#this is simply one of the most ''gif-able'' episodes

[knickynoo]

"You know how you feel right now?"

"Yeah."

"Don't ever forget it."

Family Ties 02x06 "Speed Trap"

[theastrologylady]

Synastry oberservations:

Moon in the 7th house overlay is always such a pleasant placement. While 7th house can represent enemies, I have seen this particular overlay play out as people with an instant mental connection. A deep understanding of the other and a keen intuition (especially the house person towards the moon person) about the other's feelings. Great for both platonic and romantic relationships. Like that episode in FRIENDS where Chandler says "you and me man"(see gif below 👇)

Mars square Pluto - this is a tough aspect no matter how great the rest of the synastry. These are two of the strongest planetary energies in any chart - both in a way encompassing your drive. If you are in a relationship with this aspect (platonic or romantic), you have to get comfortable with agreeing to disagree. It's really easy with this to get caught up in "winning," which will ruin even the best of relationships. Mars will feel rage towards this person like they have never felt before and start to lash out with equal fervor. Pluto will be more patient at first, but once angry, it's deep rooted. Pluto will always seek retribution (very cut-throat). Both must quell those instincts in order for the relationship to survive.

5th house overlays in romatic relationships bring a lot of pride into a dynamic. Mind games are so easy to slip into here that you don't even notice. I think this is because the 5th house is such an intimate house. (Think about it - your guilty pleasures; the things that bring you the most joy; giddy feelings that flutter without control, as if it were all the first time you felt it. These are all very vulnerable things to be sharing.) They will both feel "silly" and "exposed" because they can't control their absolute delight when talking to the other person. The "I won't text back this time to seem cool" dynamic. They need to learn to let their guard down with each other, because often why this overlay isn't considered "long lasting" is that the people in it don't realize the immensity of love the other one actually feels because of the inability to lay your cards down.

Moon conjunct Venus - Moon cares sooooo much about how Venus is feeling, doing, and is always the best supporter of Venus. Venus evokes sincere empathy from Moon. Venus, in turn, deeply admires Moon. They instantly like Moon and see them as this etheral, magical being. Moon is usually unaware of how Venus sees/feels about them. Moon's nurture is easily felt, while Venus's respect is something so deep that it only shows with time. It's a simply delightful story. Whether friends or lovers.

(Unpopular opinion) Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus or Mars in 8th house overlay is AMAZING for friendships, not so great as lovers. As friends, they will know you more intimately than any other friend because you will both be able to speak openly and share deep thoughts. It's also a 100% ride or die placement. As lovers this is super intense, obessive, and usually codependent. Both people have to be like fullyyyy confident in themselves (who they are; what they want; THEIR BOUNDARIES; and to be extremely comfortable with solitude so that the relationship doesn't become a drug.)

Mercury conjunct, trine, sextile or opposite Sun/Moon/Venus - just the best conversations ever. The rapport is so smooth and easy that you only notice how easy it was until you go back to other interactions and realize what you took for granted. Awesome placement for people looking for something deep (whether platonic or romantic). Both feel very much understood and "on the same wavelength."

Ascendent trine, sextile, or oppose Sun - quick to be good friends. There is instant chemistry here, too, so it could turn into those friends to lovers.

[forget-you-morelike-fuck-you]

Sweet Child O' Mine- E.M.

Eddie and Y/N have been trying to have a baby for a long time. When it finally happens, you simply can't believe it.

Masterlist

Prequel

TW- cursing, innuendo, body talk, pregnancy, birth, mentions of bodily fluids, angst, fluff

Pairings- Eddie x Reader

Word Count- 3,645

(Gif not mine, credit to owner!)

You let out a breath, bracing yourself as you lift the blue stick up to your face, looking in the little window. A pink plus sign looks back at you, making you lift your hand to your mouth as you let out a gasp. You can’t believe what you’re seeing. Before you can even blink, hot tears are rolling down your face.

You and Eddie had been trying to get pregnant for over a year. You tracked your ovulation cycles, meticulously planning your “fun time” schedule around when you knew you’d be most fertile. You even looked into getting IVF treatments if your fertility problems continued. But every month without fail, you’d wake up one morning to discover blood in the toilet, crushing your hope for another few weeks. Until now.

You didn’t tell Eddie that you were late, or that you had been feeling queasy the past few days. You didn’t want to get his hopes up, but after an extra week after your period was supposed to start, you smuggled a dollar store pregnancy test into your home in your purse one night after work. It pained you to wait until the morning, but you knew that’s when you’d get the most accurate reading.

You think about waiting to surprise Eddie, maybe wrap the test as a gift to give to him, but you know you won’t be able to hide your excitement. “EDDIE!” You yell. You hear running footsteps and the door slams open, Eddie standing, his eyes wide, looking at you like he just got shot.

“What baby, are you okay? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” He rushes to you, not processing the sight of you sitting on the toilet with the test in your hand.

“No, no, I’m fine, baby! Look.” You turn the test to him, holding it out. He tries to process what he’s seeing, and when it finally clicks, he shoots his eyes up to yours, already welling with tears.

“We’re gonna have a baby?” He asks, the hope in his eyes shining as you nod.

“We’re gonna have a baby!” You exclaim. He puts the test aside on the bathroom counter and you both go to hold each other’s faces, foreheads pressed together tightly as you both cry and laugh.

“We’re gonna be parents…” Eddie whispers, not believing what’s happening. He pulls away and picks up the test again, just to make sure he’s not going crazy. He stands up and jumps, pumping a fist into the air. “We’re gonna be fucking parents!”

You get in to see an OBG-YN as soon as you can for confirmation. Eddie stands up at your head, holding your hand tightly in both of his as the doctor works on the transvaginal ultrasound, looking to you, then to the screen, looking for a fetus. The doctor sits up, pointing to a little blurry blob on the screen. “That,” She says, smiling, “is your baby. Congratulations!” You both begin crying again, and Eddie leans down to press a hard, sweet kiss to your lips.

The first few weeks are hard. You can barely keep anything down and it pains Eddie to see you like this, hunched over the toilet, retching after almost every meal. He holds your hair up, rubbing circles on your back as he whispers sweet nothings to help you get through each episode. “The morning sickness will be over in just a couple more weeks, princess. I’m right here, I’ve got you, pretty.” It helps, it really does, but it’s still so overwhelming as you dry heave so hard you choke. After you’re done, he prepares your toothbrush and a little cup of mouthwash for you, then he holds you for a long time, keeping you curled in his arms as he smooths your hair and rubs your tummy.

Telling Uncle Wayne and your parents is an exciting day. You wanted to wait until you hit the 12-week mark, everything before being the most volatile time for a pregnancy. You invite them all over for dinner and you hand them gifts when you’re finished eating, your mom and dad screaming in excitement when they see the “World’s Greatest Grandparents” t-shirts. Wayne starts crying, holding his hand over his mouth as he opens his. His says “World’s Greatest Grandpa,” too, like your dad’s. Wayne holds Eddie tight to his chest in a bone-crushing hug for a few minutes after that, and you’re so touched that even though Eddie’s biological dad doesn’t get to experience the joy if having a grandchild, Eddie has someone that he can go to for parenting advice, because you know that Eddie thinks of Wayne as his dad, and Wayne thinks of Eddie as a son. There’s a group hug, lots of crying, and then dessert, which has to be cut short as you sprint to the bathroom. Eddie says the goodbyes for the both of you before coming to help you as he always does.

At about week 18, your morning sickness stops, but your cravings become so intense you can’t even stand to eat anything else. Eddie tries to keep up, but sometimes he’ll forget you’ve moved on to something else and when he presents you with pretzels instead of chicken nuggets, your newest craving, you break down and cry like he’s just insulted you. You don’t know why you’re crying; you don’t want to be crying, but you can’t stop the heavy sobs racking your chest. “I’m so-or-ry Ed-die! I’m just so-o stressed o-ou-ut!” Eddie can’t help but let out a chuckle at your ridiculous crying episode, pressing kisses to your hair as you sob into his chest.

“It’s okay, sweet pea. I’ve got you. I’ll get you some chicken nuggets.” He promises. You look up at him, eyes bleary, your breaths still shuddering.

“R-really?” He doesn’t like see you cry, but you really do just look like a cute little kid with your puppy-dog eyes.

“Yes, princess, I’ll go get my keys now.” You’re so touched that you start crying again, trembling breaths turning back into throaty sobs.

“Thank—you—baby! I-I love you- s-o mu-u-uch!” You get out between sobs.

“It’s okay, sweetheart, I love you too. We gotta take care of the little one, right?” He rationalizes. You simply nod into his chest, and he holds you tight until he can calm you down, then he grabs his wallet and keys and starts his mission to the nearest McDonald’s.

“Eddie!” you call before he opens the door. He looks back at you, your lip stuck out and trembling as a few hot tears begin to fall again.

“Yes, my love?”

“Can I have a strawberry milkshake too, please?” You ask, wiping your eyes. He gives a laugh, a sympathetic smile pulling at his lips.

“Of course, baby. I’ll get you a milkshake too.”

The day of your baby shower, around 23 weeks in, all of your closest friends are gathered in the living room of your home. Nancy, Robin, Steve, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Max, Gareth, your parents, and Wayne. You’re all laughing as you play the little party games you planned. Pin the diaper on the baby is the favorite, Dustin getting so dizzy as Eddie spins him around, he falls flat on his face. After the games, it’s time to open gifts, and you cry at pretty much everything. Your parents brought you car seat, Wayne brought a bunch of baby toys and books, and the kids all pitched in to get you guys a diaper bag filled with essentials. Gareth brought some baby clothes, most notably a onesie that says “My Daddy is a Rock Star” and another, custom made, with the Hellfire logo on it. Eddie even shed a few tears for that one. Steve, Nancy, and Robin all went in on a really nice stroller. At the end of it, you were nearly inconsolable, so thankful to have such wonderful people in your and Eddie’s lives. But there is one more surprise before everyone goes home.

“So, we wanted to tell you while you all were here,” Eddie begins, looking to you to give the big news. You lay a hand on your growing bump, beaming as you wipe stray tears away.

“It’s a boy!” You exclaim. Everyone cheers. It never mattered if the baby was a boy or a girl, you and Eddie just wished for a baby; but now that you know that you’ll have a son, you feel so overwhelmed with joy you could simply burst.

It wakes you from your sleep the first time you feel it. It’s so strange, and at first, you panic, shaking Eddie awake. “Eddie!” You cry. He’s roused from his sleep, instantly alert at your tone.

“What is it, baby? Is everything okay?” You shake your head furiously, breaths speeding up.

“I don’t know. There’s something wrong. I don’t know what it is!” You exclaim, feeling it again. You press your hand to your abdomen, and Eddie is quick to follow, sitting himself up against the headboard of your bed.

“What is it? Are you in pain? Should we go to the hospital?” His other hand cups your face, his eyes filled with worry. You press your lips into a thin line.

“I-I don’t know. No? It’s just weird.” You feel it once more, and Eddie’s eyebrows lift in surprise.

“Y/N,” He says, a smile breaking onto his lips. “I think he’s moving.” And then it makes sense. You’re filled with relief as you let out a long breath, your panic being replaced with joy.

“He’s moving,” You breathe, laughing lightly.

You both lay back down and stay awake as long as you can, giggling between sweet kisses when you feel your son adjust in your womb. You finally fall back to sleep, both you and Eddie keeping a hand on your tummy all through the night.

“How about… Liam?” You suggest. Eddie cringes and shakes his head.

“No, I’m not a fan. Um, Scott?” Eddie suggests. You’ve been going through lists of baby names for a couple of weeks now, trying to figure out what to call your little prince.

You shake your head. “Nah.” You keep thinking. You must’ve gone through about 100 names by now. “Thomas?”

“Thomas Munson… It just doesn’t flow right. How about Joseph?” Eddie muses. Your nose wrinkles.

“If Thomas Munson doesn’t flow right, neither does Joseph Munson… Richard?” You’re not sure about that one yourself, but you’re just spitting names now until one sticks.

“And have my son be called ‘Dick Munson?’ Absolutely not!” Eddie laughs. You laugh too at that, waking up the little one. You feel him rolling around inside you.

“Honey, he’s moving again, come feel!” You reach out and take Eddie’s hand, pressing it to your abdomen. Naming kids is hard work. You two deserve a break to coo over your unborn son.

You really start noticing the change in your body when your third trimester begins. All of a sudden, your breasts are constantly aching, and it seems like your tummy doubles in size overnight. Everything is so uncomfortable. You can’t sit straight on the couch, because the baby will fall straight into your spine; you can’t sleep comfortably, waking up every hour to pee or strain to flip yourself over to your other side. Your feet swell from the extra pressure and sometimes your hips are in so much pain it’s hard to walk. It’s especially hard at work, because you’re trying to hold off as long as you can to start your maternity leave, but every day gets harder, waddling around, one hand on your back to support the baby’s weight. Thankfully you have an office job, so you get to sit a lot, but you still manage to run out of breath every time you have to make the short trip to the copier. At about 35 weeks, you finally break, the strain on your hips too much to bear. You immediately collapse into Eddie when you walk in the door from work that night. At least it’s Friday, so you’ll have two days to recuperate before taking on another grueling work week.

“I can’t do this, Eddie! Everything hurts! I just want it to be over!” You cry. Eddie’s been doing his best to support you, but when it comes to things like this, there’s not really anything he can do to ease your pain.

“I’m so sorry, princess. It’s just a few more weeks, then you’ll be able to relax, and I’ll take care of everything.” He promises. You shake your head at him, wishing it were true, but it’s just not feasible.

“No, baby. I appreciate it, but you’ll need to work. You’ll need to sleep! And besides, I’m gonna have to feed the baby every two hours anyway, and after the birth I’ll probably have stitches, and he won’t be able to sleep through the night... It’ll be a long time before things actually settle down.” You sigh, worried about the long road ahead. “We need to be a team for this to work.” He looks at you sympathetically, nodding in acceptance.

“Okay. Just don’t forget that you need those things too, alright? Don’t push yourself too hard.” He glides his thumb over your cheek.

“I won’t, I promise,” You say. “I think I’m gonna put in my request for maternity leave next week, though. I only get 12 weeks, so I need to make sure that I hold out as long as I can so I have more time to actually take care of the baby.” Eddie looks unsure, but eventually nods.

“If you think you can take it, I’ll support you. But I need you to promise not to break your beautiful self in the process, okay?”

“I promise.”

You try pumping at about 38 and a half weeks, trying to build up a stock of colostrum so you can stay ahead of the baby’s needs. It’s an odd sensation, and as you squeeze the hand pump unsuccessfully, groan in frustration, wishing that you could just produce a few drops of milk so you can give it a rest. You know you read the instructions perfectly, so why isn’t this working?! After about 15 minutes of squeezing, adjusting, and squeezing again, you give up, so frustrated you almost cry.

You toss the pump down on the bed in frustration and think of what to do. You decide to pull yourself out of bed, not bothering to put a shirt back on in fear of irritating your chest further, before waddling to the living room to the telephone. You pick it up and dial the familiar number, and you wait as the phone rings.

“Hello?” Your dad picks up, not exactly who you want to talk to about boob problems.

“Hey dad, is mom around? I need to talk to her.” You chew your lip, growing impatient.

“Yeah, sweetie, is everything okay?” He asks, concern lilting his tone.

“Um, pregnancy problems. You don’t need the details.” You give an embarrassed chuckle through the receiver.

“Ah, okay, yeah I’ll go get her,” he says. “Honey! Y/N is on the phone!” He calls to her. “She’s on her way. I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, dad. Thanks.” There are a few seconds of silence, then you hear the phone being passed.

“Hi, Y/N, is everything okay?” You let out a breath, rubbing a hand over your face, trying to keep from getting emotional at your embarrassing request.

“No, not really. I’m trying to pump and I’m getting frustrated because nothing is working. Can you help?” You ask pathetically.

“Of course, baby! Go get a pen and paper and I’ll tell you what to do. If this doesn’t do it, I’ll come and help you.” She promises. You feel a knot forming in your throat.

“Thanks, mom. I’ll be right back.”

You’re out with Eddie at the grocery store when it happens. You feel a rush of warmth all the way down to your socks, then cold. Eddie’s standing a few yards away picking up a box of cereal from a high shelf. “Eddie.” You call, your heart sinking into your stomach. He looks at you questioningly, but when he sees the dark stain of liquid soaking through your pants, all of the color drains from his face.

“Oh, my god. Y/N, is that—”

“Yeah, we need to go. I—Oh, fuck!” Your first contraction sets in. It’s nothing like the Braxton-Hicks contractions you’ve been experiencing the past few weeks. This one’s so much more intense, this one says It’s go time, guys. You lean on the cart, knuckles turning white from squeezing as you moan in pain, and then Eddie is by your side, holding you up as you abandon the cart and start walking toward the exit.

As you pass a worker, Eddie smiles apologetically, “My wife’s water just broke, and there’s a pretty big mess on aisle 4.” The pimply teenager’s eyes go wide, not sure what to do.

“Uh, okay. We’ll take care of it?” It comes out as a question, and Eddie mumbles a quick thank you as you continue toward the door. “Congratulations!” The teen calls after you, and you can’t help but let out a tight laugh.

You make it home with Eddie, having another contraction while he books it like a speed demon down the road. “Don’t panic, honey, just squeeze my hand. Squeeze as hard as you need to, okay, I can take—ah ah ah!” He yelps, feeling his bones nearly crushing as you hold onto him.

Eddie brings you into the house, laying you on the couch as he scurries about, making sure you have everything you need to get you through your stay at the hospital. The diaper bag is packed and ready to go next to the door, and you breathe deeply as Eddie nearly spirals out of control with worry. “Eddie! Eddie, baby, it’s okay. I’m not supposed to go in until the contractions are closer together.” If you had to guess, right now they’re about 10 to 15 minutes apart, giving you plenty of time before you really need to get to the hospital. This calms him, if only slightly and he comes to sit with you, pulling your legs into his lap as he rubs your abdomen.

“Okay, okay,” He breathes a deep sigh, trying to calm himself. He looks at you, his deep brown eyes shining brightly with tears. “Y/N, we’re about to be parents…” It’s incredible to think about, after waiting so long to finally conceive, then the exhaustingly long road of pregnancy… It’s all about to finally be worth it.

Your eyes brim with warm tears as well, and you reach to touch Eddie’s face, thumbing away his tears as they fall. “Yeah, Eddie, we’re gonna be parents.”

The labor is long and torturous. Once contractions hit about 5 minutes apart about six hours later, Eddie drives you to the hospital, definitely wanting an epidural as the contractions pick up in length and intensity. The check-in process is laborious, nurses scurrying around, taking blood and setting you up to IVs. When they come to give you the epidural, Eddie is holding your hands and whispering into your hair to try to help ease the pain as they impale you with a thick, long needle in your spine. Then, it’s a waiting game again.

Eddie calls all the important people to let them know what’s happening, and your parents offer to go get your groceries before coming to see you, which makes you cry. At about 9 at night, when the doctor comes to check your dilation, he looks to you with excited eyes. “You’re at ten centimeters, Y/N, it’s time to start pushing.”

It’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done, even with the drugs, but when you hear that first cry, nothing else matters. Eddie grabs your sweaty, sticky face in his hands, kissing you deeply as you both laugh and cry.

He’s laid on your chest as soon as Eddie cuts the cord, and you take him in. He’s got head of thick black hair and his head is hands are so tiny and fragile. He wails, so overwhelmed with his first sensations, but as you welcome him to the world, you know he recognizes your voice, and he stills. “Hi baby boy. My sweet baby boy!” You exclaim. He’s still covered in blood and other bodily fluids, but that’s okay. He’s still the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.

The nurses take him away to make sure he’s okay, and you miss him already. Eddie follows the nurses to the other side of the room as they weigh, measure, and clean him. You stare longingly over to them as the doctor stitches and cleans you up. When the baby’s returned to you, wrapped in a bundle in Eddie’s arms, you reach out and touch him, so in love with the perfection you’ve created. “We did it,” You muse, eyes still on your son.

Eddie shakes his head, tears steadily streaming down his face. He adjusts the baby into one arm and reaches his hand out to hold your face. “No, Y/N. You did it. I just donated some essential ingredients.” He laughs. You laugh too, and you both go back to staring at him, now asleep.

Your family bursts into your room about an hour later, just after you’ve gotten him to eat for the first time. It was a bit tricky, but the lactation nurse was a big help, showing you exactly how to get him to latch. Your parents and Wayne all stare into the bundle wrapped in your arms. “Hey everyone!” You exclaim in a hushed tone. You don’t want to startle him.

“This is our son,” You introduce. “Eric Wayne Munson.”

[gildedmuse]

If anyone is wondering why I haven't updated, there are a number of reasons. However, a major one is that Crunchyroll will no longer allow you to use old versions of the app. What this means is I am no longer able to take screenshots of record small scenes so I can transcribe them or basically do most of what I do here.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this blog, I am a broke ass bitch with a chronic, genetic kidney diseases I had the pleasure of being born with, which severely limits me in a number of ways. One such way is money: medical bills at expensive and even with insurance I owe something like $1,462.78 and that's just the past year. Nevermind the bills I collected from other hospitals/doctors. The result is I live a pretty simply life, including the fact that I don't own any sort of fancy recording equipment like "a pc". Every screenshot, every gif, every artistic and not so artistic edit, every video recording, every single post and fanfic and reply, that is all done from my phone. It's my one and only portal to the Internet and sole tool to do whatever is is I do.

With that in mind, while I am proud I managed to take my degree in English Literary Theory and learn how to do all of that on an older model Android I've had for a few years now, I also know that then bulk of internet denizens are just WAY more skilled/knowledge at this then I will ever be.

Keep in mind, I have no money (so advice along the lines of "just buy this $99 program, it's so easy!" or "why not just get a cheap laptop, you can get one for under $600 EASY these days" or even "you just need a monthly subscription to this OTHER streaming site, that doesn't have a film blocker" just doesn't help, especially since I don't even have my own subscription to CR so there is no just dropping that to pay for another.) I was hoping someone out there knew a method I could use to record the "latest" episodes.

I say latest but I left off at 1078. I know, I'm ages behind, but there is a good reason for it.

Please, anyone who knows how I can take screencaps (recordings would be useful but not required) PLEASE contact me and let me in on your secret.

I won't tattle, I swear. I just want to be able to watch the show and react about it on this blog since, sadly, I've recently lost all my OP watching buddies to various life circumstances.

Failing that, I need someone to agree to watch every single episode along with me as my "recorder", recording long swatches of each episode and then sending to me when we're done so I can get my screencaps and gifs and the likes. The good news? You'd have someone eternally thankful for your contributions, who would credit you in every post, and I wouldn't even use any jokes/observations/thoughts you might share while we watch without permission. And.... errrr. Did I mention the gratitude? Shit, that's really all I have.

But I have so much of it!

Guys, I hate getting all emotional, but I am having a hell of a year between the dogs, the bad diagnosis and, hey, this is currently my face:

For comparison, when I'm not dying:

Just any help or even attempts at advice would be welcomed. I know it's stupid, but a lot of what I personally get from reading/watching/playing things is in sharing it with others. I shouldn't have to explain that, it's part of why places like Tumblr and AO3 EXIST.

Feel free to reach out in a reblog, comment, tag me, DM, message me on discord (gildedmuse). Whatever is easiest. And thank you, so, SO much for any potential advice or help you can offer.

[i-am-a-fan]

Any Tang thoughts? 👀

YES!! Forgive me for taking forever to respond, I literally was brewing my thoughts together.

Summary: I believe that Tang is the most similar to his reincarnation, judging by what I've read in JTTW, and also he has the coolest ability.

Okay, let me start off by saying that initially, I did not like Tang. I felt like his character didn't mesh well with the group's dynamic and he just felt out of place. Since then, I am now a big Tang fan. While his character dynamic still feels a bit wonky, I love how in season 3 and season 4 he slowly gets more of an emphasis.

The reason I believe that Tang is most like his counterpart in JTTW is that although Tripitaka is very knowledgeable, he will usually insult the people who work so hard to protect him. In JTTW, Tripitaka is also noted to have trouble walking, which tang is something that Tang also struggles with. (Although, Tang might have been faking it.)

Although, I believe that Tang's weak ankles are referenced again in season 4, so I don't think he's faking it. WHICH LEADS ME TO THE POINT OF THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A WALKING CANE THAT TURNS INTO HIS STAFF LATER ON. (Missed opportunity if you ask me.)

Tang also has the uncanny ability to interact with the fourth wall, my favorite being when he says "Oh I see that Sandy is in this episode." In Season 2, Episode 8. I have no idea if the gif will work, but Tang can be seen looking straight at the viewer when Sandy mentions the plot convenience of the flower's bloom.

Honestly? I would love it if Tang has this ability due to the powers of his reincarnation.

I MEAN LOOK. No one else can see the golden cicadas that literally tell Tang how to move the plot along. There is literally a built-in Deus ex-Machina power that only Tang is actually able to see. If we ever get an episode from Tang's POV, I really hope they address the cicadas. Also, Tang is the only one who gets to interact with one of his previous reincarnations outside of the scroll, which must be super weird. Then you also have the weird plot contradiction that Tang should NOT be the reincarnation of Tripitaka if he completed the journey to the West, because doing the journey should have freed him from the cycle of reincarnation. But, it's a Lego show, so I am not going to fight it.

Also, I think his characterization is perfect. I mean imagine you are 40ish years old, an english major, and have no physical skills. Now also imagine you are best friends with a 6ft pro-wrestler, a man who can crush you with his bare hands, and two people half your age. Then suddenly, those people who are half your age become more powerful than you could ever comprehend. Yeah, I can see why Tang would never get worried about being hurt or putting in effort. However, that also is going to do horrible things to your self-esteem. Tang did not any powers until about the end of season 3, and even then his powers are only really used in season 4.

WHICH IS WHY THIS SCENE IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. Instead of falling victim to an inferiority complex, Tang knows his strengths and knows that he has a good family. I'm going to be so honest with you all, I think this episode was where I started to like Tang. He doesn't even have powers here, he is simply a man who loves his family.

I've already talked so much, but I just really love Tang and I hope he gets actual characterization throughout season 5.

[galaxysharks]

HSMTMTS Maddox Autism Analysis

I had to use my laptop for this one, cause I'm not about to write all this shit on mobile. However, I shall not be adding gifs and pics to this one, cause i don't have those on my laptop, and i think there is a limit to those anyway. This one's long, and not guaranteed exhaustive cause my memory is Meh, at best.

Anyways, Onward!

General Info

So just from Promotional Material for Season 3

Maddox:

Techie Who always follows the rules.

The most excited person for Camp.

Hates Change

Comes to the same camp every year

From these, we already can see the building blocks of a targeted interest and a need for routines. The always following the rules is reminiscent of Autistics not breaking rules due to simply not thinking to.

Once the show itself aired, Maddox pretty quickly showed multiple indicators as well. For the sake of organization, I'm going to break these down as Tics and Tendencies and give a few examples, rather than by episode.

Irritation/Panic at unexpected changes in schedule

Saylor mentions frequently that Maddox is really struggling in Season 3 because for the first time, something is drastically disrupting this yearly escape. Unlike Ricky who, while panicking at the change, is able to actively work against it, Maddox struggles with fighting the change and usually must physically remove herself to prevent a more extreme reaction.

Maddox begins already thrown off due to Jet being sent with her to camp.

Dislikes when the Auditions is interrupted by Jet arriving an hour late.

She isn't hanging out with EJ this summer, likely due to feeling thrown off that he brought an entire troupe of friends.

Literally everything in Woman in the Woods - and going to her hiding spot to avoid a full meltdown.

RCOSL changes how she normally does the set direction in order to cause drama - again runs off after her and Jet's fight.

Really struggles with Madison's initial appearance at camp.

Realizes she signed to go to NZ before getting with Ash, and completely removes herself from the post-production celebration that LITERALLY every other character attended.

Very Literal Speaking

Several times when Maddox accidentally gets herself in trouble its because she says something that doubles as a pointed metaphor, even though she was being literal.

"...that kind of bond is....Forever"

"...you just got to commit to one side, of the boat....or else you'll fall in..."

"You have two minutes" - and actually timing it

"....and well, life has other plans..." - not realizing Ash could take this as an attack on her relationship.

"...Yeah my crystals haven't charged in like a month" - thinking Jet is literally taking about what she was actively doing.

Scripting

Maddox has multiple moments where she communicates using a clearly practiced script, and a few where she struggles once someone doesn't react how she expected and she did not have a response ready.

Shallow Lake Welcome Song

Introducing herself in the Honeycomb

The automatic little Thank yous when that one kid compliments her at a few points in the season.

The safety information on Newbie Night

The Woman in the Woods story is scripted - she gets interrupted and starts mixing up scripts when trying to get back on track.

Truly awful improvised scripting during RCOSL. Also not having the words to tell Carlos to lay off the whole 'hot for Jet' thing.

Memorizing all the lines she would need as a PA on the flight.

We literally see her scripting her confession to Ash.

Fumbling through talking to Ash about the NZ move, as she didn't think it was a conversation she was going to need to have.

Info Dumping

When Maddox gets excited, she frequently starts info dumping without thinking about it, usually while also kind of tuning out whats happening around her.

Several times in 3x03

Talking about her favorite nigh before she realizes no one is listening.

again when leading the group to the tents, when she is giving the rules and safety information.

Info dumps about rising signs before Ash gets upset and leaves.

general tips for color wars with Gina in 3x06

Snapping

Maddox tends to snap when deciding what to say to someone.

When she calls out Carlos for changing the cast list

We can hear a snap when she first asks Ashlyn if she was a Leo rising

She snaps when getting annoyed at Jet and Ricky when she directs them

She snaps after finishing her script for confessing to Ashlyn

Tapping/Clapping

Maddox claps and taps things when idling or when she is in between actions. Generally, if she's not got her hands in her pockets and isn't holding something, then she's doing this.

Maddox taps her hands together after Ashlyn catches her attention about the letter.

Clapping hands together as she talks when entering the honeycomb.

Taps on the set pieces when not using the drill.

Claps her hands with the paper star when Carlos suggests she likes Jet.

Taps on the bunk beds while talking to the girls after Camp Prom.

Taps on the broom while cleaning after Opening Night.

Claps her hands while talking to Ash in the hallway when walking to set.

Taps the tree stump that Ash hands her.

Shaking Things

Not as common as the tapping, but if Maddie is only using one hand she tends to shake the object she's holding.

The Letter to Big Red

The Markers after signing the wall.

The pamphlet on PA barking

Facial Expressions

Maddox's face tends to either be way more expressive than expected for the response she is giving, or way less. When she is alone, or with friends/Jet, her expressions are more free. she spends less time guessing and just lets her face to whatever its going to.

During RCOSL, her expression is almost unchanged, probably due to having to think about it constantly.

Once Newbie Night started going downhill, she paid more attention to seeming fine.

She is a lot more open in the fourth season, except with Quinn, where she remains professional.

Special Interests

More than pretty much everyone, Maddox has clearly defined interests

Camping

Set Design

Production

Possibly 80's style Camp Humor/Horror

Avoiding Adverse Stimuli

Okay so Maddox has exactly ONE coping mechanism, and its removing/Distancing herself from the situation.

Stands by the stage instead of joining the crowd on Welcome Day.

Does not return to the Bunks until very late.

Sits alone brooding when Jet takes off

Goes to hiding spot after scary story is interrupted

Stays by the wall for much of movie night

Building set/Managing costumes alone, instead of adjusting to help.

Operates more or less ALL of stage alone using a switchboard. Including in Season 4, when we know she has stagehands available.

Goes to hiding spot after argument with Jet.

Goes to probably commit balloon homicide before Jet stops her.

Hides from Ash to avoid NZ conversation.

Mentions that she doesn't actually attend Camp Prom all that often and normally goes to prank the boy's bunks.

Its okay, she'll probably get better about this with her now robust support system.

Anyway, there is definitely more, but this is what i can remember without immediately re watching the show again and going episode by episode.

[haircoveredwriter]

Episode 1x04 thoughts

This episode wasn't one of my favorites, not horrible, a decent episode in itself but it felt as though it fell prey to a few of the issues similar ones in s11 of TWD did. I'll get in to those later but first we'll put the usual page break for those who don't want any spoilers.

First the aspects I did enjoy:

After taking a swim in walker-infested waters post his ceiling crash like a drunk Mary Poppins (you're welcome for the reference lol), Daryl strolls through Paris trying to get his bearings and comes to see an older couple inside a house, having tea (perhaps). The woman caresses the side of the man's face across the table which causes Daryl to pause, appearing to be lost in reflection before looking down briefly lost in a memory, only moving on once the nearness of walkers is apparent. Now who is the only person/woman who Daryl has ever stroked the face of/had his face stroked by?? I'll give you 3 guesses but anyone with a brain doesn't need that many and in case you've been living under a rock, please refer to my previous precious gifs post.

Later we get to see Daryl-of-old while he's beating a prisoner he and Isabelle took in hopes of finding Laurent. Having him go back to his early TWD season story-telling ways was lovely while also mixing it with the depraved Dixon he learnt to be from his upbringing meshed very well. (Basically Daryl wanted to create his own R-rated version of "Babe"). He must have read some anatomy books over the years to know where to cause the most damage without hitting vital organs.

Fallou's group using Molotov cocktails during their assault on Quinn's place is something I've been waiting for someone to do in the ZA! Like, seriously! Who wouldn't be using mini firebombs at this point when supplies are low and it keeps you at a distance from your opponent? It's just good sense imo.

Norman and the show itself did a very good job again pointing out that there is nothing going on shippy-wise between Daryl and Isabelle. (I know many a worried about it but there was nothing there from my standpoint) Daryl looked honestly uncomfortable when Isabelle hugged him, returning it lightly after a beat or two but happy to break away to continue looking at anything else afterwards. We also got Isabelle's own words that she has no romantic feelings for Daryl but simply concern for his wellbeing. When you watch the scene, they have Sylvie asking (a young girl who only now has her first ever crush but knows nothing of love) who is not equipped enough in life to be able to discern anything different.

Daryl's expression looking at the mini Statue of Liberty made me smile as well. Knowing he's getting closer to getting home, no matter what other tasks people throw at him, and getting back to his person would make anyone happy.

Overall the episode sets up the plot for the remaining 2 installments, getting us where we need to be for certain other aspects to take place. (Gonna let that be for the moment until the next ones drop 😉)

What I didn't like:

The pacing seemed quite slow and the story arc pretty much went in a circle, finally reaching an end point which we realistically could have gotten in 10 mins of another ep. Several points of the episode felt contrived just to fill up space before they could move on to a main bullet point in the story. (This was my main issue with a fair number of s11 TWD eps).

Isabelle's lack of any fighting skill is really getting on my nerves. How has she survived this long? The answer is probably by making things up and having others protect her/do her dirty work and other not so nice things so I'll relent. I haven't seen worse stabby abilities since early on in TWD ... again, yes I am not gonna say anything if I can't say anything nice.

Why'd they do pigeon man like that?!😒

Genet is equally as concerned about finding a man who blew a hole in her years-long-prepped boat as she is a kid who gives people hope? Mmmkay.

Regardless of it all I am excited for next week. It's gonna be great. Trust me.

[aflawedfashion]

You make such beautiful gifs, the quality and coloring are simply wonderful.... I'm slowly getting into making gifs myself but I'm really struggling since my results come out looking muddy/low quality whenever I upload them (for example, uploading on twitter) .

And so I was wondering if you were ever up to making a tutorial on what your process is to get the results that you get.

Thank you for sharing your work with us, always a pleasure to see.

Thank you! Happy you like my gifs!

Learning to gif is a journey, and most people's first gifs don't turn out as nice as they want them to, so you're not alone. There's a lot of trial and error involved.

As for tutorials, I follow the same steps as most of the gif tutorials you'll find on tumblr. If you're not using Photoshop to make your gifs, you might want to try it. I'd recommend just finding a tutorial on how to make gifs in Photoshop on tumblr and working from that. Aside from one caveat, which I'll get to later, I don't have much to add about the gif making process that hasn't already been said.

The requirements for Twitter are a bit different than Tumblr as Twitter processes gifs differently than tumblr (and Twitter is worse). I don't make twitter gifs very frequently, so I can't give you the best advice for that. What I can say is that you'll need your gifs to be large enough for Twitter. You'll want to look up the optimal size for gifs on twitter because the last time I posted gifs to Twitter, the optimal size was larger than Tumblr. Once you figure this out, you should be able to make pretty good gifs for Twitter.

In terms of general gif making, for best results you should use HD files. This is going to be key. You want to use either 1080p or 4k, and in my experience, 4k doesn't significantly improve gifs unless you want to zoom in, in which case the extra resolution of a 4k file helps a lot. I use 1080p unless I want to zoom in.

You also want to make sure the file you download isn't overly compressed because overly compressed video is much more difficult to brighten and color. If you're looking to download an episode of a tv show, you may find a few different files. I usually go for the largest 1080p version because that will give me the best quality. The smaller 1080p files are noticeably worse quality than the larger 1080p files. They both say 1080p, but they are not the same - that smaller file size came with sacrifices. Ripping straight off a blu ray will usually give you great results, but the files can be very large.

Now on to the one thing I do differently than what you'll see in a lot of gif tutorials - I don't sharpen in Photoshop. I use Topaz Video AI. This is a resource-intensive program, and I run it on an expensive laptop which allows it to run quickly. It's not going to run well on everyone's computer, so if you're working with 1080p files, it's absolutely not necessary. I use it a lot because I like it, but sharpening in photoshop will be fine if you're gifing an HD file.

If you're working with standard definition content, Topaz Video AI makes a world of difference. If you're asking me about my gifs because you saw my Scrubs gifs, then, unfortunately, Topaz Video AI is the secret to how they're much higher quality than anything you'd make from the SD/DVD files that are available.

I do know that a lot of people have used Topaz Video AI (or a similar program) to upscale many older series, so if you're looking to gif a standard definition series, someone out there may have already done the work for you. For example, I know you can find upscaled Xena episodes pretty easily these days, which was not the case when I first started using topaz to make my gifs.

And if you can't find an HD file, you just have to make the best with what you have. Sometimes that's the only option.

Hope this is helpful!

[broadwaytheanimatedseries]

I Don't Even Know Where To Start:

Okay, let's go back to the season 1 finale.

When Luz and Lilith are in the human realm, Luz attempts to use glyphs and immediately it doesn't work because she's no longer drawing power (pun unintended but damn, how bout that?) from the Titan.

On paper (ok that one was on purpose) this is very simple and straightforward, but a particular part of that scene has caught my attention, and I'm not the only one, and far from the first to point it out.

Instead of simply being an ordinary piece of paper with a drawing on it, as we'd expect from a glyph in the human realm where there's no source to draw magic from, it crumbles.

This would just be an interesting visual, maybe even a clever and slightly angsty metaphor about how Luz's dreams of being a real witch crumble at the first contact with reality, if not for what we see not long after that at the end of the same episode.

(it was hard enough to find the first gif, but if someone wants to add this one in reblogs or something you're welcome to.)

Lilith shares the curse with Eda, rendering them both unable to use magic, and to confirm that this is in fact the case, we see Eda attempt to draw a spell circle - only for it to crumble away.

The next time we see a glyph crumbling is again, when Eda uses one in Eda's Requiem. This might not be a fully consistent example because I don't remember if this happens every time she uses a glyph and I'm pretty sure it doesn't happen to Lilith, but at least with the latter we know and have been both shown and told that the curse works differently for Lilith both because it's new for her and because it's split between two people so it's not the same as it once was.

Regardless, this sets some kind of pattern which indicates that a failed connection to a magic source = faulty glyphs and spell circles that crumble away into nothing.

So Where Am I Going With This?

Glad I Asked!

You see, I don't think the connection faltering in that gif is Luz being out of range from the boiling isles. Or at least, it's not just that, because if it was then the glyphs would simply be ordinary pieces of paper once she's in a realm without a magic source.

What I'm saying is that the human realm, and specifically somewhere in Connecticut, has a magic source.

There's a Titan in Connecticut, and from it's blood the original, naturally occurring portal was made, the one the Wittabane brothers first went through.

And long, long before that happened, when said Titan was still alive, I think they played another very important role in the story, key word being played. (again, pun unintended but I'm on a roll today wow).

I believe that there's another Titan in the human realm, and that it had been distracting the collector while King's father was hiding his son from them. Or more accurately, their son.

I think there is another Titan in the human realm, and they are king's other parent.

I know I jumped several points in my explanation, but it is nearly 6 am and I have not been able to sleep normally all week, and the fact that I've been thinking about this theory nonstop ever since king's tide is only like 10th on the list of reasons why my sleep schedule is trash, at most.

[whump-n-comfort]

🔪 this is a sideblog! if you see interactions from a blog called @halorocks1214 in your notifications, that's me :)

🩹 on that note, I go by Halo! I use she/her and he/him pronouns and am proudly aroace 💚💜

🔪 I'm one of those guys that has always been into whump as a kid—I REALLY enjoyed the kidnapping episodes in animated shows lol—but didn't have a name for that enjoyment until I got onto Tumblr and immediately felt at home with all y'all cool people 😎

🩹 as you may have seen by this blog's title and description, most of this blog's motif is sharing hurt/comfort content! I will be upfront and say that I project a loooot onto my faves, which is why I like to see them comforted so much (touch starvation is a bitch 😔) and in general prefer "soft whump" most of the time or explicit happy endings for the harder tropes i'm into

🔪 however, I still also enjoy whump because of its core foundation: being able to beat the shit out of your favorite character. sometimes, I will find something that does not have comfort in it that I want to share because it's simply too good not to! if all you're here for is that sweet sweet comfort, feel free to blacklist the tag #no comfort to avoid those sparse posts :)

🩹 outside of that, I tag art as #art and gifs as #gif as well as gifsets as #gifset when applicable; #whump trope for the posts that get more descriptive and #whump prompt for the posts that are more quotes/"fill in your characters here"-type interactions; #whump meme is self-explanatory and #whump community is for sharing love to all you lovely people out here browsing this corner of Tumblr; I occasionally tag #fave whumpee on characters that have stuck with me through the years (characters in the tag liable to change as time goes on); and of course, #~my stuff~ are the posts where I'm OP; #before whump was here is a cheeky tag I use for specific moments I remember feeling strong whumperflies for growing up but still had yet to learn about the term "whump" lmao

🔪 everything else is up in the air as tagging goes. I try my best to catch as many descriptors in a post as I can, but I'll admit some stuff could slip through. let me know if you think a post is missing something and I'll be sure to add proper tags 👍

🩹 my squicks are mainly things like pet whump, mind break, forced full-nudity, betrayal/broken trust between close characters (if it's because of a "twist villain" then that's fine), and heavy NSFW, so, for the most part, you won't see those on this blog, but my philosophy has always been that if it has comfort, I'm willing to give it a shot, so even if it's really rare, it could happen. remember to just let me know if I'm missing a tag!

🔪 my inbox is always open under the "💌 insert rambles here 💌" button if you ever wanna submit whumpy thoughts. I try to post everything I get, so feel free to hit me up! all answered asks regardless of what they contain will be tagged with #ramble tag

🩹 I will occasionally take requests in the form of "[A] replied to [B]" scenarios, sentence starters, or if you are feeling particularly nice, requests about my OCS! (questions and inquiries about them are always welcome regardless of request status) be sure to watch the "REQUEST:" blip in the description to see whenever they are open as I will switch "CLOSED" to "OPEN" to signify they are, and if they are open because of something like an ask game, I will convert the status into a link that will take you to the original game so you don't have to scroll through a bajillion things to get to it

🔪 as mentioned, this is 99% a SFW "soft" whump blog, but I still support my more NSFW and otherwise "dark" whumpers! I am a firm believer in that there is no "correct" way to enjoy whump. whatever your reason is that makes you enjoy it is valid and as long as you are properly tagging your content then keep on doing stuff that brings you joy :) we may not interact with each other all that often because of squicks or personal preferences, but just know that I will have your back and defend your right to write whatever you want ❤️‍🔥

🩹 I do believe those are all the topics I wanted to cover, so if you managed to make it this far, thanks for checking out my blog, and most importantly, the whump community in general! If you decide to stay, well, then hope you enjoy it to your fullest capabilities :D

[animescapist]

ANIME REACTIONS YUBISAKI TO RENREN Episode 1

I've seen some gifs of this around tumblr. I'm not really sure if I would like this one, but it's decently rated in AniList so I thought to give it a try. And so, here we are.

Oh? That's cute.

I'm sorry, but has there been no one else who was this kind to her then? I think you would be unlikely to easily feel attracted to them just through that interaction even though it was a wholesome moment. You only feel like that when this sort of thing happens rarely for you. That's why I asked what I asked earlier. I don't mean to sound critical of that kind of viewpoint, but it is odd to me. Hmm, well, whatever. She felt an attraction to him, noted.

What? Her mother doesn't know sign language? Mom, you should learn it. (°ㅂ°╬)

Yuki reminds me of myself, not because I'm deaf. I don't talk much because it's simply too bothersome to verbalize my thoughts (as in I can't really keep up with my thoughts), and so I just do body language and facial reactions. I can go a day speaking only under 300 words. And on average a person can speak 6k-16k words per day.

An example of how I extremely exhibit this behavior is when I want to call someone's attention but they're far away, I don't call out their name. I would instead just catch up to them and tap their shoulders, and then utter the most minimum words I can to them to get my point across.

That hadn't cross my mind. Do deaf/mute people wish they could be multilinguals? I mean, that's probably not what she was thinking here. But, what are their thoughts about multilingualism? Cause for me I've always liked the idea of learning a different language. I'm trying to learn German and Japanese. But do deaf/mute people have that urge to learn languages, I wonder?

Oh! Now that would make my heart skip a beat.

AYOOO he's even holding her hand! AYOOOOOO! This is a big deal in Japan, right? YOOOOO. Oh my gosh, I'm blushing. AHAHAHAAHHA

DUDE'S AINT ON A WAITING GAME BRO. HE'S ALREADY CONSIDERING LEARNING SIGN LANGUAGE. Well, that could also be because he just likes to learn languages.

I know watchu thinking, Yuki. To you, it's a small world cause you were able to find him like this by chance. But he's a traveller by heart, so he would think the world is huge. BUT I KNOW YOU, YUKI. I SEE YA.

Wait, what? Brooo. They're just flirting right off the bat! Bro. If next episode they don't date, I'm losing it. This is so obvious. It's clear as day.

Oh my god, no way. In just one episode they made it work. Oh my god. Finally! No beating around the bush bs. I love this! This is awesome! Wow. I did not expect it to be that quick. But you know what, sometimes in real life it works just like that. So guys, don't be afraid and take that chance!

He smells trouble. I'm sensing an insecure fellow.

Well, I expected to cringe watching this since I don't normally like romance genres, although they still give me chills sometimes. It's not a favorite genre, that's all. But I really like that they're not going for a slow burn or a pesky route of chasing or pining for each other. Here, the characters have a great sense of their emotions, and they're willing to take a leap of faith. I like that very much. So I am going to continue watching this series for sure.

[ailendolin]

List 5 favourite shows (in no particular order) and answer questions accordingly.

The Terror

Hornblower

BBC Ghosts

Yonderland

Black Sails

Who is your favourite character in 2?

Archie

Who is your least favourite character in 1?

Hickey. Seriously, screw the murder rat.

What's your favourite episode of 4?

Oh gods, all of them. Though I am ridiculously in love with the concept of a wizard literally losing his Mojo, so I'm going to with 1x02.

What is your favourite season of 5?

Series 2 because of Thomas Hamilton, my beloved.

What's your favourite relationship in 3?

All the relationships are great but I have a very soft spot for Julian and Mike's arc in series 3 and hope we'll get to see more of their friendship in series 5.

Who is your anti relationship in 2?

I don't know about anti-relationship but I don't really see the appeal of Bush/Hornblower.

How long have you watched 1?

Since the moment it came out. I can't resist a good Age of Sail show, and definitely not one that features Tobias Menzies.

How did you become interested in 3?

I saw a gif of the sunrise scene from series 3 here on tumblr and just knew I had to watch it. I had no idea who these characters were or what the show was about, only recognised Charlotte from Call The Midwife, but I was pretty sure that handsome poet would be my favourite character and that's exactly what happened.

Who is your favourite actor in 4?

Picking just one of the Six Idiots is hard but I'm going to go with Mat just because I think he's absolutely hilarious (and brilliant) when he plays old people and I love the way he talks as Choop.

Which show do you prefer 1, 2 or 5?

While they're all Age of Sail shows, they're completely different from each other and hard to compare. I love that The Terror is based on a real story and makes you fall in love with even the most minor characters (looking at you, Graham Gore). I love that Hornblower is all about the Royal Navy (because screw pirates, I love me some pretty officers) but it's main characters aren't typical heroes. And I love Black Sails because love is at the heart of its story. But if I had to pick one, I'd probably pick The Terror because a) it has fantastic actors, b) one very well-written season that makes it easy to binge and c) a historical context you can't help but want to know more about.

Which show have you seen more episodes of 1 or 3?

Ghosts has more episodes then The Terror on a whole and I've also rewatched it more often. I'm due for another The Terror rewatch, though.

If you could be anyone from 4, who would you be?

Well, I wouldn't mind being Debbie because having an elf and stick for buddies and being able to go through a portal to another world would rock. Not so keen on the Chosen One stuff though, so I'm going to pick Ho-Tan because who wouldn't want to be a scribe and write all day?

How would you kill off your favourite character in 5?

Well, since my favourite character did sort of get killed off and then unburied, the show already did this for me.

Would a 3/4 crossover work?

Oh it certainly would and I've actually written a fic about it - The Wisp.

Pair two characters in 1 that would make an unlikely, but strangely okay couple.

I feel like this would fit all The Terror ships because hey, repressed Navy men in the 19th century. My personal favourite one is Joplittle so I'm going with them. They barely interact with each other in canon which fits the unlikely part of the question but I think they'd be quite good for each other. Poor Ned certainly needs someone to hug him and tell him everything's going to be okay while I think Thomas would have needed Ned's support when Crozier was drying out.

Overall, which show has the better cast, 3 or 5?

The Black of Sails cast is amazing but nothing compares to the Six Idiots who have found each other on a kids' tv show and liked each other so much they started writing their own shows because not working with each other was simply not an option.

Thanks for tagging me @larryrickard!

I'll tag @ginevralinton @magicaltear and @iris-in-the-rain

[thesquidkid]

Who says science isn't exciting?

4x07 Dig me out

I need to start off by saying that the science in this episode is only between Shivani and Liz, so if nothing makes sense, know that I really did try my best to understand and translate what is going on.

Also, the usual disclaimer still holds: I am not a biologist, simply a maths nerd. And English is not my first language, so apologies in advance if I word things weirdly. I am also writing this in the evening, after a long day of uni. Have fun reading!

During diner at the restaurant with Liz, Rosa and Shivani, we have the following dialogue between Liz and Shivani (I find it very rude that Liz completely ignored Rosa during the meal, but that is not the focus of this meta):

Liz: "Wait, so... we were looking for a way to attack damaged tissue. Right? [...] Okay, but fractals, they're all over the place. In cell physiology, and in human anatomy. I mean, what if we used that same pattern?"

Shivani: "We might be better able to holistically mitigate damage."

Liz: "Not only that. We could regenerate the cells altogether. I mean, you have this new cryogenics company, right? An immersive chamber might be exactly what we need to undo the damage that has altered these cells. We could flood our subjects' circulatory systems with bio-engineered organic compounds that are in a cryogenic..."

Shivani: "Pod"

So. Let's begin from the start. As Liz says, we indeed have fractals everywhere. And I would be a bad mathematician if I didn't start by talking about fractals in maths (this is purely an excuse to nerd out over maths and forget about biology for a moment). So, by definition, a fractal is a geometric shape containing detailed structure at arbitrarily small scales. Many fractals appear to have a similar pattern at increasingly smaller scales (like the Mandelbrot set, which is given in the picture and gif at the end of this post, after the cut, taken from Wikipedia)

Fascinating isn't it?! This is just one of the most famous examples of fractal patters (and I may or may not have attempted a few times to figure out how to plot it myself). Fractals don't just appear in mathematics, but also everywhere around us! For instance, some species of algae, lightning bolts, and DNA all contain fractals. So this was the fun part of that conversation with Liz and Shivani. Now, let's have a look at the less fun part:

Shivani: "We might be able to holistically mitigate damage."

As I am not a native English speaker, I had to look up what mitigate meant because I wasn't sure. Mitigate means to make something less severe, serious, or painful.

Holistically (in medicine, which is what I'm assuming they are talking about) means "in a way that treats the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather just the symptoms of a disease." So, here, Shivani is suggesting that they might be able to (using fractals) reduce the damage on the whole person (i.e. not just their body). Which, when it comes to minimising damage in medicine is not something that is always so easy to do. So, fractals would (according to Shivani) allow them to minimise the damage done to Shivani's daughter and Max on a global scale.

Then, Liz mentions that they could use fractals to regenerate cells.

Liz: "Not only that. We could regenerate the cells altogether. I mean, you have this new cryogenics company, right? An immersive chamber might be exactly what we need to undo the damage that has altered these cells. We could flood our subjects' circulatory systems with bio-engineered organic compounds that are in a cryogenic..."

Is regenerating cells using fractals something that is scientifically possible? According to some papers that I've read, the answer it yes. The idea behing this method is that since cells have a fractal pattern to them, we can use fractal dimensions, and their repeating pattern at the wanted scale, to influence how new cells grow. This can be done by introducing vasculature (= vascular system of a part of the body) to the target cells. The scientists use computer programms to recreate that vasculature, by generating the wanted fractal pattern to insert to the cell.

So, this was a little explanation of how fractals can be used in the regeneration of cells. Which, is definitely something that Shivani would have the ressources to do and to finance. Now, let's look into the next science fact mentioned in this conversation:

Cryogenics: in physics, it is the science behind the production and behaviour of materials at a very low temperature.

The special branch of cryogenics applied to biology is called cryobiology, which usually has the purpose of cryopreservation. As far as I can read online, the use of cryogenics in cell regeneration is mostly about preserving the cells in their current state.

So, in terms of Liz trying to regenerate Max and Michael's alien cells, my guess is that she could freeze their current cells so that they don't degrade more, before finding a cure? To be honest, all of the papers I've read about cryogenics and cells talk about preservation, so I can't really see any other use (since, again, not a biologist).

However, for Shivani's case, cryopreservation is very accurate, for the lack of a better word. Her daughter is in a cryogenic pod (as seen in 4x06, and as mentioned by Shivani in the above conversation), wich mimicks the preservation of the alien pod, by keeping her cells in stasis.

So, in conclusion, in my opinion, the use of cryogenics makes sense when we consider Shivani, but not when we consider Liz. And since Liz does not know about Shivani's daughter, I will assume that this is Liz's way of keeping the alien secret, by not revealing that she too posssesses a statis pod, only not a cryogenic one.

And this is all for the science in this epsiode. All in all, I would say that it is human science, namely because I could find published articles which back up what both Liz and Shivani are saying. Sorry again for the delay between this meta and the previous one, hopefully the next one will come sooner :))

And here are the pictures/gifs of the Mendelbrot set, taken from Wikipedia, and put behind a cut because some people may find the gif disturbing:

And since I am a big nerd, I tried coding the Mandelbrot set on Python. I did manage to get the first picture, but sadly the zooming in is a bit too hard for me to do (yet). Below is the picture that I got myself, which I am very proud of!

Edit: I made a gif! It's not as exciting as the one from Wikipedia, but I am still very proud of it. You can find it here

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

👀 Okay, if you're still doing the gif request game, I gotta do something slightly evil and ask for 'Most heartbreaking scene' from 180° DLPTU (ñeñe <- said while sobbing)

Hi 🤗

What an evil request! This series broke my heart on so many levels! How can I choose one? Can I just say episode 5 - 8 as a whole?

We see Wang confessing his love to In and telling him he will not let him go, unlike his father did back then. And In, who is dissolved and totally lost in his emotions and wants to get away from Wang, to literally flee, but he can't because Wang not only appeals to his emotional level, but also awakens the memory of Siam, the deeply hidden love for this person buried under the ruins of the past. And it breaks my heart to see him in this situation, completely helpless and unable to act. But this is not the scene, that ruined me.

On the surface, probably the most heartbreaking scene. All the emotions boiling over, the pain, the pure desperation. All of them hurting and exposing wounds and throwing salt in until Wang came along and thought, why not just tell the truth and rip everyone's hearts in two? It hurts so much that in the end they all have to deal with their pain alone, especially Wang who wants communication, who wants a resolution of the pain by finally bringing the unspoken truth to light. And in the end he stands alone, just like the socially withdrawn In and the emotionally withdrawn Sasiwimol. And the way he is looking around, like a little child who is lost. But not my most heartbreaking scene.

But here it comes. My most heartbreaking scene:

A chatting Sasiwimol and a hurting Wang on their way back to the "reality". What I find so incredibly heartbreaking about this scene is that they are so trapped in their lives. Sasiwimol continues to be unable to build any emotional closeness with Wang, simply doesn't know how to deal with the emotions that don't concern her, that she helplessly just goes on with her life and her way as if nothing had happened, because that's what she's done best so far, to pretend as if nothing had happened, as if there were no deeper emotions between In and Siam, that their marriage wasn't doomed from the start. And Wang, the little fighter who wanted for all the world to communicate, to talk about his father, about himself and his view of life and how he is doing, what his needs are, who now has to mourn silently and alone in his thoughts, accompanied by the sounds of his mother chattering on and on. He could communicate with In, he felt taken serious by him and respected and accepted for the person he was. The grief of losing that bond, not just falling in love, I imagine is horrible and then not even being able to grieve in peace alone with your thoughts when you already have no one to talk to, I picture it so terribly. It breaks my heart to see how far away from each other they actually are, even though they are sharing a car and even though they are such a close son-mother couple on the outside.

Thank you so much for sending me on this journey through pain! But for real, thank you 😊

[horizon-verizon]

So I think am finally able to parse through that one Larys and Alicent scene the best I can. I've literally been trying to see why I felt Larys scene in episode 9 was still strange. (Couldn't find the appropriate gif)

The show runners or the writers, maybe both IDK, thought that it would be good to highlight Alicent's conditioned resignation to men through Larys' disability. The logic is that since Larys has been defined by his "clubfoot" all his life and has probably been constantly compared to his older brother, Harwin, for most of their lives, he also is fixated on how his condition precludes him from enjoying the privileged respect and regard that the average Westerosi nobleman depends on for a huge chunk of their identity. So he looks to someone of a higher station than his to attain political power, inherit the Strong seat, and revel in that power. Alicent was able to get rid of Lyonel Strong and get Otto back through Larys (even though she didn't want an assassination) so to prevent the disclosure of her involvement in that ordeal and to take advantage of his "loyalty", she allows Larys to be her supporter. Therefore, she's bound to him and his demands for that sake of her reputation and her children's advantage. Larys then looks to debasing her through her "perfect" feet, all the more perfect because of her higher position.

So that scene was meant to continue, suggest, and reveal how deeply twisted Larys is by the disgust and discrimination of disabled people in Westeros (regardless of station) and one path the disabled take to gain back power, but actually to use that for the sake of showing how Alicent is bound to those who decide to support her and their own designs. How vulnerable and, again, conditioned she is. The scene reminded me of how some men or misogynists will take a picture of a particular publicly-favored woman or a woman in power and place that in pornographic, abusive imagery where the man is the abuser.

I suppose that the reason why many people feel that this scene was abelist is because that "sickness" and selfishness Larys has is can't be understood without his disability. That maybe the writers are showing a carelessness towards disabled people by presenting the Larys-Alicent relationship too simply? This could be mostly due to the time jumps excluding any more instances where we could see Larys by himself and how he thinks more intimately? Because in that scene he seems much less human than Alicent did and more a piece to show her acquiescence after her attacking the blacks in episode 7.

He also has never been in a scene alone with Harwin or Lyonel, only an accompanying character. I think of the episode 5 where he serves to let us know why Alicent wearing green is telling of the major shift in her mindset. And how he approaches her with one of the first seeds of doubt against Rhaenyra and Viserys. We never see how he interacts with his family, so we're led to see Harwin as only a loving father and protector to Rhaenyra, a less complex person also easier to let go of.

[thii-nii]

BL ~ Drama Asks

I was tagged by @pharawee. Thank you!! 🌺

1. If you had to watch one drama forever what would it be?

I don't rewatch dramas a lot. Usually, I really love something while I'm watching it and it means a lot to me in that period of time. But when I try to rewatch a drama months or years later, it often feels really awkward and I hardly ever finish them. So most of my favourite dramas occupy a special place in my heart, but I'm reluctant to rewatch them. (+ There are always so many new dramas that I want to try and that are waiting for me to fall in love with them! XD) That said, if I had to choose one, right now I'd pick Kinnporsche. It's a combination of different genres, so I'd be able to enjoy lot's of different emotions. Additionally, there's just so much to love in Kp, lot's of awesome themes, intense moments and lovable characters. I actually want to rewatch Kp right now, because there still are so many things I want to try making, that I didn't get around to before... but I'm still in my procrastination period. lol

2. If you could change the ending of a drama which one would it be?

Well, Kp ended most recently and we might not get a season 2, so... I'd want to see a different ending for Kim and Chay. I mean, if we actually get a season 2 I'd love to see them find their way back to each other (while also getting to see more of angry/feral Kim & rebellious Chay), but if this is the overall ending, it feels a little cruel to have both of them be in so much pain. (Not to mention that no one even knows they were a thing?? I need them all to spend time together and for Porsche to kick Kim's ass a bit for hurting Chay.) And, of course, "History is only written by the victor" .... ???? Well, well, well, wellll..... I need some conclusion to Korn's messed up games.

3. Name your favorite drama and tell who your favorite character was.

I'm so bad at choosing favourites. But, uhhh, Kinnporsche (Porsche, Kim, Vegas); I told Sunset about you & I promised you the Moon (Teh, Oh-aew); Not Me (Yok).

4. Name a drama you dropped within the first few episodes ~ we all have at least one!

As I said earlier, I love trying out new dramas. But that also means I end up dropping a lot of them. Of the ones airing right now, I dropped Unforgotten Night, Check Out (I enjoyed Ep 0, but I couldn't even get through the first episode 😞) & Even Sun (just last week; it has Boun & Prem and such a beautiful setting, but I noticed I wasn't really paying attention anymore, so I let it go).

5. Name a popular drama you've never watched and why?

Hmm, The Untamed & Advance Bravely. I don't know why? I've seen them around a lot and I feel like I should've at least tried them when they were airing, but somehow I didn't and still haven't.

6. Name a drama you regret watching.

I usually drop them before I have too many regrets. But there were a few really popular ones that I continued watching, simply because I kept seeing so many gifs of them, only to still feel kind of meh about them at the end. >_<

7. Name a drama you thought you’d never watch but did and did you end up liking it?

The only one I can think of that might fit this question is 3 Will Be Free. It wasn't really on my mind before, but since I was in the mood for something a little darker, I remembered gifsets of this drama and wanted to give it a try. I've seen two episodes so far and am still interested!

8. Name a pairing you want to see?

Ohhh, as long as it has one actor I like, I'd already be super happy. But hmmm, maybe Mond Tanutchai & Gun Atthaphan (since we never got Gramblack and I like their bickering friendship); Jeff Satur & anyone that's not a baby.... Jeff Satur & action scenes... no wait, where am I going with this...

9. Name a pairing you didn’t think had chemistry?

Nat Natasitt & Max Kornthas in the few episodes of Cutie Pie that I've seen.

10. Name a pairing you have seen in another drama that you like?

??? I'm interpreting this as: a pairing I've seen in a drama that I haven't (fully) watched? Yim Pharinyakorn & Tutor Koraphat (also Cutie Pie). I liked them enough to look up their clips on yt after I dropped Cp.