelena greeted you with a smile and then you talked for a while.

“Have you listened to the song?” Yelena asked.

“No, I…can’t.” You answered. You really haven’t listened to the song yet. Every time it came on the radio, you quickly put on something different. But you saw the fan reviews and saw that the people love The Midnight Rockers’ new song but you couldn’t listen to it, you just can’t.

“You should hear the song Y/N. You really should.”

“You like it?” You nervously asked her.

“It’s so good Y/N, they did such a good job in recording your song.” You talked for a while until you decided to drive home. When you got home you couldn’t stop thinking about what Yelena said. So you sat down on your couch, opened YouTube and clicked on the new Midnight Rockers song. The melody started and you couldn’t believe it. With every lyric they sang, the song got better and better. You could hear drums and a guitar in the background. You knew what part of the song was coming next, and when you heard Steve singing it, a tear ran down your cheek. This lyric means so much to you and you still can’t believe that so many people heard your song. When the song ended, you played it again and then looked through the comments.

“I.love.Steve” commented “OMG this song is so good. I love Steve’s part so much!!”

“Samsgirl” commented “Why does Sam only have one solo part??? But good song though.”

“BuckyBarnesStan” commented “Why is this so good?!”

“Bartonfan” commented “This is such a masterpiece!”

You were smiling, but the last comment remined you of what Steve did. The fans and Yelena were right, the song sounds really good, but that doesn’t mean you can forgive Steve right away, but you also don’t want to lose him again.

You sat there for a while until you heard a knock on your door. You got up and walked to the door. When you opened it, you saw Bucky standing there.

“Hey, Y/N.”

“Hey, Buck.”

Bucky came over and tried to convince you to talk to Steve or at least let Steve talk to you. He said how sorry Steve was and that he never wanted to hurt your feelings.

“I’m not sure if I can forgive him so easily.” You said after a while.

“I can totally understand that, but just think about what I said, okay?” Bucky asked and you nodded. You hugged Bucky as a goodbye and then thought about what he said.

It’s been two days since Bucky visited you. And well, he was right, you should listen to what Steve has to say to you, especially if you don’t want to lose him again. You walked around the room, trying to think of an idea what to do.

Should you just call him? Or maybe drive to his apartment? But if he’s not there, what then? Maybe you should text him?

Yeah, that’s a good idea, you thought and clicked on his number, trying to form a good sentence but you immediately deleted everything you wrote. You were just typing your next idea when you suddenly received a message from Yelena.

“Turn on your local radio!”

You were about to ask her why when another message came through.

“Don’t ask why, just do it.”

You chuckled and then did as your best friend said. When you turned the radio on, a song was playing. After a few lyrics you had to smile because that was one of the songs you and Steve used to listen to when you were in high school. The next song came on and again it was one that reminded you of a moment with Steve and you had to smile. The third song that played was the first song that Steve and the band covered in high school and played for you. You looked out the window and then noticed that it was starting to rain and heard the rain splashing against the window. Then another song came on, one by the Midnight Rockers. One that Steve told you is about you.

"For most of you these were just a few random songs, but for Steve from Brooklyn these songs have a special meaning to him and also to someone very close to him. So, here is Steve who has a message for this special girl." You sighed and a slight smile grew on your face. That must be your Steve.

"Hey love. I'm not sure if you’re hearing this now, but if you are, I want you to let you know that I'm so sorry and I regret that I did that. I hope you can forgive me one day. And if you want to talk to me, please just call me."

The message ended and you didn't have to hesitate. You pulled out your phone and dialed Steve's number and it only took a few seconds for Steve to answer.

"Hey, Steve."

"Hey." He softly said.

"I'm so sorry." You both said at the same time and then chuckled.

"You first." You said that again at the same time, making you blush. You stayed quiet for a moment, waiting for Steve to talk.

"I'm so sorry for what I did. Please let me explain it to you."

"Maybe you should come over. It's better to talk about it in person and I‘d like to see you too." You suggested.

"Then you should go to your door because I'm already outside of your apartment." You had to smile, but then you remembered that it was raining outside.

“Steve, it's raining."

"I know, so would you please come down and open the door for me." You opened your apartment door and ran down the stairs. When you got to the front door you could hear that it was raining quite heavily. So you quickly opened the door and saw Steve standing in the purring rain. You just looked at each other and it felt like the time stopped for a moment. Coming back to reality, you grabbed his hand and pulled Steve inside.

"Hey." Steve said and smiled.

"Hey, come on let's go upstairs to my apartment where it's warm." You said and you both walked up the stairs to your apartment. When you reached your apartment, you opened the door and walked inside. You looked at Steve who was standing there completely soaked from the rain.

"Oh, Steve, how about you change into some other clothes and then we can talk?" You suggested and Steve nodded. Steve followed you into your room and watched as you picked out some fresh clothes that he had left there a while ago. As you handed it to him, your hands touched and both smiled at each other. You went into the living room and sat down on the couch while Steve put on some fresh clothes.

After a while Steve entered the room with new clothes. He smiled slightly at you and then sat down next to you. You were looking at each other and silence began to grow. Steve took a deep breath and then decided to tell you everything.

"It all started when I had no inspiration for a new song. Tony, my manager, was getting on my nerves and then when I wrote one and he didn't like it, I remembered your song and how good it is. How much people would like it and how much I love it..." He paused for a moment, considering how to say the following things.

"Then I kind of panicked and took a picture of it, composed the melody to it and showed it to Bucky, Sam and Clint. They all liked it and so did Tony. I know it wasn't right, but in that moment it seemed like my only choice. I'm really sorry. " You were sorry and sad that Steve couldn't talk to you about it.

"Why didn't you tell me how you felt?" You asked him and he looked at the floor.

"I'm not sure."

"But I want to do this right. I want to tell it Tony and if it's okay for you then I I’ll announce that it wasn't me who wrote it, but a very talented woman." You reached for his hand and smiled at him.

"Is it okay if I think about it and then tell you?"

"Of course, swe-" Steve held back from saying “sweetheart” because of the argument you had the last time he wanted to say it.

"You can say it, honey." You said, making Steve smile.

"I missed you so much, sweetheart." Steve finally said it again. You placed your head on his shoulder and sat there for a while. You thought about what he said and if he should tell the world that you wrote the song.

After a while you looked up to him, held his cheek and kissed.

"I forgive you, honey. I know you didn't want to hurt me, but I won't forget it anytime soon." Steve sighed but nodded.

"That's okay and I understand that. I'm just glad to have you back."

"Me too." You said, laying your head back on his shoulder.

A week passed and almost everything was back to normal. Steve was back in your life, and you spent a lot of time with Bucky, Sam and Clint. Steve told Mr. Stark, his manager, about the song, your song. You still haven’t decided if you want the world to know, but after thinking about it and talking to Yelena and also Bucky, you’ve decided to tell Steve what you think he should do.

The movie you were watching ended and you laid there cuddling with Steve for a while.

“Stevie?” You looked up after a while.

“Yes, honey.” Steve smiled at you.

“I …I think I want the world to know that I wrote this song.”

“Are you sure?” Steve asked and you nodded.

“Okay, then I’ll tell Tony tomorrow. If that’s okay?”

“That’s okay.” Steve smiled at you and then kissed you softly.

When Steve got home from the meeting with Tony, he was really excited and said that his manager wants to meet you. You were nervous, but then agreed to come to a meeting with Steve. The other band members of the Midnight Rockers were also there and gave you comforting smiles.

The meeting started and Tony greeted you and after a while he finally said why he wanted you to come to the meeting.

“As we know, all the fans love your song and so do we. And I was wondering if you have a few more songs?” You got nervous and Steve took your hand and gave you a smile.

“Yeah, I have some more.” You said and Tony nodded.

“They’re all very good too.” Steve suddenly said and Tony nodded again.

“When Steve told me this song wasn’t his or the other members’, I came up with this idea.”

“What if you were the new co-writer of the Midnight Rockers?” He said and you let his words sink in. You as a co-writer that would change so much! But it would be a great chance…people would hear your songs. You would work together with Steve, Bucky, Sam and Clint.

“Of course, you can think about it first.” Tony said.

“No, I don’t think I have to.” You said and Tony nodded, thinking that would be a no.

“That’s okay.”

“Because I would really like to be the new co-writer of the band.” You said, seeing that Steve had a proud smile on his face just like the boys.

You signed a paper and talked about how the band would tell the fans about it. After talking for a while, they all agreed to make a video on Instagram where they say that the new song was written by their new co-writer, who also happens to be Steve’s girlfriend.

From that moment on a lot changed for you and also for the band. You had a press conference with them as their new co-writer. Then you had to quit your job and started writing songs with Steve and sometimes professionally with the others.

There were days when you and Steve would lie on the floor with papers and the guitar, trying to write a new song, or you would go to places where you could both find inspiration. You laughed and enjoyed so many great and funny moments together and were always so happy when you finished a new song. Seeing them record your songs and then sing them in front of an audience made you so happy. Steve is so proud of you and you are proud of him.

You had such great moments together and it was just the start of the beginning.

Taglist:

@jamneuromain | @magnificentsaladllama | @armystay89 | @marvelogic | @rogersbarber | @eviebuggg | @nicoline1998enilocin | @nekoannie-chan | @kandis-mom | @sergeantbarnessdoll | @noellez-best-life23 | @sgtgarricks | @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 | @cutedisneygrl | @mrsbuckybarnes1917

[nsyncat]

OK, so this is my first post EVER since I joined Tumblr like ten years ago. Always been a lurker, enjoying all of the wonderful things here, the gifs, fics, ships, art, all the knowledge and all the amazing heritage posts, but never posting and hardly reblogging, I don't know why, was always afraid I would make a mistake or reblogg incorrectly...

Anyway, the reason this is my first time posting is because THAT amazing moment that happened a week ago, and I've been losing my mind ever since, and unfortunately I have nobody to share this excitement with that will understand... So I had to get it out somehow, and here seems like the perfect place to do so.

I don't know if anybody will read this or pay it any attention, but never mind, I just have TO. GET. IT ALL. OUT!

So I've been a loyal fan of 9-1-1 this past six years, got hooked to these kind of first responders dramas, also Station 19 and then of course Lone Star. I fell in love with the writing, the drama and action, the characters of course, the emotional and moving stories, both of the regular cast and the people in the emergencies (am not afraid to admit that I cried more than a few times, especially when I was pregnant... woooh, that was a tough season for me).

Anyway, like everyone else, got invested in Buck's storyline and of course hopped on the Buddie train in season 2. And obviously there was something between them, and the fandom always clowned themselves that "in the next season SOMETHING is going to happen!" and I always wanted to believe it, and also fooled myself a few times but always was the cold harsh realist and realised it was not going to happen... But enjoyed the ride nonetheless, read amazing fics, saw wonderful fanart, read interesting breakdowns and analysis.

And then 704 happened and I'm not joking or exaggerating, my life changed!

Confirming that Buck is Bi was amazing! I'm ashamed to admit that I really thought it won't happen, EVER! So I still can't believe it actually happened (thank you soooo much ABC!) and like a lot of you, I've been on cloud nine this past week and can't wait for tomorrows episode (also not from the US), literally counting down the hours.

And look, I love Buddie, I really do, but I fell in love with TEVAN (my favourite one yet) 😍 and been OBSESSED with them this past week. Just from those few moments between them and what we barely know that is going to happen the next episode, I truly fell in love with them and really hope they make it as far as they can. I think its an amazing thing for Buck and also CANT. STOP. WATCHING THE KISS! The actors did an incredible job, especially Oliver, also with his spoken support of the storyline and his love for Buck. Such a KING! So this whole thing is huge.

And I have a one-year-old, my life is hectic with taking care of a little human being, a hubby who is also very busy, work, family and a million other things and this past year with a heavy heart I kinda neglected reading fics, and it was my main hobby, my escape, my one and constant thing in my LIFE since I was 12. I do read here and there, but not like I used to, reading hours and hours and into the night, multi chapters and long oneshots, in multiple fandoms, and now whenever I do get to read something once In a blue moon I'm not fully invested or enjoying it because either I'm tired or have something else more important to do. And unfortunately, eventually I noticed that I lost this fire, the passion in me and it left me sad and heartbroken...

And then something incredible happened. Ever since that earth-shattering kiss, the fire and passion came back! Holy shit! I've been reading and ENJOYING fics nonstop this whole week, I can't concentrate on work thinking about everything and reading in-between tasks, I use every single free minute I have to search new fics and scroll through the tags, I go to sleep late because I need to read just one more fic(!!!) even tough I have to wake up very early in the morning and I DON'T EVEN CARE. I'm thinking about it sooo much and imagining new scenarios in my head, and feeling giddy and happy, in a good mood a lot of the time, more optimistic, knowing I have a new and exciting place I can "escape" to, like I had in the past.

Its not that i'm not happy, I have an amazing son and a wonderful husband and I cherish every moment with them, but these are hard and difficult times and life can be hard and stressful and I'm a different kind of happy... So these past few days have been nourishment for my soul and my mood, it sounds so silly but its true! I'm feeling a bit like my old self and it's amazing.

And if someone did read this or did pay attention and got to this point, sorry for the long rant and thank you so much for the patience and understanding 🙏 I love you and wish you a wonderful weekend and happy Buck's-first-date-with-a-man day! 🥰

So I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, ABC, Oliver, Lou and you crazy lot for resurrecting my old fangirl self 😌 I'm so grateful for all your posts, your takes, your similar enjoyment and of course your amazing fics you're writing and sharing 🩵

[itsclydebitches]

IT'S BEEN A DOOZY OF A DAY, FOLKS

Yeah I've got a couple asks about it lol. (Always a terrifying experience when you log onto tumblr and immediately wonder why your inbox blew up...)

Man, I don't even know how I'm feeling right now. We've spent so many months working on the semi-confident assumption that RWBY would be cancelled that on the one hand I can't feel very shocked about this. On the other hand there's definitely a wide-eyed part of my brain going, "Holy shit the 'RT is failing' theories finally came true O_O" I'm kinda devastated that a company that's been a part of my life for almost a decade (and for other fans far longer) is just up and gone, but simultaneously I don't care because what I loved about RT hasn't existed for some time now. We've already been dealing with that nostlgia for years, we just got a hell of a concentrated dose of it today. There's admittedly some level of vindication regarding those who've been pulling shit in the company for so long and empathy for those who were just getting by and are now suddenly out of a job. There's regret that (despite my tendency to fall VERY behind on projects. RIP I owe everyone in this fandom a massive apology) I'll probably never have an official end to my RWBY Recaps. And there's worry about how this will impact the fandom...

Yeah, not to jump on the pessimism train, but I feel like this is going to catapult some fans' misreadings into new territory. RWBY is now forever the show that was canonically unfinished and thus its perfection is assured. Think there are major issues in Volume 9 and earlier? Nah, that's setup for Volumes we just never got. Catch a contradition or other mistake? They would have explained that if they could. Any possible issues with the show if it gets picked up by someone else? Well, of course there are issues, RT isn't writing it! This was already a fandom where having accurate, nuanced discussions about the text was hard as hell... but it just got so much worse.

Honestly, I say let it go. If they're going to do anything I'd prefer a complete reboot/reworking so that this story might stand a chance. Airing new RWBY Volumes was already beating a dead horse. Resurrecting the horse to start beating it anew just feels ridiculous. Yes, I'm sad for those fans who wanted an official ending, but we've spent so much time waiting on RWBY, being worried about RWBY's future, and I personally have encounted so many shows lately whose finales soured my enjoyment that there's something reassuring in the combination of definitive ambuguity here: you know you're not getting an ending by RT, so just have fun imagining your own.

Overall, I feel like I've got to sit with this for a while, you know? I totally get why so many fans (partiuclarly RWDE fans) are celebrating and/or releasing a sigh of relief right now. I'm honestly surprised I haven't seen any crabs yet lol. But maybe it's just because I'm "old" my tumblr's standards, but there's something undeniably sad about losing that part of your fandom life. Or at least, losing what led to/represents that life. Getting introduced to RWBY by a friend, binging it for the first time, pulling new people in, finding like-minded friends here on tumblr, analyzing it for thousands of words, tracing its history and watching how radically it has changed... that's gone now. Not actually because RWBY still exists, as do my friends, and there's nothing stopping me from writing as much fic/meta as I want, but it still feels like someone closed a door on that part of my life. That's not wholly a bad thing given what RT has been lately, but I do think it'll take more than one post for me to unpack it all.

[verdemoun]

number one kieran duffy fan here i need to know more abt mac or i think ill die. not even with kieran just. tell me abt this silly goose

MAAAAAAAAAAAC

silly goose is the perfect descriptive because mac is just a goose. he is bill but with a sense of humor. he just also happens to be a) ready to escalate to violence at any given second b) shares the john marston curse of happening to look like a really, really intimidating guy and not knowing how to switch it off

he's serving guy who does a little too well in a zombie apocalypse. sure mac enjoyed being an outlaw, sure the one thing in life he is really good at is shooting to kill, but also he was raising his brother from such a young age he really didn't have any opportunity to be anything else.

when he gets out of prison and hosea puts his foot down like no robberies no guns no outlawing we are going straight (well-) mac is kind of like a retired hunting dog learning to be a house pet. he doesn't know how to relax or do things not for survival. there was the necessary push back of what the fuck am i meant to do i'm not good for anything else and hosea shouted back to get a damned hobby or a job

but also post-timewarp post-prison was the first time in his life he's just been safe enough to have a moment to breathe and figure out who he is outside of outlawing (gay). who would've guessed mac callander could read? not only that but he enjoys reading now that he actually has time for it. also one of the only members of the gang to get into sports and will shout at the tv in the last quarter

mac and kieran's friendship works so well because they both identify with 'my resting heart rate registers as a panic attack' but in opposite directions. mac will watch kieran look in the pantry for two hours because he has a craving and hasn't figured out for what yet before suddenly asking mac to walk with him to the local mexican food truck because if he doesn't have a taco he will lose all ability to function for the rest of the day. mac doesn't know what a taco is so 'sure is it dangerous should i bring a knife?'

mac also deeply loves horses he's not taming wild horses riding bareback in love with horses like kieran and arthur but he does love horses and just feels warmth and peace at just the sight of them. he doesn't care if it's the 7th showing of war horse that week he will sit down and watch it with kieran. he will also cry while trying to not make it obvious he is crying like still gruff voice 'course i'm sad the horse collapsed and it's not getting up' while frantically wiping tears away when someone else enters the room

mac is also working through gay panic internalized homophobia. he is fine with the gays and is very dismissive of how much more visible the community is in modern era because why would he, a straight man, care - but gets aggressively agitated when people suggest he is gay. because he is absolutely gold star gay. wouldn't ever formally come out but eventually gets to the point of being able to say he lives with bill without looking ready to kill someone

has a job at a wholefoods stacking fruit before joining bill as a farmhand and thus acquires a really bizarre knowledge of all things fruit and veg. can go on a 20 minute tangent about what classifies as organic produce and which apple is superior for apple pie and how to pick the perfect watermelon without slapping it. still doesn't know how to talk without sounding like he's threatening someone but is genuinely excited to know about something other than where to shoot a man to guarantee they'll bleed out.

trust getting an invite to bill and mac's dingy trailer for dinner is going to be the best meat and veg roast of your life

[oliversrarebooks]

Ooh ooh I just had A Thought. How would Lily react to my OC Val (S) who would put up zero resistance to being conditioned?

Val is a great OC and definitely deserves the Lily Treatment.

Masterlist

TW: Mind control, hypnotic induction

"Well, you're a well-behaved one, aren't you?"

"That's what my teachers often told me," said Val, sinking into the comfortable leather chair, not looking at the vampire across from her. Lily looked a lot like a schoolteacher, with a sensible blue cardigan over a modest gray dress, with a sweet smile that seemed calculated to put people at ease.

Of course, Val knew better. They'd seen Lily take the other people from the cells and return them in varying states of mindless obedience. 

Val knew they should be struggling, should be fighting this with all their might. But they knew it was a battle they didn't stand a chance of winning. The vampires were strong and powerful, they clearly knew what they were doing, and there were a lot of them patrolling the auction house.

Not to mention the fact that even the thought of causing trouble caused them to freeze up in a wave of cold, overwhelming fear.

So yes, Val had been well-behaved.

"I think it's very smart, and not because it makes my job easier. And not just because resistance is completely futile for you, either," said Lily. "If you're well-behaved, and don't resist, it'll be a lot easier to preserve your mind. Not only is that good news for you on its own, it also means you're more likely to be bought by a master who enjoys the company of humans. It's a winning situation for everyone."

Val nodded, feeling miserable. What Lily said might actually be correct, but it didn't really make them feel all that much better at having effectively just given up. 

"You don't seem to see it that way, of course." Lily leaned in, with an expression that almost seemed like genuine concern. "You're so sad and fearful. You're scared of what I'm going to do, aren't you?"

Val had to hold themself back from a sarcastic remark. Obviously they was scared of the vampire here to wipe their mind and turn them into some obedient thrall. "No," they lied. "I'm fine. Go ahead and do what you're going to do."

"You don't need to be scared -- "

"I'm not scared!" they snapped, and then immediately shrank back into their seat. Great move, shouting at Lily, angering the vampire who held their fate in her hands.

"I know you're scared. And I'm not angry," said Lily, in a strangely reassuring way. "Everyone who comes in here with me is scared."

"Even if I am scared, it doesn't change what you're going to do to me."

"It does, actually," said Lily. "Well, you're going to be a thrall either way. But I was completely honest that you'll have a much better outcome if you're honest with me and don't resist. My powers are very relaxing and pleasant... but only if you don't fight them."

Of course, she would say that. Much more convenient to not have to subdue a struggling human, no doubt. But there also wasn't a real reason to doubt her, either, especially if they weren't walking out of here with their mind intact either way.

"Let's try something. Humor me," said Lily. "I'll give you one command. One simple, harmless command, with my powers. You won't resist it, and you'll see how it feels. If it's awful, you can fight me all you like. But if it's not, then maybe we can come to an understanding."

This was probably a bad idea. The fact that Val was considering this at all was probably an indication that the mind control was starting to work. But they also didn't seriously think they were leaving this room without submitting to the vampire, so they really didn't have a lot to lose here. "Okay," they agreed. "One command, and I won't resist it."

"Very good." Lily leaned forward, so close now, and very lightly touched the sides of Val's temples. "Is this okay, dear?"

Val didn't really want to think about how nice the kind-seeming touch felt. "Yeah."

"Are you ready for your command?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." 

"Then relax."

Val frowned. Even if they wanted to be obedient and not resist the command, there was no way they could relax under these conditions. They were horrible at relaxing even when they weren't in immediate danger from vampires. Lily might as well ask them to walk on the moon or turn inside out.

"You don't need to try and relax," said Lily, as though she'd sensed Val's thoughts. "What you actually need to do is to not resist when I command you to relax."

"...I can try," said Val.

"That's all I'm asking." Lily's hands began to trace soft circles on their temples, and it felt so weirdly nice. "Now relax."

Val felt something, something in her tone of voice pushing at their mind. That must be what Lily meant. Well, they did agree to not resist one harmless command, so --

They let the command in.

And the relaxation washed over them, the first real relaxation they'd had in what was probably years. It felt amazing.

"There you are," said Lily, a hint of smugness in her voice. "You see?"

"That was..." Val struggled to find the words. They only knew that they wanted Lily to do that again.

"Relax," said Lily, her fingers brushing Val's face. "Relax, relax, relax, relax."

With every command, Val found themself floating in a sea of bliss, as their muscles finally unclenched and their anxiety washed away. Lily had been telling the truth. Her powers really were wonderful when Val wasn't resisting them.

"Now you understand," said Lily with a smile.

"Yeah..." they said softly. "Is this what it's going to be like?"

"It is," she said. "Do you like feeling this way? Be honest."

Val had no inclination to lie. "Yes."

"Then relax, dear pet." Lily brushed her hand through Val's hair. "You like being obedient, don't you? Being obedient feels so good."

They shuddered from the intense feeling. "I'm not -- I'm not sure it's exactly --"

"Shh, shh, hush. Relax. It's natural that you feel good when you're obedient. You've been so well behaved. You haven't caused any trouble. Obedience is your nature. I can tell."

Val's head felt more and more like it was being filled with soft cotton as Lily stroked her hair and talked softly. "...You think so?"

"Yes. And you're going to make an excellent thrall. You'll make a vampire very, very happy, and I'm sure they'll treat you very well."

They didn't want to hope. They'd spent their entire time in the auction house scared out of their mind of what could become of them. But the hope that things might not be awful, that they could even be pleasant --

"So obedient, so docile, so relaxed," said Lily, tracing a pattern on Val's forehead. "Let it all in, and it will feel so good."

Oh, it did. Val was staring directly into Lily's eyes now, soaking in her words uncritically, the hypnosis setting in before they'd even fully realized it. After all, obedience felt so good.

"You must be so exhausted from all that worry and struggle."

Val nodded, feeling the weight of years of stress. "I am. I'm so tired, all the time."

"Of course you are. You are so tired. So sleepy. So drowsy." Lily's finger traced downwards on Val's forehead, between their eyes. Down, down, down. "So, so deeply tired from all of that anxiety. It's going to feel so good to surrender to me and lay that heavy burden down."

"Yeah..."

"That's right. Your burden is becoming lighter and lighter even as your eyelids become heavier and heavier. You're relaxing and letting yourself be taken care of, just like you've always quietly desired. And now that you're finally relaxed, you are. So. Sleepy."

They couldn't help but yawn. Lily was right. They were so sleepy, and the room was warm and the chair was comfortable, and Lily's voice was soothing.

"Surrender," Lily whispered. "Just shut those heavy, heavy eyes and take a nice long nap, and everything you've been worried about will be all sorted out when you wake up."

Val blinked their heavy eyes. That sounded so good. They wanted to take a nap so badly; they kept yawning, and their eyelids kept drifting down, begging for sleep. They were aware in the back of their mind that this was all Lily's doing, but they didn't really care that much. All they could focus on was how tempting it was to give in and do whatever Lily said.

"Close your eyes and sleep, dear pet," said Lily. "I'm only going to train you to be more obedient and feel more pleasure, and you don't have to be awake for any of it. In fact, it's preferable that you aren't. So go ahead and shut down those heavy, tired eyes."

They couldn't do anything but nod. They felt like they were floating in a warm cloud made of sleep and peacefulness, and every time they accepted one of Lily's commands, they received a warm rush of comfort. Lily had been right. There had been no reason at all to resist. 

Val shut their eyes and began to dream.

Masterlist

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin @whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist @snakebites-and-ink @xx-adam-xx @ivycloak @irregular-book @whumpsoda @mj-or-say10 @pokemaniacgemini @whumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @shinyotachi @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @pirefyrelight @theauthorintraining-blog @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada @typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable

[coeluvr]

As much as I would love for Alistair to be alive, I've honestly started wondering if it would actually be better that he did die. Both for his and Mc's sake. I know its sad, but otherwise I could see him and mc facing a lot of heartbreak over it.

And its been 10 years, a whole decade. Mc may have had a hard life, but they didn't have to worry about survival/money etc. They lived in relative peace and safety. (Though I'm sure mc got food poisoning at least once..) And they did have people that tried to be there for them. Even mc's that discounted Lance and Hunter's company, they still had Fadiya and Neima. And some mc's are still super messed up. Who knows what Alistair would have had to go through. And how would that have shape him. And the agony of having his twin kidnapped and married off to the same man that killed his family.

So supposing he did survive. Its possible he's off living a relatively peaceful life, albeit still with the trama of losing his familly and nearly dieing. And he would probably be working hard to find a way to rescue Mc. Training and studying and whatnot. Best case scenario, his personality has dulled but still retained a bit of sunshine. Mellowed but still hopeful. Still a recognizable older version of himself, even if sadder overall. I think that would definitely hinge on him being rescued and taken in by a kind and loving person/family and got properly cared for emotionally and all. And I feel that is unfortunately not going to be the case if he lived. (Because of course you wouldn't let something so nice happen 😒)

Otherwise, what would have happened? Who would it have been to save him then? Would he have just layed low, gotten a lowkey job, had to steal to survive? Would he have joined some rebel/mercenary group? I feel like some groups would have seen a good oportunity for a royal in their fold. Would the people around him be kind and nurturing, or not? Would he retain his current personality?

Maybe he'd be colder, cinical. Would he have seen and lived the harsh reality of the world and turned into a bitter, cruel, and merciless version of himself, intent on revenge?

What happens when he and Mc finally reunite? Would it be the joyful occasion everyone expects? If the first case, then yes. He and Mc finally get to have a happy life together. The End. Well…maybe. Even if Alistair is still the same as Mc remembers, what about the Mc? What if they've change so drastically, caught up in their hatred and revenge, so unwilling to back down even if it destroys everyone around them? Would they still be someone Alistair could love?

But if he and Mc want revenge just as much, maybe things would work out. Would mc be able to see the change in him reflected back on them and regret what they've both turned into? What if Mc didn't want revenge. Would he aquiesce to mc's wishes or not? Would mc be horrified to see what he had become? The image they once had of him be ruined by this new version.

And past that, how would mc feel about the news of his survival being kept from them?

His body should have been missing, right? Luceris would have know if he had lived in that case, or at least suspected it, and by extention so would Lancelot. I don't know if Helios or Hunter would have know. However, even if they didn't, mc still might think that they both knew and just didn't tell them. Afterall, its not the first time things have been kept from them.

So would mc be able to forgive them, especially one who was close to them. Or would that permanently destroy any trust and friendship they had with them.

- Sorry if this was too much of a ramble. 😂 Just got to thinking a bit to much about what-ifs and all. 💕

This was very interesting, thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🫡

I think when people say they wish for Alistair to be alive, they never consider what being alive could've looked like for him. Nor the fact he could have changed and become someone who is a stranger to MC.

[consolecadet]

big complaining. please do not give me advice on any of this unless 1) we already talk AND 2) you get my consent first

Virtually everything for me right now is in some state of "it is terrible rn but I just need to hold on for a few more weeks/months" and it just. I don't have a lot of grip strength with which to hold on rn.

My tennis elbow hurts more since I started OT, or perhaps I am just more aware of it. Either way it's really bothering me and making me sad

I recently developed eczema or something like that, because of course I did, and the second I stopped steroid cream it came back just as itchy and weepy, despite aggressive moisturizing. I cannot see a dermatologist until November but I have vague hope in the form of a different steroid cream I may try in one week

The three-day low-residue diet my dietician had me try backfired horribly after I stopped it and now I'm even more scared to eat, like, beans and/or onions

I have been having trouble accessing medical supplies that I can technically get by without but really shouldn't. Dealing with it requires making tons of phone calls and/or driving to a bunch of different pharmacies, something I have no time or energy to do rn

I'm in a BMW situation and cannot resume trying to sell it until it is resolved, though it's not a big deal because I am borrowing my sister's car and will buy it from her once I have sold the BMW

Reviewing KC's edits to Latent Defects is tiring and emotionally challenging (though I'm way less upset and dramatic about it than I thought it would be)

I keep spiraling about things like the election, genocide, and the climate

Covid cases have once again risen in my area and I am nervous about that because I've socialized a lot IRL recently and don't know if I was careful enough

I agreed to do an art project with a friend that I think will be really cool, but am worried will hurt my forearm too much and/or cause extra stress which I have little capacity for rn

I am having trouble keeping in touch with friends bc the first thing to go when I get stressed is The Ability to Message People. I also have a newish local friend who messages me a lot more than I am used to and I'm worried I'm making him feel sad and uncared for bc I am so slow to respond and don't message him first very often

KC's summer break is about to end, which means I am about to start having to get up earlier, which realistically means I am going to lose a lot of sleep while I once again struggle to adjust. Also means I'm gonna spend a lot more time driving again

The project I am managing is a MESS, we pushed the launch back, and I feel like it's my fault for 1) not knowing how to manage a project, 2) not asking for nearly enough help, and 3) being kind of mentally absent due to being itchy, in pain, and very cranky for basically the whole project. Though tbf multiple of my coworkers have been sick for chunks of it and also not able to pitch in as much as we expected. Also once we launch, then I have to help manage an online community, which, yikes

I would like a raise to offset the gigantic medical bills I seem to get stuck with every year, but I also fucked up something else at work recently, the one account I managed fired us, and worse yet I absolutely know that the company I work for is barely scraping by and cannot afford to give me a raise regardless of whether my boss wants to. I should probably look for another job but 1) I like these people 2) I have no energy or time rn and 3) much fewer companies are fully remote these days and I cannot physically handle commuting and working in an office

yeah

[chalkrevelations]

Called it.

I think they did multiple things right with the bullying storyline in this week's ep of Dangerous Romance - to start with:

having Sailom be perceptive enough and emotionally capable enough to know that his friends would need some open, honest discussion with and apologies from the people who bullied them, in order to move forward.

having Sailom demonstrate - for both his friends and the audience - the value he places on his friendships by insisting that Kanghan at least make an effort before Sailom was willing to actually pursue a relationship with him.

having Sailom set this not just as a condition, but as a test for Kanghan - is Kanghan the kind of person willing to work to repair injuries he caused, or will he balk? And if he's not willing, is he the kind of guy you're going to feel safe trusting your heart to? We already know Sailom is smart enough to listen to his instincts and do the mental calculus when it comes to whether he feels safe with Kanghan, and this is important additional data for him.

I'm not ... necessarily ... faulting the writers on all of this when I compare Pran's actions in Bad Buddy to Sailom's actions here in Ep 7, because I feel like Pran's almost complete lack of processing re: Pat's bullying behavior and what happened between Pat/Engineering and Wai/Architecture is kind of consistent with Pran's overall characterization. Pran hides what's going on and desperately tries to maintain his secrets, behavior that he's learned from dealing with his mom; he's known Pat longer than he's known any of his friends at college - even Wai; and he also just flat-out doesn't have the kind of high emotional quotient that Sailom does. I love Pran a lot - a lot of my intermittent drive to commit violence on Pat is kicked up by the fact that there are several times when he makes Pran sad, so I threaten to remove his lungs with a spoon - but I also notice there are times, particularly in the beginning of BB, when Wai has to walk Pran through not only typical social interaction but through processing and understanding and accepting his own emotions. Wai and Pran are primed for the kind of complete breakdown of their relationship that influences Wai's (very bad) decision to drop that curtain at least partially because when Pran lies to Wai about what's actually going on and pushes him away in order to keep his secrets, Pran loses the very person who we've seen help him navigate sticky interpersonal situations (a role that, on the other side, Pa fills for Pat). It's a cycle of breakdown that feeds on itself.

ANYWAY, what I do fault the writers on in BB is that the narrative, itself, does a miserable job of recognizing that any of these apologies and reconciliation work are necessary - at no point does the narrative come up with any other way to point out to Pran, "You know, maybe your friends are mad because you're surprise!dating a guy who spent a lot of time getting together with his friends in order to kick the shit out of them and make their lives miserable in various ways? Oh, and, who skived off to go to a concert instead of working on the mutual project they were supposed to be participating in." Not even Wai, once they're speaking again, has this particular conversation with Pran. Or, I don't know, make it a conversation with Pa and Pat, where she explains why of course Wai doesn't like him. Instead, down the memory hole it goes.

From discussion I've seen around and about, I feel like a lot of people expected the same thing to happen in Dangerous Romance. But the fact we've circled back around to it gives me hope that I don't just have my clown shoes on and we're also going to circle back around to some of the other issues that are explicitly simmering in the background, like Kanghan just hauling Sailom around by the wrist to wherever he wants him every time he gets jealous. Or the fact that even though Sailom keeps trying to insist that money can't buy everything, he's getting undercut not just by Auto wanting drinks and air conditioning and whatever else Kanghan's money can buy them, but also by the fact that Kanghan's money not only very much has bought Sailom - who's sold himself into a kind of indentured servitude to pay off his family's debts - but also has installed him in the bedroom right next door to Kanghan's.

Or like Kanghan's behavior pattern of just opening Sailom's door whenever he wants and walking in like he owns the place and can go anywhere he wants - a pattern we've already seen changing in this ep, when, sure, he acts like he's going to open the bedroom door in order to get Sailom to respond to him, but he then not only waits to be invited in but makes it explicit that him coming in is contingent on receiving an invitation.

Meanwhile, another thing I felt like the show did well with the bullying storyline this ep was the fact that Auto and Guy had different, individual responses to the apologies and overtures from Kanghan and his crew, and Guy was allowed to take longer to process his feelings and decide whether to have any kind of relationship at all with Kanghan. I had a bad moment at the beginning of the soccer game when I worried that he was going to be painted as unreasonably obstinate by the narrative, when no, he actually doesn't owe Kanghan any kind of forgiveness or interaction just because Kanghan apologized. Fortunately, they were just giving him the time and space that character needed to process and make decisions, and I really liked that.

It wasn't particularly surprising to me that the final barriers broke down in the face of a common enemy. Both of them wanted blood from Team Yellow, the enemy of my enemy, and all. That's one of the places that I felt like BB at least managed to shorthand some of the interpersonal work that would have needed to be done - by giving them a common project. Nobody on that show was able to use their gd words, but at least they could work at building bridges through actions like mutual projects.

Anyway, I've already seen at least one person comment "Wai wishes he could" on a gif of Guy finally telling Sailom to go get his man, after the soccer game, and yeah. I bet Wai did wish he could have gotten 1) an apology and some upfront reconciliation attempts from the guys who physically assaulted him and his friends as well as harassing him at and potentially endangering his job, 2) a best friend who understood that apologies and bridge-building were both deserved and needed, and 3) the necessary time to process those actions and his feelings about them.

I'm glad to see the improvement, Dangerous Romance.

[pawmesan]

So yesterday I said I had ✨opinions✨ on the DLC and today I have come to the conclusion that as per usual, I will not chill until I dumped them somewhere lmao. It's mainly focused on what I've seen people say about Carmine and Kieran online, be it on tumblr or other websites.

Teal Mask Spoilers under the cut :3

I have no idea if I used the under the cut feature even right lmao I've kinda always just been a douche and ignored it when talking about spoilers as I've realised gfjdjrc

Ok anyway so. I think what personally bothered me the most is a lot of people saying "they just have a perfectly fine siblings relationship, nothing unhealthy to see here" and "Kieran is a coldass douchebag who view others as objects and only cares about strength". Both statements I strrroooongly disagree with.

First about his and Carmine's relationship, since it plays into the other thing. It seems that their parents aren't around, though it's unknown why. The grandparents are apparently pretty lackluster in taking over their job and because of that, it seems that Carmine has taken it on herself to take somewhat of guardian role for Kieran. Which is a role she's visibly overwhelmed by, which makes sense, because that's not a role you should have to take when you yourself are maybe like 17/18 lol. You can see that she absolutely does care for and wants the best for him, but at the same time she can't wrap her head around his actions and how he's feeling. So a lot of the things she does she does out of good intentions (for example telling the player for him that he's interested in them because she says he couldn't ever ask on his own, or the whole lying thing where she believes not telling him you guys met Ogrepon prevents him from feeling left out), without understanding that they have quite literally the opposite effect (Kieran feeling like he's unable to do anything on his own BECAUSE she does everything for him, and of course him feeling left out BECAUSE you and her keep meeting Ogrepon a secret). On top of that she clearly has issues keeping her own emotions down, so instead of reacting calmly she'd yell at him whenever he does or says something she doesn't like. And whether you want to see that certain one-liner as her implying she does also hit him when she's not "being nice" or not, she seems unaware of what effect these reactions have on her brother. I do think the implication might very well be on purpose, but it's just not as obviously stated as it could be because this is still a Pokémon game and we don't gotta be too in your face about child abuse in a game that like 8 year olds play lol.

Anyway, aside from him thinking he can't make decisions on his own and stuff, there's a lot of ways this treatment shows in Kieran. Notice how while Carmine is pretty open about showing her anger, he keeps trying to repress his own until later in the story where he's starting to be unable to do so? You can see that when you battle him the first couple times and he loses, the light in his eyes leaves briefly (yknow, the anime thing they both do where that shows them being angry/frustrated) before he grabs his head and just says aw man or something. And when she outs him on his crush or whatever on you, he also looks angry like that, but she immediately shuts him down like usual. I'm pretty sure that's a learned behaviour on his part, aka "when I get openly angry or sad my sis will yell at and/or hit me so I have to keep it down". That's why he always switches the topic, runs off or just goes quiet when he pisses her off or he thinks he pisses her or someone else off. It's optional dialogue so idk how many people have seen it, but Carmine confirms that at the festival, though she again misunderstands why he does it.

Have a high quality photo of what I mea-

So yeah, in short, in regards to their relationship, I think it's clear that it's pretty dysfunctional. For some reason Carmine's stuck with taking a caretaker role she cannot possibly fill given her own issues and age. As a result, she takes it out on her little brother who in turn has to suffer the double bagage of lack of parents and dealing with his older sister's moods. And with next to no social contacts outside of her, he's stuck in that situation and he's got no one to help him learn how to deal with this in a healthier way (same with Carmine really). All he knows that if he was "stronger", he could deal with this better. Like that cool ogre from the folktale that does not care what people think of it and keeps fighting for its right to be respected regardless. Stronger being a very arbitrary word here, as the only specific goal he mentions (in the beginning) is able to stand up against his sister.

Now onto the whole "Kieran sees Ogrepon, the player, probably everyone but him, as an object" thing which... yeah no, he's not a sociopath kcngjtc

More precisely, the player character comes in as this cool person who has no trouble beating his sister in a battle. They don't seem to have all that much trouble socialising either. Good thing he doesn't know all the kewl stuff we did at Area Zero and all or he'd lose it completely. I think a big bonus is also that we're not from his town, so we don't have any bias against his ogre idol. So like, he's head over heels for us, he actually gets to hang out with us and warms up as we realise we're interested in his stories and all and wow. He's found an actual real friend omg. He might not be 100% aware of that, but that's all he really wanted. He wanted to befriend the ogre because it sounded like it would be someone to understand him. And now there's suddenly this super nice person who's taking that role.

But then suddenly, that person hangs out with his meanie sister and stops interacting with him almost entirely. I have a feeling that Carmine hanging out with people he'd want to befriend and them making fun of him is just a thing that happened before and that's why he jumps to that conclusion right away. Keep in mind, the reason Carmine came to us in the first place is literally to make fun of his lack of skills at the mini game lol.

So yeah, the reason Kieran is so massively pissed off is because he does view the player character as a human being, and one he really really liked and put up the courage to open up to, yet from his POV we shamelessly take advantage of that and leave him alone again to hang out with his sis instead. Would probably come off to him like you just pretended to be his friend because you had to and now you're hanging out with the cooler kids and giggle about how silly he looked when, idk, he asked to have a sandwich with you lol. Of course this is not what the player intended (or is meant to intend) and I too felt physical pain when the game gave me no option but to lie xD but I'm pretty sure you guys making up and giving each other another chance is what's gonna happen in Indigo Disk.

For Ogrepon, instead of as an object, I think he just keeps seeing the ogre from the story in her. You gotta remember that he never gets to properly interact with her, he doesn't even refer to her by her actual name like Carmine does once she learns it. He doesn't understand that, ironically just like him, what she really wants is just acceptance and a friend. He thinks that the reason she's distrusting of him is not because she has trust issues and needs to warm up first just like him, but because he isn't as strong as you are, the one she does trust much easier. He's so convinced that nothing in his life will change for the better until he's "stronger" that... presumably the Dokutaro thing somewhere during the mid point starts influencing him. Not like, straight up possession, but more it taking advantage of his instability and promising to give him the strength he wants if he does what it wants. Just like the dex entries of the loyal three says what happened to them. So Dokutaro moreso takes the role of some guy who's a really bad influence and convinces you to do things that will harm both you and others with some sneaky lil psychological tricks. Because I mean, self-sabotaging is something Kieran literally does around the time he presumably comes in contact with Dokutaro. He completely stops trying to talk to you, he boxes the furret he apparently raised from an egg, he doesn't come along to help beat the loyal three to get the masks. I wonder tbh, if Dokutaro was influencing him, if it didn't lead him away from helping with that on purpose, since it originally made the loyal three steal the masks in the first place. I guess that would also explain why he would have been fine with Ogrepon just going back to the cave so he could get the masks back later. And while there definitely is the whole jealousy aspect, I think it's also Dokutaro leading him into actions he wouldn't normally do to get the masks. Because if he gets the masks it'll give him what he wants or whatever. I think without the Dokutaro influence, honestly, he'd probably just have locked himself up in his room for the rest of the story after you lying and sobbed into his Furret pal's fur lmao.

Soo yeah, I think that's about it. They both have quite some issues and continue the trend of ScaVio characters that really need a therapist lol. I like Kieran especially though, he's really adorable despite having his own set of flaws of course. So I do hope the next part will take his (and Carmine's) story into a satisfying direction. And I better get to give him a hug because he needs one smh. Maybe Arven can make him some top tier candy apples. Oh oh yeah, noticed btw that he adds Dipplin to his team after he gave us a candy apple at the festival and told us there's a mon that looks like one? Pokémon likes to do storytelling via the team, so maybe the Dippling reminds him of our broship 😔😔

[wtheckzukasubs]

Why I've been away

I've been postponing this post for reasons of having to write it, and I'm glad I didn't do it before because it would have probably sounded much worse.

You've probably noticed I haven't been releasing much, and for the same reason I haven't been replying most of the messages I get, so I thought I should be more honest with all of you.

Be warned for drama, or just skip to the end for the news. Or just scroll down to the next post.

Of course the state of Takarazuka doesn't make me so happy. Even if we don't touch the elephant in the room since the end of September, so many of my favorites are leaving this year. Sora is taidaning at this very moment actually. People leaving without having been able to shine their most is just the bitterest part of this, though Sora still got to do a whole lot, unlike my other favorites leaving. Too bad she had her chance too late for more. From time to time, Takarazuka makes me feel like it doesn't want me following, and with everything happening irl, it's even harder. However, that hasn't been the reason for my distance from here.

I haven't been well in my mind. I wasn't fine before because of how unstable my job was and how I couldn't find something else no matter how many resumés I sent out, and then I eventually did lose my job, and still couldn't get anything. It's been almost a year now. A whole year of questioning my whole life path, of trying to follow each advice and still not get anything. So yeah, I'm far far far from being well. I'm lucky enough I get to live with my parents even if that is also some curse when you don't have an alternative when it becomes too much. I'll stop here because you probably got the picture already and this is making my mind go places.

And no, I'm not here to ask for money lol Anyway, everyone in the fandom already helps me enough with anything I ask. I'm really grateful!

The intention is to first, let you know I'm not gone. I busy like crazy trying to stay together, and the times I'm not, I'm simply drained from living my life. So even if I did have projects I could be working on, I can't do it as much as when I was feeling better. For you to have an idea of how my rhythm has been, Yukinojo was the only one I did since I lost my job. However, I also still don't have the resources to fulfill the commitments I've made—Blackjack, missing the closed captions because Sky Stage never shows it, and Flügel, missing the script—so there is that too. It's the reason I dared try Yukinojo actually. (Though deep down I'm just too sad about Reiko's taidan to be going actively after it all...)

In sum, here's the state of things,

Blackjack - waiting for Sky Stage to get it back from war

Flügel - I don't have the script yet

Hoshi's Memy - some have asked me if I'll do this one. Hibiscus is already working on adapting the subs, so I'm gladly sitting out lol

Hanafubuki, Koi Fubuki - I've checked these subs so long ago and I still haven't gotten myself to work on the release. Shame on me.

Ai, Futatsu (from Yukigeshiki) - I was timing the Koma version to Chigi's so I could check them and see if I could get some more words, as I've done this by ear, then I ended up changing so much of the translation I'll have to retime them back to Koma's. Who knows when that'll happen... Even though it's just an hour long show, the lines are sooooo long and quick and crazy, speeding the video up to time faster won't do.

Prisoners of the Lilac Walls - unless you like checking my Next page, this will probably be news to you, but I've been low-key wanting to work on it for a long time. Now I've finally fulfilled my dream of finishing Yukinojou, I thought I could try this one. I'm doing Teru's version (the Bow one) solely by ear. I'm far enough to know I will release it so just have to cross your fingers I don't need to fanfic my way out of the ???'s. Despite the Nazi parts, it's a nice story, and I fell in love with Beni and Otoha since the first time I watched this. I know it's years too late, but I hope you can see what I saw.

Next? I've got my eyes on this or that, but I'm always hoping someone else will do it instead, so I'd better not say it and let others thinking I'm claiming anything.

Anyway, thank you a lot for following this blog, for your words, for your reblogs, for your messages. I'll do my best not procrastinate replying.

[morkeerie]

Losing my purpose.

That I already struggle with anxiety and depression is no surprise, but I feel like it's getting worse and I know that no meds are going to fix it. I am just losing my purpose in life. Of course we all fight our own battles everyday. Especially when it comes to survive under a system that -definitely- is not here to favor us. A system that keeps crushing souls and killing dreams. I'm just so tired of having to be grateful for life, when life itself is a big amalgama of sadness and disappointment. How am I supposed to BE happy when I'm constantly scared of not being able to live through the month? When my main work is being replaced by machines, made by the big ones who enjoy profiting over our very corpses? When the planet is being destroyed and reduced to ashes? People keep telling me to go after therapy, or new meds, or even, well - "salvation". I don't believe in any of this anymore. I take the meds to pretend I have some self-control. To make everything worse, I found out I have level 1 ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) three years ago. I had my hunch, since I've always felt way too different from others. People call me weird to this day. I have never been able to hold on to a common job for much time. I can only work as a freelance because dealing with a corporative environment is enough to drive me crazy. It's like I feel everything in a whole other level, which makes me feel broken. I may not be broken but the system despises people like me. Along with all that, I feel too much. My heart is heavy, and I'm never truly in peace. I'm trying to embrace life but life is slipping through my fingers.

I am losing my purpose and living doesn't really attract me anymore. "I am disabled by fears Concerning which course to take For now that wheels are turning I find my faith deserting me"

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

to complain about sims more i'm still pissed the sims 4 is a gutted corpse of a mmo no one wanted. and that’s not the developers fault! genuinely, the sims development team seems really sweet and friendly and skilled, they were never the issue. something i've always appreciated about the sims is that the developers have always had a very positive relationship with the fans and their creations, they’ve always been super encouraging towards modding and cc and i genuinely think it’s awesome of them. mad respect to the devs for even making the sims 4 functional when it had to shift genre completely halfway through development they have to be insanely skilled to even get it functional and i don’t think they deserve any animosity. as far as i can tell, they’re a bunch of smart, kind, and clever people doing their best with a game doomed to fail to begin with.

but like. the fact the sims 4 was even meant to be such a genre shift is disgusting. genuinely fucking appalling behaviour from ea. like it completely strips the series of it’s identity and is a blatant slap in the face to its core audience. like, the sims audience is just straight up different to a lot of other games. it’s incredibly diverse, of course- more so than any other I’ve seen- but it tends to skew older, skew female, and skew towards those with an interest in programming and/or storytelling. and while obviously not all of them will dislike mmos, older adults have jobs and kids to care for, and those with an interest in creating their own mods or stories either cant or have to do it collaboratively. a lot of these are people who got into the sims specifically because of the features it’d lose as an mmo! and it’s such an insult they’d throw so many people under the bus for a quick cash grab and then leave their devs with a barely functioning mess when they got backlash from simcity.

and they’re!!! still trying to find ways to exploit the sims and make it online to get even more money from its audience! these are devoted people, they’d have to be to spend enough money to play the sims, and ea keeps looking to exploit that loyalty to get people to pay for products they KNOW they don’t want bc they’d rather scam people out of money than make good games for slightly less money. and it’s so fucking sad. all respects to the devs for trying to make the sims 4 fun and functional you all did a really great job with the parts you were given but like the sims 4 is an example of corporate greed (and performative activism- ea Says all this shit about diversity but I don’t forget that they whitewashed sims in the beginning including the franchises mascot like they were so scared of having a woman of colour as their icon) and it makes me sad