#so for whatever reason people are claiming the bombs happened the time they did BECAUSE of the met gala

[post-futurism]

I will say it's laughable to claim that it's 'not a coincidence that Israel's attacks coincide with high profile events' (i.e. the met gala). That's the most US centric thing I've ever heard. Do you really think war officials are designing their onslaught based around a fashion party in the US? Like they're criminal masterminds using the influence of the global cultural powerhouse that is the US to distract the people of... Checks notes... The entire world so that they can bomb Palestine unsuspectingly?

Youse sound like conspiracy theorists.

No one actually gives a fuck about the Met Gala. For those who like it, it's just about the fashion photography that comes out a day later. For most it's an event detached from place and from time and it's occurrence actually has nothing to do with the recent attack. But it's the idea that 'high profile events' like the Met Gala are deliberately being used to distract people from ongoing genocide that assumes that the event itself is iconic enough to be distracting, and that the distractable people are only North Americans thereby omitting the nuance of the rest of the world's populace in life extracted from the US hegemony.

[flythesail]

Everything about the Acolyte cancelation just feels so off. I want to be hopeful when seeing the strength of the renewal campaign or even the number of big news sources writing about it, that something like a wrap up movie could be possible, yet nothing about this situation says "normal."

There were reports from so many places (with no evidence) that Acolyte merch was intentionally taken offline. (For the record, nothing came up when you searched "Andor" either.) Then soon after, the merch is back. (Presumably because it was out of stock.) What I find surprising is that the news spread like wildfire. Why? When for most of its existence, the Acolyte has been thrown under the bus - from review bombing to racist attacks from so called "fans" - why was everyone suddenly jumping on the cancelation news when doing little to defend or support the show from the start? Merch seems like such a minor thing within the grand picture.

Many, okay most, shows are canceled after one season nowadays. But this is a first just by default of falling under an IP as large as Star Wars. Shows that are not renewed go "quietly." Kenobi was written as a single season. Tbobf might have been up for a second, but after the way it was used as a bridge for Mando seasons 2 and 3, a lack of renewal is not a shock.

There's so much proof the Acolyte was on course to be renewed and the cancelation was not planned. As recently as last month they were looking for directors for season 2. I believe there were reports of a writers room in February.

Lee Jung-jae says in an interview he's surprised about the cancelation, and right after there's "coincidentally" news that Keanu Reeves would have been Master Sol if not for scheduling conflicts. Lesley Headland has ALWAYS said JJ was her first choice. Which says what? That Lucasfilm wanted to punish JJ for showing support for the show that they canceled. This is on top of doing absolutely nothing to protect Amandla from all the disgusting racists on Instagram. This is on top of them announcing Manny for SW Celebration, which isn't until NEXT year. Wtf is he going to talk about?? Thanks for canceling my show last year! I sure would have loved to continue it! The cancelation news was even publicized on his birthday. This comes after recent news for tie-in novels, an art book, and a visual guide.

My best guess would be that plans for season 2 were underway, and a higher up got scared. Of what? Taking creative risks. Or maybe scared of the people who claim to be "fans" and have done nothing but trash the show from the start with no basis.

I'll play advocate, what if it was just for viewership and budgetary reasons? It does cost a lot to make. But then why not adjust the budget? Why not adjust the marketing strategy for season 2? The success of something like Star Wars cannot even be entirely measured by viewership or Disney+ subscriptions, less so a month after the finale. What about merchandise sales or growth over time, as the Acolyte perfectly slots into a space in canon that quite frankly, is unexplored but adds so much to the overall narrative longterm!

Even if the show is expensive, you will never convince me Disney of all companies doesn't have the money for it. Something happened and it happened fast. Whatever did happen, to cancel the Acolyte is a cowardly move. I want to hope it can come back and that this "scrambling" to change the narrative in the media is a sign of regret, yet it's most likely a poor attempt to control the narrative in their favor and push the blame to everyone who actually cares about the show.

At the very least, I hope the response is a wake up call. That Star Wars fans will not stick around no matter what. That you cannot treat your creators, actors, and fans, primarily women and poc, as lesser time and time again and expect them to continue to support your product. This decision is telling in more ways than one. It's unfair and if nothing changes, Star Wars will only get worse from here. Which is disappointing, because I love it and have been a fan on and off since I was 11 years old. But I cannot deny that everything about the way the cancelation is happening feels like a betrayal.

The Acolyte dared to be inventive. It dared to be diverse. Whether that be the cast or those behind the camera, this story was made by and made for people Star Wars has continually neglected, and it still felt like true Star Wars that anyone could enjoy. It was a step in the right direction. If given a chance, it would have only become bigger. When is the last time a Star Wars project brought in new fans like this? You can only retell the same stories so many times before they lose what made them special in the first place. As a true fan, Lesley brought fresh perspective. From Amandla's performance as Mae and Osha, to JJ's performance as Master Sol, which he learned English for. Or Manny as the Stranger, a mystery turned sith turned lead love interest. The Acolyte explored the grey era between good and evil, the decisions that define us, what it means to feel, and the power of that. The Acolyte dared to exist and a cancelation can't erase the fact that it matters.

If you're still reading, please do sign and share the petition. It might not bring the show back, but it is a show of support for the cast, crew, and fans it stood for.

[incorrectrigel]

HGSS YOU CAN'T HIDE, WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE: The Harry Get Some Sleep Discord Server Is Run By Zionists and Pro-Genociders and Should Implode

For anyone who has found this account either through the Rigel Black Chronicles fanfic or have come across these quotes through your casual perusal of this website and then found the fic and/or made your way over to the Harry Get Some Sleep (HGGS) discord server...

I want to address a few things:

Those of you not living under a rock the last 10 months or so will know about the genocide happening in Palestine at the hands of Nazi Zionist Israelis and their supporters. This is not contested, but fact. I'm not here to debate this.

The HGSS server, a server where discussions of politics and world events happens frequently, decided to ban all talk of the "Israel-Palestine Conflict" back in October. The mods claimed to be unable to educate themselves thoroughly on the topic because they were "busy" and had lives outside of this server–something they could not claim for many other discussions that took place over the last few years.

This whole escalation happened after a server member and her friend both made Islamophobic remarks over a completely different subject, but which did end up crossing over into the discussion on what was happening in Gaza (which involved quite a few members, notably some who were outspoken Zionists). Obviously, the Islamophobia and racism was never fully addressed by the mods and no members were banned from the server, despite refusing to acknowledge what they did. Announcements and updates on this took forever from the mods, and it was decided that everyone would start off with a fresh slate (*rolls eyes* whatever that means). I left the server briefly during all of this because of the Islamophobia that I have had to deal with for years since being in HGSS and because of the outright genocide denial and pro-Israel/Zionist rhetoric.

I came back to HGSS because in part I missed some aspects of it and the good people I got to interact with. But I also came back because I wanted to make every single Zionist in that server uncomfortable.

The blatant Palestinian censorship by the mods and the refusal to let us discuss a genocide happening live before our eyes made me angry. I was livid. As one should be when a genocide is occurring. When I first left, I felt a little bad about how I had handled things, until I listened to a Palestinian talk about how she didn't want to be a calm, collected, "peaceful" Muslim that everyone expects you to be in order for you to be taken seriously. These times we are living in, don't call for peace and sweet words, but justice. Justice by whatever means possible. We have every reason to be angry with our voices, our chests, our eyes, and our words. And it isn't up to us to educate people who don't want to be educated and who are more upset about our anger than they are about the people being murdered by Israel and all of their supporters.

So I came back, and hung around, and things got worse and worse. How many massacres have happened in just the last few weeks, let alone couple months? You lose track of time. Every day, I would open social media and see the same things: dead bodies, people still alive while they bled out, amputated limbs on full display, headless babies, bags of flour covered in blood, starvation, bombing of hospitals, bombing of schools, people trapped under the rubble unable to be buried, dogs eating dead bodies on the street, Zionist Nazi terrorists posting pics of themselves in lingerie and laughing while bombing and destroying houses, Zionist Nazis parading half-naked Palestinian men who they've kidnapped for no reason, and hearing accounts of torture and rape. The list goes on and on and on.

I also watched as every Zionist lie fell apart–even though we knew they were liars from the start. But nothing changed. No apologies by the mods for letting server members call us rape deniers and accuse us of supporting "terrorist media sources" like Al Jazeera while NYT and BBC lied through their teeth about accusations of rape and beheaded babies. (Of course the western media sources are superior because they're unbiased and not funded by terrorism, said the usual racist, Islamophobic discord member who we all know by name for being the most problematic individual to exist in all of HGSS server history).

So me and a friend of mine began to silently protest using our nicknames in the server. And we eventually got banned thanks to a bunch of Zionist Nazis in the server who were more upset about the truth of their and Israel's actions than they were about Israel using their religion to justify a genocide. It's honestly such a classic Zionist thing to do, it would be almost funny if we weren't watching a genocide through our phones.

The warnings we got were vague and were from one mod who clearly agreed with our opinions, but was unable to say so publicly in the server. Instead we watched as Zionists accused us of the usual charges of antisemitism and denial of history. This frustration crossed onto Twitter of course because we were not allowed to discuss anything Palestine related in the server.

I stand by everything I said and did and do not apologize for any of it. Trying to argue with Zionists is like trying to talk to a brick wall. No matter how many times you tell them that you have an issue with Zionism and not Judaism, they will just refuse to hear you and conflate the two anyway. They hate any comparisons to other ethnonationalist movements like the Nazi Party or accusations of being complicit in genocide because they believe since they've experienced genocide they are somehow immune to committing genocide on others.

We were never given an explicit list of what we could or could not say, before the HGSS mods blocked us from posting on the server. So we tried to find ways around it as you do when you're being censored and surrounded by a bunch of fascist cops. I used Zio as a short form multiple times to get around the ban of using the word Zionist, a word that I was not aware was a slur since I do not believe Zionism is in any way associated with Judaism or Jews, and was never told by any mod that it was considered a slur. Less than 24 hours after not being able to post unless I found unique nicknames to continue my protest, me and my friend were both kicked out of the server. I did not receive a message or explanation of why I was being kicked out because I had blocked Rime, the main mod in the server I was told was making most of the shots and was clearly supporting the zionists in her goal to make the server "apolitical" (of note: the server is still allowed to talk about politics just not Palestine). Having zero access to the server and the conversations taking place, I had no idea Zio was a slur until I was told by a mutual who was still in the server. I stopped using the word after stating again for the hundredth time that I don't associate Zionism with Judaism and don't see a problem with a slur against Zionists (which of course was not taken well since Zionists are almost begging their war crimes to be associated with Judaism). However, the HGSS mods will have you believe that I did know this was a slur and did this on purpose in order to justify my permanent ban from the server. A server I wouldn't even want to be in, even if they begged me to return. The back and forth between me and one of the mods was later used as proof of my permanent banning from the server–except conveniently, my responses were censored as a way to hide any evidence of the mods duplicity and villainize me further.

Their purposeful misinterpretation of everything I have said and done proves their intent clearly. They did this with the pure intention of shutting down pro-Palestinians in the server and to make this server a "safer place" for Zionist Nazi terrorists. You would think after 10 months, the mods would know better, but they have clearly learned nothing and have only proven to many of us that this server has been headed in a downward spiral for years.

Just a few days ago we watched Congress give multiple standing ovations to the Hitler of our time as he spouted lies and propaganda that has been debunked by multiple news sources (including your American ones). We watched as your new fav Kamala Harris called protestors antisemitic and anti-American, lied to our faces that she wants a ceasefire while also supporting the genocidal, apartheid, illegal, colonial state of Israhell the right to defend itself which is illegal according to international law. And we saw as the White House made baseless claims that protestors are somehow funded by Iran to manufacture consent for more war and innocent bloodshed. This is the world we live in. And to have the audacity to try and make a Harry Potter discord server "apolitical" during the times we are living in right now is downright hypocritical–especially since all other discussions of politics is allowed in the server. While maybe not all the mods in the server are pro-Zionist and pro-genocide, their statement given in unison creates an environment that welcomes Zionists into this space. Zionists. Should. Not. Feel. Welcome. In. Any. Space.

HGSS is not a safe place if you are anti-zionist, anti-fascist, anti-genocide, and anti-Israel. It has not been a safe space for Muslims, disabled and neurodivergent individuals, or any marginalized communities. So if you find this tumblr account or the associating Twitter account and love the fic, but want to join the discord server, I would advise against it if you're looking for a place that will value and respect you and the people you love and hold close to your heart. It is not worth your time or your energy.

(Unless of course you want to join just to wreak havoc in the server, that I can 100% support)

If you're currently in the server, maybe take some time to consider the people you surround yourself with and whether they agree with your values and ideals. We're not just living through history, We ARE HISTORY. This is an open book test and many of you are failing it. And those of you who aren't, there are smaller ways to protest than going to DC and setting Isnotreal flags on fire (something we should do if we can, but I know is not accessible for everyone). You can make a small impact, even if it's in some niche discord server that barely anyone has heard of.

Let the HGSS server devolve into the chaos it deserves. Many of us knew where things were headed years ago, and the time has finally come to let HGSS implode from the inside out. And hopefully take the Zionists with it.

[felixcloud6288]

Higurashi: Massacre Chapter 18

It's wild how all the little details about Takano have all come together here.

We've known since Curse Killing that Takano drove down the main road with Tomitake's bike in the back, and we've known since Cotton Drifting that Takano's autopsy time-of-death was a day off. And now we know she was taking an unconscious Tomitake to where he would be found and Takano faked her death.

Since this isn't my first experience with the series, I don't actually get to enjoy trying to find the little clues and try to piece together everything. But I did have fun seeing all the little hints along the way that a reader could use. There was definitely enough evidence along the way to figure out most of the big reveal.

Takano straight up changed into a villain costume after the reveal.

I've been playing the part of someone who doesn't know what's going on when putting the pieces together and one speculation I offered was Takano, Tomitake, and later Irie were killed because of their affiliation with "Tokyo".

Well now we see that idea was partially correct. There is a rogue faction in "Tokyo" and killing Takano and Tomitake was done to frame Irie as the rogue unit instead. But we're cut off from what the reason for all this is.

Takano had a genuine moment of shock and I would say fear when Rika's prediction was right. She's a big occult fan and she loves the bloody stories about Hinamizawa and Oyashiro. And now she has a light reason to believe the god is real.

What was the original direction of Irie's research that they made something that could artificially induce Hinamizawa Syndrome and then decided to destroy it? Is this the "bomb" Takano said some people in "Tokyo" wanted to set off? Do they want to turn the research toward biological warfare?

And since part of the attempt to frame Irie involves claiming he's sold off his research, that can give the rogue "Tokyo" a way to justify acquiring this research even though it's officially ended. They could secretly fund the continuation of it and if it's ever found out, they can just claim the researchers are a black market organization that got the research from whatever avenues Irie sold it through.

That's some Umbrella Corporation stuff right there.

Ooishi is super competent when he's not trying to blame the Sonozakis for everything. He was completely on-point with everything in regards to Tomitake's murder. That's why he's Detective Delicious Ooishi!

But he is also kind of accidentally playing the old role that he always has with the Three Rules. He's not tying anything to the Sonozakis, but his interactions with Rika are beginning to have the same effect on her that always has happened to everyone he speaks to about the murder.

Operation Apocalypse is running as planned. Irie is fighting allegations against murdering Tomitake and Takano. And when Rika brought up Ooishi's speculation, Okonogi is quick to brush him off and tell Rika to trust him instead.

Rika says the Wild Dogs protecting her after Takano's death is a first. Of course, we know they're acting on Takano's orders to do so.

In every other timeline, Rule X always resulted in the destruction of Rika's support network if it didn't just cause her death. This is the first time Rika actually has people she can rely on to help her. And Okonogi is attempting to isolate Rika from them.

Just a reminder, despite having lived 100 years worth of time, Rika is still actually a child. She doesn't have the wisdom or emotional maturity that comes with age. And she's lived the same events so many times that this entirely new set of information is a bit overwhelming for her.

Rika has operated under the assumption that Takano was always killed due to Rule Y and Ooishi was always giving incorrect information due to Rule Z. These would combine to form Rule X.

If we go back to the Three Rules, we have an interesting inversion of them at this moment. Rika may be experiencing the suspicion and paranoia that normally accompanies the Rule X victim. But instead of it manifesting due to Rules Y and Z working as expected, it's manifesting because Rules Y and Z are not working this time.

Regardless, it would appear that Rule X or some variant of it is targeting Rika this time as she's starting to spiral into that fear that makes her unable to trust others.

(Psst. Rika. Your enemies are the people telling you to not talk to anyone.)

back

[sweaterkittensahoy]

I understand the need to fight back against anti semitism in this country, especially against people who don’t care about Palestinians, but are happy to use them to make people think their bigotry is somehow morally justified. But it feels like ultimately, people still don’t care about Palestine. Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas. I don’t think they should just lie down and accept terrorist attacks happening in their country. But they don’t have a right to attack innocent civilians for the crime of being in the same place Hamas is located. And I’m having a hard time believing that people aren’t being as terrible towards Muslims as they are towards Jewish people. I don’t think they need an excuse to hate somewhere with a mostly Islamic population. But that doesn’t seem to be as huge a concern. I understand where you’re coming from in that some pro Palestinian platforms in leftist spaces are dancing in just being loudly anti Semitic or for whatever reason think that the terrorists have a point when they want to spread fear by mass murdering innocents for their “cause”, but the rising rhetoric that supporting Palestine means you hate Jewish people when Palestinian lives are being wiped out in huge numbers feels wrong to me. It shouldn’t be a fight of which innocent lives in which country matters more, but that’s what it’s starting to feel like.

It's not "rising rhetoric" that to support Palestine means you hate Israel. It's a huge fucking problem that loud antisemites have taken over the largest, loudest parts of the movement to support and bring peace to Palestine and unquestionably turned it into an antisemitic shitshow. The only fix for that is people who support Palestine and don't hate Jews is to get louder and clean their fucking house.

That being said very directly, I will be focusing the rest of my answer on this portion of your ask, which I think is the most important chunk because you are sharing incorrect and intentionally wrong information, and I don't think you realize that's happening. I'll also be answering about the rise in Anti-Muslim activity because I think it's important we don't ignore what Anti-Muslim activity looks like right now versus Antisemitic activity. Because it's all fucking terrible, but it's important to consider that getting dinged by a car turning a corner is bad (happened to me) and getting hit by a car doing 20 mph is really fucking bad.

But they don’t have a right to attack innocent civilians for the crime of being in the same place Hamas is located. And I’m having a hard time believing that people aren’t being as terrible towards Muslims as they are towards Jewish people.

Israel isn't aiming at civilians on purpose. Hamas put military targets next to civilian targets to be able to claim Israel is aiming at civilians when they're bombing. This is a very well-known tactic of Hamas, and calling it "Israel bombing civilians" puts the fault of the situation on Israel, when they aren't the ones who did it. Hamas doesn't give a fuck about civilians. That's why the military installations are next to schools and hospitals. So they can point at the plie of bodies and go, "Look! Look what Israel did!" and fuck up the narrative to "Israel bombed a school!" and not "We very intentionally put a military installation next to this school because we will do anything we can to discredit Jewish people even if it means causing the death of our own civilians." This is a war crime, by the way. Putting military installations in places where they are likely to cause civilian harm. The Geneva Convention considers this sort of action a war crime.

I looked up Anti-Muslim stats for 2023 and found this article from ABC news that discusses a rise in Anti-Muslim and Anti-Sematic bias and attacks since October 7. I think this paragraph breaks it down well: There were 11 confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes in New York City from Oct. 7, 2023, to Dec. 30, 2023, according to the NYPD, and 26 confirmed antisemitic hate crimes over the same time period -- a total of one anti-Muslim hate crime every 7.7 days, and one antisemitic hate crime every 3.3 days. There were just five confirmed anti-Muslim hate crimes from Jan. 1, 2023, to Oct. 6, 2023, according to the NYPD, and 49 confirmed antisemitic hate crimes (one every 5.7 days) over the same time period. So, yes, there has been a rise in bias against Muslims, and that's fucking bad. They shouldn't be bearing the brunt of Hamas's choices any more than every Jew in the world having to answer for anything Israel does. But--and this is incredibly important to this conversation--While Muslims are facing bias, Jews are facing VIOLENCE, and it was happening at a noticeably higher rate than violence against Muslims even BEFORE October 7. They are being told they should be eradicated. They are being told they should "go back to Poland" (what an astounding statement to make to Israeli Jews especially). They are being threatened for walking down the street and looking Jewish. It is a false equivalency to say "Well, there's a rise in Anti-Muslim bias, and no one is talking about it." Because the difference is--as detailed by the article linked above--bias on the job and in education along with immigration issues--and constant death threats and attacks on synagogues and Jewish businesses. Both things are wrong and awful, but one group is being told they should be murdered en masse AGAIN, and the other is not.

[cheetah-roll]

Just letting you guys know, I think that the most important things in this post are the last 3 1/2 paragraphs. Everything above is still, just as important, but it is mostly me just ranting. If you want to read the point that I'm trying to get across, just skip to there. Would still appreciate it though if you read everything however.

------------

I went to a funeral prayer for a man who lost 10 family members in Gaza. Ten. Please think about that for a second. Ten lives is ten lives too many. Ten people is practically my whole family, on my mothers side at least. Ten people is my grandparents, aunts and uncles. The twins and Baby Grace. Ten people, is literally all of my friends, plus my sister, gone. No one should lose that many people in such a short amount of time. No one should even lose one person to outright mvrd3r and g3n0c1d3. And we’ve lost thousands of people. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children, and for what? To claim a land that wasn’t even yours to begin with? A land that you’ve slowly taken over, over a course of 75 goddamn years? 

I’ve been well aware of what’s been happening in Palestine since before October 7th. This conflict didn’t start then. It’s been going on since 1948. For years, the Palestinian people have been pushed from their homes, attacked, and killed. They welcomed the Jews into their land after the H0l0c@u$t. Giving them a home. A place to live, and feel a sense of safety. Instead, their land was taken over by people who didn’t even belong there in the first place. 

I$r@3l has tried to erase Palestine. They have tried to make it seem as if it never even existed. That there has only ever been I$r@3l. Well, it can’t. Palestine has always been here. It’s in your goddamn bible. One of the world's oldest churches was destroyed. Why aren’t people upset? Jesus Christ was born in Palestine. Look it up. He was born in Bethlehem. Does it say that Bethlehem is in I$r@3l? Well, forget that. Bethlehem was a part of Palestine before I$r@3l took it over. There is proof. Jesus was Palestinian. You're literally destroying his birthplace. His home. If you love Jesus so much, maybe think about that shit before you blindly start following every stupid Zionist, western, colonist nation there is. Stupid colonists who think that they have the right to just waltz right into any country they please, rob them of their resources, mess up their systems, destroy their land, and just leave. And then, years later, they complain about how corrupt those nations are. How uncivilized, and impure. You’re the reason they’re like this! You think that you have the right to do whatever you please? Well you DON’T. YOU are the ones who put these corrupt people in power. My homeland is  messed up because of these stupid colonist nations. These countries may be corrupt, but at least we’re not like America or Britain. At least we didn’t force Native Americans from their land. The land that was rightfully theirs. At least we didn’t k!ll them all. Right, cause that was fucking America. At least we didn’t capture and enslave generations of African Americans. At least we didn’t drop TWO ATOMIC BOMBS on Japan! You’ve gone and messed up everything that you’ve touched. So many groups have lost so much, or now have health problems or are facing poverty because they still carry the weight of what you did to them. 

Another thing that I would like to point out, which I’ve been told is now common knowledge, but I’m not too sure that enough people know about it. 9/11 was an inside job. It was all planned by the US. They hijacked their own planes. The people flying them were most likely forced or were offered money or some shit. The whole point of 9/11 was to get an excuse to attack Iraq and rob it of its resources. Because America just COULDN’T STAND another country having all that oil. So, they took it for themselves. They STORMED into Iraq, killed so many people, stole their resources, and then left, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. 9/11 caused a huge wave of Islamophobia in the US. Muslims were sent to jail for no apparent reason. Muslims were killed. We were feared. We were called terrorists. A security guard had to walk my mother and other Muslim students to their cars so they wouldn’t get attacked. People were so afraid of us, but really, we were the ones in danger. All this, just so the US could get some oil. Now, because of what’s happening in Palestine right now, Muslims and Arabs are more at risk. I don’t want to be afraid that the mosque I grew up going to will have ugly, red words sprayed onto its glorious walls. I don’t want to feel scared of my visibly Muslim mother going out one day and never coming home. I don’t want my beautiful religion to be tarnished by the hate and ignorance of others. 

I was talking to my mom one day. I asked her if we could hang a Palestinian flag outside our door. She took my hands in her own, looked me in the eyes, and with such resignation and certainty, she told me that if we did that, we were going to get killed. Hearing your own mother say that? That’s scary. Its fucking terrifying. That tiredness in her voice is something that I never want to hear ever again. And the sad part is, I know that she’s right. If we did that, our chances of getting murdered right on our front doorsteps would skyrocket. 

I feel like I’m living in some kind of dystopian, alternate reality. People are dying. You can see it on TV, read about in the newspaper, but no one is doing anything to help. People are just going on with their lives as if a genocide is not happening right at this very moment. They don’t care. Why isn’t this on the forefront of our goddamn minds? Are the lives of millions of people not worth talking about? Is their safety and their future not as important as your own? The people of Palestine are fighting for their lives right now. They don’t have access to food, water, or electricity. They are stuck in an open air prison, with bombs dropping directly on their heads at any given moment. They have been deprived of basic human rights and their dignity. How is any of this okay? How is the murder of thousands of innocents something that people are choosing to actively ignore? This isn’t okay. This has never been okay. And yet, it happens time and time again. Over, and over, and over. An endless loop of oppression, hate, and bigotry. When will history stop repeating itself? When will we learn?

I know that people have been speaking up about what has been happening recently. So many people have been showing their support, which I appreciate a lot. It makes me so happy to see people that I look up to speaking out about injustice and doing their part. I really hope that things will get better. For the people of Palestine, and for the world. A world where I’m judged for the God I worship, the people I choose to love, my gender, the color of my skin, and even for the way I think and perceive my surroundings, is not a world I want to be living in. I want to live in a world where I’m respected. A world where my choices, and my views, and my life is valued just as much as the next person. So please, do your part helping to end the occupation. Every little thing counts. Post about it, boycott companies, donate, please, just do something. Standing by and doing nothing will not solve anything. If you think that your small contribution won’t make a difference, you’re wrong. Your life matters. Your help will make a change. We can do it.

And with that, I will be signing off. I hope my questionable writing skills helped to inspire at least one person. Stay safe everyone, and do your part.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!!

[ultfan]

KOMAEDA THE BYSTANDER

one thing i notice people don't realize about komaeda is that he isn't actually a killer. or — at least — he never goes out of his way to kill with his own two hands. as addressed in my last meta, his first "murder" attempt was actually a ploy to tempt hanamura into killing him. and, if that failed, the only logical next step would be suicide, since there's no way komaeda would be able to find anyone to stab in the dark aside from himself.

throughout the game komaeda always offers himself up as a sacrifice. he never says he'll kill for the other students — he says they can kill him. after all, he has no desire to survive the killing game. he's already got a limited amount of time left, so surviving is the furthest thing from his mind when he can instead be of use to everyone.

even when he turns on everyone he doesn't ever directly harm any of the ultimates. the bomb he blew up was far enough away to not hurt any of them. and while he could've easily used the things he picked up in the final dead room to kill them, instead he opted to kill himself. of course this was mainly because he was attempting to save the traitor — who he didn't know the identity of. it's possible if the traitor did come forward he would've found a way to kill everyone else all at once (himself included). but that's not what happened.

komaeda never cared to be in the spotlight. never desired to be on center stage. the only reason he started acting that way near the end of the game is because he realized the truth — and realized if the traitor didn't come forward he was the only person who could do anything about it. and he gave the traitor ample time to do so. because he didn't know her identity he couldn't directly act as a stepping stone for her. so he used his death as an indirect stepping stone instead — fancying himself a martyr. it's hard to tell how genuine his claims of grandeur were at the end, but i'd say they were fueled by a martyr complex more than anything else.

prior to that, though, he constantly expresses how he doesn't care to be on the same level as his peers. that he wants to be used as an object they can climb towards success. he likes to pull the strings from behind the scenes. he never really takes credit for his deductions in the trial, only offering small hints here and there but encouraging everyone to think and solve the crimes for themselves. my favorite example of this is when he points out a clue to hinata — and then hinata comments on it — and komaeda's like "wow! you noticed such a small detail? that's incredible!!!" — and hinata's like "bro you're the one who brought it up??? tf???" even when komaeda knows the killer he would never go out of his way to out them. because that's not his place.

komaeda wants to see a powerful hope. he wants to be a witness. the most contribution he wants to have towards it is as a stepping stone. if someone can trample over him for the sake of ascending to greater heights that's all he needs. like he says: he believes his love to be a selfless one. he doesn't want to bring this about himself. he won't take direct action. he'll merely become whatever people need to help them succeed. it's never about his own success.

even in ultimate despair komaeda never takes direct action. he pulls strings behind the scenes. for example, in udg: he gives komaru her weapon, he sends kids to help her, he employs fukawa to bring komaru to where he wants to be. he works from the shadows behind the scenes to ensure things go swimmingly. the most direct he is in that game is when he uses pepper to bring genocider out. but even then — he doesn't intend to get his own hands dirty. he lets another ultimate have the spotlight.

komaeda is a schemer, a martyr, a manipulator, a stepping stone. he refuses to be in the spotlight longer than needed. he will orchestrate despair to bring about hope, but never directly. he never does it by his own hand. rather, he encourages others to reach the conclusion he desires. and i find that a really important distinction for his character. komaeda isn't the type of person to go and murder someone he wants to see dead — but he is the type to frame them for a terrible crime worthy of a death sentence.

[bigger-rat]

(Pls don’t put this in the f.hr tags cause I don’t want to bring up bad memories for ppl) but I remember when things were imploding and that one group (you know the one) literally scrambling for things to make the game problematic to cover up the fact that they were just angry that the author wouldn’t cater to them and agree with their bullshit shipping discourse (they’re all self proclaimed ‘antis’ whatever that means and the author didn’t understand what that was and when the author didn’t blindly agree with it and take a position in the bullshit shipping discourse they all turned on them, they might try to cover and say that they don’t like the game or creator anymore for a different reason that doesn’t sound as stupid but THATs literally the base of why the fandom implosion happened. Because of bullshit shipping discourse agshjd)

BUT anyway the funniest thing they tried to claim was that sidestep, the 30 year old MC, was grooming Herald… a 25 year old man going on 26. Do you remember that?? Am I going crazy?? They definitely tried to claim that aghdjd god I’m dying laughing right now while remembering this. They were so desperate

I won’t lie I am forever bitter at them because they sent the author tons of death threats and hate mail & then acted like the author had some sort of responsibility towards them (the entitlement from them was and still is crazyyy) when the author was also sick w covid and had job and financial insecurity due to covid complications and *god forbid* didn’t want to and probably couldn’t physically handle their fandom wank, and then they acted like the author was the Literal Devil for taking care of themselves

Everything honestly has a silver lining though because the writing quality has just absolutely skyrocketed since the authors time on tumblr, and I feel like without that much needed break that the author took due to all the stress that book 2 wouldn’t have been nearly as good as it is now. The author also appears to be thriving now, which is awesome. Sometimes we need a painful journey to have a happy ending :D

(Sorry to vomit in your inbox like this lmfao)

No lol you're right and you should say it.

What they did to Malin was VILE. They were nothing but kind to the community, they appreciated every piece of fanart people made, were active in the community, they let us play bits of book 2 long before it was out. And these rabid fans literally bullied them out of the fandom.

The author shouldn't have so publicly do things for a specific few friends IMO, not because it's inherently bad but because everyone is insane on this website and that was a ticking time bomb.

And then, god forbid, someone came up with a compelling but problematic sidestep/herald ship (COUGH smute COUGH), and the author liked it, and how DARE they like a problematic relationship in a story about a LITERAL FUCKING VILLAIN. The pearl-clutching is unimaginable.

I don't remember people saying that Herald is being groomed lol but I do remember people going off on power dynamics and how it's an abusive relationship and like. Yes, the romantic relationship in the game where you invade people's minds and also constantly beat your friends/lovers into a bloody pulp are.. a little problematic! Grow the fuck up and go watch steven universe or something.

Imagine reading a book about a literal SUPER VILLAIN and being shocked that they're a bad person who has toxic relationships. Just fucking imagine that. The book in which you routinely kidnap people's bodies without their consent and invade their minds? Problematic?? Wooow.

I'm sad that Malin got chased out of the community but I hope they can sleep better now that they, a 40-50 year old person with a job and a life, don't have to navigate the kindergarten drama of some terminally online zoomers and their shitty shipping fantasies.

[robynsscarf]

Ghosts: an essay :)

When I say the word “ghost” most people will immediately think about the ones in horror movies. The ones that like to scare people by moving objects in their house and randomly appearing behind them when they look in the mirror. But ghosts aren’t just cheap jumpscares to startle you when you don’t expect it, although using them as a scary monster in films can work really well if done in an original way. People are scared of the unknown, of what they can’t understand or see, and ghosts are exactly that. You don’t know what they look like, how they move, whether or not they can actually walk through walls and, most importantly, you don’t know what they want. Maybe they’re just curious or want to mess around a little bit, or maybe they’re one of your relatives or friends, who simply want to make sure you’re doing alright after you lost them. Then again, it is possible they want to scare the living hell out of you, and then kill you, or possess your body.

The most well-known type of ghost is what I like calling the “sheet ghost”. As the name indicates, this is the ghost that looks like a human with a bed sheet draped over ‘em, usually with two holes cut out where the eyes are supposed to be, so basically, it’s your typical Halloween ghost.

An evil spirit resembling this description is the one in the incredibly underrated “Under the Shadow”, a Persian horror film released in 2016. For most of the runtime, a mother and her daughter are haunted by something they can only manage to catch glimpses of, and if that wasn’t enough, their country is also being bombed. The spirit is particularly interested in the little girl, constantly hiding her toys and blocking her way to keep her from leaving. The reason why is unclear, but I’m guessing it wanted to either possess or eat her. Either way, its true form is finally revealed at the end of the third act, and it is not what you would usually expect: it looks like a bed sheet, but a massive one, and not one hiding a person underneath it. It can expand and move in a weirdly fluid way, and it turns into something resembling black tar. The little girl sinks in it as if it were sand, but she manages to get away, thanks to her mother. I like to think this creature is a collection of all the people previously lost due to the bombings, trying to claim the lives the bombs couldn’t, that won’t stop until it is defeated, or until it consumes every single person living in the country.

Previously, I used the word “haunting”. It is one of my favourite words, because of how many meanings it can take, and the weight that comes with saying it. It isn’t always something to be scared of, in fact most of the time, it just saddens me. Ghosts are, in my opinion, the saddest thing you could use in a film, whether it be a horror or something else. I view them in a more sympathetic way than most, because I see them as people, not scary monsters. Ghosts are people that have died, and aren’t ready to move on, or aren’t capable of passing to the other side for whatever reason. Oftentimes they have unfinished business to attend to, or weren’t, in any way shape or form, ready to die.

Writer and director Mike Flanagan aka the “horror king”, is the best at writing ghost stories. His most famous work, “the Haunting of Hill House” is one of the most incredible series I have ever watched. It is about five siblings, who’s mother is dead, and father absent from their lives. And then the unthinkable happens: little Nellie kills herself. The others are left wondering why she did that, and all blame themselves for not helping when she asked. They’re all haunted by the memories they have of her, as well as their own ghosts. For Luke, Nellie’s twin, it’s the tall man with the walking stick and hat; for Theo, the middle sister it’s the smiling man; for Shirley, the older sister, it’s the man she had an affair with; and for Steve, the eldest son, it’s mostly Nellie. Nellie, haunted by the bent-neck lady. Nellie, who haunted everyone.

The thing is, they’ve all been haunted since they were kids, since they moved into Hill House. Everything was fine before then. But the house ruined it all. It made their mother lose herself, little by little, until she almost killed her husband while sleepwalking. It scarred the children, a scar that will never fully heal. All because of some damn ghosts. They became adults, and lived somewhat happy lives, until their sister’s untimely death. After that, their ghosts came back to haunt them. Until they all came back to the house. Throughout the show, we are left wondering who these ghosts are, and why they choose to follow the kids. Most of them end up being people that used to live in Hill House, but one of them was an entirely different thing. The bent-neck lady, the one that haunted Nellie was… Nellie. She didn’t kill herself. Her own mother did. She died and she wanted her family back, so she strung a rope around her daughter’s nape, and watched her fall, breaking her neck. Nellie had been haunting herself the whole time. It’s like she knew it was going to happen, like she was trying to warn herself not to go back to the house. But she did, and nothing can change that.

In the end her father joins her and her mother, in order to let the others live. Acceptance. That is what Nellie represents. The final stage of the grief process. Because what are ghosts, if not our grief manifesting. Like Steve said: “ghosts are guilt, ghosts are secrets, ghosts are regret and failings. But most times, most times a ghost is a wish”. Ghosts can be anything, even memories. That is what makes the whole concept of ghosts such a sad one. Ghosts are the manifestation of one’s own grief and despair and fears. It can be someone you once loved, or a total stranger. Ghosts are anything and everything and nothing, all at once.

Another Flanagan masterpiece is “The Haunting of Bly Manor”. In this one, the main character, Dani, is haunted by her fiance’s ghost. He died seconds after she told him she wanted to call off their engagement. So she moves to England, to work as an Au Pair at Bly Manor, taking care of the two little kids. But her fiance isn’t the only ghost, because anyone that dies on the manor’s ground is cursed to stay there. No one who dies at Bly Manor ever truly leaves. The lady in the lake won’t let them go. The ghosts in this story are different from the ones in Hill House, because they can possess people. Two of them possess the kids, one because he wants the family's fortune, and one because she loves him. She changes her mind at the end, but somebody needs to take the lady in the lake’s place; and that will be Dani. Dani, whom Jamie, the florist, loved more than anything. Dani who restored her faith in people. Dani, who came to see her love every night, to rest her hand on hers, so they would always be together. Even if you can’t see them, they’re always there. Your ghosts, and only yours. They will never leave. That is why it is called a “haunting”. Everybody is haunted by something or someone. Whether they realise it or not is up to them.

But the ghost that really moved me was Hanna. Hanna was the caretaker of the Manor, and she died. She got pushed to the bottom of the well. But she didn’t know. She didn’t know she had died. She was so in denial, even the others could see and talk to her. When she realised what happened she wailed. She didn’t want to die. But that was something she had to accept in the end. It’s not like she could come back. At least she got to talk to the cook, Owen, one last time. Owen who knew she was dead, and helped her through it.

Being a ghost would be torture, because you can’t do anything. All you can do is watch. Watch your kids grow up without you. Watch your partner find someone else. Watch your family move on. You’ll miss out on so many experiences, so many of your dreams will never see the light. You’re helpless, useless, and completely, utterly alone. You’ll die of loneliness over and over and over again. And no one will know. No one will know your suffering and your pain. You will never be able to rest, unless you move on from your own demise. But how could you possibly do that? A24’s “A Ghost Story” is a perfect example of that.

Ghosts can be an apparition. They can guide you from another world and give you hope. In the very popular anime “Attack on Titan”, what happens is exactly that. I won’t get into its complicated and convoluted story, because the ghosts only appear right at the end. They appear in front of their living friends, after they had won the war, to show them that they knew. They knew that their death wasn’t in vain, and they wanted the people they cared about to know that they knew. That it was worth it. Levi, who lost literally all of his friends, finally found closure by seeing them one last time. By paying his final respects and giving his regards. All without having to say a single word. It is easily my favourite scene in the show. Sometimes, words are just not needed. I feel like ghosts are the perfect vehicle for that.

A similar thing happens in “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure”, but this time, the ghosts actually speak. They encourage their friends and family to keep going without them. They give them hope and that is exactly what a ghost is. Hope. Because you know that there’s a ghost looking out for you. There always is. Whether it’s someone you know, or a complete stranger, you can always count on the fact that you’re not alone. If you want to make that creepy instead of sentimental, go ahead. I’m sure your ghost is going to have fun with it.

Ghosts can be a friend. In the 1985 film “Night on a Galactic Railroad”, Campanella guides his friend Giovanni, on the best and worst train ride of his lifetime. While riding the train, the two see amazing and whimsical things. They explore interesting towns and have fun together. But Giovanni doesn’t know that this is the last time he’ll see his best friend. He died. Everyone in town is looking for his body. He’s on the train to the afterlife, or whatever lies after death. Campanella knows this. And he knows that he’s the one that has to get off at the last stop, leaving his best friend behind. So he makes sure they have fun on their last adventure together, before he inevitably has to say goodbye.

Finally, ghosts can be a helper, like the three kids in “Coraline” who aided her escape. That way she wouldn’t meet the same demise they did. They helped her, even though she was a complete stranger. But that didn't matter to them. They were selfless ‘til the very end.

[casspurrjoybell-33]

Wreckless - A story of a Boy - Part One

*Warning Adult Content*

Finnegan

Tristan is probably so done with me already but after I send him another text giving him a different arrival time, he still responds politely and the day is still a go.

Somehow.

I was worried about Emmett being out so much before we spent an hour looking at a house and doing an offer.

He tells me he doesn't mind driving the rest of the way which I guess means he really is feeling okay but I don't let him.

I have to admit, it's kind of fun driving this car when I know how badly he wants to.

Tristan apologizes as soon as I ring the bell.

"It's a MESS, please ignore it," he tells me, picking up a streamer from the corner.

"We had Angie's birthday party yesterday. Twenty-five fifth grade kids are apparently the equivalent of a small bomb. Don't worry, we cleaned the pool well, shocked it as soon as they left," he jokes.

Then he gets around to yelling at me, sort of.

"Was starting to wonder if you'd make it all but you did and I'm glad. Emmett, you scared the shit out of us on Thursday."

He holds his hands up, shrugs, and grins.

He's adorable.

"Sorry."

"He's promised me he won't do it again," I tell Tristan as we head towards the bathroom.

"Good. We have sunscreen, drinks and food outside. If you need anything else just ask," he says and then he's off, through the double doors and onto the deck.

We sneak into the bathroom together and change quickly.

Emmett pulls his hair up and I growl at him.

"Later, darling."

"Promises, promises. Don't get too much sun and get too tired."

That earns me a look.

We head out and he coats me in sunscreen and we all get drinks and lie in the shade while the sunscreen soaks in.

Peter and Emmett talk, probably about the wreck and I keep eyeing the unicorn float.

It's more pink than I remember.

"I'll let you play on it, don't worry."

Tristan is sweet.

Peter sighs.

"That's the third one. Lost junior yesterday and I spent all morning blowing that damn thing up."

"I keep telling you to order a pump," Tristan says, rolling his eyes.

"There are other things you can spend hours blowing, you know."

Damn, bold.

He looks like he's shocked that he said it and I know him well enough to know he is.

Word vomit, he calls it.

The boy seriously speaks without thinking fairly often, especially if he's relaxed and with friends.

Better than the other way around I guess.

Emmett reaches over and taps my chair.

"You should tell them."

Should we?

It's just an offer but since I offered a bit above asking with no contingencies, chances are good.

"We put an offer on a house, that's why we're late."

Tristan's mouth gapes open and he turns towards me.

"That's a hell of a reason. Where? Tell me it's close by?"

"Not far, actually," Emmett tells them and then describes the location much better than I could.

They're both excited for us, Peter especially so even though I don't know him quite as well and he is usually a bit quiet.

Maybe that's just in comparison to Tristan.

The house pleases him though, that's obvious.

The two big, burly men disappear up onto the deck and Tristan asks me all about life.

We talk about the beach and promise to get a house together sometime next summer... Wrecked be damned.

We know it may not happen and that's good for me because it's definitely little space.

I decide impulsively to tell him.

If he hates me, fine but I doubt he will.

Somehow I think it'll be okay and I'm tired of hiding who I am from one of my closest friends.

"Tris?"

"Can whatever it is... happen in the pool? I'm so hot."

I answer by jumping in and claiming the unicorn.

He said I could.

"What is it?"

"Do you know what 'Littles' are?"

If he does that'll save a lot of explaining.

"Are you being kinky? Like littles? Cause if you mean little league or little people I'm, well, yes. I know what littles are."

He looks at me and grins.

"Why?"

"Because I sort of am one," I mumble under my breath.

God this is scary.

Why is it so scary?

"I always wondered. How old are you when you are in little head-space?"

That's it?

No shock?

No grimacing?

No... anything?

"Um, seven or eight maybe. I'm not sure."

"Ah, so no bottles and diapers?"

"No."

"Hey, no kink shaming, Finn."

He smiles at me.

"So you really, really like the unicorn, eh? And Emmett is your Dom?"

"Yeah."

I'm bright red.

I am so, so embarrassed.

Like I could die.

Fall into a hole.

A whirlpool could develop right beneath me and I will die holding onto this float.

Not a bad way to go I guess.

"Pease, don't tell anyone, Tris."

"What about Peter? Can I tell him?"

"I don't know, I have to ask Emmett. Work, you know?"

Tristan nods.

"I get that but he won't care. So tell Emmett that Peter won't care and then let me know asap because you know me... I could just spit it out on accident."

I do know.

Shit.

"Emmett?"

This needs to be handled now.

[furiousgoldfish]

Things abusers do to sabotage you from leaving, or 'Why you can't just leave':

Parental

convince you that you couldn't survive without them and you wouldn't be able to support yourself or make it out there alone

refuse to teach you survival skills, find excuses like 'you're too clumsy, you're not capable, you wont be able to do this'

convince you of 'catastrophic events' that would take place if you were out there; homelessness, starvation, social rejection, failing at everything, financial struggles, kidnapping, murder

convince you that the world is a scary place and you'd be a failure and dead 'in the real world'

traumatize you to the point where you struggle to get thru the day, which now also makes it seem like you wouldn't be able to make it on your own

talk you out of finding work, tell you about awful things that would happen to you if you went and found a job, try to make you to 'work for them' or at least in the close area

if you find work, they claim a part or entirety of your income, making sure you don't have escape money

regularly make you feel ashamed of not being able to be independant, and letting you know that only people who are able to be independant deserve to have freedom and place out in the real world

guilt-trip you to feel like you owe them caretaking because they raised you, so you're owing them to stay and take care of them instead of living your own life

Emotional

complain about how 'everyone abandons them' in order to make you feel like you're just 'one of the bad ones who betrayed them' if you think about leaving

every time you try to leave, they overwhelm you with a new incident, sickness or drama that makes it seem like you're abandoning them in the middle of a tragedy

act overly attached to you, making sure you know that if you left, they wouldn't know what to do without you, and they'd be heartbroken, but still they refuse to respect your boundaries

convince you that you're "all they've got", you're special and unique to them, only you can understand and help them

love-bomb you until you're attached and bonded to them to the point where leaving feels unimaginably painful because you'd be losing your closest person in the world

begging, pleading, acting like they gave you no reason to leave, promising to change, promising to do anything you've wanted to happen for a long time, making you feel like things are just about to get good and like they regret everything bad they've ever done

launching an attack on your persona, pointing out every time you did something 'bad' and insisting that you're actually the worst of the two, so you can't blame them for anything

guilt trips; reminding you of everything they've done for you and how ungrateful you are, reminding you of all of the nice things you've said about them before, asking if it ever meant anything, accusing you of being heartless if you go, of never loving them, of mistreating them, accusing you of being toxic, deciding you're hurting them on purpose if you leave

deciding you're leaving because of their specific problem/situation/disability/illness that you've always been considerate and supportive about (another guilt trip)

say it's "your fault they'll never get better" with whatever you were helping them with

deciding you only want to leave because of your unhealthy trust issues or 'you push people away' or 'misinterpret things because of your trauma' and asking you to be honest with yourself

asking you to explain in detail why you feel the need to leave, only to attack your reasoning and explain it all away and minimize it to make it seem like you have no good reason for leaving

tell you that 'nobody will ever love you again' if you leave

threaten to expose your most vulnerable secrets if you leave

threaten to hurt themselves if you leave

Psychological

gaslight you into doubting whether you're abused, to the point where you feel like you're exaggerating, going insane, remembering things wrong, and unsure if the problem is you or them

time an event of abuse specifically when you're trying to work on something, or you're immensely stressed and trying to meet a deadline, so you'd be too overwhelmed with fear/anger/grief, and can't make your work in time

regularly having intense violent or dramatic reactions to your harmless behaviour, making you feel like you can't predict what they'll do if you leave or how that could end for you

support your codependency on them, or financially support your addiction, so you feel tied to them and have to go back to them in order to feel normal again

undermine and trash your work, imply or outright say your work is stupid, meaningless, badly done, and not worth doing, trying to discourage you from working

verbally assault you and criticize your work to the point where you start to feel anxious and upset whenever you're working, making work a trauma trigger for you

punish you for 'lying to them' if you fail to mention something, making it clear that you will get hurt every time you make any move they don't like, which makes it even more scary to leave

threaten to make a suicide attempt if you leave

threaten to hurt you if you leave

threaten to report you and try to get you imprisoned for a real or imagined crime if you leave

threaten to have you admitted to a mental institution (or any other kind of institution) where you'll be even more controlled

threatening your family members, loved ones, friends, and/or pets, saying horrid things they would do to them if you dared to disobey or leave

threaten to find you and drag you back and hurt you if you try to leave

say outright they're going to kill you if you ever leave, or that they'd rather have you dead than gone

 Social Isolation

create insecurities in your behaviour, repeatedly imply or claim you're too loud, obnoxious, sensitive, crazy, stupid, clueless, demanding, nagging, until you're worried that everyone is secretly judging you and the world feels against you

take apart your appearance until you feel too insecure and lose confidence in socializing or meeting new people, constantly feeling like you need to 'fix yourself' first

demean and condemn your personality, appearance, social standing, finances, capabilities, to the point where they decide you can't do any better than them and you should feel lucky anyone is tolerating you at all

inflict punishments on you for socializing or hanging out with new people; break your things, throw jealous tantrums, ask why they're not enough for you, go thru your things, rage

violate your privacy and take away things you need in order for them to control when you're allowed to have them

smear-campaign you; spread lies about what you were like to them so everyone sides with them, and blames you and tells you what to do (exactly what the abuser wants you to do)

turn your family members and friends against you, and make sure they'll be unnaccepting of you and refuse to help you if you try to leave

Physical

Physically assaulting you if you do something they don't want you to do, making it clear they're going to hurt you for any attempt at leaving them as well

Physically assault you if you try, or say you're going to leave

Inflict injuries on you that will prevent you from working/being independent

Stalking, making it known they can always find you and seek revenge if you dare to leave

Influencing other people to stalk you and let him know where you are and what you're doing; making you feel like you're always being watched and always surrendered by their influence

hurt themselves physically if you make an attempt, or even say that you're leaving

attempt suicide if you make an attempt of leaving

attempt at murder if you try to leave

 Financial

create and maintain a financial situation where they are the only one having income, and they're able to control how much money you get to spend

withhold financial knowledge from you so you'd be clueless about their finances, and managing finances in general (you can't get an idea of how much money it takes to get thru a month)

refuse to give you your right to keep your money separately from theirs

create financial trouble that you have to solve, taking up all of your savings in the process

take your money without asking, and the amount you'd never consent to, and they give you excuses and pretend it was 'necessary'

accuse you of 'spending irresponsibly' as an excuse to confiscate or control the money you have on your person (or in your account)

throw a fit if they find out you have any money on you that they're not aware of/have approved of (if you borrow or win or earn money that they didn't give you)

make sure you're overwhelmed with tasks and problems and emotional trauma, to the point where you don't have a chance to get out and find a job, or go and look for resources for getting out of abuse

stand against you getting more education, or starting any new activities with people around you (making sure you don't get any social connections that could lead to a job)

get you fired from a job by spreading lies or calling in and harassing the employer about you

forcing you to spend any money they know you have saved up, so you'd have no money to plan escape

It is NOT EASY to leave, and statistically it takes several attempts to leave an abusive situation. Be aware that it's hard because they're sabotaging your every step, not because you're not doing enough. Abusers often wont show their abusive side until they're absolutely sure that you have nowhere else to live, and no other place to go. All of the things on this list are psychologically damaging, and terrifying to live thru. All of this is abuse. Nobody has the right to tell you this is your fault. Keep trying. Keep fighting.

If you're struggling to leave an abusive situation, here's an article on How to Leave an Abuser.

[doberbutts]

I'm not into LOTR/Hobbit but this seems like what happened with The Witcher (Netflix). It basically takes place in Ye Olde Fantasy Poland/Eastern Europe and yet there's tons of black/POC characters, including main characters, good guys, villains, elves, etc.

I did see a lot of people throwing fits because "Why does this show in EASTERN EUROPE have BLACK PEOPLE" which like... Yeah I guess if you went to that time period IRL you probably wouldn't see many POC, but you also wouldn't see fucking werewolves, dragons or giant tree monsters.

Like, these show's aren't meant to be 100% historically accurate "This is the ethnic demographic of this place during this time period". And also people getting upset over certain characters being changed to different races, like Triss going from ginger in the games to mixed race/black in the show.

And yeah, on one hand there's a strange amount of characters that were ginger/redheads being suddenly changed to black in other media, but also a DIFFERENT character is turned into a redhead in the show when he wasn't one in the games so like. You still have ginger representation.

Oh yeah, I was thinking that honestly it seemed a lot like the shitfit people threw in the early days of the Witcher and I heard the same complaints. "Bad costuming" "changed lore" "shitty production" "Netflix is an evil company" and then it released and suddenly everyone's singing Toss a Coin to your Witcher like they weren't just complaining that it was gunna suck right up until the release day. All because the racist misogynist fanboys had, once again, lead the charge but made sure to spread it wrapped up with a more woke look than "we're mad because there's black people in it now" and "we're mad because the women aren't as hot as we wanted them".

Also, lmao "Eastern Europe" the Witcher is not set in Poland. The Witcher is based off Polish stories and culture but it's set in a completely different world with a completely different map and topographal layout and it's literally discussed in the books and in the games these fans love to claim are canon (they're not) that while humans are running on the assumption that the Conjunction of the Spheres lead to these fairy tale creatures coming to Earth, what actually happened is that it sent the humans to the Witcher's world which was largely populated by gnomes and halflings and such prior to the humans taking over. It's not Poland. It's just based off Polish culture and Polish stories because it's a Polish guy who wrote it.

That means black people can be there if we decide to put them there because A: black people exist in Europe and have existed in Europe for ages and B: considering black people exist within the world of the Witcher and according to canon stick to Zerrikania but it's easily explained that Zerrikanian royalty or merchants or mercenaries or refugees or whatever had moved through the area due to any number of reasons and thus their descendants didn't disappear into thin air, which is literally how black people have existed in Europe for ages is that when royalty and merchants and mercenaries and refugees move through an area they tend to leave behind descendants that, however uncommon, don't magically disappear. There are black people in Poland right now due to this very reason they're just not really common at all. And instead of accepting this as an answer these fanboys decided to do exactly what it seems the asshole Tolkien fanboys are doing: review bombing and insisting the show existing is bad for more acceptable reasons than their racism to keep people from watching.

Triss is still red-haired, and that was the most important aspect of her character description so says the author who defended the casting saying he never mentioned skin tone, so she doesn't necessarily need to be a white ginger even if that's likely what he originally had in mind. That's part of why she was changed. Also, gingers are "becoming black" because white gingers are still a minority among white people and often are regarded as other or fetishized similar to a racial minority, so ginger characters are often used historically as "code" for POC in media that couldn't include actual POC for whatever reason. This is probably not the case with Triss specifically, since Sapowski has other POC in his series that also sleep with his protagonist, but in older media this is often the case.

[hartigays]

Rafebarry from the POV of outsiders like the pouges and kooks who notice their relationship develop<3

doing this one out of order bc it called to me <3 the following povs include: jj, pope, kie, topper, and sarah!

side/minor pairings are jjpope and sarahkie

fic under the cut :-)

jj

the sun is hot on jj’s forehead as he sits in the passenger’s seat of luke’s truck, idling in front of barry’s trailer.

he hates these days. it’s never been jj’s favorite activity, coming along with his dad while he buys drugs with money they should be spending on food.

not to mention, it takes for-fucking-ever. luke tends to get real chatty after his first high of the day, and barry is the type of dealer who’s always just fucked up enough to allow it.

today, however, jj’s forehead is only mildly burnt when luke exits the trailer.

actually, he’s being ushered out by barry, who looks irritated in a way that jj has never seen before. though, to be fair, the only times jj has been around him are when barry’s high or when they’re trying to mutually kick each other’s asses.

luke is grumbling to himself as he climbs into the driver’s seat, fumbling with his keys. obviously already fucked up.

jj eyes him warily, before flickering his gaze back towards the trailer. he’s only a little surprised to see rafe cameron suddenly standing in the doorway with barry, looking like they’re arguing about something.

okay, maybe jj is a lot surprised to see the scene playing out before him. because despite the seemingly heated tone of their conversation, barry has a hand resting on one of rafe’s elbows. it’s almost a tender gesture, and jj has to look away, suddenly feeling like he’s intruding on something.

barry touches rafe the way jj touches pope. and that’s… that’s a bit much to take in, to be honest. because jj sure as hell doesn’t touch pope the way friends are technically supposed to touch each other.

it’s an information overload, and he has no idea what to do with it. jj decides to file the racing thoughts away for later, when he inevitably spills his guts to pope about just exactly what he’s seen at barry’s today.

luke finally gets the truck started, pulling off of barry’s property without even noticing the moment unfolding before them.

jj takes one last look at rafe and barry, crowded in the doorway of the trailer while looking at each other like everything around them has fallen away, like it’s just the two of them left in the world.

interesting.

pope

it’s a sunday afternoon when they come in.

they’re arguing about something, barry looking thrilled by it whereas rafe just looks like he wants to smash his head through the nearest window.

“you ain’t really fished, country club,” pope hears barry saying when they’re close enough, “not til’ you caught a gator.”

pope suppresses a snort. there isn’t a soul in the OBX who’s caught a gator and didn’t come away with a chunk of themselves missing, and typically always empty-handed.

not like he’s going to tell two dickheads like barry or rafe that. if they want to go get chomped to bits by alligators, by all means.

pope is curious about the nature of their relationship, though. it’s interesting, and interesting things never cease to draw him in. (see: jj maybank).

jj had mentioned a few days ago that barry and rafe have seemed… different, recently. ever since then, pope has wondered about it. it’s a curious relationship, so he doesn’t think it’s that weird that he’s been desperately trying to understand it from all angles.

pope also just wants to know if jj is right. if barry and rafe really do have a thing going on. because like he’d told jj, he’ll believe it when he sees it.

it’s not like jj needs to know that he’s been secretly agonizing over it for absolutely no reason for the last three days.

pope stays seated quietly behind the counter, casually flipping through a magazine without really reading it, glancing up every now and then to spy on barry and rafe.

they’re standing by the bait selection, quietly conversing back and forth. pope can’t make out what they’re saying, but based on their expressions, they’re probably just talking about bait.

that is, until rafe passes barry a certain kind of bait with a questioning glance, and barry accepts it with a proud smile. rafe’s cheeks turn bright pink, and when their fingers brush as rafe passes off the bait, his face takes on a nearly scarlet hue.

so, okay, yeah. jj was definitely on the mark. it still makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever, but at the same time, they seem to operate in sync. it’s almost natural, whatever flows between them.

pope watches them walk up to the counter, feigning wariness to hide his curiosity, internally noting that he has a lot of homework to do later.

kie

the wreck is unusually slow tonight. it’s a thursday evening, and usually more patrons show up, pre-gaming their friday night bash with a thursday kickoff.

there are only three families and a few scattered couples seated here and there.

that is, until they walk in.

kie can’t really say that she hasn’t been expecting this. she wishes she could say that, to be quite honest, but jj and pope have made it their personal mission to torment her with information about barry and rafe that she truly never needed or wanted to know.

not that they’re more than likely gay as hell - kiara doesn’t care about that. she’d be a bit of a hypocrite if she did, if she’s being honest. it’s the fact that they’re rafe and barry.

two people who’s fates the cosmos should never have aligned. if what pope and jj say is true, anyway.

somehow, kie hasn’t come up with any reason to doubt it. rafe is crazy, barry is pure chaos in physical form. she imagines they’re like a nuclear bomb waiting to go off, but she also sees how it works.

kie really, really hates that she can see how it works.

there’s another waitress working tonight, and she’s the one to seat the couple. or pair. or whatever they are. kie can’t remember her name - she’s only here for the summer, anyway. nevertheless, she has the inexplicable desire to drag the poor girl away when she attempts to flirt with rafe.

not only because rafe is liable to stab her in a parking lot or something, but also because rafe and barry are clearly on some sort of date.

she doesn’t know why, but after the waitress finally walks away, kiara keeps waiting on bated breath for more people to show up and join rafe and barry’s party. despite the fact that they’ve been seated at a table for two.

no one else shows up.

they spend the evening conversing quietly back and forth, their voices occasionally raising when they get into a little spat about something.

which happens about every ten seconds, if kie has been accurately keeping track.

not that she’s watching them, necessarily. it’s just a bit of a shock, seeing what jj and pope have been telling her for days play out right in front of her, in real time.

they don’t operate like the other couples in the restaurant, that’s for sure. or any sort of couple kie has ever seen before in her entire life. but pope was right, whatever flows between them is freakishly natural.

and that’s why kiara can’t stop watching. she can’t stop honing in on every movement - the way they steadily shift closer throughout the evening, first putting their elbows on the quaint table, scooting them closer and closer until they’re nearly touching, leaning into each other like they’re being pulled together by some magnetic force, unable to stay apart.

it’s like when kie knocks on sarah’s window and watches her come close, pressing into the glass as if she’s being sucked in by some invisible force, the same one that drives sarah across the room towards her, pulling her into her orbit.

kiara shakes her head, trying to shake off the thoughts. she really doesn’t need to be going around equating her relationship with sarah with whatever the fuck is going on between rafe and barry.

whatever it is, though, kie can’t help but note that it’s something light rather than dark. something almost like happiness - something she never actually thought rafe was capable of feeling.

but with the way rafe is looking at barry, their hands now linked together beneath the table where they think no one else can see, kie is starting to rethink just about everything she knows about rafe cameron.

well, maybe not everything. but some things. enough that her head will be full for the foreseeable future. all because of barry and rafe fucking cameron of all people.

what the fuck.

topper

“you’ve been gone for like, weeks, dude,” topper says, eyeing rafe from across the table.

they’re at the figure eight country club, having drinks (on topper, of course) and a light lunch. it’d been topper’s idea. rafe had merely reluctantly agreed, claiming he had nothing else going on today.

he’d sounded almost like he was pouting about something. now that he’s seated across from topper, he can clearly see that rafe is definitely pouting about something.

which isn’t unusual, per se. but it is unusual that rafe isn’t bitching about whatever it is.

to be fair, rafe has been different these days. topper doesn’t really know what’s going on with him at all, their lives having suddenly and unexpectedly diverged for reasons topper still doesn’t understand.

it’s not like rafe was his best friend or anything - the guy’s a dick more often than not. but they had been friends at least, and confided in one another from time to time. guy to guy.

topper still wonders what happened, to this day. he doesn’t think rafe will ever tell him, though. not fully. and that’s okay, topper isn’t, like, desperately interested or anything, but a bit of an explanation would be nice. even a half-assed one.

“i’ve had shit going on,” rafe finally answers, as vague as can be.

topper rolls his eyes. “obviously. come on, man. i just want to know what’s been up with you lately.”

“you mean you want to know what’s been up with sarah,” rafe corrects, taking a long sip of his beer.

and okay, yeah, maybe topper’s desire to get back in touch with rafe has a little something to do with wanting to know what sarah’s been up to. but he does want to know whats been going on with rafe, too. that wasn’t a lie. he’d just omitted some details, sue him.

“yeah, okay,” topper agrees, not bothering with lying. “but i’ve also been wondering about you, man. you just kinda. disappeared.”

rafe picks at his burger, before pushing it away with a sigh. “shit happens, top.”

it’s so far from an explanation that topper kind of wants to throttle him all of a sudden, but rafe doesn’t give him the chance. his phone starts ringing, and he pulls it out with a triumphant smile, like he’s just won something.

something he’s definitely very, very smug about.

topper thinks he hears something along the lines of ‘m fuckin’ outside you little shithead brat coming from the person on the other end of the line.

rafe just smiles wider, putting on an innocent look even though whoever he’s talking to can’t see him. “coming!”

listen. listen. rafe fucking sing-songs it. topper feels like he’s been punched directly in the solar plexus. his mind reels.

topper is nowhere close to catching up, but rafe is already standing up and excusing himself, saying he has somewhere to be and thanking topper for the lunch half-heartedly, not contributing anything towards the bill.

typical rafe.

topper latches onto that familiarity to get his brain working again, shoving himself back from the table and racing out of the club, tossing a few too many bills on the table as he runs out. he practically chases rafe down, tumbling out the front doors as rafe is crossing the parking lot.

rafe comes to a stop next to some guy on a motorcycle, and neither of them have seen topper yet, clearly. because in the next moment rafe is pulling off the guy’s helmet and kissing barry the fucking coke dealer right on the mouth, tongue and all.

topper almost blacks out on the steps.

instead, he steadies himself on the railing of the staircase, shouting across the parking lot, “what the fuck, rafe?”

the reaction topper gets is not the one he was expecting. rafe just grins like a shark, then climbs on the back of barry’s bike. he wraps his arms around barry’s waist, then he taps barry twice, and they’re speeding out of the parking lot.

“we are so fucking talking about this!” topper yells after them, his head still spinning.

the roar of the motorcycle drowns out the noise.

sarah

she isn’t sure what wakes her up at first.

for a moment, sarah thinks kie is at her window. she frowns in confusion, still half-asleep, wondering why kie would be here without texting or calling first.

they always text or call first.

when sarah sits up and looks over at her window, there’s nothing there. but she knows she heard something, something that roused her from her peaceful slumber.

there it is again. it sounds like a squeaking noise, like an old window or a screen door opening. a moment later, quiet voices, drifting through the vent in her bedroom.

sarah wonders if it’s ward, if he’s having some secret meeting that would be truly invaluable to overhear.

she scrambles out of bed, tip-toeing to her air vent and sinking down to her knees. she leans closer, then closer still. all she can here are soft voices - she can’t make out any words. whatever the conversation is about, it’s interspersed with giggles and gasps.

oh. oh my god. ward is cheating, he has to be. and wouldn’t that be such sweet justice? catching ward in the act of something he can’t deny? something that could potentially keep rose from continuing to feed his endless greed?

sarah stands up and races across her room as quietly as she can, poking her head out the door and looking around before creeping into the hallway. she quietly makes her way to ward’s office, stopping just outside and leaning close to listen.

silence.

if they’re done already, that’s pretty pathetic on ward’s part, sarah thinks. but then she hears it again, the soft cacophony of sounds, only louder this time.

sarah follows the noise, her curiosity getting to the better of her. it leads her straight to rafe’s bedroom.

she really should’ve known better than to open the door.

“oh my god! oh my god? oh my god.” sarah slaps her hands over her eyes, already trying to scrub the image of barry on top of her brother from her mind.

she just walked in on rafe. having sex. with barry.

sarah feels a little faint.

“jesus christ, sarah, would you get the fuck out?” sarah hears rafe snap, and she fumbles for the doorknob, slamming the door shut quickly.

she backs away in horror, practically bolting back to her room and flinging herself onto her bed. sarah grabs her phone, firing off a few texts to the group chat.

sarah: SOS!!! walked in on barry and rafe…

sarah: oh god

sarah: i can’t even say it

jj: were they? y’know

jj: like

jj: brokeback mountain style or

pope: jesus christ jj

pope: that’s disgusting

pope: ………

pope: but for real though were they?

john b: i’d also like to know

kie: you know what count me in too

sarah: oh my god.

sarah: i hate all of you.

sarah has the most useless friends on the planet, and the drug dealer is fucking her brother. frankly, she’s had enough for one night.

sarah tosses her phone onto the floor and puts a pillow over her face, drifting back into her blissful state of unconsciousness. she’s not awake to hear rafe and barry start up again.

thank fucking god for small mercies.

[adamsvanrhijn]

cannot believe in 2022 my poor dykey eyes had to see someone claim that gay people in homophobic societies definitely do not get married to people of the opposite sex as a safety precaution, and if they do then they're bisexual. like oscar isn't jerking off over the thought of gladys' shapely hips or whatever! my man only has heart eyes for her bank account!

wanting to not be miserable in the situation that is inherently going to make him miserable deep down by marrying someone who can support a lifestyle he wants to lead and who he thinks is nice and likes to spend time with..............

his entire motivation is around self-preservation (old money is slipping!) and safely maintaining his relationship with a man (he is deluded about how to do this, but that's.... still what he wants)

oscar, in particular...... i genuinely think that someone so concerned with keeping up appearances would be married by now if he were interested in women. like he has been committed to living with a man at this point probably for years. postponing what he sees is inevitable. and on THAT note,

"John isn't looking for a wife because he knows he can't have one" okay... and oscar is looking for a wife because he knows* he can't have john without one! he has managed to convince himself it is the solution to all of the problems they could possibly encounter AS GAY MEN LIVING IN 1882! he literally thinks he is taking one for the team and doing what is best for them, that this is the most reasonable thing to do in the face of the challenges they have had and will always have, he literally SAID THAT ON SCREEN

HE ALSO LITERALLY SAID THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF MEN WHO HAVE HAD TO MAKE EXACTLY THE SAME DECISION

WHAT'S NOT CLICKING

and john even ACKNOWLEDGES this???????????????? clearly he can't stomach the idea at all, he hates it, he doesn't want it he wants things to stay as they are, but he does still acknowledge that like, yeah okay he can see that oscar has a point here (even if he hates the point and doesn't want to have to think about it because he has a different relationship with his sexuality and with his social sphere than oscar does) - i don't think he saw it as a ticking time bomb the way oscar does, which is why he's so taken aback by it and VERY not ready for it, like that'sthe whole DEAL, but this is not, to me, the first time it has ever crossed his mind as something that might be required of him either??????????? the position doesn't even hold up within the same argument for MULTIPLE reasons if you actually paid attention to canon, god

if anything it's a historical analog of what it's like to be out when your partner isn't ready for that, and that has like, definitely happened to thousands of same sex couples over the years! NOTICE i did not say gay couples!

like congrats on being extremely offensive about gay men and bisexual men in one terrible sentence!

*using this word loosely

[antiloreolympus]

12 Anti LO Asks

1. its victim blaming of hades to tell minthe its HER fault she "couldnt get over him". like? you lied to her! youre the one who blurred the lines to date her! you were just as toxic to her if not more so by controlling where she lives and her job, all while never defending her to your cruel family! you had all the power over her while she had nothing! you dumped her for a 19 year old and dont care she crippled minthe! i wont excuse minthe's actions, but hades is ultimately the worse of the two IMO

2. you know why fans claimed "Minthe should've reacted better"? since the first episode Rachel has been drilling into their heads Minthe is an irredeemable monster, and her not bending over backwards to H/P means she deserves the absolute worst. Minthe reacting how anyone logically would doesn't matter when LO is designed to coddle H/P, and anyone against them must suffer for it, even if the victim to H/P's actions. they never wanted her to be "redeemed", they want her head on a silver platter.

3. i know this is not what she intended bc the only characterization rachel has of hxp is "the best over everything" but uh, does she know having hades control all the petroleum and gasses and whatever else is actively destroying the planet, right? like hes helping the very thing persephone draws her power from and what she's connected to be destroyed to appease hes need for wealth and power. its kinda gross hes being romanticized while he commits horrible acts like this for his bank account.

4. its not impossible to go opposite in their original myth personalities and still have it work. like in hades game, sisyphus is one of the most likable characters, achilles is gentle and kind, ares is calm and rational, etc, but it makes sense within the context of the story. LO in comparison goes "all these loving mothers are evil because i said so! this beloved god is now evil because i said so! minthe is evil because i said so!" and that's about it in terms of logic to these wild changes.

5. I can kinda get behind anon's theory about the flower nymphs looking like P to help her be undetected, the problem is there are also unrelated women in comic who are bright pink and look just like her, with hades even confusing them for her! if i had to bet the only reason they look like that is because rachel just wanted daphne to look like her to hammer home apollo is "obsessed" with P and to fake them as her "real family" over demeter. also just laziness in designing characters in general.

6. its weird hades and persephone are well aware what they're doing is bad even openly admitting it and yet the narrative is so hellbent on excusing their bad actions?? like hades being the major toxic factor in his relationship to minthe, persephone killing people, or hades wanting to bone an eternal 19 year old? like rachel you know thats not how character growth works, right? you cant show they have horrible flaws and leave them to never grow and learn from it, that's not good writing at all.

7. what i also dont get is the hierarchy makes no sense? like zeus is framed as the top god, but that would mean hades cant be the most important man ever so rachel also made him equal rank with zeus (and i guess poseidon too) so?? how does zeus have all that power over them then if theyre all equal? is it because zeus swallowed metis?  also how are the fertility goddess so powerful and rare yet so easily taken down? how are they overpowered and super weak at the same time? i just dont get it.

8. Re reading chapter 144 and other anon is right we do see the pomegranate pin on Hades outfit (so Hades gifts it to her)

But also some things to note

During the makeout session persy begins to disappear in butterfly form and hades is like "no don't leave!" And he grabs her, preventing her from leaving. Which is..kinda Ick considering they were on their way to having (public) sex and he doesn't want her to leave which seems like he's not really respecting her boundaries? (because if she does he'll "be lonely")

The pomegranate pin is Hades' to begin with so technically one of Persephones symbols is not hers (yes I know in the original myth she ate it in the underworld / was forced to eat it but still its supposed to be her symbol)

Hades notes that he "doesn't want to overstep his boundaries as host" because Persephone is a guest (too late for that)

Persephones main concern (after what a week or 2?) after being raped is when Hades wants to stop her reaction is "dont you want me anymore?"

Girl you aren't even dating ...??

Persy's literal one and only concern is that she thinks if she doesnt sleep with Hades right then or when/if he wants to that "she wont be able to give him what hes used to" ... Which is reinforcing that she went to therapy to get "over being blocked" in regards to having sex

Although Hades does mention that she shouldn't feel like she needs to please him and that a kiss can just be a kiss which would be nice

(And yet his thinking of marrying her amd he's known her for 2, 3 weeks? ... And he says "the beginning of a new relationship is exciting and scary" so hes basically indicating thay their dating at this point, I think?)

And later the nymphs in the store are like "do you wanna be the dominatrix of the bedroom?? Buy this lingerie!" And persy does. So??

Meanwhile Demeter is very worried for her daughter who is busy sitting in Hades lap in a pool. 

9. Can we talk about how anons are making fucking flow charts for the LO Timeline cause it's so ridiculously jumbled?

10. im not even against rushed relationships, ive known actual couples who met and were married all within the same year and it worked out great, the difference though is these were people who had their own lives and previous relationships. the issue with LO is RS designed it so Persephone can NEVER have relationships or a life outside of Hades, and if they did get married offscreen, it's framing their marriage in a toxic and unbalanced light. That's not a romance, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

11. i feel like there's a difference between drawing an interesting hooked/aquiline nose versus whatever the hell RS puts on Hades' face. It honestly looks like he's in between morphing into a bird half the time since it just looks like a beak over an actual facial feature.

12. are there shareholders or a board of advisors or something at underworld corp? because if there is id say they have more than enough reason to kick hades out and strip him of his titles/shares because of all the shit he's caused by being guided by his broken pp over thinking with his head. liking dating TWO employees? and getting one of them phsyically crippled by the other bc he can't be honest with either of them and she's a walking time bomb? he's a walking HR nightmare.

[frenchie-sottises]

ADDICT Animation Thoughts.

HEY, WANNA LEARN DRUGS?

This is me not having doing one of these review sort of things in a while. I’m kinda swallowed in the love for the newest animation for Hazbin Hotel, so I’mma do a review on it.

Yeah, I’m talking about the whole music video for the song “ADDICT”.  Yes, it’s a song I freaking LOVE and will probably sing it to the ceilings for the rest of the week.

I actually had no clue there was an animation being produced for this song. I thought it was a good fan song and it was just gonna be left like that, but no, the person, and team, decided to make a video for it.

Okay, first off, can I just gush over how much I freaking love this thumbnail?? It’s done by Arielle Somerville, and even though this doesn’t have Cherri included, who takes up the second verse and I’ll talk about that in the minute, she definitely gets the message across that this video, and song, is mostly about Angel himself. I especially love the reflection on the pole, showing Valentino, who showed his face in the comic that’s supposed to be a prequel to the actual pilot. I also love the expression on Angel’s face. To me, it spells utter hatred for Valentino, and why shouldn’t he?

I’m sure most people who like Hazbin Hotel have seen this vid, so I don’t think I need to put a spoiler warning. Instead of explaining what happens in the video, I will break down the actual song and what comes to mind when I hear the lyrics and see the imagery.

Til death do us part, but we're already past that phase. This is a brand new start, and I think I deserve some praise

I will forever love this shot.

for the way that I am. Despite having overdosed, and ending up comatose.

I don't give a damn, I've let my emotions go- Fuck being a sober hoe.

The first verse is fairly clear about what happened to him before and after he died. Angel states with the whole “Till death, do us part” that now that he’s in Hell, he’s starting anew. He then further states that he should “deserve some praise” for the way he is despite the fact he “overdosed” and “ending up comatose”. While it IS confirmed that Angel died via PCP overdose, PCP can cause anything from organ shutdown (lungs and kidneys specifically) to seizures and coma. It’s not exactly clear what specifically killed him, but if I had to guess: organ shutdown. Specifically respiratory arrest since the oxygen is crucial for sustaining the brain.

He then, like typical Angel Dust, sings about not giving a damn, which makes sense since cause, y’know, it’s Angel. He claims to have let his emotions go and “fuck being a sober hoe.” PCP is.. odd when it comes to the psychological effects of it. PCP can block NMDA receptors, which are responsible for pain sensations, memory function, learning, and yes, even emotions. However, it can also cause anything from euphoria and calmness to anxiety and violence depending on how much is taken and who is using it. I’m not an expert, so I don’t know what’s specifically causing such contradicting results. (If someone does know PCP back to front, I’m giving you the shot to put your two cents in.)

This is the mantra, this is my life you're playing with now til the end of the night. Surrounded by fire, the passion ignites, a hit of that heaven and hell, a helluva high!

We then hit the bridge. Angel walks towards the moth in the thumbnail named “Valentino”, and yes, I got plenty to say about him later, and tells him he’s playing with Angel’s life “til the end of the night.” I don’t exactly know what he means by this since Valentino is Angel’s boss and we all know it’s not some one-time thing. He then sings about being “surrounded by fire” as “the passion ignites” and “a hit of that heaven and hell.” Heaven and Hell, huh? I believe he, himself, knows of its effects. (I’m not calling him stupid/oblivious, but sometimes the effects of these sort of drugs tend to be underestimated when it comes to what they can actually do.)

I'm addicted to the madness. This hotel is my Atlantis. We're forever gonna have a fucking reason to sin. Let me leave my soul to burn and I'll be breathing it in. I'm addicted to the feeling. Getting higher than the ceiling. And we're never gonna want this fucking feeling to end. Just concede and give in to your inner demons again.

Angel, along with Cherri, sings about how he’s “addicted to the madness.” I mean, he did have a casual conversation while happily killing Sir Pentious’s minions. He then makes a reference to the lost city of Atlantis, a city that was said to be inhabited by people who were half-man/half-god and created a utopian civilization.. basically the hotel is an “oasis” of sorts to flee from his current situation. Of course, being in a place called Hell, he states how there will always be a reason to sin and that he’ll leave his soul to burn and breathe it in. I mean, it’s Hell, you can’t fault him for thinking that, and, if you know a thing or two about Hell, once you’re there, have fun getting out, so you might as well leave your soul to burn and breathe it in. Of course, Hell is a lot uglier than this, but we’re talking fictional characters here, so there’s gonna be some rule bending.

He then repeats the first line of the chorus, but it’s slightly altered. He’s “addicted to the feeling” and “getting higher than the ceiling”, which is probably referring to the drugs again cause, well, you know. Of course, like how drug abusers become drug abusers, he doesn’t want this “feeling to end”, so he takes more angel dust to keep this feeling going. He then says to “concede and give in to your inner demons again.” Concede means to “admit after resisting or denying”, so Angel, at some point, was resisting, or denying, the situation he was in, but after either fighting it/denying it for so long, before or after death, he accepted that he’s fucked up and gave in to his inner demons.

I also love this shot.

After a few seconds of awesome music, Cherri gets her time to shine.

Yeah you fell in love, but you fell deeper in this pit. While death rains from above, so count your blessings cause this is it.

You're not letting it go, so what if I misbehave? It's what everybody craves.

You already know, so come if you're feeling brave, and fancy yourself a mate.

Cherri seems to have suffered an abusive relationship before as she seems to use past tense for whoever she’s referring to. "Yeah, you fell in love, but you fell deeper in this pit.” Whatever it was, it’s not something that can be made up for. She then says “While death rains from above, so count your blessings cause this is it.” I don’t exactly know what she means by this. Technically, they’re both dead and in Hell, so I don’t think whoever this man is has had his soul destroyed.. mainly because of what she says later. However, as death does what death does best, she’s telling him to count his blessings as this is it. I don’t know what she means as we don’t actually know that much about Cherri to begin with, so it’s more of a hit or miss kind of game in this playing field. She doesn’t seem to have any grudges against him, or at least doesn’t act like she does. I know somewhere down the line that our “protagonists” will have to face their problems, but I’m not sure what Cherri has in store for a man she seemingly got over.

However, it may be over for her, but she states that it isn’t for him by telling him that he’s “not letting it go.” She continues by asking “so what if I misbehave?” and then following that up with “It’s what everybody craves.” She makes it seem like he couldn’t handle her overly energetic attitude. It may also suggest that Cherri, along with her use of bombs and how much she seems to love blowing up shit, may be emotionally unstable. While yes, she may be kind and friendly to Angel, but he’s just a friend, I don’t think he’s anything more.

It doesn’t stop there though, whatever it is, she tells him he already knows, so come if he’s feeling brave and fancy himself a mate. Mate is often referring to a lover, but could also mean friend or someone for a one-night stand. Again, since we don’t know much about her, these lines could mean anything.

You want it? I got it! See what you like? We could have it all by the end of the night! Your money and power.. my sinful delight! A hit of that heaven and hell, a helluva high!

The bridge doesn’t do much in terms of explaining what’s happened to Cherri. While yes, it’s definitely explaining something, we don’t know what that something is. We can only guess at the moment.

Cherri tells whoever this man is that if he wants it, she’s got it. She then teases him with “See what you like? We could have it all by the end of the night!” The whole “end of the night” has now been said on both sides. It could mean about the similar situations between them. Heck, it might be why they’re friends to begin with. Nothing brings people together more than having similar experiences.

Then, and I don’t know if this is me, Cherri’s voice seems to tone down slightly when saying, “Your money and power” before kicking it back up with her smiling and saying, “my sinful delight!” The animation may support this as everything tones down, except the music, as if she’s reminiscing. She then follows it up with the line that leads into the chorus. As far as I know, she isn’t taking drugs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be addicted to certain habits. *cough, cough* Blowing shit up. *cough, cough*

We then hit the chorus again. The chorus before introduced Cherri into the video, but now it’s being sung by both on the same stage and in the same building: the same one Cherri decides to blow up as they both sing about their respective situations. There isn’t much to this other than the fact that it feels more of a wrap up on explaining their current states.

Of course, those who have listened to the VIP version knows there was an extra verse sung by Angel, which was included at the end of the video.

I'm addicted to the sorrow when the buzz ends by tomorrow. There's another rush of poison flowing into my veins, giving me a dose of pleasure that resides by the pain.

I'm addicted, I'm dependent. Looking awesome, feeling helpless. And I know I'm raising Cain by every highway in hell. Maybe things won't be so terrible inside this hotel.

I.. don’t know where to begin with this. I had to go back several times because there’s just so much detail in every scene. Everything from seeing Travis getting kicked in the face to the cigarette that Angel threw in the ash tray looking like a heart.

I think I’ll start with what I think might be going on.

Angel, more than likely, is still in an abusive relationship with Valentino, who I will ramble about in a few. I’ve seen a few who’ve said that he isn’t, but I don’t think he managed to break it just like that. He is the one who told the audience to give in to their inner demons after all.

As far as Cherri goes? She’s become an addict to her own habit of blowing stuff up for fun. While yes, she’s seen blowing stuff up that is about/for Valentino, with a habit that’s become an addiction, I don’t think it’s gonna be very specific.

Of course, I could be very wrong about Cherri. She is seen blowing up a sign that literally says “ADDICT.”

So maybe she has broken an addiction of hers and is stronger than I give her credit for. Maybe that’s also why she’s coming to the hotel, cause she also said the hotel is her Atlantis, so it’s probably a hint that she’s gonna be added later.

Speaking of Cherri...

I love her solely for this.

While they aren’t exactly ideal people, they are, almost, ideal friends. Whenever one struggles, the other comes to help. Angel helped Cherri fight off Pentious while Cherri is here comforting Angel as he goes through his abusive relationship with Valentino. (She also helps with, again, blowing up anything that belongs/is for Valentino. Ridding imagery of an abuser will bring some ease to the victim’s life.) I say “almost” as they don’t go about it in the tamest of ways.. though I understand why people would come to defend what Cherri did. If nothing stops them from fighting and taking land, then nothing would stop Cherri blowing up a billboard or two, especially if it’s Valentino.

I think it’s time I’ve rambled about Valentino and the relationship he and Angel have, SO HUGE WARNING, this is gonna mention sexual assault/rape.

Valentino... I know I’m right when I say that just about everyone in the Hazbin Hotel fandom absolutely hates this fucker.

I can’t tell you how many people have made jokes about it already. Who wouldn’t hate him? I can tell you right here, right now, that moths, because he’s a moth, are my favorite insects. They’re fluffy, amazing to look at, and can make for some nice character designs. However, I have not once found myself being fond of Valentino. He has a great design, but that’s about it. He may not be real, but I’d strangle him too for not respecting Angel’s boundaries.

Like

who

the fuck

aRE YOU

TO DO THIS??

My god, it doesn’t even stop here. This was pretty tame. I have a feeling not many know what was actually shown in the mirror when Angel was in his room.

Yeah, I don’t need to tell ya. I mean, I hope that’s not what’s happening, but Valentino IS one of many of the overlords of Hell, so who knows how twisted he is. It looks like he’s just holding him in place and just glaring at him through the mirror as he probably monologues about some bull about Angel being his and whatnot, but this is Hell and tame can just go out the window.. that and Valentino is literally fucking drooling.

As a final note, I’m pretty hyped for whatever Vivzie and her crew have in store for this series. I’ve seen the pilot, I’ve read the comic, and now I’ve seen the music video, all have been great.

I can’t really guess on where Vivzie’s gonna go with this whole story. I’ve always learned that Hell is an inescapable place, so I’d expect that Hazbin Hotel will be about Charlie hoping to rehabilitate people to go to Heaven only to find out that there’s no way out. Maybe it’ll be about how Hell doesn’t have to be some horrible place for nothing but pain, but a place to finally try and fix your problems so they don’t control you in the afterlife.

However, Hell has one issue: the overpopulation and extermination. It’s why Charlie opened up the hotel to begin with, so maybe the plot is far more clear cut. It is a fictional world. Technically the Hell most people think of is nothing really like this. It’s just an eternal fire pit where you’ll suffer physical pain over and over. However, Vivzie’s take on it is far more abstract. It seems Hell is where you’re put into situations you wouldn’t want to be in. Angel seems to want love and have fun, but is instead stuck with someone abusive and what he finds fun has been turned into work, both of which he hates.

In the end, I’m really loving Hazbin Hotel’s story as a whole. I love the fact Angel got some more depth to him. I’m looking forward to what’s in store for Cherri and the others.

P.S.: You wanna know the irony to this? I love moths, but most spiders I hate. However, I’m here hating Valentino, a moth, while having a fondness for Angel, a spider.

I’ve never had something like this happen to me before and it’s one of many reason why I love Hazbin Hotel.