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dherzogblog · 4 years

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songs/20

Happy Holidays Everyone! I started making these yearly playlists in 2001 as an attempt to connect with friends in the wake of 911. It was just before the dawn of ITunes, and way before social media. We were not in touch like we are today. I burned dozens of individual cd’s one at a time, printed up customized jewel case covers and snail mailed them all out. It was an annual month-long labor of love. Over the past few years, streaming music has made it much easier and faster to compile and distribute, and frankly much more fun. I still look forward to putting the playlist and blog together and sharing it with all of you. Particularly this year as it gives me a chance to connect with so many friends I haven’t seen in quite some time. It was a tremendously challenging year for all of us. I was grateful to have had my family here in LA the entire time, we remain healthy and well. The west coast Herzogs know just how lucky we have been. The next year will not be without its own challenges, but I'm hopeful we are able to move past this pandemic and the exhausting events of the past 4. More than that, I look forward to seeing each and every one of you in 2021. Until then, be safe, be well, and be good to one another. Enjoy the music.

ox peace, dh

Los Angeles CA. December 2020

Khruangbin - Time (You And I) Don’t ask me to pronounce the name of this eclectic trio from Texas, but this dubby disco tune had me returning to its chilled out groove often during the last few decidedly “un-chill” months. Dreamy and funky, the groove takes me back to NYC’s early 80′s club scene and Ze Records releases from the likes of Kid Creole and Coati Mundi.

Anderson .Paak- Lockdown Scenes from the front, June 2020

Bill Withers (1938-2020)- Use Me The legendary Bill Withers left the playing field at the top of his game in the early 80′s, hardly heard from again. And while he didn't pass from Covid, his healing pop hymn Lean On Me seemed to be everywhere as people found music to help them cope with the challenges of the pandemic. Withers left behind a legendary and enduring group of hit songs that moved easily from soul to folk to pop, not to mention the subtle rolling funk of this one.

Black Pumas- Fire Strong debut from an unlikely Austin duo that garnerd both buzz and grammy nods. The critics are calling it “psychedelic soul”. Not quite sure that nails it, but like the artists coming up next, they’re carving out new ground while drawing inspiration from classic sources.

Gabe Lee- Babylon

Marcus King- Wildflowers and Wine

Charley Crockett- Welcome to Hard Times

Three artists that are literally changing the face of Country and Americana music. Soulful, authentic and diverse, reaching back for inspiration but always looking forward. If you like this sort of stuff they are all worth checking out. Each album is filled with quality songs.

Low Cut Connie_ Private Lives Philly’s Low Cut Connie are back at it with a double album that plays like the soundtrack to a boozy night at your favorite bar. Sweaty, funky and not a little bit messy. If Peter Wolf and Bruce had a kid it would be this blue eyed soul boy. Adam Weiner grew up in the shadow of the Jersey shore and can't help but have a bit of that E Street hustle.

Willie Nile- New York at Night One of New York’s beloved adopted son’s dropped this love letter right into the jaws of a battered metropolis driven to its knees by the pandemic. It was heartbreaking to listen as the “city that never sleeps” came to a full stop. Somehow I still found myself coming back to it, imagining night’s ahead, when NYC is back on its feet and I’m roaming its streets. Looking for music, a beer, or maybe just a slice, and fueled by the irreplaceable energy and promise of the greatest city on earth.

The Long Ryders- Down to The Well Americana pioneers the Long Ryders reunited last year for a surprisingly solid album. This single sounds like it could have been recorded during their 80′s heyday featuring their trademark Byrds like jangle and harmonies, but the lyrics mark this song as unmistakably 2020.

The Speedways- Kisses Are History UK power pop outfit reach back to the the 60′s on this sweet slice of retro pop perfection.

Billie Joe Armstrong- That Thing You Do

In the early days of the pandemic we had all our kids (+ a significant other) at our house for a few months. It worked out great and we were luckier than most. The biggest issue was keeping enough food, weed and wine around. There were some great nights with amazing meals, followed by gathering around the TV together. We re-watched The Sopranos, binged Billy On The Street, and revisited some of our favorite movies. One night we went back to a old family favorite, Tom Hanks’ underrated love letter to the one hit wonders of the post Beatles era, That Thing You Do! I’ve seen the movie several times and it never fails to please. A true feel good film and a perfect Kodak snapshot capturing a simpler time in American pop culture.

While we watch the unlikely chart topper’s The Oneders fizzle as fast as they rose to fame, its not really the point. The movie is really an old fashioned love story. Playing like a perfect hit song you can listen to over and over, full of both hooks and heart. I always thought the title track, written by Fountains Of Wayne leader Adam Schlesinger (who we lost to Covid), brilliantly captured the British Invasion sound every group wanted after The Beatles stormed America. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong must agree. During the pandemic he cut an album’s worth of cool covers including a faithful version of this one.

Gerard Way (W/Judith Hill - Here Comes the End A tale of discovering music in 2020: Heard this on a Netflix trailer for the series The Umbrella Factory. Turns out it is performed by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) who also writes the comic book the series is based on. (got all that?) He’s joined on this searing garage/psych rave up by the talented and versatile Judith Hill doing her best Merry Clayton.

Hinds- Spanish Bombs I’ve been following this Madrid based, all female outfit of punky garage rockers for a few years now. I think they are pretty great. This track, recorded for a Joe Strummer tribute bursts with an unbridled joy the stone faced and politically minded Clash could never muster. I bet Joe would love it though

The Secret Sisters- Hand Over My Heart Have enjoyed their harmonies for some time now. This one gives me vague Wilson Phillips vibes and I don’t really mind.

Tame Impala- Breathe Deeper I know I’m supposed to like this guy, all the cool kids do, I’ve even seen the band at Coachella. Over the years very little of the music has stuck to me, but the pandemic offered a bit more free time to dig into this funky dubby, chilled out jam, and it stuck with me. Not to mention that 2020 was all about deep breaths.

Ledisi (feat.Corey Henry)- What Kind of Love Is That Ledisi is back with some slinky, sultry R&B and jazzy vocals

Dinner Party- FreezeTag An R&B/Jazz collective featuring Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder and Kamasi Washington use sweet soul on heartbreaking and all too familiar tale..

Toots and The Maytals- Time Tough I’ve written an awful lot about my love for Reggae over the years. Right after Bob Marley kicked the door down for me, Toots showed me around the house. Ska, rock steady, and roots. He was true reggae royalty and sadly we lost him to Covid, just after he released what would be his last album. Check my Toots tribute blog and playlist.

Mungo’s Hi Fi- The Beat Goes SKA! These clever UK roots reggae collective never fail to surprise. This kitschy Sonny & Cher cover managed to make me smile every time I heard it. No mean feat in 2020

Stone Foundation (feat. Durand Jones)- Hold on To Love Frequent collaborators with Paul Weller (he appears on a track on the album), Stone Foundation are back with another batch of their UK soul revival stylings. This one features Durand Jones ( of Durand Jones & The Indications) on vocals and some great reggae style horns at the top.

The Pretenders- You Can’t Hurt A Fool Can’t resist a good torch song, especially sung by the smokey voiced Chrissie Hynde. Was kind of shocked at how many good songs were on this album.

Shelby Lynne_ Don’t Even Believe in Love Sultry country soul and one of her strongest albums in awhile.

Jaime Wyatt- Neon Cross Outlaw country has a new bad girl. And in case you didn’t think she was serious, she enlisted producer Shooter Jennings (and his mom Jessi Colter on one track) to help make her point.

Daniel Donato- Justice 25 year old guitar prodigy call his music “cosmic country”. Ok, now I’m listening. You should be too.

The Jayhawks- This Forgotten Town 30 plus + after their debut this Twin Cities alt country group led by founding member Gary Louris continue to deliver. They find their inner Neil Young on this one.

Lucero- Time To Go Home God I wish I was in a bar right now listening to this, even if I might be crying in my beer.

John Prine (1946 -2020)- Lake Marie We lost so many this year, but this one really stung. A true American songwriting treasure, who was still making great music against all odds right up to his untimely passing. His songs are known for their simplicity, and economy of words. but this one goes against the grain. I’m still not exactly certain what it’s about. Sorrowful and haunting, yet somehow uplifting and redemptive. I heard him perform it live here in Los Angeles a just over a year ago and it has stuck in my head ever since. There is surely a place in heaven for the great John Prine. He sang about it on his final studio album in 2018. Ironically it became the last song on his last record.

Thanks for making it this far....

***Play the entire songs/20 Spotify playlist HERE!***

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ravenforce · 5 years

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Begin Again Pt. 1

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x OC!Daughter x Surprise!Character

Word Count: 1827

Warning/s: Nothing? Except this will be a multi-chapter because this part is long AF, as per usual. LOL.

A/N: Hey loves, I’m sorry for being MIA for a long time. I bled my heart and soul in this fic, and I guess I’m not really ready to end this journey. This fic is an alternative ending to See You in A minute, meaning Stardust didn’t happen. I hope you’ll like it. If you haven’t read the whole installation, I’ll put the links below. xx

Series: See You In A Minute | I’ll Never Love Again | Stardust

Alt. Ending: Begin Again Pt. 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

It’s quiet hilarious to see a room full of super powered being clamouring to have little Asya on their arms, cooing soft words of love and affirmation to the little miracle that is your daughter but it’s also reassuring. Seeing the Avengers, literally assembled for your daughter’s birth grounds Natasha in a way that she hasn’t felt in a long time since you passed. Seeing her family around your daughter gives her the strength and confidence that she can, indeed, do this because she’s not alone, not really.

***

Raising Asya as a single mother was overwhelming for Natasha. She wasn’t ready, not really. She thinks its infinitely better if you were there waking up at the middle of the night to a wailing child after putting her down only half an hour ago.

There were so many days where she imagines you in Tony’s place, offering to take over Asya so she can catch more than a few minutes of sleep. There were so many days where she wishes it’s you that’s making your daughter laugh instead of Thor. There were so many nights after she put Asya down to sleep where she breaks down and cries because she misses you.

She misses your light, your warmth, your arms around her, your steadfast belief in her ability to be good and your constant reassurance that she’s enough. She misses your undying support that even though she can do everything she puts her mind into, she doesn’t have to because she has you. You stood by her, you fought alongside her, you loved her, you carried half of her burden and God does she wish to have you back in her arms if only the world’s a wish-granting machine.

But Natasha knew a long time ago that the world is cruel. So she allowed herself to break down at nights but come morning, Natasha resolves to be the best version of herself to be the mother Asya deserves.

***

Three

Toddlers are a handful, except Asya’s not like any other kid who yells and wails and pulls a tantrum to get what they want. No, Asya is very diplomatic. Ever since she learned her words, Asya has been a very good communicator since.

How she’s talking way too straight for a three years old was beyond all of them. Except for Tony and the pediatrician and child psychologist Bruce brought in, with Natasha’s approval of course, believe that Asya may be speaking straighter than most kids her age because of the stimulus around her. Asya lives with three adults and an eleven-year-old, no one talks to her like she’s a baby. So she doesn’t talk like one either.

At three, Asya and Natasha have developed a very close bond. Even though they live and share common spaces with the Starks, she’s closest to her mother. She loves following Nat around, and Nat doesn’t complain about it. She’s a brilliant, radiant child and Nat loves being with her because Asya, amidst not meeting you, carries on so much of you in her; not just your eyes, and it makes Nat feel like she has her best friend back.

***

Nat and Asya have established a fairly good routine by now. Every morning, Nat takes her on her morning hike around the property where they sweat and soak up some sun. Asya loves hiking with Nat, where halfway she asked her mother to give her a piggyback ride. Nat doesn’t complain, Asya practically weights anything. Asya also uses this time to ask Nat questions about anything and everything under the sun. Sometimes she makes Nat tell her stories about you and Nat talks her head off until they get back to the house.

After hiking, they would shower and then have some breakfast, mostly with the Starks. Nat's lucky that Asya’s not a picky eater. Breakfast is always a joy, the Starks loves Asya especially Morgan who treats her like a baby sister. Sometimes, Peter would swing by to catch up with Iron Dad, and his adoptive siblings.

***

After breakfast, everyone breaks off to do their stuff. Nat goes to S.H.I.E.L.D three times a week to help Deputy Director Hill on things. It has been a careful deliberation and discussion with her family before everyone agreed that not being coop up in the house is good for Nat. Tony only agreed after Nat promises that she'll do solely HQ work, no mission of any kind whatsoever.

Nat brings Asya along with her. At first, Nat was hesitant but Asya knows how to behave especially when she’s in public. She stays at her mother’s side or Auntie Maria when Nat has to step away for a minute.

After Asya’s first visit, S.H.I.E.L.D gave her an official ID that allows her to enter the premises. On her second visit, Maria gave her a tailored S.H.I.E.L.D uniform with ‘Romanova-Y/L/N' embroidered on it, which she insisted on wearing every time they go to work. Asya strutting around the HQ in her uniform gave her power over all agents on duty, Director Fury included. Nat rolls her eyes lovingly every time Asya bats her long eyelashes to get everyone to scram and procure whatever she wants.

“She is truly both yours and Y/N's daughter,” Maria commented after sitting next to Nat on the command center and watching Asya interact with the other agents.

“I’m scared that she’s this good at three,” Nat said chuckling.

***

Maria never asks Nat to stay in the HQ all day, and in the event does she does, Maria always takes them to dinner. Nat and Maria maintained a very professional relationship between them in the past but without you and before Asya, Nat became more reclusive which worried her family. So Maria took a chance at friendship the moment she heard about Asya. Nat was surprised when Maria herself, without Nick, came down with flowers to congratulate her. They’ve become really good friends since then.

If Nat's dismissed from HQ early, Nat always brings Asya to Stardust Diner – your favorite - either before or after they go to a museums, library and/or the aquarium. Asya’s sense of wonder came from you, which only makes Nat fall in love with your little miracle more.

***

At night, a part of their nightly rituals is either Nat reading one of your books or showing her the scrapbook the team made to Asya. It’s a collection of photos with you that they’re able to unearth on their camera rolls. Most of them are hilarious, especially those photos of you goofing around with the boys. Some of them are downright sweet, like the photo of you and Wanda cuddling one movie night or the photo of you on Thor's back when you sprained your ankle after a recon mission. Looking at the photos always reminds Nat that she’s not grieving alone, the whole team, the whole family lost you too.

Sometimes it’ll be overwhelming for Nat, and Asya - bless her attentiveness and empathy - would close the scrapbook herself and cuddle her mother. On nights like this, Asya always ends up sleeping over in Nat’s room.

“It’s okay mama, I miss mom too,” Asya would murmur half asleep as she lay on Nat’s chest.

Even though it still hurts, Asya’s presence never fails to soothe her aching heart and soul. With Asya secure in her arms, Nat still sleeps with some semblance of peace.

***

Five

Life will keep moving forward whether you get on it or not but life was put on hold one morning after everyone received Thor’s request for an emergency meeting at HQ. The tension in the room is so thick, one can cut it with a plastic spoon. Tony’s pacing the room, Carol’s bouncing her leg on her seat, even Bucky’s tapping his fingers on the table.

“Relax. I’m sure it’s nothing,” Nat tried to assure the team.

“I don’t know how to relax. The last time we were all in the same room the world was ending,” Tony whispered through gritted teeth. Pepper put a hand on his shoulder and he instantly stopped moving and sighed.

“Maybe I should go check on Thor?” Carol asked as she rises from her chair, unable to sit still any longer. She’s nervous too, Tony’s right the last time they were all gathered together they lost you and Vision.

Just as Carol changed into her Captain Marvel uniform, an alarm sounded in the room; signaling Thor’s spaceship landing in the compound. Their collective hearts hammered as strong as the engines of the spacecraft.

“Finally,” Scott sighed.

***

It took a couple of more minutes before the engines died down. By the time, its entrance opened the whole team has gathered at its mouth. Director Fury and Deputy Director Hill are standing a little further, watching the whole scene.

“What’s happening Nick?” Maria asked.

Nick just shook his head. “Wait for it,” he said.

Rocket was the first to board off, he is still salty as per usual. Everyone gave him high fives. When he got to Nat and Asya, he smiled. Asya ruffled his head, everyone’s shock Rocket didn’t make a fuss.

“You’re in for a surprise, kid,” he said as he handed Asya a space rock. Asya and Morgan's growing a collection, most of them are from Carol. Asya thanked his furry little uncle before turning her attention to the rock.

Before Nat could say anything, Loki and Thor walked out of ship together. Nat tried to read the Asgardians but they’re not giving themselves away. The moment Thor set foot on dirt, there’s a cacophony of greetings and questions.

“Woah! Woah! Take a breathe people, there is no threat,” Thor said.

“If there’s no threat then why haul everyone here? Even T'Challa left Wakanda for this,” Sam said a little frustrated.

Before Thor can say anything else, everyone turned at the sound of another footstep inside the ship. When the person whose said footsteps belong to emerged, every single one of them lost their breath and their tether to earth and sanity.

***

Stepping off the spaceship was none other than you.

Taglist: @natthisback @5aftermidnight

#raven writes #avengers imagine #marvel imagine #mcu imagine #natasha romanoff imagine #black widow imagine #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanov x reader #natasha romanova x reader #black widow x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romanov x you #natasha romanova x you #black widow x you #natasha romanoff x oc #natasha romanoff x oc!daughter #natasha romanoff x daughter

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cluz1babe · 4 years

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*** Strong Tongue and Slender Fingers ***Episode 1 Chapter 6: *** End of "Episode One" ***

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

NOTES:

I know it's pretty bare. I'm sorry.

Check bottom for a link to the alt/extra scene(s) with smut.

////////////////////////////////////

Castiel entered a dilapidated house. He neared ridiculous, lavish office chair, which turned to reveal Crowley.

“What is that?” Castiel questioned.

“A chair. Forgive me for wanting something higher-end than dirt to sit on.”

“Sam invited you to the bunker.”

“I really would rather stay here.”

“In the nicest piece of furniture you own.” Castiel looked around. “Doing what?”

“Avoiding my mother.” Crowley stood and walked to Castiel. “Did you bring me the monster part I asked for?”

Castiel handed a vial to him.

“More dust?”

“There wasn’t anything left.”

Crowley smiled and put the vial in his coat pocket. “What is it you want me to do?”

“I need information on something I didn’t think was real.”

“Which one of those idiots has the issue this time?”

“It’s someone new.”

“Again?” Crowley questioned. “What’s this one’s name?”

“Y/N.”

Crowley wrote down your name and waited. When Castiel said nothing else, Crowley looked up at him, expectantly.

“Her whole name.”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s the point of you coming to me for in-depth information when you don’t even have the basics?”

“I can tell you a few things I know about her.”

“That’s slightly better.” Crowley waited a moment before he asked a stupid question. “Could I have a piece of her?”

“No!” Castiel yelled at him in frustration.

Crowley threw his hands up. “Alright.”

“What do you need with monster parts, anyway?”

Crowley huffed, “That would be none of your business at this point. No need to get all hot and bothered.” He looked Castiel up and down. “Any more than you already are.”

Castiel frowned at him.

“Fine. It’s a challenge.” Crowley admitted. “It’s not as if I’ve got a lot to do these days. So, what can you tell me about her?”

“She eats a lot of sugar, heals herself, shares visions with people…”

“Sure she’s not a trickster? Or another angel?”

Castiel looked around the room as if he’d broken something.

Crowley sat back down. “Why are you pouting?”

“She can hear angels.”

“That’s bad because…?”

“It’s my fault.”

“Interesting.”

“It’s dangerous.” Castiel strode to him. “If they find out, they will probably find her and kill her. They’re still overly cautious.”

“Three days ago, they mistook a human for a demon. I’ll never fulfill my mother’s quota if they keep killing them before they become demons.”

“I think that’s the point, Crowley. Why are you working for your mother, anyway?”

“There are things I learned from my mother. One of those things was to work with those high on the ladder.”

“But she’s your mother. Is that not enough?”

“She’s Queen of Hell. Can’t play favorites.” After saying this, he quickly decided to change the subject. “I’m assuming your new teammate is human?”

“She looks human. Even her reflection looks human. She thinks she’s an elemental.”

Crowley leaned forward. “That is something I can work with. Why didn’t you think they were real?”

“Never heard of anyone seeing one before.”

“You had no idea?”

“No. She hears these voices. When I listened in on them, I couldn’t understand them, but she said they’re trying to get her to join them. Whatever that means.”

“It means you may not have a lot of time left.”

It was finally daylight. Inside the diner restroom, you walked out of a stall and washed your hands. The tip of your tongue grazed over your teeth. Something was off about the way they felt. You glanced at them in the mirror, then did a double take. Panicked, you looked at your teeth closer. You had longer canines than usual and ran your fingers across one. "What the fuck?” Another person walked in, so you closed your mouth and left in a hurry. Looking extra tired, you sat down at the table. Dean and Sam were waiting for their food. There was silence for a bit while you tried to think of a way to tell them about your sudden change. “I’m —” Unsure how to continue, you changed her train of thought. “I usually have a bad temperament, but I apologize for the way I’ve been in the past seven hours.”

You waited while Dean stared at you. Sam cleared his throat. “Um… It’s okay. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t your fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“That goblin said that he took on this area, not just the park. For all we know, his influence could have spanned from one end of the county to the other.”

You smiled as the waiter sat down your plates. “Thank you.” As the waiter walked away, you looked at the plate sitting in front of you. It was full of bacon, sausage, and a steak. “What is,” you waved your hand over your plate, “this?”

Dean smiled at you, “Breakfast.”

“No, this is a slaughterhouse. I said anything but meat.”

“I told you.” Sam was eating egg whites with spinach.

“You should eat something that’s not pure sugar. You don’t look so great.”

“Well, meat makes me sick. So, unless you want Cheap Thrills out there,” you pointed your thumb toward the parking lot, “to need a major cleanup, please don’t offer to get me breakfast, then get the opposite of what I asked for.” You didn’t sound pissed off, but you weren’t amused, either.

Sam giggled at your remark that picked on Dean for a moment.

Dean pointed his fork at you. “Hey, Baby is not cheap!”

You smiled, “You need to expand your choice of music a bit.”

Castiel arrived to the table. Dean put the slices of bacon on his plate. “Can I talk to you two?”

Sam and Dean followed Castiel away from the table. You took the opportunity to grab a bottle of syrup from the table next to yours.”

Sam stopped right outside the door. “What’s up?”

“If she is an elemental, she’s a rare one. No one has seen one in hundreds of years. Everyone believed they died out due to an inability to reproduce with their own species. So they began breeding with just about anything they could.”

Dean crossed his arms, “Like what?”

“Gods, monsters, humans... It’s only through coercion that the full powers of hybrids are realized.”

“That would make sense. She said they’ve been pushing her since she was a teenager and it’s only gotten worse.”

“Turns out, if offspring were considered powerful enough to survive the process, they can be forced to change. It could take years, but there’s no account of it taking longer than 7 years. I may not be an expert in human aging, but I’m pretty sure she’s older than twenty-two.”

“Okay. What about the voices?”

“I wrote down how it sounded, but given I don’t know of any elemental language, I’d say it’s a stretch to believe my end will come up with anything.”

“What do we do right now?” Sam inquired.

“We do our job, Sammy”

“Dean, she said she’s not a hunter. Patience doesn’t have any more information, and we’re lucky she had anything to tell us this time.”

While the brothers argued, Castiel’s attention was drawn to the table where he saw you pushing around the meat with a fork. “What’s that?”

Dean turned to look. “She’s upset that I ordered her food instead of a…” He saw you pouring the syrup onto your plate. “Bottle of syrup.”

“Is it meat?”

You picked up a slice of bacon. Dean looked back to Castiel. “You want some?”

“Dean! You can’t let her eat meat!”

“Why not?”

“It make her sick and cause her to change a lot quicker!”

You were thinking about biting into the slice of bacon dripping with syrup, when someone reached out for it. You looked over to see Castiel pull it from your fingers and set it down. You looked into his eyes and, for the first time since you met him, you actually noticed there was concern.

EXTRAS:

PLAYLIST (music for this episode)

Please Buy Me a Beer!

Tip Me on Ko-Fi

AO3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Klee PG Version ~ (Currently only on AO3)

*** Strong Tongue and Slender Fingers *** (Here and AO3)

KLEE (Original Version) (Currently only on AO3)

Alt KLEE Smut (Currently only on AO3)

*** Alt Strong Tongue and Slender Fingers Smut Scenes *** (Currently only on AO3)

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m39 · 4 years

Text

Homestuck 11th anniversary/413 AKA Why I have more tolerance towards the Epilogues

WARNING!

THIS TEXT IS OVER 1.5 THOUSAND OF WORDS LONG!

Enjoy.

EH MAH GERD! E EASTIT MOON BUCKETS!

Wait…

EH MAH GERD!!! E HAMSTEAK BORTH TOOT!!!

And only on this time of year, when we have two holidays, we can talk about the thing that everyone in the Homestuck fandom loves: The Epilogues! :D

Everyone is pointing a gun at you.

OH FUCK!!

You duck behind your desk while everyone else is shooting.

JESUS TAP DANCING CHRIST!!! CALM YOUR ASSES DOWN!!!!!

10 minutes later. You check out of you can stand up.

H-hello?

…

Can I talk now??

…

PERFECT!!

As you can see, today is not only the 11th anniversary of Homestuck but also the 1st anniversary of its Epilogues. Now, imagine one year ago, you were waiting almost 2.5 year for the Epilogues (three years if you don’t count Credits). You wanted to know the answers to many questions such as: Is Lord English defeated once and for all? What happened to that post-Retcon worthless c8nt who lost all of her character development? Is Terezi going to be okay? etc. Sure you got some supplementary stuff like the 1st act of Hiveswap (after like 5 years after its announcement, despite all of its development problems), Friendsim (that visual novel that detailed characters that will appear in later acts of Hiveswap), you read some fanfics like Cool And New Web Comic (personal opinion: very fucking good) and Vast Error (I didn’t read this one but I heard it was good and many people behind it are working with the WhatPumpkin team and on the other official Homestuck shit), there were some official snapchat photos and while those were very good, you knew that they will mean nothing when the Epilogues will drop in. And they finally does, on the Homestuck’s 10th anniversary no less. So you click on The Homestuck Epilogues, happy and excited as fuck and the first thing you see is… an introduction page ripped straight out of AO3.

You earn what can be basically described as a punch in the face where the metaphorical fist is filled with confusion. But it doesn’t end here. Then you notice something more disturbing in content warning and characters:

Rape? Abuse?? Existential Crisis?!? OC?!?! Polyamory?!?!?! GENDER TRANSITION?!??!?!?!?! BARACK! FUCKING!! OBAMA?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?

Like what in the actual fuck is happening?!!

Then you read the Prologue and you are like: Uhm… Okay. It’s not that bad at all, like, far from it. Maybe that AO3 page is just a joke? Everything will be alright right? RIGHT?!?

Then one week later Hussie (with help of some people) drops two nukes on fandom and it all goes to hell. No seriously, it’s like Hussie built Little Boy and Fat Man expies titled Meat and Candy, dropped them on fandom in which the centers of explosions were Dirk’s and Jane’s fandoms respectively and delivered some of the biggest Broken Base effect in Homestuck after like Act 6. Nothing was the same after that. Everybody were fighting each other over who was right, people didn’t even know what was canon anymore and even up to this date people are still misgendering Roxy for fucks sake (it’s not even that hard to remember it: she/her for the Alpha Roxy and her Candy counterpart and he/him for the Meat one; come on man)!

From what I’ve (mostly) seen on Tumblr, most of the Homestuck fans hates it to the bones. Only some individuals actually like them and I happened to be one of those people who likes the Epilogues.

Everyone is pointing a gun at you. Again.

OH COME ON MA-

One hour later.

CAN I FINALLY TALK WITHOUT ENDING UP FUCKING HANGED?!?

…

Bogan: y̵i̸s̷.̵.̶.̶

THANK YOU!

Now, I don’t really care who likes the Epilogues and who doesn’t. Everyone has different opinions. But something tells me that the Epilogues (at least here on Tumblr) are overhated. Like, sometimes, the negativity towards the Epilogues is so big that it makes me feel like I was in Star Wars fandom. And when fandom starts to look like the Star Wars one, you know you are in deep shit.

But you might be thinking by now: Dude, where are going with all of this shit?! Well my dear… uhm… pickles? The point of all of this is that I want to share something with you. And that is the reason. The (main) reason why I (in worst case) have more tolerance towards The Homestuck Epilogues than most of the people (on Tumblr).

When I started writing this long as fuck text I thought that I would easily give more reasons, in other words, give like 3-4 points why I like the Epilogues. But then again it’s better said than done because most of them are connected to this fact:

THE. EPILOGUES. ARE. MOSTLY. NOT. CANON.

This is the reason why I like them, why I can tolerate them. The Epilogues are mostly happening in two new timelines, different from the Alpha one. It’s even stated (or at worst implied) by Jade in Homestuck^2’s 6th chapter that the Meat timeline (and also possibly the Candy one) is not the Alpha one:

The reason why the Epilogues are mostly not canon is that the characters from the Alpha timeline (Terezi, Vriska, Aradia, Sollux, Alt!Calliope etc.) make an appearance in one of the timelines (some of them in both).

Some people who hate the Epilogues stated that it RUINED some of the characters no matter if they liked them or not. That’s kind of… over-the-top because characters that are not from the Alpha timeline are clearly in some cases not the same ones that we know as I see it (at least in case of Neo-Condesce and Doc Strider) as a fuck you towards those fanfics that like to shove Ron the Death Eater and Character Derailment tropes down our throats because some fanfic creators didn’t like some of the characters from the original work.

In other words: Almost all of the characters from the Alpha timeline are the same characters as we know at the very end of Homestuck.

There are still lesser things that I find myself enjoying in the Epilogues:

- The writing is on a very good level and when it’s pissing someone of it’s not from incompetence,

- Post-Retcon Vriska actually gets some actual character development instead of ending up as a useless piece of shit that only insults everyone who achieved much more than she ever would (I mean it took (at least) almost 4 years for this to happen but still),

- The fact that behind Neo-Condesce’s and Doc Strider’s turn to evil is some actual sense, like with the former one it was mind manipulations in her childhood (not to mention the literal mind control by Post-Scratch Meenah) and the latter one (in order to become ultimate) ending up absorbing some of the versions of himself that are basically a massive shitheads (like Bro, Hal, even Caliborn counts),

There are still other pros that either I can’t remember or they are too minor co count.

Does all of this mean that the Epilogues are flawless? PFFFFFF! Of course not. Nothing is perfect. There are some stuff that I don’t like.

The biggest one is that the Epilogues are sometimes overcrowded with so many words detailing every single thing that it actually becomes a slog to get through even one chapter (but then again, this is the reason why I don’t enjoy reading books). Sure, the original comic is like almost thrice as long as the fucking Lord of the Rings in case of the dialogue but it has pictures and animations to be more pleasant for the eyes. Which leads to another con: No. Fucking. Pictures. If I want to look for the details, then at least show me something else than words. Every fucking time I must look at dozens of words describing the most minuscule thing in the novel I’m like:

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Also in terms of enjoyment I prefer the Meat Epilogue over the Candy one. When some people say that this book is a big, steaming pile of sadness and depression, at least the Meat part tells you from the start what kind of tone it’s going to have. The Candy part? Not so much. First it’s all happiness, (almost) everyone is happy, birds are happy, clouds are happy, nothing but happiness. And then you get punched in the gut, smashed into the ground and getting kicked over and over and over for so long that when the kicking finally stops it feels like 15 years passed by that time. And just to add up, the pacing in Meat is better than in Candy.

I’m going to piss you off even more but there are moments in the original Homestuck that are more cringe/rage inducing than some of the most painful ones from the Epilogues, particularly the intermissions in Act 6 Act 6 (DON’T GET ME STARTED ON WHAT HAPPENED TO BOTH SERKETS I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD).

…

Hey you.

…

Are you still reading this?

…

GOOD! Because you have reached the end of this long ass post that will get one like MAX. You know, like my other long ass posts. LOL AM I RIGHT?!?!

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Jokes asides, we had a wild ride since the last 413. The Epilogues (despite what they are) gave us the answers to the biggest questions that Homestuck left for us, we got Pesterquest, the sequel to Friendsim that concluded the history of the MSPAReader (until another sequel -_-) and, of course, we got the official sequel to Homestuck, over 10.5 years later from the original comic’s debut. So, fuck ton of stuff throughout a year for me.

As for the Epilogues, look, I can, in some way, understand that some of you want to stay at least 10 km away from them but it has been a year (well technically almost a year) since they were published on the Homestuck’s official website. It might be a good time to read them once more. Without all of that hype they have built for 2.5 years after the credits. From the different perspective. Maybe even (and I dare to say it) right after yet another re-reading of Homestuck. Either way, remember that in most cases you can give someone or something another chance.

Before I’ll finally end this I must call out some of the more rabid Epilogues haters:

STOP TREATING THE ORIGINAL, ALPHA JANE THE SAME WAY AS A FUCKING NEO-CONDESCE!! THOSE TWO CHARACTERS ARE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS!! SAME WITH ALPHA DIRK AND DOC STRIDER!! MAKE UP YOUR FUCKING MIND!!! STOP ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF 12 YEAR OLD BRATS!!!

You are on your last breath.

Tha… that’s it! I’m done… wheeze S… See you next time. B-Bye now! Imma… Immabouttopffffffffffffffffffff-

You fall down on your floor after over 1.5 thousand words of talking. Suddenly you feel urge to check Twitter. You see that Homestuck^2 has just received another update. Roundabout starts playing in the background.

What?! And what is thi- PART ONE?!?!?! Oooooooooohhhhhhh ffffuuuuuuUUUUUUUU-

<--- TO BE CONTINUED

#homestuck #4/13 #Homestuck Epilogues #Homestuck Epilogues Meat #homestuck epilogues Candy #homestuck 413 #4/13/20

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sternerstufftoys · 5 years

Text

The Fast One

Back when the 1986 movie came out, and for the subsequent third season of the animated series, there came a substantial shift in the way transformers were designed and written. The Diaclone and Microchange repurposings were all done, and from here on out new Transformers characters had to be designed from whole cloth. A new cast of heroes was designed, each one with bright, primary-coloured paint schemes, as well as bright, primary-coloured personalities. The new Autobots were to be easily recognised and easily differentiated, and while they might still develop nuances in their characteristics, the goal was to be able to sum them up in a single word: the smart one, the serious one, the dumb one, the brave one. It was a plan that would be revisited and refined over the years, cropping up almost every subsequent iteration - Beast Wars, Animated, Prime, RID... each time, the Autobot squad would have variations on similar primary-colour personalities. And it all started in 1986.

So let's start with 'The Fast One'. It's Blurr!

It'd be unfair of me to say that G1 Blurr wasn't anyone's favourite. If all these years in this fandom have taught me anything, it's that every character has a place in someone's heart. Some people even like Injector. We don’t judge. I can imagine the G1 toy being very special to someone back in the 80s, being their designated hero character, zooming off to the rescue every playtime. But it's probably less controversial to say that Blurr wasn't anyone's favourite if they didn't have his toy. His depiction on screen and in the comics was... bad, just really bad.

The gimmick of super-speed was never really utilised in any meaningful way. Despite everything about Blurr being based around this one thing, he never got to properly show it off in the movie, and could be replaced by almost any other Autobot without the plot changing at all.* And of course this had to extend to his voice, given to the talented speed-speaker John Moschitta... except the directors were clearly worried that kids might not keep up with his dialogue, so he had to effectively repeat every line over and over.

This is not a winning combination.

Thank god his Titans Return toy is such a blast then. I mean, you know this already. Blurr set a high bar for Titans Return in its very first wave by being an all-round awesome piece of plastic. Yeah, he's a headmaster now, but why should that be a problem? It's just a bit of partsforming, and it gives him a fancy little driver for vehicle mode. Pretend it's his holomatter avatar if it bothers you. But for me, the bonus of having a driver just adds so much to the look and play value of the toy, with no more spooky empty car seats to freak out the neighbourhood.

I'll admit, the nosecone shield doodad took me a while to get used to, but it gives him a really sterling look in robot form, even if a shield isn't what you'd automatically associate with a speedster. I mean, everyone knows that fast characters have low hp after all, and that's no good as a tank. Er, anyway, it can be left snugly on his back as just another bit of kibble with no real ill effects. But it's a bit boring.

Now, I'm about to argue that the Hasbro version with the boring colour scheme is better than the Takara mini-masterpiece. Strap in. Much as I'll admit that there's a certain beauty in Takara's cartoon-accurate paint job, and it really is objectively better-looking, it's incredibly limiting to have your toy look like one specific iteration of a character. As soon as they paint him up as cartoon Blurr, he'll always be cartoon Blurr. Whereas a more generic, non-specific deco like Hasbro's ocean-blue shell suit means that Blurr is every Blurr and no Blurr in particular. He's... blurring the lines! Oh man!

In vehicle mode he's quintessentially Blurr. Sleek, pointy, aerodynamic, the whole package, without being uncomfortably wide like his G1 toy. Give this thing a flat, open plain big enough and you can totally imagine it streaking off at several times the speed of sound. And I'll be honest, I was never happy with any of the other characters that shared this mould. Nautica and Brainstorm just didn't properly fit the alt mode, and it still just looked like Blurr, only with wings or turbines. This alt mode is so good that Blurr shouldn't have to share it. Stick him up on a pedestal and watch him rocket away from it quick as you can blink.

Just don't let him speak. Just don't.

*seriously, why the hell was Blurr not given the job to get to the Autobot City transformation controls? He could literally have got the job done quicker. It could have saved countless lives!

#transformers #toy review #titans return #blurr #maccadam #season 3 autobots

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bladekindeyewear · 5 years

Text

Boots reads Homestuck Epilogue(s) Part 7 - Meat Page 26

==>

Back on to Jade swimming into the singularity or something. (And trying to stop thinking that maybe Candy ends with a giant polyamorous relationship and/or orgy, because I don’t imagine Rose would have acted so tamely if that’s what she saw.)

Yes, Time is the complement of Space, that was already confirmed in comic if it wasn’t super incredibly obvious all along anyway.

Gah, I’m getting stomach cramps again.

Yeah, too much Space makes Time invisible and vice versa? Or...

Maybe Dave broke her heart a little, and he keeps doing it too, no matter how many different timelines they try out.

God damnit these CRAMPS. Reading further.

Like a garden, where Jade used to spend so much of her time with her hands in the earth and her head in the clouds, dreaming about flowers that bloomed in six colors and grew when she played them a song. Was that real? It’s hard to tell. But it made her happy, didn’t it?

FUCK are you going to start making me doubt the reality of the liFe we saw her living early in-comic????? Cut it out, it’s unsettling!

Alright, alt!Callie is taking the reins from Dirk on this narrative he so smugly thought he could completely consume. That’s good/bad.

slutty adult Jade

FUCKING YIKES!! FUCK YOU DIRK!

FUCK I DIDN’T NEED HER DEATH DESCRIBED IN SUCH DETAIL EITHER. Also alt!Callie’s really embodying Death here.

==>

Pff. Calliope’s writing the story now, in a sense, like she always kind of wanted.

Also pff, this version of her doesn’t know how to describe human stuff colorfully. :)

An adversarial dichotomy between your opposing goals, huh? This might end up as a “none of us can really write the ending” ending that DOES leave it up in the air for everyone else to decide instead.

Fuck, now you’re having THIS Jade suffer by proxy by experiencing the other Jade’s memories. This metatextual ascension’s happening to everyone isn’t it.

Yeah, she’s done it before and stuff--

when jade turns to look at roxy, her eyes are completely black.

FUCK.

my presence shall mitigate, if not altogether subdue, the corrosive effect on reality and the will of its occupants by those who would manipulate the way events are telegraphed for their own megalomaniacal objectives.

Well, fuck. Jade’s been temporarily hijacked for the rest of the story AGAIN, like back in Condesce days, this time as a plot device to keep Dirk from overreaching with his god powers and stepping over everyone’s wills like an Ultimate Riddle style villain. Dirk, I mean. Being the villain. And alt!Callie just doing what she has to to put this back on track. Man I HATE it when Jade’s will doesn’t get to be on full display. Her will is awesome. (Also, alt!Callie just tacitly confirmed that the will of reality’s occupants matters, if that wasn’t obvious already, so ha.)

despite his pretensions to a greater design, the prince of heart cannot be allowed to continue to exert unchecked control over the authoritative recitation of events on this side of my horizon. it cannot be overstated the extent to which he represents a threat to the continued existence of both this world and corporeal life itself.

Yeah, it was indeed looking that way earlier.

Ooh, alt!Callie is really spot-on with her pronoun use.

Alright, Dirk’s voice is shrinking away, and my stomach still feels half-clenched.

Wow, alt!Callie’s really mad at what Dirk’s been doing with this epilogue.

==>

“EPILOGUE FIVE”?????

Did I miss the titles for one, three, and four??? Yeah there were probably there and I just missed them or something.

Pfffff, John looks/smells like shit. :D

...too fresh??

Fuck you John for thinking Monty Python and the Holy Grail isn’t a masterpiece. :P

terezi tips her head to one side, with what john personally regards as a cute expression, one he believes is unique to her. whether he’s correct or not, it’s his belief that there is no one else who emotes in this manner. it’s both quizzical and mocking, two descriptors that he considers to be an apt summation of her personality as well.

Niiiiice. Nice linguistic description of her “>:?” expression.

have no desire to interject thoughts into others’ minds, or to sway intent. nor do i see value in masking the reality of the emotions that i transcribe. this is how he feels. his mind, however, has made a habit of being less clear about his thoughts than i am willing to be.

Oh thank fucking god, I don’t have to question everyone’s thoughts anymore. Until Dirk comes back or something, I dunno.

Oh my fucking god, alt!Callie, you total voyeuristic nerd.

he fears he is in danger of seeming like the type of creepy human male who is likely to collect large pillows bearing the illustrated images of japanese earth females. to me, this idea means nothing. but it is causing him to sweat.

This is one very relatable snippet of text.

Feed Terezi Feed Terezi Feed Terezi

WHY is the gold tooth poisonous??????? ...Wait, Caliborn affixed it to his mouth intentionally. He had every right and motive to make it poisonous for no good reason. Ugh.

Beep beep, let’s find Vriska.

==>

WHAT

WHAT JANE

WHAT THE FLYING FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN DOING

JESUS

Using Trickster Mode as a drug to further one’s political performance. That’s fucking horrifying. No wonder it was on the triggers list.

additionally, it prevents one from dwelling on any given personal problems, or the greater implications of any political statements one might make.

Pff, mhmm.

Problematic, huh? Jane seems like the slightly-old-fashioned sort of person who thinks it’s getting kind of ridiculously silly how much people are caring about stuff being “problematic”. And yet that stuff DOES matter, and ignoring it DOES hurt people, and she not only isn’t seeing that but is drugging herself to see it LESS with that goddamned lollipop. Holy shit.

she turns around promptly, her body jolted by the surprise of her sudden reversal. she bends over, cradles the lollipop reverentially, and situates it carefully in a place signifying respect: atop the mantle, after clearing space for it by shoving several brittle, worthless objects to the floor.

PFFF. Okay, so alt!Callie ISN’T above altering characters slightly from their narrative course when it comes to one of the few things she deems important. Heh.

Having “his control of a shared vehicle fully suppressed”, huh? Does alt!Callie only mean the narrative, or maybe Rose too with whatever weird bullshit he did to her?

Uh, “while the seer both diminishes and ascends”??? D:

--Oh, oh shit. He was planning to NARRATIVE CONTROL Jake into going along with things. D: D:

Yeah, Jake would want to bang all the aliens, really.

Sendificator rifle, or something like that. Got it.

==>

How fucking long is this epilogue, anyway????? I mean, the length is appropriate from an objective point of view, I’m just frustrated because I’m going to have to spend every waking hour liveblog-reading it until I’ve reached the end or I’m likely to fucking explode, and I didn’t want this to be my entire day/weekend/existence again AAGH HOMESTUCK YOU BLACK HOLE

anyway yaay karkat in a suit.

Alluding to assassination attempts? What, is that red rifle going to try and fulfill that old “through the silver screen and straight into my heart” unused foreshadowing-herring from act six, or five, or whenever it was? Five, I believe.

Pff, super pacs, yeah. Dave’s nearly as political as me now or something. Except he actually acts on it here instead of just sitting around talking about it and thinking he’s right all the time, like me.

Wait, JANE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH with smearing Jake??!??? Holy shit she’s lost touch.

KARKAT: SWEET BRO AND HELLA JEFF IS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS SUBJECT MATTER FOR PRODUCING CAMPAIGN ADS! KARKAT: NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT, OR WHAT POINTS YOU’RE TRYING TO MAKE! DAVE: yeah its awesome

Pfffff.

...yeah, Jake isn’t thinking of ANYTHING except Dirk right now, really.

Oh huh, Dirk HAS been as controlling of Jake as he used to be, now that alt!Callie’s pointing it out. Just with an even more insidious mechanism.

Oh cool, Karkat’s version of the policy pitch! :D :D :D Can’t wait can’t wait reading

(dont lie karkat you totally know shes hot)

Pff, stop making it seem obvious that Dirk wanted to assassinate Jake for political purposes. Heck, even if that WAS his plan it’d just be a temporary death that he’d resurrect from and then they’d try to turn it into... what, some media spin on how Karkat might have been responsible? Or a troll?? That latter part would make things MUCH more xenophobic. I’m starting to get seriously into the politics of this.

==>

Pff, now ‘rezi’s eating tobacco.

...okay, is Terezi REALLY going to go for a real conversation with just an honest ask for one? I don’t think so--

--aaand there she goes laughing, as expected. At least at first.

Yep, Terezi’s wearing the shoes. Nice date gift.

--And yep, Terezi remembers all that. She managed to do the nigh-metatextual mind merge with her other selves WITHOUT even needing God-Tier.

Yeah, Vriska always seemed fit to abandon the kismesis you deserved when it suited her, ‘rezi. :(

JOHN: even worse, i might have tried to fix things MYSELF! TEREZI: OH D34R GOD JOHN: yeah!!!

Yeah I cackled out loud at that.

TEREZI: 34RTH C 1S P3RF3CT 1SNT 1T? TEREZI: BUT NOT FOR YOU TEREZI: YOU DONT *F33L* 1T

john swallows a thick breath. he reminds himself that he never wanted perfection, never asked for it. and yet he feels guilty every day for failing to enjoy it as much as he believes he was supposed to.

Holy shit. John’s survivor’s guilt from all the doomed timelines he witnessed and escaped is keeping him from feeling their victory has been real, and making his “squandering” of it gut his self-esteem too. God damnit.

Roxy and John wouldn’t have worked out????? Hey Terezi, quit it! >:[ That’s not fair, just very plausibly and authoritatively dismissing a ship we’d hoped for offscreen like-- Oh, shit, she’s alluding to something that happened in the Candy side I haven’t read isn’t she. She would DEFINITELY have an idea of what happened on the other side of that Choice Split with her hero role. Fuck what am I in for

....pfff, that Callie vs Dirk bit. It’s like revenge against Doc Scratch, which it kind of IS, really.

I didn’t expect this much time to be spent dwelling on really intimate John/Terezi scenes. It’s really refreshing! Making this kind of meaningful no matter whether it’s black or inexplicably red they end up with or whatever, and equally meaningful if they don’t end up in any sort of relationship at all, really.

even without the aid of a juju, he is fortunate enough to be blessed with the only true form of divinity. to be released from the prison of nonsensical inhibitions which so often psychologically hobble the more primitive forms of life.

Alt!Callie, are you causing this? I thought you wanted to be impartial.

Okay, THAT finally brought things suitably closer to the black side of romance like I would have expected.

==>

their finger hovers over dirks number for a moment, but... no. that would not be a good idea. they don’t know why they suddenly think it’s a bad idea. it just is.

Okay, THAT shred of influence is fair. You DID say you were going to countermand his influence, so yeah.

Good excuse to get narration of her thoughts, if flimsy. :)

Lord save me from this fake woke nightmare.

Pfffff. Fuck you, Dirk. ;)

ROXY: guess ill just open the damn curtains and let some light in here

FUCK you’re going to kill JADE aren’t you???? You’re giving Jade a TEMPORARY DEATH just to deny alt!Callie’s proxy?!?? That’s fucking insidious! Fuck you, Dirk!!! That one wasn’t a loveable joke this time, that was an ACTUAL fuck you. This epilogue is really good at making him out to be the villain now that his powers have expanded to the narrative.

Reading reading reading...

...Huh. Is Roxy talking about coming out as non-binary and getting advice on it? Hm!

Alright, and she’s defs a little gay for Callie from what she’s saying if it wasn’t clear before. If “gay” even has any relevance when you’re talking about a pair of non-binary... yeah whatever. :)

Alright, time to hear Dave talk about it all some more I guess.

--Yep, he’s only mostly gay. Called it. There’s a whole spectrum.

...and yeah, I mean... why NOT let it go beyond quadrants with Karkat and never slap an official label on it? You’re just two people who love each other and want to spend time together in any capacity, be it positive or negative. It doesn’t have to result in anything formal unless you want it to, much less boning down or something. Dirk, stop getting creepy with how hard you’re shipping them, that’s the fanbase’s job.

Jade and Roxy are visible from this location, right? Wasn’t it mentioned that they live in a tower in Carapaceville or whatever? Has Dirk successfully conned alt!Callie into having her vessel shot through? Probably.

the ongoing corruption of his cerebrally impaired daughter.

Eewwwwweweewww

Anyway yeah here comes the plot twist or whatever...

Yeah, Callie gets it wrong, and--

......ah, a tranq? That makes more sense and is more than slightly less evil, if still ultimately evil given his eventual presumed goals or whatever.

DIRK: Like the bitch she is.

FUCK YOU

Oh, Jade’s going to be asleep for the rest of the story? AGAIN?!???? FUCK YOU SO MUCH, DIRK.

Jesus christ. How long is this epilogue anyway.

Taken your leave? From this planet??? What the fuck, are you--

Oh. Oh shit.

When Dirk ascended into absorbing the memories of all his various split selves, did he get a heaping helping of DOC SCRATCH in there too??? Was Doc Scratch’s ambition actually for POST-victory ascension in this very manner? FUCK. Either way, him sharing some of those memories puts a pretty unique spin on his descent into goddamn evil, here.

Reading on... oh shit, did Callie write the candy half??

==>

Huh, postcoital; we actually went there. Cool.

Ah, she gives up on Vriska? Better find Vriska really fast, then.

Oh, you’re really going? Or, trying, anyway.

==>

Really committed to this whole ascending to literal godhood schtick, aren’t you, Dirk?

(Hm. Makes me almost think that this situation with Rose is going to end up with someone splitting her essence entirely in two to save her; her raw Seer-ness getting forced into a convenient vessel (cueball, wonk wonk) and herself returning to consciousness a slight bit more mortal than she was before, ie not going completely insane. Hmm.)

Oh, “Vast Fuck” sorta-maybe-confirmed..??

Stop tacitly insulting Jake as you puppet him, Dirk. He’s a dumbass but not THAT much of a dumbass.

beta-bitch

FUCK YOU, DIRK.

She loves you, Jake, more than anything, and you toyed with her heart.

Fuuuuuuck you.

could subsume your entire personality

Shit, he IS trying to pretty much consume them all. Swallow their individuality and take total control of all their actions. All Prince of Heart on the whole world. Dirk you need to fucking DIE.

And to love Dirk is to obey him.

There isn’t a Fuck You large or loud enough to what I feel about the mental violation Dirk is inflicting on Jake right now, and everyone else around him, and I sincerely and selfishly hope this epilogue is almost over because I don’t want too many pages to stand between this one and seeing Dirk fucking PAY.

Jake opens his big, dumb mouth to make the only important contribution to the plot he ever has or ever will make in his whole sad, pointless joke of a life.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOU

Let’s hope that in your hubris your looking away managed to let him say something different or some such.

==>

You try to remember if you’ve ever been revived by Jane before. You honestly can’t recall. So much shit has happened. Maybe?

Yeah, I don’t recall either really.

The poison needling through you is antithetical to narrative relevance. You’re not dying, John. You’re being erased. Cherubs don’t fuck around. We’ve both been learning that the hard way.

Okay, fuck? How the hell? Is this just because Dirk says it is, or???

I guess it’s tragic, though maybe not in the conventional sense. My view is, the real tragedy with you, John, is that you never mattered all that much.

Yeah, Dirk’s first fucking rant when he took over the narrative officially was about John being a you-insert nobody average guy, and the DISDAIN he shows to everything about who John is is pretty goddamn insulting. He has NO concept of how John managed to bring everyone together or... UGH!

even though you knew both then and now that it was the only choice you possibly could have made.

Dammit, so it probably WASN’T a full timeline-bisecting Mind split. Just a side branch that wasn’t as likely, because just like with his Denizen, John’s will was tilted toward this part of the choice. D:

I see how some of this seems to be going, or at least think I do... Dirk thinks that John needs to die heroically “for the good of the story”, and something’s potentially going to come in and say “no”? That the whole reason they WON was to essentially be free of that cruel logic once and for all, and that Dirk is gonna get one hell of a smackdown for trying futilely to enforce it in their new post-victory domain??

She listens to him bleed while she smells him die.

--That, and fulfilling bits of foreshadowing for shits and giggles. >:(

Huh, “friable”, didn’t even know that was a word. Just looked it up; you learn something new every day.

Okay what is Dirk planning with the fucking body.

==>

Jane swept the election, of course. I told you I was going to win. After Jake’s incoherent and scandalous heel-turn at Karkat’s ill-fated rally, no amount of esoteric, three-dimensional jpeg artefacts could have salvaged the Vantas campaign.

Ah, but is that what REALLY happened, or what you’re saying happened, about to be overwritten?

Mainly that their BFF Jade has been in a coma for an entire month. They’ve been in and out of the hospital handling her affairs. Her next of kin is listed as John Egbert, and no one’s seen him in ages. It’s like he just disappeared suddenly. Like some great hand came out of the sky and crossed his name off the big list of guys we ever need to give a shit about anymore.

F U C K Y O U

Roxy, after all, and since her big heart-to-heart about the personal politics of queer onion metaphors, and ten stages of galaxy-braining through the many vicissitudes of the phrase “no homo,” Roxy has decided to really step up her gender experimentation. I guess at this point she’s gone beyond Stage Ten. Which I imagine is somewhat like reaching Super Saiyan 2 of gender, and then going even further beyond.

Holy crap, she’s going full Dave Lalonde. That’s pretty sweet.

...Isn’t Terezi like obviously covered in blood and stuff?

ROXY: they stay home all day with the blinds drawn paintin some weird ass shit on the walls

Oh my fucking GOD real!Callie please save the plot. Nuke this self-indulgent Dirkshit.

ROXY: like lotsa nasty purple blood and um ROXY: nudity???? TEREZI: >:? ROXY: yeah yikes ROXY: but MOST of it is cute stuff like... various combos of all of us being happy and gettin married and shit ROXY: anyway thats kept callie kinda busy

...This is an allusion to the Candy side I haven’t read, isn’t it? Maybe THAT’s part of what she supplants this bullshit with. Or since it mentions “various combinations”, she’s restoring the possibility to everything that the ending was supposed to have?

This is potentially a real fucking indictment of the idea of a narrative-driven ending when what actually mattered was the characters’ escape from said narrative. :)

ROXY: its like theyre traumatized ROXY: and they think ill drag whatever possessed jade back into our home with me

Okay fuck maybe Callie ISN’T helping. Maybe she’s just so worried about the alternate history she could have lead that she’s retreating into every Candy-like fanfic she can think of. :(

What’s with the phone buzz? The intervention we’ve been hoping for, since Dirk’s making her ignore it?

Oh cool, figures Terezi’s been hearing the narrative all along and just politely not acknowledging the fact that she hears it! Maybe SHE’LL help unfuck this mess. (And according to her, Roxy’s gone full “him” too!)

Fuck fuck fuck Terezi don’t listen to him go against his bullshit instead

Where, canon? Is that where you’re planning to escape back to or some such, with yourself as the author? Is that orange Andrew actually you or some BS?

Dammit.

==>

FUCK, “new body”????

The new body I’ve made for her won’t have much use for her usual ensembles. That’s all I was saying.

FUCK FUCK FUCK it IS the cueball isn’t it. Holy shit. That’s even worse than a robot. FZUCZK

Okay calm down. The Rose part of Rose can be cut away and rescued from this fate somehow, if she isn’t just whole-hog rescued entirely which would also be good. FUCK DIRK

...look purple? What?

DIRK: What’s happening here is the best thing for everybody.

Yeah, go fuck yourself. This shit had better be undone soon.

To finally face the truth. If Rose has been spending more time with me than you, if she’s realizing she resonates more with me due to our natural similarities and finds my presence more rewarding than yours, then what does that say about YOU, Kanaya?

PFFFF. YOU’RE GONNA BREAK UP THE PAIRING JUST SO YOU CAN STEAL HER? HAHAHAHAHAHA NO.

Okay, after THAT page’s last bit of horrid manipulation, this can’t end in any way that doesn’t involve ages of existential and literal torment for Dirk, forever.

==>

Epilogue Seven, huh. One last thing he wants to take care of before getting out of dodge, huh. I see Karkat and Dave’s text colors on screen. Is he going to try to force them to finally bone down or confess? This would be the perfect place for his plan to get fucking stopped.

Homestuck, stop making my fucking stomach clench so hard.

That’s a hell of a disaster Dirk thought up for these guys on that stage.

Part of this whole shitshow might be to tell us that this ending, this “fanfic” of dubious authenticity of an epilogue that Dirk is giving us is how DIRK believes it would end best for everyone involved, but not how everyone else would, ignoring their wills... while also discarding the idea of the epilogue that any individual reader of Homestuck would want in favor of the possibilities he meant to leave open with the ending.

Alright, here comes Dirk NOT forcing them to bone down but rather trying to persuade-brainwash them into a relationship talk.

DAVE: so what youre saying is you believe in me who believes in you

Dave. Please.

Hey, the Gurren Lagaan reference went WAY too long unsaid. Even if Andrew literally didn’t know a thing about said anime when he made the character designs.

I look Dave right in his mind’s eye and tell him to cut it the fuck out. He wants it, you want it, so just go for it, my man. It’s now or never.

DAVE: oh DAVE: same

I feel every brain cell in my immortal body begin to perish in real time.

BAAHAHAHAAHHhahahha FUCK YOU Dirk.

I mean, I want Dave and Karkat together as much as the next guy but FUUUUUUUCK YOU DIRK!!! I want everything you ever wanted to go wrong and shit on you. Their equivocating soft-nearly-mance is strong enough to go even against you, who thinks yourself the narrative fucking Sun.

Oh this is fantastic

I’ve literally been decapitated and that was less unbearable than this.

YES KEEP FALLING APART

You see that twinkle? That’s devotion, you unbelievably dense neutron star of a dumbshit.

Nice callback to... what was it, Dave’s first rant at Tavros to troll him back or whatever?

radially effervescing kaleidoscope of more hot boy peckers than you could ever imagine.

Yep, DEFINITELY a callback to that. I’ll never forget the sick flow of that metaphor.

DAVE: i just keep having thoughts i know id never think

SAVE US DAVE

Dammit, near miss.

The privilege of a Strider Eye Moment is about the most earth-shattering experience a young man will ever have in his life.

Pfff

DAVE: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD AND JUST LET ME DO THIS MYSELF!!!

yaaaaaayyy

I mean we didn’t save the whole story yet but at least Dirk got fucked over and we still get Davekat intimacy.

That’s pretty classy actually, not getting into detail and just sounding blown the fuck away by it even though he’s Dirk. That’s pretty good.

==>

Something about the height of Rose, roughly Rose-shaped, and wrapped in a cloth. I know she’s gonna love it the first time she sees it.

Oh so it IS a robot body. Well, fuck you a little less than it potentially being the magic cueball, but STILL fuck you.

I may have already mentioned, but I’m a bit too deft at this for my own good. Doing the thing where I tug at the part of someone’s latent thought process that already knows they adore me. That if someone would just pull the stops from their sense of inhibition, they’d realize they would do anything for me.

It’s called killing their soul with your role abilities you ASSHOLE

I hope this crush you filled him with bites you in the fucking ass now that he’s here.

DIRK: I won’t be coming back, Jake.

Oh, so you’re just going to drop the truth on him like that? Let’s see how that works out for you, asshole.

DIRK: Jane needs you now more than ever.

Oh fuck you. This is “best for everyone”, huh?????

DIRK: You’ll just be, you know. DIRK: Her candy boy? JAKE: CANDY BOY??? DIRK: Yeah. Being on call. DIRK: Serving a multimillion-year term of giving her the right kind of “presidential action” she needs to keep going. To keep her morale up and such. DIRK: To provide her with many heirs. DIRK: Doesn’t that sound cool? JAKE: HEIRS??

Um. What the fuck? Is this even Dirk anymore? It’s not Condesce intervention, I’m not going to try and suspect that just from the callback or anythiiiii-----

Fuck, we DID just get an alive Meenah dropped into a universe somewhere.

Maybe this IS Condesce intervention. Just a different Condesce. o_O

Two ticks longer than he ever deserved.

Gah???

DIRK: But I’ll never let you break my heart again.

So this was all just revenge for dumping him??????????????

==>

Guh, back to Kanaya-- wait, why does Dirk want Terezi around, anyway?

Jade wakes up and then-- Okay. Okay my eyes flitted down to the green halfway down the page and I saw this phrase before I actually got to it.

JADE: DIRK STRIDER HAS TO BE STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!

Thank FUCK.

Anyway reading the in-between...

The scope of her awareness, she now understands, is truly staggering. Memories are suddenly accessible that are almost impossible to believe. Some of them are unspeakably marvelous to her. Others, deeply disturbing.

FUCKING COOL she got Ultimate-Selved! Now she knows too much about what’s going on to stop her! Get fucked, Dirk!!!!

No, more than just disturbing. She lingers in the dark recesses of her consciousness. There were things she saw, things she was told... Her mouth twists into a silent snarl. She’s been angry plenty of times before. But never so angry that she stopped being cute. She’s not cute this time.

YEAAAAAHHH JADE GET ANGRY

This had better not be Dirk intentionally riling her up since he still has control of the narrative though.

Next post.

#Homestuck #Homestuck Epilogue #upd8 #Homestuck Liveblog #bladekindeyewear #BlastYoBoots

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loonagarden · 5 years

Text

20010705 = 18 Listening Guide

A very curated 18 song playlist for Amos.

1 - It's a birthday playlist, so this is a fitting opener. The lyrics are really close to your sentiments about turning 18 as well lol.

2 - Anecdote: one time, we were playing a Lorde-off. You won that time because she still had, like, 15 songs, and I didn't know this one (it's a deluxe one, ok). Thus, it always reminds me of you and the last time you will ever know more about Lorde than me.

3 - This song is a bop. Also very cynical about the current world, yet slightly hoping for more goodness to sprout somewhere. Very much like you haha. It's also very techy, which is, like, 65% of your personality.

4 - Your natal chart ruler is Gemini Jupiter in the 7th, so a song about it. The lyrics are pretty dramatic and almost pretentious, but it's poetic, large in sound, and in conversation form. I think that's what Gemini Jupiter is all about. As for the 7th house, so many talented people made it so uhhhhh partnerships...?

5 - This is the anime reference song in the playlist lol. As you've said, anime is your personality trait, so I took one from a show you've never seen. It sounds like a quintessential Japanese anime opening. It could be from anywhere. But anyway, the guitar riffs will never fail anyone. Ever.

6 - Okay, don't overthink this one. I just had like a gut feeling you should listen to this. I know you're going thru a dry spell in your faith, and literally everyone is worried, even you. However, it's really natural, healthy even. Although Macklemore isn't really a way to resolve that, just wanna say that like his ode in this song, it's a work in process. When you think God is farthest from you, you have no clue how near He actually is. It will feel empty, hopeless, and dumb. It will feel inescapable. But keep talking to God. Keep asking. Keep fighting for your desire to understand. He listens more than most people give Him credit for, and He, like the good and gracious Creator that He is, will satisfy you in ways you could have never thought of.

7 - Because you listen to the most boring genre ever (charot lang), here is a lo-fi recommendation.

8 - Because we have similar tastes in musicals, this one is from Six, which is a R&B musical about the wives of Henry the VIII. This one is particulary bad-ass and a derivative of Satisfied. Broadway is really changing lmao.

9 - This song hits hard. I'm not sure if you like this genre but it's a feel-good, bounce song. I think everyone needs that in life. Also, listen to more Japanese rap. Ryohu is one of my favorites. Sadly, there are no English lyrics but it's okay, it's still a bop. (Let's just hope it doesn't mean anything bad).

10 - You should also listen to Korean rap (lol). Look up the lyrics to this song. Epik High is one of the most respectable Korean artists, and I can recommend the whole album this song is from. It deals with how difficult life can be because of our mentalities, but it's better and less lonely to know that many people also relate to the same burdens.

11 - Another musical recommendation, this time from Beetlejuice. We all need a good, old-fashioned conversatiom duet by two opposite characters. It reminds me of What is this Feeling from Wicked, and has the same emo, mental breakdown as Freeze Your Brain. The delivery is also funny. Classic Broadway.

12 - One of my absolute favorite Bleachers songs. This one is particularly uplifting. Kind of coming-of-age, too, which is a nice supplement to your turning 18.

13 - There should be an OPM recommendation here, so this sarcastic, self-aware, mellow, alt-rock Filipino song is quite suitable for you. I think it will resonate with anyone, at some point. I think your music taste is also lyrically driven, so this is an interesting listen. Also, the wa-wa board, the brass, and the bongos. Exquisite taste.

14 - Another mandatory lo-fi recommendation, but the soundscape is really fun so I kinda like it.

15 - This Kevin Abstract song reflects on the weight of overthinking (the world, relationships, everything), and how even despite of that, one still does know enough. Being 18 does nothing but confuse you even more. From your ate who has been there, don't bother trying so hard to get the answers and ends. They just come.

16 - And yet another mandatory lo-fi recommendation to break the drama.

17 - When you told me to watch Steven Universe two years ago and I finally did one night while I was new to sleeping in my dorm, I was comforted by that show in ways you can never imagine right now. I'm very grateful because you told me to do it. Hearing Love Like You again after a while floods me with melancholy and joy at the same time. It was time in my life where I was pushed to be an adult, but the show illustrated to me, in the best way possible, that I can do this without leaving any of myself behind. I made peace with the version of myself that I hated because of that. I think I will always attribute Steven Universe to you, so thank you for liking cartoons and sharing them with me. In fact, thank you that when you like something, you share it with me.

18 - This is the most perfect and probably the only way to end this being "of age" playlist. You reminded this to me a few weeks ago, so I'm telling it to you as well, from the wise words of someone who has matured but has and will never let go of our innate magic and light too often forgotten by the pace of this world: don't you ever grow up.

Happy birthday, Moting. I think we understand each other's music taste above surface level as a means of expression and connection. Thank you for being a kind and understanding brother who listens well to me, and who converses with me freely because it helps me grow as a person too. I took note when Taylor Swift said remember your little brother's favorite songs. I don't think these are but I hope you can learn to like them too. I am and will always be proud of you, even when there are times we argue (duh, because we're siblings), no matter what you decide to be as a person, I will always root for you and your fulfillment.

Again, happy birthday. I pray to God that He always keeps you by His side because then I am assured that even when we fail you, and even when you feel inadequate yourself, you are loved still, abundantly, unceasingly, and endlessly. I hope you enjoy your day and another year under God's grace!!! 18 ~ Let's get it ~ lmaoooo

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topweeklyupdate · 6 years

Text

TØP Weekly Update #69: Proud of Our Boys (11/2/18)

Technically, not a lot happened this week. Also, everything happened. Does that make any sense? I don’t know, everything’s been a blur since Tyler Joseph wore a pride flag on a Halloween show in the capital of the United States. Let’s cover that and more in this week’s Update!

This Week’s TØPics:

The Bandito Tour Continues

Tyler Visits the Live Lounge- Or, Rather, It Visits Him

The Best Interview of the Trench Era, Conducted by Fans

“My Blood” Moving Slowly but Steady Up the Charts

Major News and Announcements:

No new music, no new tour announcements, but plenty of other things going on this week.

Mark is helping to keep our lanes nicely watered, as he returned to giving us weekly doses of video content for the tour starting almost immediately after the release of last week’s Update. The first episode covers the planning for the tour, Tyler and Josh receiving the first physical copies of Trench, Josh’s unique method of opening CD cases, and Josh getting a nice head injury after falling off his riser during a rehearsal. Plus, there’s a pretty nice piano interpolation of “Morph” to kick the whole thing off. The second goes more into the depths of planning and staging the show, giving a glimpse of just how much of a diva Tyler Joseph is when it comes to getting every aspect of the tour right. It doesn’t exactly put him in the nicest light- he calls the prototype clip that drops his “Stressed Out” beanie “garbage”, clearly expects the crew to be as intimately familiar with his music as he is, and pushes pretty hard to get the transitions faster and faster. But hey, that approach worked to produce a great show, and Tyler makes sure to thank the crew in every Trees Speech.

I was wavering between whether to include the content from the BBC Live Lounge sessions here or in the Shenanigans section, but considering that we got three HD video performances and a high quality recording of a new cover, I’m gonna tie it in here. In-between the stops in Washington and Atlanta, Tyler flew back to Columbus solo to record a session for the world-famous Live Lounge from Newport Music Hall (because of course Tyler was that extra). Sitting at a gorgeous shiny piano and wearing an outfit that looks like a flannel traffic cone (in a good way, honest), Tyler played some stripped-down covers of “My Blood” and “Ride”, using brand-new vocal interpolations for both of those songs that are just incredible. Live Lounge is most renowned for its covers, and Tyler delivered there as well with his version of Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan’s classic “9 Crimes”. It’s an incredible rendition of a gorgeous song, and the fact that Tyler mentioned the track way back on “Drown” when “9 Crimes” was a brand-new song makes it land as even more heavy. The real kicker came just this morning, when Live Lounge revealed that they recorded one more song: we have our first high quality performance of “Neon Gravestones”. I still haven’t fully recovered, mate.

Performances, Interviews, and Other Shenanigans:

Touring continues to keep us well fed. As I mentioned in the opening, Tyler grabbed an offered pride flag during “Holding On To You”, which deeply affected the entire Clique, especially our LGBTQ+ family. So many kids in that community struggle with depression and lean hard on this band’s music to get through; this clear and pure gesture of support, while small, simply means the world.

Outside of that show, there were plenty of other great moments from the tour this week. You can tell Tyler’s been tinkering with the format as he’s been getting feedback from the audience response. Despite how dedicated Tyler was to getting back to the stage for the end of “Pet Cheetah”, the big drop now starts while Tyler is still on the skybridge above the pit’s head, which makes way more sense. The ending of “My Blood” seems to be reduced to just getting the audience to fight to be louder than the other side rather than try to harmonize different bits. And Josh keeps writing city-personalized messages on his chest that he shows off to the crowd as he walks across the bridge, dramatically removing his jacket like something out of Magic Mike.

Also, Tyler tossed a frisbee in Boston and the boys discovered finger guns in Philly. Those were pretty cute moments, gotta share ‘em if you missed ‘em.

Interviews continue as the tour travels the nation. KISS FM Cleveland kept the tradition of B.S. first meeting stories alive with a deep dive into Josh’s talent as a painter, though that’s really the only thing you need to watch that interview for. Boston station ALT 92.9 does a little better, though he mistakenly attributes the backflip to Tyler and asks when Josh will get out from behind those drums... To his credit, the interviewer asks about how Jim is accommodated on the tour (unsurprisingly, the crew fights over who gets to look after him) and what Tyler learned from co-producing Trench with Paul.

The best interviews, however, have all been in the form of fan meet-and-greet conferences that have been finding their way online. There’s just something to the energy of these interviews that is so much better than the awkward and rushed ones in cramped green rooms hosted by radio station interns who obviously just Googled a few facts before they’re rushed in. These fans truly care about their band, and their questions were thoughtful and about so much more than just trivia.

The best of these, I think, is from St. Louis’s 105.7, a station that’s always had pretty good relations with the band.

Tyler has tried to be more intentional about seeing the places they go on tour outside of the venues, with the mindset that he wants to have better stories to tell his kids (oh my God, please help me...). His favorite place that he’s visited? Hobbiton in New Zealand. I love these nerds.

Tyler and Josh talk about the origins of that gorilla suit that shows up in the “Ode to Sleep” video.

They talk about how one of the more difficult aspects of touring early on before “making it” was eating healthily enough to sustain regular shows when they were broke and the only places that were open to eat late at night after shows were Taco Bells.

Tyler tells a truly heart-wrenching story of being at his parents’ house and seeing his two baby nieces playing with (and vomiting on) the keyboard that taught him to play music and opened up the world for him. The obvious emotion in his voice as he talks about learning the “Pachelbel Canon” from staring at the keys for hours and the clear joy he felt at getting to share this private moment with Jenna... I still haven’t recovered.

When one fan asks how she might learn to overcome creative blocks in her career of graphic design, Tyler gives a really technical explanation of how he got past blocks when writing “Neon Gravestones” and “Pet Cheetah” before taking those lessons and extracting how they might broadly be used to help any artist “shock the system” by breaking habits.

Tyler says that he anticipates that “Legend” will be pretty tough to perform live. He further states that a lot of songs don’t emotionally affect him much because he has to worry about achieving the technical aspects of his performance. That said, “Neon Gravestones” has been really emotional for him, and “Holding On To You” is so driven into him now that he actually can think about what he’s saying.

Tyler views the two-man nature of the band as a challenge rather than a crutch to excuse the use of backing tracks due to how hard they have to work to keep audience attention. Tyler does appreciate the dynamic of having a bunch of people collaborate for music (as shown by the cover medleys), and he is not vehemently against the idea of adding members in the future. He’s just very happy about the way things are with just him and Josh.

Josh once again gets very open about his struggles with anxiety, particularly speaking in front of people, tracing it back to how he would even ask teachers to give him alternatives to giving presentations because it scared him so much. He’s come so far since the Vessel days where he just wouldn’t talk in most interviews at all, and I’m so proud of him.

Tyler is against the “Magellan” method of trying any and all new foods, preferring stuff he knows will satisfy his hunger (he mentions that’s been difficult to stick with now that he’s married to Jenna).

Tyler says that you can tell which of his songs started with lyrics before composing the music based on which have rapped lyrics. The raps are almost always poetry that he’s tried to incorporate into a song- otherwise, he almost always starts with the melody.

Another great conference-style interview comes on behalf of Philly radio station 104.5, whose fans also gave some great questions:

As tactfully as possible, Tyler passes on a question about what event specifically motivated him to write about “Neon Gravestones”, saying that he could not do so without violating the respect that he hopes underlines the message of that song.

Tyler tells a pretty rough story about a time when he was working at a restaurant to support the band and school, only to lose weeks of wages to a traffic ticket. It’s a scene that will definitely be in the band biopic in thirty years, but it’s also just a very thoughtful reflection on Tyler’s part about how unfair a feeling it can be to realize that our labor and time are so commodified.

Tyler used to be real annoyed that Josh didn’t like Russel Crowe as an actor, mainly because he admitted that he didn’t have a good reason for it (Tyler Robert Joseph always has a reason). Josh deciding one day that he’d like Russel Crowe because not doing so aggravated Tyler seems like a pretty neat microcosm of their entire personal and professional relationship.

Tyler and Josh haven’t noticed any bands “copying” them, no matter what music press looking for an easy descriptor might say because all they have to copy is “freedom to write whatever kind of song they want”.

Josh keeps himself grounded by searching “21 pilots” on Twitter. Tyler agrees, but also points out that their relationships to their families also play a big role (“our respective families, to clarify”).

Finally, on social media, Tyler keeps hopping on social media to troll fans and his own band account. I hate him so much.

Chart Performance:

Things continue to be a little quiet for Twenty One Pilots on the US charts. The tracks from Trench are slowly sliding off the Hot Rock Chart, with “My Blood” being the only track to gain traction in any region- radio. With that said, however, “My Blood” also managed to sneak onto the very bottom spot of the Hot Pop chart, suggesting that we are approaching a potential crossover moment. We’ll have to wait and see if that happens. (I can only assume until then that Tyler’s having to ignore a lot of phone calls about a radio edit that cuts that slow first verse to keep the general listener’s attention; watch for that.)

Upcoming Shows:

(Can you believe that all of Tyler’s meticulous planning for the marketing and promotion of this album cycle has been totally supplanted by Josh’s cute dog?)

On topic, there’s another host of important shows this week, so let’s get into it!

Show 13: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA (11/2)

Capacity: 21,000

After visiting his hometown with Josh yesterday, Tyler rejoins the touring crew today to play a show for the folks in Atlanta at the newly-renamed State Farm Arena. This is bound to be a special one: though the band has headlined the huge Music Midtown festival in the city, this is their first ever arena show in this major metropolitan market. It’s sure to be a real special show.

Show 14: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL (11/3)

Capacity: 21,500

The band’s next stop is at a more familiar ground. The band played Amalie during the last arena leg. Twenty One Pilots actually has a pretty extensive history of playing shows in Tampa stretching all the way back to college shows from before they were signed. Tyler has some relatives in the Florida area, so expect some more cute moments from this show.

Show 15: BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL (11/4)

Capacity: 22,300

The touring crew continues their journey south to the outskirts of Miami. Again, they’ve played BB&T before, but if there’s one thing this band has proven time and time again, it’s that they’re not ones to ever get complacent.

Show 16: Toyota Center, Houston, TX (11/6)

Capacity: 19,3000

It might surprise you to learn that the band has never played an arena show in Houston, despite the city being one of the biggest metropolitan centers in the United States. That oversight will be corrected on Tuesday with a show at the NBA Rockets’ home venue.

Show 17: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX (11/7)

Capacity: 21,000

The last show before our next Update will be held in Dallas. Once again, this marks the second show Twenty One Pilots will have played in the space. Texas will continue to get plenty of love after this show, but we’ll get into that more next week!

Power to the local dreamer!

|-/

#twenty one pilots #tyler joseph #josh dun #trench #bandito tour #bbc live lounge #top weekly update

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cassatine · 6 years

Note

Why don't you like Jordan Peterson? What did he ever do to you?

Oooh boy. I’d redirect you to the Ressource Page on him I already posted a link to, where you can find much better analyses than I can provide, as well as much documentation on the things he has to say – but I suppose that’s not what you’re asking for.

(I wish you hadn’t asked. I’ve seen the kind of harassment sent to people who criticize Peterson. But you did, so here comes A Rant.)

To start with: what he did or didn’t do to me, specifically, is irrelevant. To illustrate that point – let’s say your school has two bullies. One of them bullies you, the other doesn’t and instead targets other people. Is this second bully more likeable because he leaves you alone? Or is this second bully as dislikeable as the one who does bully you? Are they any less of a bully because you escape their attention?

It’s not about what Peterson did to me, it’s about the ideas he advocates for, the way he profits from his followers, the harm he does other people, his bad scholarship – and more importantly, the fact that he is a gateway to the alt-right for many. He’s replied to this specific concern, for example here, by saying he does not support the alt-right, that he’s in fact stopped many on their path to it. “Read the comments on my videos,” he says, before deflecting by launching in a tirade against comments criticizing him.

I did read the comments and certainly there is some, ahem, strongly-worded criticism from people of all political stripes, but there’s also a bunch of people advocating for a white ethnostate, among other niceties. Peterson’s followers do not all belong to the alt-right, just as not everyone in the alt-right likes him.

But if we step outside his YT channel, there’s an incredible number of reposted videos, on all kinds of channels. Some are mocking: “here’s Peterson speaking nonsense as usual.” Some are very much alt-right channels, and thanks to the magic of YT algorithms, the more those are watched, the more you’re proposed videos by more extreme people. Stepping away from YT altogether, and delving into alt-right and manosphere forums and sites, links to Peterson’s videos are not a rare occurrence.

And yet, he does not believe he has been co-opted by the alt-right to any significant degree.

I find the claim dubious (and the formulation interesting – “any significant degree”). I find the fact that he pretty much always deflects to his bête noire, the left “far more gripped by totalitarian spirit” than the rest of the political spectrum (and yes, that includes the alt-right) even more dubious. Not only the claim itself, but the way Peterson uses it to turn the tables. ‘I don’t think I was co-opted by the alt-right,’ he says, ‘and anyway the real problem is the totalitarian left.’

Polarization is also a problem, he says, and that I can easily agree with. I can also agree with the idea that having conversations with people who hold very different views is a good thing, and that for this to happen one must be prepared to listen.

I do, however, doubt that Peterson is himself prepared to listen. He has shown many times that he rejects any and all criticism, instead explaining it away as coming from the ‘totalitarian left’ and rooted in Cultural Marxism© – basically framing it as invalid. To have the kind of conversation he speaks of, both sides must be prepared to make concessions, to agree to disagree, to accept one might not see the full picture, and yes, to accept that one might be wrong on some points. You can’t have this kind of conversation with someone who wants to win, with someone who deeply, absolutely believes they know better, and that anyway the other side is a problem, and not a small one, nope, more the kind that will lead civilization to its doom and also the gulag.

I did listen. I read much criticism of Peterson, but I also listened to his videos, I read some of his stuff, and I do not believe he is the listening type. I’m pretty sure I could never have an actual conversation with him, for a very simple reason: he would consider me a Cultural Marxist©, a member of the oh-so-dangerous totalitarian left – and reject everything I might say on these grounds.

The notion of Cultural Marxism© in fact allows him to brush away much of the criticism directed at his ideas: if someone were, say, to criticize his unfalsifiable claim that “Faith in God is a prerequisite for all proof” by arguing that’s it’s built on a deep misunderstanding of Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem, then he’d just have to argue it’s the critic that misunderstand Gödel because Cultural Marxism©. If someone were to say Jordan Peterson Doesn’t Understand Nazism, and actually has his facts wrong on the matter then that critic would be the one not understanding because Cultural Marxism©. If someone were to say Peterson didn’t even understand what Canada’s Bill C-16 entailed, it wouldn’t be because they actually understood the bill, but because Cultural Marxism©. If someone were to say he’s wrong about the pay gap – well, you can guess.

(There is another reason why Peterson Is Never Wrong, and that’s because his usual argumentative strategy is never actually saying what it is he means, which means he can always fall back on being misunderstood and misinterpreted. If someone were to say his comments on “enforced monogamy” amount to a careful defence of natalist policies, and go so far as to reference those totalitarian regimes he says he is fascinated and revulsed by with, say, the Lebensborn program and the Bund Deutscher Mädel, or Decree 770 – well, he’d just have to say that’s not what he advocates for. Of course it’s not. He just circles around the notion, and if our someone were to mention things that happened, things that were documented, things Peterson will never talk about because women have never been oppressed, not ever – well, that’s an undue, unfair parallel; from him to the Lebensborn, there is after all quite a stretch. Although I don’t see how it’s a more unlikely one than, say, “using gender-neutral pronouns will lead to the gulag.”

Probably because Cultural Marxism©.)

And let’s be real, it’d be hard for me to have a productive conversation with someone who buys into Cultural Marxism© in any case – especially when they describe themselves as fascinated and revulsed by totalitarianism. For someone who has so much to say (and much that is factually wrong) about Nazism, Peterson seems strangely unaware that Cultural Marxism© is nothing but the contemporary version of Cultural Bolshevism©, and that it’s most dear to… the alt-right.

Peterson appeals to some portions of the alt-right because much of what he has to say is eerily similar to their own arguments: the destructive, doom-leading influence of Cultural Marxism©, obviously; intelligence differences having a biological (ie racial) basis; the naturalness of hierarchies dominated by white men; most if not any of his statements on The Woman Problem, etc.

The alt-right, however, has solutions for all these problems, and that’s where the love story stops. Peterson does not give solutions. He will tell you that society’s refusal to acknowledge biology-rooted differences in intelligence is a problem, a big one, an enormous one, and he will stop there. He will tell you that what women really want is to be dominated, that they are socialized to believe otherwise, that it’s wrong, and he might go so far as to propose that the solution to the Elliot Rodger and Alek Minassian of the world might just be enforced monogamy, but he will not advocate for it directly. And because he doesn’t take that last, seemingly logical step, some on the alt-right hate him. He is a traitor to the cause, a sell-out.

Does it matter whether Peterson is affiliated to or worried by the alt-right? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe we should in fact focus on other things. Like the fact that he is not afraid of a little lie, like that time he pretended to have been inducted in a First Nation tribe – a relatively common tactic: “i’ve been inducted in (x)”, “some of my ancestors were (x)”, “some of my followers are (x)” is frequently used as a way to shield oneself from criticism coming either from members of (x) or criticism addressing one’s stance towards (x). One of the problems with this is it rests on the (usually unsaid) assumption that all members of (x) share the very same views and values. See outgroup homogeneity effect.

It doesn’t reflect well on him that he lied about it, but even if it had been true, it wouldn’t have made his ideas any less racist, no more than it would have given him the right to speak for First Nation Canadians.

Oh wait, I probably need to back up the racism claim.

Here are Peterson and Stefan Molyneux, another altogether awful dude. Peterson is dead wrong from the start – intelligence isn’t the best predictor of “life success, economically,” neither is conscientiousness (which needed to be mentioned otherwise his point about meritocracy would make no sense at all), the two don’t automatically come together, though of course any argument I could make would have to be rejected on the grounds of Cultural Marxism©. Anyway, what follows is typical: Peterson takes care to mention that “this is where some the uglier elements of science become germane,” which allows him to distance himself from what he’s about to say, establishing he’s only relating what science indisputably shows and that he acknowledges The Ugly. He adds it’s “that which no one would want to be the case,” reinforcing this distance. That thing no one wants to be true but is science, he continues, is that there are “profound and virtually irremediable differences in people’s cognitive performances, and that those differences have a very solid biological and heritable basis. No one wants to hear that. They don’t want to hear that it’s biological, they don’t want to hear it’s heritable, they don’t want to hear it’s permanent, they don’t want to hear that it’s irremediable and that it actually has a practical consequence.”

(“Intelligence” is a much more complex thing than Peterson seems to believe. It’s determined by complex genetics and environmental factors; the question of heritability is also way more complex than that; the permanence thing refers, I believe, to IQ and that too is more complex than “it’s permanent and irremediable” – “irremediable,” btw, is pejorative in this context.)

You can guess why no one wants to hear it – not because Peterson is oversimplifying and misrepresenting the results of contemporary research on cognition, not because he’s hedging close to Social Darwinism. Nah, it’s because of Cultural Marxism©’s doom-leading influence, obviously.

Molyneux is quick to expand, distancing himself in similar ways to Peterson’s from what he’s saying-but-not-saying, which is that ethnicity and gender are basically the main factors in intelligence difference. Peterson downplays but doesn’t disavow the gender factor, explaining it as “relatively trivial.” Ethnicity, however, is a whole other matter, and he mentions Ashkenazi Jews having an advantage over other Caucasians – a reference to Sam Harris’ The Bell Curve, one of the go-to works for people trying to bring back scientific racism.

Peterson brings back his earlier idea that intelligence is the best predictor of “life success, economically,” and explains that Ashkenazi Jews’ intelligence advantage is “sufficient to account for their radical overrepresentation in positions of authority and influence and productivity,” no actual statistics given. The very terminology is dubious – “radical overrepresentation,” not “greater representation,” or anything more neutral-sounding, and it’s easy to go from here to there, even easier when you remember the historical roots of the notion of Cultural Marxism©, but of course Peterson is quick to distance himself again: “just so it’s absolutely clear, I am not saying [this overrepresentation is] a bad thing.” He’s not being antisemitic is what he means. He’s only saying there’s a real reason for it – ie the biological basis of intelligence difference, which since we live in meritocracies (we don’t, and considering the accent he puts on the intelligence factor and its inheritability, it’s not quite the good term anyway) accounts for “life success, economically.”

There’s more of the same, but basically we go back to the idea that no one wants to admit it’s True, All Of It, and of course, that it’s a problem. It’s a problem because in our more and more “cognitively complex societies” there’s less and less room for the “gainful employment” of the bottom ten percent. The human capital of these ten percent is too low, if you will (of course how much that should even matter depends on whether or not you believe productivity is an important factor to determine individual ‘worth’), making them at best worthless and at worst a burden. Peterson unsurprisingly insists he doesn’t have a solution to this unsolvable problem, which might be sincere, or might be because he’s aware that historically, the solution is eugenics, and of course that’s not something he’d ever advocate for.

Just to make it clear, under all the rhetorical flourishes, this is two white men saying white men are more intelligent than everyone else because Science, but the “science” they refer to is either held as pretty much pseudoscience (the Bell Curve) by the scientific community, or criticized to a degree (IQ, which is insufficient a tool to approach all areas of cognitive abilities, among other critiques) and misrepresented anyway, because neither Peterson nor Molyneux give a whit about what The Science really shows, they just want to make it like their prejudices are rooted in fact: they’re not racists (remember the ever-important ethnicity factor in intelligence difference), they’re just pointing out undeniable facts. They even say it’s ugly, what else could we ask for?

Some awareness of this, maybe:

[Moreover], the question of the relation, if any, between race and intelligence has very little scientific importance (as it has no social importance, except under the assumptions of a racist society) … As to social importance, a correlation between race and mean I.Q. (were this shown to exist) entails no social consequences except in a racist society in which each individual is assigned to a racial category and dealt with not as an individual in his own right, but as a representative of this category … In a non-racist society, the category of race would be of no greater significance [than height]. The mean I.Q. of individuals of a certain racial background is irrelevant to the situation of a particular individual, who is what he is. Recognizing this perfectly obvious fact, we are left with little, if any, plausible justification for an interest in the relation between mean I.Q. and race, apart from the ‘justification’ provided by the existence of racial discrimination.

(Another thing Peterson was dead wrong about, but I think he knows it, is when he says no one wants to hear that. There are plenty of people who want to hear exactly that, and they love people like Peterson, who can give a veneer of scientific credibility to their prejudices. He should know, since they make up a vocal portion of his fandom.)

Maybe I should get into The Woman Problem as well. I did mention it. Peterson has a lot to say about women. Sometimes he frames it as questions, which allows him to say “I didn’t really say it, I’m just asking questions, you numbskull.” (paraphrased). There’s that time he asked why do so few women watch my videos? Which I’m only mentioning because considering what follows, it’s hilarious, and I kinda need a laugh at this point. There’s that time he asked could it be that women are outraged because they crave infant contact and society refuse them that? There’s the worse do feminists avoid criticizing Islam because they crave masculine dominance? There’s the blame-shifting can men and women work together in the workplace? He actually answers this one, and the answer is women and men can’t work together because we (men) “don’t know what the rules are”. Which rules is unclear (maybe “don’t harass women?”) but no matter, Peterson has some to propose: “no makeup in the workplace” should definitely be one, since it’s “sexually provocative”. Women paint their lips red because “lips turn red during sexual arousal”. High heels are also reprehensible since they “exaggerate sexual attractiveness.” Of course, he’s not saying women shouldn’t do it, just that it’s, you know, what they do. Kind of like they’re asking to be harassed, honestly. Might that be because of that craving for masculine dominance?

More pearls that should make it clear why he’s overall more popular among men: Women are characterized by “higher levels of trait negative emotion (neuroticism)” in contrast to, of course, men. (A comment on a study of online harassment posted by James Demore, who managed to get fired from Google for a sexist memo; you can contrast his description of working at Google to the testimonies coming to light with the Google Walkout.) Women that don’t want a child by their 30s? There’s something that “isn’t quite right with the way they’re constituted or looking at the world”. More cringy comments ensue. Looping back to women’s craving for masculine dominance: Testosterone, nothing’s more appealing to women. Some appalling comments on men too. Rhetoric eerily similar as that of MRAs/Incels’.

It’s all Very Serious, so I’ll focus on something that’s kind of funny in this neverending deluge of awful: Peterson’s deep, deep dislike of Frozen. Yes, Disney’s Frozen. He didn’t like the propaganda:

Frozen apparently “served a political purpose: to demonstrate that a woman did not need a man to be successful. Anything written to serve a political purpose (rather than to explore and create) is propaganda, not art. Frozen was propaganda, pure and simple. Beauty and the Beast (the animated version) was not.” He’s expounded on that, explaining it was “produced for ideological reasons” as an anti-Beauty and the Beast, which is “inappropriate”. He did like Moana, but only because Moana allied herself with this “uncivilized, rather masculine force”

I’m sorry but that’s hilarious. I mean, there’s two main male characters in Frozen (not counting Olaf, who is a snowman), and one of them reveals himself to be Bad News, but the other is… kind of instrumental to the “success” of the female characters? His name is Kristoff, but he doesn’t count because… Well, Peterson doesn’t mention him, so I’m not sure why he gets erased from the narrative, but if I was to hazard a guess it’s because he is Not A Good Example Of Masculinity. Too nice, too bumbling, too… beta-y. Definitely not enough of an “uncivilized, rather masculine force.” (Though even that seems debatable, considering his way of life, but whatever.)

I wonder what he thought of Brave. Haven’t found anything on that one. Anyway, assuming Frozen is an anti-BatB, why is it inappropriate? Why, because BatB is the “fundamental hero myth for women”, which he defines as “find a monster that wants to be a good man and help him be a good man”. Don’t go for the “underdeveloped, harmless thing”, ladies, go for the monster. He admits “that’s a scary thing to do,” but since the choice is between a monster and a “castrated man…”

(On Peterson and myth – I will never stop if I go there, so please read Homer and Hatred: On Jordan Peterson’s Mythology; Jordan Peterson & Fascist Mysticism – to be followed by Umberto Eco’s essay on fascism; Jordan Peterson’s Tired Old Myths; Jordan Peterson’s Murky Maps of Meaning; Elwood’s The Politics of Myth: A Study of CG Jung, Mircea Eliade, which is not about Peterson, but considering the influence of Jung/Campbell/Eliade on his own approach of myth I still recommend it.)

Please note the dehumanizing language (thing), and of course the eerily similarity with MRAs/Incels’ rhetoric.

On the manosphere forums, you can find praise for Peterson and just under it, someone who thinks throwing acid into women’s faces is the best idea since the wheel. Or something much, much worse. I wonder if Peterson is wilfully blind to it, or if he’s exploiting it. I wonder why he’s so afraid of Cultural Marxism©, when so many of his fans fantasizes about killing women, killing Jews, killing Muslims, killing everyone that’s not them and unapologetically admire those who act on that hate. I wonder if it matters. I wonder if someday soon someone will follow in the footpaths of Elliot Rodgers and Alek Minassian, and leave a manifesto quoting Jordan Peterson. I wonder how we’ll explain it away. How we will explain it away. There will be a girl, or maybe a woman. She will have rejected this newest killer, she will have worn makeup and heels. It will be a sad story, because if she’d accepted the monster, if she’d been the Beauty to his Beast, we’d have avoided a tragedy. We won’t say, it was her fault, we’ll just insinuate it. Somewhere, someone will say; Jordan Peterson is so right. Click for my essay on Why Women Are Evil And Also Stink (Because Vaginas Are Dirty) And Not Fully Human!

In Peterson’s deluge of words, there’s some decent, common-sense advice. Stand up straight, it’ll do wonders for your self-confidence (and accessorily your spine). This you know already, as you already know everything I’m about to tell you, like the fact that, dear men, the world is doing you many a wrong by trying to convince you that we should all be equal. We are not. Fight for the reestablishment of your nature-given right to dominance.

But don’t forget to clean your goddamn room first.

In another timeline, he’d just be one of a bunch of people on my list of utter quacks, along with so-called Ancient Aliens theorists, Campbell, and a looot of anthropologists and prehistorians from the nineteenth century (an era Peterson could have easily belonged to, and probably been happier in, what with all the scientific racism), among others.

Peterson earns his place on the list because he has some very dodgy ideas about The Past (let’s not forget(1) He can’t tell you how he knows that, but The Ancients depicted the DNA molecule. (2) More examples, and again he “really believes” that they are ancient representations of DNA, it’s just “very complicated to explain why” (3) Oh but wait, he doesn’t “believe” that, he just has his “suspicions.”) and Human Nature (not even that accepted a concept, btw). Look, anyone telling you “that’s how it was Before hence it’s what’s Natural and how it should be again” is lying to you. The Before is a deeply political territory, and the things we chose to tell, the very way we tell them, the parts we cherish above all others – that says as much about us as it does about the Before (and often enough, more). People who say “that’s how it was; that’s what’s natural; that’s how it should be” are misrepresenting the past, cherry-picking the bits that support their arguments. What guides their choices is nothing but Ideology – which is what they’re really trying to sell you.

Be wary of people who instrumentalize the past to sell you something, be it the Lebensraum or communism as the true State of Nature. Or a specific, “natural,” model of social hierarchy.

Which brings me to the lobster. Why, of all things, does Peterson pick the lobster? I don’t know that, and neither does anyone, because he never explained it. A shared common ancestor in no way justifies it: if we look far back enough, we share common ancestors with pretty much anything living. And the lobster is such an incongruous choice. Not a primate, not even a mammal.

I have no doubt Peterson could have spun something out of the Bonobos, and point to actual Science. That’d make a modicum of sense at least. But no. Fucking lobsters. Even my nineteenth century dudes would have brought Statistics before going there. They’d have tried to argue that studies showed the majority of all things that breathe favour a specific social organisation over all others, and they’d have given a variety of examples. Among which the lobster, maybe. They’d have explained Mantis religiosa and other inconvenient counterexamples away. Peterson’s book, it’s true, is theoretically a self-help book, but still, he’s an academic, and yet he goes straight for the lobster.

Part of me is disappointed. He could do so much better than lobsters. But why would he, since so much of the reading material is produced by those oh-so-evil, doom-leading Cultural Marxists©? Why even bother with standard academic practices when those were set by the same Cultural Marxists©? It’s all worthless.

(That might be why he didn’t even try to use the Bonobos or another species of primates, to go back to my previous example. After all the argument that they’d be a better choice is in part based on research produced by disciplines infested by this so-called Cultural Marxism©. The lobster, on the other hand, is a massive fuck you to those evildoers.)

But. Peterson isn’t the Flat Earth society. He didn’t write the 21st century version of the Telliamed. He didn’t write a parody like Blueprints for a Sparkling Tomorrow: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, which I’m mentioning because one of its authors wrote some really good stuff on Peterson.

He’s not funny. He is A Very Serious Man, peddling Very Serious Notions.

#anon #ask #i should probably reread and clarify and expand #but the more time i spend on this #the more i'm afraid the worst portions of his fandom will send me not so nice messages #so fuck it here it is #in all its unedited unorganized glory #and incompleteness #this is an anti jordan peterson blog

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loki-in-hogwarts · 6 years

Text

Polaris - part 2 : The Inner War

Peter Parker x reader Summary : You are a mutant, half sister of Wanda Maximoff. After the recent events of Sokovia, during which you reunited with your only family left and met the Avengers, you are now trying to find peace and stability. Unfortunately, peace and stability is far from being in the Avengers future... Warnings : none ? Words : 3.5K A/N : I really like this series ! I hope you will too and I will comeback for a part 3 😉 And this is part of the 12 days of Christmas writing challenge ! Also this is not edited...peace

part 1 part 3 part 4

After Tony's comeback, things went really quickly. You immediately all directed to Berlin, where Steve had been located. On the flight, you stayed all together, discussing about a plan.

"Of course, we won't severely harm them alright ? We don't want to fight, just to stop them", Stark said looking everyone straight in the eyes.

You all nodded.

"Good."

You talked and shared ideas for some other hours and eventually you split ad you were about to leave too when Tony grabbed your shoulder, calling you.

"Y/n. I have a special mission for you."

You frowned. He looked serious but if you had learnt anything with Anthony Stark was 1.he was never serious long and 2.he always wanted to keep you safe. That's why this special mission thing seemed odd to you. You crossed your arms with a smirk, raising an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"I want you to take Spider boy on walk in Berlin", he added with a knowing smile.

There it is... Were you ever wrong ? You rolled your eyes but still smiled. You both turned around to look at the boy. He seemed a little lost and intimidated by everyone. When Natasha asked him if he wanted some water he answered :"No thanks, Miss Widow."

You were staring at him with a sweet smile. Tony looked at you and rose his eyebrows.

"He is a dork", you replied trying to make it sound like an insult but you clearly didn't.

Tony laughed.

"He for sure is ! But look at him, he doesn't know anyone and you're the same age. I want you to get to know him and just-"

"Become friends ?"

"I was going to say make out but being friends is cool too. Actually I would prefer that, I'm not sure I'm ready to see my...to see you with a boy. You should do a walk in Berlin together, we still don't know where they are exactly, you deserve to have a little fun", he was starting to sound serious again and he probably felt forced to add : "Plus you like dorks, don't you ?"

You gasped and tried to answer something but he kissed your forehead and left. You sighed and headed to the clumsy boy seat. He was looking at the sky by the plane window.

"Hey ! Can I sit here ?, you asked pointing the seat next to him.

"Y-yeah, of course !"

He turned around and took his stuff off from the seat, dropping some on the floor. He kneeled to get it and banged his head on the chair arm while standing up. You giggled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Hey y/n. What's up ?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you'd like to come with me for a walk in Berlin when we'll be there."

He eyes widened and he answered surprised : "Yup. I would love that."

He seemed weird and you narrowed your eyes with a smile.

"Do I intimidate you Peter boy ?"

He gulped.

"I-I, no, it's-not you... I just, hum, don't know how to act around girls ?", he replied sounding more like a question.

You chuckled.

"And Tony thought that I was the one least intimidating you...", you whispered. "You're such a dork Peter boy !", you said at loud to Peter, who seemed to feel sorry. "Listen, I just want to get to know you. I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited that there is finally someone my age in the group. Please, come with me for a walk ?"

He nodded, blinking. You got up and left, then retraced your steps and added, falling in Peter's doe eyes : "I like dorks."

A smile lit up his face and his eyes twinkled.

"I like intimidating, bad ass girls", he answered, joking.

You left with a stupid smile displayed. Wow, this was unexpected. Feeling that you hadn't forecasted filled your heart.

You landed in Berlin and reached for the hotel where you were staying. Your room was right next to Peter's, a door connecting your rooms. Stark... You chilled a bit on your phone then got ready to go out. You put on some light makeup and wore a dress with knee-socks. You knocked on the door that linked your rooms and Peter opened it, shocked.

"Y/n !", he exclaimed.

"Ready for a walk ?"

His hair were wet and he was wearing a towel around his waist, displaying his surprisingly well designed muscles. Your eyes widened.

"Obviously not...", you added, staring at the ground.

"Come in, I'll just put on some clothes-"

Don't feel so urged...

"I'll take a look to your room and see if it's better than mine, in which case I will steal it", you laughed.

He giggled, passing a hand in his hair and headed to the bathroom with some clothes in his arms. You entered in nd immediately noticed a small jacuzzi. Damn it Tony ! This guy was evil.

"You have a jacuzzi ?!", you exclaimed, disbelieving

"I knew that you would have wanted to steal it as soon as you saw that !", Peter's voice answered from the bathroom.

You jumped on the bed and turned on the TV. You were looking for something to watch but you stopped on a music channel airing Left hand free by Alt J. You jammed on the song and Peter went out of the bathroom in a hurry.

"I love this song !", he exclaimed.

You laughed.

"You ready ?", you asked

"Yup"

He opened the door and let you go out first.

"So you're Scarlet Witch's sister ?"

"Hum hum", you nodded.

"Do you have the same powers ?"

You looked around you and grabbed his hand, bringing him in a small, empty corner of the park where you were walking. You focused on the metal of your boots and of the bracelets around your wrists. A green light appeared around them and you started to fly.

"Wow ! This is so cool ! So what is it ?"

"I control metal. That's a bit less cooler than what Wanda is capable of."

"I still think that's dope", Peter said with a smile.

You walked back to the park and entered the city.

"What about you ? You said that it started 6 months ago ?"

"I was bitten by a radioactive spider. It enables me to be super fast, super strong and very agile. Oh and I have Spider senses, it's like very developed instinct."

"I think that's pretty dope too ! And how did you hide this to your family ?"

He seemed embarrassed.

"I...only have my Aunt. My parents and uncle are dead."

You stopped.

"I'm sorry ! I shouldn't have asked", you declared.

He took your hand.

'"That's ok, don't worry", he told you smiling sweetly.

"You know, my brother and parents are dead too, I get it", you added, still holding his hand.

He stuck a lock of your green hair behind your ear.

"Orphan buddies", he joked.

You smiled and shrugged. You walked and talked about each other for another hour. Peter had brought a camera and he was filming everything. You played the model and posed in front of the lens. After having spent the whole afternoon out, you decided to head back. On your way to the hotel, you stopped in front of a stand that was selling German sweets.

"Come closer lover birds !", the shopkeeper called you.

You turned around and faced each other.

"We are not-"

"Come here ! Do you want to taste this ?", she asked giving you a heart shaped biscuit. "It's perfect for the lovers !"

You rolled your eyes and Peter took the biscuit. You glared at him.

"What ? You don't refuse a free sweet !", he exclaimed, defending himself.

You took one too and bit it.

"This is delicious ! It tastes like orange blossom, oh my god, that's incredible !"

Peter gave some money to the woman and grabbed a bag of biscuits.

"Here's for you", he said with a soft smile.

"If your man offers you biscuits, you should marry him. That's a German saying", the woman declared nodding.

"We are not-", you tried to tell her

"Thank you Miss, goodbye", Peter interrupted you pulling you to the hotel.

After this cool afternoon, you all ate together in the hotel restaurant. You were next to Peter and in front of Tony.

"So, you two went out downtown, huh ? How was it ?", Tony asked with the same grin.

"Really cool, we had fun", you said with a murderous look to your mentor.

The other members started to speak and you fortunately changed subject. After the dinner, you took the stairs to go back to your room. You heard a few moment later Peter entering his too but you soon fell into a sleep haunted by nightmares of Wanda.

The next morning you were woken with a start. Tony managed to locate Steve and you had to act as quick as possible. You packed all your things and put on your fight clothes. With a sighed, you posed your headpiece on your hair. It was green and in metal, something that you made in souvenir of your family. You went out of your room and saw Happy standing in Peter's room, desperate.

"Peter ! What are you wearing ?"

He had a weird homemade costume on. You bypassed Happy and lean on the wall.

"Peter boy, when you're part of the Avengers, you have some advantages..."

He was staring at you with widened eyes.

"Such as this", you said, showing your clothes with your hands.

"You look-", he started.

"Get the suit on", you declared as Happy opened a suitcase.

Inside there was a much more elaborated version of his old suit, surely made by Tony. Indeed, being an Avengers meant that Tony would very likely build a suit or an armor for you. He had suggested to do so for you only a week after you started to work with them, it didn't surprise you that he did the same with Peter. The boy took the suit, super excited and went to the bathroom to wear it. When he went out, he was already trying some gadgets.

"This is amazing !", he yelled.

"Pete, you look amazing in this. Have you ever considered wearing some more skintight clothes ?", you questioned with a grin.

You could swear that he was blushing inside of his mask.

"Come on, there's no time to loose !"

You jumped in a bus and Tony gathered all of you to try to make a plan.

"Y/n !"

You turned around and saw Vision.

"Yes ?", you answered softly.

"I wanted to tell you... If you don't want to be confronted to your sister, I will be there."

You smiled. Vision was the kindest person ever. And even though he was born yesterday, he was extremely emphatic and he understood everything.

"Thanks Vision, I think we should do it together.", you said taking his hand and squeezing it.

Then, he did something you wasn't expecting. He wrapped his arms around you and held you tight.

"I care about you y/n. As much as I care about your sister."

You were truly loved about what he said. That was the first time that he had such a behavior with you.

"Me too, Vision."

He patted you back and left. You arrived in an abandoned airport 30 minutes later. You went out of the bus and executed what Tony had planned. You detected Steve all fell around him, stopping him.

"Cap", Tony said.

Steve saw you all around him. Iron Man and War Machine had flew and landed in front of him. Black Panther jumped on his left and Black Widow appeared behind him. You flew and jumped on his right.

"Oh, you too ?", Steve questioned as he stared at you and Natasha.

"Steve, there is no need for this. Drop the shield. Please, you c-"

"I won't drop the shield and let Bucky down", he declared.

"I had planned you would say that. Underoos !", he screamed.

Spider-man jumped, webbed the shield and Cap's wrists and landed on a car.

"Hey everyone ! Captain, big fan. Mr Stark, this suit is extremely intuitive-"

"We can talk about that later..."

"Alright, yes."

You rolled your eyes and Steve rose his prisoned wrists and you knew what was going to happen but before you could anything, the arrow had already liberated Cap. You used your powers to deviate it but it was too late. In the same time Peter tried to say something but he was hit by a tiny man that became big. He took the shield and gave it back to Cap.

"What the hell was that ?", Rhodey asked, surprised.

He and Tony flew in the air and they identified Sam and Bucky running in a hallway. James was hit by Steve's shield while Natasha was taking care of the shrinking man. T'challa ran to catch Bucky but he was stopped by Steve that threw his shield on him and they fought. In the meanwhile, Tony told Peter to get Sam and Bucky. He turned around and looked at you. You nodded, showing that you got it and flew, following him. He broke a window and entered in, kicking Sam. He stopped a punch from Bucky grabbing his fist. You had to admit that was quite impressive knowing the strength of the man.

"Wow ! You have a metal arm ? That is awesome !", he exclaimed, amazed.

"Tell me about it !", you declared, landing on your feet and using your power to immobilise the arm.

"Y/n !", Peter and Sam called out at the same time.

"You're going to fight your favorite uncle ?", Sam asked, fakely hurt.

"Better, I'm going to kick your butt !", you declared with a grin.

You threw your power on his wings and he kicked Peter. He flew away with a web and Bucky threw a car on him.

"I think you lost this !", he yelled as he threw the car back on Barnes.

As Sam jumped and opened his wings, you controlled them and they closed. Wilson fell on the ground. Peter webbed them both on the ground. You noticed a red light from outside and froze.

"Go y/n, I got this !", Peter said as he took your hand.

You looked at him, kissed his cheek and flew outside. You left him stunned. You landed on the floor and saw Iron Man trying to stop falling cars surrounded by red power. You focused and threw the cars away as they were about to fall on Tony. Wanda turned around and opened her mouth. She seemed about to say something but you suddenly saw Peter being kicked by Sam's drone and you crushed it. But Peter fell on the ground. You ran to him.

"Spidey !"

"I'm fine, don't worry !"

Cap's team gathered and they were running to the Quinjet when Vision stopped them with his stone, tracing a line in front of them. Your squad formed a line in front of them.

"Just like we said earlier alright ?", Stark declared.

You started to run to each other. Tony had told you that if a moment like this should happen, each one had to focus on someone. Tony flew to Steve, Natasha ran to Clint, T'challa jumped on Barnes, James flew in the air with Sam and Peter webbed the shrinking man. You turned to Vision who nodded. You flew on Wanda. You immobilised her wrists thanks to the bracelets she was wearing.

"Still didn't get the lesson ?", you asked with a grin.

Vision threw his laser around her, but she managed to run away. She started to throw car to Peter and you stopped them while he was webbing them to dodge them. You took care of the shrinking man by using your green power that showed you where he was standing. Peter then fight Steve while Vision was taking care of Wanda. Cap threw the shield and a truck fell on Peter. He was desperately trying to hold it.

"A little help ?", he screamed.

You grabbed it with your power and threw it away. Suddenly the shrinking man became really, really big and threw Rhodes away. Peter caught him. You all focused on the giant man and Bucky and Steve used it to escape. Vision noticed it and cut a tower for it to fall in front of the jet they were running to. Wanda pushed the tower with her powers and you pulled from the other way with yours. The building was surrounded with red and green light. Rhodes threw a sonor wave on Wanda and the tower collapsed as she fell, but Roger and Barnes still managed to get through. On the other side, Peter, Tony and Rhodey were teaming up and made the giant man fell, but Peter got slapped by the big hand and flew away.

"Spidey !", you screamed as you flew to him.

You and Tony landed next to him. You kneeled to check if he was alright. He jumped when he woke up and tried to fight you.

"Same side ! Look, that's me !", Tony said and pushed you back.

"Hey, I was scared", Peter sighed relieved.

"You're done, okay ? You did a good job, now stay there, alright ?"

"What ? No, I'm fine !"

"Stay down !"

"No, I got to get him back !"

"You're going home or I'm going to call May ! You're done", he flew away as you watched the scene.

"Wait ! Mr Stark wait ! I'm not done, I'm not...", Peter stuttered as he tried to get up.

He put on his mask and you stopped him, pushing him gently to the floor.

"Okay I'm done, I'm done", he declared as his arms weren't responding anymore.

You took off his mask and kissed him on the cheek before taking a few steps to fly away.

"Can you please stop doing that !"

You stopped and turned around.

"You don't like it ?", you said and flew away.

"No, I don't like you flying away every time !", he yelled for you to hear it. "The kiss, I like it too much..."

You saw Wanda in Vision's arms on the floor and landed next to them.

"I'm sorry", you heard Vision say.

"Me too", Wanda answered.

You saw the Quinjet fly away and Rhodey followed it. Behind him were Tony and right after Sam. Rhodes asked Vision to threw his laser on Sam, but he dodged it and it hit Rhodey instead.

"No !", you cried and jumped in the air.

Tony tried to catch him too. But you knew you were too far to get him. You tried to curb his fall at least. Sam was following him too. Rhodes hit the floor. Tony immediately kneeled asked FRIDAY to look for a heartbeat.

"Heartbeat detected."

You sighed, a tear falling on your cheek. Sam landed next to you.

"I'm sorry..."

Tony threw a missile on him. Vision arrived too. They stared at each other.

"What have we done ?", you whispered, defeated.

"What are they doing there ?!", you screamed on Tony.

He didn't answer, back to you. You had came back from Berlin, Rhodey was in a specialised clinic, but they were talking about a paralysation for life; Wanda, Clint, Sam and Scott Lang, the shrinking man, were locked in a prison; Vision was god knows where; Steve and Barnes had disappeared and Peter was probably back in New York.

"You can't lock them up in a prison !"

"They are criminals, outlaws", he answered coldly.

Since you were back, your mentor had lapsed into silence.

"They are my family !"

He turned around and you saw that he was crying.

"They were mine too. And Rhodey's."

You took his arm. He grabbed you and hugged you.

"This is obviously not permanent. But I don't have another solution for now. I swear, we will find a way. And you can visit Wanda."

You calmed down.

"What should I do, then ?", you asked.

"I might have an idea...", he declared with the first smile you had seen him display since the battle.

Peter was back at school and clearly not enjoying it. He missed the fight, the suit, the team...and you. Luckily, Stark had left him the suit and he was still using it to patroll New York. Before leaving him, Stark had summed up the whole situation and asked him to keep it on low profile. That's what he always did. Hide. Today, he sat next to Ned in English class, who was harassing him to know where he was, why he had missed school, etc.

"Please, please, calm down everyone !", Mr Klein asked. "I have an important new to tell you. There is a new student that will join us in a few moment. I want you all to be nice to her and make her feel good here. There is still some...peculiar thing about her. Some of you may already know her as-"

"Polaris !", a student in the class screamed pointing at you as you entered in the classroom.

"Hello everyone", you greeted.

Peter gasped.

"Y/n ?!"

taglist : @double-leo

#peter parker #peter x reader #peter parker x reader #reader x peter parker #peter parker x y/n #spiderman #spiderman x reader #spiderman x y/n #spiderman x you #spidey #spidey x reader #polaris #wanda maximoff #Vision #wanda x vision #tom holland

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quell-tea-salon · 7 years

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THE IDOLM@STER SideM 3rdLIVE TOUR report - Makuhari Day 2

The group lineup for Day 2: Dramatic Stars, S.E.M, Cafe Parade, Altessimo, and Legenders. (See set list here.)

Suffice to say, this DraSta/SEM/LegeP died and went to heaven. I had an AltessimoP sitting to my left and a SEM-P on the other side; we pretty much took turns dying throughout the 3.5-hour concert LOL. Also today I had a much better seat compared to yesterday’s live-viewing, which allowed me to appreciate the show even more!! For starters, I could actually see the whole screen this time....

Karino Sho was the MC for today; he gave his signature “SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO desu” greeting, and told us that the concept for today’s performances was “Show!” ....Then proceeded to make a pun of it with his name wwww

With all the groups present on stage, the first song was Reason!!, followed by Cafe’s Reversed Masquerade. Lege took the stage for Symphonic Brave, then it was Alte’s turn for Tone’s Destiny. So far all songs that were in yesterday’s set list.

AND THEN

MY DREAMS CAME TRUE

I GOT TO HEAR SEM SING SAYONARA SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!!! SEM! SUMMER! HOLIDAY!!!! HOLY SHIT DEM HIP THRUSTS UGH SENSEI NOT IN FRONT OF YOUR STUDENTS!!! Yoshiki was downright OBSCENE enokiya's singing was shaky as usual and Totto’s dancing is still stiff (so endearing ;w;) but honestly it didn't matter bc IT'S SEMMMMM

And without giving us time to recover DRASTA BURST ONTO THE STAGE FOR MOON NIGHT NO SEI NI SHITE AND I SCREAMED SO LOUD SKSHAKSHSJDBNAJDHSKDJDN THEY GAVE US THE SLY LOOKS AND BEDROOM EYES AND NAUGHTY WINKS AND LIP-LICKING AND "OIDE ♥" IT WAS HORRIBLE I DIED ABOUT 50000 TIMES you could tell they were having the time of their lives performing it too T_T My throat pretty much died since I was making dying whale sounds the entire time lol i tried not to use my voice after that but the set list continued to be amazing so I couldn’t stop myself from screaming cheering and joining in the song calls.....

After allowing us a short break by way of talk time, part 2 kicked off with Kamiya’s solo A Cup of Happiness! His dance routine included the use of a sparkly pink cane >< So cute and stylish....... Halfway through the song Legenders’ Amehiko and Chris joined him on stage with their own white canes and i freaked out omggggggggg this three make such a handsome picture T_T God, Chris’ long legs and fashion model proportions.,.....

The rest of Cafe Parade joined Kamiya on stage for Cafe Parade! (my fav song of theirs!), and after that was Rei-chan’s solo Echoes My Note, and Alte’s first single The 1st Movement. The AlteP next to me was whimpering the entire time ;w;

I lost my shit again when Lege hopped on stage for String of Fate....... I’ve wanted to watch this R18 performance since forever........ Amehiko’s voice is so smooth and gorgeous and deadly, it’s almost hilarious that his seiyuu Kasama-san is a total gentleman who loves cats and has the temperament of a marshmallow T_T However the strongest singer was probably Fuumin, he hit all the notes consistently (and looked beautiful from every angle gdi).

After another talk break, part 3 began with SEM's Infinite Possibilities!!!! Another classic hit from SideM...... Every time Totto unleashed his magnificent vibrato at "koeTEEEEEEE" we'd burst into cheers!!! They used the pink laser guns in the choreography too, so cute ><

Next was Alte’s Never End Opus....... The famed performance that reduces everyone to tears......... My AlteP buddy was sobbing and even I felt my eyes prickle........ Such a beautiful, heart-wrenching song T_____T

Dramatic Nonfiction!!!! This is my 2nd fav song from DraSta after Moon Night and i know i keep repeating myself, but i’m SO happy that i got to hear them perform this live T_______T It’s uncharacteristically moody for DraSta, the dance choreograph is sexy af and IN THE SECOND VERSE THEY HAD A CAMERAMAN WITH THEM ON STAGE AND THEY UNLEASHED /MAXIMUM/ FANSERVICE AT THE CAMERA DURING THEIR SOLO LINES UGHHHHHHHHHHH I HATE DRASTA, JUST KILL ME (THEY KILLED ME) At that moment I was actually grateful to be at a live-viewing instead of the venue 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Then Cafe Parade hopped on board the the rail trolleys for A La Carte Freedom, throwing rubber balls at the audience like HiJo yesterday. Later they apologised for throwing too hard and hoped that they didn’t hurt anyone wwwwwwwwwww

Another talk break, then Legenders kicked off part 4 with Legacy of Spirit. LegeP represent!!!

Next was Maitaru’s solo This Is It. Singing’s definitely not one of Enokiya’s strong points, but he’s cute and rly fun to watch, even more so when you know what he’s like irl and thus how seriously he takes his work wwwwwww Teru and Saki-chan jumped in as backup dancers, they were both so sexy and cute (srsly Saki-chan was KILLING IT) and i hate Teru for winking at the camera ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; I love watching Shugon dance, he has so much energy in his movements!!!! Truly a Physical idol <333

The next song began with a minute of taiko drums and we were like “Oh???? Who’s this????? Could it be....???” Then SEM appeared on stage in ouendan outfits and we SCREAMED!!!!!! They recited the senseis’ lines cheering on the students from that scene in ep5 and even did the VICTORY! group pose IT WAS SO GOOD T_____T They shed the ouendan gakuran coats for the song (From Teacher to Future!) though haha. During yesterday’s performance Jirou just kinda collapsed onto the stairs in a fit of exhaustion... Today Hazama-sensei sat on the stairs with his face in his hands ;w; Sensei ganbareeeee

DraSta returned to the stage for Arrive To Star. Tbh it’s probably my least fav out of their songs, along the lines of Starlight Celebrate, which i also wasn’t too fond of until recently (it grew on me). But i do know how important this song is for them as a team, and i’m always grateful for DraSta live performances... IMO they truly are one of the strongest teams in SideM vocally, even if Taku doesn’t always do well live.

DraSta remained on stage and SEM joined them to perform a DraSEM version of Ryuusei Parade!!!!! Nothing beats the original DraSEMJupi version (which we got to hear yesterday!) but i love this song to bits and i love DraSEM, plus it’s highly unlikely that we’ll get to hear this rendition anywhere else, so this was truly a performance to remember *____*

Eternal Phantasia!!!!!! I was hoping that they’d perform this today as it wasn’t in yesterday’s set list T______T This majestic, uplifting song was the perfect lead in to the ending sequence - BeyoDori, followed by encore (they changed into 3rdLive coloured T-shirts for this) songs Glorious Ro@d and the SideM staple Drive A Live :D

As the cast made their final exit from the stage, almost everyone made cute poses at the camera.... DraSta were the last group to leave and those ASSHOLES did a SYNCHRONISED BLOW-KISS at us sahjgfdlDGHLsdfghlfSD I WRECKED MY THROAT FROM SCREAMING AND ALMOST CRIED FROM SHOCK, THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!

Other stuff:

Totto is an amazing singer and is always in stoic Hazama-sensei mode during performances, but when he talks his endearing awkward side comes out ;w; Usually Enokiya teases him about it and Yoshiki runs damage control, but today Yoshiki just stood back and Totto complained that recently Yoshiki's been giving him the cold shoulder wwww

Speaking of Enokiya, every time it was his turn to talk he’d break character and yell “LET’S PAAAAAAARTTTTYYYYYYYYYYY” (or smth like that) wwwwwwww The first time he did it Yoshiki’s like “who ARE you???” and Enokiya goes “Well it’s hard on me when i have to follow Totto’s awkward talk time” and Yoshiki retorts with “You just made it hard for me too” LOL

When Cafe Parade said that they’d like to see SEM have their turn on the trolleys, SEM asked if they could throw balls as well, and someone suggested that they throw chalk instead since they’re teachers wwwwww Yoshiki tried to shut down the conversation, saying that he has never met a teacher that actually throws chalk at students, but both Totto and Enokiya raised their hands wwwwwwwwwwww

Since yesterday each and every one of Kasama-san’s messages were heart-meltingly lovely and sincere, and today was no different..... In his farewell message he borrowed lines from Amehiko’s marriage proposal from the mobage event, making everyone squeal/sigh... Kasama-san.....

Ama-chan gave us a very sweet message which almost sounded like a marriage proposal “Please stay by my (our) side forever” so Makonyan imitated Ume’s wedding-proposal-on-one-knee pose from yesterday, and Maria mimed biting his glove wwwww

Fu-kun (Shirou) tweeted: “Yesterday Beit proposed to me, but today I was swept away by DraSta” L O L add SEM’s SSH to that and you have: marriage proposal from Beit -> breakup with SEM -> elope with DraSta

Taso shared that due to individual busy schedules DraSta actually couldn’t meet up for rehearsals, so the first time they managed to rehearse as a group was on the day itself of Makuhari Day 1 (yesterday). Taku joked that he was relieved to see Taso still alive www

It’s no surprise that all three members of DraSta are pretty handsy people (they touch each other a lot so you can tell that they’re really close friends ;w;) but today i noticed that Taso always had a hand on Shugon’s shoulder or back whenever Shugon was speaking ;___; cuteee

During his farewell message Taso said that DraSta’s bond as a team had become even stronger while performing together in the concert, and he believes that Kaoru feels the same about Teru and Tsubasa. Shugon, with the biggest grin on his face, put his arm around Taso’s shoulder and pulled him close, going “Aw, you!”, and Taku chipped in with his Tsubasa voice “Kaoru-san, are you feeling shy ^^?” Taso immediately switched into Kaoru mode and retorted “Shut up, it’s your turn to speak! ///” *UGLY CRYING*

Taku seemed to be in good spirits and didn’t appear to have any injuries, but while the camera was zoomed in on him for his farewell speech i noticed that his thumb was bandaged and his microphone had a handle attached to it. I didn’t notice this yesterday, but then again I could only see half the screen from my first-row seat. If my guess is correct, he probably injured his thumb in yesterday’s accident, and the handle was added to the mic to help with his grip. I’m relieved that he wasn’t seriously hurt T_T Rest well, Taku-chan ><

The next concert will be held two weeks later in Miyagi! I’m attending the LV for day 2. In the meantime, I’ll focus on letting my dead throat recover, so I can kill it all over again in two weeks ^^

#idolm@ster sidem #SideM #dramatic stars #S.E.M #Altessimo #Cafe Parade #Legenders #event report #nakamura shugo.#enoki junya #uchida yuuma #yashiro taku #itou kento #nakajima yoshiki

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ohstardust · 7 years

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You Matter To Me

REQUEST: from @outofworkactress You're gonna kill me I can just feel the anger radiating off the phone but would you maybe do a little something where y/n just feels safe with Aneurin and she hadn't really felt that way before, her brother having verbally abused her growing up and Ni's just so nice and keeps her safe A/N: I became way too involved in this and I finally brought angst back into my writing (where have you been my dear old friend?). Karma is a bitch, Gabs. Also, I couldn’t resist using this song. Title: You Matter To Me by Sara Bareilles & Jason Mraz (Alt: Jessie Mueller & Drew Gehling. That’s my personal fave version) My Aneurin playlist can be found on Spotify (this is what I listen to when I write about him and songs that are featured in fics about him) (x)

I could find the whole meaning of life in those sad eyes They've seen things that you never quite say, but I hear It’s hard to really trust someone, no matter how important they are to you, once you’ve had your confidence shattered and every horrible term under the sun thrown at you. It was something Y/N knew all too well. She was nineteen when she first met Aneurin, and quite frankly he couldn’t have come into her life at a better time. Her romantic relationship had dissolved nine days prior to their meet and she was a wreck. It seemed she’d made a colossal mistake with that one.

Aneurin had brought light to the darkness of her life and made her smile, even if it was just for one evening. He’d vanished after that night in the university library and she didn’t see him again until she was pushing twenty-three. He hadn’t changed all that much aside from his face slimming a little and his features were more pronounced. They’d vowed to themselves after that study night that, if they were to ever meet again, they wouldn’t let the other go. They’d had an intermittent relationship over the remaining few years thanks to busy schedules, careers fully taking off and a change in geographical locations. But they had a friendship that would defy everything thrown their way regardless. Over the past year or so, they’d become close friends. She’d encountered a few more snakes in terms of relationships and it felt like one bad omen after another. Y/N had confided in Ni about her appalling track record and the verbal abuse she’d received in her younger years, it felt like punishment for something she wasn’t aware she’d committed. The moment he heard, he’d promised himself to never stop trying to make her see her worth. Not until his last breath.

Come out of hiding, I'm right here beside you And I'll stay there as long as you let me “I’m such a fucking joke, Ni,” she sobbed. She’d gone beyond the anger stage at this point, her photos of him had been torn apart and everything he’d bought her had found its way into the bin. What was the point in trying to be happy if it wasn’t meant to happen? Aneurin leant against the doorframe and had watched her during her outburst, letting her hash out her anger. That he could deal with. What he couldn’t deal with was her head buried in her fists and her shoulders shaking as her heart broke yet again. He was angry at that bastard, he was hurting for her, his own heart breaking as he saw her in pain. Aneurin felt useless. He pulled himself from his slouched position and knelt before her, his hands pulled at hers and clasped them in his own forcing her to lift her head, “Don’t you ever say that again, you hear me?” Y/N took one look into his eyes and broke down further. She shook her head and continued to avoid his gaze, she didn’t want to see how much upset she’d caused him by what she believed to be her own stupidity. “Why else would I let them walk all over me?” her voiced lowered further until she whispered, “Why would I allow myself to be hurt when it’s already inevitable? Why don’t I stop it before it gets that far?” “Because you want to believe it’ll be better this time.” Y/N’s weakly laughed and glanced at the man on the floor, her eyes looked tired, “but it never is, is it?” “It’s not your failing, Y/N, you’ve done nothing wrong.” He tried to smile at her and lighten her spirits, to reassure her but he feared it had come out more as a grimace. “Then who’s is it, Ni?!” her voice raised and Aneurin startled at the change, “If I’m not the problem then who is?” “These vile men that think it’s acceptable to treat you like this,” he spat, absolutely furious that she saw herself as the one to blame when all she did was date the wrong men. “He told me this would happen, he told me I was worthless and that no one would ever really love me, I just didn’t want to believe him.” Aneurin felt sick as soon as she referenced that poor excuse of a sibling of hers, the one person who destroyed her before anyone else. His hands gripped her cheeks softly but commanding her full attention, adamant that now was the time to make her see what he saw in her, how truly incredible she was and how loved she was. Y/N’s eyes closed, she felt defeated and tired and so sick of feeling like she was so much lower than everybody else. “You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and I’m not just telling you this because I want to cheer you up, I’m saying it because I honest to god mean it. That night in the library, where we told each other our deepest secrets, thinking we’d never meet again, was the best night of my life. Everything is so much better when you’re there, every happy memory I have seems to involve you somewhere, whether it’s because you were physically there, or because I knew I could call you and just hear your voice. You’re the bright star, my angel. Everything he brainwashed you into thinking for all those years was wrong, all horrific lies, Y/N. I know it doesn’t feel like it, I know you think the world is against you, you have every reason to, but I love you so very much and nothing can put a stop to that. I’m sorry I haven’t protected you enough, I’m sorry I failed to stop you hurting, but I promise I’ll do better, I promise to make you happier with life. I’ll do anything to make you smile, yeah?” Her eyes were still closed but her smile had risen and for a moment she felt like she was floating. “You honestly mean all that?” “Every. Single. World.” He pressed kisses to her cheeks in unison with every word. “Will you sing for me?” he kissed her forehead and nodded, then stood up to take a seat beside her. Her head rested on his shoulder and he stroked her hair to keep her calm, it always comforted her and he swallowed hard in realisation that he knew so much more about her than he ever realised. Because you matter to me Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody You matter to me I promise you do, you, you matter too I promise you do, you see? You matter to me Just like he knew her favourite songs and her love for musicals, the ones that make her ridiculously happy and the ones that make her sad, the way they make her feel. Most of all, he knew how to love her. She joined in with a whisper, her throat sore and weak, but she wanted to share this with him. She wanted everything with him. It's addictive the minute you let yourself think The things that I say just might matter to someone All of this time I've been keeping my mind on the running away And for the first time I think I'd consider the stay Because you matter to me And as he sang the beautiful and heart-warming song to her, she lifted her head to look at him once more, and that’s when she realised that he meant every word he was singing. She really did matter to him, and yes, he really did love her. She realised that nothing had ever made her feel as safe as Aneurin had, nothing gave her more comfort than him, nothing made her feel so bright in her darkest moments than he did. You matter to me I promise you do, you, you matter too I promise you do, you see? You matter to me

#aneurin barnard imagine #aneurin barnard #aneurin barnard x reader #dunkirk imagine #dunkirk cast #dunkirk imagines #waitress the musical #you matter to me

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bunnikook · 7 years

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✧・ﾟyoonkook fic recs・ﾟ✧

Hello! This is part 1 of my yoonkook fic recs (cause trust me I have much much more) Anyway, just a heads up, you may see some of these *** things; those indicate my personal favorites. Also if you have any questions or just want to spazz about sugakookie my inbox is always open! I use twitter a LOT more than I do tumblr so here: ciara’s twitter So now that that’s taken care of let’s get started!

I know I'll fall in love with you, baby***

The soulmate/soulbond au where Yoongi is part of a famous rap duo and Jungkook is his diligent fanboy, they meet at a fansign and things escalate from there

(alt. Yoongi didn’t sign up for this)

(my notes: FREAKING MASTERPIECE)

Fool me Once

Yoongi is thirty years old and alone. He's got a watered-down version of his dream job (working for a small-town paper writing fluff pieces and ghostwriting the advice column), an older sister who won't stop trying to set him up with every girl she knows, and today is his parents' fortieth anniversary.

Maybe if he was happier he wouldn't have pretended to be someone else's blind date in the middle of the train station.

The Garden Of Eden***

the truth of it all is that yoongi is inexplicably lonely.

olympus**

“you say that now,” namjoon, a son of athena, states. “but in the future, you never know what might change.”

“trust me, if i am felled, it won’t be because of love,” yoongi tells him stiffly.

first impressions***

"you’re a famous critique and I’m a server and I get so nervous that I trip and spill the dish all over you" AU

Those candles aren’t the only ones getting fired up

Written from these two prompts:

“i own a candle store and some cute weirdo comes in every day to smell the candles but they have never actually bought any and they literally run away when i ask if they need help” au

“i love smelling candles in this candle store but this cute employee keeps walking up to me and asking me if i need help and i always get super embarrassed and run away” au

soft melodies and even softer touches*

22:39;

I see the way you look at me, hyung.

Yoongi's world stands still, and in that moment, he wants nothing more than to wring Jimin's neck. It's Jeongguk, it has to be Jeongguk, who else would it be? Yoongi knows many dancers--unfortunately Jimin's one of them--but there's only one that he's on close terms with, and whose number he doesn't have.

Jeongguk. It's Jeongguk. It's fucking Jeongguk.

(OR: Jeongguk's a contemporary dancer, and Yoongi is his academy's pianist).

Beauty and The Beast ***

Jungkook didn't completely understand what was going on, and he wasn't sure if he believed in the whole true love thing, but he did know one thing. Yoongi was the single most lonely broken thing he had ever seen in his entire life and something deep inside of his bones screamed at him to fix it. So, He was going to fix it. Or perhaps die trying.

(my notes: i’m gonna go die this is so magical)

trust yourself to me

jungkook isn't one for clubs and yoongi hates his job.

Can we pretend a little longer?***

Written from a request prompt:

"we’re only engaged to get our parents off our backs and you’re in love with somebody else so feel free to hook up with them idc i’m not jealous (yes i am)" x SugaKookie

baby (don’t be so elusive)***

no one said finding yoongi was going to be easy. (soulmate au)

your love is such a sugar rush (and i can never get enough)

A List of Things Jeon Jungkook Expects Min Yoongi to Do to Him After Jungkook Accidentally Calls Him Short:

1.) Take back the green apple sour tapes he gave to Jungkook.

2.) Punch him square in the jaw.

3.) Spit a diss rap he made on the spot at Jungkook's face.

4.) Glare at him until he withers and dies, leaving his life horribly unaccomplished. (Out of the four options, this is the one Jungkook preferred the most.)

the feeling of you*

within one moment and the next, jungkook takes his finger in his mouth, slowly, lips hollowed around yoongi’s thumb.

Loving You (It’s All I Know)***

Jeongguk is a sunflower and Yoongi is his sun. It takes a long time for him to understand what that means.

Alternatively, Yoongi saves Jeongguk from a playground bully and the rest is history.

Color Swept me off my Feet *

In which Namjoon is an asshole friend who disses Yoongi’s style and Yoongi reluctantly drags himself to get a haircut. Also in which Jeongguk is the hairdresser on whom Yoongi develops a mortifying teenage crush and it all goes to hell from there, with a lot of help from well-meaning friends. (Or: Yoongi changes his hair color a gazillion times.)

Color Psychology

Hoseok tries to improve Yoongi's non-existent love life by setting him up on a blind date with his co-worker. Yoongi's flashy dye-job wasn't part of the equation, though.

One Song Glory**

When Yoongi gets a drunken call from Jimin's friend Jeongguk in the middle of the night, he's ready to blow him off and go back to sleep. He never expected to end up doling out life advice and driving the kid home across half of Seoul.

the rest is fiction***

his mom says that his partner may have the same dilemma as him, not knowing what to write in the notebook they share. yoongi wonders if his soulmate is even alive at this point.

Behind Every Corner Is A Stolen Kiss***

Jeon Jungkook is a 5th year Gryffindor with a secret but secrets grow heavy on the heart and stolen kisses are, oh, so sweet and so is a certain Slytherin.

(my notes: I love harry potter aus omg)

donut know what I’d do without you**

When Jeongguk follows the familiar route to the shop, he realizes that, despite feeling absolutely mortified with every interaction, Jeongguk almost wants to see if Blondie is there. The coffee and donuts are good, sure, but a part of him wants to find out what Blondie plans on saying next despite Jeongguk always being the butt of the joke.

He starts to wonder if he has masochistic tendencies.

(or AU where Yoongi works at a Krispy Kreme and Jeongguk is a regular. Jeongguk may or may not be smitten).

Teacup Pup*

Yoongi didn't expect to be starting a family with his boyfriend so soon.

ride out to the storm with you***

babysitting a field operative who probably has the shittiest measure of danger is definitely not a part of yoongi's job description. but that's what he still ends up doing half the time, anyway.

baby, it’s cold outside***

yoongi was pretty sure that this was the moment he knew he was in love. (part 1 of christmas special)

(my notes: XIAJIN I LOVE YOU)

your eyes are like starlight now*

jungkook falls in love with baking after he falls in love with singing.

(part 2 of christmas special)

�� 손을 내밀어줘, Save Me***

That’s when Min Yoongi, self-declared ‘simple man’, turned the corner onto his street, mid-yawn, his breath escaping with a small squeak he’d never admit he made, when he collided into another body, and his ‘simple man’ life was thrown into chaos.

In which Jungkook is angry, nearly a high school drop out, and alone, and Yoongi is an adult who is struggling, and somehow, they find someone to save them in each other.

(part 1 of you shine so bright)

The Best of Me, 나 너밖에 없지***

Three weeks. It had been three weeks since the performance, two weeks since he and Jungkook had that silly little Romeo and Juliet talk. Silly and dumb, maybe, but the thought still made Yoongi smile, even in his groggy, half-asleep state. Nothing had really changed, per say, nothing except for the kissing. God, the kissing… Jungkook kissed, for all his inexperience, like he was trying to make up for lost time.

Jungkook was still a little shit, Yoongi still indulged him. Days were long, nights were longer, and Yoongi loved Jungkook with more ardor than he’d ever thought possible. It was a pity he didn't seem to be what Jungkook needed.

you’re under arrest (for stealing my heart)*

It should be illegal for Jungkook to be so good looking.

Stupid Cupid

Min Yoongi literally gets clotheslined by love and he is so, so pissed about it.

OR: That time Jeongguk made Yoongi cough up flowers.

Sneeze once; I hate you. Sneeze twice; We’re Doomed.*

Jeon Jeongguk used to imagine himself being brave and confident in front of his soulmate. It wasn't until he realised that his soulmate is a gorgeous (and serious-looking) man dressed in all-black that he started to doubt the whole soulmate thing altogether.

Soulmate AU in which you sneeze at the same time as your soulmate. No exceptions. You have a flu? Your soulmate sneezes it all out with you. Your nose itches? Your soulmate finds out through experience.

do it like me***

min yoongi the cop… gets feelings for local housekeeper aka neighbor who's cute af

(or: a darker heart to heart au/spin off.)

(not finished but oohhhhh my god xiajin kill me)

coffee and a date **

when jungkook hears his boss, seokjin, say: “we’re going to have a new promotion!” his body locks the fuck up. like, legitimately - he stiffens, eyes widening in horror.

sun child***

so jungkook lives like this. curiosity may take him from time to time, but it always disappears with something new to do. he doesn’t mind his existence in the tower, nor does he question why he’s always left inside there, nor does he wish to leave.

there’s maybe, only like, one time he wants to leave. jungkook never asks, because he knows his mother will say no; yet still he keeps it in mind, records the dates for that day to come, and paints where his mother won’t see.

other than that, jungkook is fine. he is.

(tangled au i’m literally dying i love tangled so much and this is beautiful i’ve reread it like 5 times thank you so much xiajin (as you can tell xiajin’s writing is amazing read all of her fics you won’t regret it))

siren song***

the thing about jungkook is that he’s a bit of a spacey witch.

forget yesterday***

there is a scar on his cheek. he covers it up with makeup. one day he’ll be able to look at himself without wanting to erase himself completely.

(my notes: I love this one a lot pls read it)

twenty first century boy*

he thinks it’s a problem. it should be a problem. yoongi wonders what he’s doing and - and he doesn’t know how to make himself stop. doesn’t know if he even wants to.

How to Omega

"Can't we just change it?" Jimin asked. They were huddled around their manager's laptop looking at Jungkook's public profile. Underneath his birth date was his wolf status, Alpha, in glowing red.

"Then the company will end up looking like a liar," their manager moaned piteously.

(Or, the one where Jungkook wasn't as alpha as everyone expected him to be.)

color in your cheeks (the feeling flows both ways)**

yoongi and jungkook get put together in a hotel room for the next tour.

just the two of them

find some new friends

“kid, you threw up on my shoes. i think we’re past the formalities. you can just call me hyung.”

“...i’m pretty sure i’m older.”

“...your armband is for teens under eighteen. i’m over eighteen. i’m the hyung.”

“...you’re really over eighteen?”

“born in ninety-three, punk. let me guess. ninety-nine?”

“ninety-seven!”

All My Loving

The said customer practically stomps his way to them and slams 23,000 won on the counter. He huffs and rips his mask off his face and says in the lowest and most serious voice Jungkook had ever heard in his life;

“I’m looking for a flower that passive-aggressively says ‘shut the fuck up’.”

Red

Min Yoongi just really hates the color red.

#help im sugakookie trash #like 3000%#also literally read any of xiajin's fics #theyre amazing #yoonkook #syubkook #sugakookie #yoongi x jungkook #jungkook x yoongi #bts #bangtan #방탄소년단

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anautisticdragon-blog · 7 years

Photo

On Polygon, Being an SJW, & Insecurities

Deep breath.

So, I dig Polygon. For those who aren't familiar with such an outdated parlance, it means I like them. In fact, I'm a big fan. I might even say I love them. No, that's not fair. The McElroys are involved, including that big baby Travis whom I'm so fond of. So, yes, I do love them. It's not fair to say that I 'might.'

Are Polygon and the McElroys SJWs? Well, from the Alt-Right perspective... Yep. I'm a goddamn SJW, me. Just like Green Arrow. God I loved the controversy that caused, thank you Ben Percy, you're one of my new favourite comic book writers.

What does being an ‘SJW’ mean?

From the Alt-Right perspective, it simply means... You're just not part of the White Supremacy Circlejerk. That's it. Yes, that is the great sin of it all, everyone. If you're not a vile White Supremacist, you're an "SJW cuck." Which is interesting, but I want to get back to that later.

What does being a social rights activist mean to me?

It means I try harder. I've been hurt, I have flaws. I'm human. I err, I fuck up, it's ugly. The difference is is that I have the self-awareness to realise I need to keep trying. I had a problem where I was prejudiced against neurotypicals because so many of them were personally responsible for making my life as an autistic person hell. And yet, that's just spreading the disease of prejudice. I had to stop that. I did stop that.

I've come to realise that it's 'toxic normality' that's the problem, rather than any person or group. And the group which has the most power is going to use all their resources to push their own version of that to homogenise the world into something that they're comfortable with. Which is precisely what the Alt-Right is trying to do. It's exactly what Nazi Germany tried to do, albeit it in a much violent way. I insist though that if you see a Nazi, you should say Nazi. Whether they're part of a military or not.

It's not like the Alt-Right hasn't done their fair share of slaughter in the name of their holy quest. Gunning down an LGBTQ bar, driving into a crowd of peaceful protestors, or even a guy chasing down and beating his elderly dad to death just for having left-leaning opinions. All of this is true, and all of it is endemic of the cancer which fuels the Alt-Right. This sense of their 'default status' as healthy, cishet, white individuals. Their 'normality.'

How does this tie into Polygon?

I was curious why so many of the White Supremacist types have tried to slander Polygon, whether they had any kind of argument or not. And, 2 times out of 10, they'll actually latch onto something that's slightly shady. This is all part of a process of manipulation, though. You have to be right every now and then in order to deceive people when you know you're completely wrong. You can point at that and say 'Unfortunately, I've already proved us right.'

It's a very skeevy, political play. It's the kind that the Alt-Right love. Essentially, they'll dig, they'll doxx, and they'll find the tiniest bits of dirt on a person. Then they'll use those mistakes that someone they dislike has made and weaponise them to make their outright lies and manipulative deceits appear as valid to the untrained eye. It works. It's a very effective, powerful tactic.

If you've been a little bit honest, you can keep using that tiny bit of honesty to shut people down if you're loud enough. It becomes a back and forth where they're trying to detail the dishonesty and the skeevy person is just pointing at this one honest thing they did as a counter-example. It's incredibly commonplace in right wing politics, Trump does it all the goddamn time.

Be honest 2 per cent of the time, then just be loud enough about the 98 per cent of the time that you're not. That's often enough to prey on the cognitive dissonance, biases, prejudices, and worse of people in order to bring them around to believing horrible things.

So the arguments against Polygon hold no water.

Why do they do this, then? Why do sites like Deepfreeze actively lie and misrepresent opinions and everyday occurrences as vile breaches of journalistic etiquette?

As much as the Alt-Right proclaims to love free speech, they hate anyone outside of their echo chamber. They'll often try to shut them down with lies, manipulation, deceit, numbers, loudness, and even violence when they (in their very White minds) think it's 'necessary.' Polygon is left leaning, it's inclusive and accepting of different kinds of people. To all in the Alt-Right, that makes them "leftist cucks."

What does 'cuck' mean? Take a look at this. It's a deeply, heinously racist word that gets to the core of the insecurities of the White Supremacist. You see, it all comes down to race-based sexual anxiety. It's all about dick sizes, if I'm honest. White Supremacists are often White Supremacists because they're tiny down there. Hence "cuck."

Which, hilariously, was at the root of Hitler's insecurities, too. I'm not fucking with you. Hitler had a really tiny dick. This is what drives almost all of White Supremacy.

So, these men with tiny dicks are riddled with insecurities. The insecure often take to overly conservative, traditionalist views because it makes them feel safe. It doesn't put them in a position where they feel less powerful. And since they're already insecure, they need to feel powerful. This means using the dirtiest, lowest tactics to bring down anyone who they perceive as any enemy to their divinely ordained, absolutely perfect White Supremacy.

So if Polygon is inclusive of other ethnicities, if they support strong women, and they generally have a strong willed enough perspective to be left leaning?

Yeah. Exactly.

The thing is? This 'toxic normality' I've talked about often comes back to cognitive dissonance and people feeling just really scared and insecure. That's what's going on, here. Why would anyone use genuinely deceitful, underhanded tactics like this? Why would anyone try to destroy or harm those who're not like them? It's all about the insecurities. They're scared children who feel like their comfortable rug of entitlement is about to be swept out from beneath them.

Oh no! Imagine that! They won't be seen as the divine 'default state' any more. They won't be seen as 'normal.' So what does that leave them with? Well, besides their tiny dicks, of course? Nothing. It leaves them with nothing. They aren't talented people, they're not creative (which is why they're always appropriating, co-opting, and outright criminally stealing things rather than making their own), so they've got nothing to fall back on other than "I'm just so Superior 'cause I'm White!"

Y'see?

So Polygon, being inclusive and supportive, is a threat to what they see as the status quo. They don't want the Zeitgeist to shift in a way that would be unfavourable to them. They're worried they'd lose their entitled, fortunate position they hold over all others. Then all they're left with is their lack of talent and their small dicks.

It's not because they're extraverted, it's not because they're neurotypical, it's not even really because they're white (that's just a tool). It's because they've enjoyed an entitled lifestyle of benefit over all others, and these people know that if they didn't have that, they'd have nothing. They know they get picked in jobs over more talented people by prejudiced bosses because they're white men, if that boon were to shift against them? Well, goodbye cushy job! They'd have to finally learn what life is like without those benefits.

So Polygon isn't responsible for having unethical journalism. Polygon is responsible for having their own opinions, and left leaning perspectives which make incredibly insecure White Supremacists feel uncomfortable. And here's the kickers. Whenever a White Supremacist sees a black, male writer on one of these sites? They don't think it's because they might be talented, but rather because they're winning the 'White entitlement' away from the Alt-Right, that Polygon are ‘pandering.’ And because they've got bigger dicks.

So... Hopefully that's an insight into the mind of an Alt-Right person. Just think of them as tiny, insecure people who're sexually anxious. Yet also people who've been privileged and boosted up by society despite their shortcomings -- emotional, intellectual, and otherwise.

Normally, I'd never shame someone for having a small penis. The thing is, though? It truly does get to the root of why they are, and it's important to understand this insecurity whenever you find yourself having to deal with them. It puts a feather in your cap, that you can understand why they're behaving this way.

Like I said, it all comes back to that word they use, "cuck."

To use ‘cuck’ is to basically say "I'm insecure of other people because I have a tiny penis, and I believe the stereotypes of other ethnicities naturally having a bigger penis than us whites."

Is that sad? Yes. Is that pathetic? Yes. Is that pitiable? Yes. Is that the defining, driving aspect of the Alt-Right? Also yes.

Why do we even pay attention to them?

It's funny, really. If they had an iota of creativity they'd finally understand Austin Powers' dad. It's not the size, it's how you use it. If they had an iota of creativity, they'd be good enough in bed to make up for whatever deficiencies they feel they have. So, really, a small penis isn't a good reason to feel just as insecure as they do. And yet, that's what it's all about.

In a way, it's 'toxic masculinity' and 'toxic normality' turned back on them. Since it's 'normal' to have a big dick, right?

And... in the end, I sort of feel sorry for them. I mean, I also don't because they do kill people. They are murderers and we can't really ignore that, can we? They are criminals, and they have that killer instinct and willingness to maim and kill those they disagree with. So I can't feel too sorry for them but... I also kind of do?

They're just these manchildren lashing out because of their insecurities, with no creativity to make up for it. They're just turning to lies, deceit, and clumsy manipulation to try and prove to the world that they're so great. And... doesn't it just all come over as over-compensating? It's sad. They're sad.

So, beyond the violence, I don't really think that Polygon needs to ever worry about the Alt-Right. I hope Polygon will always continue to be left leaning, opinionated, inclusive, and as ‘SJW’ as they can be. No matter how insecure it makes some particularly sad, pathetic people feel.

Don't feel too much pity for them, though. As I keep pointing out -- do keep in mind that they are murderers. They're not exactly the most wholesome group. See a Nazi, say Nazi. There's never been any good reason to not make fun of a Nazi. That's exactly what I'm doing here, because it needs to happen. It's a little vindictive and petty, sure, but again... I feel the need to point out they're hardly innocent lambs.

They deserve all of this lambasting, and more.

Plus, their toxic opinions have hurt people I care about, and I like Polygon! So this was very cathartic for me. Again: There has never been a good reason to not make fun of a Nazi.

#alt-right #polygon #sjw #making fun of nazis

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