#this one seems short i'm sorry

[codacheetah]

The start of the Loop segment of the Siffrin & friends twitter QNA, and the message that flipped Loop's answers from silly to dodgy and blatantly upset.

Loopchat from speaking to Loop 20+ times.

Certified Loop dysphoria post

[mswyrr]

more on michelin stars

I genuinely think it's going to be an important plot point in s3 re: why exactly Sydney wants a star and why *one* specifically. I went and researched and discovered something I used in my fic, which is that one Michelin star restaurants are excellent cuisine that normal people can still afford. And that connected, for me, to what Sydney had told Marcus about how going out was so special when she was a kid and she wanted to share that kind of amazing thing with people:

We didn't really like eat out a lot growing up, so when we did, it felt special even if it wasn't.... I wanna cook for people and make them happy and give them the best bacon on Earth (1x08)

I'm so hopeful/convinced that the research they have with, like, Matty (the chef who plays Fak) right there on set, means the writers know that about what one star places can be like. And that it's meant to be part of this - more humane vision of excellence for Sydney, where their spot is AMAZING, but it's not a cruel kitchen culture, it's not only for the rich.

For her, it’s *part* of her vision, where she says: 

“I think this place could be so different from all the other places we've been at. But, in order for that to be true, we need to run things different.“ (1x03)

But Carmy sees a star and all it means (all he’s ever known it to mean) as a repudiation of that kind of humanity. You say the word "star" and immediately Carmy goes "fuck stars" (2x01) as pure self-defense - because stars are just pain and suffering to him. They're NYC chef and everything that mess became.

He's so traumatized by the whole thing he doesn't think to ask the right questions: why do you want one? What is your vision for it? Why do you specifically want *one* instead of two or three? What timeline do you have in mind for getting there and how can we strategize on this together?

Instead, because he wants so desperately to please her, despite that instinctive, self-defensive "fuck stars" he relents and asks - okay, are you sure? Are you positive this is what you want? Really?? It's terrible. It's just dread and fear and throwing up every day before work. You really want me to give you this?

(I’ll give you anything you want)

He never asks the right questions. Just assuming the level of pain which is his only experience of this is what the thing IS--playing into that theme about how people only know what they're taught, only know what they are given, and if we are given pain and patterns of it it is so hard to even imagine things can be different and, when you can imagine it, still so hard to actually get there.

(It’s not a coincidence that the ASL sign is one of the few positive, healthy examples of kitchen culture Carmy witnessed - we only know what we’re taught, and it can be hard work to even figure out what “not shitty” IS let alone doing it)

So he's assuming all of that and it's like - if she's his CDC, does she want him to push her as hard as he was pushed? Push himself that hard again? He doesn't want to do either of those things. But that's all he knows. And she keeps saying this is what she wants. And he wants to give her everything she wants.

(In the same conversation she kept saying yes, this is what I want, she expressed admiration for the designer chef outfit he later buys her as a gift - he wants to give her everything she wants, even when it seems like a terrible idea he’s torn about)

I think this misunderstanding is intentional and it’s going to come out in S3. A one star restaurant fits so perfectly with what we know of Sydney’s goals and love for her work! And Carmy not able to even conceive of something better because of the patterns he’s stuck in and finding his way to her vision makes sense for him.

I think Carmy figuring out how this work can be joyful and humane is going to be a huge part of S3. Sydney not becoming lost in the high stress environment, not following in younger!Carmy's footsteps living a life of pure drive and dread, and Carmy finding that for the first time.

I do think that, given where they both end in 2x10, there’s going to be a period of conflict and a real bunch of issues for both of them - but with themes and ideas like this seeded into the story there’s so many ways to make s3 start out in a bad way and then really end in joy in a beautiful way?

[fapamir]

Win and Team: *spend almost every night together on their dorm bed*

also Win and Team: *do it everywhere except for their own dorm beds*

[sskk-manifesto]

Ep 5!!!

[sekaicards]

i love the tournaments you’ve been running and you’re crazy dedicated to keep doing such massive brackets. i dont mind waiting for polls to be posted cause i understand that it takes a ton of time and you have a life of your own, but do you think you could post more about when to expect/not expect rounds to go up? i would really appreciate even just hearing something like “no polls today!” when you can’t do them

[bereft-of-frogs]

so the 'Qimir/the Stranger is actually [ insert high republic character here ]' theories have started to escalate, Imri was one thing, today I saw someone suggest the Stranger is Cohmac and I laughed out loud.

But also sure. The Stranger is Cohmac. XD Why tf not. Except for all the, you know, 'humans don't live that long' and 'their descriptions and official character art do not match Manny Jacinto at all' 'it doesn't actually make sense' but people keep countering that with 'energy transfer' so I guess Qimir really could be anybody.

Wouldn't it be fucking hilarious if it was Azlin Rell. Fucking Azlin. That would be SO funny if he energy-transferred himself into Qimir to live another hundred extra years, to continue being the worst. It would be so funny. Absolutely no one else would find it funny but I would personally find it absolutely hilarious if 'scenic route guy' is Qimir

[squarebracketsmileyface]

I'm working on something that's not Sorry It's Locked right now (perhaps something that i was inspired to pick up again by seeing Sickmutes skully and the operator art hehehe) so have a snippet of it.

kinda nsfw? I guess what Alex says kinda insinuates the situation they're in (...and y'know, smut is just what I write for the most part, i consider myself a smut writer) putting it under a thingy anyway because i talk a bit more about the fic, and that is definitely a bit nsfw

Anyway, no idea what this fic's gonna be called, but it's so self indulgent and has weird ass kinks in it. like, normal weird like tentacle sex and gunplay and super rough fucking, and also just, ones that are probably a little too weird to be considered normal weird? like getting filled with pitch black, inhuman cum so much it leaks out of your eyes and comes up your throat💀 so... yeah. theres that i guess.

I'm gonna have so much fun with it.

God knows why I ever stopped writing it. got caught up in sorry its locked probably

[windrunner]

man i briefly opened telegram and i think someone i was talking to sent me some weird message about not contacting them because i haven't had the energy to talk to them since the weekend (because of the mental illness) and if this is true i gotta find a polite way to rebut that

[steakout-05]

something that had always been really frustrating for me when i was still in math classes in school was trying to watch the teacher actually work the problem out on the board and still not understanding wtf was happening. for some context, i heavily suspect that i have some form of dyscalculia because math and numbers literally do not compute properly in my brain. it'd be too long to explain the full extent of my possible dyscalculia here but math literally does the mental equivalent of maxing out the CPU power and memory of a computer to the point where it freezes and lags to my brain.

math class was always stressful for me because no matter what i did and how much progress i made, there was always a lack of understanding i had when it came to trying to work any math problem out long term and remembering anything. it felt like there was always something i was missing, so when the time came for the teacher to explain and go through a math problem step-by-step on the whiteboard, i made sure i paid as much attention to it as humanly possible as child-to-teenager me could muster and even then i still did not understand how the fuck they solved it, all because of one thing: the teacher pulling a random number completely out of their ass that happened to be the key to solving the problem.

like. i don't think i can illustrate how frustrating and isolating this was to experience with words alone. here i was, paying as much attention as i physically could, trying my damned hardest to memorise each individual step and calculation in order to understand how to get from point A to point B. everything made perfect sense up until the teacher suddenly stops for a second and writes a seemingly completely unrelated number there with no context as to why it's there in the first place, and then, in that singular moment, everything immediately comes crumbling down and i'm left completely confused. and somehow, everyone else around me perfectly understands it except me. like. imagine sitting there, giving the teacher all the attention you possibly could, literally watching and studying their hand movements just to understand every single step, only to be even more confused than your classmates, who you're pretty sure were half-asleep during the explanation, who also say they understand how the teacher came to that conclusion. what. the actual fuck.

when i try to explain how infinitely confusing and irritating this was for me, i'm reminded of a quote from that video Patricia Taxxon made about DHMIS: "The rug is pulled again ... There was never any hope of following the thread, understanding is impossible.". even when i was literally trying my best to possibly follow anything that was happening, the rug still gets pulled out from under my feet and i'm sent all the way back to square one of not understanding a single thing and being confused again. all because the teacher didn't explicitly explain how they got that random number that was apparently singlehandedly necessary for solving the equation and where they got it from, apart from that place being from literally fucking nowhere.

it's really no wonder that i eventually stopped giving a shit about paying attention in math class, because even when i was, it was still daunting and incomprehensible as always. why bother trying anymore when trying still gets you nowhere? trying to ask the teacher where they got that number from was an impossible to understand task as well, as their either snapped back with a "well you should have been paying attention" (even though i WAS but whatever) or they do explain that they added the first two numbers from the equation together or something, but now i'm wondering why they didn't just explain that in the first place like they did with everything else instead of seemingly just assuming everyone would know to do that.

by the way, if i had to give an estimate, my math ability is probably still at like. a 5th grader's level at best. so uh. yeah it's not good. still, it is kinda funny to me though, not only because i do find a bit of humour in the situation, but also because some people are often so quick to judge someone's intelligence purely based on their mathematical abilities alone. like. the idea of someone calling me dumb for still needing to do addition with my fingers despite the fact that my reading and language levels are considered above average is really funny to me lmaooo

[chill-vibes-but-rainbow-panic]

Sorry, no context for this one, I gotta be a hater for a sec

If I see ONE more person being mean to Modern or Contemporary Art, I'm going to fucking lose it!

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 17. Truthful by Technicality (Veritruce, part B)

<<First | <Previous | Next>

Description below the cut

The sentimonster Veritruce glows with magical energy.

Veritruce: LIE DETECTED!

Veritruce moves the part of the conic barrier that Catwalker was stuck in upwards with such force that Catwalker is flung straight into the sky.  Ladybug reaches her hand uselessly toward him.

Veritruce: LIAR EJECTED!

Ladybug: Catwalker!

Mayura projects an air of innocence while Veritruce floats by her with a cheerful smile.  Ladybug continues to be stuck in the barrier, annoyed.

Mayura: I probably should have mentioned: Veritruce is always watching for lies, I don't have to ask it to verify every statement.

Ladybug points her fingers accusingly towards Mayura.

Ladybug: Then that means you need to answer me truthfully too.  So: Why do you need to know what Chat has been doing so badly?

Mayura averts her gaze, clenching her fists.

Mayura: Chat Noir’s identity carries... unforeseen consequences.

Ladybug: You recognized him when he detransformed.  Who is he to you?

Mayura: He is... someone that we wanted to avoid akumatizing prior to now.

Ladybug panics.

Ladybug: You can't akumatize him!  The world... You cannot let that happen!

Mayura thumps her fan against the palm of her hand.

Mayura: I have no intention of allowing Chat Noir to be akumatized.  But, if the last few akumas are any indication, Shadowmoth may end up ignoring my advice, should he become too focused on certain means for accomplishing his goals.

Ladybug looks at Mayura critically.

Ladybug: 'Last few akumas'? You mean the ones that have been going after Adrien Agreste, right?  Is... is Shadowmoth choosing akumas who will hunt down Adrien deliberately?

Mayura stands with fan grasped in both hands, Ladybug’s yo-yo lying on the ground behind her.

Mayura: It's not what you think.  Shadowmoth merely wants to see the Agreste boy reunite with his father.

Ladybug: This is the same Shadowmoth that doesn't care when he terrorizes Paris, right?

Mayura: He's not that heartless.  If anything, he cares too acutely for his own good.  Once he decides how the world should be, he doesn't let go of it easily.

Mayura covertly looks above her, where Catwalker falls through a cloud in the sky.

Mayura: Speaking of persistence...

Veritruce creates a second cone, this one purple and inverted, in which to catch the falling Catwalker.

Mayura: Veritruce, seclude the liar.

Catwalker splats dizzily into the bottom of the new cone before he can make contact with the first cone.

Catwalker: Kaaadrghkh!

Ladybug: Catwalker!

Catwalker: Ow...

Ladybug: Are you okay?

Catwalker: I'll live...

Catwalker pushes himself up against the cone’s sides so he can reorient himself upright.

Mayura: Veritruce reinforces its barriers with the Power of Truth, did you really think it wouldn't notice that you lied about knowing Chat Noir's identity?

Catwalker: We only had your word about what it could do.  Testing whether we could lie seemed like a good idea.

Catwalker sits himself against the cone’s side.

Mayura: What if the consequences were something else—say, vaporizing you?

Catwalker: Then that would have been helpful information for Ladybug to know.

Mayura: Hmph.  You're lucky that I'm not done prying answers out of you yet.

A wide shot showing Mayura standing under the original pink cone, with Ladybug stuck in the barrier on one side and the stretched up hole left from where Catwalker was previously trapped.  Catwalker is currently trapped in an inverted purple cone, its tip floating mere inches above the tip of the pink cone.

Catwalker: Ladybug, what have you told Mayura?

Ladybug: Actually, she's mostly been the one answering me.  She's agreed to not let Chat get akumatized.  Also, Shadowmoth wants Adrien to come home, apparently.

Catwalker: That’s… concerning.

Mayura: What is there to be concerned about?  Isn't it a good thing if Chat Noir remains unaffected by akumas and a missing boy returned home?

A shot of Mayura’s lower half, Ladybug’s yo-yo still on the ground behind her.

Mayura: Unless your concern comes from something else...?  Tell me, Catwalker...

Catwalker folds his arms and looks down.

Mayura: What do you know about Adrien's disappearance?

Catwalker: I don't want to answer that question.

Ladybug’s eyes tear up, aghast, and reaches up towards Catwalker.

Ladybug: You know what happened to Adrien?  How?

Catwalker: ...

Ladybug: Answer me!

Catwalker: I was... around right before Adrien went missing...

Catwalker looks away, holding his hands between his knees.

Catwalker: I couldn’t help but notice that Adrien was deeply troubled by something, something he refused to disclose when asked.  But it was clear that he needed an escape... and that if I used my powers as Catwalker, I could provide the means of that escape.

Ladybug: Then that means...

Catwalker: I'm how he disappeared that night, yes.

Catwalker looks down towards Ladybug, the hand in front of him leaning on one of the barriers between them.

Ladybug: Do you know where he is now?  Please tell me that he's okay.

Catwalker: I'm sorry. I have every reason to think that he's still alive, but if he was dead, I wouldn't know.  He doesn't intend to approach me in the future.  And ever since that night...?  The only person who knows how to locate 'Adrien Agreste' is Adrien Agreste.

Mayura holds her fan in front of half her face, her other hand gesturing with palm faced upwards.

Mayura: You seem awfully concerned about Adrien, Ladybug.  You wouldn't happen to have ulterior motives for wanting to locate him, would you?

Ladybug waves her hands in the air in exasperation.

Ladybug: Are you kidding me? Oh right, every time I don't want someone to die it means I'm secretly in love with them!  That makes sense!

Veritruce gets in Ladybug’s face, eyebrows pointed down.  Ladybug covers her mouth sheepishly.

Veritruce: LIE DETECTED!

Mayura: Did I mention that sarcasm counts as lies?

Veritruce yeets Ladybug into the sky.  Catwalker reaches his hand uselessly toward her.

Veritruce: LIAR EJECTED!

Catwalker: Ladybug!

Below is the same image as above, only without text: 

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 6: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

The winning option of yesterday's poll was that the adventurer should ask the Innkeeper about the suspicious egg he got from the Well Creature….

-

After finishing his food scraps, he awkwardly creeps back over to the main counter, pulling up a stool and just hoping the Innkeeper will eventually make eye contact with him... She finally looks to the side whilst cleaning a glass, his chance to blurt out whatever he can.

"SO!- uh,, I um... I found something weird, or uh.. I didn't find it actually, I guess, I..... s-someone, or something.. gave it to me, as maybe..? a reward, or.. oh, well i-it doesn't matter why.. but UH, but so, I was just wondering, d-do you think you might know anything about it? about like, uh... stuff? Objects.. perhaps.....?"

She stares with equal parts amusement and concern, crossing her arms and letting out a soft chuckle, "Well, I've seen quite a variety of things while working here, so - Yeah, I could try to help you identify an item, if that's what you're asking."

"G-good. Okay. Well.. It's, uh..... this." He's barely even placed the little wooden egg box up on the counter before she's already slamming the lid shut and reaching over to force it back into his bag. Suddenly serious, her eyes dart around the room, scanning to ensure no-one else happened to notice.

"Don't EVER let anyone see you with that, okay??". Abrupt tone shift making him even more nervous, he just stares blankly, muttering a few gibberish noises whilst nodding at her in confirmation.

"I mean, I'm not absolutely certain," her voice lowers as she speaks, "but to me it looks exactly like a Caiploras egg. Those animals have been nearly extinct for at least a hundred years. Only tiny groups of them still exist here and there, and even those eventually get wiped out as soon as they're discovered. Kings and nobles used to hunt them, especially for the eggs, 'cause of all the theories - unique magical properties, uses in enchanting, shit like that.. I don't really know, I'm not that experienced with magic.... But.."

She pauses for a few seconds to stare him down (this does not soothe his anxiety at all), examining intently, as if to determine whether he's actually trustworthy before continuing..

"...My brother is. He's a mage, and a scholar, and he specializes in stuff like this, all these rare animals and whatnot. He'll hate me just sending a complete stranger over there, but.. I think you should go see him. He'd definitely be able to identify it- hell, he'd probably even pay you for it, if it really is what I think it is. And, he'd know how to take care of it properly, raise it well, not just cut it up for fucking potions or whatever...", she scoffs bitterly.

Grasping at a nearby napkin to fan himself with, he shifts sweatily in his seat, "W-wh... but,.. How would I do that?"

"What do you mean? Do what?"

"F-find, him.. IHhh... I just.. I don't, know the area well.. is all, I uh...."

"I'll give you directions, obviously.. Are you okay? Do you like... need some water? You look-"

"NHnnnou, I'M FINE! I just, haha.. uh... Maybe, am.. not very good at....uh.. this.." He gestures around himself nonspecifically.

With a brief confused glance, she pours a cup of water anyway, then casually plucks a small notebook from her pocket to begin scribbling messily. "Well, look, I'll give you the information, and if you feel up to it, you can go. I really think you should, but, eh... your choice, y'know."

As he fights his shaky hands to maintain control of the water glass, she lays out the paper on the table, pointing at parts of her sketch. "He's over in Fargahel, which should be a few days travel from here. See? The roads kind of go like this, but it's mostly a straight path. Look for the ruins of an abandoned castle. He's holed himself up in there, the underground part, repurposed into some sort of 'sanctuary' for rehabilitating injured birds or whatever the hell he's up to now. He probably won't attack you or anything, but I signed a little note on the back of this so he knows I sent you.. just in case."

Neatly folding up the map, she slides it towards him as she leans closer to intensely meet his eyes. "Just remember, no matter what you do, do NOT let anyone know you have that egg. There are plenty of folks out here still hunting for them. You don't want someone recognizing it and coming after you. Especially with how, uh...", it feels like she might mention he doesn't seem he'd be very good at combat, but she simply lets the sentence trail off, shrugging with a smile and politely patting his hand as he takes the paper.

"Just get some sleep, yeah? Think about it. And talk to me in the morning if you have any more questions."

He slumps over to lean on the counter, resting for a moment after she walks back to the other end of the room, just trying to wrap his head around all the new information.. He only took the egg because it looked pretty! He just wanted it to hatch into a cool chicken or something! Why does it have to actually be some big stinky scary secret rare item?... With a heavy sigh, he resolves to never again trust mysterious creatures that pop out of abandoned wells....

Eventually trudging up to his room for the night, he flops onto the lumpy mattress that seems to just be hay stuffed into dusty old potato sacks. As he rustles around waiting to fall asleep, he considers all of his options... What should he do with the egg?

[serkonans]

the way we handle medical leave in the states even for people with good benefits is cruel

[longagoitwastuesday]

I've also been reading the three musketeers and the thesis chapter had me Cackling. the clowning on learning latin in particular and aramis as a character constantly emphasizing that being part of the higher sought after and hard-to-get-into regiment of the king's musketeers is just kind of a temp job for him is so funny. character of all time. (also bazin wanting aramis to be a abbe so bad is so good)

Disclaimer that I was actually not reading the book, just giving a look and toying with the idea of reading it soon. In fact I was reading something else, but the chapter was so funny I've abandoned it and will probably start The three musketeers instead xD

Yes! Bazin was so funny. While reading him I couldn't help but be reminded of Smee wanting to leave Neverland and done with Hook's obsession for Peter Pan. Aramis dismissing being a musketeer is hilarious, but it becomes particularly funny after reading Cyrano de Bergerac, where Cyrano mentions being a musketeer wistfully a couple of times. While I was reading the play I kept thinking that Cyrano's aspirations were basically to be Aramis haha

The use of Latin each character (the curate, the Jesuit, D'Artagnan and Aramis) does was indeed very funny, as well as insightful. I ended up reading a paper on the command each of the four protagonists has of Latin, and I loved the comparison it established between Athos and Aramis. I don't have an opinion on this formed because I have yet to read the book, which is a good thing (it will hopefully keep me from rambling), but I found what I read super interesting.

The chapter was very funny, and I felt Dumas managed everything very well? I loved the writing itself. Every part of the chapter worked wonderfully as a whole to enhance every aspect, making the funny parts more fun and drawing a more clear lively depiction of the characters.

By that I mean, basically, that even from the initial interaction between D'Artagnan and the hostess in which he asks for Aramis and she goes "the charming hot guy?" we can see Aramis' hypocrisy and unsteadiness by a mile. It's hilarious to read the chapter and see how Aramis ends up contradicting everything he does or says, at times not even that long after saying it xD

Which takes me to the thesis itself. Honestly, I loved the topics. I know they're supposed to sound a bit ridiculous and funny, but I thought Dumas conveyed very well the air of some of those intricate questions of theology that seem trifle but have a lot of implications, and end up being of a very poetic nature (such as the question about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, one of my all time favourite questions). I wasn't very interested on the topic of the hands until the Jesuit commented that sprinklers "simulate an infinite number of blessing fingers"; that's beautiful.

Now, the topic Aramis himself proposes is just gorgeous. The way he defends it with a syllogism is so clever of Dumas considering the link between theology and the development of Logic. Besides that, despite how unorthodox the topic may appear at first, as Aramis himself puts it, there is a lot of truth in what he says about the world being full of temptations and it being very much a sacrifice to leave it, and how there lies the devotional act. I ended up being very intrigued by the potential development of this thesis in a mix of appreciation of the world as God's creature, and thus the leaving of the world as an act of true love for God, of more importance; how instead of an easy surrender, the struggle and doubts are as much reflection of the condition of humanity's frailty as it is a more steady and full surrender to God.

The topic of Aramis' thesis is somewhat paradoxical yet sound, and reflects doubts, as well as an appreciation for the world, aesthetics and beauty; I think it reflects so much of what makes Aramis himself.

And then, again, there's the whole hypocrisy through the entire chapter (which is what makes it for me haha). The way he says he isn't defending a regret at renouncing the world while proposing the thesis, that the mere idea is sacrilegious, how he insists he won't miss it, that friends are but shadows and the world a grave, and still how his resolution wavers almost instantly with his "And yet, while I still hold to the earth, I would have liked to talk with you, about you, about our friends" (and what a tender shaking), only to end up asking D'Artagnan to tell him about the world in the last line? Hilarious. What an hypocrite xD

But how extremely charming and adorable, I must admit! I love how when D'Artagnan tells him "But how are you going to live while you wait for me? No more thesis, no more commentaries on fingers and blessings, eh?", Aramis smiles and replies "I shall compose verses". Truly one of the characters of all time xD

[fitzfunnymoments]

OKAY so there's now a list of which episodes of the Little Robots American dub have been found. A lot of them are ones that have already been found sadly but now there's FINALLY english dubs of some of the shorts (and even a few shorts that I haven't even heard of)