#sorry late night ramble

[frownyalfred]

Ever since I read two fics about Bruce's kids being in the tower when it's falling, it's made that scene a million times tastier. Like, in one fic, the kids all lived and helped other people, and Bruce was a terminator trying to get to them and make them leave but they kept helping others to his great pride and anxiety. In one they all died and it fucked me up, particularly when Bruce told Clark after the events if BvS, and holy shit, I was crying like a little baby like that shit just hits different.

Just, grieving dad Bruce, who doesn't have superman and Tim to stop him from killing, trying to avenge all five of his kids like 👀👀👀 it was so good!

Yeah!! Not to get too weird about BVS (again) I think there are some serious parallels between 9/11 and the attack on Metropolis that critics really intentionally overlook -- not just that the destruction is similar, but that Bruce's anger/fear/etc closely parallels the US reaction in the immediate aftermath.

He lost a whole skyscraper of his employees -- people who were supposed to be safe in Metropolis, safer than they would probably be in Gotham. And yes, in certain fics, he loses not just his loyal employees, but his kids, too.

I will be the first one to mock BVS (for a variety of reasons) but the whole "oooh Batman started killing and acting OOC out of nowhere" thing always seemed kind of silly to me.

There's a reason his first adult on-screen introduction in that movie is literally him running into a dust cloud in shirtsleeves and loafers -- it's not about Batman. It's Bruce Wayne lifting beams and dragging children out of harm's way.

The Black Zero Event/Battle of Metropolis likely resulted in the death of thousands of people -- several times the destruction of 9/11, though I'm not sure if anyone ever gave an exact number.

It's strange that an event that is clearly presented to evoke that parallel is taken as a mediocre or misguided motivation for any character, much less Bruce -- who is in a unique position as a vigilante to actually do something, however small, about it.

[deeply-unserious-fellow]

No okay because what REALLY GETS ME about Adam and Lute's final interaction is that THIS FACE

Seems deeply out of character for Adam. Like, especially considering how he was having the classic Third Act Breakdown right before this? This cocky motherfucker got stabbed by fucking NIFFTY after getting his ass beat by LUCIFER HIMSELF, and yet this is the look on his face as he bleeds out. You'd think he'd be more upset, but he just seems. Accepting. Ready for this fate. Which is COMPLETELY UNLIKE ADAM!!!!!!! The only in-character reason this would be the final look on his face would be that he's putting on a brave face for Lute. Lute who came running over to him as soon as she saw him fall, yelling for him, crying. Adam, the pettiest, bitchiest asshole in the entire goddamn show is putting on a brave face for her. Or he's just like. Happy to see her in his final moments. Which either way they cARE ABOUT EACHOTHER SO MUCH I CAAAAAAAAAN'T-

[misc-obeyme]

I know we all like to think that Solomon probably has a back up plan for making MC immortal, but do you ever consider how he would be if MC just stayed mortal and aged normally?

He notices when they start to get little aches and pains. He sees the streaks of grey that start to show up in their hair. In the blink of an eye, they're using a cane and their entire head is silver - just like his.

You know he would dote on them in their older years. He would make them special canes or walkers. He would make them potions to help with arthritis. He would come up with magical ways to deal with all the inconveniences of their aging body.

He would find ways to help them with their day to day without making them feel like they're too old to be independent.

Solomon would cherish those years. Every day he would have these complicated feelings about it. Yes, he's watching his adorable apprentice, the one he loves, grow old, leading inevitably to their death. But he's also seeing them experience a phase of life that he will never get to. And all the while, they'll still be younger than him by thousands of years.

And I think that for as long as it exists, he would visit MC's grave. Probably yearly, on the anniversary of the day he lost them.

There's been a lot of speculation about that card where he's crying at someone's grave and who that grave belongs to. But what if that grave is ours?

[underkunimi]

i think luffy and law are the couple that just don’t care(they’re pirates)(also hear me out). like obviously at first, law is like ‘hey maybe not in front of our crews’ but then at some point, he just stops caring. not only are they connected by the hip, you can literally find one of them hoisted onto something or pressed against a flat surface with their tongues in each other’s mouths. luffy is absolutely insatiable and law kinda loves it. don’t go to the crow’s nest after dinner, luffy is in law’s lap practically devouring him. on warm nights, you might find law pressed against the railing of the Sunny or pressed against a door. on most days, luffy makes law sit up on the helm with him and they give each other kisses while watching the open sea. law watching luffy absolutely devour his meal and has to give luffy the absolute filthiest kiss ever. they’re on an island, luffy is dragging law to the nearest secluded corner or alleyway and shoving his tongue down law’s throat

[seri-tonin]

Something that's recently become a pet peeve of mine is when people mischaracterize Alhaitham and write him as someone who easily gets mad, especially with Kaveh. But in canon, I don't think he ever actually is shown to get really upset with him (or, for that matter, anyone other than azar iirc, and even then it was at least partially acting). A key part of his character is his ability to stay calm and rational in any situation. He never goes further than some pointed banter and teasing. Kaveh mentions in Alhaitham's trailer that he has a bad temper, but all other evidence shows it's the other way around

[mousy-nona]

I truly believe that Alastor is scarier than Lucifer? Like ofc Lucifer is stronger and all that power scaling-wise, considering he's literally the Biggest Bad Of All Time, but this version of Lucifer has expressed how disappointed he is in humans because they're bad. I don't think he's the type to kill or go all Machiavelli on someone unless he really, really needs to. He's shown as an optimistic, kind, generally good-hearted and goofy guy.

But on the other hand you have Alastor, who kinda makes up his own rules as he goes. Like you've seen him be super nice when he wants to, but that's not his default setting. He likes to eat people?? He's LITERALLY a serial killer?? He has no limits other than the ones he puts on himself, and that's an actual villain.

So yeah yeah Lucifer is strong enough to like cause a nuclear winter but it doesn't really matter because he'll never use it!!

Anyway what I'm saying is that if Alastor were ever to get into a radioapple-style thing with Lucifer I'm pretty sure he could play the king of hell like a fiddle and destroy all of hell if he wanted to. And that's terrifying, and that's why he's scarier than Lucifer.

okay rant over!!!

[crowleycorvid]

I'm thinking about 11 minute era wu and getting real sad

They made him so sopping wet and while I'm not saying it's bad, I like them giving him a more depth and him grappling with his own insecurities and guilt, I am saying he makes me SAD!! My wife should never have to suffer fuck the world

[totallynotsarkaz]

I am forever in debt with Istina for feeding me RosaZima despite it WAS HER FREAKING (temp)FAREWELL PARTY

[veetowervaporwave]

I feel like voxval are primed for a hanahaki au

Not the regular kind (don't care for that), but the one where the flowers are literally the manifestation of repressed feelings, and the longer you try to hold them in or suppress them, the worse it gets. And the only cure is to confess.

They're both so prideful they'd rather choke on their feelings than admit them.

[larkspurglove]

Messy spoiler heavy Aventurine appreciation post

I am so so so so so so so in love with him it’s unreal. Anyway.

I am SOOOOO happy he’s got a present and active role in the story so far. I’m used to my favs in Hoyo games not showing up a lot because they’re either ‘side characters’ who’s lives are usually expanded upon in limited time events or they have a Deep Dark Secret Past and as such they don’t get screentime because their past is Too Much. Can you tell the deep dark secret past is about Luocha and Jingliu ANYWAY

Even if he’s a bit of a bastard, I genuinely enjoy his personality. I find it funny that he’s a gambler yet supposedly doesn’t put himself in situations where he could end up with the short end of the stick. It’s contradictory and stupid to believe you’re above bad luck but I love him anyway. He’s smug and clearly has an eye for charming his way into favour.

Not to mention he’s smart and in a way his gambler persona plays into how he acts. He keeps his proverbial cards close to his chest, and doesn’t let on what he doesn’t want others to know, only stepping into the fray when he knows (or believes) he can’t lose. Penacony as a whole seems to have heavy themes about deception but that’s besides the point.

The whole talk about his past is interesting too, from the tattoo that appears to be an actual word (and possibly a way of the IPC branding him?!), the implication his home planet is full of ‘wolves in sheeps’ clothing’ like how Kafka is from a planet where its residents physically cannot feel fear, him being an orphan??? and the implied debt he has towards the IPC. I know deep down below his smug exterior there is a sad traumatised man.

His dynamics with the other characters is entertaining too. From his underlying distaste for the more diplomatic characters (Himeko, Sunday), the passive aggressive banter with Sparkle and Ratio (although Ratio is just straight up condescending at times) and the way he’s very clearly trying to manipulate the trailblazer onto his side.

As a final note, he’s actually short compared to a good majority of the male cast. The hat adds a decent amount of height I did have a photo of him next to Luocha for a better reference but I forgot to save it, so take this Ratio screenshot instead.

[some-pers0n]

Man. Sometimes I wish there was more talk about Heavy as...a character, ya know? Like,,actual sort of acknowledgment of his character as an individual as opposed to him being an accessory for ships or something. He's just sort of shoved to the side in a lot of fan content and he's never really given a character other than 'the reasonable quiet one' in stuff he features in. I get he doesn't get much attention in the canon material and is often overshadowed by the others, but still.

[bulkhummus]

some opinions on the latest arc and episode 230

While there are some things I enjoyed about this new episode and arc, it felt rushed. I hate to be critical of a show I love, but we all know the level of work they're able to produce, and the hype around this arc felt like it deserved more than the effort it seemed to receive. I of course thoroughly enjoyed a bit of background on Carlos (and some of the fun stuff the episode did) but getting over the shock value of this information left me feeling conflicted. I think what it comes down to is two things. The arc was rushed, and the things that have just have naturally progressed did not.

They didn't give any of the hard hitting moments enough planning/time/space to have the impact they could have had. We did not see any of the build up of Carlos becoming fed up with Janet and the University. All of a sudden he was. We did not have time to feel conflicted about Carlos leaving town for an unknown reason. All of a sudden he did (and returned mid episode). Cecil's town, the very thing he exists for, is literally nearly gone and he doesn't give us an ounce of poetry or prose to describe how he's feeling? On his radio show? We're just told that it is. This episode in particular just felt like people talking at me instead of telling me a story. The only moment that I felt held any weight, that moved me as a piece of writing, was the moment the child of the glow cloud outwardly processed their grief that their parent would not be returning and implications about predecessors taking on the role/title of those that died which is very interesting (for Carlos, for Cecil, as a concept in general). I, quite frankly, don't care about what they THINK science and life is. Show me through actions they take that demonstrates it. Show me through action and progression.

It has never been more apparent to me than this episode that they write episode by episode instead of considering the full scope of an arc and what it means for their characters. If you are going to adapt the structure of your show to write a mini arc, you can't approach it the same way. And they KNOW this. Writing episode to episode is a delight when its new stories and one offs and bits and pieces. Writing an arc implies some sort of episode to episode progression of a building plot. They've done it before, beautifully even (Of Love and Horror, Egemony, A Matter of Blood, the Lee Marvin episodes to name just a few) and yet this arc was disjointed and felt flat. I've read their books. I've read other things they've written. They're capable of adapting stories into a more "linear" plot with an unreliable narrator. The writers just didn't give it the time and space needed to develop a story that felt natural.

Which leads me to my next point. Natural progression. I've said before I have never once looked to Night Vale for any sort of continuity (it's a show that defies it which I LOVE) but there is a difference between continuity and being sloppy. It doesn't work when half of your arc seems to be you trying to figure out what the hell you're trying to say. A lot of the major points in this latest episode were directly contradictory. We were introduced with the idea that Carlos was sort of afraid of Janet and by her being there. All of a sudden, with no moment that tips him over the edge shown, he stands up to her because he was arrested? We were introduced to the idea that Carlos was deemed a failure by the university, and yet the scientists were quick to leave Lubelle's side in the end. The town was showing clear disdain for him, and not one character stepped up to offer some delicious conflict and tell Carlos it'd be better if he left? To his face? I don't even want to delve into the handling of Blakes character, because quite frankly, he did nothing for the plot because he was tossed back and forth between writers to do what they wanted him to do in that episode (is he against janet, with her? does he hate Carlos? like Carlos? which is it? its not unreliable narration) The arc was framed by Carlos' time spent at the University, about him becoming a Night Vale citizen in his literal anniversary speech about living ten years in Night Vale, and yet, there was no satisfying exploration (I'm not even asking for direct REASONS) as to why he might have left, why he never went back, or any of his involvement there. Saying it was all about love just... Isn't enough for me. Not when Carlos hasn't interacted with his town to demonstrate that life he's built, or how much its hurting him that they're rejecting him again. Not an ounce of how this has effect he and Cecil's relationship (again, Cecil is a chronic over sharer).

It slowly became less about delving into Carlos as a character and his relationship to this town, and processing perhaps grief from the DOW, and more about the shock value of losing beloved characters with no satisfying consequence or action. And then there was little things, specifically in this episode 230. If Janet announces something and it's framed in a way that it should upset Cecil (her telling him about the DOW) then he should have some sort of response to it. Even one line. Nothing. On HIS radio show. Not even a pause where it's made known that he HEARD her.

The whole arc just felt like it was trying to do much and gave itself a time restraint. They are the writers AND producers. No one is forcing them to stay within an episode limit. Especially not when it was hindering their ability to tell a good story.

And I think that's the kicker for me. It didn't feel like an episode of Night Vale. Sure they've played with format before, but this episode (230) didn't even remember that the show is built around Cecil telling stories. Even the episodes that have played with format/structure in the past have involved Cecil telling a story. Through his perspective. Voice appearances always offered some sort of relief to his bias as an unreliable narrator. There are so many interesting ways to incorporate voices instead of just some weird back and forth between two characters. Frame it as an on air interview where Cecil can't get a word in. Frame it as angry voicemails. Have Carlos tell us he's leaving via voice memo, and Cecil dealing with that ON AIR. Stop explaining what is happening and SHOW Us. You expect me to believe, a show that is so heavily influenced by its narrator time and time again, that Cecil was not angry? Was not heart broken? Was not begging Carlos for answers about anything at all? Annoying need to know everything anxiety riddled Cecil Palmer?

They're good writers. And I don't expect every episode to be like, life changing, but again, with an arc that was so heavily anticipated by everyone for so many years, it feels like a disservice to create a story that feels so thoroughly at odds with itself in tone and direction. I hate to sound so critical because I LOVE Night Vale with my whole heart, you guys know I do, but I can be critical of it when it's merited too. And I will continue loving it despite being critical, but I just wished the writers would slow down and maybe, I don't know, read some of their old episodes. And who knows! Maybe it's not over. Lubelle is not confirmed dead, Carlos having an interest in the DOW still is concerning, his parent was mentioned as some point of interest etc etc etc. Like there's a lot they can still do with it, but they just have to, you know, do it.

[misc-obeyme]

We know they have musical chairs in the Devildom. There’s a FabSnap where Mammon, Levi, & Belphie play it to decide who has to take out the trash.

That means that Diavolo doesn’t know what musical chairs is because he grew up lonely & friendless. ☹️

Who is to blame for this? Barbatos? Mephisto? I feel like one of them should’ve played musical chairs with lil Dia at some point.

[caluupin]

been catching up on TGAA/DGS !! :D

[deeply-unserious-fellow]

Character: *has daddy issues*

Me: Don't say it... don't say it... don't sa-

Also me: I HAD THIS DREAM THAT I AM HITTING MY DAD WITH A BASEBALL BAT-

[kazoo-goddess]

So, I've wanted to make a post like this for some time, but I only just got the motivation because of an ask I got recently. I want to give a piece of advice to everyone, in general, to keep in mind when using any social media platform--advice that I wish someone had given me way back when, that I feel is important to pass on:

Not every post you see is for you. Not every post is about you.

This is not meant to be a negative thing, or a put-down! It is not meant to dismiss anyone. It's really what it says on the tin: When you see a post cross your feed, and you disagree with the post or it upsets you because you disagree with the message it has, try and keep in mind that you may not be the target audience for the post. In particular, take this into account for advice and positivity posts--The OP doesn't have anything against you personally when they share words that are meant to be uplifting that you don't agree with. A post that says "Keep going! You can do it, even if you think you can't!" probably isn't meant to put down people who are in a position where they very literally cannot do it or think their way out of their situations. Like this post, it's more likely that the OP is sharing positivity or advice that they themselves would have liked to hear.

Even this post, the one I'm writing now, might not be for you or about you! If you disagree with my viewpoint, that's okay, and there's nothing wrong with that! But I, personally, am writing this post for people who might need to hear it--people like me, who are easily upset or hurt by things they see or hear in passing, whether on the internet or real life. I'm not writing it because I want to spark an argument, I promise.

Posts aren't always meant to spread outside the OP's original circle of followers and friends. But that's a hazard of posting to public social media websites--a joke originally meant to have an audience of 12 people close to you can suddenly explode, getting thousands and thousands of views and reposts and going completely out of the OP's control overnight! It's no one's fault; it's not done maliciously. Sometimes a post or joke just resonates with others. But maybe it doesn't resonate with you--that really is okay! Just try and remember, if it gets under your skin, that it isn't for you. And if it's not for you, it's okay to just ignore it and move on! It can definitely get annoying when it's something you keep seeing over and over from friends and acquaintances reposting it, and I'd never fault anyone for losing their temper over it--but sometimes, just taking a second to remind yourself that you weren't the audience for something can really help calm you down and help you feel better and move on with your day.

While this goes for advice/positivity posts, it also goes for opinion posts! And in this case, to be completely, perfectly clear: I mean harmless opinions. A ship they like that you don't; a tv show they enjoyed that you didn't; a character they really love that you absolutely cannot stand. The kind of opinion you disagree with so much that makes you feel absolutely steaming mad. (Again: This does NOT extend to these things when they go into a genuinely harmful category. No homophobia, no pedophilia, nothing like that. I am talking about harmless, mundane disagreements.)

Maybe you see a post talking positively about a manga that makes you feel ick. The OP more than likely didn't write that post with the hopes that it would reach you specifically just to make you upset! (And if they did, that's rude, and an entirely different can of worms that this post is not about! >_>;) But the post upsets you anyway, even if it wasn't MEANT to. It's understandable, it happens! But the thing is: You don't need to engage with that post if it makes you feel bad! If you have a post blocker, you can block the post or blacklist the tag; if you don't, you may just have to scroll past. It can be so, so, so tempting to try and get in a biting comment in the replies to snap at the OP and tell them, "No, you're wrong, your opinion makes me mad and I don't want to hear it!" Trust me. I know. I get it, because I've been there! But in the grand scheme of things, it's not worth it or healthy to burn yourself out over it. It wasn't for you, and it wasn't about you! And you're better off doing what you can to take care of yourself, and preserving your health and happiness where you can.

I feel like I'm writing this with sort of childish language, and it might feel like I'm talking down to others. But really, I think I'm just writing it in a way that a younger me would have understood and taken to heart if she'd seen it. I hope that, if you read this, you can see it that way too! There's a part of me that feels scared that this post in itself could explode with notes that will be very upset with me for my thoughts on this, whatever their reasons may be, but I wouldn't be making it if I weren't prepared for that possibility. If the message I intend to get out can reach even one person who it can help, then I think that's worth writing it for. Because, I want to reiterate it one more time, because it can be so easy to forget it and get yourself furious in a self-destructive way, sometimes you have to remember:

Not every post you see is for you! Not every post is about you!