#straight up not having a good tiiiime

[maybeimamuppet]

OKAY MUPPETS IT IS TIIIIME FOR EZZYS OPINION HOUR

i saw the mean girls movie yesterday and i have THOUGHTS. spoilers below the cut but general thoughts up here

1. is it objectively not a super great movie? yes

2. is it my new favorite movie? yes

3. will i defend this movie tooth and nail from people who don’t like it just bc it’s a musical or bc they’re a 2004 purist? YES

4. did this movie make me feel so many conflicting emotions back to back i have now had a tummyache for 24 hours? YESSS

5. will i ever, ever, EVER IN MY LIFE forgive tina fey for the ending? no.

alright babes welcome to below the elementary school gym class parachute

last spoiler warning!!

these aren’t all in order and are most definitely not all the thoughts i had bc i have the memory storage of a flea and once an experience is over it is GONE FROM MY HEAD so this is the list of thoughts i struggled to put together when i got home lmao

overall thoughts:

it felt very gimmicky. the stage production felt gimmicky too but in a fun way, this was gimmicky in a way that kinda gave me a touch of the ick

it did not feel to me very much like a cohesive movie. it felt like browsing ig or tiktok and just seeing a hodgepodge of scenes stuck together. which is a cool idea but idk how well it worked in practice and i also don’t know if it was intentional.

this is not the word i’m looking for but in terms of personality they absolutely whitewashed all of the characters and i really don’t care for that. the visuals and the casting were so immaculate but in terms of personality they just made them all taste like unsweetened corn flakes.

i’m biased and didn’t care for most of the tweaks they made to the songs individually BUT i think they blended with each other more cohesively than they do in the stage production so that was cool. and i am able to understand why they made them more pop-esque than theatre-y it’s just not my personal vibe

it all felt very emma watson’s beauty and the beast. like. not deserving of much hate but also just not as good. it has its time and place but i still just. the changes they made were too much for me. that being said i am gonna be the #1 viewer whenever it’s released to streaming platforms was not kidding when i said this is a new favorite movie

the whole like. tiktok and iphone camera thing was an interesting??? idea. i really liked it for cautionary tale but the rest. i think it was a better idea than the way they executed it.

i miss do this thing!! i wish they had done like a mashup with it and the stupid with love reprise but i wasn’t mad at the reprise so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

fourth wall break was real cringe!!

thoughts abt cady:

angourie is so cute!!!!!!! she has the perfect look for cady. her costumes were kinda yikes but physically she’s mwah chefs kiss perfection

cady is so viscerally autistic in this version and it is DELIGHTFUL

but again i feel like they took so much from her. in the show she’s this overexcited little bubbly (autistic again but still) thing and she’s naive and then it’s revealed she’s conniving and manipulative and has this serious dark streak in her. in the movie it felt like she was just. awkward and then straight to conniving and manipulative. it was interesting but i miss my little jumping bean i wish they had given her some more spice

this movie has turned me into a cadina shipper of THE HIGHEST ORDER i’m already writing a fic for them and i call diiiiibs nobody else do it i write slow /j

i honestly really liked what ifs. i didn’t enjoy it as much as it roars but i think for the screen and for angourie’s voice it was a better fit. and i think it blended better with the new versions of the songs than it roars would have. not mad at it and the staging of it was really cool

cady being the one with a single parent is so interesting to me!! idk why they did that but i think it’s interesting. makes me wonder what happened to her dad but also go mom!!! women in stem!!!

her relationship with the art freaks was so???? weird??? it seemed like damian was the only one who really wanted all of them to be friends. i love this version of janis and damian together but when they were with cady it was all just so BLAND. it didn’t really feel like she and janis were friends at all which is what’s supposed to make the betrayal sting so much

whatever they were aiming for with someone gets hurt they missed hard bc holy cadina batman that shits gay dude BUT THE STAGING WAS SO COOL with everyone like frozen and then they all kick back in all crazy with the music it was great

janis thoughts:

THEY FUCKING RUINED HEEEEEEEER

AULI’I WAS SO PERFECT SHE WAS SO CUTE AND HER OUTFITS ARE SO COOL BUT THEY JUST TOOK AWAY ALL OF HER PERSONALITY

janis is supposed to be spunky and angry and hurt and vengeful and quirky and out there and firey and she’s meant to HAVE GRIT GOTDANGIT but again she just felt so whitewashed. like here’s a vaguely leftist lesbian in ripped jeans and cool eyeshadow that’s janis right?? LIKE NO IT IS NOT

i’d rather be me, while it had a little less vocal oomph behind it than the stage show, was as transcendent as i hoped for and i got chills multiple times. also the comedic timing of the bus was immaculate and the sound it made made me cackle

i can’t tell how i feel about the new middle school incident. i think it takes so much of the pain out of it for janis which is meant to be her main motivator. she was not supposed to be KICKED OUT she was PULLED OUT but i do kind of like that they clearly made it where regina kissed a girl and liked it and freaked out and that was the catalyst for everything

i do not ship this version of cadnis and that to me is unforgivable. they have sooo little chemistry as friends let alone lovers i just can’t stand it. janis doesn’t ever even seem like she wants cady around. it seems so much like they took away what makes janis janis just to turn her into another catalyst for regina and cady’s stories

apex predator was fun!! i honestly like it being janis and damian singing it better than janis and cady i think it works better as a warning and stuff! and also the band in the tree made me laugh so hard. i’m glad cady had them as her tour guides but again that’s all it felt like they were to each other and i miss them being a little posse

REVENGE PARTYYYYYYUH. i thought the staging was really fucking weird?? like all the pastels and shit didn’t really fit i would’ve much preferred it to start like that and then have blood dripping down the walls or something when they’re talking ABOUT PEOPLES HEADS ON SPIKES. but musically it was my favorite of everything!! i’m so happy they put the original verse back i almost screamed out loud in the theater when i heard it!!!!!

i never thought i would say this but i wish they had not canonically made her a lesbian. i will never forgive tina fey for having her end up with that random girl. no shade to the girl, she’s gorgeous and i’m glad we got some on screen, good, healthy queer rep. but in my eyes that is absolutely just a cop out because they know people wanted her to end up with cady or regina. they’re spitting on us and saying “here have your fucking lesbian and enjoy it this is what you get” and expect us to be happy with it. i get so angry every time i think about it and it honestly kind of ruined the whole thing for me. i would rather she have ended up with kevin g again. or like. honestly damian romantically would’ve made more sense in a twisted fucked up way. i just absolutely hate how they handled that.

damian thoughts:

HE! WAS! PERFECT! i am a grey henson stan first and a human being second but by golly he might be my new favorite. comedic timing on point and the fact we barely get to hear him sing is a FELONY. he was delightful and i love him also we love black queer rep!!! fuck yeah!!!! his bit with the fan before id rather be me. sent me into the dang stratosphere i love him so much

ALSO HIS DATE AT RHE END WE LOVE THESTRE BOYYYYY!!! ugh so cute i love

regina thoughts:

HOW DID THEY MAKE HER SUCH A COWARD???? HOW DO YOU TAKE A CHARACTER WITH SO MUCH POWER AND FUCK HER UP THIS BAD???

again everything that’s a core tenet of her personality was removed. i wasn’t afraid of her which is a CRIME bc renee on broadway’s regina was TERRIFYING. she just felt like one of those girls that every hs has like 7 of. they’re a dime a dozen, they’re rich and hot shit and they know it but you don’t care what they do because you know they’ll be divorced and broke and probably fat at your 10 year reunion. it’s giving peaked in high school and not queen bee which is really sad honestly

it made cady seem so much more evil tho?? like regina seemed. hurt. and cady was still so gung ho about taking her down. and it made janis seem much more manipulative too. i don’t care for either of those things

her costumes were so weird??? half that shit regina would not touch with a ten foot pole but it’s renee and she would and she’s hot so i do not care. also this isn’t a criticism but her halloween costume was giving gargoyle more than angel lol

plastics thoughts:

gretchen again felt really reductive. she was all anxiety. not that gretchen isn’t that onstage but it just felt like that was her entire personality. but bebe was adorable and i loved what’s wrong with me she did a great job

avantika was DELIGHTFUL. i loved her so much more than i was expecting to she was the only one where i never had a moment like “i am watching people acting in a movie they are repeating written lines” it felt much more like fluid with her. 10/10 beautifully done to her

aaron thoughts:

HOW DID THEY MAKE HIM MORE BORING????? MY GOD

he was already the most redundant character in the whole goddamn thing and they somehow made him even more useless. he could’ve been removed from the movie entirely and it would’ve changed NOTHING. he is white bread if he was a spice he’d be flour. didn’t think it was possible to make him more that but by golly they did it

HOW DID HE AND CADY END UP TOGETHER HE HAS THE CHEMISTRY OF A BRICK WALL. she has so much more romantic fire and chemistry with regina this is some of the most comphet shit i’ve ever seen. it’s giving wicked levels of comphet like gooooddamn.

misc. thoughts:

THAT LINDSAY LOHAN CAMEO HAD ME OUTBOF MY SEAT I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING BUT IT WAS AMAZING also that “i don’t know your life” was mwah

MS NORBURY SND MR DUVALLLL WERE SO CUUUUUTE i squealed ngl i love them

overall like 7/10 good movie i’m angry about a whole bunch but this is also amazing i’m so glad we got this new content and i am definitely hyperfixating on it now. so not that different from my stage show opinions lol

#ik this sounds like i’m shitting on it a lot but i promise i’m not #i absolutely loved it #i’m glad this amazing show is more accessible to people now #would absolutely recommend seeing it #i just have a lot of feelings #i feel like a parent #disappointed but not surprised and at the end of the day still absolutely in love #thus concludes opinion hour with ezzy #which actually took me almost exactly an hour to write #hope you enjoyed see you next time lol #entropy with ezzy #mean girls #mean girls musical #mean girls 2024 #caps tw #swear tw

[etherealising]

I didn’t get a chance to read AIEKOY last night so I caught up this morning when I woke up. I was laying there CRYING! I’m glad it’s out now though and they can grieve together and we’ll see where life takes them now.

Thank you, bestie!!! 💜💜💜 I can’t wait for more. I hope you’re doing well and I am sending you all the good vibes! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

wowza what a way to start your morning…you’re strong for that one, like how did you get out of bed after consuming the devastation that is chapter ten??? same its been a long time coming and now that everything is out in the open between them they can finally grieve together and ugh they deserve so much more than i’ve given them. but we sure shall see where life takes my two sad losers.

thank you for reading bestie!!! 💜 i genuinely cannot wait to publish more i’ve felt so inspired lately. i’m doing good (don’t wanna jinx it lol) i hope you’re doing well and i’m receiving your good vibes and sending just as many back, i’m here if you ever need anything!!! 🫶🏽

also so random i noticed you have an angel reyes fic which i want to start but i’ve never actually watched soa so i’m not sure how that’ll workout 😅. give it to me straight though bestie is season 5 of mayans worth it cause s4 pissed me off biiiig tiiiime! also a miguel galindo fic has been heavy on my mind so….🫣

#not you choosing pain and suffering first thing in the morning #i salute you for that bestie #i’m so excited to explore more with these two you don’t understand! #i love them your honor! #all i ever knew only you ₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊ #[aiekoy] asks #vee answers °•. ✿ .•°

[variousqueerthings]

Oh, I love puppets! / I'm just passing through, like fish in the night

It's The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived tiiiime, and this is one of the big recurring thematic episode holders of the season, and possibly... possibly I should watch them again at some point, when I'm not over-inundated with what in hindsight was a bit of a bonkers schedule of getting through M*ffat-era in a relatively short space of time, because I think some of it lost me a bit. not the plot, just a couple of Things here and there, which actually goes back to the first couple of episodes, where they were mentioning a Hybrid, but I'm like. wait did I miss something? was this Hybrid relevant or did it just Appear as another legendy type thing? why is it being mentioned like everyone knows what it is out of the blue?

this not because I remember the Hybrid being mentioned in these episodes, but because "Me" mentioned them in the finale episode and I was like... wait, hold on a second, I missed all this build-up, does it tie back into these episodes... I cannot tell you, I honestly can't, I cannot remember, I didn't note when the Hybrid was mentioned. but I will rate what I do remember!

sexism rank objectification (female character is ogled/harassed/turned into a sex joke by the doctor and/or a lead we’re supposed to root for and/or the camera): 10/10

sexism rank plot-point (lead female character is only there to serve plot, not to have her emotional interiority explored, or given agency to her emotional interiority): 3/10

interesting complex or pointlessly complex (does the complexity serve the narrative or does it just serve to be confusing as a stand-in for smart, this includes visually): 7/10

furthers character and/or lore and/or plot development (broader question that ties into the previous ones, at least two of these, ideally three should be fulfilled): 5/10

companion matters (the companion doesn’t always have to be there, but if the companion is there, can they function without the doctor– and overall per season how often is the companion the focus or POV of the story): 3/10

the doctor is more than just “godlike” (examines the doctor’s flaws and limitations, doesn’t solve a plot by having it revolve entirely around the doctor’s existence): 8/10

doesn’t look down on previous doctor who (by erasing or mocking its importance, by redoing and “bettering” previous beloved plotpoints or characters, etc.): 7/10

isn’t trying to insert hamfisted sexiness (m*ffat famously talked a lot about how dw should be sexier multiple times, he sucks at writing it): 10/10

internal world has consistency (characters have backgrounds, feel rooted in a place with other people, generally feel like they have Lives): 8/10

Politics (how conservative is the story): 6/10

FULL RATING: 67/100 (if I can count….)

this season is so far pretty consistently in the high 60s. it's a good season, but a few things are definitely starting to look like A Pattern (this is why it's great to have a System, I can be like "it's not just vibes, see I have a System, and if people tell me the System is highly subjective, I can knock over a water deliberately and run away in the confusion)

OBJECTIFICATION: as far as I can remember there's nothing here on that front. we've been cured at this point, I tellya

PLOT-POINT: Clara isn't really going through an emotional journey in the first episode (the Doctor sure is though boy oh boy) and straight up isn't in the second one, unfortunately. we'll get to that.

COMPLEXITY: okay so on the surface, these are quite simple, chill plots, I enjoy them both. the snag is... what the fuck just happened with Me??? immortal Me???? really immortal Me???? I wrote way more about that in the point below, but yeah I think they should have made her... less immortal. durable perhaps. long-lived. but ooh that was... that was very very immortal huh

CHARACTERS/LORE/PLOT: one thing I've noticed, that I dunno which point to put on and so has ended up here (but maybe it should have been on the "plot point" point, is that several times throughout this season we've smash-cut to "Clara is in danger in some way/close to death and then the Doctor gets her out of the situation"

I note this because I feel like it's there as a recurring joke, but also it comes up in "Face The Raven" that Clara seems to be enjoying herself too much with these life-and-death situations, but... I don't think it's clear enough. Idk if I'm being pedantic or not, I really really don't, but I'm not a fan of these "insights" into their adventures being uniformly about danger as a Joke

couple of times, sure, but... do you ever go somewhere just for the joy of the experience? why no snapshots into fun/beautiful/joyous experiences? like back in Rings Of Akhaten, it felt like yes there was danger because of circumstance, but the point of the journey was to experience, in fact the thing that tends to keep companions coming back is "anything could happen next that is wondrous, despite the danger (although the danger could become intoxicating, this isn't the goal from the outset, and how companions interact with that danger when it appears in balance with the joyous experiences gives a lot of the tension of their individual stories)."

this is a thing that happens at the beginning of this episode and is irrelevant to the rest of it. Clara's relationship with danger beyond "she weirdly doesn't care much" isn't as explored as I'd want it to be. genuinely why do we never see them setting out to have a good time? what do these scenes tell us about their dynamic, and are they telling us this On Purpose, or am I reading too much into them?

I'm jaded I tell you, jaded!!!! I never know when M*ffat is doing something because of "fun setpiece opening" or when it genuinely Means something. Fuckit I'll read into it: Clara has a weird fucking relationship with danger, because she seems to have been casually on the verge of death several times and brushed it off in a super chill way within the same episode! there we go, read into it

the other way to read into it is Clara has a weird fucking relationship with danger, because the Doctor's influence has made her believe she is literally invincible and nothing really bad can happen -- this despite her boyfriend yeeting himself into the atmosphere after becoming a cyberman

anyway, there is actually some real ongoing Plot stuff in this lol, I went off on a tangent to begin with because of that being the beginning: this plot is not... really related to Clara. it semi-is because of the end of the season, but I do think it's weird that this double-episode about Me -- who will later travel with Clara -- doesn't really cement a bond between Clara and Me. like yeah, they get on in the first episode, but in the second episode where we meet Me properly -- the Me we'll know moving forwards -- Clara just isn't there. I genuinely don't get it, because I've said that there are episodes where it feels like Clara is redundant from a thematic and lore/plot-building perspective, but this episode which sets up Me, doesn't also set up little threads that could make us look back end-s9 and say "ah yeah, I can imagine what kind of co-travellers these two might become"

but back to Me. IIIIIIIIIIIIII have questions. I actually think this is way bigger for some reason than a lot of more commonly discussed lore-building. like, sure, Time War, granted I was 10 or so so maybe that's just in my read of the story as indelible, but then bringing Gallifrey back, yeah, makes sense, it's a show that goes on forever, Timeless Child, yeah why not, [spoilers for the last special in case you haven't seen it] doesn't change much, but the Doctor just... made someone immortal? Immortal immortal???? meet them again end of the Universe immortal??? just travelling around in another Tardis immortal???????? you can just do that?????? why does this shock me so much, idk. maybe it's because with the Doctor you can really fuck with stuff, they're already an alien who can change their face, I get you wanna shake that up sometimes

this just casually happened midway through a season and is -- as far as I can remember -- irrelevant outside of this season of the show. it's sooooooooooo. can we talk about how this works please??? what. what was that for??? so many questions about Me-as-concept, but I guess she's just... out there. still potentially immortal?? she's gotta be more immortal than the Doctor is, how can she be totally unharmed after whatever the fuck trillions? trillion tillions??? of years???? okay stop thinking about this now, brain broken

fuckn Jack was made immortal by the time vortex itself and is less immortal than she is, okay I'm over it now. so many questions

COMPANIONS MATTER: Clara kind of does in the first one, in that she's the point of contact with Ashildr. but then she's literally not in the second one at all. I wonder if JLC had a commitment, it feels like a commitment thing. RIP because that was genuinely an episode I think Clara should have been in

“GODLIKE” DOCTOR: this is a turning point for the doctor, and I do note it's happened roughly halfway through his run, in which he basically realises that he has to save this girl, because this face -- in turn -- was saved back in Fires Of Pompeii. truthfully I don't think anyone questioned Capaldi looking exactly like... well, Capaldi, but fuckit, it's Doctor Who, fuck around a bit + it's for good and not evil! (+ hi ten hi donna!!!)

the point is that the Doctor's been having a bit of an identity crisis ever since this face arrived, and spent all of s8 running around seemingly just dissociating from themself and everyone else in the Universe, and s9 they've sorta been going. oh hey people. I don't want to be an asshole anymore. I got flashcards! (I wish actually the flashcards had been there from s8, I think they would have made s8 Doctor much more fun to engage with for me)

these episodes really feel like the episodes to fully nail that, although s9 has been going in that direction from the start. can I trace it back to anything particular in s8, yeah, I guess, it's sort of thereee in certain interactions, especially in the last few episodes. truth be told, now I'm a little away from s8, it's like I can't quite remember just how pissed off and distant he was all the time, I've just got to trust my notes saying he was (this is why we take notes kids -- the kids are me, I did not take notes for s9 so now there is a very limited amount of time I have to write these reviews before it stops existing for me)

I think this works. I have... questions... about the "can't travel with another immortal" bit which I'm putting here, because while I like the Doctor finally voicing their thoughts on some of the internal stuff that's been going on (which, notably isn't to Clara, but then again the Doctor often doesn't tell their emotions to companions, because they must be Spared, get some therapy king, and apologise to Martha Jones someday) -- while I like the Doctor and Me having that conversation about "the mayflies" (which I'm also into as descriptor), I feel like it's a bit of a cop out, similar to back when River Song was like "naahhh can't travel with you because scheduling issues uh Real Plot Reasons I swear" and just like then, I feel like they wrote their way into a corner with this one

I think personally Me should have flat out refused the Doctor. Or have it be like with Jack Harkness -- You Feel Wrong To Me, because Me is frankly a nightmare creature according to season 9, and by this I mean not in personality (remarkably chill considering linear immortality spent Alone until the end of the Universe???) but simply wait what you can just make people immortal like that??? Doctor Who Explain!

I think the Doctor should have been wahaaaay more disturbed having created a fuckn Creature, not just because she may do immoral things because she forgets what it's like to be mortal, but because it's some fuckn Horror Shit that's going on here. I mean, it's there and I'll read more into it, but it's so. "oh yeah, this is a thing I can do, and I chose to do" and not "wait was this a really really really fucked up thing to do??? am I the bad guy???????????? do I remember life and death as concepts???????????????????????????" this is noooot Fires of Pompeii where they handy-dandy yoink out some people so they don't burn to death, this is bringing someone back from the dead and MAKING THEM IMMORTAL. this is more Time Lord Victorious than Just Save Someone

I can tell this will be in my head for awhile....

PREVIOUS DOCTOR WHO: looots of fun references in these episodes, generally just a good time. the only thing is... immortal Me. is. so. immortal. the most immortal. I spit on your other immortals. how did you immortal so hard?? harder than any other immortal character??? did it have to be so, for writing reasons???? (you can probably tell at this point I will be returning to this concept in the finale review!)

“SEXINESS”: I... genuinely do not remember. I don't think there's anything weird here. I should've taken notes, but past me was having a time.

INTERNAL WORLD: there's two worlds here and both are actually fine. I feel like we're not just in these times as set dressing (like I often felt with the paternoster gang and the victorians). the Vikings are a coherent village and I care about them (maybe not totally historically accurate but that's not the point with this, it's the feeling that they belong in the world set up for them) and the 1600s part 2 was given enough to feel lived in. I think it especially helped in both cases that we were seeing people around the leads who felt real -- that's what has often been missing in the past of this era, that it's not just the Super Impressive Immortals And Aliens And Important People but that people exist in these kinds of stories (and they're all important)

POLITICS: this was super unintentional and I'm mostly having a laugh but...

Lady Me: My chosen name is "Me." The Doctor: No it's not [deadnames her].

Doctor Stooop you literally chose your own name in canon!!!

generally, okay, I'm being a meanie here in over-analysing, but I do wish what is very similar to an orlando-type storyline were more queer. orlando is like. my jam. and this character is basically orlando. and she crossdresses. but a queer writer would have been soooo much juicier with this narrative. it's especially noticeable as we've got a couple of literal gender-crossings with Time Lords, but I do think the show is still in its... not infancy but let's say toddler-era when it comes to queer intersectional feminist vibes. it's basically still doing the "girls rule, boys drool" type thing

FULL RATING: 67/100 (if I can count….)

I CANNOT STRESS HOW PERTURBED I AM BY CASUAL HALFWAY THROUGH A SEASON IMMORTAL CHARACTER CREATION. fuckn. who knows when I'll have finished rolling that around in my head

they're good episodes, this is a good season, but. and I write this having recently finished said season. the things it's setting up will not be paid off for me, which is a shame. I enjoy this season, but I enjoy it more for its parts than its whole. I like a lot of the ideas it's putting out that will end up coming back in the last episode. but it's. the way it casually does things and asks me to go along with them, when I'm going, "no nonono wait, I have questions about this one, you can't throw away the rule book entirely," and just adds plot and emotional beats without build-up to those beats. I like those beats, but why didn't you build to them??? (this was a problem in the first double-episode, it's a problem in this double-episode, and I know it'll be a problem in the last three episodes, post Sleep No More)

mayflies though. I do like the mayflies

#im watching nu!who #im watching capaldi who #episode the girl who died #episode the woman who lived #the measurement #oooh i started this write-up at 10 and it is now 1am.. go tf to sleep

[celestialmango]

1) Stomach hotel review, Cruel king Glitch: 2/10: While belly is warm and soft, there was no attempt to reassure reader who was trapped in a stomach full of digesting food after forcefully eaten. Host liked to scratch/ carve their legs with claws and also make reader rub his stomach while digesting other staff alive. However, host did show affection in his own way and didn't like reader being slighted by said staff. Rating will go up if shown improvements, such as more care for guests,

2) eating food while guests are in his stomach with permission or possibly with drinks instead as a few suggestions. Would be willing to come back and see improvements sometime in the future potentially; though would need to survive the experience for the rating to go up (sorry Glitch, I'd be happy for you nom me in most stories, but I have a high feeling this version of you would be a high death chance; however, I am willing for noms with you and a lot of your aus and even a few games :D) ~Shy

👑👾💧: *he chuckles as he leans over to look you in the eyes* I'm impressed you didn't lie lie lie to meee...but there are two two two things not taken into accoooount, the carving was necessary for for for a protection from aciiiiids speeeeell.

I had to eat eat eat while my little bird was in my stomach so I wouldn't make make make my owwwwn hosts suspicious when it came to where where where they disappeared tooooo.

*he stands up straight and starts to circle you* I didn't have the time time time to wait for my meal to digest before swallowing them or the tiiiime to reassure them, so many things to do that day and so little little little time to do them.~

It would have been veeeeeery different if the council had been held at my my my castle, I still would have kept kept kept then but Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii would have had time time time to explaaaaain but the question is why would I? My prey struggling like thier life depends on it is such a good good good feeling.

*he stops his back turned to you* but perhaaaaaps you would be willing willing willing to teach me something different? I might might might be an eviiiiil kiiiiing but I am a sorcerer of my woooooooord and so....

*he turns around, grabs one of your hands while he bends over in a low bow and kisses the back of it* I shall swear swear swear not to cause you harm by digeeeeesting you if you allow me me me to make a better impresssssion on you as a predator.

It issss unfortunate but I would need to place place place that same spell that protected my little bird on you which would mean mean mean I would have to scraaaatch your skin up juuuuust a bit, but I did did did not have access to any nummmmmbing agents in that weakling weakling weakling's castle so if done here here here....

Then such a ritual would be paaiiiinlesss. Unlike my little bird you would note be stayiiiiing forever so there would be no need need need to scar the spell into your fleeeeesssh.

#👾💧answers

[multiverse-in-archive]

Headcanon tiiiime

((So I’ve noticed a question going around about why Chell went back to Aperture after the Bring Your Daughter to Work Day incident. Which is a valid question.

Until you suppose that Chell might not have ever left.

Which would make more sense with not only her behavior, but why Aperture kept her even despite her being rejected for testing.

So here I’m going to talk about those and speculate  her over all experience and relationship with Aperture and all that reside there.

So first thing’s first; what we see of her file points to Chell not wanting to be there and her fighting against it.

This doesn’t look like someone that willingly signed up for this, but was forced to. Which would be odd for her to willfully go to Aperture, only for her to be difficult with the questioning or having to be forced to. 

Not to mention, if she just signed up for this voluntarily, but she was rejected for testing, you’d think they’d just let her go to avoid legal shit. If it was just a normal job interview that she wasn’t suited for, probably isn’t a good idea to kidnap her and risk her possible loved ones from calling the authorities. But the fact that they kept her despite not having any apparent use for her seems to imply that it’s in their best interest to keep her in the facility rather than simply turn her loose. Almost as if they were afraid she'd snitch or something.

And while Aperture seems to show no qualms of taking in either desperate people with nothing left or otherwise aren’t in a state of mind to make rational decisions, (Or just straight up kidnap them, if the Long Term Relaxation Chambers are of any indication of it) adult Chell doesn’t seem to fall into any of those categories.

GLaDOS makes no mention of Chell being homeless prior to the events of the game, if it’s believed that Chell came back as an adult, then she wouldn’t fully fall under b., there’s no canon evidence to Chell having any severe mental or personality disorders, and Chell is by no means old.

However, Chell having been there since Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, she would have absolutely fell under the b. category. And really, a bunch of kids that have suddenly been orphaned in their facility? That would have been an opertunity that fell right into their lap. A sort of ‘when life gives you lemons’ scenario. 

And it would make more sense for Chell to be uncooperative if that was the case, right? How insensitive is it to not only keep her here, clearly against her will, purely for future testing, but to treat her like garbage for the family she’d just lost. She’s probably pissed.

Plus, GLaDOS makes a slight jab at Chell in the first game about the incident when she was passing herself off as an automated voice.

Now, I’ve seen one argument against the notion that she’d been in Apterture since childhood, and that’s the picture in her file. It’s not a child picture, it’s an adult picture, so surely it’s reasonable to assume that she came back as an adult for whatever reason.

Personally I find that to be a weak argument. It’s likely that they simply updated her picture to keep the file up to date. Guaranteed, if you’ve been an adult for a few years, or even been given a minor ID when you were younger, you’ve had to update your ID. And part of the reason why is to keep your picture more up to date with your present self.

As for Chell’s relationships and experience with Aperture... Probably not positive... At all...

As seen in the above evidence, protocol for dealing with a child orphan is to use shame based psychology, scorn, backhanded compliments, and obvious contempt for better testing results. AKA fuckin’ emotional abuse.

Also, the file is indication that Chell is not entirely cooperative with them, and that seems to have left some rather bitter thoughts about her. Now, we can argue that GLaDOS either made up what she’s read in the files or exaggerated them, especially in the second game. But if this is anything to go by, then it’s not really out of the question for staff members to have written some really negative shit out of resentment for someone that keeps making things difficult for them.

Hell in the first game, Chell wakes up in the Relaxation Vault, which makes the Extended Relaxation Chamber in the second game seem luxurious. It’s literally just a little glass box with only a toilet and bed and allows no privacy whatsoever.

That thing is a fucking prison. GLaDOS even calls it detention when greeting you when you start the game, implying that Chell was being punished for something before the events of the first game. Probably for trying to escape or being a general pain.

So the scientists’ relationship with her was probably similar to GLaDOS’s in the first game and the first half of the second game. Probably minus the murderous intent.

There’s also some signs that Chell had went through some physical trauma even before Portal. Despite being denied for testing. 

If you look closely, not only did she have grey hairs in the first game that indicate stress and/or exhaustion, but there are little splits in her earlobes, implying that she used to have ear piercings before they were somehow torn out.

This leads me to believe that Chell was probably being groomed for future testing. Which would make sense, because it’s probably not very effective to send a child or someone with a child like understanding of things and strength into tests that require both a lot of thought and a lot of physical exertion  to solve.

TLDR; Chell has been stuck in Aperture Science since she was young and it was not fun.

Anyways, hope this makes sense, and as usual, feel free to give me feedback of any sort. Thanks for reading. ^^))

#Outta this World {OOC} #Learn a bit more About Them {Headcanon} #Our Very Own {IC: Chell} #Please Beware {Content Warning} #Dehumanization CW #Abuse CW #Emotional Abuse CW #let me know if I need to tag anything else-

[scarlettlawyer]

Part 12 of my reaction/commentary to the Phantoms & Mirages Saga, the fanfic series by @renegadewangs​

(Chasing Phantoms): Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

(Haunted Specters): Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

(Vanquishing Mirages): Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9

Vanquishing Mirages / Lifting Spirits: Part 10

Lifting Spirits: Part 11

We are rapidly hurtling towards the end. Or… the “end”.

--------

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 12

A single line into this chapter and it had already one-hit-killed me (IN A GOOD WAY). What.

Ohhh my weakness, my weakness…!

THIS SONG?? HIM? THIS SONG???

I have such happy and important memories attached to this song, it’s not just a case of “oh it’s upbeat and I like it” for me, it goes pretty deep. I’m BARELY into reading this chapter and was already put into an unbelievably good mood on the power of the song alone and the memories I have attached to it, let alone everything else about the fact that he is the one who is listeni – ohhhhh going straight for my weaknesses aren’t we.

I’ve gone over being so very happy that he has the ability to listen to music and enjoy it before but you went right ahead and, this was a whole other level, suddenly.

He can pick up & enjoy the happy vibes of this song, aaaah…!

He is listening to Wham! on repeat and no matter what you do, no takebacks, I’m cherishing this for FOREVER. XD

IT’S SO GREAT AND SO AMUSING BECAUSE IT’S H

“You take the grey skies out of my way! You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day! Turned a bright spark into a flame-”

He was going to die. He knew he was going to die.

Honestly GREAT work here with the mood contrast, but I was too busy being blown away/happy and amused by the song situation and shocked that the narrative just did this xDDD like I picked up on this mood whiplash and was like “um whoa” but it kinda passed like a blip when it came to my absorption of this scene/overall mood ahahaha.

Truly though, what excellent contrast going on here simultaneously wherein the reader is drawn into reading of these two threads of such different emotional resonance at the same tiiiime.

And it’s scenes like this where he’s doing stuff like, you know, just sitting and listening to music and the PORTRAYAL and I’m just sitting here like oh my g… s-stop encouraging me… please stop encouraging me… “I’M BAD ENOUGH AS IT IS WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A PHANTOM FAN I REALLY SHOULDN’T BE ENCOURAGED LIKE THIS..!” sdkjnsdnklsd …The rest of this chapter refuses to stop said encouraging. :P

”If, through some miracle, they’ll grant me leniency, I think I’ll spend the rest of my life tucked away in some quiet little corner. That’s the best way for me to stay out of trouble, isn’t it?”

But the image this gave me was so absurd it refused to stick and just bounced right off. That’s just – no, nah, that’s not how this works, you know? There is no good ending. That’s impossible. It’s execution or prison and that’s that. And I was still advocating for execution. Welp. This statement took me off guard and there was this moment of… A sense of… Something. Before I dismissed it. Before it got lost again amidst the other things as I read on.

“One might argue that trouble has a way of hunting some people down.”

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 13

Phoenix Wright would be taking the defense again, as it was just as the Luster trial;

“wait wait wait WHAT – PHOENIX WRIGHT IS DEFENDING? PHOENIX WRIGHT?”

This info is just CASUALLY dropped in this “oh yknow just like with the Luster trial” manner - NO??? THE LUSTER TRIAL WAS A PURE PLOY TO CAPTURE MIRAGE AND THE PHANTOM BEING THE DEFENDANT WAS JUST, BAIT. AND HE WAS ACTUALLY INNOCENT OF THAT SPECIFIC CRIME IN QUESTION AND THE VERDICT ULTIMATELY HADN’T MATTERED ANYWAY AND? IT WAS ALREADY KINDA WILD TO SEE PHOENIX ACTUALLY BEING THE PHANTOM’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY EVEN BACK THEN AND AND AND…!

It’s NOT like the Luster trial it’s VERY different.

Phoenix Wright taking on the defense of Alexander Luster Jr’s case IMMEDIATELY implies a couple of things. Since Phoenix Wright is the posterboy of the entire Ace Attorney franchise, and he has won ALMOST every case he has taken and in each and every one of those scenarios where he won the case, he has indisputably been on the side of good and the side of right and- and he, as a rule, always tends to side with what is right and what is just. He is always ALWAYS striving to be on the side of justice. AND HE IS NOW ALEXANDER LUSTER JR’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY…

The dynamic of the games alone, the Ace Attorney Specific Tropes™ instantly then marks whoever’s side Phoenix is on tends to be a) The Right, Good Side & b) The Winning Side, applying both to the defense of Lex here. That’s what this tells us. That’s what it tells me. Told me. The narrative is directly reaching over and saying “Phoenix is advocating for him, and therefore this is the team you SHOULD be on. This is the team you should be cheering for”. And given Phoenix’s track record, the chances of him losing this are very, very slim.

And I was kind of sitting there like “Hello??? Excuse me?”. The narrative seemed to almost have this… assumption that we should be… Automatically accepting of this. That somehow, we should uncritically want Phoenix to win this trial and for Lex to win his lenience. By bringing Phoenix into this that’s kinda what it appears to definitively tilt the direction in. And I, with a years-old grudge against a character in an ENTIRELY different story written by an entirely different person*, and had been stubborn & adamant from the very beginning that the phantom NEEDED to face execution at any cost when the notion of rehabilitation was raised, was NOT buying it. I was not buying this. The narrative felt like it was making an assumption about the audience’s predisposition – about the audience’s wishes - that still did not apply to me.

*TttP is, for the record, not the only reason I felt the way I did at this point in the narrative. I’ll get into some of the other things fuelling my feelings on the matter a little later. But heh, yeaahhhhh.

Because like, you have characters like Bobby and Athena who are already fully established Lex-supporters, which is totally fine, but Phoenix has barely been in this and we’ve had no scenes at all with him interacting with Lex – there’s been no set-up of “Phoenix wants to advocate for Lex” – we are simply informed of this matter-of-factly, which implies “of COURSE Phoenix would take on Lex’s defense, it’s so OBVIOUS that it’s the right thing to do.” And I was like “oh so we’re doing away with subtlety somewhat on this front regarding the narrative’s agenda?” sdjsdbks. (I MEAN. LEX’S PORTRAYAL AND HOW WE’RE MEANT TO FEEL ABOUT LEX IS NOT SUBTLE AND I ADORE(D) THIS FIC FOR IT, but this was still different – a different angle as it is beginning to tackle the notion of rehabilitation/redemption/leniency head-on. The former was all fun and games but the moment the latter got raised I was immediately in a battle stance).

[Me, pulling up my sleeves: “oh so this is how you wanna play this huh. Bringing in the Big Guns with Phoenix being on his side- you talk a big game but see, not sure if you’re gonna be able to back this up buddy. Biting off more than we can chew, it looks to me.”]

Okay and the other reaction I had to this casual mention of “oh btw Phoenix is gonna be defending Lex”? IT WAS REALLY FUNNY BECAUSE IT WAS THIS SUDDEN JARRING MOMENT WHERE IT WAS LIKE OH, THIS IS ACE ATTORNEY FANFICTION. Okay I want to make this clear – I never at any point “forgot” this was Ace Attorney fanfic, of course. But like. This whole 4th fic so far has been focusing on Lex – now so far removed from the counterpart we see in canon, and Benny, an OC altogether, has also been so prominent and under focus. You of course, still have characters like Bobby and Simon but, see, at this point, this is the fourth instalment of the series, and we’ve been with these characters for so long now. We’ve been spending so much time with them that – these characters – the canon characters that were getting all the focus at this point were just about all VERY removed from the centre of the ace attorney series. It feels so very, very tucked away in this – such a niche little corner of the ace attorney universe with some very specific characters interacting and driving the plot forward, and having spent so much time with them independent of the rest of the ace attorney cast it’s really felt like they’ve well and truly taken on a life of their own that’s attached to this series specifically. Reading so much about “OC”s like Benny and Lex (because in AA canon there is no “Lex”!) and everything and then all of a sudden casually throwing the central character of all of the mainline ace attorney games casually back into the plot like this felt jarring in the best possible way. It was just like “oh, RIGHT. Phoenix. He actually EXISTS in this world. He’s still around, I mean, obviously. This is Ace Attorney Land. Oh my god. In spite of everything – in how much EVERYTHING has evolved and separated itself from and focused on this one tiny little realm of ace attorney characters and canon… he’s still around and can actually get involved in the plot like this. That’s so wild.” LIKE. I MEAN. It well and truly felt like Phoenix Wright was from A Different Universe, so independent and separate from a world where Lex, Benny, Alive & Post-Randy Bobby, and even Blackquill (after how much this fic has focused on him and a specific interpretation of his character) exist. Honestly to even think that Phoenix Wright and Alexander Luster Jr actually exist in the same canon fic verse… whoa.

“The fate of execution does not necessarily mean perfection. If leniency is deserved, leniency is what the prosecution is meant to support,” Simon found himself arguing despite his better judgment.

Me: “SIMONNNNN NOT YOU TOOOOO”

Me at this, on top of the whole Phoenix Wright Defending thing: [resigned, frustrated sigh] “You’re not gonna kill him, are you, Author? You’re not gonna go through with it and kill him off, are you?? I told you like two fics ago to KILL HIM.”

I was a) a phantom fangirl & had been for years (of course) b) “Lex is great how can you not love Lex?” c) Uh… still actively advocating for his execution d) NOT pleased that it looked like said execution was not gonna be followed through on by the narrative.

Okay, but this line from Simon was also frustrating for another reason: it engages with real-life morality, just as Benny’s assessment that Lex being “taken out back and shot” is not something that he feels is “the right thing to do” does.

I was sitting in an ever-so-simplistic corner and not critically engaging with how the ace attorney universe’s punishment system actually functions. The death sentence, as we all know, is so very prominent in this universe. If you kill someone, you die, them’s the breaks it seems. That’s the universe’s rule so that’s the rule we go with, right? Only taking this universe’s criminal justice & punishment system & morality into account, it was So Very Easy for me to sit there and fiercely be all, “the Phantom killed people, and even if he can feel things now, that won’t bring those people back, therefore he gets executed because THAT is justice according to the laws of this universe and justice won’t be served until that’s carried out.” This simplistic stance bypasses entirely any questioning or attempt to consider the actual “justice” of such a system, and flatly refuses to even question the ethics of capital punishment – a topic that can be so very controversial IRL.

It was frustrating to me personally because the narrative seemed to be bringing real life morality into this. In real life, so very many places have abolished capital punishment altogether. It’s a lot harder to flatly argue that Lex should be executed when considering that, realistically speaking, rehabilitation is the far more desirable option and if at all possible should probably be strived for in real world scenarios.

I was arguing for execution on the basis of Ace Attorney Morality and the narrative was retaliating with a taste of Real World Morality which gave me pause. I was so steadfast and convinced of my stance that to have it momentarily shaken like this was exasperating, because “no see, I know I’m right, see, I have to be right, because the alternative is just too far out of reach. It’s too absurd, it’s a pipedream… The phantom was just that sucky that even applying IRL morality… I must be right… right? Yeah. Anything else is just unrealistic. It can’t be done.” I shook it off, and ploughed onwards with my stance.

Leniency from the court system didn’t mean there would be leniency from those outside the courts. With so many people out for the Phantom’s head, there was no telling how fast any sentence that wasn’t the death penalty would lead to a furious rebellion. There was no telling how fast someone might attempt to hunt down Alexander and finish the job that the executioner was deprived from.

“Whoa, very good point. Okay, so maybe there’s a chance he’ll get executed after all since not getting executed is not necessarily being shown as the “better option” in this regard by the narrative. There’s still hope for an execution yet. A nice, clean execution if the alternative isn’t being portrayed uncritically as the “best” option.”

Simon wondered vaguely if he should apologize for all the times he’d thrown a blade at the defense or sent Taka their way. Ultimately, he decided against it.

Sdkjdskj

The scene with Bobby and Palaeno just before the trial begins… How worried Bobby is and how much he truly cares for Lex… It’s just not a joke anymore. It hasn’t been a joke for quite some time. It’s being played completely straight. There’s just nothing to even really laugh at or be amused by here?

Back in Haunted Specters a lot of Bobby’s behaviour towards/concerns for the phantom can largely be written off as Rule of Funny and also accepted BECAUSE of its intentionally surrealist nature & impression it leaves the audience. I readily accepted it because it slots into the character dynamic(s) role and set-up crafted by the story so perfectly, and it’s so much fun.

I, of course, could see the direction Simon and Bobby’s behaviour was heading towards… Yes, they were getting too attached for their own good, to the point where things would become painful. I knew it was coming and I accepted that and, in fact, I was READY for it.

But Lex.

What I did not foresee was the huge, HUGE transformation that took place. Lex changes everything. It changes the dynamic that is subsequently involved. It negates anything about Bobby’s behaviour being “kinda funny in a misguided way”. The existence of Lex changes it dramatically from “haha funny & surreal behaviour from Bobby” to just plain “Bobby is very invested in this man and very worried for him” and there’s nothing funny about it. We just feel plain bad for Bobby and that’s it. I’ve focused on Bobby pretty exclusively here because he’s the one whose narrative thread we’ve been following the most in this particular regard, but. There are many characters (like Palaeno) who care about Lex, and it’s played straight.

It is a scenario that can very much be pulled off and played straight with the emotionless phantom, but Lex’s whole existence throws an unexpected curveball in HOW the situation is played straight and the subsequent impact had on the audience.

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 14

“Quite a long list of murders, several attempted murders, grand theft identity and all the crimes that accompany such a thing, terrorism, vandalism, assault, perjury in a court of law, selling government secrets… To name only a few.”

“And the defense’s assertion?”

“The defense’s assertion is that every single one of those crimes was committed by the Phantom- WAAGH!” Phoenix broke off into a terrified holler when Von Karma snapped her whip at him.

SDJBDKJSDJK perfect.

Volent smiled, his kindly demeanor at odds with his rather arrogant response. “Instability, Your Honor. The concept is exactly what it implies- the defendant’s emotional state is not stable. To put it in layman’s terms, he suffers from severe mood swings. I couldn’t uncover enough symptoms that would allow a full diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, yet I would daresay that further therapy might’ve confirmed such a thing. … It wasn’t my job to diagnose any sort of disorders either way.”

Whoa WHOAAA SPECULATION OF A REAL-LIFE DIAGNOSIS…!

This was SO good to see. I really REALLY liked – no, LOVED this a lot. It was just like, of course, of COURSE…! It’s not just cartoonish “hehe look at how emotional he is!” THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF CONNECTION THAT COULD BE TRACED TO REAL-LIFE DISORDERS…! I don’t know how to express how cool I found this kind of connecting-it-to-real-life to be and introducing mention of a REAL-LIFE disorder.

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 15

Benny taking his testimony and turning everything around on its head was SO awesome. So very awesome. Only reason I’m not elaborating is that I have so very much to cover in this post…!

Simon’s. Testimony. My god, Simon’s testimony. I KNEW it was coming but ohhhhhh wow…! I’m still in awe, dude.

“Did you hear, mommy? It must be true love!”

OKAY YEAH OKAY THANKS FOR HAVING WACKED ME IN THE FACE WITH THIS LITTLE REMINDER WHEN I WAS STILL LICKING MY PHANTOMQUILL WOUNDS DFKJSDKLSDNS

BUT ALSO I REALLY LOVED THIS LINE LOL CAUSE LIKE? There’s a kid out there in this fic’s universe who canonically ships phantomquill. But it’s more than that it’s like!!! Phantomquill as a ship is definitely grouped in some of the LEAST kid-friendly ships I know. When I think about phantomquill the LAST thing I think about is a kid being aware of it let alone shipping it – it’s such an interesting juxtaposition to have (presumably) a child, given the information they’ve been presented with, immediately go “Oh True Love!” about what is, in standard practice, an unbelievably dark, twisted and angsty ship.

But in any case, it was around this point that I just kind of started thinking to myself “Oh my god… Oh my god… The author is actually gunning for this, she’s ACTUALLY gunning for a full second chance for him, THE ABSOLUTE MADMAN. BUT WHAT’S EVEN CRAZIER IS THAT SHE ACTUALLY APPEARS TO BE PULLING IT OFF.”

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 16

Crack! Franziska cut him off with a quick snap of the whip. “You must pay due respect to Cohdopian court regulations, Your Honor! This trial has an international nature, thus we can apply international rules. The defendant has recently regained his Cohdopian nationality and this method of questioning is a common occurrence in his home country’s court of law.”

This is ABSOLUTELY allowed, I’m not even gonna attempt to dispute it. Rule Of Drama is in full effect here and I LOVE it, it has my full support.

“Now then, witness. My first question,” Franziska leaned forward, resting one arm on her bench. She was watching Athena with a smug grin on her face. “Do you think the image of your mother’s corpse will ever be erased from your mind?”

OHHH MY GOD. I am… here for the brutality of this direct approach. It’s… necessary.

Lex had turned a few shades paler in a matter of ten seconds.

GET READY LEX. GET READY LEX. Strap in buddy. You WILL sit there and you WILL suffer. You are fantastic and amazing and my favourite character but :^) you’re on your own here.

Franziska shook her head in exasperation. “Tsk tsk. Very well then… Witness, is it true that the defendant took you hostage after he escaped from the federal prison in February?”

As we know, Chasing Phantoms felt like a separate entity from the rest of this series to me, and I had been somewhat less engaged while reading it. This just made me go “oh my god… she’s right… that happened in this series too…!” YOU WERE NOT ONLY TRYING TO ULTIMATELY GIVE THIS MAN A SECOND CHANCE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING HE’D DONE IN CANON, BUT HE HAS ACTIVELY DONE EVEN FURTHER TERRIBLE THINGS IN THE CANON OF YOUR STORY ON TOP OF ALL THAT. And you WEREN’T even shying away from acknowledging it either. You were shining a spotlight DIRECTLY on this fact as you ploughed forward against the incredible odds. AMAZING. You ALREADY had your work cut out for you and you had gone ahead and actually ADDED to that workload, you absolute madman, this was wild.

But not only this, you were, here, in this scene, drawing a direct link between Chasing Phantoms and Lifting Spirits, with their two such vastly different narrative landscapes. You are reaching out and reminding the audience - having the audience acknowledge the part of the story when the phantom was at his worst while showing us him, a changed person, at his best.

You’re not even trying to hide or gloss over a damn thing.

I don’t even know what to say about Phoenix’s cross-examination of Athena it’s just so good. So vivid. Like, I can picture it in my mind.

It was Lex who spoke up. It was Lex who pushed himself to his feet, his manacles producing a soft clanking sound as he did so.

Oh my gosh… Here it is…

This whole scene where he says thank you. It’s soooooo sappy but I don’t care, I don’t caaaaaaaare I LOVE IT IT’S PERFECT and I will eat it up I WILL eat this sentimentality up forevermore. I’d actually misremembered this scene as being complete with gratuitous tears and big, glistening eyes listen it’s over-the-top and I LOVE it being over-the-top. IF YOU’RE GONNA GO ALL OUT WHY NOT GO ALL OUT? And it DOES do just that SPECTATOR’S COOING I. I LOVE this goddamn series oh my GOSH.

I was so very stubbornly trying to work against my favourite character, but you brought your A-Game. You put in overtime for this character. it felt like WHY DON’T YOU JUST GO RIGHT AHEAD AND DRAW A FLIPPIN’ HALO ABOVE HIS HEAD?! DSJNKSDKJNSDNKJ. So much of Lifting Spirits was me BEGGING you to stop encouraging me to such a ridiculous extent, to no avail.

And noooow it’s AURA TIME.

Enter: Aura Blackquill.

A smile flickered across Aura’s face, but it disappeared again the moment her eyes fell on Alexander. Even from such a great distance, Simon could see it: the raw hatred that was shimmering through. It was no wonder, really, that Alexander cowered in his seat. Most people would think to duck for cover if they were on the receiving end of such a terrifying glare.

OHHHH MY GOD… AHAHAHA… YES.

“I have quite a few things to say to that miserable excuse of a defendant,” Aura began, her tone of voice as venomous as the look on her face. “but such words aren’t befitting of a lady and it appears some clods thought to bring children to this courtroom, so I’ll keep that particular feat of vocabulary to myself.”

Alexander cowered even further. Surely, he understood just how much Aura hated him. Just how far she’d be willing to go to see him hanged. Having her here in the courtroom must’ve been agony on both ends, for Alexander feared for his life and Aura ached to end it.

OMG. GET HIM. MAKE. HIM. SQUIRM.

“What I will say is this. If this monster hopes to be human, he needs to understand that real humans don’t get second chances at life. Especially not those who rob others of their only chance. We live as flawed beings and we die as flawed beings- the size of the handicap makes little difference. Why should he deserve to go on while others don’t? The rules of life and death apply to everyone, no exceptions.”

What a horrific speech. Leave it to Aura to spew something like that.

“I MEAN… SHE… HAS A POINT… SHE RAISES A VERY GOOD POINT…”

The worst part was that from the corner of his eye, Simon could see Apollo Justice nodding.

HHHHHHHHHHHH

Aura slammed one of her hands down on the witness stand, her shackles clattering loudly as she did so. She was addressing Alexander directly, now. “I am not speaking only for myself, I’m speaking for everyone who’s lost someone dear because of you. I’m speaking for everyone who’s suffering because of you. Believe me, we are great in number. We will not forgive and we will not forget. You can’t run from us.”

Ohhhhhh GOOOOOOOSH I WAS 100% CHEERING HER ON DURING FIRST READTHROUGH OF THIS SCENE BUT I AM TERRIFIED OF WHAT TRACKING GHOSTS COULD ENTAIL PLEASE SEND HELP

Alexander shivered and hid his face behind his hands.

PLEASE I JUST. PLEASE. NO MORE. Look at him.

“Hm. No, I believe I’ve made up my mind. Taking all the testimony into account, it’s clear to me what needs to be done.”

The judge raised his gavel. This was it. The moment they’d been working toward. The moment they’d been working for. Alexander’s life hinged on these next words. Nobody dared to speak. Nobody dared to move. Bobby’s hand once again found Simon’s own. He squeezed it in return and glanced sideways to see that Ambassador Palaeno was crossing his fingers.

Me: [Shakes head ruefully] “Well, okay, very well. You did it, author. You earned this, well and truly. Go ahead. You can have this. You actually did it, I suppose. I can’t believe you did it, but you actually earned him his right to a happy ending. So… I won’t object. It’s all yours for the taking.”

I mean, the fact that the trial was ending just after AURA’S testimony was a little foreboding, but… It just wasn’t enough to balance out the rest of the trial and the tone of the entire fic. The verdict felt so clear, I mean, c’mon. C’mon. And the narrative slant, too. The narrative and the POV characters that we are following are so very biased in his favour. This IS what the entire fic had been building towards, and the entire fic had been so terribly biased towards him and the notion of salvation.

So I’m like [rolls eyes], “alriiiight, go ahead, if you must. Give the man his verdict of lenience like ya set out to do. I’m not complaining like I thought I would be. You win again. You set out to do this and I don’t know how, but it looks like you actually got there in the end. If you insist, then he doesn’t have to die after all. I accept that.”

”It pains me to conclude that rehabilitation and civil commitment are impossible in his case. That is why this court finds the defendant guilty and hereby sentences him to immediate execution.”

…Come again?

Um.

Lifting Spirits, Chapter 17

They'd known from the start that there could be only one ending to the Phantom’s tale. They'd known, yet they struggle to accept the bitter disappointment that comes with it.

Execution… Immediate execution. How soon was immediate? Quite soon, apparently, as Lang gestured towards the Interpol escort.

WHAT THE F U D G E

They saluted and made to surround Alexander. To grab him and drag him from the courtroom. The spy jumped up from his chair and backed away in painfully apparent fright, but there was nowhere for him to run. The agents snatched him by the arms just like that. The spectators became even more agitated.

“IMMEDIATE” EXECUTION?! THAT’S… THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS THOUGH. That’s SO fishy. You can’t – you literally can’t just take someone out back and promptly shoot them IMMEDIATELY after a sentence is handed down… can you? THAT’S NOT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. THERE’S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE, PROTOCOLS AND PAPERWORK TO BE FILLED OUT AND SCHEDULING TO BE DONE… DON’T tell me they’re just gonna – WAIT. JUST WAIT. HOLD ON NO YOU CAN’T JUST – NO.

At the very least, “immediate” execution seemed like it would be carried out a few days after the sentencing, not… like… ACTUALLY immediately. BUT THE STORY SEEMED TO BE PLAYING IT LIKE THIS.

Just because it felt unrealistic, unrealistic to the point it was fishy, didn’t mean the story couldn’t be about to implement just that, though.

Yet, even through the chaos, Phoenix Wright’s shouts were heard.

“OBJECTION! Your Honor! The defense…-! The defense would like to cross-examine the last witness after all! Your Honor!”

But the judge was already getting to his feet. He was preparing to leave the trial behind. That was only natural. The verdict had been delivered and once that was done, no one could change it.

This is the bad end. This is the game over. God DAMMIT Phoenix you should have LEARNED by now that if given the option to further question the witness or not, you ALWAYS take it lest you choose not to and get an immediate game over. Okay. You need to listen to me. You DID save right before Aura gave testimony, right? So you need to press the start button and reload at an earlier save point and then when given the option to PRESS you- sdkjdflndslksdkj

“Lex!” Athena rushed out from behind the defense’s bench to block the group of Interpol agents. To stop them from dragging a struggling spy out the back door, towards the prosecutors lobby.

YES ATHENA SAVE HIM. SAVE HIM.

It didn’t do much good; there were five of them and only one of her. She was shoved aside as if she wasn’t even truly there.

AAAAAAAAAH

Alexander… He was attempting to fight back like a madman now. Perhaps he was a madman. He was digging his heels into the ground, moving every which way to try and slip through a crack in Interpol’s escort, yet their hold on him was too great. He was screaming, he was shrieking. […]

He would be taken away to be killed. A fate he’d accepted for himself a few months ago, yet things had changed. His desire to live had grown too great.

NO NO NO NOOOOOO. NO!

Phoenix Wright stood motionless by his bench, head buried in his hands.

The miracle never happen.

“I can’t. I have to… I have to see Lex,” Bobby insisted once more.

“No. Last will and testament need to be compiled and you would only get in the way. We’re taking the Phantom to be executed the moment all the final arrangements are done.”

THAT’S SO MESSED UP. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! THAT IS SO MESSED UP. “LEX. IS LEX IN THERE? IN THE ROOM? WHY CAN’T WE HEAR HIM HE WAS YELLING SO MUCH BEFORE WHAT’S GOING ON.”

“This is the only ending this story could possibly have and you knew that from the start.”

Oh how daaaaare you turn this line back around on me like this, against me. The first time I ever heard the equivalent of this line in the series, I knew it was planted with the intent to come back to bite the audience. I was all “hah, you don’t scare me. Joke’s on you because that ending to this story is EXACTLY what I want, so TRY me.”

Seeing it again NOW was terrifying. It was a threat. I did not truly believe that the story would end like this. But this line… embedded into the narrative as it had been, was effective at convincing me it was plausible… it was POSSIBLE. Recurrent lines like this would destroy me on a regular day when I know that they’re coming. I had done NO preparation to handle this line doing exactly what I figured it intended to do when it inevitably came back around because back then, when it was planted, it is exactly what I had wanted, and therefore felt like I didn’t need to. And in the interim, the narrative had gone soft, so very soft, so very, very soft on him, and appeared to no longer have what it takes to go ahead and kill him off, the arc words laying forgotten. Until now, being wielded with full force. Didn’t like the sound of this at all.

Now I would like to break down different aspects of the scene(s) that unfold in the aftermath of the verdict, because there are so many angles at play here:

1. The verdict is still unbearably painful even when clinging to the thought/hope and possibility that he isn't dead/manages to survive/will not die

Because we've spent the entire fic being shown just how much Lex is brimming with emotion and personality and potential from head to toe, only to be told at the end that all of it was worthless, that all of it IS worthless: that he is unworthy of salvation, that all of the striving was for absolutely nothing and MEANS nothing. That, even if the plot allows him to go on living, even if the characters and the narrative (and the audience!) clearly believe he is worthy of a second chance, the law and the legal system doesn't. That in the eyes of the law, his life and newfound being is not worth preserving.

A solid three fics spent on development - and the verdict declares in one fell swoop at the end of it all that he should die, the verdict declares he shouldn't even get to live and should in fact be killed as soon as possible.

The law does not know and does not care about the things we and the characters have seen, the things that the characters have been through together, or the extent of his suffering and STRIVING all the way up until this point. The law doesn't care.

The narrative seemingly turns on its audience in an instant with a snarl. "Well, what did you expect? You're an idiot for expecting anything more than this. Haven't you forgotten who that man is and what he's done? Don't tell me you were actually stupid enough to have hope. You're naive. Just as naive as the characters are. Even when you could see for yourself they were getting too attached for their own good, what did you do? Did you actually follow in their footsteps? You should have known better. You should have had more foresight than that. In fact, you DID have the benefit of foresight and you WASTED it! You have even less excuse than the characters!"

At least, that's the stunt it TRIES to pull, and momentarily, for a horrible, horrible point in time it almost works. But then I'm yelling my defiance too. It's like, "no, actually, story, stuff you, I wasn't stupid at all for having hope, because the narrative itself was the one to give me that hope and that belief in Alexander Luster Jr in the first place. It's wanted us to believe in him from the very beginning, so it's no wonder. This story has been ridiculously biased TOWARDS him, and I know that for a fact because I've been fighting against his having a second chance the entire time and received nothing but opposition in terms of the narrative's directional slant."

So it's like, okay, it wasn't stupid at all in terms of narrative portrayal. The audience can't blamed; it's no wonder they believed. But were they objectively right in doing so or was their belief misplaced after all?

There's this dizzying moment of "WAS the verdict right in its decision? Is what the judge says really true? Is there genuinely no hope for rehabilitation in his case? Is there something that the Judge can see that we can’t?"

The thought of it is so painful. Are the characters supporting him and the audience just idiots, but the court - the judge can objectively see the "full unbiased picture" that we aren't getting, in order to have reached this conclusion? Is he really not worth a second chance? But how? How?! How can that be!

And then the thought passes, it's shot down. No, no. Rehabilitation - a second chance - is obviously possible. How can it not be possible? How can you tell me I'm wrong?! It has to be, look at him. if you've been paying attention to Lifting Spirits for five minutes-

2. The verdict was not the right decision to make and does not bring about any kind of justice.

The verdict is wrong. That's the conclusion we arrive at. There is nothing just about this situation. There is no victory here.

“No! This can’t…! This can’t be right!”

This is wrong. This is not justice. The narrative doesn't even attempt to say otherwise: that's how it's being portrayed. The narrative AGREES that this is wrong.

“Let go of me! This isn’t right!” she hollered, hoping to free herself from Lang’s grip. “You can’t execute him! He’s not a killer anymore! Let go of me!”

Up until the very end... Even as the verdict was being read and I was convinced it would side with lenience, I wasn't entirely sure of what the right choice was, even though I had finally decided to accept such a verdict of lenience.

In the aftermath of the verdict's announcement, I still wasn't sure what the "right" course of action was, how best to handle his case, or what "should" be done.

But it didn't even matter any more. I didn't - I didn't care. I no longer cared about that. It didn't matter what the “best” decision was anymore, I wanted him to- where, where is his lenience?! Give - GIVE it to him!

I was desperate for him to have this regardless, to have this second chance, it was painful and this didn't feel right.

In a sense, when it came to the question of what "should" be done, or what side I was ultimately on come the end, that alone - my feelings and response to this situation - clearly gave me my answer.

And if he didn't die, if he managed to escape death somehow, that wouldn't truly be good enough in alleviating all the pain of this. No, that's painful and would imply still that he's not good enough. But that is antithetical to what we have been shown, and the idea hurts. He needed to be fully, properly have his second chance recognised in the eyes of the law. It got snatched away when it was so close and I couldn't - it needed to happen.

It’s torturous.

3. The main characters that we have been following are actively invested in his survival and his second chance. They WANT him to live and they do not WANT him to die.

Wasn't this what I wanted?

But the thought of his impending death was hurting our main characters so much more than the alternative. They weren't asking him to die. They weren't expecting him to die. It's a very different situation.

For Alexander Luster Jr, the chance of redemption hinges not upon accepting death, but in being granted life.

This idea of him needing to die... One of the key ideas it comes from is that to give him a second chance is disrespectful to all the people that he murdered and all the people that he's hurt, emotionally and physically.

But characters such as Athena, Bobby and Simon are members of that group of people hurt by the phantom, and they are the ones advocating for him, they are the ones who are desperate for this chance and his survival - for him to have a chance.

There is, of course, a very impressive list of other people hurt by the phantom for whom his death is deemed important and necessary. But we have not followed their POVs. As it stands, when we think of who the phantom has inflicted harm on, many of the first characters that may come to the reader's mind are those who /want/ him to live. So what meaning does "disrespectful to those who have suffered because of him" continue to hold when they are our main point of reference?

It does still hold meaning. But it's far more difficult to uniformly advocate for the man now known as Lex to die when this is how at least some of the phantom’s victims feel.

4. The bar for his salvation is set very low, and the severe injustice invoked by that bar seemingly not being met by the court's standards is portrayed very strongly.

The bar is so low. A) There is no need to forgive the phantom of all his many crimes, but merely to acknowledge Lex as his own person b) lenience. Just. Lenience. Not “all charges are dropped you are free to do as you wish”, lenience.

And in contrast, everything about the fake-out screams injustice, almost outlandishly so. The speed at which everything happens – he’s hastily carried away. Bobby and Simon not getting to say goodbye. The characters, the spectators who were on his side screaming their defiance. Everything is taken to its extreme in a mad rush.

And then, of course, there's Aura.

5. The narrative makes no pretence at ignoring the harsh reality of what the phantom was like and what he has done. There is unabashed acknowledgement.

I'm glad Franziska asked Athena if the image of her mother's corpse would ever fade. At that point I was a little like "whoa, okay, at least we are acknowledging this. We are ACTUALLY tackling this angle, I’m impressed.”

And then Aura just came in and blew me away. Aura came along and put my very own thoughts into words, she said EXACTLY what I was thinking, right at the last minute. Words I thought would be left unsaid, and would therefore leave me feeling somewhat frustrated and unsatisfied. But she voiced them and forced the story to confront the fundamental unfairness of the killer getting a second chance when he took away his victim’s only chance.

6. The narrative fully acknowledges that there is no way to make everyone happy and satisfied regardless of whatever outcome is chosen.

“In light of all the information and all the opinions shared with this court, I believe there is no way to please everyone.”

Through both the wording of the judge's verdict and the extremely divided and opinionated spectators, it's abundantly clear. This was a great signifier for me because to give him a happy ending, favourite character or not... It can be very hard to be fully satisfied when the consequences of his past actions are ongoing (e.g. people who are still feeling the losses of loved ones that can never be replaced) or if it feels like certain perspectives are being conveniently ignored/overlooked so as to justify a happy ending.

I fought against Lex's salvation partly because I was convinced that there was no way I could be completely satisfied with it, and that it would therefore feel somewhat hollow or sour if thought about in too much depth.

But the narrative just went right ahead and said "you might not be 100% satisfied, and that's fine; not everyone is going to be 100% satisfied in-universe anyway. Such a thing is impossible. If you're expecting all of the characters to be satisfied before YOU accept the ending, then I am telling you right now that you're asking for something that's never going to happen, because it's just not realistic."

The narrative also played a sneaky little game of "okay, if you're not happy with this, then here's a glimpse of the alternative. Now tell me, which ending do you prefer?"

I’d already conceded and accepted the presumed outcome towards the end, but the story wasn’t satisfied with my mere acceptance. Ohh no, it was like, “not good enough, you’re going to REALLY want this. You have to REALLY want this.” And BOY, AFTER THIS CRUEL FAKE-OUT DID I EVER.

The ending made itself all the better because it forced me to really work for it. Noooo way in hell was it gonna feel even remotely hollow, no way in hell EVER, I am no way no way gonna look a gift horse in the mouth.

The acknowledgement of ANY ending’s inability to satisfy absolutely EVERY angle of every perspective in and of itself made me rush over to embrace the ending in all its splendid glory.

“That’s ridiculous! We’re just as much Lex’s family as Palaeno is!” Bobby blurted out.

There it is. There it is. The conclusion… The inevitable conclusion of what this entire series has been building towards since around Haunted Specters.

There’s only so far you can take a joke before you have no choice but to play it straight.

1. Set up and frame a seemingly absurd/surreal/odd scenario and seemingly play it for laughs

2. Keep playing it for laughs

3. Keeeep going. Keep running with it

And through both escalation and narrative reiteration and reinforcement…

4. It’s not a joke anymore and the audience is invested, Actually. No matter how odd the set-up seemed originally.

I loved that Lang immediately responds with anger to Bobby’s proclamation. I loved that. It makes sense that he would. In fact, it is a completely reasonable response. And we have spent so long building towards this. Lang’s irritation and misgivings about Bobby’s level of investment have been clear as day for a long time – he’s made no secret of it - and they have been building, and right here, Bobby confirms to him beyond all shadow of a doubt that he is too far gone, he is too far gone. He crosses a line. He crosses a line and it is too much for Lang. Two powerful opposing perspectives come to a head in this single moment as they both explode forth at once.

You played Bobby’s investment completely straight… and then you turned it back around on its head again as it is confronted like this by Lang. It is not enough to merely play it straight, but here, the narrative goes one step further and asks “if it is played straight, if it is grounded undeniably now in the character and the narrative’s reality, what does that mean? In what way should it be approached?”

Lang was right; this was bordering on Stockholm Syndrome. They shouldn’t care this much about Alexander.

I am. Floundering.

You are MEAN. YOU ARE MEEEEEAN. XD.

Maybe it was a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome.

No, no. This was a horrible kind of stinging slap to deliver.

Lang framing it that way was fine.

But a character like Bobby potentially internalising it was so very harsh a punch.

For other characters to react to and interpret Bobby (and Simon’s) investment in Lex in a realistic way was one matter. For the characters whose POV we’ve been following the whole way to take up the same line of thinking… felt like a horrific intrusion on some kind of sacred space. An unbreachable, unwritten narrative rule supposedly laid out by the series itself felt as if it were being mercilessly snapped clean in two here.

It seems so very cruel, narratively speaking, because it felt to me like the reader was never ASKED to frame the behaviour and dynamics of the characters in a realistic or critical manner. It was. A JOKE. It started as a surreal joke, serving its specific narrative purpose and then moving on its way. To have ever been realistically critical of the characters’ behaviour felt like it would have only hindered what the narrative seemed like it was trying to do at the time. And of course, it became more than a joke but the narrative has been tailored for the audience to be invested in these characters’ connections. To abruptly rescind on this unwritten rule of “this is fiction and therefore we can have some fun with it and set up some interesting character dynamics!” was like stinging betrayal.

Or rather, we ARE perhaps asked or even encouraged to be critical, but perhaps not in the way it is suddenly portrayed here. The reader does in fact pick up on the fact that Bobby and Simon are getting too invested and that this investment is perhaps not in their best wishes. But that investment seems to be portrayed so as to be compelling, something we are drawn to… not… like this. Or maybe that was just how it felt to me.

For a character like Bobby to be thinking about Stockholm Syndrome… It is not a clear-cut case of Bobby being hurt and grieving. He ponders framing his own grief and attachment in a critical manner. That he “shouldn’t” have been invested or cared this much. That felt so negatory of Lex and his whole existence… It felt negatory of the very plot that the readers had become so very invested in.

Cruel, cold realism.

You finally brought this particular narrative thread to a head, made it so very realised, and then immediately you appear to set about deconstructing it. Through Lang’s reaction. Through the internal thoughts that go through Bobby’s and Simon’s minds.

But my instinctive response is, "no, NO. Your attachment means something. It MEANS something! It's NOT just Stockholm Syndrome!"

If it was the emotionless phantom who had died that they were mourning, then sure, to think of their feelings in this manner... I don't think I would object.

But Lex is full of emotions, he cares!!!!

They can't possibly turn their back on the bond they'd ultimately grown with Lex like this. They can't.

And they aren't. They are just suffering a lot right now, trying to make some sense of this situation - anything, anything to try and make it stop hurting, to force it to hurt LESS. The narrative seems to teeter dangerously close to borderline dismissing the bond they'd grown with Lex through gritty, negative framing tied to a sense of realism. But ultimately...

It didn’t matter now.

Does it, would it even matter, how it's framed at this point? It wouldn't make a difference anyway. What's done is done, what happened is what happened.

The hurt inflicted by Bobby's internal thoughts in this moment and my instinctive objection to them is drowned out and washed cleanly away as we return to focus on the hurt caused by the overall situation and its magnitude. "Does it even matter?". It's like, who cares, who cares about analytical dissection right now, this is where we ended up either way.

It’s something Bobby considers but he’s just too tired to ponder it much because what difference did it even make? That same tiredness to fight back against the framing applied to me, as there was so much else to worry about in this moment.

What was perhaps the most cruel aspect of it all was that Alexander- no, the Phantom had attempted to shield them from this sort of devastation.

Oh no nooooooo. This hurt. Just twist the dagger in some more hhhjghj. It was absolutely true. The phantom had foreseen this. When it came to something like that kiss scene – I was busy focusing on so many other aspects of it, and very distracted by so many narrative threads after that and into Lifting Spirits that I totally failed to seriously register that attempt to shield a character like Bobby from this pain. I should have been prepared for that particular narrative angle to circle back around and I absolutely was not, I had not taken it seriously enough and had been far too distracted. I had been very dismissive of the phantom’s actions in that regard and found him so very stupid for it. Like, “yes, Bobby is too attached, this is apparent, but for GOD’S sake…”

Should have probably expected this, but I did not, and therefore it came as a very harsh shock that the phantom had seemingly been Right All Along.

This was so worrisome. Was the story REALLY about to dump a “this is the best outcome in a sense, as Bobby and Simon’s attachment was too unhealthy anyway, so this was the only way. It’s the best thing for the characters who should never have allowed themselves to senselessly get attached” on us?!

I knew there was one more fic to go in this series. I knew that much, and I did my best to cling to that, to cling to how suspicious and fast this all was, that they didn’t even get to say GOODBYE, but some of the narrative framing was so very scary. I did start to feel a tiny bit of panic, struggled to keep it at bay. But I was on the verge of becoming VERY, VERY upset. I could not allow myself to do so until I finished this fic, because if I allowed myself to become upset – to lose hope over this - it would be all over – there’s no telling how much it would’ve crushed me.

I just needed to power on through and keep reading as fast as possible before I had the chance to become upset. Just… keep reading, keeeeep reading, until I could relax once more… There had to be a reveal that he is okay, there had to be, because the alternative was too unbearable to consider.

The mere possibility of this truly being how this fic ends was way too terrifying.

It was like you suddenly out of nowhere grabbed my arm and BRUTALLY twisted it and just went “oh my god, shut up about phantomquill. Shut up about phantomquill. And will you STOP complaining already about every godforsaken little thing? I’ll kill him. I swear to god, I will kill him. I’ll do it. Do not test me. I’ll do it.”

This couldn’t be the end (could it?!) but there was no way in hell I was going to risk growing complacent and trying to call your bluff. I was terrified. I could NOT risk this all being real no matter what, no matter how small the risk might or might not be I was so scared.

“Please… Just… Just… Don’t do this. Please. Just let him still be alive.”

And he was.

“So… will you finally shut up about phantomquill? Will you finally be GRATEFUL once more and ACCEPT what you are given?!”

Oh, yes. Yes, Meowzy, please, just don’t hurt me.

XD

When there is a defining moment in a story that causes me to flatly deem that moment and by extension everything after it technically “non-canon”, it is VERY hard, nigh impossible, to win me back, because it tends not to matter how fantastic anything that comes afterwards is – because the line of continuity to get to that point had been fundamentally broken in my eyes, usually senselessly so. The appreciation of great stuff from afterwards doesn’t feel “complete” because I am no longer capable of considering it the “true timeline”.

By “win me back” I don’t mean “enjoy the fictional work in question”, because I am still completely capable of doing that if there’s still awesome stuff going on. I mean “restore the work’s claim to being the “true timeline” in my eyes.”

A lot of the Lifting Spirits journey is winning me over and winning me back over. I had already largely gone “okay, okay, I guess… all of this stuff is just so awesome that it’s still pretty much the true timeline. It’s just so good.” Unlike in some other instances where I had made the “non-canon” declaration in the past:

-There is absolutely no drop in writing quality whatsoever. The work demands its place in the true timeline with the rest of the series because it fits in seamlessly

-Just about everything going on is so great and awesome that you’d be hard-pressed NOT to want to fully accept and embrace it all

-The occurrence that I had declared the work was “finished” over (Fake Phantomquill kiss) was so very inconsequential and minor in the grand scheme of things. The declaration loses its meaning when it becomes to seem like just a blip in the radar of all the amazing stuff going on

-The actual goings-on of the scene do fit in fine with the rest of the story, and the scene is not TOO central or relevant to what takes place afterwards so as to be a constant reminder or thorn in my side that I had been baited. The story moves on from the scene after it plays out to far more pressing matters.

But still, STILL, I had withheld its right to Full Canonicity in my eyes. I had been “wronged” XD.

But the fake-out… and then the ending… I was nothing but grateful. True timeline. True timeline. This WAS the true timeline; this is the true timeline and I fully acknowledge it 100%. I embrace it. Why would I EVER throw this golden ending away for the sake of some one-sided phantomquill, if I had to make that choice?! Never.

I’ve much more to say and/or elaborate on, and I will do so… in the next post!

Wow. Looks like one more post and I will have finally done it. That’ll truly take us to the end of Lifting Spirits…

#These dang things are so damn long and therefore such a pain to format into tumblr posts XD #as always I always kinda am still secondguessing bits of the wording in places #And feel that there's still unexamined angles left... But how much longer could I possibly make this. XD

[fictionfreakazoid]

Watching RWBY Chibi: nobody in the show is straight

I

 had only seen the actual show but I wanted to draw chibi yang for something and then i discovered the chibi show and remembered why i love the show so much!!! It was so funny and broke the 4th wall in amazing ways and i gotta say i wish i had watched the show waaaaay earlier

They have been dating this whole tiiiime look Yang got her a gifttttt 

They’re in each other’s outfits. There... is no heterosexual explanation for that (BUMBLY AND WHITE ROSE FOR THE WIN)

This is how men should be feminists. I love characters like Jaune and Barry from the flash cuz they KNOW they better respect women and their strengths and don’t ever think to doubt it! “A badass in every universe” (Barry about an Alex Danvers from another dimension kicking his ass) Look at Jaune, when he wants to feel strong, he looks to all the girls in his life for good examples of strength

shameless promos of their other shows (though camp camp is pretty great, i highly recommend it for people 16 and up/mature viewers)

Ren... isn’t straight (and neither is anyone else in this show)

It’s pretty clear how they feel about expecting femininity from all girls: it got a punch in the face

“Just get in the bed.”

-”You haven’t even taken me out to a dinner yet!”

So subtle... 

They are such a power couple!!!! ICONIC

They fell on top of each other... coincidence??? i think not!

when you just want your girlfriend to notice you...

“super bffs”... sure (look at how ruby loves weiss’ hair, i love themmmm)

#rwby #white rose #bumbleby #ruby rose #weiss schnee #jaune arc #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #ren lie #also i really think sun and neptune should take the b out of their bromance #literally both of their names are space names like IT'S MEANT TO BE #also seeing pyrra again hurt i miss her #danimals talks

[junionigiri]

BNHA Rarepair Month - Day 11 - Laughter

for @bnha-rarepair-month

Summary: Tokoyami and Kaminari audition as guitarists for Jirou Kyoka's band. (College/Band AU part 1)

Relationship(s): Tokoyami Fumikage / Kaminari Denki (bromance, arguably) (TokoKami); Tokoyami + Kaminari + Kirishima (TokoDenShima); Jirou + Yaomomo + Bakugou + Shinsou (band!)

Rating: T

Warnings/Notes: ok this is just crack lol

Recommended listening: Master Exploder! Crappy little artwork!

Links: AO3 | FFNet

Tokoyami stares at the computer screen with a deep sense of foreboding as Kaminari looks at him with that crazy, bean-eyed look on his face. “Eh? Eh? Whaddya think of this one, Tokoyami? Think we can get away with a cover of this mind-blowing masterpiece?”

The electric blonde just showed him a rather old video of the eccentric and ageing rock star, Present Mic, on YouTube, back in his early days performing in small-time punk clubs. It consists of a lot of screaming, theatrics, tight pants and deep V-necks, and literal blowing up of electronics when the singer accidentally activates his quirk a number of times during the song. It’s perfectly balanced by the presence of the rock star’s rocking guitarist, one Aizawa Shouta, who grimly provides back-up in the form of tasty licks and surprisingly well-modulated backing vocals.

“Demoniacal,” quoth the raven, putting one of his hands thoughtfully under his chin. “Risky. Little chance of reward to be gained should we pursue this madness.”

There might be a thin line of drool at the end of Kaminari’s mouth as he waits for Tokoyami’s final response. The dark-feathered boy sighs.

“Fine. Let’s do it.” It’s utterly impossible to say no to Kaminari Denki’s face, dopey or not. The blonde whoops in victory.

“Yeah boiii! We are gonna rock their fuckin’ socks off!” He excitedly plays a mindless pentatonic on his canary-yellow Stratocaster with a manic grin on his face. He then peers up at Tokoyami, his eyelashes fluttering cutely. “I love you so much bro! Do you love me too?”

Tokoyami keeps a straight face as he takes his sweet time setting up his own guitar. After a moment of silence, Kaminari still hasn’t stopped fluttering his eyelashes at him. He sighs deeply again.

“Yes,” he relents with a persistent dark aura surrounding him. “I love you too, brother of mine.”

That’s enough for Kaminari to break the silence with another ear-piercing whoop. He’s really serious about channeling Mic-sensei, isn’t he. “Let’s do this, bro! Tokacious Denki (TokoDen for short), at your eargasming service!”

*

Soon, they’re at the edge of the stage of the large auditorium of the chateau belonging to the prominent keyboardist and mechanical engineering major, Yaoyorozu Momo. In the audience next to her are the explosive drummer/biology major, pre-med track student Bakugou Katsuki; band manager/psychology major Shinsou Hitoshi; and the woman they have to impress the most, bassist/vocalist/composer/band leader/music business major, Jirou Kyouka.

At the center of the stage is Kirishima Eijirou, sports sciences major, and one of their closest bros in UA University who wanted to be their hype-man and roadie. Everyone is looking curiously at the redhead as he clears his throat and begins his monologue.

“So… these guys told me not to read this,” Kirishima says, waving a little card with his messy scrawl over it, “But, uh… dammit! I’ll read it anyway! Because I wrote it! And it’s true!”

The band and their manager stares up at the redhead dumbly as he takes out the card. His voice rings out of his mouth and all over the auditorium, “I fucking love this band!!! They are the best band in ever… period!”

The bird sees Bakugou scoff loudly from his seat. Kirishima is undeterred and doesn’t stop shouting. “Ladies and Gentlemen… Tokacious Denki!”

Kirishima then bows with his arms out and side-steps his way off the stage. Kaminari, clad in lots of shiny black leather, confidently ambles up to the microphone, yellow Strat swinging around his scrawny body, with Tokoyami trailing grimly behind him.

“... whey,” the blonde says coolly, making Jirou Kyouka’s eyebrows raise, “This song is a cover of EraserMic’s magnum opus called… Master Exploder.”

There’s barely a quiet interval before Kaminari begins strumming out the first chords of the song. Tokoyami feels a little proud of his bandmate for overcoming his fears over barre chords. Soon, he’s joining him by playing the opening lead with his own guitar. Kaminari begins to sing:

“aaaaaah-aaaaah-aaaaaah-aaahahahahahahahahahah-AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

… well, not really singing, per se, but screaming. The dark bird sees the flustered look on the band members’ faces at the heights that Kaminari’s voice reach. If Tokoyami closed his eyes and listened, he’d be convinced that the person screaming next to him is actually Present Mic.

He certainly has the theatrics down, at least.

The blonde dramatically kicks down the mic stand after he screams with all of his might, and moves on to sing, “I DO NOT NEED!”

“He does not need.”

“A MICROPHONE!”

“A microphone.”

“MY VOICE IS FUCKING!”

“Fuckin’."

“POWERFUUUUUUUL!!!” Kaminari inhales loudly as he continues strumming madly on his guitar. “AAAAAAAAAH YEAH!”

Tokoyami plays the next notes with ease, his fingers flying over the fretboard of his guitar. He sees Yaoyorozu discreetly appraising his riff with a small smile on her face.

As they rehearsed before, this is the part where Kirishima comes running up to the stage to stand next to Kaminari and dramatically stare him down as the blonde continues to scream, “aaa-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

The voice is so shrill, it pierces through everyone like a shockwave. Kirishima flails about like his brain has exploded and pretends to drop dead on the stage.

“Sorry!” Kaminari says, not looking sorry at all. He directs his manic grin back to the flustered audience and continues the song. “I DID NOT MEAN--”

“He did not mean.”

“--TO BLOW YOUR MIND!”

“To blow your mind,” Tokoyami whispers to the microphone, earning him an interested stare from the manager Shinsou.

“BUT THAT SHIT HAPPENS TO ME, all the tiiiime!”

They do a rather complex guitar duel right there and then. He sees all the band members watch them intently. Jirou’s trademark earjacks are twitching. She seems to be hiding her mouth behind her hands, which formed a tent in front of her face. He knows that they’re judging the two of them very, very seriously.

“Now take a look!”

“Take a look,”

“Tell me what do you see?”

“What do you see?”

“We got the pick… of DESTINYYYYYY! AAAAAAAAAAAH…. AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!”

They shred the last few notes of the song in unison, heads bobbing violently in sync. By the end of it, Tokoyami’s breathless. He can only imagine how Kaminari must feel, having spent the last three minutes screeching like a banshee, but he’s got his arms out and ready to take in the praise.

“...”

A stunned silence envelopes the auditorium. Kirishima, who isn’t actually dead, scrambles up to his feet, stands next to Kaminari, and joins him in staring at the silent judges nervously.

It’s Bakugou who breaks the silence first. “Emo bird-head’s okay. Shitty Hair roadie’s okay. Hard pass on Pikachu.”

“Noooo!” Kaminari flails dramatically onstage and falls to his knees. “Y-you can’t do that! TokoDenShima is a package deal!”

“I can do whatever the fuck I want, charger-fucker!” the drummer yells, with a juicy expletive or two. “I couldn’t hear myself thinking with all the screaming!”

“No offense, Bakugou, but you do a lot of screaming yourself. Haven’t had a quiet thought since you got me on board as manager,” Shinsou deadpans, earning him his own juicy expletives. As if to drive his point home further, he rubs the space between his eyes and trains his haven’t-slept-in-a-month, dead-inside stare up the trio on the stage. “Anyway… you certainly got Present Mic’s yowling accurately, except for the part where he sets the mic on fire by screaming… to which I’m grateful for, by the way. Please don’t ruin our equipment.”

“You got it, you sexy sleepy manager, you,” Kaminari says, with two finger-guns pointing his way. He’s blatantly ignored by the purple-haired guy, much to Tokoyami’s relief.

Shinsou turns to the girls seated behind him and asks, “What do you think, MomoJirou?”

Yaoyorozu hums for a few seconds before nodding uneasily. “The rascals have… spirit, I guess? I think I can play something that’s compatible with their level of skill, so... I’m okay with whatever Kyouka has to say.”

And so, Kaminari, Tokoyami, and Kirishima turn their hopeful gazes to the fearless band leader, Jirou Kyouka. For a few tense seconds, the girl’s triangular eyes appraise them seriously, ominously even, as her fingers tighten in front of her covered mouth.

The tense silence is broken seconds later by pure, unrestrained, unfiltered cackling.

Tokoyami’s a little taken aback by how the bassist is suddenly howling with laughter. Her earjacks wave joyously in the air in front of her as she tilts her head backwards and forwards and even slaps her knees at one point in an attempt to get all the pent-up energy out. She keeps at it for a good solid minute or two before she calms down, grasping at her stomach desperately and struggling to look at Kaminari in the eye.

“S-sorry--it’s just that--you got that real, stupid Jamming-Whey look in your eyes when you’re screaming--”

“... Whey?” Kaminari repeats with that distinct empty look on his face. Tokoyami suddenly knows what Jirou means, and before he knows it, he’s chortling helplessly on the side, too.

And just like that, the auditorium is suddenly filled with laughter. Kirishima starts to guffaw and has to bend down on his knees just to steady himself. Yaoyorozu also begins to laugh heartily in the most lady-like way Tokoyami’s ever seen on a human being. Shinsou’s chuckling darkly like everything is a dark joke, but the tired look in his eyes is gone at least. Even Bakugou gives in and begins to howl like a madman from his spot on the auditorium.

In the midst of it, Kaminari’s just going, “Whey? Wheyyy??” in confusion. The laughter dies down eventually, and Jirou gets enough breaths in her lungs to start speaking properly again.

“What the fuck. You guys are in.”

There’s a moment of stunned silence among the three. Jirou just shrugs and says, “But I’m not letting you near the microphone, Jamming Whey. Stick to the guitars.”

“Yeahhhh boiii!” Kirishima cheers. In the next second, he’s lifting the two mildly shocked guitarists off their feet with his brawny arms. “You guys, we did it! The six of us, we’re gonna be the greatest band in the world, aw yeah!!!”

“Wheeeyyy!!!” Kaminari cheers, earning him another round of laughter from the band leader. He turns his dopey victory smile to Tokoyami and gives a thumbs up. “Kilt it! Love you, bro!”

Tokoyami sighs darkly as Kirishima continues to spin them round and round. He barely hears Shinsou dully welcoming them to the A-Band from below.

“Love you too, brother of mine.”

And thus begins their maddening, dreadful journey to the top, as the greatest band in the world.

#bnha fic #bnha rarepair month #tokokami #tokodenshima #the entire fucken band #tokoyami fumikage #kaminari denki #kirishima eijirou #jirou kyoka #yaoyorozu momo #shinsou hitoshi #bakugou katsuki #1-A band #crack

[luckyredeyes]

– TAG 10 PEOPLE YOU WANT TO KNOW BETTER.

tagged by: STOLEN FROM: @mutogamingco​

tagging: hhheeeYYYYOOOOUUU. ALL ÖF HYOUUUUUUU

name:  Jess birthday: January 4  zodiac: Capricorn height: 5′ 3″ sexual orientation: Straight (demisexual) favorite color: Depends on the day -- right now it’s bright yellow! favorite book: A Wrinkle In Time favorite artist/bands: Uhhhhhh /looks at my 221 Spotify playlists and melts down/ OKAY how about the tops in my favorite genres? Sara Jarosz, Punch Brothers, Union Station. The Clientele, Sufjan Stevens, Jesca Hoop. OK Go, The Killers, They Might Be Giants. Chicago, Sweet, Billy Joel. Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Pentatonix. Sugarhill Gang, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Danger Doom, Gorillaz. Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Beyonce. Andrews Sisters, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra. I gotta stop now or this is going to get 300 miles long. Shit. last movie i watched: Solo hogwarts house:  Hufflepuff random fact: I was an English major in college and my concentration was in poetry. when did you create your blog?: After Halloween last year. I remember because I used this blog as my carrot and stick to finish NaNoWriMo. I was extremely excited about RPing Yu-Gi-Oh and wanted to get started. do you have any other blogs?: Afew. Main is @wrenchmxster, a Ratchet & Clank blog, on hiatus. @catnyx: Ratchet & Clank OC. @originalbriton: Arthur/England, APH (this was my first RP blog here hush). @lionheartxd: Hunk, Voltron. @sleuthomatic: Nick Valentine, Fallout. All of them are on hiatus. :( what made you decide to get a tumblr?: IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIIIIME why did you choose your url?: It was supposed to a placeholder until I came up with something better. Whoops. bonus fact: I can barely play piano!

#ooc

[kuroorchidnobass]

Shining Masterpiece Twitter Antics 1/17 Part 4: Sweet dreams Alice

Part 1: Nobody expects to drop into Wonderland

Part 2: The fanservice is real

Part 3: Two different duos

All 11 princes are here! We get some behind the scenes info on some things that happened for Lost Alice, like Reiji’s fall and Ranmaru the coordinator. And new PRINCE CATS? We end with a nice farewell from the cast.

Kotobuki Reiji 21:27 Joint interview finished~ ☆ When there’s so many people, it’s fun to listen to all the opinions everyone has!

Shinomiya Natsuki 21:30 It might be hard to gather all that up into words~. But the interview where all 11 of us got together was the best part of the day.

Hijirikawa Masato 21:34 We were so into talking that the topic kept changing and changing and in the end, the interview might have taken as long or even longer than the show’s airing time.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 21:37 Time to autograph!

Hijirikawa Masato 21:40 The other members are waiting to autograph. To celebrate the release of Lost Alice, we’re going to gift this autographed poster via lottery.

Kotobuki Reiji 21:43 It  looks like they’re gonna explain how you can enter the lottery at a later date so look forward to it ☆ A poster with everyone’s autograph is super rare~!

Shinomiya Natsuki 21:47 A poster with the autograph and comments from us 4 were sent to many shops. Did anyone see it already?

Hijirikawa Masato 21:51 There are many different comments on different posters. I think it would be interesting if you would go to different shops and compare the posters.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 21:54 Done autographing. The other guys’ll autograph and find the right balance. These types of things get harder and harder when you autograph a poster with so many autographs already

Kotobuki Reiji 21:57 Why don't we talk about the 4 of us while we wait for the other to finish? We can't really talk about it in much detail for the people who haven't listened to it. Nattsun, do you have anything that you felt that was hard for you?

Shinomiya Natsuki 22:01 I appeared many times during the story so it’s acting a certain emotion at a certain time. Charles is someone who is very delicate and their emotion changes very frequently.

Ichinose Tokiya 22:05 @Natsuki_S_SH He keeps going through this cycle of talking to many different people in the story then becomes involved with whatever is happening to them. I cannot say much because I am one of the people who asks for something very precise from Charles during the story.

Kotobuki Reiji 22:07 @Tokiya_I_SH @Natsuki_S_SH Ooo, nice~! Whoever can get into the conversation should cut in just like that!

Kurusu Syo 22:08 Natsuki had a lot of moving around between scenes so it was hard on his body too.

Shinomiya Natsuki 22:13 But Syo-chan, you always had water ready for me and supported me a lot so I was able to focus on acting.

Kurusu Syo 22:15 @Natsuki_S_SH Compared to you, I just had to wait for my turn to act so. On top of that, I was worried that you would be careless during the show! If you make one mistake during the show, it’ll affect the whole thing so.

Kotobuki Reiji 22:19 I was surprisingly nervous you know, because I was the first person from Wonderland to appear! And I was running all around the theater!

Jinguuji Ren 22:22 @Reiji_K_SH You had so much force that you fell so grandly in the wing of the stage. It’s like I saw a scene straight from a manga. I was worried that you were hurt but you were so upbeat.

Kotobuki Reiji 22:25 @Ren_J_SH I can’t stop all of a sudden you know? Besides, the setting is that the rabbit is in a big hurry so it won’t be in character if I don’t act that way ☆

Aijima Cecil 22:29 We might have been able to move the hearts of people who came to watch our show because everyone did not lose focus even when eyes were not on us.

Hijirikawa Masato 22:33 I too agree on the aspect of emotional movement. I get more courage as the story goes on, even though I’m the one acting. There are dangerous things that happen but after you watch it, there are things that stick to you.

Camus 22:36 @Masato_H_SH It may be because you feel the character change and grow throughout the story. Because you know what happens at the end of the story, you find new things when you watch it the second time, so I hope that you would enjoy this story more than once.

Mikaze Ai 22:37 This time around, Ranmaru is showing a side of him on stage that you don’t usually see to him but, other than that, he worked like the coordinator behind the scenes.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 22:38 @Ai_M_SH Really?

Mikaze Ai 22:40 @Ranmaru_K_SH I appear at the end of the show, where it gets the most lively but you thought that it would be hard for me to enter right on stage with the same feeling as what’s happening, so during the show you told me how the stage was feeling on that particular day and it really helped me.

Ittoki Otoya 22:43 @Ai_M_SH @Ranmaru_K_SH You’re right. He always came up without making any sound just like the Cheshire Cat saying, “Hey, what are you doing?” to me when I was in the wing of the stage.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 22:46 @Otoya_I_SH @Ai_M_SH Probably just a coincidence. The Cheshire Cat is like the trickster in the show. He has to act accordingly, finding the right balance with the people around him, or else he’ll stick out like a sore thumb. That’s it, really

Hijirikawa Masato 22:49 I would like to talk more in detail but things like how we got into character are recorded in an interview, which you could listen to if you go to the play button at the exhibition, please look forward to it.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 22:51 @Masato_H_SH And the BGM from the show’s recorded. Makes me really pumped to act while listening to the best music.

Kotobuki Reiji 22:55 Speaking of exhibition! I acquired a top secret picture that hasn’t been revealed anywhere yet~!! I got a special okay from the staff to show it to you ☆

Kotobuki Reiji 22:56 Wanna see~? You wanna see right~?

Kotobuki Reiji 23:00 W-w-what!! I got a picture of the PRINCE CATS in the Lost Alice outfits!!

Kotobuki Reiji 23:03 Hop ☆

Shinomiya Natsuki 23:07 Isn’t it really cute~? They are matching clothes with us!

Shining Saotome 23:08 Everyoooone, tiiiime up!!! Please do the last greetiiiiiings!!

Camus 23:14 I hope that I was able convey the special way I devised to act as my character and that you have felt something deeper with the story. I would be happy if you would enjoy this story with the upcoming two upcoming stories by first familiarizing yourself with the world of Shining Masterpiece Show.

Mikaze Ai 23:16 I’m sorry that I couldn’t talk a lot about what I did because I played a very important character and there are many things that I needed to keep secret. What is right? What is wrong? I hope that I was able to act in a way so that you could notice something. I hope you look forward to the next one.

Kurusu Syo 23:20 Did you learn a lot about Lost Alice? Honestly, I think that I wasn’t able to show the full appeal of Shining Masterpiece yet. When Trois comes, I’m gonna get ready to talk to you guys more! See ya ‘til then!

Ittoki Otoya 23:22 In Shining Masterpiece, everyone acts as many characters so I learn more about acting and find out about things that are different from what I see normally. All the characters I play in these 3 stories each give a different impression so look forward to it! See ya!

Aijima Cecil 23:26 Zzzz... My princess, am I allowed to not get sleepy? What I have talked about today is only a part of the show. I will be waiting for you to actually come to this world when you actually listen to Lost Alice!

Jinguuji Ren 23:28 Did you have fun at the free and merry tea party? Lost Alice is a story with a lot of highlights so I’d be happy if you keep going back to listen to the CD. I’ll come back to see you again. Until then, good night, cute Alice.

Ichinose Tokiya 23:32 Because I was acting out a character from a story that can be called a masterpiece, I believe I grew a little more by searching in my own way through my acting. I hope to confront the story and myself having everyone’s feelings that I have received in my chest from here on out.

Kurosaki Ranmaru 23:36 Including the nature of the story called Alice in Wonderland, today felt like a party. If you wanna go to Wonderland, I’ll always be you guide. If you say I’m there, I’ll be there. The Cheshire Cat is that type of guy

Kurosaki Ranmaru 23:38 It’s not a bad thing that you get lost. But there’s a time where you need to choose a way that you won’t regret. When that time comes, remember this story. Later

Hijirikawa Masato 23:41 I am always nervous when I try out something new but more than that, my heart starts to dance. I was very impacted by this, on top of the fact that in this story, I had to break out of a shell called me. I did struggle in trying to figure out the character but I am happy that through my acting, I get to see your surprised faces.

Hijirikawa Masato 23:44 I hope that our efforts left an impression to everyone and someday become your support. To show a completely different side of me the next time we meet, I hope to not forget my first resolution.

Kotobuki Reiji 23:47 One day is such a short time but were we able to convey how we were involved in this story through our talks? I was suuuper happy to see the story start to expand for the people who understood what we did ♪

Kotobuki Reiji 23:50 The 11 of us were having lots of fun being able to create this program all together. You’ll follow us right? The story doesn’t start without you! Leave the guiding to me, this cute White Rabbit ☆

Shinomiya Natsuki 23:54 I’m happy that I was able to create my favorite story with my favorite people! I will treasure the words everyone has given to me. It was like I was in Wonderland the whole day.

Shinomiya Natsuki 23:58 This is a story that even us, who are acting, feel something every time. I would be really happy if this story is loved by everyone. I hope to meet you again once more somewhere, possibly in Wonderland.

Shining Saotome 23:59 See you next showtime!!

#utapri #shining masterpiece #lost alice #twitter #twitter antics #translation

[loverness-writes]

Cupcake Vodka

The green-haired hatted man stumbled into the apartment, loudly banging open the door while also seeming to cling to it for dear life. As if the door was the only thing stopping the world from spinning.

“How much did you drink????” asked a man wearing a skewed white cat mask and a gold and black Hufflepuff onesie. He looked as if he had just gotten up off the couch for the first time in several hours. An open spell book was laid out on the table.

“Hmmmmm I had… uhh… ssome whiskey… an’ a screwdriver… an’ – did you know they made cupcake vodka? ‘S crazy.” Still clinging to the door, he shut it behind him and slumped against the decorated wood. He had an almost blissful expression, as if off in another reality.

“Chase, how MANY drinks did you have?” The drunken man was met with a frown and crossed arms. The cat-masked man didn’t seem too happy with the state of the night.

“I think I los count afterrr five,” while instead putting up four fingers into the air.

“Time for bed then, party boy. And some good Advil in the morning.” The man went to take Chase’s arm, but he pulled away sloppily and stood alone from the door.

“Awwwww Marvy, I c’n take care’f myself.” Chase pouted and took a few steps forward before swaying and his body threatening to fall flat.

“You can’t even stand up properly.”

“M tired! Thas why. It’s ….late….” an unconvincing yawn was added with the most unrealistic yawning noise ever uttered in the house.

“You mean early. It’s 3:30 in the morning.” Marvin’s eyes reduced to squints as he scrutinized Chase wobbling in front of him.

“PARTY TIIIIME!” Chase threw his arms up and, in return, his body collapsed onto the ground. His eyes were fixed to the ceiling but his hands were still straight up in the air.

“Bed time.”

“….Party IN bed, time.” The man gave a sly smile to the overbearing yellow onesie now standing over him.

“Chase…”

“C’mon, Marvy, come to bed with meeee.” His hands fell at his sides as dramatic as possible. As if he would convince Marvin the more distraught he looked.

“Maybe when you’re sober, Mr. Trickshot.” Marvin tried to hide a smirk and ended up looking away at the clock in the hall.

“Sober’s for pussies.”

“Well then meow. It’s time for bed for you. I’ll give you that hangover spell in the morning.”

“I’d rather hang over YOU…. in bed…” Chase tried to stand up but ended up falling forward into Marvin’s arms. He reached up and booped the man on the nose of the cat mask, his face in a smug smile.

“… well the probability of that is 0, but you go ahead.”

Instead of a response, Chase simply giggled and removed his hat to place it delicately on top of the ears of Marvin’s mask. It quickly teetered before falling and smacking down on the floor; but Chase was already passed out. Marvin simply sighed and picked up the drunk fully, carrying him bridal style to his room. He doubted Chase would remember any of this the next morning. Which was a shame. The man really needed more laughs in his life.

_____________________________________________

HA! YOU CAN’T PLAGUE ME ANYMORE! This small bit took me longer than I’d care to admit. I kept running into walls, but I really wanted to get it done. It’s not the best, but it’s just supposed to be short and sweet. And drunk. I used a couple of dialogue prompts within it. The main one was “How much did you drink?”

Anyway, Chase just needs some love. And Marvin just wants some lovin. But not from a drunk too hyped on cupcake vodka. XD

Tags:

@iamvegorott

#chase brody #marvin the magnificent #trickshot #jse egos #drunk #cupcakes #FINALLY #my writing

[beerselfie]

#Repost @thebrewvangelista ・・・ Where my #beer biddies at?! (Guys. Go away. This post isn't for you. Just look at the hoppy blond lady enjoying her #IPA. Unless you wear #lipstick. Which, in that case, stay tuned...) So, yeah. Ladies! Do you like to look and feel pretty? Do you wear makeup and like to keep it on your face, instead of alllll over your beloved #craftbeer glass o' goodness? Yes?! Well, DITTO! 👯 I found this thingy called #LipSense aaaaaand it changed my life. 🙆🏼 No, I am not exaggerating. This shit changed my life. I'd been a diehard MAC lover for quite some time. While I loooved the look of my #RubyWoo, what I didn't love was that I needed to constantly reapply it to maintain said look. But! I dealt with it because I thought that that's just the way it was with #lipstick. Then I found a magical lipstick. 💄✨ No shit. M-A-G-I-C-A-L. 🎩🐰 It lasts all day. (And allll night.😏) Sip-proof. Kiss-proof. Waterproof. Life-proof. Ain't-nobody-got-tiiiime-for-that-proof. Mmmmhmmmm. 💁🏼 This is basically a red or blue pill situation. What if I told you that you could live a carefree life feeling and looking beautiful EFFORTLESSLY? Or. You could just continue on with your mundane existence of constant reapplication and smudging. Which would you choose? There are two choices, but only one of them is smart. Like I tell my #yoga students: you could either choose to be wise... or otherwise. And you can always choose again. So, if you have an ass that won't quit and want the @perpetualpucker to match, hit me up! I'd love to talk lip shop! Straight up. IDC if you get it from me. Just GET IT. You will love it. I promise.💕 #Namaslay, bitches. 🙅🏼🙏🏻 #Cheers to my beautiful #beerlovers! 🍻 #iAmTheBrewvangelista AND #iAmTheLipGuru #BrewLoveIsMyTrueLove #ButLipSenseIsACloseSecond #DetoxRetoxRepeat #XOXOmmm @beerselfie @kristinwoodlashes

#xoxommm #brewloveismytruelove #repost #cheers #beerlovers #lipsense #beer #yoga #lipstick #butlipsenseisaclosesecond #iamthebrewvangelista #namaslay #iamthelipguru #rubywoo #detoxretoxrepeat #ipa #craftbeer

[fablefan]

Quick rundown of everything that happened so far in my lets play:

Skull Grunts more like Skull Gruntzzzzzzz because I swept them easy

Grinding session

Bentley evolved!!! He's a Dartrix now!!!!!!!

Went to the spooky cemetaRY GRUNKLE 'GENTLEMAN' STANLEY WH A T

Another grinding session

HELLO DELIBIRD shouldn't you be with Santa??

'I got self esteem issues man!'    - Every teenager in the US

REVIVES BABY IM NEVER DYING NOW AHAHAHAHAHA

"It's our honeymoon!"   Aww, congrats! I wish you two happiness

TRIAL TIIIIME oh it's you two again

"this kid straight up dangerous homie!" YOU BET YOUR BUCKET I AM

Finally, the Z Crystal! Should I have a bag of sand at the ready? Just in case this is a trap and a boulder rolls out...

Nice! first Trial and Z Crystal!

WAIT HOLD ON ILIMAS A GUY?!

Oh hey Kukui hi - OH MY GOD YOU FLATTENED THE GROWLITHE WTF

WHAT?! The bae is lost?! first of all how dare you lose her what kind of professor are you

DONT WORRY LILLIE DARLING, YOUR POKEMON KNIGHT IS COMING FOR YOUUU~

Lillie your in a field of bright flowers, am I in an anime????

DONT MIND ME I'm just getting my girlf Pokemon... Even though I'm allergic to pollen......... *sniff*.........

MY GRUBBIN EVOLVED!! He's a Charjabug now! Patience pays off!

I saved Nebby!  Do I get a good job smooch now?

"At least let me do this" IM GETTING A SMOOCH!!

aaaaand she just healed my Pokemon

TIME TO FACE THE KAHUNA BOIII

Well that was easy. YA PROUD OF ME LILLIE

Oh sweet another Crystal!

OH SHOOT I get to ride around a Tauros???

Illima did you literally just show up to brag

"I actually wanted to ask a favor of you first." Anything you want Lillie

YEAAAH BUDDY NEW ISLAND TIME HELlo beautiful lady Olivia

Aww Mallow's so cute!

Off to the resooooook who're you two

So now I have to collect cores and crystals. There's a reference in there somewhere.....

I HAVE A PUPPO!!! ROCKRUFF!!!!!!

Hey Hauuuuuuu the heck are you

WOAH WOAH hold up you're with Team Skull?

I don't know who you are but I feel bad for you... Gladion

[Insert generic grinding session here]

I can ride a Stoutland now!!

[Insert generic grinding session here (Part 2: This Again!)]

also HELLO LANA

I CAN RIDE!!!! A LAPRAS!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH

Aw Wishiwashi are adorable

[Fighting the Totem Pokemon] I TAKE IT BACK WISHIWASHI ARE TERRIFYING AHHHHHHHHHHH

In other news the theme for Davy Jones or the Kraken from PotC makes great mood music when fighting them

MY ROCKRUFF AND WINGULL EVOLVED!!! THEY'RE A LYCANROC AND PELIPPER NOW AHHHH

Sweet! New Crystal!

#NatPlays #Can I just say I love this game so far #Pokémon Sun and Moon #Pokémon Spoilers #NatflashPosts

[thelady-mary]

A Day At The Park (Brandon Rogers) Sentence Starter

“Good morning, sweetie.”

“Ready for (mama/papa) to chaperone you on your first school field trip?”

“FUUUCK! WE ARE FOUR HOURS LATE FOR THAT GOD DAMN BULLSHIT!”

“WAKE UP! WE ARE LEAVING IN NEGATIVE SIX MINUTES!”

“HURRY UP, WE’RE LOSING TIIIIME!”

“THE SHOWER IS GONNA HAVE TO BE P.T.A! Pits, tits, ass.”

“NO TIME FOR SEAT BELT”

“GET READY TO GO THROUGH TIME!”

“Can I get an Ice Cream when we get there?”

“I’ve been locked here since last friday”

“Hello, welcome to the park, thank you for bringing your fucking kids”

“Don’t touch me, go play with your friends!”

*locking in the car* “I’m still here”

“Good morning ____, you look very mature today!”

“Look at you, out the house by noon.”

“In my off time I like to made inspirational postcards for young disabled.”

“My syndrome may be down, but my hopes are up!”

"Excuse me Filipino man, please do that in the bathroom"

“This is an saratoga nettle, they’re extremely nutritious.” *Begins to vomit* “I was incorrect”

"They're the oldest known living being in this park"

"I was wrong"

“I found the fourth graders THERE INSIDE EACH OTHER”

"You! In the slutty outfit, you're not getting pregnant on my jungle gym!"

“Which one of your dicks twitches dyed my hair?”

“I'm going to go back to sleep and when I wake up I want this fixed!”

“God damn.”

“I. Need. Pills.”

“I drink to forget, but I always remember”

“No running, your piece of shit!”

"Running is a good way to make up for things, i had cheesecake last night"

“I don’t think this is the bathroom!”

"YOU LEFT ME AT A GOD DAMN MCDONALDS, I WASNT LOVING IT"

“You told me that will not be exercises!”

“This guy cost us two hundred dollars!”

“He’s retarded”

"Stop being brind it's bad for ya eye"

“I’m so sory, I did not realize that you’re gay.”

“I hope nobody chases me!”

“Finally, I’m alone”

"You almost hit that lesbian!”

“My ass is his now”

“Oh my feelings!”

"Only because you think you're straight!"

"There are gay camps that can fix you."

“That's why you sould now start saving for Christmas”

“I got this asshole.”

“This shade of blue is disgusting”

“Well well well, look who finally decided to join us from his blowjob break”

“In rhere, done that, got the promotion”

“It's never the children like you that go missing”

“I'm just trying to figure out whether or not to take you seriously, bitch”

“I hope you like hospital food”

“No means no!”

“(Mama/Papa) wants to go home and get dr- Go to sleep"

“Has anyone seen my son?!”

"He's this height, clearly gay but we hadn't had the talk yet"

“Who the fuck put soy in their coffee?!”

"I haven't see you in fifty years and you still look like a slut"

"I LET YOU DO DRUGS"

"ASSHOLE! TELL ME WHERE MY SON IS OR I'LL SUCK YOUR GODDAMN DICK!"

“Puberty hasn't been kind to Dora the Explorer!”

"Help, she's beating me with her mistake.”

“I found 7 drug dealers near you“

#sentence starters #Brandon Rogers #a day at the park