#replace all actors with puppets right now

[puppets-are-more-human-than-you]

The downfall of puppets being used to make movies and other media and having them be replaced with cgi will never not hurt my soul in the most unimaginable way. Puppets always have and always will be the best way to bring fictional characters and creatures to life.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Dungeon: Murder in the House of Dolls

Art 1, Art 2

Though once the prize project of a master artificer famed for bringing joy across the land, the Lyrebird theatre now moulders in obscurity, its once wondrous hall now a place where strange things lurk unseen.

Adventure Hooks:

A body turns up in the party's home city, a tattooed man dressed in antiquated robes like the king of a fallen empire, exanguinated from strange cuts that encircle his major joints. Investigating the tattoos reveals that he was part of a gang that made it's coin "acquiring" things for interested parties by any means. Careful reconstruction of his trail leads to a tumbledown neighborhood frequented by artistic types. Perhaps they can point the investigators in the right direction.

If the party aren't the type to be solving crimes, a fence they know has a job for them: breaking into some boarded up building and stealing some select doohickeys on behalf of a wealthy buyer. Never mind that the last crew she sent in never came back.

Following rumors of strange music playing in the night, or their own need to aquire materials on the cheap, the party might find their own way to the Lyrebird. Sometimes you just need an urban dungeon delve on the quick, yeknow?

Background: It was a brilliant idea in concept, a clockwork playhouse, a scaled up version of music box automata that could play out entire performances accompanied by a clockwork band. In practicality, the system could only be made complex enough to alter between four per-determined plays, and after the novelty wore off no one wanted to see a theatre that could only run the same shows season after season, to say nothing of the stiff performances of clockwork actors.

And so the Lyrebird faded from grand attraction to tourist trap to derelict curiosity. The owners boarded up the building once it was too, which hasn't stopped adventurous youths and enterprising scavengers from sneaking in to take trophies from time to time.

None of this sat right with the spirits of art and wonder that'd come to dwell within the theater in its early days, born from the amazement of those first few years. The show must go on, and with a little encouragement from a fey-curse newly levelled against all the artificer's creations, the spirits got to work staging new performances of their favourite productions... even if they have to get a bit creative when it comes to replacing the damaged puppets.

Challenges & Complications

Using the marionette performers, the spirits infesting the theatre have been capturing those who break into the playhouse and using their bodies in place of damaged automata. A number of them are dead, as being jerked around on fillaments through dance routines or suspended by them for hours, but a few of the most recent band of thieves are piteously alive and in desperate need of rescue. Breaking them out immediately will see the spirits sending an army of possessed marionettes after the party, so the best course of action might be in staging one of the plays and getting all the victims on set before cutting them down and bolting for the door.

Navigating the mechanical theatre will require the party to venture through the uncanny corridors of the puppet workshop, the precarious pathways of the flyloft, and the deafening clatter of the orchestra pit. Along the way they'll face not only rogue marionettes and the hazards of a derelict building, but also fey mischief like swapping the doors around or costumes waiting in ambush that charm the victim into thinking they're someone else.

Even when the party escape, the Lyrebird theatre isn't done with them. Some time later the party will find one of their allies murdered, the death posed unusually so as to resemble the climax of one of the plays. The wrathful spirits of the playhouse have cobbled together a champion of porcelain, wood, and wire, and sent it out into the city to perform their art before a live audience.

[bibibbon]

TBHX and the disposability of man pt2

Here is part 1

Even though it is just the beginning of Yang cheng's story, the theme of disposability within a flawed society seems to strengthen within the story.

Episode 5 begins with the death of Yang cheng's parents and the plan for them to quite literally sell him. To buy something implies to later dispose of it later on when it's out of use or when it becomes obsolete and we see this language being used towards a literal human child.

On a visual note, you can also interpret this scene as Yang cheng's parents, who are now dead, symbolising that they are obsolete with a small Yang cheng whom still holds value alive and next to them.

When Yang cheng grows up and becomes an E-soul actor, he is now in his prime use and has to differentiate himself from the other E-souls. In a world of a million actors, you can easily be disposed of over and over because another actor can replace you and play the role you serve to society. This is best seen in the E-soul actor competition with all of these actors playing the role of E-soul any of them can be him and become him physically speaking however, no one will ever fully know or understand the true E-soul and his motives and no one will fully discard of their core to become a blank slate.

The battle between the two E-souls and the publics reaction it is really interesting, and I think hammers down on this theme. Even with Original E-soul serving the people for 34 years, he can be easily disposable in the publics eyes simply because they find the younger E-soul much more reliable, attractive, and a breath of fresh air. As long as there is someone with the hero name of E-soul who is eye candy and does what the public wants the people will hold them to a favourable standard until they grow old, tarnished and lose their uniqueness being replaced by another copy of them in the grand capitalist machine.

Yang chengs story ends with him becoming a puppet to Uncle rocks wishes and replacing the original E-soul. The public doesn't care, it was live and broadcasted that one of the E-souls lost their lives and that their trust values merged but as long as there was the concept and abstract idea of a quick electricity hero named E-soul the people will dehumanise and worship the hero even if he killed another man on live television.

While the battle of two E-souls and Yang chengs story is one way the story illustrates the theme of disposability another way the story does this is through the two nameless characters that uncle Rock uses as puppets to inact his plan.

I don't remember the show ever disclosing these two names, and I think that adds a lot to how the show refuses to humanise them in a way. The same goes for Yang chengs parents they are nameless people who lived lives and were killed. They were puppets in a capitalist system that only benefits the elites. We are introduced to these two, and right from the get-go, we are shown that they have money problems and will do anything for money even if it means kidnapping someone. They might sound repulsed at the idea, but they're willing to do anything for survival, and we see this happening multiple times, whether that be them kidnapping little pomelo or killing shang chao they're willing to be puppets and play the role that society has given them if it means there is a chance at an escape or survival.

I think this is why it's so distressing when we find out that they were essentially puppets there to further push along and benefit Uncle Rock, who needed them for Yang chengs story and when they become obsolete they suffer the same twisted fate as Yang chengs parents : death by drowning in cement.

Two people killed, no one cares for them, no one will look for them and no one will know the truth because while they might have their names in prison on paper they were killed trying to escape a system that immediately discards of useless powerless cogs.

[random-things-of-mine]

Interruption

Actor Wally x GN Reader

______________________

The film studio was a bustling hub of activity, with humans and puppets alike darting back and forth, working to bring the show "Welcome Home" to life.

In the center of it all was Actor, the main lead. Standing at his full 3 feet, his blue hair perfectly coiffed.

He strutted through the studio, greeting most everyone) with a charming smile.

Today, he was feeling especially affectionate, and he was determined to show his special person just how much they meant to him, even if it made him a bit flustered.

Actor spotted Y/n by the coffee machine, their usual spot in the morning. He double checked if his attire was neat, before tiptoeing over, intending to surprise them.

"Good morning, darl-"

He couldn't finish his sentence as he got picked up. Which wasn't hard with his gremlin size.

As soon as Y/n wrapped their arms around him, Actor went limp, melting into the embrace. His cheeks turned a rosy hue, and he buried his face in their shoulder. "Missed you." He mumbled, barely audible.

Just as the two where about to continue, a voice interrupted the tender moment.

"There you are, Mr. Darling. We need to go over the schedule for tomorrow's shoot."

It was Janet, one of the studio's assistants. She was a tall, no-nonsense woman, known for her strict adherence to the schedule and her less-than-friendly attitude towards the puppets, particularly Actor. Her tone was curt, and her timing couldn't have been worse. The couple didn't miss the judging stare they got from the position they where in.

His flustered delight immediately shifted to irritation, while his expressive eyes narrowed. He straightened his posture, turning to face her with a steely look. "Janet, we're in the middle of something important here." He said, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "This can wait."

Her crossed her arms, a slight sneer playing on her lips. "Important, huh? Well, some of us have real work to do. Not everyone can sit around playing cute all day."

Just cute?

Oh, how that sentence bothered him. Yes, Actor was aware with his appearance and height he was seem as a small adorable thing.

But he worked so incredibly hard to be here, to acquire the place and position he had now. And this women always undermined him, trying to challenge his competence and confidence.

Sometimes he wished he was actually taller and stronger, maybe even more masculine just to scare her off and make her stay in her lane for once. As his assistant, a role he gracefully allowed her to have after she screwed up on set.

With how he was now, a cute small puppet she would always try to walk over him even if he got serious.

Y/n felt a pang of concern, seeing Actors cheerful demeanor quickly replaced by his bossy, scrutinizing persona. They knew how much he struggled with moments like these, where his authority was questioned or his professionalism was undermined.

They continued securely holding him into their arms, and he still managed to look sassy like this, thanks to this hold he was able to be on eye-level with her.

Actor, however, wasn't about to back down. "Janet, I suggest you check the schedule again. I'm on break right now, and as for 'playing cute,' remember that being 'cute' is part of why 'Welcome Home' is as popular as it is." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "And while we're at it, I'd appreciate it if you showed a bit more respect. We're all professionals here, and I expect you to treat me with the same courtesy you extend to the human cast."

Her face flushed slightly, a mix of embarrassment and irritation. She opened her mouth to retort, but he cut her off. "If there's nothing else, I'd like to continue my break with my partner. We can discuss the schedule after."

Y/n could see the tension in Actors stance, his small frame practically vibrating with the effort to maintain his composure. They squeezed his shoulder gently, hoping to calm him. Janet huffed, rolling her eyes before muttering something rude under her breath and walking away.

As she disappeared around the corner, he let out a heavy sigh, the bravado draining from him. He turned to them, his eyes apologetic.

"I'm sorry about that." He said, his voice softening. "I didn't mean to get so worked up."

Y/n shook their head, smiling reassuringly. "It's okay. You stood up for yourself, and that's important. Don't let people like her get under your skin. She doesn't see the amazing puppet I see."

Actor smiled, the warmth returning to his eyes. "You always know how to make me feel better." He reached up and took their hand again, feeling a wave of affection wash over him. "I guess I still have a lot to learn about handling things like this."

As they wrapped up for the day, Actor took Y/n's hand, his face flushing but his grip firm. "Walk with me?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

They walked through the now quiet studio, hand in hand. Actor was uncharacteristically silent, lost in thought. Finally, he stopped and turned to face Y/n, taking a deep breath. "I know I can be a bit much sometimes." He began, his voice trembling slightly. "But you make me want to be better. I'm trying, for you."

Y/n smiled, their eyes soft with affection. "I know and you're doing great. I love you just the way you are."

His eyes widened, and he felt his heart swell, feeling like his stuffing might burst from all the affection.

"I love you too." He said, his voice strong and clear for once.

With them, underneath the dim studio lights, he felt truly at home. He had his friends, his fans, and most importantly, his partner by his side. And while he might be a diva, he was determined to be the best version of himself for them.

______________________

[tangibletechnomancy]

The AI Boom and the Mechanical Turk

A hidden, overworked man operating a painting, chess-playing robot, generated with the model Dreamlike Diffusion on Simple Stable, ~4 hours Created under the Code of Ethics of Are We Art Yet?

In 1770, an inventor named Wolfgang von Kempelen created a machine that astounded the world, a device that prompted all new understanding of what human engineering could produce: the Automaton Chess Player, also known as the Mechanical Turk. Not only could it play a strong game of chess against a human opponent, playing against and defeating many challengers including statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon Bonaparte, it could also complete a knight's tour, a puzzle where one must use a knight to visit each square on the board exactly once. It was a marvel of mechanical engineering, able to not only choose its moves, but move the pieces itself with its mechanical hands.

It was also a giant hoax.

What it was: genuinely a marvel of mechanical engineering, an impressively designed puppet that was able to manipulate pieces on a chessboard.

What it wasn't: an automaton of any kind, let alone one that could understand chess well enough to play at a human grandmaster's level. Instead, the puppet was manipulated by a human chess grandmaster hidden inside the stage setup.

So, here and now, in 2023, we have writers and actors on a drawn-out and much needed strike, in part because production companies are trying to "replace their labor with AI".

How is this relevant to the Mechanical Turk, you ask?

Because just like back then, what's being proposed is, at best, a massive exaggeration of how the proposed labor shift could feasibly work. Just as we had the technology then to create an elaborate puppet to move chess pieces, but not to make it choose its moves for itself or move autonomously, we have the technology now to help people flesh out their ideas faster than ever before, using different skill sets - but we DON'T have the ability to make the basic idea generation, the coherent outlining, nor the editing nearly as autonomous as the companies promising this future claim.

What AI models can do: Various things from expanding upon ideas given to them using various mathematical parameters and descriptions, keywords, and/or guide images of various kinds, to operating semi-autonomously as fictional characters, when properly directed and maintained (e.g., Neuro-sama).

What they can't do: Conceive an entire coherent movie or TV show and write a passable script - let alone scripts for an entire show - from start to finish without human involvement, generate images with a true complete lack of human involvement, act fully autonomously as characters, or...do MOST of the things such companies are trying to attribute to "AI (+unimportant nameless human we GUESS)", for that matter.

The distinction may sound small, but it is a critical one: the point behind this modern Mechanical Turk scam, after all, is that it allegedly eliminates human involvement, and thus the need to pay human employees, right...?

But it doesn't. It only enables companies to shift the labor to a hidden, even more underpaid sector, and even argue that they DESERVE to be paid so little once found out because "okay okay so it's not TOTALLY autonomous but the robot IS the one REALLY doing all the important work we swear!!"

It's all smoke and mirrors. A lie. A Mechanical Turk. Wrangling these algorithms into creating something truly professionally presentable - not just as a cash-grab gimmick that will be forgotten as soon as the novelty wears off - DOES require creativity and skill. It IS a time-consuming labor. It, like so many other uses of digital tools in creative spaces (e.g., VFX), needs to be recognized as such, for the protection of all parties involved, whether their role in the creative process is manual or tool-assisted.

So please, DO pay attention to the men behind the curtain.

[jiangfamilytherapist]

Long analysis incoming:

In a previous post, I toyed a bit with the idea of how growing up in the cutthroat, favor-seeking environment of the brothel might have taught a young Meng Yao some of the two-facedness that would characterize him later, but really, that’s just a seed. Lots of people are good liars or good actors, but not all of them put that skill towards self-serving or vindictive ends. So how did JGY become what he had become by the time he was established in Jinlintai?

For our purposes I’ll be using his Untamed early character progression, as I think that JGY’s arc is one of the few early plot deviations from the novels (and good lord there are a lot) that actually materially improved the story. The relationship between JGY and NMJ (and NHS) in the books was not as deeply rooted, and the betrayal was a little too abrupt in its vindictiveness. Like, in a “he was a monster all along” kind of way, like MY was already the truly poisonous kind of liar. The initial (might I say mutual) betrayal between NMJ & MY is somewhat lighter in Untamed, giving the mutual resentment room to fester, and the encounter at Nightless City room to be a devastating further fracture in their relationship rather than just confirmation of the previous rift. The killing of the captain in Untamed is still a selfish act of getting even (softened a little if we actually believe that the captain let Xue Yang out) but isn’t immediately followed by an frankly petty fake-out and attempt on the life of JGY’s up-to-now closest friend and benefactor. You can see how the banishment hurts both of them in its inevitability.

The next time we see MY is in Nightless City. He is a puppet master, a torturer and a turncoat. In the books this sort of comes across as confirmation of his true self, but in the Untamed there’s a moment of WOAH, how did we get here??

Like many other characters, JGY has a War Is Hell arc in his development, but it happens off-stage, which makes it possible for the change to come across as a reveal of true character (and this misdirection is kind of the point, but we’ll get back to that). Remember, Meng Yao, the young right hand man of Nie Mingjue, was clever and likely good at selling a lie, but ultimately naively struggling to follow the “honorable path” of hard work for recognition as laid out by NMJ. By the time he becomes Jin Guangyao, he has crossed several different lines. Under Wen Ruohan, he had to become a torturer, a puppet master, and an executioner. Joining Wen Ruohan made him a traitor for the first time; killing Wen Ruohan made him a traitor for the second. This Meng Yao no longer believes that the honorable path is open to people like him. When MY invites NMJ for the to kill him for the second time, it mirrors the first time in Qinghe closely, yet everything has changed. The first time was a plea: I’d rather you kill me than throw me away. The second time is a bluff: you couldn’t do it then, can you really do it now? The action is the same, but everything has changed.

By the time Meng Yao becomes Jin Guangyao, he is quietly immersed in the same post-war struggle to reintegrate into nominal peacetime as everyone else. He tries to make a place for himself through hard work again, this time in Jinlintai, replacing NMJ with JGS as the object of his dedication, but JGS wants JGY to be what he was for the Wens, and so dishonorable path it is. He does his father’s dirty work because it makes him indispensable–besides, where else can he go? He tries to communicate his reality to NMJ but meets a stone wall of resistance and a kick down stone stairs. No wonder he finally hits fuck it.

Even after ridding himself of the competing pressures of JGS and NMJ, there is still nowhere to go but down as the fallout from every deed he’s done remains hot on his heels. What is left for him but to further entrench, as some mysterious manipulator works to uncover every skeleton in his thoroughly packed closet?

The worst bit is that there were cries for help, for someone, for Nie Mingjue, to please understand, but they went unanswered. Fully cornered, there was nowhere left to go but down.

In an odd way, this parallels (albeit more malignantly) WWX in his first life: so many misunderstandings, so many cries for help, so many torn loyalties, so many perceived and real betrayals, so many secrets that can’t be told, and so many well-intended but misdirected interventions. Where was there to go, except down?

Following this parallel further, we never actually directly experience the hells that changed WWX and JGY – Burial Mounds and Nightless City respectively – and that’s the point. By giving up our omniscience as readers, we’re able to be blindsided by the changes, by the withdrawing and the self-destructiveness, right along with every person who truly knows them. Even attempts at building a life and moving on, at the Burial Mounds or Jinlintai, are thwarted.

After all, how can anyone understand what the can never be allowed to know?

[berrypass-de-murdler]

3 - 32 Down the Line

My brain decided to do some HEAVY loredumping right as I was about to fall asleep. Now the Irratino storyline is gonna be even more tragic!!

Uh this is one of my first murdle doodles, from episode 1-17! CHONKERS!!

DON'T READ THE EPISODES WITHOUT READING THE BOOKS!!

Logico is not happy to be in Hollywood, and Irratino is neutral. A crowd of people is holding up signs and chanting something unintelligible. 

LOGICO: What are they saying? “We want beans?” IRRATINO: I’m not sure what they’re saying, but they’re striking because of the new holoshow technology - which could theoretically replace actors.  SILVERTON: I’m appalled. I’m APPALLED!

A human is impaled on a fence - probably an executive. Logico rolls his eye. It looks like another filler episode.

One of the first clues that he notices is a face he hoped to never see again - it’s Pearl! Irratino doesn’t think that has much significance, but Logico definitely remembers her lunging at him with a knife. Shouldn’t Irratino remember saving him from that?...

PEARL: OY??? DE’DUCKIVE ‘OUGIC? FUCK DAH!? I TOT I’D NEVAH HAD TO SEE ‘IS FACE A GEEN.  LOGICO: God, I hate her. PEARL: ‘WAY!!! IRRATINO: Logico, just because you can’t understand her doesn’t mean she can’t understand you!

Things are about to get much worse though. There’s a band performing - and Pearl is the lead singer!

PEARL: EH-OY SHOD APP ‘N LET DEH SUNG K’MENCE!

The music starts…

PEARL: DA WHALES IN DA BOUS GEH WOUND ANN WOUND, WOUND ANN WOUND LOGICO: OHHHHH MY GODDDDDDDDD

The other person there is Hack Blaxton - alive and well. He’s brought his puppet with him for some reason. Logico lets out a shaking sigh. 

LOGICO: You terrified me. I thought you had been killed. BLAXTON: Oh… Logico! Naww, I didn’t realize you cared so much about little old me!

He drops to his knees and hugs the guy.

LOGICO: OH kay. I… I care about everyone’s lives. Not just you!!

He rudely pushes away the marshmallow man, embarrassed at his emotions. 

BLAXTON: Look, I got an award for protesting! My puns were so funny! LOGICO: That’s not a thing…

Silverton growls and curses under his breath. If anyone should get an award, it’s him, according to him.

Irratino scours through some scattered screenplays, looking for clues. One of them has a coffee stain - an esoteric coffee stain. Irratino’s eyes glow purple with his iconic symbol. The spiritual significance is overpowering - but what could it mean?

IRRATINO: What could it mean! What could it possibly mean?!

He clutches his head and stumbles. 

LOGICO: Irratino, stop. I have a verdict.  IRRATINO: Because of the stain?? LOGICO: No.

He waddles up to Silverton.

SILVERTON: I’ve worked my whole life, and all I’ve ever wanted was to make great art that people enjoy. And these human people - and disgusting TekCo workers - are taking it all away from me. They deserve to die!

He tries to stomp like a child, but being a slug, can’t. Logico raises a finger in protest, but can’t speak his mind-

CROWD: SIL-VER-TON! SIL-VER-TON! SILVERTON: Yes, I know, I know…

His hair and teeth sparkle madly as they follow the extremely slow creep. Logico and Irratino go to hide somewhere preferably far away from rich protestors.

The end! 

There's gonna be a lot of filler for a while lol

Anyway I

Love you all :3

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[justinsentertainmentcorner]

Alissa Wilkinson at Vox:

For the first time in 63 years, Hollywood has a double strike on its hands. The contract between SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, two guilds that merged in 2012) and AMPTP (American Motion Picture and Television Producers), which represents Hollywood’s studios and production companies, expired at midnight on Wednesday, July 12. SAG-AFTRA’s national board unanimously voted today to order a strike; membership had previously authorized the strike, with nearly 98 percent of voters in favor. Meanwhile, the WGA (Writers Guild of America) has been on strike since May 2. Like the WGA strike, a SAG-AFTRA strike comes with profound economic consequences. The WGA’s picket lines have already managed to shut down most productions in New York and Los Angeles and across the country as crew members refuse to cross. Since SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000 members — “actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists, and other media professionals,” as their website puts it — a strike would have profound effects on many industries. (By contrast, the WGA, which has just entered day 73 of its strike, has around 20,000 members.) To be clear, a strike doesn’t mean people can’t act at all; it means they cannot perform work for struck companies (which is to say, members of the AMPTP, like Disney and Netflix). Unless specific concessions are made, they can’t promote work for struck companies either. (Yes, their publicists are reportedly panicking.)

Major studios, for instance, have been dropping out of Comic-Con rather than have a poor showing with the few actors who might cross the picket line. You likely wouldn’t see actors promoting new movies (like Barbie or Oppenheimer) or walking the red carpet at film festivals; WGA members have already stayed away. And of course, they won’t be on set.

What does SAG-AFTRA want?

In many ways, what SAG-AFTRA wants is similar to what the WGA wants, all of which is driven by technology.

In a streaming-forward world, the typical TV season length has shrunk drastically, from the traditional broadcast model (up to 26 episodes per season) down to maybe eight or 10 episodes. That means actors are working far less on each job and tend to have larger gaps between jobs, which means it’s harder to make a steady living. But compensation hasn’t kept pace with the shift, and SAG-AFTRA is asking for a raise. (The specific terms are still scarce as negotiations continue.) Additionally, residuals — which are sort of like royalties, paid to actors when their work continues to earn money for the studio in the form of reruns or streaming content libraries — are at a level that the guild sees as unsustainable for its members.

Like the WGA, SAG-AFTRA is also enormously concerned about the potential for rapidly developing AI to replace its members. And it should be: AI can be trained on actors’ likenesses or voices, which can then be used to generate new performances both on-screen and in voice-over or other capacities.

In a bulletin to members addressing their concerns, SAG-AFTRA leadership cited creating guidelines around acceptable uses of AI, bargain protections against misuse, and consent and fair compensation when members’ work (such as their likeness or voice) is used to train AI systems and create new performances. “In their public statements and policy work, the companies have not shown a desire to take our members’ basic rights to our own voices and likenesses seriously,” SAG-AFTRA leadership noted.

[...]

Why isn’t AMPTP budging?

When asked, the studios tend to cite tough economics as the reason they can’t raise minimums or residuals. (They don’t talk a lot about AI, which in itself is probably worth noting.) Like the WGA, SAG-AFTRA takes issue with that math. In their bulletin, they note that “in sharp contrast to the diminishing compensation paid to our members, the studios are posting immense profits with a bullish outlook as demonstrated by lavish corporate executive compensation.” The reality is that studios and production companies are increasingly embedded in larger corporations and tech companies that are beholden to shareholders, and the way they think and talk about profit and revenue is different from the way the people who take home a paycheck do. It’s hard to argue with some staggering statistics about CEO pay at entertainment companies; average pay for a top Hollywood executive was $28 million in 2021, a hike of 53 percent from 2018. Disney CEO Bob Iger, who called the actors’ demands “not realistic” on TV on the morning the strike was called, recently signed a contract to run the company through 2026 and makes about $27 million a year.

On top of that, the AMPTP didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory in a recent Deadline article, published the day before SAG-AFTRA’s contract was set to expire, in which an anonymous studio executive told the reporter that with the writers strike, “the endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.” An “insider” quoted in the article called it “a cruel but necessary evil,” and the article suggested the AMPTP had no intention of returning to the bargaining table with the striking writers until October. WGA members reacted with scorn on Twitter, noting that AMPTP members will be hurt by these same tactics and that the economics of being a writer in Hollywood have prepared them well for this moment. “‘Let writers go broke’ would be a more effective tactic for an endgame if it hadn’t been their pre-game, too,” noted Fleishman Is in Trouble writer and showrunner Taffy Brodesser-Akner. The AMPTP soon backtracked the statement.

Yet, given its timing, some speculated the article had the hallmarks of being planted by the studio as a negotiation (or maybe non-negotiation) tactic aimed at scaring SAG-AFTRA out of going on strike. Furthermore, on Tuesday, reports surfaced that AMPTP had requested the aid of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in mediating the contract with SAG-AFTRA. The actors’ union agreed to work with the FMCS, but issued a blistering statement aimed at the AMPTP. “We condemn the tactic outlined in today’s inaccurate Variety piece naming the CEOs of several entertainment conglomerates as the force behind the request for mediation, information that was leaked to the press by the CEOs and their ‘anonymous sources’ before our negotiators were even told of the request for mediation,” the statement reads. “The AMPTP has abused our trust and damaged the respect we have for them in this process,” it continues. “We will not be manipulated by this cynical ploy to engineer an extension when the companies have had more than enough time to make a fair deal.”

All of this suggests that AMPTP’s members believe that the unions will crack if divided and conquered. Others dispute that, framing this crisis as existential and noting the extraordinary solidarity from other unions in Hollywood, remarkable in contrast to the last strike in 2007. On Wednesday, the WGA, Teamsters, IATSE (which covers on-set tradespeople, such as electricians and greens people), and the Directors Guild (which ratified its own contract in June) issued a statement expressing solidarity with SAG-AFTRA. Whether the AMPTP’s tactics will ultimately prove to be effective remains to be seen.

[...]

Why is this strike so historically meaningful?

This is the first double strike since 1960, which alone is significant, but one of the stranger factoids is who led that strike. The main issue on the table was once again residuals, once again driven by a relatively new technology — this time, television. Both guilds were pushing for a similar demand: When they wrote or acted in a movie, and that movie was sold to a TV network and broadcast, the network would earn money from ads. The guilds wanted their members to be paid residuals, just as they would for a TV show. The studios, of course, didn’t.

SAG-AFTRA joins the WGA heading to the picket lines to conduct a strike, meaning that there is a double strike in Hollywood.

Concerns about AI and residuals are the driving force for the strike.

[greensparty]

2023 MusicCon Collectibles Extravaganza Wrap-Up

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to cover the Northeast Comic Con (read my coverage here), a fun cool convention for lovers of comics, pop culture, and collectibles. This past March, I attended the Spring edition of NECC. Over the weekend of June 30-July 2, the folks who do the NECC held the 2023 MusicCon Collectibles Extravaganza, a big celebration of music and collectibles (two of my favorite things!). 

Here is my lightning round of guests I got to speak with at this year’s con:

Micky Dolenz talking to some fans

The big guest this year was Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. I’ve always loved both the music and the TV show of The Monkees and Micky is now the last Monkee standing after the passing of Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith. Fans of The Monkees are fanatical and it’s no surprise that he had fans who came from all over, waited in long lines, for pictures and autographs or photo ops with the Monkee Mobile. Sadly I didn’t get to talk to him. Maybe next time!

Not really a musician, but actor Butch Patrick fit right in at this convention thanks to the Munster vehicles including the Dragula that were on display at this convention. He has acted in a ton of things, but he will forever be known as Eddie Munster on TV’s The Munsters. I asked him about Ben Stiller’s impression he did of Eddie Munster on SNL and The Ben Stiller Show. “I never talked to Ben about it, but I met him briefly at the TV Land Awards, just in passing, but we never had a conversation about it.” Very cool that he had a great sense of humor about it!

Actor/musician Chasen Hampton is no stranger to pop culture, he was in the Mickey Mouse Club from 1989-1992 (Keri Russell was one of his fellow Mouseketeers), a member of the 90s pop group The Party and has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. In 1997 he appeared the season 1 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer “The Puppet Show”. He said of that episode “It was awesome! When I auditioned, what I had over most people is that I could juggle and they were doing a talent show episode, so they needed people with weird side talents as well. But I was really into special effects makeup as a kid and getting to hang out with the cast and the makeup department was awesome”.

Singer/actress Cherie Currie is a music legend. She was the singer for The Runaways from 1975-1977, as well as an accomplished solo artist, and she has also acted a ton notably in the 1980 film Foxes. I asked her what it’s like for her to know that “Cherry Bomb” is still appearing in numerous movie and TV soundtracks (Guardians of the Galaxy and Dazed and Confused to name a few) and pop culture as a whole and to know the music she made in the mid-70s is still having a lasting influence? “It’s so great to be recognized for doing something in this business. It really felt like it was all for naught for a very long time. So to now see that song become so iconic and appear in so many movies and TV shows continues to be such a gift. Very grateful!” In addition to music, she also is an accomplished chainsaw artist as well!

Drummer Richie Ramone has a massive fanbase, mainly because he was the drummer for The Ramones from 1983 to 1987. He has also done some solo albums, appeared in movies (including last year’s Friday the 13th Vengeance sequel) and written some memoirs as well. That mid-80s era was a very strong one for The Ramones. I asked if he had a favorite album? “Well, Too Tough to Die brought the band back to where they were originally. Animal Boy I love because ‘Somebody Put Something in my Drink’ [written by Richie] lead off the record”. Full disclosure: prior to this convention I had been in touch with Mr. Ramone about a potential project. While it didn’t work out, he was super-nice and supportive and he remembered me when I stopped by his booth. Very cool guy!

Michael Des Barres is like the 6-degrees to so much pop culture I love: he replaced Robert Palmer in the supergroup The Power Station for their 1985 tour (that’s him performing with them at Live Aid and in that episode of Miami Vice), he co-wrote Animotion’s “Obsession”, hosts a radio show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, and acted in a ton of movies and TV shows (notably David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive and “The Smelly Car” episode of Seinfeld among many others). I asked him about the 1988 episode of Alf in which he played the older boyfriend of Lynn? “Well, working with a sock was very different. Suddenly this sock became Sir Laurence Olivier. It’s very hard to work with a puppet, but I found it so hilarious because at that time I was doing so many sitcoms, but I never thought I’d end up literally with a glove [laughs]. But it was a lovely lovely time and I had a great time doing it. I became very friendly with the puppeteer, which is a science in and of itself. The thing with acting and music is it brings you joy, so if you enjoy it, the people watching will enjoy it too.”

me with Mr. Sam J. Jones

When I went up to the booth of NFL-player-turned-actor Sam J. Jones, known for the title character in the cult film Flash Gordon, I reminded him that he and I actually worked on a movie together, Ted 2. Jones played himself in the first Ted and he returned for the sequel, which I worked on in the location dept. in Boston and the production office in NYC. He immediately lit up, shook my hand and wanted to take a picture. Very cool actor!

Mach Bell Experience performing live

Cowboy Mach Bell was the singer for Joe Perry Project from 1982-1984. I talked to him at the 2022 Collector’s Extravaganza. This year in addition to a booth and speaking on a panel, his band Mach Bell Experience performed a ton of his hits. Thrilled to see him still rocking after some health issues last year. 

Speaking of Joe Perry and Aerosmith, the Aerosmith Collectors Archive had an exhibit of their collection on display as well. For a lifelong Aerosmith fan like me, I dug looking over their memorabilia, some of which I was quite impressed with. They are an online museum, but in the last few years, they have had exhibits in Sunapee, NH for Aerosmith Day celebrations. I would love to see this become a brick-and-mortar museum one day!

Oh and did I mentioned there were loads of famous cars on display:

The Monkee Mobile

Munster Mobiles

and best of all, the BTTF delorean!

For info on MusicCons and other NECC events: https://necomiccons.com/

[natasha-in-space]

Ohhhh, I'm not big on most of the au's bc I like the og's personalities so much that I don't really get sick of them, but I do have a few that did catch my attention for sure! I honestly feel like au's were a bigger thing before the initial big summer update, because we had so little to go off of in terms of personality. It is rather amusing to see how the vast perception of the characters have changed, though. Like Frank being characterized as the standard 'grumpy' one of the group, when in reality they're actually a big sweetheart who just want everyone to be safe and out of trouble (his interactions with Julie and Poppy are so sweet fr fr). Wally's the biggest contender to this, though, lmao. There is something very enjoyable to me in being proven right that he was never some yandere manipulator who murdered all his neighbors or something like that. Especially so because I relate to his autistic traits as much as I do. Like his manner of speech being read as 'creepy' and 'menacing' when it's just the way he talks. (Shout-out to everyone with monotonous way of speaking who get told that they're either cold, sad, or creepy, I'm there with you). I am very interested to see where Clown will go with him, because I am sure Wally will do something questionable. Be it by mistake, out of desperation or isolation. He's got layers to him, and I do agree that it irks me to see him get treated as a child sometimes 💀 The man is in his late twenties, come on now.

Most of the characters in media I can only headcanon as being on the autistic spectrum, admittedly, so him being a confirmed autistic representation is honestly so important to me. (Also yes! He's canonically autistic! So is Frank and Julie!)

I'd say my favorite au's would be the Real World au by chez-cinnamon, Replaced au by kobaltt, and both the Lights Out au and Fantasy au by carnivalcarrion! I like them all a whole lot, they keep characterizations pretty close to what we have so far, and play around with them in very interesting ways. Love to see those guys put into situations, hehe. Also they are all somewhat angsty, aside from the Fantasy au. I love my angst. Oh! I also very like Infected Home au by suketchi-s! The horror and tragedy aspect is yummy, and I adore the creature design... The fandom sure is full of very creative and talented folks, no doubt about that.

I also very like Actor au by frillsand, despite it having very distinct characterizations from the original... I don't know why. I like the world building of puppets living among humans and how it affects them. I think it's the only 'sassy' Wally I actually really enjoy, because there's a reason behind his attitude. And behind it, he's still a very caring and loving soul.

Neat stuff!

akjdfkjds it's honestly always a treat to me to see that I have some Welcome Home mutuals!! Those silly guys have captured my heart ever since last April. Honestly, take this ask as an invitation to babble about it bc I wanna hear your thoughts! I'm a basic gal who's favorite is Wally bc of his autism 😔 Like I saw that man and went: me. That is me. We are kindred spirits. He's my bestie and I love him. Very excited to see him going through the horrors (I will cry). Also Eddie has really grown on me! He's such a lovable fella, he deserves a good break fr fr. Sally is an icon as well, and as a fellow musical theater nerd, I support all of her hustle.

Honestly, they all have so much personality that I would legit watch a real show with them, horror elements be damned. It's also lovely to see queer centric stories receive so much love and support <3

I too am a basic gal whos favorite is wally, and probably for similar reasons! I do agree with you, wally is definitely autistic in my eyes, and we would probably be the best of buds if he was real. I'm excited to see all of them go through the horrors, but especially Wally and Eddie. But at the same time, PLEASEEEE GIVE THEM A BREAKK. Gonna use this as an excuse to ramble about the au side of the fandom because why not :3 I got super into the fandom side of welcome home last spring, specifically the au side. I think the fall of some of the better known au's kind of killed part of the fan base, but honestly, people shouldn't let some bad creators ruin an entire fandom for them. I do miss seeing more of the au's, ngl. It was so much fun, even if it was SO HARD to keep track of the aus. (There were like over 1,000 aus. What is this, the undertale fandom? /j) At some point I had ideas for an au as well, but i'm pretty sure i've entirely forgotten them by now 😭 (This is why we write down our ideas, BUT I STILL HAVEN'T CAUGHT ONTO THAT YET.) Also, Id totally watch a real show with them. There's a lot of interesting aspects that I think could translate well into 2d or 3d animation, especially the horror elements. I love seeing queer centric projects like these as well, especially when it's not over-stereotyped. Stories like this deserve all the love and support that other stories get, and I do hope we see more projects like this down the line.

[corvideon]

so I’ve finally gotten around to watching dhmis, the television series, which i was wary of because honestly i think this kind of story does better in a shorter format. but all that aside, i think i finally understand the “lore” behind the series. here’s my theory:

1. yellow guy was once a child prodigy of some kind. he invented a “third symbolic subset” outside of both numbers and letters, and worked with these seemingly magical symbols to study spatial distribution. spatial distribution of what? unimportant.

2. what is important is what yellow guy invented: a way to store space inside of space. a pocket dimension, essentially, and a way to control that pocket dimension with his symbols

3. yellow guy then dies in a tragic accident, leaving his parents, Lesley and Roy, in relative agony. Lesley uses yellow guy’s journal, and the magic symbols therein, to recreate a pocket-dimension of their old home. nothing inside of it feels quite real—thus its puppet-y nature. but here she can create replicas of everything she’s lost… her son, and his two friends (who may have been his friends since before the accident or may have just been two random people Lesley found)

3. Lesley, now insanely messed up after maintaining this pocket dimension for centuries (long past since the apocalypse occurred in the outside world) enjoys torturing the Three Of Them endlessly via the Teachers. Roy dies at some point along the way, but she simply replaces him too. Roy isn’t important. he’s just a messed-up maintenance guy for this universe

4. there’s just one problem. yellow guy is too intelligent. he figures out he’s in a pocket dimension every time. so Lesley intentionally handicaps him by providing him with “weak batteries.” when he miraculously gets his batteries replaced anyway, Lesley decides to play one last endless game, and gives him back his old journal so he can finally figure out how this world of his works

5. Lesley does this knowing full well that the instant red guy and duck see yellow guy again, they will tear out his batteries and replace them with his old ones. after centuries or perhaps millennia of torturing them, that’s how well she knows every possible choice they could make. and she knows that low-battery yellow guy, with the journal containing the only true key to his freedom in his hands, and with a shredder nearby, will choose to shred.

of course, there’s a second layer to all this, which is that the series as a whole has grown more complicated as time goes by. just as there is more attention to detail, and more puppetry, better sets, more voice actors, etc, with each new generation of the show the lore grows deeper, and escape becomes more and more impossible. even if the Three Of Them manage to escape their hellscape in one series, the next reboot will just put them right back where they belong. that’s the true, cosmic-level horror at the heart of the series… not Roy or Lesley, but The Show itself

if you’re wondering how all this relates to the original series, where red guy seems to escape temporarily to the real world and Roy seems to be controlling everything via the Control Panel… there’s a simple explanation:

1. Red Guy either did escape to the real world, in which case the presence of many other “red guys” there implies that he has escaped many times and simply been replaced, or he never escaped at all and merely believed himself to be in the real world

2. If we accept that red guy did escape into the real world in the original series, then that places the original series before the apocalypse, possibly hundreds of years before the tv series. this in turn explains the control panel being replaced by Lesley’s dollhouse and piano… it simply evolved over time. any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, after all

3. when red guy unplugged the control panel, he only achieved a pyrrhic victory—he destroyed his entire universe, and Lesley had to reset everything. why she chose to replace everyone’s original colors, i don’t know

lastly, if you’re wondering how Lesley managed to keep herself alive so long if this series has continued across hundreds of years… look at those stitches on her face. notice how we only ever see her gloved hands. Lesley taxidermied herself somewhere along the way. she’s a puppet, too

[apocalypse-gang]

Okay so... we've barely started the s3 marketing campaign and people are already annoyed. And it kinda sucks because I think it's pretty clever thing they're doing.

But I completely get why people wouldn't like it.

I mean, where are our Hargreeves, the characters we know and love? What's going on with them? Who'd be interested in these characters, we don't even know in the show yet! Are they replacing our favorite characters?

And the answer is yes, they're replacing the characters.

Of course, not in the "Netflix is replacing the leads for these new ones" way, sorry if I scared you, but in the "the Hargreeves screwed with the timeline and made it so Reginald unadopted them" sort of way.

The Hargreeves are now in a timeline where their lives are no longer theirs. Their relationships, their house, their family, their own brother. Their father is back and is puppeting this completely different group of peopl. They aren't known in this timeline and they don't know what's going to happen in this timeline.

So the marketing is reflecting that.

We are also in that timeline. We are in a timeline were the Sparrows Academy reigns. Why would they market the Umbrellas, who aren't meant meant be in this timeline, as the Umbrella Academy, something that doesn't exist in this timeline?

In a way, we've almost stepped into the shoes of our Hargreeves. Everything is different, but familiar. There are strangers habe taken over their lives. We are expected to know who these people are, but we don't. The one person we do know isn't the same as the one we lost.

Our Hargreeves, Team Zero, are as in the dark as we are right now. They don't know what's going on or what's going to happen to them, so we don't either.

And it's a huge risk too. Why not show the characters and actor we know? The ones who people watch the show for? Why show these lesser known actor, as barely known characters?

Why market the season's antagonists, who work under Reginald ?

Because it adds to the experience. It's more suspenseful, it's tense, and almost immersive for us. The Umbrellas don't exist in this timeline as the academy in the show, so don't exist as the academy in the marketing. And to me, it's really exciting.

But, you know what? You don't have to like it at all. Maybe all the reason I like it are why you hate it. And that's totally fair. And again, I totally get it, because I miss the Hargreeves too! I wanna see them again! And it sucks that we likely won't see promos of them until after the season comes out (don't quote me on that, I don't know their plans for this campaign)

But... it's fun that we the fans are in the same state of confusion and uncertainty as our beloved characters. It's fun that we almost get to play the Hargreeves for a moment.

[leonardhoee]

Ikevamp Guys as Villains

Warnings: Mass Murder, Gore...

Tagging: @aurora-morning @delicateikemenmemes @writer-akihiko @nafeary

Napoleon

Napoleon would be a royal dictator. He is the leader of a corrupt, authoritarian regime, hellbent on conquering the world. Think Hela (Thor: Ragnarok or The Darkling (Shadow and Bone). He controls people with his massive armies, and believes he is the only rightful ruler in this world. He believes that the world should be remade in his image so it can be restored to its former glory. He craves power and he will stop at nothing to get it. His armies are tools that swore their lives and souls to his cause. He feels no remorse in sacrificing them for his greater good. The only thing that would satisfy him now, is seeing the world crushed under the heel of his boot.

Leonardo

Leo as a villain would be like Iron Man gone bad. He does what he does simply out of curiosity he wants to see if it would even work. Cyberterrorism is just a tool for him. He would make modifications to his own body so that his eyes can see x-Ray, night vision, and other people’s biological information, and his brain is directly connected to the internet. He would create an entire army of robots like Ultron (Marvel) or Terminators. He hacks into government servers and international television broadcasts. He takes over entire governments simply by sitting in his lab controlling his army from a tablet. He can destroy anything connected to the internet with a flick of his finger. He wouldn’t even have to get up out of his chair. His plans would be so well thought out that no one would realize what happened until they’ve already lost.

Dazai

Dazai would be unhinged and reckless. He’d completely detach himself from human emotions and commit as many insane heinous crimes as possible till he does something bad enough that he would get killed for it. He creates an alternate persona for himself like the Joker or Hisoka (HxH), and at that point he has buried his emotions so well that he fails to differentiate between his persona and his true self. He may not actively acknowledge it but his true goal is to just go out in a blaze. It doesn’t matter how many lives it costs to do so.

Jean

Jean would be walking a fine line between villain and antihero. His main motivation is wiping out the people he considers evil, to make the world a “better place”. However, he would take it to a point of mass murder. There would be major battles breaking out between the people that support him and the people that believe what he is doing is evil. He believes he is bringing divine justice upon those who deserve it and thinks this is the way to atone for his past sins. Sound familiar? Jean would be Kira (Death Note). He is also similar to The Hood (Arrow). He has no mercy and he will not hesitate to kill.

Comte

Comte is rich enough to buy world leaders. He is the puppet master behind every single nation of the world. No one suspects him, however he slowly takes over countries one by one. He would also run some kind of underground mafia operation that’s involved in pretty much every kind of trade there is. He gets his money from so many sources that even if one is cut off, he is still rich enough to maintain his control over politicians and famous businessmen. Comte is the leader of the secret societies that the world’s richest people are involved in. The world answers to him and you would never even know. (Similar to Kingpin (Marvel) and the Court of Owls (DC)

Sebastian

Sebastian was adopted by Comte after ran away from his family. When he was young, hs saw firsthand how cruel the world can really be. He wholeheartedly believes the world is better off being run by Comte, and has pledged complete loyalty to him. He is Comte’s right hand man and he runs most of their underground mafia operations. He is incredibly versatile and does whatever Comte needs from him. Acting as a proxy? Assasinating a world leader? Leading a heist? Sebastian can do it all. His ideals have been so skewed growing up with Comte, that he sees himself as an extension of Comte’s power. Nothing more. He is a loyal weapon to be used by his boss.

Vincent

Vincent would release his emotions and would be unable to handle it mentally. He would be a serial killer who escaped from an asylum after losing his mind. He would kidnap his victims and slowly bleed them out as he paints with their blood. His specialty is carving designs into his victims after they have bled out and died. He leaves a sunflower at every crime scene and each new murder is just his latest artistic masterpiece left for the world to see. One way or another his art will be remembered, and it will cause the whole world to feel as much as he does.

Theo

Theo is driven by rage. Rage towards the world, towards the way he and Vincent were treated. His strength and anger would translate into him having an incredibly powerful monstrous form. His only goal is destruction. He wants to tear apart the society that allows people to get hurt like he did. He would be similar to Venom (Marvel), Abomination (Marvel), or Eren (Attack on Titan). Blinded by rage, he looses sight of his original goal and devoted himself to destroying everything he sees. It doesn’t matter who gets killed, they’re just collateral damage.

Isaac

Isaac can be two different types of villains all in one. On one hand, he’s a mad scientist who happened to discover a chemical combination that can be weaponized. However his insatiable bloodlust drives him to weaponize his discovery for himself. He wants people to know fear like he does (think Scarecrow (Batman). I can see him laying with Leonardo and helping upgrade his robot army with that chemical. On the other hand, when he lets himself give in to that bloodlust, he won’t stop unless he is stopped by someone else (like ripper Stefan from Vampire Diaries). He rips apart his victims like a wild animal. His crime scenes are covered in blood with dismembered body parts.

Mozart

Mozart would be an assassin for hire. He’s like a ghost. There have been stories about him but no one truly knows who he is. He works in the shadows and kills efficiently and without hesitation. One of his specialties is creating various sound waves that can kill his target. For those type of kills he doesn’t even need to leave his base, he can simply hack their device and cause it to play that frequency. Comte has hired him before to carry out certain kills he couldn’t do himself because of his position. Mozart is extremely devoted to his job will kill anyone who gets in the way of him and his target.

Arthur

Arthur would be a mix between Moriarty and Kilgrave (Jessica Jones). He would have some kind of mind controlling ability that allows him to create loyal puppets for his elaborate schemes. He loves playing games with the people suspecting him and he leads them in circles with their investigations. Sometimes he will even offer to personally help investigate cases he is responsible for, just to lead them into dead ends and plant fake clues. Every crime of his is a masterpiece with countless layers going into it. He does not see the people involved as humans. They’re just his pawns in his game of chess. Arthur just wants to see how far he can go before he finds a worthy opponent that can solve his cases.

Shakespeare

Shakespeare would be a theatrical serial killer who later escalates to mass murder. He would start out by abducting people he believes to “fit the role” he has planned for them. He would then kill them, replicating famous death scenes from plays and movies he admired (or his own plays). Each crime scene would be perfectly set up with lighting, makeup, and costuming. This would escalate later on to him and his troupe taking massive groups of people hostage, forcing them to read lines and act out various gruesome plays. When someone dies in the play, the actors have to murder each other. If they refuse, Shakespeare murders them both out of rage and brings in new people to replace them. He will not stop until he creates his perfect play.

[velveteenr4bbit]

FROM @1nfernoh ,

“If we’re turned away from the ferry we can start fashioning ourselves a raft. Now that’s some made for TV B plot.” Kiyong grins and he makes it look like he’s not scared of it, that idea. Or the ferry itself, the slosh of the waves and the way it all sinks down deep into nothing but black. He doesn’t tell anyone about that, his fear. “You go into town yet No cameras out there, right?” Not that Kiyong had seen, not unless they follow you on foot.

she puffs out a cloud of smoke and laughs, surprising herself. "if they think they can hunt me like an animal for sport, they have another fuckin' thing coming." minji huffs, but still, when he swings around with that fake arrow, she takes the hit, somewhat a little dramatically. she's never been an actor, but she has been for her sister, making puppet shows behind sheets using the shitty light of a flashlight and their own makeshift puppets and stuffed animals to tell stories. she pretends to fall onto the rock, free hand clutching her heart, other holding onto the smoke.

she's laughing, as she comes back up. leans on the palm of one hand, shaking her head as it mingles in with the smoke, narrowing down her breathing. "nah, what they really want is the juicy stuff. secrets, whatever the fuck happened that followed everyone home. whatever happens between all of us in the meantime is just benefits to their stupid ratings." it'd be better if she had a cover, or a mask, or something to hide behind, but the cameras being on all of the time just made her feel like even breathing she was contributing to something, just her existing in front of the lens. it made her skin crawl.

minji watches a couple of ants march around on the rock, carrying things, places to go. "no. i mean-- the money's great. but i need answers. the truth." it feels grittier between her teeth because it is real, is it why she came. is everyone else dealing with shit just like her? those scratches stretching long on her cheek, evidence of something, evidence, even, of minji just going crazy herself. she's not trying to make a spectacle, but she hopes she walks off retaining what self worth she has left after appearing publicly like this.

half wonders if her dad will give it a watch. he hasn't seen her in years. would he even recognize her?

"at least i'm not one of the actors, they'll be coming after you, next, if they can't get anything out of the main ones. i'd want to black out the cameras if it meant they wouldn't just try replacing it after, or something. feel like i'd go to all of the trouble just for them to fuck me over like that." minji sighs. the ants march on. that's all she's trying to do here, too.

the raft makes her snort out a laugh, take another long drag. "that would be a disaster. can you imagine them finding us out there with makeshift paddles and the raft disintegrating or some shit before we even get to shore? too risky. i'll take the cameras." her shoe digs into the dirt, like leaving a little piece of herself, here, carving an arch with the tip.

"i haven't been into town, but we could go check, sometime. if the rest of this town has the weird vibe this place does, then i feel like i'm still not going to like what i see. the longer i'm here, it just feels like we're fucking waiting for something, rather than figuring something out. you know? like it's waiting on us."

a beat, stretching long. figures fuck it and asks anyways. "have you.. seen or felt anything? weird, i mean?"

[xonepeacelovex]

stray kids imagines as taylor swift’s songs from taylor’s version album ft. hyuncam | part 2

part 1

han jisung

jump then fall

it is rude to stare

you know and yet you can’t stop yourself

you are surely deeply madly lovestruck with jisung

and it’s driving you crazy

jisung, a transfer student

good at everything

aces every exam

that you studied hard to pass

that he made it looks so easy to ace

he’s a threat to your standing

and yet you can’t hate him

not when he’s the only one who is not scared of you

he became a friend

and then someone who makes your heart flip

truth hit you too hard

when the uninvited feeling crawled to your heart

you hate how jisung makes you feel like a puppet doll

you mirror everything he does

when he smiles you automatically smiles

you laugh at his dad jokes

which you don’t do

you like a quiet and peaceful high school thus the lone wolf facade

catching yourself smiling

you cough and made your way to your seat

beside jisung

he greeted you a good morning

which you just nodded

and despite the tight lipped smile and cold greetings

he still smiles at you and excitedly listens to your class

accustomed to you already

“it’s rude to stare”

your eyes widen, caught red handed

you are in the library, looking for a reference book

when you saw jisung sleeping, sun shining down on his face

you’ll walk away that moment when your heart starts pounding

though you thought he’ll be uncomfortable with the sun light

and what if the librarian caught him

so you absentmindedly walk towards him

blocking the sunrays with a book

like you are bewitched you stare at his face

he still hasn’t moved, eyes closed

you can’t think of any good excuse so you decided to go with the flow

he opens his one eye, to check your reaction

closing it again before chuckling

he sit up properly and stretch his arms

“if you’ll remain silent, i’ll think you did it on purpose”

“what if i did?”

“are you telling me you like me?”

“yes.”

you said confidently, there’s no backing out

you nervously look at his reaction

he’s searching your eyes for a hint of mischievousness

he remained silent

“if you’ll reman silent, i’ll assume you don’t like me”

“no. it’s not like that. i’m just scared.”

“of what?”

“of falling harder for you”

lee felix fearless

“wait felix. you’ll catch a cold.”

you shouted to your prom date

he happily hopped on the way to his car

you look at the suit in your hands

he gave it to you to use as a shield from the rain

“have this” he said then running towards his car

if only you have a choice not to go to this prom

but felix somehow made you go

*flashback*

“what the heck is this felix?” you whispered to him, making him satnd up from his kneeling position

“a promposal” he answered

your friends are giggling behind you

“for whom?” you asked him, perplexed

“for you.” he said a little louder, kneeling again with the bouquet of flowers

you look at him

he’s definitely paying you back with the stunt you did to him

everyone is cheering him on

you smile at them and look at felix

holding his arms to make him stand up again

you accepted the flowers without words

and he smiles at you and then at everyone surrounding both of you

you want to wipe that grin in his face

*end of flashback*

you can’t let him be alone in the rain with his suit above your head

so you decided to run under the rain, following felix

and he’s still unlocking his car, you cover his head too

even though it’s useless now

the suit too small for the both of you

you became soaked up by the rain

you thought you’ll hate being wet by the rain

but as every rain drop fell on your face you felt different

it’s exhilarating

lowering the protection you are holding, forgetting to use the suit as a cover up

a smile making it’s way to your lips

you look up at the sky

feeling every raindrop, it makes you feel like a kid again

no wonder why felix is smiling while looking at you

“you look like a kid” he teased

you look at him, keys still on his hands

he planned this

he has no intention of getting in in the car

“may i have this dance with you?” giving his hand out to you

you take his warm hands

he suddenly pull you towards him

heat radiating from his body made you stayed close to him

hugging him completely, closing your eyes

while he sways and your body just follows his

going to prom isn’t bad at all, you thought

and you are glad he asked you to his date tonight

you open your eyes, and he’s already looking at you

“not bad, right?”

“not bad if we don’t-”

he sneezed, moving away from you

“catch a cold” you continued

he shiver and then fix his messy wet hair

and your heart did a somersault

you look at the man responsible for it

“glad i didn’t turned you down”, you whispered

he heard you and hold your gaze

you sneezed also, ruining the moment

while you both laugh heartily under the pouring rain

kim seungmin

hey stephen

you don't really see the point of crushes

until you met kim seungmin

your first happy crush

and you see, happy crushes are supposed to be happy

but you're not

seungmin indeed is one of those heartbreakers

that didn't meant to hurt others

he's either oblivious that everyone likes hin

or he doesn't care about love

like you, before you developed feelings for him

it was just supposed to be a happy crush

plus feelings are not your thing

but seungmin really did captured your heart

and you are happy with just his existence

so you don't know why he's walking towards you

smiling, waving at you, like he knew for years

"y/n"

your brain stopped working that moment

how the hell he did know your name

and why is he smiling 🙂

that moment you thought to yourself, “you’re doomed”

and started thinking “is is still a crush?”

seungmin called you again

flustered that he caught you staring at him

“hey seungmin”

you brushed off the way he’s looking at you with playful smile

“what are you writing?”

and not to be simp but you are writing a poem about feelings

feelings for him, specifically

you immediately closed the notebook

“how do you know my name?” you asked, getting yourself together

“what?”

“how do you know my name? we are not even classmates”

“uhm... you are right” he looked around, avoiding your eyes

you looked around also, noticing the group of girls from a distance

you chuckles when you saw it

“are you using me as an escape?”

“yes” he confessed without hesitation

you nodded

“and i knew your name through jeongin”

it’s safe to say you are not the only one with a happy crush

i.n/yang jeongin today was a fairytale

directing a play is stressful

you are not even the club president

your best friend was though

so when she asked for help with puppy eyes

you can't just say no

you did say yes to production

making stage props and wardrobe are manageable

and watching them rehearse for it is enjoyable

the leading man, jeongin, is a good actor and singer

he also helps you make the props during their break

“does this need a second paint?”

you jump from the scare, hands flying to your chest

you are currently humming the song for the play

when you saw him, laughing at you, you sigh

“please don’t scare me like that again”

“i’m sorry”

“okay, and yes”

“why are you alone though? where are the others?”

you shrug and his facial expression turned into some kind of anger

that you don't think he can express cause he's so nice every time

he silently paints with you

it’s not that you are not aware the other official club members are not helping at all

cause they are, leaving all the works to you

and you can’t complain to your best friend

she’s stress enough to manage the production

you came home exhausted that day

the next day, all the club members that are supposedly helping you with the production are there making props

and you see jeongin winking at you

you thought it will be smooth sailing from there until

when the leading lady literally broke her leg

your best friend breakdowns in front of you

you and jeongin are comforting her

“who’s gonna replace her?” your best friend said, exasperated

jeongin points at you, “y/n has the script memorized!”

your eyes widen, “what?!”

your best friend looks at you with expectation “do you?”

you bit your lip, “yes”

she holds both of your hands “please?”

you sigh, “okay,”

and now, you found yourself as a leading lady

you are not for the spotlight and yet you are starting to enjoy acting

"okay now we are at the scene where jeongin will kiss you"

"what?!" you both said as you look at each other

"did i forget to give you the updated script? oh my gosh yes!" your bestfriend answered her own question as she opened her laptop searching for its soft copy

"i'll print it for you guys but let's continue rehearsing"

jeongin slowly walks up to you

following every words of your bestfriend

your eyes stayed at him, as he stop in front of you

you gulped, heart beating faster

your first kiss

your first kiss will be with jeongin

you bit your lower lip as he leans forward

his left hand on your back while the other is holding your cheek

you closed your eyes, not ready for any of these

jeongin felt your nervousness

so he angled your face

you felt his breath on your cheeks

he kisses your nose

you opened your eyes and stared at jeongin

as he smiles at you

"cut! let's take a break" your best friend shouted

you back away from him, heart pounding louder

you cleared your throat as you walk to your best friends without saying anything to jeongin

dragging her outside the theatre

"why you didn't say there will be a kissing scene?" you confronted her

"i'm sorry really the scripwriter changed it last night. he thinks it is necessary to the story," she apologized

you sigh, you can't just say to her that it will be your first kiss

on the day of the play, you are nervous but for another reason

you don't know if jeongin will kiss your lips

you can't fake the kiss in front of a hundred people

but he act so well that he made the kiss like a real kiss as he angles your face

and you are thankful and disappointed too

why?

for the past weeks you've harbored a crush for jeongin

as the curtain closes and all the actors and actresses went to the backstage

jeongin slowly walks up to with a rose in a hand the one he got, he handed it to you

"i know you don't like me but i like you" he confessed and as he walk away you hold his hand and pull him to you

finally kissing him

A/N: I need to make a part 2 because Tumblr won’t let me add anything on the first post. I had to cut Jeongin’s part abruptly because this post is too long (Tumblr said it). Anyway, have a good night. 

Copyright © 2021 xonepeacelovex All rights reserved.

[erekiosuncreativeideas]

The Part-Time Puppeteer - Chapter 08

<= Chapter 7

Summary : Lukas gets a chance against one of the biggest actors ever known.

Also available on AO3 : https://archiveofourown.org/works/23828971/chapters/81316792

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The duel you had all been awaiting for... THERE IT IS. I hope you'll like it !

Thank you, Tumblr, for making this chapter so fucking hard to post, I appreciate it, really. /s

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Chapter 8 - “So you came back... As I had planned.”

The role of the Moonjumper was both an interesting and a boring one- at least, this is what Lukas had thought to himself while he had been learning his lines. It wasn’t that this character was a bad one, no, far from it. But he was… Predictable, unoriginal in some ways even. The young man hadn’t noticed it really, while simply reading the text in his mind. But once he had said the lines out loud… This is when it started to get apparent. Of course, he had told himself he was merely a law student, so what could he know about fiction and how to interpret it? He was no specialist in that field. And yet, this is the impression the role gave to him. Not a bad one, but not a perfect one.

In short, there was room for improvement. However, this hadn’t been on his mind, or not for too long. After all, he had other preoccupations other than thinking about that. The first one had been to learn these lines, and the second and most important one… Was to teach that bastard of an actor that sometimes life could get back at you for your attitude.

And apparently, now was the moment for it.

With a wave of confidence caused by his anger towards the diva, Lukas opened his mouth and put a start to what seemed to be a duel between the two of them.

-“So you came back,” he murmured with a little smile, moving the puppet upwards, as if it were looming over Hat Kid or, in this case, MJ: “As I had planned.”

-“You took something from me,” retorted MJ, with a determined intonation that was completely different from his arrogant, usual self. This man was no doubt a very skilled actor. Even if he looked nothing like a little girl… He still managed to give the same vibes, by his movements, his expression and his voice. It was truly impressing, though the student couldn’t care much at the moment.

He needed to focus, to get himself in character… In this very instant, the young man was a mysterious and powerful entity who had been imprisoned in his own dimension for centuries. He was a monster that would lure his victims in, never for them to be seen again. What did he do with them? The script wasn’t clear about that, though there were traces that hinted he would turn them into puppets.

Quite a scary thing for a kids’ show.

The student was struggling to move the puppet with precision, due to how it was made. It was the same kind of puppet who had strings linking it to a wooden cross. It was practical in a way where he didn’t have to touch the puppet directly to move it… But on the other hand, it meant that he couldn’t do precise or specific gestures with it. This meant he would need to put extra effort on his acting, so that it would compensate the lack of gesture he could do.

Well, he hoped this wouldn’t be too noticeable… Trying his best to make the puppet raise its hand, he continued playing:

-“Oh, you mean this, perhaps?” Having no props on the scene with him made it less immersive, but thankfully, the rest of the dialogue was enough for everyone to understand what the Moonjumper was talking about: “This hourglass of yours… A powerful artifact, yes?”

Lukas’ tone was calm, reserved, but it wouldn’t last- later in the scene, the Moonjumper would become more agitated. Actually, the directives on it didn’t say he was going to get mad, per se. Still, when he read those lines, he was… Disappointed in the entity’s attitude. For a bad guy, the latter was way too mild, too nice, and… Not threatening enough.

Not frightening enough.

-“That is none of your business,” the diva replied, his tone more aggressive. His stance had tensed, giving away how important this object was for the main character, and how crucial it was to get it back.

-“Oh, is that so?” Lukas made the puppet tilt its head to the side, approaching MJ dangerously. His tone had turned icy, bitter, as if what the main character had said weren’t such a good idea: “I believe it is quite my business, on the contrary, young child,” his murmur had lowered in volume as he made another step forward.

-“It’s mine!” MJ’s voice had talked back, his expression showing a mix of anger, despair, and persistence.

-“Is it? Is it, really?” he snarled in response, starting to raise his tone a little- this was the time to put his improvisation on the table. At this point, it was make or break: “Maybe you’re lying. Perhaps you stole it. Who is there to say? Do you even know how much I need it?”

The diva in front of him seemed taken aback by him not respecting the stage direction completely. It didn’t last long, and soon enough, the hint of a smirk could be seen on the other’s face, even if just for a second. It quickly disappeared, as the actor didn’t want to break character. But Lukas saw it, and it simply enraged him.

At least, his fury in the next moments was not going to be faked.

-“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” the ‘little girl’ screamed at him, getting closer to confront him: “This isn’t a toy, this isn’t… Some weird stuff that you can use for yourself! It’s… It belongs to me, to… To my people!”

Okay, this was it, this was the most embarrassing moment of this whole scene. God, he wanted to cringe so hard just thinking about what he was going to do, but… This exact thing was the reason he got the role to begin with. So, realistically, it meant… That it was maybe his secret weapon.

Shit, that sounded so fucking stupid.

The student let out a snort, one that started to get louder and louder as seconds passed. This wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a cruel giggle, but… This scene was the finale, was something people had to remember after seeing that episode. It had to be… Intense! Full of passion, as Grooves would say, he supposed. And so… His mind conjured a picture he would never, ever forget.

MJ falling down the day before. MJ getting angry, humiliated before the entire crew, losing his job against a nobody, a simple stagehand who had been hired the same day. And, just like that… Lukas burst out laughing, his hysterical giggles echoing all around, sending shivers to the spectators as it continued. For years, the young man had been shamed for his way of laughing. His entire childhood had been spent hiding that part of him from the others, so he wouldn’t be judged and mocked for something he couldn’t even control. And here, for the first time of his entire life…

Lukas was laughing without being (too) scared of the way people would react in consequence. This was… Absolutely freeing, to feel like he could be himself, just a few instants…!

-“You think I see this as a toy? Don’t be silly, young child… This,” he spoke again, his voice dark, lifting the doll’s hand again: “… Is my salvation, the key to my esca-”

-“Okay, cut, that’s enough,” Lukas was interrupted by a familiar voice, the investor’s. His face paled up- wait, they hadn’t finished the scene, why would that man stop them? Did… Did he do wrong? He gulped down, starting to regret taking initiatives. What was he thinking? If he had a script, it was to respect it! Why did he choose the riskiest solution?! Couldn’t he just stick to the plan?!

He turned to the investor, a look of fear and confusion written all over his face. At his sides, MJ’s acting mask fell, only to be replaced by a smug expression, as he approached the student. Leaning towards him, so that only he could hear, the actor whispered:

-“You didn’t even respect your text,” the diva mocked him: “What, you thought it was a good idea to improvise? Or were you just too stupid to read the stage directions?”

Lukas glared at him, gritting his teeth- but his arch nemesis was right. He had taken initiatives and, in hindsight, this really hadn’t been the opportunity for it. This was an exam, a duel, in which they both had to prove who was a better actor. When would a good actor question a director’s orders?

The young man’s cheeks blushed both in anger and embarrassment. His eyes fell on the Conductor and DJ Grooves- both looked disappointed and perhaps a little angry. They were most likely thinking that he had just wasted a golden opportunity- he didn’t think he had acted badly, he was pretty sure his laughter had been a great addition, but his wasn’t about that.

It was about respecting the directors’ wishes, which he hadn’t done.

In an instant, Lukas’ attitude went from confidence to utter embarrassment. Oh, how he wished he could just hide underground, never to be seen again. Next to him, in comparison, MJ was simply beaming. In the distance, Mike’s expression was a mix of sadness and frustration. As for the rest of the crew… Lukas just couldn’t look at them.

It was too much. His anxiety was eating him from the inside, feeding on his self doubts, on his fears, and on how much he wanted to get out of here. Please, couldn’t he hear that he was downgraded to being a stagehand again?

The wait was unbearable.

The investor had remained silent for a few seconds, staring into space. Eventually, his eyes went back up to the two actors, and he sighed, visibly conflicted. But conflicted about what? There wasn’t anything to be conflicted about! The young man clenched his fists, trying to focus on the pain of his nails scratching his palms instead. The longer it lasted, the more he could feel his emotions getting out of control. If it continued, then… Well, he could already feel some tears making their way up to his eyes.

Oh, no, no, please, no, not in public- not next to MJ, out of every-fucking-one!

His mind went silent as he saw the investor looking at him, his face serious. This was it.

-“You don’t fit the role,” he said sternly, and Lukas felt his heart sink in his chest- he knew it, he fucking knew it, he shouldn’t have tried to take risks! This wasn’t his forte, he should have stuck to rules like he always had!

-“Well, isn’t that a surprise,” a sarcastic scoff left the actor’s lips at his sides, only making the student feel even worse than he already was: “Who could have ever thought hiring a stagehand to do some professional work was a bad idea- oh, yeah. I did,” the asshole’s voice became serious, sending huge and bitter “I told you so” vibes.

God, Lukas just wanted to punch his face so bad…! And the humiliation he was feeling wasn’t helping him either- fuck, fuck, he could feel the urge to cry getting harder and harder to suppress.

The investor raised his hand, his expression still as serious as before:

-“I’m not finished,” he interrupted the other’s celebration before crossing his hands, lost in thoughts: “This… Is not something I had expected, I have to admit that much.”

-“Wha-” MJ seemed confused and tilted his head to the side, frowning: “What do you mean?” he pressed the older man, visibly not liking where this was going. Lukas was just as confused as him, not really understanding where the other was getting at. And, to be fair, so was everyone else in the room, especially the two directors, who exchanged a perplexed look.

What the hell was going on?

It took approximately thirty, long seconds for the investor to find his words, and he crossed his arms, looking back at the student.

-“You don’t fit the role, because this character doesn’t fit you.”

There was a short silence in the room, before MJ broke it, an insincere smile taking place onto his lips:

-“I’m sorry,” he snorted sarcastically: “This role doesn’t fit him because he doesn’t know how to act,” the jerk enunciated, as if it were obvious- and it was. Still, the other shook his head and tapped the script resting on his legs with the back of his fingers.

-“No, he does. But his acting doesn’t fit a character like this,” he explained better, and he opened the script to continue: “See, I only got to read the script before, today is the first time I’m seeing it actually being rehearsed. And it made me notice that… This character isn’t good. In fact, he’s bad.”

This last statement cast a chill in the room, making people frown in confusion and incomprehension. However, for the two directors, it was more than that. It was more pronounced, more… Visible.

-“Wh- What d’you mean?” the Conductor exclaimed, holding his own copy of the script and flipping the pages frantically. DJ Grooves was more reserved, but he was clearly furrowing his brow, shaking his head:

-“But… But we sent you the script a few times, and you validated this version,” he retorted: “I don’t understand why suddenly this character is bad to you.”

The investor pointed at the two young men on the scene, his head turning back to look at the directors:

-“It’s one thing to read the script, and it’s another to experience it. The Moonjumper is bland, he doesn’t have any personality, he looks like any other bad guy, he feels… Unoriginal. I’m honestly feeling like I was watching something made by teenagers.”

It was clear that this last sentence deeply offended the two men, and Grooves had to grab the Conductor’s arm, so that the latter could keep his mouth shut. But, oh, it was obvious they wanted to talk back. Still, it was best to be polite with the person funding your entire project.

-“Which is why you need a good actor,” MJ tried to interject, placing his hand over his heart as he tried to persuade the benefactor to choose him instead. But he was soon cut short by the man’s voice again, disagreeing with him:

-“No, MJ, you don’t understand. This character is badly written, and this puppet,” he nodded to the object still in Lukas’ hands: “… Is too scary for kids. On one hand, you have this character without any personality, and on the other, you have this puppet which design has to change.”

At the mention of the puppet, a familiar person moved across the crowd to join the conversation. Without much surprise, it was Mike, whose expression showed concern and confusion:

-“W-wait,” he called out to the investor, not knowing what to do with his own hands: “I don’t… I was asked to make a scary puppet, I-”

-“And you did way too much. Furthermore… Our friend here had some trouble moving the puppet around,” he pointed to the student, whose face paled up as everyone’s eyes glanced at him. Oh, shit, no, he didn’t want to be implicated in this…!

-“This puppet wasn’t made with the idea of interacting with props. It can’t hold things and even if it could, it seems complicated to make it express emotions or body language. In short, I want the puppet to be redesigned entirely.”

Mike’s face paled at the investor’s decision, and Lukas couldn’t blame him. It was months of work thrown away like it was nothing. He was about to say something against it, but MJ beat him to it, defending his brother for the student’s greatest surprise:

-“And you had to wait until it was finished to say something about it?” the actor’s tone was getting more aggressive as he gestured at his brother: “He spent nights working on that! And you decide to just… Scrap it away?!”

Lukas… Really hadn’t expected the other to care, especially with how the latter had thrown the puppet to the floor the day before. Then again, they were twins, and Mike did seem to care about his brother… So maybe the feeling was mutual, just… Unbalanced, perhaps?

-“I know, and I take full responsibility for that,” retorted the man with determination: “The other reason I want a redesign is that I want this character to change. I want another one instead, one that is original, and not… The typical cliché of a bad guy.”

Before MJ was able to talk back, the Conductor interjected, his expression really showing he wasn’t liking anything that was being said at the moment.

-“Are you serious?!” he finally snapped, his Scottish accent more audible than ever: “Do you expect us to rewrite the entire thing?! After all the time it took us?!”

Grooves tried to calm the Conductor down, but it was in vain. All he could do was to push him lightly to the side, before the other reacted violently by shoving him back, not wanting to be touched, especially by him. Still, that got the message across, and DJ Grooves got the opportunity to talk:

-“It’s… Not possible to rewrite anything, the deadlines are too short for our budget and-”

-“In that case, if this is the way to avoid a catastrophic show, then I’ll fund this project for a little longer. But I do not want to see my money being wasted on some poorly written story,” he sighed, obviously aware of how much his words had irritated the entire crew, who was now glaring daggers at him: “I know I am responsible for saying that too late, which is why I will give you more time and money to adjust tactics. But this,” he gestured to the puppet and the script: “… Has to change. I’m not asking for a complete rework of the script, but I want us to talk about the modifications we need to implement.”

After the announcement regarding the deadlines being postponed, the crew did lose some animosity, though it was still very much there, especially for the two directors who had to rewrite a good chunk of what they thought was a final version. Mike, in comparison, looked much more disappointed and sad than anything else, which made Lukas feel bad for him. He wanted to comfort his friend, trying to encourage him- but before he even could, MJ’s voice rose again in the room, catching everyone’s attention once more:

-“And what about the original problem, hm?” he urged the benefactor: “If there’s no Moonjumper anymore, then… What about the new character?” He then gestured at Lukas as if he were showing something disgusting- and yeah, that was pretty insulting: “You’re not… Going to choose an inexperienced stagehand for a major role, are you? You need someone who knows how to act, not… Not someone who can’t even respect the stage directions!”

The student gritted his teeth again- but he couldn’t deny the last point, as it was true. Then again, that didn’t mean he couldn’t defend himself:

-“At least, I respect other people,” he mumbled, loud enough for the diva to hear. Unsurprisingly, the latter turned to him, his eyes wide and his expression furious:

-“Excuse me?!” he retorted, outraged: “I know what acting is, and it’s following the script!”

-“Oh sure, that’s clearlymore important than being a decent human being!” the young man rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. This seemed to be what made the actor snap. The latter rushed towards him, his fist raised, prepared to hit- but thankfully, Mike knew his brother enough to anticipate it, and he dashed to grab his twin by the waist, stopping him.

-“MJ, cut it out!” yelled the puppet maker, and Lukas couldn’t help but be taken aback, not used to seeing Mike so… Angry. And yet, it was barely enough to keep MJ from trying to punch the student- he was trying to break out of his brother’s hold. Lukas couldn’t help but step back, in case the actor did manage to shove his twin aside. But it didn’t happen. Instead, the diva slowly lowered his fist, glaring at his rival with pure hatred in his eyes.

-“Will you pleasefucking stop?!” the benefactor’s loud voice called out to the group. When they all turned their head back to him, his face showed nothing but anger and annoyance. That sent shivers down Lukas’ spine, and he tensed, facing the man again like a well-behaved child. Next to him, MJ glared at the man before rolling his eyes, soon imitating his arch nemesis. Mike, upon seeing his brother had calmed down, let go of him and made a few steps back as well.

Okay, seemed like this day was getting as agitated as the previous one… Was this going to be the case for every single day? He… Didn’t know if he could handle that.

The investor let out a long, exaggerated sigh before pinching his nose, irritation written all over his face.

-“I’m… Ugh… Okay, fine. For this new character, and my decision will be final… I want the newbie on it.”

Lukas’ heart stopped beating, his eyes widening in astonishment. Wait, wait, wh-

-“What?!” the diva’s voice soon echoed around them, his tone enraged and scandalized: “You can’t be serious, he’s just-”

-“I said that my decision was final,” the benefactor reaffirmed his choice, giving the actor a very stern look of disapproval: “And if you’re unhappy with that, then you are more than welcome to leave. If you finally decide to act like an adult, then I will give you another role. But let me tell you, MJ, you’re on thin fucking ice, right now.”

The diva shot him yet another glare, his fists clenched and trembling from how livid he was. Both of them seemed to try and assert their dominance over the other… But eventually, MJ looked away and stormed off, kicking a chair as he moved through the room. It took him only a few seconds to reach the door and slam it behind him, leaving the set after another tantrum. Mike, just like the day before, quickly followed him, most likely to comfort him or at least calm him down.

In the meantime, Lukas was just… Existing, barely realizing what had been said to him. This… This was a dream, right? He was still in the workshop, taking an impromptu nap, this couldn’t be possible in real life…! And yet, it was all very real. In the back, the Conductor and Grooves seemed to have conflicted emotions: on one hand, they were very upset by the idea of rewriting a good part of their story, but on the other hand… They wouldn’t have to worry about that asshole’s attitude anymore. Still, they seemed just confused as him as to why he had been chosen. Yeah, seemed like improvising wouldn’t have been a good idea, but… Maybe in this particular case, it helped to highlight the Moonjumper’s lack of personality.

In a way… Probably not something to do in the future from now on.

Suddenly, the student was brought back to reality as he felt a hand over his shoulder, and he jumped, not expecting the sudden contact. He looked in front of him, his eyes focusing on the person he was facing: the benefactor. The latter still wasn’t smiling, and his expression was still irritated, but it didn’t seem directed at him at least:

-“Well, congrats, I guess. You did good.”

Lukas remained silent for a moment, not knowing how to answer or what to say. Eventually, he stammered a quick “thank you”, his mind still having trouble to process what had just happened.

He had the role- holy shit, he had managed to get the role, and against MJ at that!

The man pulled away and turned to the directors, telling them things Lukas could barely hear over the cacophony his minds was making. Still, inside him… A feeling of pride and accomplishment was growing, enveloping him. A wave of excitement followed, and it was hard not to jump around in pure joy and satisfaction.

Maybe this day wasn’t so bad after all…

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=> Chapter 09