#and like they've all got jobs no doing really well for themselves and parents like actual parents and I'm just not at that level
There are a lot of rumors about Eddie Munson. From his sexuality, to his religion, to him being some sort of supernatural creature.
Steve doesn’t put a lot of merit in most of them. They’re usually just bullshit people make up to entertain themselves with whilst beating down on the weird kid. Steve thinks it’s boring… usually.
He’s seen enough weird things happen around Munson to know that something isn’t right. Something about him is unnatural. And Steve is staying clear out of the way of whatever the hell he is, or whatever the hell he’s messing with.
Unfortunately, his friends haven’t gotten the message.
“Do it at your own house!” Steve complains, though he makes no move to stop them. He’s sure it’s nothing, that it’ll only lead to an annoying clean-up job, but there’s a nagging sense of dread writhing in his gut. “This shit is bull anyway.”
“If it’s bull then what’s the problem?” Tommy counters.
“Because none of you dickheads are going to help clean this shit up!”
“I promise to help you clean up,” Carol says. “There. Problem solved. Right?”
"It's still stupid," Steve mutters, glaring at the janky make-shift pentagram they've made. "And a bad idea."
It's drawn on nine pieces of paper- they wanted to draw it big on the floor, but Steve had but his foot down. He lets them use some of his moms candles as a compromise.
With the lights off, sitting with the two of them in a circle, it suddenly feels too real. Even Carol looks suddenly nervous.
Tommy is the only one still smirking, though Steve is sure that it's forced. His voice shakes a little as he begins reading off the paper he'd torn out a library book. His Latin is clunky.
At first, nothing happens.
Long enough that Carol says, "did you even say it right?"
"Yes, it even has-" Tommy starts.
The candles all blow out, suddenly. The light Steve had left on in the kitchen flicks off too, plunging them into complete darkness.
After a horrible moment, where they're still and silent, Carol yelps.
"Don't grab me, Tommy, that's not funny!"
"I didn't grab you."
"Wh- Steve?"
"No," is all Steve can get out.
"I'm turning the lights on," Tommy says. "This is ridiculous."
Steve listens to his footsteps and, when he sounds like he's almost at the light switch, he yelps.
"Fuck this," he says.
"What the fuck, Tommy!" Carol yells when they both hear him running past them. She's up on her feet immediately, chasing after him.
He wants to scream after them, plead with them to come back, that they shouldn't be abandoning the circle.
But, the same gut instinct that insists he stay where he is, keeps his mouth shut. Everything in his being is telling him that if he leaves, if he speaks first, horrible things will happen to him.
Something tuts, like a parent admonishing a child.
The living room light flicks on, so bright that Steve has to blink a few times to clear away the white spots.
Eddie Munson sits in the space they left empty.
"Someone didn't read the terms and conditions," he snickers.
"What..." Steve pauses, clearing his throat. "What are the, uh... terms and conditions?"
"Oh, they're simple, really. Look," he holds up the page Tommy had read the incantations from, pointing to the little paragraph at the end. "They even translated it to English! But all you need to know, big boy, is that you are A-OK."
"And... Tommy and Carol?"
"Eh, they're fine. Lucky, really. I'm trying to relax up here. I'm only gonna pay them back with a minor curse or two. Nothing lethal."
"Fuck."
"We haven't even got to you yet!" He spins around so hes laying on his belly, resting his chin on his palm. "You didn't technically summon me so you can just tell me to leave... or."
"Or?"
"Deal with no consequence, baby. One wish, whatever you want, free of charge. Well... I'd want your silence about the whole... summoning thing. Let's consider that payment."
He doesn't need his gut or book to warn him that it's a bad idea. Munson could be lying, easily. There could be fine print. It's a bad, very bad idea.
"There's... definitely no consequences? I won't, like, go to hell for this?" Steve finally asks.
"Do some charity work for a week, you'll be fine," he says, waving his hand around. "What do you want, King Steve?"
"Could- could you make someone love me?"
"Oh, ho ho ho! Who's the unlucky lady who said no to you?"
"No, it... it's not like that. I mean, um... my mom."
Munsons smile drops. The temperature drops with it, making a chill run up Steves spine.
"Your mom," he repeats.
"They're busy like, all the time," Steve automatically defends. "And they're barely here so, uh... of course they wouldn't- I mean, it's normal, right? You can't love a stranger or... whatever. It's fine. It's just... I don't know."
"Steve..." Munson pauses.
He groans, throwing his head into his hands, dramatically. He almost immediately flings his head back up, hair flying everywhere, giving Steve wide and pleading eyes.
"I can't make people fall in love or any shit like that. I can make illusions, that's it. Love is, like... way out of my jurisdiction."
"I- I'm ok with an illusion. Like, just one day or something."
"Steve, baby, you're breaking my heart."
"Please?"
"Jesus- ok!" Grumbling, Munson shifts so he's kneeling. "And in return, you won't say shit about any of this. Deal?"
"Deal."
"Great. Ugh. This next part is... weird."
"What do you mean, weird?"
"It's weird, I don't know. Deals about, like, love are sealed with a kiss."
"You're joking."
"Nope, and that's not even the weird part. Now, come on and pucker up, let's get this over with." He gestures for Steve to shuffle closer, waiting until they're sat close enough that their knees almost bump together. "You can still change your mind. Anything at all, Steve. Anything."
"I thought you wanted to get this over with?"
"On your head..."
Munson leans forward, kissing him. It's just a peck, simple and easy. No big deal, right?
Steve feels possessed. It's like someone lit a match in his stomach, leaving him lightheaded and confused. He's not sure how he ends up in Eddie's lap, clutching onto his shoulders, desperately trying to lick into his mouth. He feels so-
He wakes up in his bed, the morning light blinding him.
"What the fuck..." he mutters to himself, grabbing at his throbbing head.
At first, he thinks he's hungover. That he'd just had a weird dream... but he's wearing the same clothes. And, sat on his stomach, is a guitar pic. It's got 'corroded coffin' written on it too- Eddie's band.
"Steve!" He hears his mom call. "Time to get up!"
He scrambles out of bed, dashing down the stairs.
She smiles when she spots him, so bright and warm. She even raises an arm, laughing when he practically throws himself into her side and hugging her tight.
"Morning, sweetheart. Good dreams?"
"Yeah. Yeah, great. But, uh... I feel sick."
"Oh no," she frowns. She puts her hand to his forehead, cooing when she brushes his hair out his face. "Is it your stomach?"
"Yeah. Just... might be better to stay home today. If that's ok?"
"Of course it is. I'm sure we can find something fun to do together, yeah? How about we get a vhs movie, hm?"
"I'd love that."
"Great. Well, if you're feeling up to it, I've made breakfast." She steps away, plating the food she's cooked up. "Oh, did I ever tell you about Paris? It was beautiful, you would have loved it. We should bring you, next time we go."
Steve can't stop smiling. He's sure that his cheeks will be aching by the end of the day.
He'll have to thank Eddie- as soon as he can even think about him without blushing. He'll need to ask if it's normal to still feel... affected, even after the deal is done.
Part of him knows it isn't the deal. Part of him is too curious about how Eddie will react.
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For the ask game: common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about?
[ask meme]
8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about
I...actually get frustrated with the infantilization and/or demonization of characters that could be read as autistic, because it happens so often and there's such a lack of self-awareness when people do it. If one person headcanons it, a bunch of other people pile on, and before you know it, your character is being treated like someone else entirely - and unfairly so.
Let's take the most obvious example and the reason I don't engage with fandom much:
I am so tired of what fandom at large has done to Emmet since 2010. He's been infantilized since day one, often being portrayed as needing Ingo to take care of him or otherwise be his brother's keeper. He's also been turned into a violent, 'unhinged' stereotype since day one. Neither of these things are new. They've been happening since the release of the games. Neither of them have any basis in his canon characterization - a competent railroad employee who's a goofball but simultaneously responsible and always puts safety first.
I was hoping people had moved past that the way they moved past Blankshipping (though some people still do this, too, EW), but it seems like they haven't. Emmet is still either a helpless child or a serial killer waiting to happen to so many of these people, and as someone who actually felt so validated and seen the first time she discovered Ingo and Emmet, it hurts so deeply.
In real life, I'm also infantilized. I turn 35 this year and have a Master’s degree and work a big grown-up adult archivist job and live outside my parents' house, but because I'm neurodivergent and short, I'm frequently assumed to be and am treated like a teenager way more often than you'd reasonably expect. It's incredibly frustrating to constantly be treated like an innocent child because you don't meet neurotypical benchmarks of adulthood the way they want you to or because of the way you carry yourself or enjoy things. But at the same time, people shy away from me because I'm "too intense" about the things I care about.
Sound familiar?
Fandom was, when I was a younger girl, a place where neurodivergent people (especially autistic and ADHD people) were safe from the real world not understanding, accommodating, and accepting us. We generally kept things on the down-low, since it was another thing we'd be bullied for if people knew, but for us, it was a safe space. Then people realized fandom could be commodified, and once capitalism got a hold on fandom and made it mainstream, all our bullies were suddenly in our little space again, and...well, you probably know the rest. (Yeah, they brought their ableism with them.)
I'm not saying old fandom didn't have its problems. It had a LOT of problems. But it was, altogether, a safer space for neurodivergent people to find community and themselves than it is now. Now it feels more about producing things and moving on to the next big thing to produce more "content" to keep engagement instead of an actual community of nerdy, passionate people getting excited about each other's fanworks and chatting about their favorite things together.
And that reflects in how people treat autistic and autistic-coded characters now. Emmet is one example of many - look at Papyrus, or Entrapta, or numerous others.
This trend really, really fucking hurts, and I cannot stand how willingly fandom spaces just go along with it without thinking critically about it.
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What's their karma for playing with you?
What's your justice?
Side note spirit said this is not gonna resonate with every single person who comes across this but it's for those who really need to hear it. ⭐
Piles
1 2
3 4
5 6
Pile 1 !
Looks like a person gave you some type of offer, and then left you hanging in some way. Or you had something with someone and they betrayed you possibly. They probably left you "high and dry" they're saying. They may have ran away also. Kinda seems like an energy of being left to fend for yourself somehow...
Their karma -
I heard "womanizer" so not sure what that means... But I'm seeing that there's a, probably female, figure in their life that they've known for a long time that they consider in some way important to them. I heard "take the money and run," proceeded by the chariot and ten of pentacles... So I'm seeing this person is going to also be left high and very . Very dry. For some of you this person could literally be getting a divorce. I got the three of swords, so this one person leaving them definitely has the ability to break their heart, and they are definitely about to. I'm seeing the person who betrayed you as not doing so well monetarily in the near future after this. Ace of pentacles reversed they are NOT getting any type of help from spirit with that, so they're really going to have to work hard for anything they want. It's overall gonna suck for them. Karma is funny how simple it can be huh? I mean the same thing they did to you, but it almost feels more personally devastating for the person getting their karma. I think spirits really hitting home for their revenge.
What is your justice out of this situation?
I'm seeing a lot of abundance, and I felt a content feeling in my heart chakra. You might not be rich but you'll definitely have what you need, and you'll also be able to give to others. Seems like you're the type of person to be generous like that when you can be. If something you wanted didn't work out because of your person, I see it's because of a really good reason. I got something about jail for some reason.. either way for most of you you don't even have to grieve , I think that it definitely isn't what it seems, and what's meant for you will surely come your way. You might be going through an ending that seems tuff, but in reality you're dropping that old bs to move into something wayy better and that is actually right for you.
So thank you guys. Peace and love.
Pile 2
Ok so somebody has said a lot of negative things towards you, maybe even about you. They might have ended something. This could be a dream you had, an idea, goal . Something ended cause of them. I think they have or do say a lot to get you on lower vibes and they might think of it as seeing the world more "realistically " but it's actually the opposite. If they make it seem like oh you know you need to get a job you hate and work and die basically. Not cool.
What's their karma?
Ok first of all with a mentally like that they're already miserable. Second It really seems like this could be a parent or just someone pretty controlling . It seems like you're one of the best things in their life and they harvest off of that... Literally .. you might not recognize that... But they keep you down just to take your good vibes man.... Straight up, walk away. That's the worst karma I think they can get. Everything already sucks more or less for them at least in their mind. And it's really pissing me off how they're stealing your energy and probably creativity for themselves.
What's your justice in this situation?
Ok straight up, I don't think you even realize how golden your soul is and it's because somehow you're still connected to this person at least energetically. The more you let go and move on the better off you'll be. Your gift is that you get to be yourself!
I wanted to say, what is your dharma in this, which is good karma. So I see you're going to have a lot of really great relationships in the future. It seems like only a matter of time until your life is fully your life and everything will be simple and great. You might have or get connections for some really positive opportunities in your life moving ahead. Spirit has you really hooked up. Just stay positive especially about the future. This seems like a happy ending and the worst thing you'll have to face is some healing work. Good on you guys. I wanna just say, keep it up, whatever it is you're on. Bless!
Thank you guys I love your energy especially the happy ending (I got ten of cups for you regarding future opportunities and your life overall.) Spirit said splendid so that's funny I don't know who's gonna relate to that word 😂.
Keep calm and in your own energies.
One love , peace.
Pile 3
Seems like you're moving on from something. There was an ending between you and someone else. This person seems kind of like an ass .
Maybe you guys fought a lot?
Don't let this be a situation where they are just leaving temporarily.
What' their karma?
Seems like however they communicate , maybe manipulate is getting them caught up. Spirit literally said "owned" so I don't know maybe someone calls them out and grills their ass haha. I think they have a big ego and it might get kind of torn up and won't be looked at the same by some people. they might get exposed for some type of abusive way they've been. I don't think they thought that could happen. They might tell themselves they're in the right about some things. They keep telling me asshat so this person is such a dipshit they're going to be looking super dumb guys ..
There's someone cool with them, maybe a friend who is not gonna find their hidden behaviors very charming. Or this person doesn't care and they're getting exposed too. So yeah they're going to end up losing people though and somehow more importantly to them their image will be tarnished. You guys one of you they abuse their dog and the dog is going to get taken away, well I would say rescued. A few of you of this person is going to be homeless soon. They think they're untouchable and it's so not true. They might even act like unaffected when they get their karma because they care that deeply about what other people think and how they're perceived. Someone they might go to a person that's about as abusive as they are and thats gonna be a major downfall of theirs. I mean their life is gonna suckkkk.
Overall I'm just seeing spirits gonna continuously whoop their ass until they get the picture.
What's your justice?
Im not sure if you don't expect to receive any support in this situation or you felt like you haven't got much, spirit is there and they're going to show you a sign that everything is alright. They're fighting for you and you can't see it but they're really out here fighting battles for you and protecting you while you go about your business. Some spirits may be working together around you to kind of shield you from anything bad that might try to come too close.
They see what you've gone through and what you might go through recently, and I see them standing right by your side in your favor. I think they see you as super capable and let you make choices for yourself. I sense you're someone who makes things happen on this realm. For instance being the one that sets off someone's karma. Kind of like a spiritual investigator vibe here. So stay strong, it kinda seems like you're doing a job of some sort . This doesn't mean start doing anything any differently though. You kind of are the justice in situations it seems. I think you're going to get rewarded very big at the end of a long and tough journey here and I'm not even going to attempt to read on it. It seems better as a surprise. But I already feel giddy about it. I wanna say congratulations haha. Definitely go with the flow, don't take things especially if something ends, too seriously, and try not to get too emotionally attached or involved in things. You guys kinda feel like childish sweet souls so if you wanna know what to do I would embrace those qualities within yourself.
Something about fireworks.
Good work whatever you've done guys.
You're being heavily guided so just trust. The process is still in motion happening currently.
Peace and one love.
Pile 4 .
Ok so the person your asking about seems like they belittle people or treat them like they are less than they really are.
Side note for some of you please eat more or healthier. It's going to have really beneficial effects on your mind and body and somehow even heart. You might get better skin cause of it and hair. Fruits might be beneficial and rice. Try to cut out fried food and ... Somebody uh cut back on donuts?? Haha.
Ok so somebody tried to trip you up and or play some games with you. There's nothing wrong with you it's definitely them and their issues.
What's their karma?
I feel like they're going to be stripped bare so that they're forced to do inner work. This might make them see things from your perspectives somehow. Kind of like you guys are swapping shoes.
They might have been influenced to make a like altering mistake for the sake of fitting in or getting along somehow.
Do they eat a lot of McDonald's? Yeah if so they might start having some pretty nasty health issues .
If their personality or interests are stolen I see them losing that and them having to be themselves, which, they suck. So socially losing "popularity" for that. Their true colors are super negative.
People are gonna start realizing they are so not the real deal. And someone they've been trying to overshadow is going to be seen for who they really are. Super gifted. I'm guessing that's you or multiple people. This person shines and is super sweet , generous, etc.
Your justice!
You might make friends with mutuals with this bad person if they have friends. Kinda surprised me ha. Whoever you're gonna be around are also good people. I heard watching out for you. This bad person could be or has been in the way of important positive connections for you some way or another. Maybe it was just cause they tried keeping you in the dark. I feel like I kind of already accidentally said a lot about your justice in all this. You might start shining getting away from this bs and people will see you for who you really are and also someone who has come out of something on top in a way. Also someone who is innocent. I'm hearing something about a smile so you might be doing that more or already have been or you have a really nice bright smile.
It almost is giving the vibe that things will sort of "go back to normal" or the energy will be as it should be.
For now just keep working on whatever you are working on. I see someone a living person or spirit being defensive about you lately and possibly standing up for you in some way. I just see things for you bring a lot chiller and balancing out eventually exactly they way they should be. Congrats!
Peace blessings and one love.
Pile 5
one of you chose this because the picture was really cute ha.
So it seems like you guys found out somehow about someone you might not even know that well being pretty evil. They might have really got you into some shit here or set you up for something bad. I keep hearing cunning ..
Something about flowers and that just for a few of you to recognize that this is yours I guess..
Well anyway .
What's their karma?
They must've really underestimated you and it's coming back to bite them in the ass... Or you're an underdog and you're about to bite them in the ass ahaha . Nice.
I suggest going into more of a lone wolf energy and building your self up to come back hitting way hard. Major underdog vibes here. Let yourself be guided by your inner light. You are super powerful beings in this pile. Like you have the sun within you and you're super connected to other realms. Someone might have been talking down on you a lot and expects you to stay down but,
I sense a storm brewing but you are literally the storm. You're definitely gonna come out swinging. I'm getting a lot about personal power. I don't even think you guys are gonna know what to do with all of that afterwards... Something your gonna do could just hype you up to the max. You must be heading somewhere really great.
And if you ever feel lonely for some reason or another, there is a kindred spirit somewhere out there , so like true love happy ending vibes way in your future. So my advice is time flies more than you realize in any given moment and just enjoy the cool story you're seriously living through right now. Awesome read. Im feeling super powerful. Don't let anything get you down. You got this , whatever it is. I'm hearing some of you might have a "story to tell" at the end of this. They didn't even give me much about anybody's karma they just want you guys to know who YOU are. Cause it looks like your enemies don't stand a chance, like, they are going dowwwnn. Good riddance. This might just be proving someone wrong about you.
Right now though, it's just a matter of you building yourself up for what's to come. Like I kind of thought about when Hercules was training with that little goat guy ha.
Thank you , hope this helps.
Peace and love.
Feel free to message me haha.
Pile 6!
Some of you guys could be a little pissed off right now?
Some of you might be advocates for human rights or something like that maybe for animals ?
Ok so somebody or something broke your heart or just had some pain they put on you or tried to, and you had to come up out of that and heal..
There might be some frustration maybe about not being able to get people to comprehend your points on things and perspectives?
You might also take on stress because other people and situations don't want to be as good as they can be somehow .
So I'm thinking somebody may have sabotaged you because you're pure??? Wtf??
What's their karma?
Ok so some zombie brain baffoon tried to bring some pain your way and you had to deal with that...
I think for one this person kind of has to bask in your glory lol . They might be jealous and insecure.
Funny they might also see their future being bright. It is not. Not if they aren't pure intentioned no. They arent able to heal. They are probably just gonna continue in life to deal with people on their level and it just seems super messy.
I'm really seeing a fast food job for a lot of them. There's nothing wrong with that but the way they see it it's kind of ego shattering. I feel like rolling my eyes at them.
They could very well get in a car accident.
There just seems to be a lot of ego shattering and then then continuing to live a super mundane life with not much substance. They could get in a fight.
They might have to ride a bike for a long time for transportation or already do. Or something will happen regarding a bike maybe.
Again nothing wrong with these things I think this person just has a gross perspective on life. They feel entitled because of how they want to perceive themselves.
Overall I just kinda see them living their life super mundane kind of lame to be honest like what a waste..
You guys might get more joy out of everyday stuff. Good way to be , I'm like that too. :)
What's your justice ?
To be honest I feel like it's gonna be pretty satisfying to see this person get what's coming to them, if you even do. Spirit might show you them just for you to have a good laugh at some point. You might have some type of gift or a way about you that's super good you will be able to share or share more of. It made this person super uncomfortable. I wouldn't be surprised if it's something psychic like. I see you guys possibly working at something you wanted to do as a child, and you will be successful if you go all the way with that. Super beautiful energy. Really sweet you guys. :')
I see some of you guys getting some good news in the next coming weeks. Some of you are going to college. Nice! It's something about your interests.... You guys in general though are all going to be living your lives and enjoying the ride. Like this person will not even be relevant at all soon if it still feels like they are somehow , forget about them . Like in a little while you guys will have forgotten that they exist. Seriously.
One of you a kitchen might be significant so maybe you're going for a culinary career so this is just a sign for future success if that's the case. Or some of you might be working a job like that now. You'll be moving up somehow soon. You might just go on vacation or you should.
I also see wherever you life spend good quality time outside because there's some beautiful days ahead, especially how the skies will look. You might see a bird and it holds some form of significance in your life.
Some of you have a dog or should consider getting one. I see somebody's puppy is like a tiny curly haired light brown puppy. Super cute. I think the message here is just enjoy each other's company . If you take your pet for a walk definitely bring water. Maybe even food for the dog..?
Anyways, you all might not even see it cause you'll be distracted but spirit is definitely kicking this person's ass soon. Their home life is gonna go south quick. They might get kicked out . For some someone they ask out if they do will reject them.
Ok sorry to go back to more of their karma .
I see things around you being super beautiful after you make some type of change in your life.
And also yeah basically the person you're dealing with is getting caught in a trap.
You guys should focus on or get more into your personal interests and loves for sure.
Peace and love you guys. Thank you for being here. I hope this helps 🐝🐞
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08 poolside pretense
pairing: Spencer Reid x fem!oc
summary: Spencer and Brittany go to Las Vegas for the wedding.
list of chapters, also available on wattpad and Ao3, my masterlist
warnings: none
words: 4k
The roar of the plane's engines filled the cabin as Spencer glanced out the window, watching the ground shrink beneath them.
He could feel the tension radiating from Brittany beside him. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the armrest, her breaths coming in short, shallow bursts.
"Hey, Brittany, look at me," Spencer said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "We're going to be in Vegas before you know it."
Brittany forced a shaky smile, her eyes flitting nervously between Spencer and the window. "Thanks. I just... I hate flying."
"I know," Spencer replied, “But we’ll be back on the ground before you know it.”
Brittany nodded, her grip on the armrest loosening slightly. "Yeah, you're right. I just need to keep thinking about the wedding."
Spencer leaned back in his seat, racking his brain. "So, tell me more about your family," Spencer prompted gently, sensing Brittany's need for distraction.
Brittany sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Well, there's my mom, Barbara, and my dad, Brian. And then there's my sisters, Beth and Brooke."
Spencer listened intently as Brittany continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. "It's kind of embarrassing, actually. We all have B names. It's like my parents were on a mission or something."
Spencer couldn't help but chuckle at Brittany's description. "I think it's kind of sweet, actually. It's like your family has its own little theme going on."
Brittany rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, well, try telling that to Brooke. She had to go and marry a guy named Ben. Now they have kids named Brandon, Bridgit, and Blaine. The alliteration is out of control."
Spencer grinned, finding it hard to stifle his laughter. "Wow, your family really is committed to the B, huh? What about Beth? Is her fiancé in on the trend too?"
Brittany shook her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Thankfully not. His name is Chad. It's a welcome break from the alliteration madness."
"What do your parents do? I guess I need to know more details to successfully pull off being your boyfriend."
Brittany laughed as she launched into an animated description. "My dad is a real estate developer, and my mom is a lawyer."
Spencer nodded, impressed by the success of Brittany's parents. "Sounds like they've done well for themselves. Do they still live in Vegas?"
Brittany nodded. "Yeah, they have this huge house in the suburbs, with a pool and everything. It's where we're all staying for the wedding. And Brooke and Beth both followed in our mom's footsteps and became lawyers."
Spencer nodded, intrigued. "That's interesting. Law runs in the family?"
Brittany chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that. Brooke works at a prestigious firm downtown, specializing in corporate law. She's always been the ambitious one, driven to succeed."
"And Beth?" Spencer asked, eager to learn more.
Brittany smiled. "Beth took a slightly different path. She's a paralegal at a smaller firm, but she's just as passionate about her work. She's got this incredible attention to detail that's perfect… for the job."
Spencer nodded, impressed. "It sounds like they're both doing well for themselves."
Brittany nodded. "Yeah, they are. They've always been the responsible ones, while I... Well, let's just say I took a different route."
"Do you like teaching?" Spencer inquired, genuine curiosity lacing his voice.
Brittany paused for a moment, considering her response. "You know I do. It's not always easy, but there's something incredibly rewarding about it. I love seeing young minds working and opening up to new ideas and perspectives."
Spencer nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I agree. I love it too! It’s incredibly fulfilling."
"It is," Brittany affirmed, a hint of wistfulness in her tone. "Plus I can pursue my own research interests. I get to contribute in my own way."
Brittany's smile faltered slightly, a shadow passing over her features. "But still they don’t quite understand my career choice. My decision to pursue academia... Well, let's just say it hasn't always been met with the same level of enthusiasm. Especially in my field. So if we’re gonna be met with some opinions… ignore them."
As the plane hummed along toward their destination, Spencer and Brittany found themselves deep in conversation about their upcoming role as a pretend couple.
"So, how are we going to present ourselves as a couple?" Spencer asked, his brow furrowing slightly with concern.
Brittany pondered for a moment before responding, "I was thinking we could say we met at work and have been dating for a few months. Maybe we can hold hands and hug sometimes, just to make it believable. Are you okay with that?"
Spencer's initial instinctual reaction flickered across his face briefly before he nodded. "Yeah, I think I can manage that."
"Great, I'm glad you're on board with the plan."
She took a deep breath before continuing, "And don't worry too much about the physical contact. I know you're a bit of a germaphobe. But remember, it's just acting, and it's me and I wash my hands all the time! We'll keep it minimal."
Spencer nodded in agreement, a small smile playing on his lips. "It’s okay. We'll make it work."
Brittany returned his smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Thanks. And besides, this weekend is all about Beth. I doubt anyone will be paying much attention to us anyway."
As the plane descended toward the Las Vegas airport, Spencer looked at Brittany who had been asleep for the majority of the flight.
He had observed her peaceful slumber earlier, her rhythmic breathing a testament to her deep rest.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness as he watched her serene expression.
With a gentle smile, Spencer reached out to lightly touch her arm, rousing her from her sleep. "Hey, Brittany, we're about to land."
Brittany stirred awake, blinking sleepily as she adjusted to her surroundings. "Already? I must have dozed off."
Spencer nodded, offering her an understanding smile. "Yeah, we'll be landing soon."
With their belongings in tow, Spencer and Brittany made their way off the plane and into the bustling airport terminal. They were met by the sight of Brittany's father, who stood waiting for them near the baggage claim area.
"Dad!" Brittany exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up her face as she hurried over to greet him.
"Hey, sweetheart," her dad replied, enveloping her in a warm hug. His gaze then shifted to Spencer, and he raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
Brittany turned to Spencer, a proud smile on her lips. "Dad, this is Dr. Spencer Reid. He's my boyfriend."
Her dad's eyes widened in surprise, and he shot Brittany a bemused look. "Boyfriend, huh? Why didn't you mention anything about him at Christmas?"
Brittany's cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced at Spencer, silently urging him to play along. "Uh, it's a recent development, Dad. I wanted to wait until it was official."
Spencer nodded in agreement, offering her father a friendly smile. "It's nice to meet you, sir. Brittany has told me a lot about you."
Her dad's expression softened slightly as he shook Spencer's hand. "Likewise. So, Dr. Reid, what do you do?"
Spencer took a deep breath, bracing himself for the inevitable interrogation. "Well now I teach at Georgetown just like Brittany, but for almost two decades I was a behavioral analysis expert with the FBI."
Brittany's dad's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "FBI, huh? That's impressive. What do you teach?" he inquired, his tone polite but intrigued.
Spencer paused for a moment, considering his response. "Mostly criminal psychology," he replied, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.
Brittany's father raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Criminal psychology, huh? That sounds fascinating. What exactly does that entail?"
Spencer took a deep breath, preparing himself to explain. "Well, it's the study of the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of criminals. I focus on understanding why people commit crimes and how we can prevent and solve them."
Brittany's father nodded, seeming to mull over Spencer's explanation. "Impressive. Well, it's good to have you both here. Let's get going. Your mom's been waiting to see you, Brittany."
As they made their way through the airport, Spencer couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that Brittany's dad's questioning had been relatively mild. He knew this was just the beginning of what was sure to be an eventful weekend.
Brittany led Spencer through the grand foyer of her family's Las Vegas home and she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension.
This was the first time Spencer would meet her entire family, and she hoped everything would go smoothly.
"Everyone, this is Spencer," Brittany announced with a smile, her hand resting on his arm. "Spencer, meet my sisters, Brooke and Beth, their partners Chad and Ben, and of course, my mom, Barbara."
Spencer returned their greetings with a polite nod and a warm smile, taking note of the striking resemblance between Brittany, her sisters, and their mother.
They all shared the same jet-black hair, but Brittany's locks cascaded down her back in long, flowing waves, contrasting with the shorter styles of the other women. Additionally, she stood out as the tallest among them, likely inheriting her height from her father.
"Nice to meet you all," Spencer said, his voice sincere as he greeted each of them.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Spencer." said Barbara as she tried to envelop Spencer in a warm hug, he couldn't suppress the instinctual flinch that ran through him.
Spencer gently stepped back, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, I'm a bit of a germaphobe," he admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment.
"Oh it’s okay. I’m so happy you guys are here!"
Spencer smiled, feeling a sense of relief at their warm reception. He had been nervous about meeting Brittany's family, but their kindness put him at ease.
As the introductions continued, Brittany led Spencer on a tour of the house, showing him the grandeur of their family home. They explored the spacious living areas, the elegant dining room, and even ventured outside to admire the sparkling pool.
Eventually, they made their way to the bedroom they would be sharing during their stay. As they entered the room, Brittany hesitated for a moment before turning to Spencer, her expression filled with concern.
"I hope you don't mind sharing a room, Brittany said, chewing on her lower lip. "It's just for the weekend, and it'll make things easier for us to… keep up appearances."
Spencer glanced around the room, taking in the plush furnishings and the king-sized bed. Despite his nerves, he couldn't deny the allure of spending more time with Brittany.
"It's no problem at all." Spencer reassured her, offering her a reassuring smile.
“I'm going to take a quick swim," she announced, excitement sparkling in her eyes. "The water looks so inviting, and I could use a bit of relaxation before tonight."
"Isn't the water a bit cold for a swim?" he asked, concern creasing his brow.
Brittany laughed, shaking her head. "Maybe for some, but I like it." she replied with a grin.
Spencer nodded in understanding, unable to argue with her logic. "Sounds good. I'll join you. I mean I’ll just… sit outside for a while,"
Brittany beamed at him before rummaging through her suitcase to grab her bathing suit and a towel. "I'll change quickly and meet you out there," she said, disappearing into the bathroom.
Spencer made his way outside, taking a seat by the pool and basking in the warmth of the Las Vegas sun.
After a few minutes, Brittany emerged, her figure adorned in a sleek black bathing suit that hugged her curves in all the right places. Spencer's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of her, feeling a rush of warmth spread through him at the sight.
It was the first time he had seen her in such attire, and he couldn't deny how stunning she looked. His gaze lingered on her figure momentarily before he turned his attention back to the pool.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. The sound of splashing water filled the air as Brittany gracefully glided through the pool, her bathing suit glistening in the sunlight.
The peaceful moment, however, was soon interrupted by the approach of Brittany's sisters, Brooke and Beth, accompanied by their partners.
"Hey there, Spencer!" Brooke greeted cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "It's nice to finally meet one of Brittany’s boyfriends."
Spencer smiled politely, feeling a flicker of unease at the sudden barrage of attention. "Likewise. It's great to meet all of you too."
Beth, Brittany's younger sister, leaned in closer, her expression filled with intrigue. "So, where are you from, Spencer? Brittany never brings her boyfriends home, so this is a bit of a surprise for us."
Spencer shifted uncomfortably in his seat, acutely aware of Brittany's presence as she continued her laps in the pool. "I'm from Las Vegas, actually. Born and raised."
“Oh that's so cool!” Brooke exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Her partner, Ben, chimed in with another question. "And what do you do for a living, Spencer?"
Spencer hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "I work with Brittany but I used to be in the FBI. It’s a fresh change." he replied, keeping his response deliberately vague.
Brooke and Beth exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback by Spencer's profession.
"Wow, that's impressive," Brooke exclaimed, her tone tinged with admiration. "Brittany, you never told us you were dating a federal agent."
Spencer glanced over at Brittany, who had paused her swimming to listen to their conversation. He offered her a reassuring smile, silently grateful for her presence amidst the interrogation.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Las Vegas skyline, Brittany and Spencer retreated to their shared room to prepare for the evening's rehearsal dinner.
Brittany stood before the mirror, her fingers deftly arranging her hair into an elegant updo, her reflection shimmering in the soft light of the room.
Spencer hovered nearby, his movements hesitant as he rummaged through his suitcase in search of suitable attire for the occasion.
As he glanced over at Brittany, a pang of self-consciousness washed over him. Sharing a room with her felt oddly intimate.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he was intruding on her space, invading her privacy in a way that made him distinctly uncomfortable.
Sensing his unease, Brittany turned to him with a warm smile, her eyes soft with understanding. "Are you okay, Spencer?" she asked gently, her voice filled with concern.
Spencer offered her a tight-lipped smile, his discomfort evident in his expression. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... adjusting to the whole sharing a room thing. I don’t wanna invade your space"
Brittany nodded sympathetically, her gaze lingering on him with a mixture of empathy and reassurance. "You don’t. I know it's not ideal, but it's just for the weekend."
With a shared nod of agreement, they returned to their respective tasks, the awkwardness between them gradually dissipating as they focused on preparing for the evening ahead.
Spencer quickly changed into a dark gray suit, while Brittany slipped into a black cocktail dress that accentuated her frame.
With one last glance in the mirror, Brittany turned to Spencer with a smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Ready to go?"
Spencer nodded, returning her smile with a sense of determination. "Ready as I'll ever be," he affirmed.
He was fidgeting with his tie and Brittany stepped forward, her fingers deftly adjusting the knot with a gentle touch. "Let me help you with that," she offered kindly, her eyes meeting his with a reassuring gaze.
As the evening unfolded at the rehearsal dinner, Brittany's prediction proved true – the focus was largely on Beth and her fiancé, allowing Brittany and Spencer to navigate the social gathering with relative ease.
Amidst the lively conversations and clinking of glasses, Spencer found himself engaging in pleasant small talk with Brittany's family, his earlier apprehensions gradually fading into the background.
However, as the night wore on and the conversations veered towards more personal topics, Spencer found himself facing a new challenge.
Brittany's mother, Barbara, turned her attention towards him.
"So, Spencer, tell me, do you have any free time outside of your job?" Barbara inquired, her tone laced with genuine curiosity.
Spencer considered her question for a moment, weighing his response carefully. "I do try to make time for other pursuits outside of work," he replied diplomatically, choosing his words with caution.
Barbara's expression softened, a hint of maternal concern in her eyes. "That's good to hear. And what about kids? How do you feel about starting a family someday?"
Spencer hesitated, his gaze flickering towards Brittany, who remained silent beside him, her expression carefully neutral.
Sensing the tension in the air, he felt a protective instinct rise within him, a desire to shield Brittany from the expectations that weighed heavily upon her.
"I love kids," Spencer replied honestly, his voice steady. "I think they're amazing."
Barbara's smile widened, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Well, I must admit, I'm still waiting for those grandkids," she remarked, her gaze drifting towards Brittany expectantly.
Spencer's heart clenched at the subtle pressure in Barbara's words, the unspoken expectation that Brittany would someday fulfill her role as a mother.
With a surge of resolve, he found himself speaking up, a quiet defiance in his voice.
"But Barbara, you already have grandkids," Spencer stated, his tone gentle yet firm.
Spencer's statement hung in the air, his tone carrying a mix of assertion and tension. Barbara's expression shifted, her features contorted with surprise and a touch of frustration.
Her eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with skepticism. "Oh you know what I mean. I want to see… more grandchildren, you understand."
Spencer's jaw tightened, his resolve hardening as he met Barbara's gaze head-on. "I understand," he replied evenly. "But Brittany is a wonderful daughter, regardless of whether she has children or not."
Barbara sighed, her frustration evident in her tone. "Spencer, you're not a mother. You can't understand the longing I have to see my daughter experience the joys of motherhood."
Before Spencer could respond, Brittany interjected, her voice surprisingly sharp. "Actually, Mom, I do have a child," she said, her words laced with tension.
Barbara's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flickering between Brittany and Spencer. "You do?"
Brittany nodded, her jaw set with determination. "Yes, his name is Albert."
Barbara's eyes narrowed, a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice. "That's a cat, Britt! Stop trying to be funny," she said sharply, her tone bordering on frustration. "I just want what's best for you."
Brittany's shoulders tensed, a flicker of defiance in her gaze. "I am happy!" she countered, her voice tinged with frustration. "I don't need a child to be happy."
Barbara sighed, her tone softening slightly as she reached out to her daughter. "But would you want to be a mother?" she asked gently, her eyes searching Brittany's face. "You're only getting older, not younger, honey."
Brittany's jaw tightened, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. "Maybe I would," she admitted reluctantly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But what am I supposed to do?"
Spencer watched the exchange in silence, his heart heavy with empathy for Brittany.
As he glanced at Brittany, he saw the weight of her mother's words bearing down on her, the struggle written plainly on her face.
Brittany's shoulders tensed, her gaze flickering towards Spencer for support. In that moment, she felt torn between her mother's expectations and her own desires, the weight of their conflicting aspirations pressing down upon her.
He placed a reassuring hand on Brittany's.
--------------------------------
Spencer sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his thumb on his left hand. The repetitive motion seemed to soothe him as he tried to calm his racing thoughts.
Brittany, in the midst of removing her earrings, glanced over at him with concern evident in her eyes.
"Spencer, are you okay?" she asked gently, pausing in her task to give him her full attention.
He stopped his tapping and looked up, meeting her gaze with a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry," he replied, his voice soft but strained.
"Don't be. If doing that makes you feel better, you shouldn't stop," Brittany reassured him, her tone filled with understanding.
"I think I'm just overwhelmed. Long day," Spencer admitted, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion. His fingers resumed their rhythmic tapping against his thumb.
"I get it," Brittany nodded sympathetically. "It's okay if you're not."
"I don't want to worry you," Spencer murmured, his gaze flickering away uneasily.
"You don't. Just tell me what you need. If you'd rather be alone, it's okay, or... I don't know. I can get you water? Tea?" Brittany offered, her voice soft and comforting.
"Water would be great actually," Spencer replied gratefully, his tension easing slightly at her kindness.
"Okay," Brittany said, rising from her seat to fetch two glasses of water. She returned moments later and handed one to Spencer with a gentle smile. "Here you go."
"Thanks," Spencer murmured, taking the glass from her with a small smile of appreciation.
"Can I ask you a question? A personal one… You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Brittany said, settling into a chair near the bed.
"Sure," Spencer replied, his curiosity piqued.
"I'm sorry if it's inappropriate, but... Are you autistic?" Brittany asked delicately, her gaze filled with genuine curiosity.
Spencer chuckled softly, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "Umm... yeah. I am. I've never been officially diagnosed, but it's... pretty obvious."
"Why didn't you get a diagnosis? Especially as a kid?" Brittany inquired, her voice laced with empathy.
"Well, it... just never happened. It wasn't a priority, I guess, and I always managed," Spencer explained, his tone tinged with sadness.
"My mom is a paranoid schizophrenic, and it's been just the two of us since I was 10. I kind of took care of her more than... Well, she got bad, and I put her in a mental health institution when I was 18.
And then at the FBI, if I was diagnosed, it would just make stuff harder. You know... working in the field. So everyone always knew, but we didn't talk about it.
Also, I'm not sure they fully ever understood it. I've been masking for most of my life... to, you know, make stuff easier."
"For others or for you?" Brittany asked gently, her eyes filled with compassion.
Spencer's gaze flickered away for a moment before he met her eyes again. "Both," he admitted quietly, his vulnerability laid bare.
"I'm sorry. That's awful," Brittany murmured, her heart aching for him.
"I'm okay," Spencer assured her, his tone gentle but firm.
"I know you are, but... hiding stuff and pretending just to make others comfortable sounds... awful and… tiring," Brittany remarked, her voice filled with empathy.
"If you ever need something, tell me. You don't have to pretend with me. Besides, I don't think you could."
"Thanks... and you're right… I don't think I could," Spencer admitted, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Are you still okay with sharing the bed? We don't have to," Brittany offered, her concern evident in her voice.
"I'm okay. I just want you to be comfortable. And if you're not with me..." Spencer trailed off, his expression filled with uncertainty.
"I am. It’s okay," Brittany reassured him with a soft smile.
He chuckled softly as he glanced down at her feet, noticing she was still wearing tall, black stilettos.
"Do your feet hurt?" he asked, genuine concern coloring his tone.
"No... I'm used to it. Do you want to get in the shower first or can I go?" Brittany offered with consideration for his comfort.
"Sure, you can go," Spencer replied, nodding in agreement.
"Okay," Brittany said, gathering her belongings before heading to the bathroom.
Once she finished, she emerged in her matching black pajama set, looking comfortable and relaxed.
Later Spencer returned from the bathroom, wearing his own checked pajamas, and couldn't help but notice Brittany's amused expression.
"What?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Nothing, you just look cute in your pajamas," Brittany teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"Thank you?" Spencer replied, a faint blush coloring his cheeks at the unexpected compliment.
"Is it okay if I read for a while?" he asked, seeking her permission.
"Yeah," Brittany replied, slipping her black sleeping eye mask over her eyes and turning off her bedside lamp. "Goodnight," she added softly.
"Goodnight," Spencer echoed, feeling a sense of warmth settle over him as he settled in to read.
"Hey, Spencer..." Brittany's voice interrupted the quiet, causing him to look up.
"Yeah?" he asked, curious.
"If anything's wrong, wake me up. It's okay," Brittany said, her voice filled with sincerity.
"Okay. Thanks," Spencer replied, feeling a sense of comfort wash over him at her words.
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Pt.2
Le Number 17
TW: Issues with parents ig?
Villain lets out a breath they didn't know they were holding as they pull into their driveway. They get out and fumble with their keys, fitting them into the lock as fast as humanely possible.
All they want to do is collapse on the couch, but they're currently covered in a disgusting mixture of blood, most of which is not their own and sweat. But more importantly, they don't live alone, and they can't risk being seen in costume, even if everyone's asleep right now.
Or they were supposed to be asleep.
Villain's mother is sitting on the couch and at the sound of them coming inside, she snaps her book shut.
As she walks forward and looks them all-over, her face slowly hardens into a picture of pure and unbridled fury. Villain's train of thought consists of nothing but an infinite amount of rather filthy expletives that they would probably be disowned for ever using. How did she recognise them, even with the domino mask on?
"So this is what you've been doing? This is where you've been getting your money from?" She gestures to their costume. And her tone is disappointed, repulsed even. No sign of concern at all. Villain doesn't understand why they feel a sharp pain in their chest because of it.
"Well, I uh, I was actually at this party, lost track of time, and sorta broke curfew. Costume party, won second place for accuracy," they lie through their teeth, nervously rubbing the back of their neck.
"Cut the crap! I've had doubts when I saw the news, and I've tried to convince myself it wasn't true. But of course, you never fail to impress me," she spits coldly.
They feel their cheeks burn, and their heart skips a million beats. But they keep their expression level as they rip off their mask. Which was ultimately a terrible decision, considering how exposed they currently felt. "Mum, I'm really tired, can I just go clean up and turn in for the night, and maybe we can discuss my alter ego in the morning? Or preferably not at all." They mutter that last part under their breath.
"Oh, you think it's that simple? To know that I've been raising one of this city's worst criminals. I thought you had a legitimate job!"
"And is legitimacy really important when we almost got kicked out of this place? We were going to sell the car, God, we didn't even know how we were going to eat." They try their hardest to keep their cool, but they can't help the fact that some irritation sneaks into their tone.
"You've always been such a goddamn disappointment, but this? It's just extreme."
Villain's breathing becomes quicker and shallower, and it feels like an invisible hand has a vice-like grip around their throat, slowly choking them. They've always been the 'yes ma'am' child, the one who never talks back, studying late into the night to get perfect grades, pushing themselves through sports practice and babysitting practically raising their younger siblings. But it was never enough, and finally their mother had managed to push them to their limits.
"So you know my little secret," they hiss, their voice becoming dangerously low, using the same tone that terrified some of this city's strongest heroes.
"And what are you going to do about it? Kick me out of the house that I pay the rent for? If you're so concerned about legality, maybe you should've tried finding a job. You know full-well that no 'legitimate' job a college student can get would pay for anything." They walk forward slowly, eyes narrow as slits and expression stone-cold.
She backs away from them slowly. "You-you're a monster!" she screams, slapping them hard on the cheek and storming out of the room.
The sting of the hot shower water on their fresh wounds doesn't hurt at all compared to the sharp ache in their heart. They've never been struck before, and sure, they're used to being their mother's dumping ground, till they were knee-deep in her crap. But the words they'd just heard felt worse than being shot. And they've actually experienced the pain to be able to boast such a comparison.
Wiping away furiously at their teary eyes, they dry themselves off, bandage their wounds and get dressed in their pajamas. They. Should. Not. Care.
As they step into their room, they find a figure perched on their window sill, reading one of their favourite books. Hero.
"Get out of my house," they snap, not bothering to ask how their nemesis got in, their exhaustion overpowering their survival instincts.
"Well that was rude," Hero muses, closing their book and smiling slightly. "But after what I've just heard, I can't really blame ya." They get off the window sill.
"Just go to he-"
"I know a thing or two about parents that are never satisfied, even if you bend over backwards for them." They let out a long-suffering sigh, and they suddenly age years in a matter of seconds. They're only a year or two older than Villain themselves though.
They sit down on the surprisingly soft carpet, resting their back against the wall and they motion for Villain to come over.
"What do you want?"
They gesture to their lap, and even when they cock a confused eyebrow, they're still adamant about it.
So, that's how they find themselves lying on their enemy's lap, with Hero's fingers in their hair, nails gently scratching their scalp. They follow up with working away the knots in Villain's sore neck and shoulders, the criminal relaxing completely under their touch.
Not much later, they pick up their sleeping nemesis's form and tuck them into bed. They feel their heart flutter at the sight of how peaceful they look.
If only someone had been there to give them the same treatment when they'd needed it most.
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Soooooo the Mario movie was awesome! Definitely the best movie-going experience I've had since Spiderman No Way Home! Illumination really outdid themselves and I think that this has to be the best movie they've done, even more so than the first two Despicable Me movies and Sing! And I can tell they and Nintendo put so much effort into this and making it a giant fan to Mario fans everywhere, from the kids to those who have been there from the beginning. It wasn't perfect (I mean, what movie is, and is there really such a thing as perfection?) but it was still a lot of fun!!!!
Below is what I loved about the movie and what I felt could have been better! Just a heads-up, there ARE spoilers. Even though it has pretty much the typical storyline of most Mario games and is therefore somewhat predictable, I don't want those who haven't seen it yet to miss out on being blown away as I was about it.
*********************************************************************
The Ups:
MARIO. HE IS THE BIGGEST SWEETHEART. HE LOVES HIS BROTHER SO SO MUCH. HE WOULD FETCH A STAR FROM SPACE FOR HIS BROTHER IF HE COULD. I WOULD DIE FOR HIM AND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR HIS BABY BRO. And from the beginning, he's so determined and motivated and never gives up! And it's his brother that motivates him to do most of what he does! I also liked the little details they added to his character that we never got to see before, such as the fact that he initially hates mushrooms.
Peach was amazing! At first I thought that they girlbossed her a bit too much to the point where she was a carbon copy of Daisy, but now I see her as a kind, maternal, and feminine young woman who fights when she needs to and is just doing her job protecting her kingdom. I hate how people are bashing her characterization here, like, have they forgotten how she was in the DIC cartoons, the 1986 anime, and SUPER PRINCESS PEACH? I also like her backstory and she's so cute as a baby! Also, since I HC that she and Daisy are super close, maybe she learned a thing or two from her!
Toad was so silly and chaotic, and he stole every scene he was in!
Luigi was precious and Charlie Day was perfect for his voice, as I predicted! I can tell that he was totally channeling Tony Rosato at times. I loved so many of his moments on screen, especially when he protects his brother during the final battle!
Jack Black KILLED IT as Bowser! He made him a villain who's hilarious but intimidating and ferocious at the same time and not many people can pull that off effectively!
Donkey Kong was a bit annoying and Illumination-y but they did a good job with him here. Also HE DID THE SETH ROGEN LAUGH TWICE FACK YES
The voice cast in general was fantastic! Charlie Day, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Jack Black were literal perfection in particular, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong was lit, and Keegan Michael Key was great for Toad, as I predicted! He's a very versatile comedian and voice actor, after all! Also, Chris Pratt's Mario has grown on me in a good way. Although I vastly prefer Charles Martinet, as well as Lou Albano (who has my favorite Mario voice ever), Chris really didn't do that bad of a job! He DID TOO put effort into voicing him, and his "Wahoo!"s and cries of delight and triumph were on point! The only voice that I still feel like I have to get used to is Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach. She's a talented actress but I don't think she entirely suited Peach's soft, feminine, and maternal nature, but that's just me.
Mario and Luigi's parents are so precious! In fact, their whole family is so cute and hilarious! They remind me of my own proudly Italian (mostly) family. And Charles Martinet voicing their dad was the icing on the cake! I'm just so glad we finally got to see their family in general.
I also like how the boys' situation of still living with their parents, (presumably) not pursuing college and working blue-collar jobs while in their 20s-30s wasn't portrayed in a negative way. It's a great way of telling audiences that it's okay if you haven't gone off on your own yet in adulthood or attended college, that life isn't a sequence of steps that everyone has to follow exactly and at the same time, and that patience, hard work, and a positive attitude will lead you to great opportunities in life when you least expect them, like with what happened to the bros.
THE BROS' REUNION HUG OH MY GOD!!!!!! THE FOREHEAD TOUCH AND MARIO LIFTING LUIGI OFF THE GROUND DURING THEIR SECOND EMBRACE, I ALMOST CHOKED ON MY ICEE AND BECAME A SOBBING MESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THEATER MY GOD
And then them teaming up together to defeat Bowser and his forces, AS IT SHOULD BE.
I mean seriously this movie was a slap to the face of everyone who thought Mario hates his brother
Mario and Luigi getting their own little house in the Mushroom Kingdom! AND COFFEE CUPS THAT MATCH THEIR HATS!!!!
Mario and Peach's relationship thus far! I love how close they are by the end of the movie, even though they haven't developed a romance yet, and how Mario was telling her all about Brooklyn and how he'll get her a pet turtle once he gets to take her there. D'awwwwwww.
Peach completing the trainer course ALL WHILE WEARING A FULL LENGTH BALL GOWN AND HEELS. AND her admitting that she didn't master doing it until she had tried multiple, multiple times was such a great addition to character, proof that while she may be more of a girlboss here she still has more character development than Rey in the Star Wars sequels.
Peach telling Luigi that he's brave was so sweet :3 Even though they didn't really have a proper meeting scene like I hoped, I'm glad they got to at least interact a little.
Although I wish they would have used the wedding dress from Odyssey or even Paper Mario, Peach's wedding dress here is so pretty!
Donkey Kong becoming an ally of Mario and them helping each other get to the Mushroom Kingdom was super nice, although I do feel their friendship could have been built on a little more and that DK should have apologized to Mario for insulting his brother.
THE MUSIC!!!!! Brian Tyler NAILED the orchestrations of all those iconic themes! I especially got so happy when I heard the SNES Rainbow Road theme, the DK rap, and Toad's House from SMB3! I can only imagine how Koji Kondo, the man who composed so many of these melodies for chiptune almost 40 years ago and is STILL composing music for the games, is feeling now that they have these epic, sweeping orchestral renditions.
They outdid themselves with the animation and visuals as well! ESPECIALLY the visuals. They're so colorful and whimsical and just scenery p0rn all around, from the Mushroom Kingdom giving off major Alice in Wonderland vibes and Bowser's incredible floating lava castle to the Jungle Kingdom and the rainbow road! And I can't think of a single character (re)design that I didn't like! They all look so good!
The slo mo bits were SO funny. Especially "MMMMMAAAAAAAAMMMAAAAA MMMMIIIIIIIAAAAAA!" and "PPPPPRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNCCCCEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!"
Bringing back such an obscure and relatively forgotten character as Foreman Spike was awesome!
Every time that Diddy Kong was onscreen was so funny!
ALL THE EASTER EGGS, GOOD GOLLY. From the references to the SUPER SHOW OF ALL THINGS to the guy who's supposed to resemble Jumpman (Mario's first incarnation) at the beginning!
That one bit where Mario is sitting in his room playing a video game also felt really reminiscent of the beginning of The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach (1986). If Nintendo was going for that I'm so glad they acknowledged such an obscure piece of Mario media!
The Downs:
Goddammit, you SERIOUSLY had to include minions in the Illumination logo.
It honestly felt a bit rushed in places and I wish more scenes could have had more time devoted to them. Some characters, ESPECIALLY Luigi, didn't really get as much screen time as I felt they needed, and that kind of sucked.
I was really hoping for Bowser to have a hard rock-style villain song, as that really suits his aesthetic and Jack Black could totally have done it! I mean he was in School of Rock for crying out loud and he's proven afterwards that he can really belt out classic rock tunes! Despite that, I'm glad he got to at least sing in the movie, and his song dedicated to Peach was hilarious.
I'm bummed that the movie wasn't really a musical as I had heard around the net so many times; only two characters sang (Bowser and Toad, even though the latter's wasn't really an actual song) and there were a bunch of pop/rock hits from the past few decades sandwiched in. They were still good songs that I like though, such as Thunderstruck, Take on Me, and Holding Out for a Hero (although I wish it could have been the original Bonnie Tyler version). I was ESPECIALLY pumped to hear Mr. Blue Sky!! But still, a lack of songs sung by characters bummed me out.
I don't like how some lines were changed (such as Bowser's "NOW WHO'S GONNA STOP ME?!?!") or cut entirely (e.g. Mario's "I'm not afraid! I'll do anything for my brother!") I'm especially bitter about the latter, since hearing that line in the final trailer made me super emotional and cutting it meant less devotion to how much Mario loves and misses his brother.
It was kind of a wasted opportunity to not see Mario and Luigi's family (and the rest of Brooklyn for that matter) bewildered over their sons bringing back a princess in a wedding gown, a little mushroom man, and an ape wearing a necktie. I bet their dad would have been wondering what someone put in his coffee, and their mom would have taken one look at Peach and been all like, "OMG IS ONE OF MY SONS GETTING MARRIED ALREADY??" It just would have been nice for them to interact a little.
The blue star/Luma was honestly so annoying and gave me an unsettling identity crisis, I just thought that was not fitting for a family friendly movie. Also, why was he/she in Bowser's dungeon in the first place?
As Donkey Kong should have apologized to Mario for fighting with him, Spike should have apologized to Mario and Luigi for doubting them. It didn't really make sense for him to just abruptly cheering for them.
Part of me kind of wishes it had taken place in the 1980s. It kind of makes sense, given that the Mario and Luigi characters formally debuted in 1983 and this is an origin story for how they came to be.
But despite all this, there were way more ups than downs, and the "downs" are just little nitpicks from me that don't take away from the movie being one hell of a ride. It was fantastic, and definitely one of the best animated movies I've seen in a while. 9/10 from me!!.
Some of my several VERY high hopes for the sequel:
YOSHI CUTENESS!!!
Also, if I have to predict a voice actor for Yoshi, it would have to be either Frank Welker or Kazumi Totaka reprising his role.
Luigi getting more screen time and also getting to share in his bro's adventures! Dude deserves way better!
Mario having second thoughts about Luigi accompanying him in dangerous situations because he's terrified of losing him again, and Luigi reminding him that "nothing will harm them as long as they're together"
PLEASE just more brotherly love!
Mario and Peach developing a romance and vowing to protect each other!
At least one callback to the "Mama Luigi" episode of the Super Mario World cartoon series. I mean, it would only seem right now that Yoshi is joining the gang, right?
Heck, I bet it's going to be chock full of references to the Super Mario World game, the Yoshi's Island games, and the Super Mario World cartoon.
DAISY AND/OR ROSALINA PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Bowser's backstory (and possibly redemption)! It's clear to me that he's just a big softie that needs love and friendship in his life. And, since he's really their friend who likes to engage in role play just for fun according to word of mouth, I wonder how they will incorporate that into the Mario Cinematic Universe.
Some evidence that Mario and Luigi alternating between their lives in Brooklyn (probably just so that they can spend time with their family) and the Mushroom Kingdom
"I HOPE SHE MADE LOTSA SPAGHETTI!"
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Can I dump some lore on yall real quick. Actually a pretty long post if you're interested but its
About Doleon, the Supreme, the Shards of Chaos, etc. Basically the beginning of it all.
Oc Universe lore has been on my mind recently (I may have talked about some of these things before, and if I have, HERES A BETTER EXPLANATION.)
FIRST, THOUGH! LITTLE WARNING BECAUSE THINGS DO GET VIOLENT TOWARDS THE END. NOTHING VERY GRAPHIC DESCRIBED, JUST A MENTION, BUT JUST IN CASE...
Before anything, the personalities and powers of the brothers, just a recap :
Akmad : The over-the-top, plays by the rules and makes sure you will too brother. NO CHAOS (fun) ALLOWED. We have a PURPOSE here and its OUR JOB to make sure we do it right. Doleon, Lorcan, no, you cannot use your energies to race around and go fast. Each "shard connection" grants them an ability to better protect them. Akmad's is light (the power of flashlight-)
Erebus : Cold, serious and secluded. He pretends not to care when he really does. His power is foresight, but its really random, and typically, no one believes him (until it happens)
Orpheus : Really silly, kind of dumb, acts before thinking. He's very kind hearted and gentle, despite his ability of overwhelming strength. The one who doesn't know whats going on most of the time but thats okay.
Ragnar : ANGY, short tempered, impatient. His ability goes well with him, pyrokinesis. (I imagine he gets angry and just starts flaring at the tips of his quills.)
Lorcan : The goofster, "I ain't gonna listen to no one," living by his own rules (or, trying to. Thanks for that, Akmad.) He can just go really fast 👍
Doleon : Doleon. Electro energy thing.
Kieran : Selective mute (except with Doleon, for some reason,) little baby man, scaredy cat. He doesn't really know his ability yet but he's made some funky purple portals once.
So to start, it all began with the Supreme. The earliest known guardian to all seven Shards of Chaos. But they've (behold, an all powerful enby entity,) been guarding and keeping their power safe from the universe for SO LONG, centuries, perhaps longer? That its negative effects start to take toll. The shards begin to corrupt them, and it takes EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT not to go in too deep and stay morally good. But the power is killing them, they know they're going to die soon. But the Shards can't just be left unprotected. They need a new guardian. New GUARDIANS. One for each, so the power doesn't become too much to handle.
One by one, Supreme "creates" each guardian (who needs childbirth? JUST LITERALLY CREATE ONE OUT OF PURE ENERGY. They're created using shard energy, and that gives each of them their connection to a specific shard.)
The order goes, from "eldest" to "youngest," Akmad, Erebus, Orpheus, Ragnar, Lorcan, Doleon, and Kieran. They technically don't have ages, nor can age physically. They're adults in the brain.
They were created as small children, raised by the Supreme until they could handle themselves (cough cough a few months cough) HAD THEIR OWN PARENT ERASED FROM THEIR MEMORIES TO PREVENT ATTACHMENT, and then sent into this weird little "world" that only they could enter. It was really to prevent any distractions from their main goal of protecting the Shards (which is a memory they're left with. Call it destiny. They know the Supreme EXISTS, they just don't remember ever being around them.)
They specifically aren't supposed to abuse the power of the Shards. It's always been DANGEROUS AND FORBIDDEN. Akmad especially enforces these rules (he SWEARS he remembers encountering the Supreme once before…he'll be the one to enforce their will.) Of course, though, A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time passes (remember the ageless thing?) and Doleon is kind of sick of it? Always just being told to DO THE THING BECAUSE ITS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. Like, what if he's a little curious? All Akmad or anyone will ever tell him is that its their PURPOSE or some crap. He needs MORE THAN THAT. Why CAN'T they use the Shards energy unless its to protect them? He's used it for fun a few times before and come out just fine! Maybe he would…experiment a bit.
So he does and the results are a disaster, obviously. He overloads on the energy, whoops.
Essentially, it takes the connection Doleon has with the energy of his shard, breaks a sort of "barrier" meant to keep him safe from its negative effects, and disguises itself as a good thing. Like look, you let me use you as a host for more power? You get more power. Simple as that. And that's what it is, he's able to use his energy without barriers. In other words, he overloads on it.
So despite how terrible he felt afterwards, when he WAS able to use it it actually felt pretty good? Like he was the most powerful person in EXISTENCE. THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING THE ENERGY DIDN'T ALLOW HIM TO DO. NO LIMITS! Kind of addicting, really. A little too much so. If ONE shard did all that…what kind of power would ALL SEVEN give him?
So Doleon knows he probably cant get the shards on his own. If the guardians aren't around, the little temple thingies they're secured in have slight defense mechanisms. Still not enough to keep them fully protected without their guardians, which he probably needs to lure away somehow, but still risky. He needs help. Maybe from someone who would do anything for him…? No matter how crazy it would sound to everyone else…?
That's right, I'm roping Kieran into this mess.
"I just wanna try something out! It won't hurt anyone, promise!" Oh Doleon if you knew. It seemed a little odd, but Kieran would try and be as helpful as possible!
Summary of the whole process bc its too long to describe in full : They find ways to get the shards however they can. Sometimes, it was pretty easy (especially with Orpheus…easiest one yet) but other times, it proved difficult. A few times, they even accidentally managed to activate the defense mechanisms (one of these being…particularly traumatizing for Doleon, where the temple might have sort have began to close up on him and if Kieran couldn't find a way to stop it in time, he would be killed through two walls literally colliding against his body and squashing him to death slowly and painfully. How silly. Wonder where he got that claustrophobia from.)
Little by little, the more shards they collect and hide from the other brothers, the more changes Kieran notices in Doleon. It scares him, but he'll keep going. Just…maybe keep a close eye on him. Eventually, they run into Erebus, not really paying much attention to where they're going, and Doleon just crashes into Erebus, much to the older brother's annoyance. But something happens. He sees something. A quick little flash in his mind, but still. One of what looks to be one of his own brothers still stands, he can't really see who, but the others? Nothing but shadowy, blurred corpses on the ground. When his two younger brothers have already left and he's alone again, it snaps him back to reality. Remember when I said he pretends not to care about anything? Well shit, what he just saw looks bad. REALLY bad. Someone must have…broken through, somehow. Hurt all but one. He NEEDED to prevent that. So he goes to his other brothers to tell about what he saw, all while Doleon and Kieran go about getting the last shard remaining. No one could FATHOM one of their own hurting the others…it makes no sense! Ruled out automatically.
But what if I said.
Doleon doesn't even know what he's about to do.
Literally, mind disconnected from everything else. Once he decides to do what he planned to try with all seven, the shards are in control now. But it doesn't fully happen until he decides to SNAP. And when is that? During an argument with Akmad over his recent strange behavior where Doleon insists nothing is happening or wrong. The shards take over and whoops! You stabbed your brother with an energy spear straight through the heart! Cool, heres some more energy to do a little more violence to the rest of them.
You have to
But you know who he snaps out of it at.
Poor little Kieran, who could do nothing but watch all that time…the others all fought, so why didn't he?! Why did HE have to be the coward?! Why did HE have to be the little weakling good for nothing at all?! And to make it all worse, he HELPED cause this. He was SOOOOOOOOOOOO WILLING TO HELP! Did that make the half of it his fault?
He's just so done with Doleon now. He may be blaming himself too but Doleon killed all the rest. He's actually angry. He's never risen his voice before, but look at him now. Neither of the remaining two are themselves anymore.
He just turns away. Doleon knows he's not coming back. That hurts…but the shards tell him it shouldn't. You're all powerful now, aren't you? That's what you wanted from the start! Do something with it! Forget Kieran, forget your brothers! You never needed them anyway!
And he turns away too. Shame, they had the strongest bond out of all seven…
And for the rest of his immortal life, Kieran decides he needs to be better. Just. Never care again. And what does that turn him into, centuries later?
In the oc universe au, Kieran is in the place of :
Black Death :)
Now, I'm aware that Doleon and Kieran being brothers...does not make Shadow and Eclipse brothers. But here's the thing about that, idk WHAT they are actually. Bc to that extent they aren't canonically "brothers" either. In canon, Doom created Black Death, and he created Eclipse. Who knows what that makes them. Due to that, I headcanon that "brothers" in the Black Arms is just the general familial term. Therefore, to me, it makes sense.
Sooooooo...random lore drop! Hooray!
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Worldbuilding Notes: We Run Together (Werewolf AU)
((Because I don't know if I'll ever get around to actually writing any of this))
Reggie and Bobby both had prior packs. These were very toxic environments which ignored how wolves actually are and focused on the whole Alpha male toxic masculinity-esque aspect of werewolf lore. Reggie's original pack was his family(or at least his dad), Bobby's original pack operated more like a gang.
Bobby ran away from his pack, and dragged Reggie away from his. Bobby convinced his Lola(who he was living with at the time) to move closer to their other family in California.
None of the boys can recall HOW they got turned. Reggie theorizes he was turned extremely young if he wasn't born a wolf. Bobby pretends like he doesn't care. While Alex doesn't know, he often tells the story that it happened while at a church camp because he loves the idea of that.
Bobby was very wary of Luke and Alex when they first met (Reggie was much friendlier). All he smells is wolf and though he doesn't smell ties with his and Reggie's original packs, he doesn't know what to expect. (Plus, there's always the fear that their original packs will hunt after them....though this fear slowly dies away over the years)
They eventually do form the band, Luke still very obsessed with music, and it's easier for Reggie and Bobby to call what they have a band than a pack.
Luke and Alex do also run away from their homes. Luke to feeling very misunderstood by his parents about music(on top of the whole werewolf thing) and Alex because of his ultra conservative parents.
The band becomes their livelihood and while they do try get other jobs to help support themselves it's hard to do. They've only got high school diplomas/GEDs and struggle to work certain hours/days depending on the job.
Even though most people read the boys all moving into the same apartment together as financial necessity(which part of it is) they would have moved in together anyway.
Alex and Willie still met with Willie crashing into Alex because I love that meet cute. Though they meet Willie before Julie.
The first time they meet Julie is at one of their gigs. And it's none of them really ever actually meet her. Despite all the scents and people they can't seem to figure out why they all seem drawn to her, or are drawn to trying to find something none of them can. (The whole 'smells like home' thing)
The time they meet is one of them (I'm think Reggie, Alex, Bobby or maybe even all three) decide to take some extra college/certification classes. Julie shares on of these classes. And it's like 'we just met this girl but why can't we can't leave her be'.
She meets the rest of the pack when she goes over for a study session and really freaks all of them out when her first observaion of their apartment is "I thought you'd own a dog"
-Still need to figure out the how/why she learns their wolves thing, but it'd probably be either really stupid or really angsty-
It's a recurring discussion/argument whenever Julie is not hanging out with them about when they should invite her to move in. It only escalates after she joins the band.
.
Not in any specific part of the timeline but fun to think about:
--They go to visit Julie and pick up she's sick/not well from down the block and rush to her house.
--Same thing but with her period
--This fic which I did decide the rest of the guys are on her floor, and she tiptoes her way out. It is an awkward few hours after the guys transform back and wake up in her room.
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My Samurai Jack Theories (perfect for the AU)
(Points in time for reference)
Big bang - 13.8 billion years ago
Aku's accidental extinction of the dinosaurs - about 65 million years ago
When Aku gained sentience - 1603-1867
(We'll say roughly 1700 because it's not specified)
How long he was trapped in a tree - 8 years after sentience
Time period of the future - 4700
Sources: Google and this video as reference
•What if Aku isn't evil, but just heavily misguided, and ill-informed?
•Good and evil, right and wrong, morals in general, and even time are just social constructs, and completely subjective. You'll never find two people with the exact same moral standings in the universe. So, If Aku was "pure evil", he'd have to be made out of every persons subjective definition of "evil", including all of the conflicting definitions. Aku would've devolved into a black hole by now and swallowed up the whole universe. But he hasn't, so he isn't.
• Aku has existed since shortly after the "Big Bang" (give or take like five minutes as shown in "The Birth of Evil" episode). Aka the creation of the universe. He popped into existence as a shapeless, formless entity. So his creation was not directly caused by the "Big Bang", as he was not created at the same time it happened. Instead he appeared moments after the fact. I think there's a possibility that something greater created Aku, and sent him into the world for some purpose. Purposefully right after the big bang. His creator, parental figure (from a human standpoint) or his God, if you will.
• Who is to say the three gods (Ra, Odin, and Rama) truly know if Aku is "evil" or not? They don't, they just saw something they don't understand, and called it evil because it was different. Humans/mortals use words like "demon", "evil", "monster", and "magic" to describe things that they don't understand. The god's seem to be no different from the humans they've modeled after themselves, in this case.
In "The Birth of Evil" episode, they too refer Aku as a being of "pure evil". Because they don't know what Aku is, never seen anything like him before, he COULD'VE done something to harm them or the universe. So, they decided they had to strike first before Aku did. Such broken logic, because you could say that about ANY new person you meet. That doesn't mean you have to punch every stranger you come into contact with, right on the spot!
"DIFFERENT MEANS EVIL!", they said.
I think this song explains this point pretty well.
• No one, not even Aku is sure of what he is exactly. To Aku's knowledge, he is the only being like him in the whole universe. Something, someone, entirely new. He's never even thought of the possibility that he might have a creator (other than the Emperor), let alone seek them out.
Every being Aku has come into contact with has deemed him "evil", before they even got to know him;
The 3 gods; Ra, Odin, and Rama (When Aku was still a non-sentient being).
The Emperor right after he, albeit accidentally, gave Aku sentience.
And even Jack.
• Aku was never given the chance to choose and forge his own destiny. Much like jack, Aku's destiny was predetermined for him. Aku's destiny to be "evil", given by the gods and the first mortal he ever met (Emperor). That he was meant to just be this big, dark entity that could do nothing but be evil, Like it was all he was, and would ever be.
While Jack's destiny was to destroy Aku, a destiny he inherited from his father, and his father got from the Gods. Jack's father got to live out and forge most of his own destiny before he "had" to fight Aku, at least. Jack never got that chance. That choice to choose and forge his very own destiny, just like Aku. He was instead forced to leave his home, to train for 17 years, for a fight he never had a say in.
The emperor only got the order to kill Aku because the God's were too lazy to finish the job that they started. If they really thought Aku was the great threat that they like to say he is, then they would've went down to earth and destroyed Aku the moment they found out that he was still alive. But they didn't, because they don't. They like to think of it as a game, I believe. They don't respect the mortals, they see them as lesser beings that they can do with whatever they please. Odin in particular is a good example of that, based on his lore (which is very well explored upon in God of War Ragnarok).
They're just bored as hell, and wanted something to play with, to pass the time. That thing being both Aku and Jack's whole fucking bloodline, with no care to how it would effect them. Oh no, the Gods could never be asked to care about mortals, ThEy'Re ToO GoOd FoR tHaT~.
So, because of the ill-informed decisions of the Gods, the misinformation that Aku is "pure evil" spread to the mortals. So, when the emperor told the very freshly-sentient, and impressionable Aku that he is evil and should be destroyed, he took that to heart. His non-sentient form retained the words from the God's telling him that he is "pure evil", so when he heard it from the Emperor as a sentient being it just reinforced the notion that "being evil" is what he's truly meant to be, which it's not.
So of course Aku began acting evil, if you call and treat someone like a monster, they're gonna eventually act like one too! He's a versatile stew of possibilities! How dare the God's limit him to being one thing because of their own fucked up prejudice?!
This does not excuse all of the bad things Aku did, of course. He has become "evil" overtime, after playing the "evil villain" card for so long he's become so detached from emotions and morals. In fact, he's done many MANY inexcusable and unforgivable things in the past 3100 years (between the 1700 Edo period and future year of 4700), but it gives a good reason for why it happened the way it did.
• No one knows what Aku is, Aku doesn't even know what he is. But I know what he can do. He can change. He can make things right. He doesn't just have destructive powers, he's shown to have both constructive, and resurrection powers as well. He doesn't use them often, but they're there. In the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku has shown that he can resurrect the dead...mostly. Also, in season five, he completely reconstructed Scaramoche. Proof of his constructive powers, a power that is stereotypically a "good" power to have. He could theoretically undo all of the deaths and genocide that he's committed, if he continued testing the limits of his constructive and resurrection powers. He could be able to rebuild all of the destroyed cities and homes of his past victims, and even fully restore the bodies/lives of the victims he killed! The souls would be lead back to the proper bodies (don't think about how traumatizing it'd be to have been ripped from your ancestors in the afterlife to live again in the span of a few seconds).
The mental scars would still be there from their pasts with Aku, but they'd be alive again, at least. This wouldn't automatically make Aku a hero or forgiven of all past transgressions, obviously. It would be the equivalent of a child cleaning up their own mess that they've made, seems obvious to do so right? But how many villains can you say have done at least THAT much? Not many. Aku would definitely be doing a lot better than many other villains out there.
• If Aku was told by an outside source that he could forge his own destiny instead of following one that someone else had decided for him, and all of the reasons/evidence that he's not what everyone said he is, he could be who he really is. Not this "evil" facade that he felt like he has to be, that he felt like was all he was. Perhaps it could be Jack? Or maybe even another part of himself that could gain the enlightenment of these theories, like Demongo!
• Aku struggles with complex emotions and morals. Yes, he has the basic "human" emotions down, such as; happiness, anger, sad, and bored etc. We see him expressing these basic emotions throughout the entire series. Though, he doesn't seem to grasp the more complex "human" emotions, like; love (in all of it's forms), and what it is to care. These are just nearly, if not completely, lost on him.
There are fleeting moments where he seems to have a smidgen of care for someone. As seen in season five when Jack get's very angry as the last time portal is destroyed, Aku warns jack to be careful, as excessive anger can lead to a heart attack. But the feeling leaves as quickly as it arrives. He won't allow himself to feel the stronger emotions, most likely because he doesn't understand them (and that he thinks an "evil" being shouldn't feel those kind of emotions). Morals are just nearly, if not completely lost on him as well. I can't think of a single moment where he had any sense of morals. Which would make sense, he was never taught to have morals. Never taught what should be "right" and "wrong". So, of course he'd have no understanding of what morals are, or even should be.
• Aku isn't using shapeshifting to it's full potential. Yes he has his animal-like forms, his humanoid forms, and even changes specific parts of his body into tools or objects to fit his needs. With shapeshifting, you can transform into anything and anyone (both real and fiction). But, the part that everyone always forgets about shapeshifting is that you can be anyone and anything that's NEVER existed before. That will never exist, only in the machinations of the mind. His imagination is his only limit. In theory, based on what we've seen from the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, Aku could very easily kill Jack with his shape-shifting powers alone.
• Aku pulls his punches in every fight with Jack. Except for the "Jack and the Zombies" episode, where we get a good taste of Aku's true power. He pulls punches because he has fun fighting (or sparring in Aku's pov) with Jack, and also partly because he fears the power of the sword (because it is literally a sliver of the gods, the only beings in the universe who can harm/kill Aku). The only thing stronger than Aku is the gods themselves.
He bares the weight of ruling an entire world on his shoulders every day of the week, not to mention trades and other negotiations between other planets. Except for one day a week, or at least bi-weekly, he takes a day off to "fight" with Jack. His only source of true fun throughout the work week. So of course he pulls punches, he draws it out so the fun doesn't have to end. He admits that Jack is a "formidable foe". But even with the sword, Jack is still only human. Just a mortal. No matter how strong or skilled Jack is, he still suffers from the human condition of dying very easily (because us humans have so many "instant kill spots" on our bodies). To ensure that the "closest-thing-to-an-equal-sparring-partner" Aku has, doesn't die, he has to pull punches. Harming Jack just enough so that he can never completely win against Aku, but won't die against Aku either.
There are times where Jack nearly wins fair-and-square against Aku, when he truly catches Aku by surprise. In episode 1 Aku didn't expect to ever see the sword again, so he didn't prepare accordingly for that fight and nearly died because of it. Another example would be in the "Jack and the Gangsters" episode. Aku didn't expect Jack to be with the Mafia boys when they were delivering the sapphire. So, yet again, Aku didn't have time to prepare properly for the fight with the sword and nearly died again. (Thanks to my friend for pointing out the surprise factor in their fights! They don't have a Tumblr so I can't link 'em.)
• Aku likes animals, or prefers creatures that are non-sentient at least. Based on the "Jack and the Warrior Woman" episode, and the "Jack and the Swamp Wizard" episode. Aku seems very relaxed, and even kind/docile towards animals, as he happily mimics a large snakes tongue flecks. Evidently, throughout the series, he seems to leave most wildlife/nature alone. Many forests and jungles still stand in Aku's future, barely touched, where in our world we barely have any left. It would seem that Aku does not bother these animals/creatures for the most part, because they bare no threat or harm to him (seeing as they aren't sentient). He seems to know a bit about the wildlife that inhabits earth as well, evidenced again in "Jack and the Warrior Woman".
• Jack's real name is most likely Shinichi. In "The Birth of Evil" episode we see a rooster on a leash, who's owner has evidently named Shinichi (as he calls out to the chicken multiple times with this name). This rooster lives in Jack's homeland, fallen into the same puddle of Aku before he became sentient. This is the only time in the entire show that we ever hear a male Japanese name being said. What's more, there's an entire episode dedicated to Jack being turned into a rooster, "Chicken Jack". Coincidence? I think NOT! The name of the episode alone could be a hint that the roosters name from "The Birth of Evil", and Jack's name are one in the same! "Chicken Jack". Chicken = Jack. Think about it~.
• Aku and his minions from the "Pit of Hate" are essentially one in the same. The "Pit of Hate" is just the residual puddle of Aku from "The Birth of Evil" episode. When Aku took his new form when he gained sentience, there was still some of him left over in that hole. He later named it the "Pit of Hate". He has complete control over the puddle of himself, evidenced in the episode itself.
Yes, we know that the puddle is leftovers of himself, but why didn't all of him form as one being when he got sentience? Why was some leftover? Did he subconsciously know he would need more of himself at a later point? Or is it a sort of instinctual defense mechanism? If the main Aku is destroyed, the pit of himself would still be there. He could reform from that puddle of himself, in that case.
As for his minions, not the robots or any of the hired people, the one's that were created from the "Pit of Hate" are literally just diluted versions of himself. Take Demongo for example, he has some of the same powers that Aku has; he's able to shoot beams of power/lightning from his hands, can levitate at will, and can resurrect the dead (when jack frees all of the warriors essence/souls they are shown to be completely restored and alive again). He even has a similar, if not the same, personality to Aku. Wanting to become more powerful and have complete control over others.
The minions are made of the same source material as Aku, again since the "Pit of Hate" is him. Of course his minions wouldn't have all of his same powers, what ruler would want their minions to be just as strong as they are? It would give them a chance to rise up against him, and Aku doesn't want that, he likes to be seen as the most powerful being. As shown in nearly the entire show.
• Technically speaking, Jack and Aku are half brothers. (as well as the "Pit of Hate" minions, because Aku and them are one in the same.) Aku possibly has a creator, based on the fact that the time of his creation and the "Big Bang" are not 1:1. He was created like five minutes after the fact, while everything else was created at the same time. coincidence? I think NOT! not to mention this creator made Aku non-sentient, for some reason.
Jack's father (the Emperor) gave Aku sentience, albeit accidentally, when plunging the poison tipped, sun flamed arrow into the Primordial Ak-ooze(tm). Aka the puddle of Aku we see in "The Birth of Evil" episode. Accidental or not, this still makes the Emperor partially responsible for creating Aku, other than Aku's unknown creator of course. The Emperor gave Aku a higher state of living/being that he could not have otherwise had without the Emperor's help. It could be seen the same way as having an "accident child". accident or not Aku is still technically the Emperor's son (from a mortal standpoint). Not by blood, but by the principle of what makes a parent/creator.
So, again not by blood but by technicality and principle, that would make Jack and Aku half brothers. Both Jack and Aku were made by the Emperor, but they both have different "mothers". (quotations because we don't know the gender of Aku's god, if they even have one.)
• From a human/mortal standpoint, you could say that Aku's "Pit of Hate" minions are Aku's family. His siblings, more specifically, because they're all made of the same material. I say siblings, and not his children, because children would mean that the minions are half of him and half of someone else (like the seven daughters of the priestess from season 5, for example. Those are his true children). Though Aku hasn't shown to acknowledge this familial standpoint between him and his minions, it's nice to think that's essentially what they are. Identical siblings as well, when you remember that the minions are just him.
•Aku might be able to subconsciously hear and feel all of his "Pit of Hate" minions thoughts and feelings. Considering that they're all the same person, it would make sense that the main source material (Aku) would be able to do so. I think he just pushes it all to the back of his mind though, especially any conflicting viewpoints from other parts of himself that he doesn't like (aka minions that aren't visibly as hostile as he is towards mortals).
And that's it! I'll update this post if more theories arise, or if I need to add/change words on existing pieces of this post.
I've recently found out that @jaku-the-askblog had a post with very similar theories to mine. I've followed her for a few years, but hadn't read her theory post until very recently! Thanks to her posts layout, I was able to format my theories into something visually digestible, rather than a large wall of text lmao. I also used one of her images from her post because I LITERALLY could not find anything else that fit.
Check out her theory post here. She has great stuff on her ask blog! Her main blog @abby-something is great too!
It sucks though, she made that theory post SIX years ago, and her last post on the blog was 3 years ago. Talk about being late to a theory party, I really wanted us to bounce theories off of each other~ TT_TT
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instead of rambling on twitter in its cramped, claustrophobic threads format i've chosen. just the one time. to ramble here. some of the stuff that's been bouncing around in my head for the past 2 weeks. it's weird being so hyperfixated on life instead of media for a change, which really isn't as sexy and awesome as i think it's cracked up to be because instead of rambling about silly creatures from a fictional universe all i do now is just. ramble about life. the times. and i'm just gloomy about it all the time. extremely long winded ramble about politics under the cut
i absolutely refuse to shut up about palestine for one. a palestinian alumni/fellow of my school, his family, his children, all one of the absolutely fucking unforgivable amount of refugees in the jabalia camp who were killed. obviously he is so, so far from the only life to have been taken in the atrocities, but my fucking school's newspaper has been fucking things up spectacularly when it comes to "coverage" and my school in general just. i get so fucking angry. our alumns are dying and yet my school chooses in its official statements to mostly address israel and the alleged peril our jewish student population... when i've been following on ig every palestinian student org for my school i can find and they've been begging for some publicity or support from the school it's just so fucking vile. it makes me so upset that i got lazy and literally was too busy gaming the day of transfer apps and now i'm stuck at this fucking... state uni, possibly rotting here for my undergrad. at the same time god forbid i follow in my father's ivy league footsteps and shoot for ivy league because fucking COLOMBIA and UPENN are being TARGETTED by the FUCKING c2n@ry or5aniz@ti0n which. i literally cannot fucking express how fucking angry the fact that that exists at all makes me. the future of our generation's activism is cast deep in the shadow of our incompetent fucking predecessors. god forbid we get younger voices in power! god forbid we protest to make a difference, lest we get actual targets put on our heads! and i've listened to the contrary as much as i loathed to, because that's what makes a productive opinion. synthesis. and i have never felt less compelled by a counter stance before. every day videos of parents holding the dismembered limbs of their children, israelis making a tiktok trend out of kidnapping and or mocking palestinians, the sitting head of the UN in new york releasing a letter of resignation because of the anguish he feels watching an organization dedicated to peace fail so miserably at its job... all of it should radicalize everyone. people should be making calls to their representatives, keeping discussions frequent. making sure everyone around you knows that antizionism does NOT equal antisemitism. i will not argue to the contrary; i grew up conservative and with a devil's advocate personality, and i think anyone even considering a neutral stance should genuinely be ashamed of themselves.
in other only slightly less depressing news, taking a class on korean diaspora has made me go through so many different identity shifts in the past few weeks and i feel like it's just made me gloomier. i'm taking an upper classman seminar class about korean diasporic activism through performing arts which was so hilariously specific that i laughed when i realized it was my only option (i tested out of every other korean level) and i was like well i'm korean diaspora this should be so easy but it's genuinely the most challenging class i've ever taken. every week lately i've just cried and cried reading the texts we're assigned to read because i've never felt so seen and so doomed before. i did a presentation on a WONDERFUL text excerpt by professor emerita at uc berkeley elaine h. kim that spoke to all of the racism i endured growing up, the first generation child that "rises above" their immigrant parents and finds success in the model minority mold by exploiting, exoticizing, fetishizing their own identity... i learned in the past few weeks (so genuinely very recently) that, despite my appearance, i'll never be a true korean; a native korean will never understand the extent of the discrimination i faced. being afraid to eat ethnic food in front of peers fear of it being called smelly or stolen altogether, getting slotted into the japanese/chinese binary categories before the rise of kpop, why i get so excited to see ethnic korean faces and food, my struggle to take my diverse interests and fit them into a cookie cutter mold to one of the most violently homogenous societies on earth, why any korean child in america like me would ever want to be white if that meant we wouldn't stick out. nor am i a true american; this being more self explanatory, of course. what does that make me? an imbricate mongrel of the two identities? i learned, in fact, that i am korean-american: something almost entirely independent of both nationalities. i learned that korean-americans have a rich history of finding ourselves in places we don't belong and making establishing loud communities to fight for our own rights. immigrating to hawai'i in the early 1900's, establishing committees and supporting our motherland who ultimately turned around and spat in our faces. our new place was almost just as unwelcoming; and after weaseling our way into black communities without first addressing racism, koreans found ourselves at the apex of black and brown anger across america during the la riots (to be korean-american is to be born with the blood of latasha harlins on your hands). we were desperate to distance ourselves from the japanese, triply in a bout of patriotic self-perceived superiority, rise beyond a race of people who tried to ethnically cleanse us, and in an attempt to prove we were "one of the good ones," but we were still placed in japanese internment camps. we're still expected to prostrate ourselves at the feet of every wrinkly us vet with a korean war badge on their hat. "we saved your gook asses."
but to be asian-american at all is also to be doomed to a life of never rising beyond the model minority ceiling. the model minority "model" as it were promises a life of permanent mediocrity in exchange for some semblance of security (and even then we're a dime a dozen; all competing against each other and evolving like bacteria, we cannibalize ourselves anyway and suddenly our employers' jobs have gotten that much easier). those who try to rise beyond the model and prove themselves to society more often than not, not deemed exemplary, but instead seen as having fulfilled their life cycle or reached their point of maturity in the "life of the species" (chay yew); they're in turn locked into to a life of monotony as they've "found their niche" as analyst hyeon youngbin puts it... "everything one achieves after entering the system is attributed not to the individual’s ability but to the efficacy of model minority status; the more you achieve, the more you justify the model minority." asian-americans in particular will always, no matter what they do, perpetuate the model minority in our attempts to achieve our "ideal labour" (youngbin); those who defy it suffer for it and are seen as asians who failed or weren't smart enough, those who fit comfortably into it perpetuate its abuse and are oftentimes miserable (as one tends to be living a life in servitude of/being a poster child of capitalism despite rarely being rewarded for it), and those who try to challenge and overcome it simply come to realize that the ceiling is both low and infinite, and that they, if anything, are inadvertently the most aggressive contributors to model minority-isms.
anyway. ive been really bothered and gloomier than usual because of this shit. its nice to be able to type it all out without the breaks in concentration between thread tweets
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i think backgrounds is a thing but also kind of like what they stand for. R is rich and privileged living off her parents money (which is fine) and constantly jetting off to places lol (again fine) and doesn’t have a job or even need one tbh like that’s literally unheard of in the north like you literally need a job to afford a living
I get the crux of what you're saying here but I promise you there is a "posh" north and it's somehow even more horrifying than posh London
But aye those experiences are what shape your values
Thing is can any of us say we don't want to better our futures and give our kids better futures?
I for one hope that one day I'm well off enough that if my kids graduate uni and they don't know what to do with themselves and are trying to break into a tricky industry, they can come home to the family house and keep working on their goals? Like I wouldn't want me kids dossing but id fucking hate to think I'm working my arse off now so that one day in the future I can force my kids to slog it too?
Like I really get where all these anons are coming from about the culture clash and about like how it isn't fair that certain people have life so so much easier, and also like how it's weird that a man who's made a lot of being "rags to riches" is now seemingly dating someone with different principles so is kinda sacrificing his own BUT
1) it's only dating
2) no one in poverty wants to remain on the poverty line, I really don't blame him for "social climbing" he's having experiences that were barred from him by the class system for a long time and that can only be a good thing.
3) maybe he's not sacrificing his principles, I've seen very privileged women learn/grow when they've been in relationships with people from poorer backgrounds (relationships teach both people different things afterall)
4) he's not a hypocrite for shagging. He isn't sacrificing any principles by dating someone middle class. If anything it's weird to say that all working class people must remain completely true to their poverty stricken roots, that only reinforces class structure and makes certain things "not for us" like would you say it's sacrificing principles for a v working class lad from Stockport to go to Oxford? Is he a class traitor? Am I a class traitor for buying a gingerbread man in Morrisons or like idk Waitrose one time? Is it class traitory for working class people to go to art galleries, or listen to classical music, or learn to play the flute, or read lit fiction?
Do you see what I mean like, there's loads of things deemed middle class which have always been "not for the likes of us" but if we start saying any working class person who engages with those things is a traitor to their class then we're the ones reinforcing the structure that oppresses us?
Like idk, I tryyy very hard these days not to judge people who are middle class, because I do know nice people who are, my dad's got some lovely middle class friends... lots of the people I've met in Scotland that are southern English middle class snd have moved up here for cheap rent are nauseating cunts but idk, best to give people the benefit of the doubt until they actually start on the "i just dont see why we should give free school meals to children just because their parents smoke 40 a day and want the latest iphone" rant
The best situ for them is class divide causes misunderstandings and mild irritation but they are happy together anyway and it's not a deep problem. the worst is that the relationship falls apart because they can't understand eachother (this is usually what brings down all relationships though even ones that are class balanced? Is that a phrase that felt weird to write?) Like I grew to fucking despise my ex for being privileged and out of touch but I wouldn't wish that on anyone lol I lost a bestie and it sucked!!
Anyway my point is mostly just that you don't know them at all and to hold your horses accusing anyone of abandoning their principles just for dating someone from a different class background that's meh
Obvs btw anon not all of this is aimed at you in anyway because you aren't the one who has sent me all these things, it's just yours is so far one of the only ones that's on theme with the other anons that's polite enough to post. Some of the stuff in my inbox right now is harshhhh
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It hurts me to see so many Tamlin defenders these days it's all so triggering for me.
My parents relationship is exactly like what happened with Feyre but only the fact that she never got the chance to get out and she's still stuck and now it's too late. I see Feyre in my mother everyday but I live in a country and community that doesn't care for women opinion and they're considered as being "dramatic", "over-reacting" and "selfish". Exactly the things they call Feyre.
My mother knew while they were engaged that this wouldn't end well but her parents didn't listen to her and they said you should marry him and fix him, bring him children he will be better... bc my father been through some traumatic stuff as well. (Honestly while I was reading acotar and acomaf, I find it a cruel joke) So that was the way to justify his actions. And bc my mother didn't wants us to hate him, she would say this to us as well that it's not his fault but we grow up and we realised this isn't normal as much as he wants to claim he's traumatised. (Sounds familiar?)
my mother gave and gave and gave but never received anything from him still receives nothing from him. And you know what he does to make her shut up and don't complain? He buys her things or for us. He used to pay for my grandparents treatment. Just like Tamlin who paid for Feyre's family to keep her were she is so she wouldn't leave him.
My mother can't go out without being questioned that where is she going, how long she's out, when will she come back? She doesn't have a job!!! And the fact that he's doing it to me and my sibling as well is also very disheartening... I can't go out with my friends without being questioned bc its dangerous outside and you don't know what's coming for you... (I'm being serious this is exactly his words)
And he never hit us or hurt us in physical way that is visible, he hits with his word how he degrade my mother and sometimes us. So no one really sees what we've been through no one believe us bc there's no evidence of it...
And knowing that ppl don't even consider Tamlin an abuser but just a misunderstood character and deserving better treatment from readers while the ppl around him suffered? Yeah... its feels like people are not seeing us just bc he's hot or have money or is powerful or whatever...
I wonder if someone tells them they're overreacting and being dramatic how they would feel? To not be seen and tell them "you're acting childish suck it up"? How would they feel?
And only bc you did some nice things doesn't make you less of an abuser we need to remind that to ourselves... (just bc tamlin help in a war HE CREATED (bc he thought Feyre was his trophy) and help Rhysand to live doesn't make him less of a shitty person that he is...)
ps: this is just my experience I know for a fact that a lot of ppl experienced worse than us. its okay if you ignore this but I only wanted to get this out somewhere that might some ppl see and rethink what they're saying...
First, I'm honored you shared your story with me and I am so sorry that both you and your mother are still in such a difficult situation. It's easy for someone on the outside looking in to say, "why doesn't she just leave already?" but anyone who has first hand experience of what she's going through (either because they have witnessed a love one going through it or they themselves have) know how difficult it can actually be to walk away. They might be struggling with years of their significant other chipping away at their self esteem to the point that they truly don't think they are worth more than the treatment they've gotten, they might be in a position where they can't set off on their own for financial reasons, they might fear for what the significant other might do if they were to leave.
And I do understand why, as you are currently living this, it is triggering for you to see people romanticize Tamlin or explain away his behaviors as "he was struggling so he couldn't help himself." Of course he was struggling however, that never gives someone the right to take their struggles out on others.
I don't think we'll ever be able to stop those who are fans of the Justice for Tamlin rhetoric but hopefully you take some comfort in knowing that the author herself has been vocal about how wrong Tamlin's behavior was. Others can interpret the text however they want but at the end of the day, SJM, the creator of his character has told us that he is a toxic male, that the High Lord of Spring is a "douche" and I think that's all that should matter to you. You feel his behaviors were not acceptable and the one who wrote him agrees.
I'm not necessarily opposed to seeing Tamlin begin to heal but I personally don't think he's redeemed himself at all at this point and I have no interest in seeing him fall in love again, regardless of his one "heroic" gesture in the war. He still physically assaulted his friend afterwards and threw Lucien's clothes on his front door. A year after the war and he's still making no effort to try and be the High Lord his people need.
It's not that someone who was abusive doesn't deserve the opportunity to better themselves but I don't think they deserve forgiveness until there are actual steps being taken to actually better themselves. Since Tamlin still, as of SF, has not made any progress in the right direction, I understand why it's frustrating when excuses are being made for his behavior.
Again, I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this. Growing up in that situation often effects our own relationships and self esteem and I hate that you have become a victim in something you never had any say in.
Sending you lots of love ❤️
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What are some fun facts about the RO's?
Adelaide:
she works as mechanic at a workshop and she drives a motorcycle which barely worked when she bought it second hand and she repaired it all by herself
she has her tongue and belly button pierced, 7 ear piercings and 2 nose piercings
she's from germany
she enjoys photography and owns over a dozen cameras, though she keeps that very secret
she's never had a lot of friends, especially now in her adulthood, and sometimes she regrets being such a loner but she's in too deep to change her ways
she hates smart phones so she still uses a flip phone
she only has one tattoo, which is angel wings that take up her entire back
she stopped smoking long before she was diagnosed but she impulsively bought a carton one day and she's still deciding what she's going to do with it
Hayden:
their all time favourite thing to do is surfing and they've been doing it since they were a kid but they haven't been able to since they were first diagnosed
they're from italy
they don't enjoy painting as much as they used to, mostly because it's now their job, but they still like to create art in their spare time so recently they've been doing sculpture
they're extremely close with their sister, brother in law and niece, but especially their niece - they love children and they don't think they'll ever have any of their own, so they spoil her and spend as much time as they can with her
their parents put them in gymnastics when they were a kid but they quit after a year or two because it didn't interest them
they never learnt to drive, much preferring to walk or take public transport, but they've recently taken up cycling at the recommendation of their doctor
they love travelling and they're so excited to go a trip with the group, they're actually the one who suggested it in the first place
Gabriel:
he works as a highschool english teacher and he's considered as one of the favourite teachers by the students
he has four brothers (three older than him and one younger) and two sisters (one older, one younger)
he's only ever been in 2 relationships (both lasting five or more years) and he was deeply in love with both partners but they both broke his heart
he's from spain
he started getting tattoos when he was 18 and never stopped, most of his tattoos are meaningless and are patchwork designs
he tries to stay active by going for a run most mornings and night with Honey, as well as coaching rugby
he loves to bake but his speciality is pastries, which he often brings to work with him
Jordan:
they had a rough childhood; their parents were quite absent and so they were in and out of foster homes
they fought for legal custody of their younger brother so that he wouldn't have to have the same childhood as they did
they're from england
they take their health very seriously, going to the gym and work out classes a few days a week, as well as following a vegetarian diet
they're obsessed with funky/kitschy socks and they like to wear them underneath their very formal and academic wardrobe
in college, they did a year of journalism before deciding they wanted to pursue psychology
they were also a party animal in college but were forced to calm down and stop essentially when they became Luca's legal guardian
Mavis/Maverick:
despite being a bartender, they don't drink at all
they do get high quite often though
they've got asthma but it's not as bad as when they were a child
they're from south korea
their parents got divorced when they were 12 and they continued to live with their mother, who got remarried when they were 15
they love to play videos, especially horror/mystery games like until dawn and the quarry
they also love to build to puzzles and their apartment is filled with framed 2d puzzles as well as 3d puzzles
they really want a pet (specifically a cat) but they don't trust themselves to take of it properly
they decided to get their nipples pierced for their 21st birthday
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Downton Abbey Headcannons
My mother and I went to Downton Abbey: a new era, and when we went back, we were both hyped and she said ''come on that's so sad it's ended'' and I said ''yup, time to start writing fanfictions about what happened next'' but she didn't like most of my headcannons so here's a preview and I'll put more next time.
SPOILER ALERT
Context: I imagine that as a new series centered around the grand-children of Robert and Cora, but with still their parents and all in the picture.
George, Marigold and Sybbie are raised practically together even though only George is in Downton. Since they don't have a big age difference they are best friends and consider themselves as ''the Three'' even though they all have half-siblings (Caroline Talbot, Peter Pelham and Violet Branson, yes, neither the sex nor the name were stated but come on what else) who are much younger.
The Sinderbys (Atticus and Rose) are back from New-York because Lord Sinderby died and they've got to manage the estate. They visit Downton regularly.
Johnny Bates wants to become a footman but his parents think there is no more future in that job and want him to do something else. He'll eventually be put against his will, at the age of 13, at the Mason farm to help with the cows and will find a dog having pups in the hay, so he'll help it, save the pups but not the mom, the pups are more or less the breed Lord Grantham loves so he gives one to Lord Grantham and one to Caroline, because he's so crushing on her even though they are 13 and 12.
During the Battle of England, Downton will welcome many children who fled London.
In 1939, George gets 18 and to celebrate his birthday, Sybbie invites everybody at la Villa des Colombes, but they've got to go back to England because France gets invaded by Germany.
In 1937, Marigold tells her mother she's kinda seduced by the fascist speech or something and Edith decides it's the right moment (why she thinks that, I don't know) to tell her daughter that she's her biological daughter and that Gregson was killed by nazis during a brawl. Marigold laughs and says that she didn't know for Gregson but of course she knew she was Edith's daughter since, well... what else, really? Plus when she asked George to get informations, he asked his mother and Lady Mary said ''yeah, sure, Edith had a child out of wedlock but don't tell anyone ok?'' and he told Marigold since she was the one asking.
Edith is going for a news story in Poland but she gets caught in the invasion and is emprisonned, thus Bertie's main role for the series will be to try and have her delivered by diplomatic means.
So basically that's a first thing. If you want to know more details, stay tune for George's elopement or Lord Grantham's death.
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Finally got to swap out my mantle garland with a eucalyptus garland with little fairy lights today and I'm so happy about it; it'll work for both Summer and Autumn, which means I've officially got my Mantle decorations complete- except for a Summer and Autumn vase, and an Autumn bouquet. Slowly but surely it's coming together, though.
Picked up some fabric last night to start quilting, and I'm excited about that, too. I think I'm just going to go simple with a Hexagon Quilt for now so I have something to really keep my hands busy and I don't have to bother others just because my brain is being rude. I can do it all here at home, myself, with minimum tools and effort, any time I start getting antsy.
We also tried to buy a new side table with an attached lamp for beside my recliner yesterday, but it wound up being way too short (they were sneaky about how they styled it in the photo on the box, and it made it look a lot taller than it actually was; I hate that). So we disassembled it and took it back this morning; I'll have to keep looking for a new table after all. Oh well.
Also ran into my Brother in Law (my Sister's technically-still-not-divorced-Husband who cheated on her with the neighbor's wife less than a week into their marriage) at WalMart last night; my husband and I'd literally just been talking about my parents, wondering if they'd actually moved yet or not. Apparently they haven't (damn). But my Sister's apparently finally off the drugs, and I guess he's had the kids for the last 3 years because of it ... The family drama you miss out on when you go No Contact (thank HaShem).
We exchanged numbers, though, because I was frank with him about the situation: I don't want a relationship with my family until they can reach out themselves and prove to me they've all changed their ways and ended their cycles of abuse. But I'll always be there for the kids if they want a relationship with me, because my issue with my adult family shouldn't blow back on children who had nothing to do with any of it; he asked if they even still knew who I was, and I said probably not since the last time I saw them it was something like Christmas before Covid. I doubt they remember they even have an Aunt Creature as a result- and if they do, I doubt their recollection's any good because of the rest of the family. So we talked a bit about meeting up at some point when he gets back from his next Drilling job, and letting us see the kids for a bit. We'll see how that goes if it actually happens.
My Husband and I had a bit of good laugh about the interaction after the fact, though, because my BIL had a friend with him. When he went to introduce himself, he did that whole manly handshake pissing contest thing men do when they feel like they have to "Man Up" and "Prove Themself" / "try to intimidate the other guy" with my Husband. We got a bit of a kick out of that.
Anyways. Not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of my day; I was going to go to a beginner's Cycling class this afternoon but my gym partner cancelled and I don't want to go alone. Plus my social anxiety surrounding doing new things alone has peaked, so I don't want to do the swimming thing at the gym. I may just play Valheim with my Husband for a bit instead and just kind of exist for the rest of the day. Hopefully without any antsy boredness 🤞
Tomorrow I'm going to start a wellness challenge thing I found through Pinterest, just for fun (I'm doing it + another smaller recipe challenge alongside it, so I picked up some stuff for teas today while we were at WalMart). And then Tuesday's finally my meeting with the Rabbi, and I'll officially find out if she's willing to do "long distance" conversion with me; I'm so nervous!
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why have so many trans characters doesn't that seem like a bit much
Funnily enough, I initially agreed with this ask. In the original pitch for ASM there was only going to be one textually trans character, Homura. That's not to say that the others couldn't be interpreted as trans, but I wasn't putting intentional thought into writing them that way.
But then my cowriter convinced me to be more self-indulgent. Because ultimately, this is something we're writing for fun and so. Why not?
But it's more than just simply putting them in because I want to, though that is justification enough. One of the things that we are trying to do with ASM is to show a range of different experiences. This manifests through different viewpoints, philosophies, and yes, genders.
Even amongst all of the trans girls in ASM, they each have different experiences. Mami is someone who came out young, with the support of her parents. Kyoko is someone who didn't have a supportive environment and so had to make do with illusion when she could get away with it, someone grappling with a sense of self. Homura is someone who... well, as written in ASM, Homura realised she was trans soon before she made her wish. Kirika is someone who knew for a long time but buried it beneath an attitude of self loathing until she made her wish.
Even among people with similar gender identities, I wanted to show a range of experiences. Hopefully, so that people out there could connect with some of them. Because one of the major things to me about ASM is that if someone comes away from the story with even just one element of a character or bit of the story that sticks with them, then I've done my job as a writer. Yes, I want to tell a coherent and engaging story, but I also want my work to speak to people.
And besides, Trans people tend to flock together. Combine that with Kyubey's targetting of vulnerable people and you get a viable group of trans people.
Another part of showing off different experiences is the different journeys people have had. While a lot of the characters have realised things about themself before the start of the story, not all have. Kiori is currently actively unpacking his gender, and will be trying different pronouns and ways of address until they find what suits them. Sayaka is currently deeply repressing a LOT of things, one of them being their gender.
And while some have their gender be a important part of their story, some don't. Haruka being trans will barely come up in ASM, up until I put it on the blog it was never mentioned in anything at all honestly.
Also, the Kanames are there for the experience of older trans people in a setting filled with teenagers. We got the flashback to show a bit of the complexities that the both of them were struggling with as kids, but now, as adults, they've mostly settled into themselves. They're people who know who they are and are a sign that the kids can grow up and be adults.
In the end, ASM is supposed to be a story about differing people and experiences and, from my experiences as a trans woman, part of that is gender.
While the main cast has a lot of trans people, there's plenty of cis people too. A large chunk of the Oriko Magica cast are, and we'll meet more and more. There will be no shortage of cis people, I assure you.
Madoka Magica deals with a lot of struggles around identity. With Madoka unsure of who she is and who she wants to be, taking in advice and learning from the people around her and all their different experiences. Is it really a stretch to add gender to that?
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