#that he read news articles about horrible things and had NO IDEA

[mochinek0]

Daminette December 2023: 18-Hiding in the Shadows

Marinette looked around her pent house in Paris. She had everything she wanted as a teenager. Well, almost everything. She was a well-known fashion designer, to the people that were aware of her. She kept her business a secret and used an alias. Her clients all came from judgement on her other clients. Others designers knew her as 'Passion' after her store's brand. Very few knew her as Marinette Dupain-Cheng: Gabriel Agreste, Audrey Bourgeois, and Jagged Stone.

Marinette had enough money to pay her rent, her fabric, all of her equipment, anything a business woman could need. Marinette herself, not so much. She missed being able to walk out and go sit at a café for a bit. When she saw Wayne Enterprise opened a section in Paris, she came up with an idea.

'Wayne Enterprises is a place that usually pays big. Even a part time job should be fine. A little play money couldn't hurt. A few extra euros so I could eat out, get some comfy clothes so I'm not rushing between orders and messing up wouldn't hurt.'

Damian Wayne sat at his desk, looking through potential applicants. Many of them were attached to big names or had one of their own. As he rang background checks, he could see they were all connected to each other in one way or another. He smirked at his idea.

'Let's put on a show. I want to see what kind of people these applicants are around each other. Would they out themselves?'

Mari was escorted to a waiting room as Damian Wayne got through other interviews. When the door opened, the last thing she expected was to see some familiar faces: Chloe, Adrien, and Lila.

"I don't know why you're even here, Dupain-Cheng." Chloe snarled, after the door was closed, "This is a big company that would love to work with our families. You have nothing going for you."

Marinette sat down and smiled, "Is that right? I guess I must have sent the wrong order to your mother and that's why she wore my design down the red carpet at the MET Gala."

Chloe tensed up and refused to meet her gaze. She could tell Adrien and Lila were surprised as well.

Chloe cleared her throat, "You're lying."

"Call your mother and ask." Marinette shrugged, "Oh, that's right! She doesn't like you; she prefers your half sister, who can actually work and living on her own, instead of leeching off of her Daddy."

"This isn't you, Dupain-Cheng." Chloe declared.

"No. This is me." Marinette shrugged off the concerned looks, "I'm just not being forced to coddle you to make Caline Bustier's life easier. 'Oh, just show Chloe some love, so she'll know what it's like and she'll get better eventually. You'll see.' Even she knew you were a horrible person. She basically thought you were The Grinch. That with enough love, your heart would grow three sizes and you wouldn't be such a bitch anymore."

Everyone was speechless at Marinette's attitude. This wasn't the Marinette that they grew up with.

"Chloe Bourgeois." a security voice called.

Chloe held her head high as she walked into the office.

"Damian Wayne." Chloe stated.

"Sit!" he demanded.

Chloe was shocked by his attitude.

'Doesn't he know who I am?'

"Do you know who I am?" she shouted.

"A spoiled brat; Ive read the articles on the internet." Damian stated, "You are known for crying for your father when you don't get what you want. Even though you are the oldest, your half-sister is who your mother relies on to bring customers for Style Queen in New York."

"My father-" Chloe snarled.

"Isn't the mayor anymore. He hasn't been the mayor in three years." the Wayne heir spoke, "If you're thinking of blackmailing me, you chose the wrong person. Spread whatever lies you want or cry to your father, the hotel owner. I could make one post about how horrid his hotel is and he would go out of business. Could you live with that?"

Chloe stood there, speechless. The only person who talked to her like this was her mother.

"I'm in charge, here, and if it came down to it, your job would be scrubbing toilets all day." Damian declared.

Tears formed in Chloe's eyes.

'He's glaring at me, just like Mommy. He doesn't look happy. He looks at me like he wishes I was gone or someone else.'

"We're done here." Damian stated.

Chloe quickly rushed out of the office. The three saw her rushing away, crying.

'I knew she wouldn't last.'

"Marinette, I can't understand why you're like this." Lila spoke, as she took her seat.

'He made that Daddy's Girl cry. I better go at this carefully.'

"Oh, shove it, Lila." Marinette sighed, "All three of us, here, know you're a lying manipulative bitch. You don't have to fake it."

"I don't know-" Lila continued.

"Adrien already told me years ago that he made a deal with you. He made one with me, too. Did he ever tell you that?" Mari questioned.

Lila glanced towards Adrien, who kept his head down.

"Oh, he didn't." she giggled, "You see, I was already designing for Jagged Stone when you arrived to our school. Adrien even had me autograph things I designed for him."

The model had turned towards Adrien and was now glaring at him.

"I could have made your whole 'tinnitus-kitten bullshit' story go up in flames since day one." Mari smiled, "I could have video called him and you would have been labeled as delusional."

"I took all our friends away!" Lila cried out, in victory.

"No." Mari answered, "You took away people, who were finally talking to me. Chleo ensured that for seven years, I had no friends. Those 'friends' just went back to not talking to me. You didn't actually do anything. If anything, you helped me. You took away the class president duties from me and I had more free time. You turned Alya and Nino away, so I couldn't babysit. I designed more clothes and got more clients. You didn't make my life worse, Lila, you made it better."

Lila fumed. Adrien had played peace maker between the both of them. From what Marinette was saying, she could have won the war in an instant! She thought she had chased Marinette Duapin-Cheng out of school all those years ago and here she was smiling, practially laughing at her, saying it wasn't true. She had thanked her and said she made her life better.

'I need this job so I can rub it in her face! I need to win against her!'

"I do hope you at least did some research into Damian Wayne." Marinette stated.

"I've known Damian Wayne since we were children!" Lila announced.

"Is that what it told you, you should say when you looked up how rich his family is?" Mari inquired.

Lila stood up, in rage.

'How dare she!'

"Lila Rossi." security called out.

Lila smirked, "I'm coming."

"She really should have done her research." Marinette spoke out loud.

"Why do you say that?" Adrine asked.

"Lila likes to play off her tears and looks." Mari declared, "Damian Wayne hates going to galas because of girls that try to attach themselves to him."

"And?" Adrien questioned.

"He broke an Italian model's arm two months ago, for lying to him." the designer stated.

Adrien paled at her words. Marinette merely smiled and pulled out her phone and dialed emergency services.

"Hello, what is your emergency?" the voice asked.

"I think we need an ambulance at Wayne Enterprise." Marinette stated, "I think someone's arm is broken."

"Are you with this person?" the voice questioned.

"No." the designer answered.

"I have sent medical to your location." the voice declared, before hanging up.

"That was pretty extreme, Marinette. I have faith in Lila!" Adrien shouted, "I don't think he would do that! The Waynes have an imagine to uphold!"

"Maybe, you should have done your research." Mari shrugged, "You still have time. Maybe five minutes."

Lila sauntered her way into the office.

"Hello, Mr. Wayne." She spoke, calmly.

"Sit." He demanded, not looking up.

Lila waved off his decleration. She moved past the chair in front of his desk and walked her way to his side.

"Can I sit on your lap?" She asked, "You see, I have tinnitus and-"

"There is nothing in here that would activate your tinnitus. Tinnitus is when you can't here anything for a brief amount of time, but a loud ringing. It's usually followed after hearing an extremely loud sound. I should know; I went to medical school." Damian stated.

'Shit. My usual tactics won't work here.'

Lila nodded and made her way back to the seat.

"Why shoud I hire you?" The Wayne heir questioned.

Lila fluttered her lashes, "I'm a model for Gabriel Agreste."

"Former model." Damian interjected, "You now model on Instagram and Only Fans."

Lila turned red. She didn't expect them to aware of her new lifestyle.

"Now, Miss Lerouch-" he continued.

Lila paled, "Wh-What did you call me?"

"Cerise Lerouch." Damian stated, "Did you think I would not delve into your background? I have to know who I am working with."

Cerise quickly leaped up from her seat and rushed around the desk.

"Don't touch me." Damian demanded.

"I'll do anything." Cerise cried out, grabbing onto his arm.

The Wayne heir growled, "Let go."

"I can help you relieve stress in other ways, you know." Cerise pleaded.

Damian grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back, harshly. Cerise screamed in pain.

"I have no need for whores." Damian spoke.

He grabbed the back of her shirt, arm still twisted, and walked her to his office door. He grabbed the knob and threw her out, in front of his security team.

"Drag this whore out by the hair, if you have too, but I want her off Wayne Enterprise grounds and blacklisted!" Damian shouted.

"Yes, Mr. Wayne." they spoke simultaneously, as he slammed his door shut.

"Shit, I think her arm is broken." the one on the left declared.

"She would call an ambulance?" the one on the right asked.

"Please, help me! It hurts so much!" Cerise begged, cradling her arm.

"You shouldn't have pissed him off." the one on the right declared, "Damian Wayne isn't one to mess around."

A man rushed towards them with medical workers.

"Did you guys call for an ambulance and someone with a broken arm?" the new guy asked.

"No, but perfect timing." the one on the left stated, "Girl with broken arm right here."

Cerise was walked by the waiting room. Inside, she could see Adrien looked horrified before turning to Marinette. She was smiling at her. Then, the baker's daughter flipped her off.

'She knew! That bitch knew how this would end!'

Cerise burst into tears as she was carted off.

"I guess that just leaves you and me, Agreste." Marinette stated.

Adrien began to feel uncomfortable.

"I do hope you do better than they did." She spoke, "For your Father's sake."

"Huh?" Adrien asked, confused.

"Damian Wayne isn't one to back down, not even to his father. He can make his father bow down to him. You have no idea how......attractive that is to a woman, Adrien." Mari smiled, "A man with a spine."

The model gulped, watching Marinette lick her lips.

"You should grow a spine." she declared, "Maybe then your father won't force you to model for him. I' sure that's why Kagami chose Felix over you. Your cousin has a spine. It looks good on him. Maybe, that's why Kagami didn't take my advice on how to get back with you after the break up."

Adrien only looked at her in shocked.

"Alya told me you broke up and I went to see her." Marinette continued, "I tried to help, but she didn't want to. She said it was better that way and well, Felix and you did look alike as teens. The same face with a spine; kind of hard to resist. They're so happy and their twins are adorable."

"Adrien Agreste, Mr. Wayne will see you now." the voice spoke over the intercom.

The model looked over at the designer. She waved at him, but said nothing. Adrien stood up and stood tall.

Adrien walked into Damian's office. It was intimidating; Marinette was right. He was scarier than his father.

"Why should I hire you, Adrien Agreste?" Damian questioned.

"I hate modeling. I prefer computers and science. I want to break free of Gabriel." Adiren admitted, "You don't have to worry about me telling him anything because I never learned anything about fashion. I couldn't even tell you the names of two different shades of fabric. If anyting, you should hire Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Marinette has always been an amazing designer. She was recognized by Father and Style Queen when she was only thirteen. She's the one who would know everything about fashion."

Damian hid his smirk behind his hand and looked down at the papers about Adrien again.

'What a miracle worker you are, Miss Dupain-Cheng. Agreste grew a spine.'

"We may have an internship available in our science department." Damian spoke, "Do you still live with your father?"

"Yes." Adrien spoke.

"We have a company home we prefer our interns reside in." Damian continued.

He noticed Adrien seemed relieved about that.

"The internship isn't a guarantee." The Wayne heir continued, "We need to see you commitment and dedication first hand. If you can't keep up, we'll put you in a different department. If you keep failing to meet our expectations, you'll have no choice but to keep modeling for your father."

"Tell him we'll work with him for one year, as a test." Damian continued, "You have one year to get your affairs in order. You'll need to move in one month from now and if not, consider the contract cancelled. I will inform them you are expected."

"Thank you." Adrien smiled.

Damian waved him off and Adrine walked out of the office, happy.

Marinette stood up when her name was called. As she walked towards the office, she saw Adrien smiling at a paper. She entered the office and closed the door.

"Please sit Miss Dupain-Cheng." Damian ordered.

Marinette immediately took a seat in front of him.

"Why should I hire you?" He questioned.

Mari shrugged, "You don't really have to."

"Oh?" Damian pushed.

"I'm only here for a part time job." the designer answered, "You know, helping out on the floor, coffee grabber, secretary gig. That sort of thing."

"Excuse me?" he asked, shocked, " Aren't you a fashion designer."

"With my own clients and I can pay for my own things." She smiled.

"Then why are you here?" Damian questioned.

Marinette sat back further in the chair and got comfortable, "Play money. I spend my own on my deisgns, fabrics, equipment, rent. Why not have a little extra to treat myself to a night out or a night in, for once?"

That was not the answer he had been expecting.

Damian laughed, "What if I decide to keep you?"

"Keep me as in?" Marinette pushed.

"I decide I want to become one of your clients." he offered.

"Are you offering?" the designer asked, "I've seen some of those suits you wear to galas and it doesn't bring you out to your full potential."

"And that would be?" he asked.

"You're outshined by your father, your older brothers, and the company." She spoke, "You can stand out, but maybe you want to fade into the back, less people to grope you."

Damian chuckled and stood up from his seat. He made his way around the desk and rested on it.

"What would you dress me in, right now?" Damian questioned.

"Depends." Marinette smiled, "Do you always wear a suit to work or are you interested in a change?"

"Tell me about this hypothetical change." He demanded.

"Ever heard of quick change wear?" She asked.

"No." he replied.

"It mainly takes woman into factor. Clothes that can go from working at the office to going out on a date or partying." Mari answered, "Just a few adjustments and possibly a new shade of makeup and usually people tend to think they took all day to get ready."

Damian took what she said into account, "And for men?"

"Most don't really have the option." Marinette shrugged, "Shame, but on you.....your figure. Well, there's nothing sluttier than a man wearing a sleeveless turtleneck."

The Wayne heir couldn't help but think of his old League of Assassin's outfits.

"No one at work would know if you have a blazer on and buttoned." She continued, "It is your office so you can always install a closet here and keep an extra pair of clothes. Jeans, if you prefer. Who is to say that this whole time, you weren't wearing sweatpants and just dressed from the waist up."

He chuckled ather way of thinking.

'Effective, but true not the less. I could kick out anyone who entered my office, should I choose to dress comfortably, and there was a closet hidden behind the cabinets.'

"Another thing most people tend to do is incorporate their culture into their clothing, as well." Marinette spoke, "Personally, I use apple blossoms in most of my designs for myself."

"Miss Dupain-Cheng, you are not what I was expecting." Damian declared, "I like to expect everything."

Mari smiled, "I've been known to be...unpredictable."

"You want to work part time in the fashion section." The Wayne heir stated, "Even if it's just grabbing coffee or lunch for others."

"Correct." she answered.

"Fine." Damian spoke, "You can work here, part time, at least three days a week. I f you have a big comission, I want to know about it. You can keep the details to yourself, but I want a time frame."

Marinette nodded, happily.

"I also want you to make me something to relax in the office that could pass for office wear." he suggested, "I'll pay for fabric of course. I can send you the details of my heritage via email, later."

Marinette stood up, "I'll start on that and bring it by Friday."

Damian grabbed her hand and kissed it, "I'll see you Monday morning, at 9AM, for work. We can go over your schedule then."

Marinette felt her face flush as his lips connected with her hand. His gaze was piercing.

"Yes, Mr. Wayne." She answered, flustered.

Damian waved his hand, dismissing her, but he still followed her to the door.

"You know, Miss Dupain-Cheng." He whispered, pressing himself to her back, "They may not be able to see it, but I see what lurks in the shadows. I can see what you hide there. I can wait a bit longer for the side of you that wants to come out and play."

"Is that so?" Marinette whispered back.

"I'll enjoy getting to know you, in the future." Damian spoke, before opening the door.

Marinette took a breath before she walked out the door.

"Marinette, did you get the job?" Adrien asked.

"Yes." she answered.

The model sighed in relief, "I told him you were good. I told him about Father and Audrey."

"Did you think I wouldn't be able to get it on my own?" Mari questioned.

"That's not what I meant!" Adrien cried, surprised at the question.

"Then, don't belittle me and my work." Marinette declared, "He already knew who I was. The Wayne keep a check on everyone and everything. Did you seriously not expect him to know about our families? He was probably listening to us in the waiting room."

Adrien gulped in response.

"Besides, I wasn't apart of whatever you three were fighting over." Marinette smiled, walking away.

'What did she mean by that?'

Adrien turned to see Damian Wayne leaning against the door, wearing a smirk on his face. Damian took notice of the model and hardened his gaze. Adrien gulped as Damian stood tall and closed his door again.

'What was he staring at?'

Adrien turned his head back down the corridor and saw Marinette speaking to the receptionist.

'He was after Marinette the whole time!'

'He already knew who I was.'

'He was probably listening to us in the waiting room.'

'Besides, I wasn't apart of whatever you three were fighting over.'

TAGLIST: @maribat-calendar-events @animeweebgirl@a-star-with-a-human-name@meme991001@vixen-uchiha@abrx2002@alysrose-starchild@fandom-trapped-03@dood-space@moonlightstar64@saltymiraculer@marveldcedits20@09shell-sea09@icerosecrystal@animegirlweeb@insane-fangirl-of-everything@blueblossombliss@nickristus-dreamer@megawhitleycalderonpaganus@missmadwoman@meira-3919@princessdaisysolosyourfaves@blep-23@fangirlingfanatic@darkhinauniverse@ravenr22@im-a-satanic-ritual@ravennm84@bianca-hooks123@a-slytherinish-gryffindor@starling218

#daminette december 2023 #daminette #marinette dupain cheng #wayne enterprise #damian wayne #chloe bourgeois #adrien agreste #lila rossi #chloe salt #adrien salt #lila salt #mommy issues #cerise miraculous #daddy issues #mlb x dc #dc x mlb #hinding in the shadows #mochinek0

[argumentativeaxolotl]

Hii, can you do random headcanons human au about lightning and doc? Like a father/son relationship?

Yes! I can do that for you! Thanks for asking ^^

LIGHTNING & DOC FATHER/SON HEADCANONS(HUMANIZED)?!? REAL?!:

Im so sorry there aren’t too many 😭 for some reason I’ve been struggling with concepts so if I think of any good ones later, I’ll add them back here! I hope you like these my friend!

- In my AU at least, Lightning never had a stable home-life, constantly jumping from foster home to foster home and sometimes said foster homes wouldn’t be the best. I’d assume thanks to his unfortunate circumstances, he never really had anybody take care of him until Mack and Doc arrived- even then there was only so much Mack could do or say in fear of getting fired or something.

- Doc loves Lightning(this is obvious), but the kid cannot cook for the life of him so whenever Lightning does something nice for Doc and makes food for him, and it ends up genuinely being shit or inedible, Doc will still eat it anyways because of how happy Lightning looks when he does.

- Lightning’s love language is gifts and making things for other people(even if he thinks he’s good at it, but really isn’t). I’d imagine Doc has a lot of random nicknacks and bracelets from Lightning lmao.

- I think that the first time Lightning accidentally called Doc Dad he got so scared and embarrassed that he fucking bolted out the door, ran to his 95, and raced outta town like a bat out of hell. He’s like “fuck I can’t go back and show my face! Doc’s gonna think I’m weird or something!!!!” But then doc’s like,”You think of me as a dad?! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰” and immediately goes out after Lightning and brings him home- possibly having a heart to heart or something.

- Doc will do very small things that mean the world to Lightning, such as taking him to the store with him, going on small trips with him, just generally making Lightning feel wanted and just spending time with him.

- This one’s not necessarily Lightning and Doc only and is sorta canon, but Doc is everyone’s father 💀💀💀. Doesn’t matter who you are, as soon as you step foot in Radiator Springs once and you plan to stay for more than half an hour, then you are his kid. You have been adopted.

- Doc gave Lightning a bedtime. And Lightning was not happy abt it 😭. Lightning, despite being a mostly functioning adult, was still taking horrible care of himself(likely due to Harv’s harmful teaching and shitty “philosophies”. Fuck that guy) and would go to bed at seriously ungodly hours, even during race weekends which was a no no for obvious reasons. There was also the fact that Lightning got snippy and short whenever he didn’t sleep and everyone on the team was simply too nice to say anything until Doc did. I’d imagine it was because Lightning decided it would be a good idea to mouth off to the man after a race that went awry and he said stuff he didn’t mean. Doc would likely then realize the kid needed to have a nap before he collapsed or whatever then magically after said nap he was a bit better. Doc then decided that the kid’s bedtime would be 10:30 on the dot. Lightning, deciding he was an adult, complained to the man to which Doc replied with how shitty the kid had been acting which led to Lightning having a realization and leading to him apologizing his team who were more than forgiving and understood.

- Lightning’s a fuckingn iPad kid and Doc knows it and uses it to his advantage 💀💀. Whenever Doc just needs a second to himself or wants to disappear without worrying Lightning(a note or two would be written and left on the counter as well) he’ll leave a documentary- likely about prehistoric animals or modern animals- playing on the TV that will invest Lightning until Doc gets back.

- While having a stable father figure is new to Lightning, having a son-figure is for Doc as well. After Lightning called him dad, Doc has been reading every parenting guide book and news article and children’s mental health guide he could get his hands on. He didn’t want to mess up with the kid and he was still young(Doc knew Lightning didn’t have an all-too stable home-life, why else would he never talk to his parents or family members if he even had any?) and decently impressionable- plus there was all that deep-rooted shit Harv fucked Lightning up with. Doc did not want to hurt the kid and so he did his best with what he could, but it was hard since Lightning wasn’t exactly a child. Doc does his best anyways.

- Doc always gives 101% of his attention to Lightning, even when he’s physically doing something else such as making coffee. Doc loves listening to Lightning’s sometimes nonsensical rambles and rants about dinosaurs(Lightning is 100% a Dinosaur kid I know one when I see one for I am also one) and will listen when he starts nervously rambling about them during a race as well. He’ll always listen to his rants and stories, doing his best to keep up with the youngster. He’s glad Lightning loves sharing his interests with him and everyone in Radiator Springs. Lightning himself loves that he’s allowed to just keep talking all he wants and so he does, but he doesn’t have to “make sure” they’re still listening like he’d have to with Harv or shitty old friends of his because they’d all be paying attention anyways, even while busy. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

- Doc teaches Lightning how to do DIY shit or how to fix things(aside from cars. I’d imagine they bond on that. Maybe this one can be changed to Doc taught Lightning about the insides of a car? Like “if you wanna race, you can’t just know the pedals and wheel. You gotta know everything about your car” or something. Little lesson yk?) like doorframes or putting together IKEA furniture(screaming and crying). I’d imagine he loves teaching Lightning how to do woodshop and Lightning loves making little sculptures.

- For his first Father’s Day in Radiator Springs, Lightning decided to get the entire town involved since he wasn’t entirely sure what Doc liked and didn’t like that he could get the man. With his little dilemma, he went to everyone in the town getting input from everybody- some ranging from getting Doc an entire new tool kit or some sort of organizer thing to a nice set of overalls Doc could wear when fixing up the Hornet or working on projects. I like to think that maybe the entire town also get him things and nicknacks since everybody realized how much of a father Doc was. I think Lightning would be like,”fuck what do I get him 😰😰” Sally would be like,”BRO JUST GET HIM SOMETHING. HE’LL LOVE IT EITHER WAY ESPECIALLY IF IT COMES FROM YOU!” And then he decides to get Doc everything the others said anyways to which Doc is surprised and proves Sally right by saying something like,”Kid, you’re the only gift I need.” Or something corny. Maybe even like,”Kid, these are all wonderful, but you didn’t have to get all of these just for me.” Or sumn. Doc 101% uses all of the items everyday tho.

I’m sorry if these are a little short I’ll add some more later if k come up with good ones lol

#cars 2006 #humanized cars #human lightning mcqueen #cars 1 #humanization #lightning mcqueen #doc hudson #headcanons #cars headcanons #humanized doc hudson

[viidemoo]

Just letting you know your anon asks are turned off!!

Besides that, maybe some headcanons for Michael ( 1978 is good but 2018 version would be ++++ ) stalking a potential victim that actually- for some weird reason- is infatuated with him? Like, they have pictures of him from newspapers and the internet taped onto their bedroom walls, write about him in their journal, etc.

BTW I feel like I have to say that I don't agree with people that do this with real-life serial killers because that's fucked up it's just a fictional idea 💀

Not what he was expecting..

An: tysm for letting me know! Sadly I haven’t seen the 2018 Halloween yet but you could probably interpret this as any Michael you want. There’s not gonna be any like “relationship” stuff in this btw! And not proof read cause I’m lazy asf 😛

You were just like any other victim. There was nothing too special about you, just an average person. He did the same thing with you as everyone he had killed in the past. Watched you walk care-free down the street, look around for a quick second, then go into your home and lock the door.

He waited a few minutes before walking around your house before welcoming himself in threw your back door. He looked around and saw nobody; however, he did hear the sound of water running. You had gotten in the shower as soon as you had gotten home.

Seeing as he had nobody else he planned on killing today, he decided to wait this one out. Let you relax in the shower, then kill you when you entered your room. A pretty simple plan he had done many times before.

As he walked down the hallway, he saw one door slightly open, your room. Well that was easy to find. He placed him hand on the door as pushed it open lightly.

To say he was put off guard as an understatement.

You had a whole wall dedicated to the killer. Articles, cutouts, you name it he saw it. Michael was not an easy man to startle. But you managed to do it.

Michael wasn’t fully sure what to do. Did he continue to look around? Did he leave? Did he just kill you now?

He went with the first option, he had never seen anything like this before so why not investigate a little bit.

As his eyes scanned the room they landed on a propped up notebook, with the words “ Micheal M.” Written on the cover. Carefully he walked over and picked up the book. He flipped it open to a random page and read,

“A new article came out today about Michael. He killed 5 people last Saturday. I know most people would be and are totally freaked out and scared by this but it’s honestly kinda cool. Like how does he do these horrible crimes and NEVER get caught?? (Ngl he’s probably cute under that mask)”

Michaels eyebrows were furrowed and mouth was slightly open. What in the world. Michael had never seen someone who wasn’t afraid of him, let alone thought he was cool and cute. Just when he was trying to gather his thoughts the water shut off. He threw the book back on desk where he had found it and quickly left the house.

He’d come back later and kill you…maybe.

#micheal myers #halloween #halloween 1978 #halloween 2018 #Michael myers x reader #michael myers x you #slasher #slasher x reader

[pinkrangersarah]

what's even more unexpected than a season 5 announcement, is me actually getting back on my bullshit and thinking about max's parents. (yeah, i just rewatched parent's day and, yeah, i got a little teary eyed, don't fucking look at me.)

it's canon that max's parents are inattentive to him; they "don't care" about him. it's popular for people to headcanon that they are also physically abusive to him (despite no evidence supporting this in the show), and i remember a while back seeing some theories that his parents are actually foster parents. over the years i've come to dislike these theories, the former having nothing to back it up and the latter getting under my skin because of how the foster care system is in real life--broken, with children often falling into the hands of horrible people. i've come to really dislike media feeding into that reputation.

in trying to come up with my own ideas for max's parents, i started looking into marital traditions and the views of divorce in indian culture. max states in "camp cool kidz" that his parents left their home country (although i'm willing to bet the reason he gives isn't entirely true, if it's true at all), so we can assume that they were married in india. i found an article by shibani joshi, where she talks about her experience with marriage and divorce. arranged marriage is a tradition in many indian cultures and, according to joshi, india has one of the lowest divorce rates, and divorce can bring shame to families, particularly to women.

in her story, joshi makes it clear that she wanted to put her children first; that if she was really going to go through with divorce, it wouldn't be until after her youngest turned 18. she was afraid of what her family would think if she and her now ex-husband divorced. because of this, i'd be hesitant to make a similar case with max's parents; i wouldn't want to potentially smear a cultural tradition and anxieties of a group of people. with how max describes his parents, i wouldn't feel good about it (or perhaps i'm overthinking it).

however, what if his parents wanted to avoid those traditions? before i turned away from this fandom, i used to headcanon that they were young and naive (barely 20) when they had max. i could still see that being the case; perhaps neither of them wanting to go through with arranged marriages, despite that being a generational tradition in their families. consider max's parents leaving india to start over somewhere in america, similar to how joshi describes her father starting a new life in america.

this inevitably takes a turn for the worst, as they are still in those young "finding yourself" stages of life and, on top of that, are trying to settle into a new life in a new country with a baby. the marriage gets strained, and as the two parents take out their frustrations on one another, max is often ignored as a result. "i'm busy, ask your father." "i'm busy, ask your mother." communication falls apart and max is often forgotten about at school, the parents spending more time blaming each other rather than comforting their child. one parent signs him up for after school activities he isn't interested in doing because it's cheaper than hiring a sitter and neither parent is willing to compromise on their work schedules. his parents aren't involved in any aspect of his life, unless they are called in for it (parent-teacher conferences, "max was sent to the principal's office again"), because they are too focused on themselves and their own lives not meeting their expectations. eventually, max learns that negative attention is better than no attention at all. emotional neglect is still abuse, even if it isn't immediately noticeable.

i highly doubt anyone is going to read this, but to anyone who does: what are your thoughts? i'm 100% open to constructive criticism (especially if i've stepped on any toes in regards to culture and traditions, it's the very last thing i want to do) and anyone else's takes on max's parents. i definitely have other headcanons, but if i'm really hopping back onto my bullshit then i'll most likely share them another day.

#camp camp #cc max #holy shit me posting a cc headcanon post in 2023? #what a wild year this is shaping up to be

[straworie]

Can I be a princess?

Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

New girl meets THE freak

Warning: bad language, mentioning of bullying, mentioning of hitting, spelling errors (just tell me in the comments!:)) that’s all <3

Have fun reading

Word count: 1099

You were walking through the Halls of your new High school. Gosh you hated that your mom decided to move away. You only had one year left of your Highschool journey so why move? Pssst it doesn’t matter anymore. New school, new you. God you were so nervous! Okay..two more steps..just open the door…

Eddie’s POV

I was just looking out the window..stupid math class. I stopped counting a while ago how many damn times I did this shit of stupid math like why would I need it later? My head shot to the left side of the room, the familiar sound of the door opening had awakening my attention and..a pretty girl? A new girl?

great a new girl who will be taken by the dark side. How much time will it take? A week?

No one’s POV

You stepped to your math teacher and had no idea what her name was.

“Tell the class about yourself” she only said,

“Uh..h-hi! My name is Y/N Y/L/N. I just moved here from Florida and I hope we all will get along this last year of Highschool”

No reaction

Eddie was looking at Y/N. She was..different. Nervous, shy and not to “I am better than everyone“ like.

Your teacher noticed the “reaction” of the class and stepped in “sit next to Mister Munson. But don’t look to much forward to his actions. He wouldn’t even be here anymore if he really wanted it”

The boy with the long curly hair winked at the teacher and watched as you sat down next to him. You pulled out your school supplies and tried to understand what the hell was going on in math. You didn’t. You just had a “why am I even here” expression on your face and Eddie couldn’t help himself but to smirk at this sight. He found it funny how helpless you were because he knew soon you’ll be like everyone else. A bully, mean and most of all boring. He looked back to the window trying not to think about you next to him.

He really thought he could maybe stop you from being like that. Little did he know you weren’t like that at all. You got bullied in your old school for liking to read and write stories and it was a living hell for you but last year you decided to not give a fuck anymore and just jump through the years of horror. That’s why you didn’t like to move here. You actually reached that state of focusing on school and not opinions and then you got taken away. Well maybe even for good. You’ll find out later.

The bell rang and everyone left the classroom with you being last. You were walking through the halls. Nervous again.. lunch time. You were wearing your black converse, shorts that were loose and down till your knees and a band T of AC/DC. Your brown tote bag was hanging on your shoulder and you had a book in your arms.

You looked right to left. Sitting..the next problem. You surely can’t sit by the popular jerks. ‘You’re a weirdo’ you thought to yourself. Ah crap.

Eddie was reading an article about D&D making it sound funny what horrible things were written in it. He looked up to see you standing there even more helpless than before.

“You guys, you want a girl to join this club?” He asked not looking away from you.

How didn’t he notice your shirt, good looking and a good music taste? Too good to be true..

“You mean the new girl?“ Mike asked with a weird look on his face.

“Got a problem with that?” Eddie looked at the freshman

“You didn’t hear?” Mikes eyes widened

“Hear what?”

“She beated up a girl who was uhhh I think her bully and she made her hospital ready”

Eddie was amused and shocked at the same time. How could anyone so sweet do something like that? Wait..what did he just think? Ugh what ever.

“I don’t care” he jumped up and headed towards you

“Maybe she Won’t turn if I do this..” he whispered to himself

“Y/L/N” your jumped, you didn’t realize Munson was walking to you.

Eddie smiled “sorry didn’t mean to scare you. You can sit with us”

You looked at him up and down. You could tell he was an outsider..welp sitting there was better than eating in the girls bathroom. You simply nodded and followed him.

Everyone at the table was looking at you. The Hell?

“You already know who she is, be nice she’s joining our lunch “club”” you sat down next to the boys with with the curls and weird teeth. You never were a person who judged others but you just felt that no one was liked by someone who sitting at this table.

“So you’re new huh, tell something about yourself” Eddie grinned

“I’d rather not to” you said while looking into your book you were reading.

”because she knows she’ll get judged“ Mike whispered towards Dustin

“What’s that?“ looking at the black haired boy.

”nothing nothing“ he simply answered.

“Better be“ looking back down.

Eddie grinned. Damn he really liked that attitude. UGH stop this stupid thoughts he had.

“Come on Florida, we won’t bite.“ the metalhead stated

”don’t. Call. Me. That.“ you growled

Eddie frowned and then grinned even more.

”Anyways are you interested in the game D&D-“

“Dungeon and dragons?“ you were looking at him curious.

He smiled “you already know about it do you?“

“Know about it? It was basically in middle school. But it’s been years since I rolled that dice“ you were zoning off thinking about the good memories you actually had because at that age you even manage to have friends. But then everyone got into Highschool and changed and you were just you. You couldn’t play alone and stopped thinking about it.

“Then you are very welcome in our D&D club. Hell fire clubs the name“

Should you really? Yes totally.

“Let me be Waesyarus and I’m in.“

“Deal.“ Eddie grinned and hold his hand towards you.

You shook it and got back to reading.

So Elfs huh? Maybe she could be Eddie’s Elf princess. HIS princess.

Maybe you’re not turning bad after all…

To be continued…



#eddie munson imagine #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x female reader #stranger things #stranger things 4 #joseph quinn #eddie munson oneshot #Can I be a princess?

[le010n11]

Kiss from a rose. Neymessi fic.

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

Leo wasn't a vocal person at all, his closed circle knew how it wasn't easy for him to express his feelings through words. Everytime he tried to talk the words would get stuck in his throat making him feel nauseous. Instead Lionel preferred to sulk in his own room alone. Even tho Luis knew Leo liked being alone, this time he wouldn't let that happen. Luis hated seeing his dearest friend suffering like that. He hated seeing him grieving alone. An idea came to mind, to ease Leo's pain and make him get over the other man.

Leo thought it was the most stupidest thing he had ever heard. Nonetheless, he tried it without telling Luis of course. Luis would know anyway, but not now.

For a start he sent a huge beautiful bouquet of lilies, with no notes attached and no name on it. He knew there was a big possibility for Neymar not to receive his flowers, nevertheless he didn't care. He sent them and wished for the best.

The next day, while stalking Neymar's Instagram stories, skipping his pictures in the Paris saint Germain kit, they made Leo feel horrible. The last story was a photo of the bouquet he sent, with a text saying “Obrigado meu amado fã! mas por que lírios?„

A very smart and genuine question from Neymar, Leo didn't expect the younger to ask such a question, he was genuinely impressed Neymar caught what he was trying to do.

As the articles he read on Google said, lilies symbolize grief and loss. Lilies couldn't express his feelings better, Leo was grieving the departure of his loved one. It wasn't easy for him, it wasn't easy on the rest of the team but he suffered the most. He felt like a part of his soul left his body when the other left with little to no explanation.

Lilies were the perfect flowers for their current situation, for Leo they meant mourning but for Neymar it meant rebirth.

It took Leo awhile to think about his next bouquet of flowers. He was still trying to understand how he felt about Neymar. He wasn't mad anymore, he was confused on why Neymar left in the first place. He was confused and lost in his own head thinking about Neymar and his unexplained reasons. Finally Leo chose, he chose sending basil.

Suarez found choosing basil was funny, the only thing he knew about basil was they were used in food. “Sending him ugly basil? No wonder why he left.” He joked, trying to lighten up the mood a bit but it made Leo more irritated, sometimes Suarez got on his nerves. “Basil are holy and sacred, they aren't just for cooking Luis.” he said, organizing the flowers, trying to make them look pleasing. He knew the younger wouldn't find them that amusing but he wanted to send a message and he hoped Neymar would receive it. “They are for good wishes. ” He explained, even tho he was still hurt about Neymar's departure, he wished everyday Neymar would have a good career in Paris. As much as he hated Neymar's new club, he always prayed Neymar could shine there just as he did at Barça.

Neymar said he would use them for cooking on his Instagram stories, which made Leo think how Neymar and Luis were so alike. Both were stupid enough. Maybe the idea of expressing his feelings with flowers wasn't the brightest but he did feel better after sending them, they made him connect with his feelings and tell Neymar his unspoken words.

Leo thought so hard about his next ones, he wanted something beautiful yet screamed his deep devoted feelings for Neymar. red chrysanthemum were the winner. They were so bright red, almost made Leo blind by how bright they were. They screamed love and passion, Leo was still in love, deeply in love and what was better than bright red flowers to show how madly in love he was. “Do you ever think Neymar will guess who send flowers to him?” a genuine question he always had on his mind since starting this. At first he was okay with Neymar not knowing who sent those, but with every bouquet, he wanted Neymar to know about his feelings, still he wasn't ready to reveal himself.

Neymar got injured, a nasty tackle injured him badly, making him miss lots of important matches. Leo's heart was torn, he hated how players hurt Neymar in order to stop him. It wasn't Neymar's problem he was so good and players didn't know how to stop him from doing amazing on the pitch. What made Leo more devasted was how he wasn't there to help his little boy, he wasn't there to comfort him, hug him and whisper sweet words to him to try and ease his pain. Luckily he had a way to show his support to the younger.

Gladiolus meant strength and faithfulness, Leo knew how strong Neymar was. He faced lots of injuries yet he never lost his faith. He was strong, determinant to get better for himself and his fans. He always got back stronger than ever, Leo was always speechless by Neymar. Everything about him made him in loss of words.

Neymar wasn't surprised by the flowers no more, instead he started to think it wasn't a random obsessed fan sending him bunch of different flowers, it was a letter, especially for him. His injury gave him time to rest and think about the flowers he was receiving. He started by searching the names of the flowers and it's symbolism. diving in different articles, he never thought flowers could mean too much. He almost guessed who sent them, nonetheless he preferred being in denial till the other gather the courage and reveal himself.

Leo never thought seeing Neymar again on the field would make his heart go warm and his stomach feel tingly. For him it was the most beautiful sight to be seen. Neymar was back from his injury, showing off his skills and playing gracefully on the field. Leo was proud of his boy. A big blue salvia bouquet was sent, with a short letter and words of encouragement. He knew by now Neymar would have guessed who sent him all these different flowers.

One day Leo woke up, a bouquet of yarrow flowers on his doorstep with a letter attached.

“I am more courageous than you Leo, I love you in spite of everything. I'm sorry.”

Yarrow flowers are a symbol of bravery, courage and everlasting love.

And Luis's idea backfired.

Pic of flowers mentioned .

#that was pretty ugly i know 💀 #this idea has been on my mind for so long now and i needed to just get rid of it #amateur writing i know #non edited #leo is a sweet sweet man #I apologize for the shit u gonna read #neymessi #messi #neymar jr #leo messi #psg #neymar #lionel messi #football #neymessi fic #fic #barcalona #Barça #Luis Suarez #that Suarez cameo tho #i love Suarez #le010n11

[longclawshilt]

Welp ok so I generally don’t care about differing fandom opinions (unless they’re egregious misreadings specifically related to Jon Snow’s arc/character), but this article right here is absolutely BONKERS. Like in ways that I can’t even begin to explain. So the title right away is just so…

Why GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire is Bad Literature

Ok whatever, fantasy has traditionally had a hard time being regarded as literature. So this is nothing new. And I don’t particularly care about this argument so moving on…

I love that the first sentence is also just so factually incorrect

Nearly half a century has pasted since Billy Shakespeare has picked up his pen, and bibliophiles are still reading his plays.

Sis probably meant to say millennium but ok 😭 lowkey makes me think this is a joke but parts of this doesn’t read like that ansbjanan

And then the author proceeds to make a pretty bold claim

Traditionally, page-turners are not masterpieces. And that rule still stands when it runs by GRRM’s works. Yet legions of his fans sprout ridiculous praise, such as GRRM revolutionizing the fantasy genre and the diversity of his characters.

But…he kinda did. ASOIAF has had a great impact on the genre (good and bad). Plus, it is really important to acknowledge the sheer diversity of characters presented to us in the series. Characters who would traditionally not get the big focus that they do. Two of our main characters are disabled, and a big part of their arcs is how they navigate a world that is so horribly ableist. He upends the return of the king trope by shifting it to his sister who starts out a child bride/sex slave forced to take on the mantle of a dead dynasty. We have two female characters whose arcs revolve around how gender nonconforming they are but how they are so rooted in ideas of justice and compassion, especially towards the disenfranchised. He upends the revenge of the glorious and noble king by putting the focus on his mother. Et cetera, et cetera. Now GRRM is not without his faults (and he has many), but one cannot in good faith act like he hasn’t given us a different spin on a lot of what fantasy offers. There’s no need to be contrarian for the sake of it.

GRRM, being the revolutionary monster he is, rejects the romanticism of fantasy in favor for realism. He eschews the wonder, the ideals, the heroism, the chivalry, and the subtle social commentary. Congrats, you’re very innovative, GRRM. What did you replace them with?

I just vastly disagree with this and idk where to start.

Case in point. Throughout the series I masturbated to rape scenes, lovemaking scenes, and even a lesbian scene in which a vagina is described as a “Myrish swamp.” Yet in the aftermath of my orgasms, I was left to wonder: where’s all the pederasts? GRRM addressed this curious phenomenon by explaining none of the viewpoint characters were homosexual; “Sorry, none of the characters chose to be gay. Nothing I can do about it.”

Ok the beginning of this section is INSANE. Might just be me but idk why you would even add this to an essay that’s apparently about literary criticism. But I anyway…it is a fair critique that none of our POVs are explicitly non-heterosexual (and we can also criticize some fetishization with female-female relationships), but like the “myriad swamp” thing…isn’t it about power? Like there’s something in that scene that gives us glimpse to who Cersei is and what she craves…idk

Which goes to show, GRRM doesn’t use sex for verisimilitude; he exploits it so degenerates such as I can buy his books. Sure, heterosexual rape happens in war. So does homosexual rape, but its complete absence in the books ought to raise some eyebrows.

The second sentence makes a good point but it’s preceded by what is honestly just a mind blowing statement I- 😭

Additionally, not every graphic sex scene in the books contributes to the narrative. Sometimes it is absolutely redundant. In Dance of Dragons, Asha Greyjoy fucks Qarl the maid, which serves to… Show Asha’s feminine side? Reveal her disdain for her arranged marriage? It obviously didn’t supplement the plot; ten minutes post-coitus, a fucking battle occurs. I don’t understand why it needed to be so explicit as well. Its short appearance in the chapter was awkward, almost entirely random. Yes, sex happens in real life. That doesn’t mean portrayals of real life have to be so ridiculously pornographic.

Wait, this is satire right? Did I fall for it?

Eh, I can tolerate violence. At the age of five, I remember watching from the passenger’s seat as my dad pulverized his colleague by repeatedly smashing his head into the car’s hood and fender, spraying blood all over the windshield. But there’s a distinctive difference between sensational violence and artistic violence. Sensational violence is violence for the sake of violence, for the sole purpose of evoking shock and disgust. It’s tasteless. As bipolar as he is, even my ex-convict padre didn’t attack strangers without reason.

I’m so confused this has to be a bit, right?

No literary devices such as symbolism, metaphors, even the fucking pacing. While there is a climax, the scene does not build itself up to it: there is no intensity in the air, and time is not manipulated. Catharsis is missing, and the only feelings a reader has for Oberyn’s death is shock due to the element of hero invincibility. Don’t people get it? GRRM’s writing is boring.

One of the most confusing aspects of this scene was the death of the stableboy. It’s a great example of sensational violence, because his death seems entirely random and unnecessary. His life was so dispensable, the reader could barely register what they’re supposed to feel: sorrow, terror, or shock? What if the killed bystander was someone important? Violence for the sake of violence, and it comes off as tacky.

No way did I fall for a satirical piece on literary analysis?

This is essentially what GRRM does with Brienne of Tarth. She’s incredibly ugly and described as androgynous; her life was filled with scorn and pity for the lack of her feminine social graces, and contempt and resentment due to her violation of gender norms. But if I was a biologically female transsexual in a patriarchal medieval world, I’d have no fucking reason to dress up and act like a knight, especially if I was an aristocrat (which Brienne is). I don’t understand why Brienne couldn’t stay at Evenfall Hall and be her father’s Castellan or Captain of the Guard. She’s the only surviving child (and heir) of Lord Tarth, so I’m confused why her father would let her roam Westeros as a hedge knight. It’s also never explained why Brienne wanted to be a knight in the first place. She idealizes the concept of true knighthood but you can be just as courageous and conscientious as a lord. Brienne acts like a knight just for the purpose of being a female knight.

I feel like this is a joke 😭

If it isn’t a joke, why does it feel like the author is hating on Brienne for being a good person?

Yet readers claim Jaime Lannister underwent a character arc (approximately 3M words into ASOIAF), since he became easily likable. I personally do not believe Jaime has a redemption arc because his mindset, behavior, and opinions do not change. Jaime is still an arrogant prick, and just because he was written agreeably does not indicate his growth as a character.

I’m dying rn

What passes off as “character development” is actually “perception development.” Instead of putting effort into developing his characters, GRRM decides to warp the reader’s perceptions instead. To make Jaime a sympathetic character, GRRM develops Jaime’s backstory (completely justifying Jaime killing the Mad King) and makes Jaime’s actions more approvable (executing a rapist). The former completely nullifies Jaime’s prospective redemption arc, since it reveals that Jaime was just as “well-intentioned” in the past, and the later does not have noble intentions — as a military man, Jaime expects more discipline from his men than Ser Gregor Clegane did.

?

The way Jaime is written, however, suggests that GRRM intended to build Jaime as a flawed character who matured over the course of the story. Instead we get an impulsive character whose personal inspirations are derived on those who he associate with — Cersei in the past and now Brienne. The same Jaime who would throw Ed Stark’s son out a window for Cersei would encourage Brienne to search for Ed Stark’s daughters. Not because he feels he owes more than an apology to House Stark, but because Jaime befriends Brienne after his relationship with Cersei becomes strained. What’s worse than a misunderstood character is a a character misunderstood by its own creator.

Nah this author’s having a laugh, aren’t they? Like no way they said this with a straight face.

1. Ending a plotline at the climax only leaves the reader unsatisfied and bitter for wasting their time.

A brilliant example is Quentyn Martell, who traveled all the way to Essos to get burned by a dragon. Unlike Ned Stark’s execution and the Red Wedding, Martell’s death did not open any new plotlines. He was a POV character who is completely irrelevant to the narrative. Seriously, George… you chronicled Quentyn’s entire journey to Essos just to bring Quentyn’s two companions to Essos? What’s the fucking point? There were no new characters or locations unveiled to us throughout that entire episode, and Quentyn and his friends could have been introduced later, when they arrived in Astapor

This is a criticism I’ve seen since I joined this fandom over a decade ago. Now it��s definitely understandable to be annoyed with a cliffhanger, especially one that involves a character introduced so late isn’t he series, but there are Doylist and Watsonian reasons to Quentyn’s inclusion. His death has an impact on Dorne and Dany, plus he’s a meta deconstruction of the hero’s journey which we also see with Aegon/Young Griff (who is also, by very much on purpose introduced in the same book) and also Jon, Dany, Bran, etc. We don’t know the conclusion yet, but it’s easy to see why GRRM added Quentyn into the mix.

Writers have all the power when they weave a story, and if they thread the eye of the needle they’re expected to sew up the buttons. GRRM clearly doesn’t know how to sew, because he doesn’t know how to resolve conflicts that he has created. His solution? Kill off the characters with narratives too complex to unravel or too boring to write about. This conveniently creates a vacuum of absent characters to sew together, so when the textile inevitably becomes tangled again GRRM commits another literary genocide. Rinse and repeat.

Idk this doesn’t hold up, like at all? Name one major character killed for the sake of it? Ned is the father figure whose death is meant to push the arcs of his children. Robb’s death is meant to push those of his siblings. Now GRRM himself has stated that he regrets killing character he needed, but this seems like a bizarre criticism. It doesn’t help that the author provides no examples to back up their claim.

The repetitiveness of this ploy just demonstrates to me how GRRM cannot tell a story beginning to end, because he doesn’t have the perseverance and the patience.

Now let’s be fair (and truthful). ASOIAF is not GRRM’s first book. It’s certainly his biggest series but he has written award winning stories before, to completion.

Myrcella Baratheon: “Are you the Sword of the Morning now?” Gerold Dayne: “No. Men call me Darkstar, and I am of the night.”

I can see what GRRM is trying to accomplish, but it’s incredibly cringeworthy. Although readers can see the direct contrast between the two characters, the symbolism is not comprehendible. Hence it also sounds very stupid.

Myrcella Baratheon: “Are you a good guy?” Gerold Dayne: “Nah. Men call me epic evil badass, and I am evil.”

HELP

In On Fairy-Stories, J. R. R. Tolkien argues the fantasy genre ultimately fulfills three purposes: to challenge a reader’s perspective of his or her own world, to provide escapism from reality, and to provide moral and emotional “Consolation of the Happy Ending” which he calls eucastastrophe.

Tolkien delves into his third point more into his conclusion, where he focuses how a true representative fantasy tale is manifested by joy. This does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure. But a happy ending emphasizes the final closing in the universal outcome of the story that provides gratification and catharsis to the reader.

ASOIAF and LOTR are two different stories. Tolkien and Martin had different goals. GRRM is not trying to one up Tolkien. Not sure why this take is so pervasive but it is, and it’s annoying.

So after reading all this I have to ask, is this satire? Have I been had? I’m not on twitter so idk if people have talked about this yet but it seems so out of pocket and incorrect, like no one could’ve seriously sat down and written this with a straight face, right?

#asoiaf #grrm #idk parts of this read like satire #because how can you miss the point so completely? #if this is satire then pls forgive me but #YIKES

[pilferingapples]

Hey Pilf, I know there have been conversations about how the French all collectively went through a Scottish/Celtic phase but do you have any resources to prove that? Or can you at least list some of the people you usually reference when you mention this phase? (for example, there was a French writer who changed their name to a Scottish one for Aesthetic reasons but I can't remember their name and Google is useless for me here)

Sure! The writer you're probably thinking of is Auguste Maquet aka "Augustus MacKeat". He's little-known, but not little-read, being a collaborative partner in a lot of Alex Dumas'* works! If you've read The Count of Monte Cristo or The Three Musketeers, you've read some of his work! Stendahl's de l'Amour, in 1822, praised the Irish for their brave and loving (and, especially , not English ) spirit-- an influential essay on the popular perception at the time! Petrus Borel's novel Madame Putiphar also starts in Ireland, and the heroes are Irish--albeit one of them is the daughter of an English lord (who is, of course, a horrible person--both English AND aristocracyXD)

I know the Revue de Paris published multiple articles about Ireland in particular through the 1830s**, more or less swooning over the tragic heroic spirit of Ireland. The rest...gad, forgive me, this is one of those things where, having been asked for examples, I've gone blank. I know I've seen the Scotland/Ireland refs elsewhere; @sainteverge, @thiswaitingheart, any of my fellow Romanticism Nerds of Tumblr, any other suggestions?

As for Why, there are a lot of factors?

Politically, it was easy for French writers to sympathize with Scotland and Ireland really hating the English; the original French Republic had actually tried to link up with Irish rebels against England (it went Badly). And figures like Daniel O'Connell ("the liberator") were hugely popular.

There was also an idea that French and Irish people were somehow especially related? To quote Louis Blanc (a republican, and so relevant on the political side):

The Irish betray so many qualities similar to those we ourselves possess—for example, the same ardor, the same excitable temperament—that it might be said they belong to the same race. It is, however, a historical fact that the Irish and French come from the same Celtic stock, and such a fact explains those similar trails of character I have remarked. I am an advocate of Irish independence. You can say from me, and I give you full permission to say, L'lrlande doit s’apparteinir. Ireland ought to be self ruled. She has every right to bo so, if the will of the people can be interpreted as in favor of the project. And from what I know, you Irish are not content with English rule in your couutry. You want your native rule; hence by the laws of justice you are entitled to it, and should have it....But my opinion on the affair is this: The greatest hope of Ireland lies in a war between France and England. ...There is a possibility of it; but as regards the probability of it I cannot say. In such a case France and Ireland would unite their forces, and the two people serried together, what power on earth could withstand them?

And in the same article, no less a Romanticist than Victor Hugo says:

...Ireland is near us if we look to the ties of mutual sympathy which have existed between both. Thus it can be seen that in general, though England, as I said, comes between us, she cannot break the moral chain that binds the Irish race and the French together. The case, however, would be still better if Ireland’s geographical position could be changed to this side of England and send England about her business to the other side, just where your country now lies. In that new position Ireland would be not alone morally and sympathetically near us—she would be our next-door neighbor also geographically.... in the last century your Irish brigade fought and bled for us, and we essayed to give you aid to wrest your independence from England. ...the system which is prevalent over in Ireland I understand to be that by which 800 or 900 persons own the entire soil. That system means this there are in Ireland 800 or 900 lords and somewhat over 5,000,000 slaves (esclaves). A miserably small fraction tyrannize— the rest, i.e., the vast majority, are the automatons that move at the beck of the fraction. That land system is, I have no hesitation in affirming, a glaringly unjust and absurd one. It is unjust, inasmuch as it pampers and enriches the minority of a people at the expense of the majority, and is, consequently, an outrage upon justice.

This article is from later than what we're generally talking about, but the attitudes toward Ireland are basically the same: The Irish Hate the English Too! They're Just Like Us!

Back in the land of art, the writing of Sir Walter Scott had a huge effect on French Romanticism, and he's been described as "the man who invented Scotland" (in the way we might joke about Hugo inventing France, that is, someone who helped define the concept , especially to people outside the country) .

There was also a woman called Lady Morgan, an Irish woman, who was consciously building up a very Romantic legend of Ireland in France as early as 1806.

So overall, while Ireland and Scotland may not have been mentioned as much as Poland or Greece in Romantic writing and politics, they were definitely a part of the ongoing political/literary discussion!

Anyway, I hope this admittedly rather sparse answer is of some interest!

*there's a tendency to describe Dumas as "stealing" from other authors he worked with, because he was the one whose name went on the covers, but from what I've read--including correspondence with Maquet!-- these really were collaborations, and not at all an uncommon way to write novels at the time,or plays. But getting into that more would be a whole other essay, let alone a tumblr post ><

**if you've got J Stor access, DO check out French romanticism and the Ireland myth, by R. Bolster, to see some a description of some of these articles! They are really Something XD

#Actual Romantics #French Romantics and: Internationalism #(it's super awkward! but it's happening!) #long post

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I’ve recently managed to get a copy (by which I mean, someone who isn’t me did a bunch of work to get it and all I did was be lucky enough to have it sent to me) of this radio interview that Daniel Kitson did in November 2002, on a show called Unbranded. It was hosted by Ian Collins, on the radio station talkSPORT.

Late 2002 is an interesting point in the Kitson canon, and one from which I don’t have a huge amount of recordings, so it’s nice to have this one to round out that period. If I look at the massive spreadsheet that I obviously have in which I document the data about all the Kitson recordings in my collection, sorted by date, there’s not a lot around that time. The only other things from the second half of 2002 are the Phoenix Nights episodes, and of course that’s not really late 2002 Kitson, as those dates are when they aired, far later than when they were recorded. Though their airing dates being shortly before this radio interview is a bit of interesting context, as they do come up.

Late 2002 is interesting because it’s just after he won the Perrier Award, and just after season two of Phoenix Nights aired, and the combination of those two things seems to be pretty much what created Daniel Kitson’s anti-publicity thing that would come to define his career. Before those two things, Daniel Kitson was on a relatively normal career track. He took a tiny role in a shit movie that came out in 2001, after studying drama in university – the move of someone who trying to build up a profile to lead to a proper acting career. Which would also explain the Phoenix Nights role and the episode of That Peter Kay Thing. He even agreed to have his 1999 Edinburgh run filmed for a documentary. Until 2002, he was doing things that were quite consistent with things people do when they don’t actively object to their showbiz career being tarnished by publicity.

I’ve said before that he might have had an entirely different career if Peter Kay had been less of a dick in 2002, because Phoenix Nights was what really put him off the idea of mainstream success. However, I think it’s a bit more than that. He might have had an entirely different career if Peter Kay and Noel Faulkner had been less dickish, and if Adam Hills, rather than being nominated three times with no wins, had won the Perrier Award in 2002.

There’s an article here, oddly published on the same day as that Ian Collins radio interview, that explains in one spot some things I’d heard him explain a little at a time on other occasions.

Kitson was 24. He’d only been out of college four years. It was too soon. “If he gets it in his first year, he really will just implode,” one of his peers told me on the night before the award. And then, this year, he was nominated again. “I can’t see how he’s going to handle it if he wins,” another comedian said, five hours before Kitson actually picked up the gong. Everyone laughed when, for his acceptance speech, he read out a letter explaining why he wasn’t there that night. If only they knew. “I wrote the speech because I didn’t want to go and get the award,” Kitson, now 25, explains. “I didn’t want anything to do with it. I said at the start of the festival to my agent, Hannah Chambers: ‘I’d quite like to be ruled out of it.’ And she said: ‘You can’t.’ Why not? ‘Because I’ve got a new dress, and if you say you don’t want to be considered, then everyone will see it as a publicity stunt.’ “In retrospect, that would have been the best thing. The whole process is innately dividing. I’ve met people who I couldn’t speak to because they thought they should have been nominated. These are, if not my friends, then my workmates, and now it’s really awkward.”

So, okay, maybe he'd have had a different career if Peter Kay had been less of a dick and Noel Faulkner had not satisfied the public's demand for horrible bullying crowd work and Hannah Chambers had not bought a dress for the Perrier Award ceremony. To be fair to her, I can't imagine she could have guessed how much he meant it when he said he didn't want to be considered. If I heard a comedian next year who was in contention for the Edinburgh Award withdrawing their name from contention, I would also assume it was a publicity stunt. Usually, it's a publicity stunt. I wonder how many years Daniel Kitson had to double down on his commitment to avoid mainstream success before it became clear that he meant it.

Anyway. The point is that late 2002 - just after season 2 of Phoenix Nights aired and he won the Perrier, before he had implement his "no mainstream success allowed rule" but after the instigating factors of the rule had occurred and he was mad about them - is an interesting point in his career that I mostly know about through stories he's told on stage years later, and a few articles. Not a lot of recordings from that actual time. Aside from this radio interview that I've recently gotten to hear for the first time.

Okay - so first of all, if you do listen to that without a lot of context about Daniel Kitson, I should let everyone know that he is currently touring a show that is written to apologize for the kind of dick he was in 2002. He does not stand by that time that he called that guy's wife a fat whore in 2002, and we cannot hold people to everything they said in 2002. It's... not something that sounds great, the little bit at the beginning of that radio recording. But it is quite interesting to listen to right after seeing his current show, Collaborator (started as First Thing). Which handles, among many other topics, his guilt at having once been exactly that type of comedian (I mean, he's still a comedian who will call his audience a bunch of cunts, but with a fair bit more awareness of how much context and irony can make any insult acceptable that it did not sound like he had back then).

His Collaborator/First Thing show also discusses how much it annoys him when people refer to certain things as "classic Kitson", as it's a reductive way to describe his work. Which is fair enough, wanting the things he worked hard on to stand on their own merits rather than getting branded as "just that thing he does".

However. I find this radio interview both interesting and hilarious because it could not possibly be more classic Kitson. If I had to describe the archetypal ideal of Daniel Kitson circa 2002, I would describe:

Starting off by complaining that it was annoying to win the Perrier Award because it meant he had to go to a ceremony that was a hassle to get to

Saying he didn't want that award yet won it over people who did, initially with the abandon of a man who did not seem aware of how arrogant that made him sound, then sort of trying to mitigate the arrogance but in a way that didn't really quite work

Saying he was up for doing criticism of an important political/global issue, but then not actually doing it

Requesting permission to swear on a commercial radio station where he had to know that you can't do that but felt the need to ask anyway, because no non-swear words were strong enough to describe his dislike for winning a major award

Arriving mid-asthma attack and breaking into a coughing fit while recording live

Swearing anyway, after being told he's not allowed to do that

Getting wildly offended at the suggestion that he might be anything like Bernard Manning, even though at the time he was rather defining himself by offensive material

When asked whether he likes any mainstream comedians, not being able to think of any

"If you're going to have principles about stuff, you have to live on your own in a room, and not talk to anyone you hate ever." - what a Classic Kitson quote

Tell a fairly indiscreet story with another swear word, after being told he can't do that

Talk a bunch of shit about Phoenix Nights, and about any of his own fans who like him because of that show

Use the word "gay" as an insult, entirely ironically, but still in a way that makes me cringe a bit and glad that he has, since then, acknowledged even with irony, that that kind of language isn't as acceptable as he once thought

Explain, with not enough irony on the word, his desire to not be ushered toward the "mainstream"

Slag off (as they say in Britain, that's one of the main British phrases that I wish I could get away with using as a North American, I love the specific thing it conveys for which we don't quite have an equivalent here, the closest would be "talk shit about" but that's not quite the same) Bruce Dessau

Explain his refusal to put anything positive about himself on his posters

Call himself "contrary" with, again, not enough irony on that word

Treat a tired question ("What can't you joke about?", tired even by 2002) with the contempt it deserved

Talk a bit about how cool performing in Australia is

This is the one thing on that list that isn't an example of exactly what I'd have expected from 2002-era Kitson, though it also didn't shock me - call Johnny Vegas the best comedian currently working on the circuit

At the end, apologize for not being a good enough interviewee

It's good stuff, I really enjoyed listening to it. I had suspected for a while, by the way, that Daniel Kitson had some sort of specific grudge against Bruce Dessau, going even beyond his general grudge against all comedy writers. Based mainly on a few Beyond the Joke articles that are caveated with explanations that they had previously contained more stuff about Daniel Kitson, but Kitson himself had requested that be taken out. There's also this article, about some Kitson footage that I and a helpful accomplice (by which I mean, the other guy did all the work) tried to find, but we were told that after that article was written, that footage was locked down tighter at Kitson's request (by the way, the comedy club discussed in that article, that films its acts, is what Kitson was talking about in that radio interview when he said he'd done some stuff in Paris in an English-language club, the article even mentioned that his filmed run there was from 2002). I'm making a couple of leaps of logic here, when I say that I suspect that request was made because that article was written, which combines with those other caveated articles to suggest that Daniel Kitson reads (or at least, for a time around 2014, used to read) Bruce Dessau's work and the moment he saw his own name would immediately shut that shit down.

Anyway. It was a fun thing to listen to. Classic Kitson, all around. Good piece of history to slot into an era when primary-source artifacts are a bit thin on the ground.

[atanx]

i just had a silly little scenario in my head but like imagine instead of nishiki having his little villain arc due to literally no one giving a shit about him and always comparing him to kiryu, nishiki quits being a yakuza (though he prolly wouldnt canonically lol), gets a new stable job and life, and then when kiryu gets outta jail nishiki immediately comes to see him just to give him the biggest, well-needed hug 😔 i may or may not sound delusional but this is the ending i need, i just want a happy ending PLEAAAAAASE

i feel u so hard we need a good ending for our koi boi </3

honestly i feel this could happen in a nishiki gets very horribly drunk, has a mental breakdown at a bar, gets therapy-talked / pep-talked by an equally drunk stranger and wakes up the next morning having resigned by the yakuza by insulting kazama's drip until kazama was too tired to deal with his shit XD

this is a very crack-y promise, but angst can ensue! :D nishiki being confronted with the fact that he has neither money nor qualifications for acquiring a job! maybe working as a host until he's saved up enough to be able to do other shit.

since this would have to be inbetween yuko dying so that he can still lose it and attempting suicide / murdering matsushige, he hasn't gotten revenge on the doctor yet, so that could be a motivating factor in what field he wants to work in.

he'd probably do well at working in the nightlife industry, as a host or manager of a cabaret / host club. keep some underground ties, maybe contribute to this whole honest living thing by helping yakuza get a proper job (i think i read that he did stuff like that at some point on his wiki article but im no longer sure)

oor the popular idea of nishiki going into fashion. which i don't know nearly enough about fashion to comment on any of that but nishiki does have drip (potential) especially if he's not at 2005-box-suit level yet.

ooooor the idea of nishiki working as an independant investigative journalist with the primary goal of making the doctor's life a living hell. somehow he ends up involved in scandal after scandal and people soon fear him for how thoroughly he exposes corrupt businesses / politicians / whatever. his reporting has steadily been getting very good and he delights in the political power his articles and the populace's favour have gotten him. he is also very hard to get rid of because HE WAS IN THE YAKUZA AND HE CAN FIGHT.

i'd also honestly live for nishiki just not knowing what to do and attending university and finding a good friend group and getting the love he fucking deserves.

i'm actually now really into the investigative journalist idea asdfghjkmjnbvcfgt i blame the judge eyes series because this idea of investigative journalism i have has an overlap with detective work and DAMN JUDGEMENT IS SO GOOD.

anyway so because in this world, nishiki isn't plotting to murder kazama, he has a clear conscience and goes to pick up kiryu when he's released and reacclimate him into society. (also nishiki totally knows everything about what's going with yumi and jingu etc and can relay that to kiryu)

yo sorry for rambling so much the plot bunny population in my brain just starts increasing exponentially whenever i get to ramble about stuff <3

#my rants #yeah i honestly believe that nishiki not only has an inferiority complex he also has a fear of being powerless #because he couldn't help (save) yumi or kiryu or yuko #also he just likes power which fair more power to him #so i think at that point in his life he wouldn't be able to become a normal civilian. whether its still being involved in shady stuff #being a politician an influential businessman or an investigative journalist i think he would seek out something where he could attain powe #it's still pretty unlikely that he would quit but hey we can just introduce a bit of ooc from time to time to spice things up XD #i didn't really go into the kiryu aspect but yeah their relationship would definitely be much much better when nishiki doesn't have #goals that will put them on opposing sides or any guilt about his actions and feeling like he isn't deserving of kiryu #because wtf was that scene in serena where he goes like 'i shot ur dad' and then like 'i did hope that we could work together' #like no?? he was obviously trying to drive kiryu away by just outright telling him that and in such a provocative way too #like hes not stupid he knows how loyal kiryu is to kazama there is no way he expected that conversation to go any different from how it wen #and i started rambling again ill just cut myself off here- #thank u for the ask <3

[nimpel]

(via Why do some succeed and others fail? Find Out - Nimpel)

I have seen people ask this question on quora and many other online platforms. Even on google the monthly rate of people that ask on google “Why do some succeed and others fail?” is 70. Well, 70  is actually very low comparing to world popular. So in this post I decided to discus about this question, tell some success story. I will also share some question and some response from expects that tried to answer this question. Before I start I will like to share some of my little success story.

Copywriting Masterclass: How to Write Copy That Sells

I started blogging in 2016. I started with news blog. Well before I finished with my high school I had the vision of owning a website where I can share my ideas on how one can achieve success, and share some quotes from prominent people on success and failure. But I had friends that are into news blog. I joined them by blogging on different news that happens around us. I failed woefully. I quit blogging in 2018 and decided to do other things. Though I still have the passion to blog again, so before starting this blog I took time to learn about blogging very well, both on page SEO and off page SEO, affiliate marketing. This blog is just two months old as of the time of writing this post, and I have made some money through affiliate marketing. And most of my traffic source is from google search. For me this blog is a success. So, two things resulted in my success for this blog. Number one is that I’m blogging about the topics I love and the second is my in-depth knowledge about blogging and patience. The first two (2) weeks of starting this blog was horrible, my articles where not even ranking on google. But now the majority of my traffic comes from google.

Why do some succeed and others fail

Another story I would like tell is the success story of Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was an alcoholic, a womanizer, a chronic gambler, a lout, a cheapskate, deadbeat, and on his worst days, a poet. He’s probably the last person on earth you would ever look to for life advice or expect to see in any sort of self-help book.

Click below to continue reading 

https://nimpel.com/why-do-some-succeed-and-others-fail/

#failure #success

[yamayuandadu]

I don't know if this is your jam, but do you know about/would you be interested in critical/decolonial turns in ANE studies? I was just a hobbyist in Mesopotamia for a few months but I only found one article when I looked into this that basically amounted to "there are Iraqi-trained archaeologists but they tend to be interested in the same things as Europeans were and 'critical' examples tend to come from Europe eg Bernbeck & Pollock 2005."

When it comes to the more specific question - the fact Simo "perhaps the Sumerians were basically Finnish" Parpola is one of the biggest names of Assyriology today and has disciples who will probably continue advancing his work (one of them, a certain Amar Annus, also had horrible takes about autism as if the 19th century worthy hypediffusionism wasn't enough. Awful mix!) is probably all you need to hear to realize the field is, to put it lightly, not up to date with this sort of discourse, even if individual authors might hold progressive views. I suppose the regularly repeated discussion about the ethics of publishing unprovenanced tablets do to a degree touch upon this topic, but they are not terribly in depth usually, and I suspect some reflect personal beefs more than actual concerns about fueling illicit trade or about western perception of Syria and Iraq etc. A handful of articles on Ugarit (not even recent ones necessarily, surprisingly) bring up Said's work to explain why Bible scholarship and its idea of "Canaanite" (read: anything they want to take as "evidence" for their low quality theories; Ebla in northern Syria, deep inland, in the third millennium BCE, can be “Canaan” too lol) religion is... the way it is, for example Izak Cornelius' book on iconography of Anat, Ashtart, Athirat and "Qetesh". (not a fan of picking a grouping of goddesses entirely made up by Bible scholars instead of something more organic - also, as usual, Shapash gets thrown under the buss despite actually getting more in terms of personal devotion evidence in Ugarit than the other two) I think feminist and gender studies fare a bit better though the first authors to apply related methodology to the field, like Tikva Frymer-Kensky, were, to put it bluntly, not very smart and at most one step detached from the worst excesses of 1970s "goddess movement". A good overview is provided in the beginning of Asher-Greve's and Westenholz's excellent Goddesses in Context (about Frymer-Kensky herself, i feel like nothing sums up her efforts better than the fact her memorial volume consists mostly of people pointing out her methodology was wack. Granted, Scurlock is the last person who should be allowed to say that, hers is tenfold worse). You can also find Jo Ann Hackett's very interesting early piece on similar matters where she ex. offers a critical perspective of the common trend of treating goddesses as interchangeable in scholarship (something that can ruin even an otherwise good source). I'm not sure if this was exclusively her influence but it is more common today to be more pedantic about individual goddesses, ex. Gary Beckman wrote an entire series of articles on Hurrian "Ishtars" who are not actually Ishtars where he stresses the need to separate them, there is a new monograph on medicine goddesses which finally doesn't just gloss all as "forms of Gula", etc.

[avonsdrabbles]

Scrolling my dash tonight and seeing one more atrocity after another, regardless of the topic, and I just. Had to share something that happened recently in my classroom.

Context: ELA, 6th grade, mostly upper-middle class area. Honors classroom, so kids who can (usually) dig into a text with accuracy.

We read Unusual Normality by Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. I highly recommend it to anyone with the spoons for reading something ridiculously heavy. It’s exactly what it says on the tin; it tells the story of his childhood, being a soldier at 13, in a war that orphaned him. It’s a book I read in 12th grade AP Language Arts — and now these kids, eleven and twelve year olds, read an article about his experiences in America after rehabilitation.

There’s a lot of humor in the story — of course there is. It’s to keep things light enough to handle, distant enough that the audience doesn’t feel too uncomfortable with the subject matter. But at the end of the day, it’s dark humor. It’s joking about what happened to him, because it’s normal for him — hence the title, unusual normality.

Only.

The kids? Are fucked.

I start off reading in a particular way each year. I read the beginning (where he moved to America) and then, I get to The Paragraph. One paragraph details his childhood in about four sentences. When he was 11, war broke out. At 12, he lost his family. At 13, he was forced to become a soldier.

I have my kids raise their hands if they’re 11, and I say, “Congrats. War has broken out in [place they live]. There’s now fighting in the streets, and you’re not even sure you can go to your friends house without dying.” I have 12 year olds raise their hands and say, “Congrats. You’re now an orphan and all alone because all of your family has been killed.” Then I have kids who are almost 13 raise their hands, and I say, “You’re about to be given a gun, and told to kill people. And you have to if you want to survive.”

In two classes this year, this worked exactly as it was supposed to. They looked horrified. They had no idea how to even conceptualize this. It packs the punch that part needs to have — so blunt and straightforward, because it means nothing to the author anymore. It helps give them the clarity of understanding that they can’t understand — going to the theme of the text.

But one class? Just laughed. They laughed so much. One kid looked at me and asked if I could give her a gun even if she wasn’t 13 yet.

I was horrified. I went dead silent and said, in my quietest voice, “I am disgusted by you.” Which definitely got their attention. I explained, “I have never, in three years of teaching, had kids who reacted like this to this text. Do you think that I lied? That this isn’t a true story?” They didn’t. They knew it was real. “What right do you have to laugh at this?”

I read the rest of the text that day without any humor. Each joke was flat. Lifeless. I didn’t give them the chance to compare their lives until the next day, when we finished reading. Instead, I explained. “He said this because he needed some joy, anything, because he couldn’t just go home and message his friends on his phone. He needed to laugh because he was so ostracized that he had nobody. He didn’t have PTSD problems here, because he went to rehabilitation, and because the idea of war we see in the games he plays aren’t anything like war. War is worse.”

At the end of class, I stopped reading and looked at them. I asked how many read, listen to, or watch the news, and the majority rose their hands. I pulled out my phone and explained. “I scroll my phone all the time. I see news.” I pretended I was. “Gosh, this is horrible…”

And then I slipped my phone into my back pocket and shook my head. “Guess I’ll go play video games now.”

They stared at me.

Then I repeated his final lines. About how lucky we are that we have that luxury. That naive innocence. I said, “do you think you’ve experienced adversity?” They said no. I shook my head. “Of course you have!! All of us have. And nobody gets it! How many of you have heard that stupid saying, ‘I understand what you’re going through’?” So many kids got upset when I said that. Lots of kids have heard it. I said, “and they don’t. They never do, because your adversity is yours.”

I stared at them. “Now imagine you shared that story with people. So they could understand what you’d been through — so they MIGHT get it. Finally. And their first reaction… is to laugh and make jokes about it.”

Oof.

Yeah they were pretty quiet that day. And of course, I don’t think it’ll stick. But it stuck with me.

Today, I’m seeing all this shit, and I’m. Wiped. And I feel guilty, cause my life? It’s going great. I’ve got money, and a fiancé, and a decent enough house. I’m fantastic. What right do I have to turn off my phone and walk away?

But then I realize.

I’m lucky. That’s the point. He wanted that. He wasn’t upset at people for having naive innocence — he was upset that his innocence had been robbed from him.

I’m allowed to step away. The kids are allowed to go home and play games. We’re allowed to share our wins and joys, even when the world is on fire.

I think more people should realize how lucky they are, and share that with the world, because they have that luxury.

#thoughts #teacher rant

[billconrad]

Is Fake News Fiction?

    We used to only have three primary news sources, newspapers, magazines, and television. Now we have endless data sources, analysis, and distribution platforms. A significant amount of raw data now comes from ordinary people posting articles and videos on social media. What happens when one or more sources bend the truth? This trend is called “fake news,” which has become a big problem in our society.

    Fake news occurs because somebody wants to spin raw data or invent false data to suit their addenda. In the past, this partially happened when the owners of a news source wanted to alter the truth slightly. For example, they might favor famous person X. Their reporters would write glowing stories about X and exclude adverse facts. However, the stories rarely contained lies because the news corporations feared lawsuits.

    Now, anybody can post a lie, and millions absorb this “fact.” The fear of a lawsuit is no longer present (it is still a possibility but mindlessly ignored). Plus, many anonymous sites and methods of hiding one’s identity exist.

    I recall the first time I read a fake news story. In 1990, a big part of the internet was UseNet. There, people could post, read or reply to all kinds of information, opinions, or satire. I posted a few times, and here is one funny example:

    The UseNet thread I followed the most was about the Amiga computer. I read every post for the latest news, tips, information, and help. While I enjoyed my Amiga experience, not everybody was happy about this impressive computer revolution.

    One guy’s mother purchased an Amiga, and he was furious that she was not using a Macintosh. So, he posted all the time about the computer’s failings. Because that UseNet thread had no moderator, he could not be banned.

    One day, I read a terrible news post. Commodore (the company that developed the Amiga computer) filed for bankruptcy. The post contained a copy of their press release. What dreadful news! But then users discovered this “news” was untrue and posted angry comments about the guy. I was happy and angry when I learned the bankruptcy notice was fake. How could somebody do such a terrible thing? Side note: Commodore filed for bankruptcy in April 1994.

    What is it like to write a fake news article? I thought exploring and comparing the process to writing an entertaining story would be interesting. Let’s pretend I dislike the famous person Sally. Here is a Facebook post to discredit her. “Hey, everybody. Big reveal. I hacked into Sally’s computer and found this email: ‘Today, I was driving to work stoned out of my mind. Completely baked. I almost hit a woman pushing her stroller. It was so fun!’ This email confirms what we all suspected. Sally is a pothead. Please send this important news to all your friends.”

    This quick post might become popular, and Sally would have difficulty proving her innocence. However, that is not quite the topic I wanted to explore. Instead, I want to compare the mindset of a fictional author and a fake news poster.

    Why do fictional writers create content? They wish to explore their ideas, develop new skills, express themselves, share their story, or make money.

    How does an author begin the process? My origin story is probably unusual. I had been daydreaming about stories for years, and in 2016, I wrote them down. Now, my stories have more structure because I use outlines. Yet, many authors jump into their stories without a firm plot or take elements from many places and stitch them together.

    The goal of a fiction author is to create something that people enjoy. This process includes keeping the reader in mind as they write. Is this a good character? If I add a plot twist, will it be more exciting? This section is dull. This paragraph is confusing.

    Creating fake news requires a different approach because the goal is to damage or overcome a truth. For example, “Sally is a horrible woman.” “X political party is better than Y.” “Z is what happened.”

    The process begins with a malcontent (Noun. A person who is chronically discontented or dissatisfied.) (I know this because I could not spell the word correctly and had to look it up.) evaluating the best approach. This calculated effort identifies the best attack method or weakness to exploit.

    In the above example, I wrote a fake email intending to harm Sally. However, if I wished to uplift someone or something illicitly, I could invent a fake fact: “The Army awarded Sally the silver star.”

    What is going on in the mind of a fake news writer? The focus would be to develop something that sounds realistic and does as much damage as possible. In my example, I wrote, “It was so fun.” That is a nice added touch showing that Sally enjoyed being out of control.

    It took creativity to develop that sentence, but did the fake news writer use the same mental tools as a fictional author? For example, an author could create a fictional story with a woman driving her car while on drugs.

    In writing about this topic, I ran into a problem. I could not answer, “Is writing fake news different from writing entertainment?” So, I took a walk and decided to write a fake news story while considering the process.

    To begin, I thought about an actual politician, I never met but did not like. Why this particular person? He has done great harm and is not letting up. This destruction made him a perfect target for me to write a fake news story. I spent 20 minutes crafting a malicious Facebook post. (I am choosing not to include my nasty creation because the world has enough fake news without my additions. Also, this politician is popular, and I do not wish to alienate my readers.)

    My fake story was like my Sally example. It began by embellishing my computer skills and explaining how I accessed their computer. Then I described the joy of finding an incriminating email describing a drunk driving near miss.

    My effort began with a moral block because I have never tried to harm somebody by spreading a lie. Plus, I knew that if I posted my creation, it was illegal, and I could face a lawsuit. But, to my surprise, this trepidation quickly passed, and I became excited. I invented details and researched creating a fake email header. I even changed the event from drugs to alcohol abuse because it sounded more realistic. Overall, the creative process was exciting, and the danger added to the moment.

    When I finished my slander, I was happy. My creation looked real, and if I read it online, I would have swallowed the bait and found another reason to hate this individual.

    I then took a step back to examine my mindset. This fun activity was a good outlet for my anger, and I now understand why fake news has become such a plague. Was it creative? Was it the same as writing a book? I conclude that writing fake news is two sides to the same coin. I was creative and required the same skills as writing a book. The process was like writing dialog for a villain with pride in their destructive actions.

    This revelation should not have come as a surprise because our brains have limited functions. There are no separate parts for creating fiction or fake news. It all comes from the same well. Yet, I was hoping there was a difference. Good writers should be above fake news. It turns out that I was wrong.

    Understanding our limits, exploring our minds, and trying new things are essential. I enjoyed this learning experience, and, like all good ones, the results were unexpected.

    You’re the best -Bill

    May 24, 2023

    Hey book lovers, I published three. Please check them out!

    Interviewing Immortality is a psychological thriller about a 500-year-old woman who forces a disgraced author to interview her.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival is a drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties is a classic spy novel about two hunters discovering that government communications are being recorded and the ensuing FBI investigation.

    These books are available in soft-cover on Amazon and eBook format everywhere.

#writing #books #fake news

[britishchick09]

The Phantom of The Theater: A Wadlow Sibling Fic (part 1/2)

it’s spooky season... and phantom season! in honor of me seeing 1925 poto today, the sib saw it too! this fic was written in three days (october 27th to the 30th) and it’s made me even more excited to see the movie just as they did! :D

senpai and the sibs are seeing a movie... and they choose poto! but is it the right choice... or the spookiest?

 Robert Wadlow felt as chilly as the autumn air outside. Tomorrow, he and his family would move from their familiar home on Brown Street to a new one on Sanford Avenue. Except for a few things, everything was packed up in boxes. Robert had taken out a Richard Hailburton novel to read, but even his exciting expeditions couldn’t seem to get Robert out of his gloom.

“You and the kids should do something fun once they come home from school,” Addie said. “See what movies are showing.”

Robert smiled. “That’s a great idea, Mother. We all deserve some happiness today.” “That’s why I’ll be going to the beauty parlor,” Addie ran a hand through her hair. “After all this packing, I certainly need that happiness!”

After Addie left, Robert got up from his oversized chair and picked up the newspaper from the coffee table. He was flipping through it when the siblings arrived home from school. Eugene flopped onto the sofa. “Boy, am I beat! Math isn’t the best way to end the day.”

“Big Brother!” Harold Jr. exclaimed as he ran up to Robert. “I made a drawing in class!”

Robert smiled. It was of the brothers next to a tall tree. Yet Robert was a bit taller!

“I didn’t know his hands were that big!” Betty remarked. “Almost as big as my English assignment. It’s a hundred points!” “I know you’ll do great at it,” Robert said with a smile. “But let’s not think about school for now.” “Let’s think about moving,” Helen sighed while sinking onto the arm of the couch. “I’d rather play viola for a million hours than leave Brown Street.”

“And let’s not think about moving.”

“Then what are we supposed to think about? A nice long nap?” “No… A nice long movie. Mother suggested that we should see one. She’s at the beauty parlor for her own relaxing time.”

Betty sat on the floor with Harold Jr. as an idea came to her. “We should see Heidi! That’s the new Shirley Temple movie.” “Shirley Temple,” Eugene muttered with a scoff. “Aren’t you too old for those pictures?” “Hey, thirteen is not too old for feel good movies.”

“We should see Double Wedding,” Helen said. “It’s a new William Powell comedy.”

Eugene smirked as he said, “You just want to see your crush on screen, don’t you?”

Helen gave her brother a playful smack on the shoulder. “Hey! I do not have a crush on him! He’s just a bit handsome, that’s all. Do you have any movie ideas?” “How about… Law for Tombstone?”

Helen rolled her eyes. “Great, a western. That’s my favorite movie genre.”

“Robert will go with me while you girls go see a drippy wedding movie,” Eugene said before asking Robert, “Right?” “I don’t know…” Robert said, his voice trailing off as he read the newspaper’s front page.

“I thought you loved westerns. You and Harold Swinney would see them on Saturdays when we were kids.” “Yeah, when they were kids. That was nearly a decade ago,” Helen reminded Eugene. “Movie tastes can change. Can’t they, Robert?” Robert didn’t respond. His eyes were still on the paper.

“Robert?” Again, no response.

“Robert…”

Betty hopped up and snapped her fingers in Robert’s face. He blinked, looking at the siblings with sadness in his eyes.

“What happened?” Harold Jr. asked. “There was a fire at Temple.” Robert whispered.

The siblings gasped.

Betty was too stunned to sit down. “No way, really?” she asked, her eyes wide.

Robert nodded. He showed her the article.

“It says the theater was damaged early in the morning.” Betty read.

“This is horrible,” Helen said forlornly. “That’s the best theater in Alton.”

“Especially since it was the only one where you’d be able to fit!” Eugene told Robert.

The Wadlows would visit Temple Theater four times a year thanks to free passes from the owner. Robert sat in the front of the theater… and took up five seats! He’d sit in one and his limbs would occupy the seats next to and in front of him. It was quite a comfortable experience.

And now that experience seemed to be gone.

“It says the theater is still open, though!” Betty said cheerfully as she handed the paper back to Robert.

“But it says that the lobby was affected,” Robert said. “Maybe it’s best if we try out another theater.”

Grand, Uptown, Gem, Ritz, Princess and Norside were the other movie theaters in Alton. Norside had opened four months earlier. Their big advertisement on page eleven of the newspaper proclaimed that they were playing The Garden of Allah. The other movie theaters also had ads, albeit smaller than Norside’s.

“There’s Temple!” Betty said. “They’re playing something called Down the Stretch. Ooh, and The Princess is playing Wee Willie Winkie this weekend! That’s a Shirley Temple movie.”

“Uptown is showing Love in a Bungalow,” Helen said. “That sounds nice!”

“Ritz has The Road Back,” Eugene smiled. “A war film!”

Helen frowned as she asked. “Why would we want to watch something like that? War isn’t very fun.”

“Well, maybe there are some fun moments in there. Besides, it’s historical.”

Helen rolled her eyes at The Great War being called historical.

“Look down here!” Robert exclaimed. “There’s something playing tonight only at the Princess. The Phantom of the Opera.”

A chill went through the air. No one could tell if it was from the air outside or the words inside.

“Opera is funny!” Harold Jr. spoke up. “I wanna see that!” “But isn’t the phantom part spooky?” Betty asked.

“I’ve read the book based on that movie.” Helen said.

“Is it better? They say the book is better than the movie.” “I don’t know. I’ve never seen it!” “Neither have I,” Robert agreed, to which the other siblings nodded. “Perhaps we should check it out. Since it’s spooky, it would be perfect for the Halloween season.”

The siblings agreed.

“But are you sure that all of us should go?” Helen asked. “I don’t think this movie would be appropriate for Junior. Some parts, at least.” “He can close his eyes at the scary scenes,” Robert turned to Harold Jr. “Right, Junior?” Harold Jr. gave a firm nod. “Right! I’m not scared o”

Robert smiled. “So it’s settled. We’re seeing Phantom of the Opera!”

...

 The journey to Princess Theater was longer than the siblings anticipated. Harold was using the car for work, so they had to walk. And what a walk it was! It took the siblings nearly fifty minutes to get to the theater.

“At least this one is closer,” Eugene remarked as the siblings walked past the drug store. “There’s not as much walking.”

“You’re joking, right?” Helen asked.

“This is taking forever!” Betty exclaimed. “I think the sweat in my socks is turning into ice,” She noticed the refrigeration company next door. “And they’re the reason why!”

“My toes are okay,” Harold Jr. said. “They’re just cold.” “You have the advantage of being carried by the best big brother in the world,” Robert told him. “Although this is doing quite a number on my legs, too. The upper part, at least. But, hey, this is good exercise for all of us.”

Much to the siblings' relief, their exercise came to an end. They had finally arrived at Princess Theater. The marquee proudly announced,

LON CHANEY IN

‘THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’

“Wow!” they exclaimed in wonder.

They couldn’t believe their eyes! The theater’s facade had been entirely redone. The marquee was lit up in neon lights and the name of the theater, which proudly stood on the top of the marquee, was now in a sans serif font.

“It’s beautiful!” Betty exclaimed.

“And quite modern,” Helen added. “It looks even newer than Norside.”

They went up to the glass ticket booth, which was right in the middle of two sets of doors. While Helen and Eugene fought over paying for the tickets (and Robert dealt with their bickering), Betty and Harold Jr. peeked through the big round windows. People were walking through the lobby.

“Are you excited to see the movie, Junior?” Betty asked. “I know I am. I almost want to walk into the lobby and sit right down!” “I do, too!” Harold Jr. agreed. “Let’s go inside!”

He stood on his tippy toes to reach the door handle and stopped at the sound of Robert’s voice.

“Wait! You need this first.” he told his baby brother.

He crouched down to hand Harold Jr. his ticket, which he took eagerly. He ran to the door, but wasn’t able to open it. Luckily, Betty was there to help her baby brother out.

“I’ll pay for popcorn!” Eugene said.

“No, I’ll pay for it,” Helen told him. “If you’re in charge of the popcorn, it’ll be gone by the time we sit down! You’ll get the drinks.”

“Who cares about drinks? Popcorn is where it’s at.” “Our mouths will be drier than a desert if we don’t have water!” “And your mouth will be too dry to stop me from getting that popcorn.”

Robert stood in between Helen and Eugene. “I’ll get the popcorn. You can be in charge of the drinks, Helen. And as for you, Gene…” His voice trailed off into a smile. “You can get the candy.”

Eugene grinned. “I almost forgot about that! Want some Jujyfruits, Junior?”

“Yeah!” Harold Jr. replied, eagerly nodding at the mention of his favorite fruit candy.

After picking out their beverages and treats, the siblings went inside the viewing room. Nearly all of the seating was filled.

“It seems like everyone in Alton is here!” Helen remarked.

“We’re taking the organ out after this showing,” the usher said as he led the siblings to their seats. “It’s gathered a lot of admirers in twenty-two years.”

The siblings could certainly see why. The organ’s music perfectly conveyed the fear of the ballerinas when they saw the shadowy phantom, the unease of Raoul overhearing Christine’s singing lessons with an unknown voice, the beauty of her performing Faust and the fright of the chandelier falling.

But the worst was yet to come.

Harold Jr’s eyes were glued to the screen as a mysterious masked man took Christine into the tunnels beneath the opera house. His eyes were kind as he showed her to his room. The music made it seem magical.

I’d like to be his friend, Harold Jr. thought. He has such a nice house and has pretty music!

After waking up from a nightmare, Christine explored The Phantom’s home. She discovered him playing a song at his organ (one that wasn’t as grand as the theater one!). She peeked over his shoulder, seeing sheet music.

I wonder if that’s the song playing now! Harold Jr. thought.

He noticed that Christine looked curious. Harold Jr. watched with bated breath as she gazed at it in anticipation… slowly moved her hands near the mask…

Harold Jr. held back a scream. Christine looked just as frightened, but he didn’t look at the screen. He shut his eyes, feeling his body stiffen.

Yet The Phantom’s horrifying face still stared at him.

#robert wadlow #robert wadlow trash #senpai fic #fan fic #the temple fire occurred on the 20th but that's when senpai's family moved so it was changed to the 19th #it's still a great story! ;)

[cobbmosley47]

Sucessful, Profitable Forex Trading: Tips, Tricks, And Advice

Forex is trading in foreign markets; anyone can be a Forex trader. Read this article to learn how the market works, and how to earn some extra money by being a trader. Forex trading is impacted by economic conditions, perhaps even more so than other markets. Understand the jargon used in forex trading. Without knowing these essential things you will fail. After you have chosen a currency pair, research that pair. It can take a long time to learn different pairs, so don't hold up your trading education by waiting until you learn every single pair. It is important to gain an understanding of the volatility involved in trading. Focus on one area, learn everything you can, and then start slowly. Don't ever make a forex trade based on emotions. Making trades based on emotion will increase the risk factor and the odds that your decisions will be without merit and prompted by impulse. You cannot cut your emotions off entirely, but you need to put your rational mind firmly in command to make good forex decisions. To do good in foreign exchange trading, share experiences with other trading individuals, but be sure to follow your personal judgment when trading. Take the advice of other traders, but also make your own decisions. Having just one trading account isn't enough. You can have one which is your real account and the other as a testing method for your decisions. For instance, if you decide to change your stop loss strategy after your overall Forex trading strategy is underway, this change could result in losing significantly more money than had you done nothing. Stay on plan to see the greatest level of success. Reinvest or hold onto your gains, and use margin trading wisely to maintain your profits. Trading on margin can be a real boon to your profits. However, improper use of it may result in greater losses than gains. You should only trade on margin when you are very confident about your position. Use margin only when the risk is minimal. Don't expect to create your own unique strategy to wealth in forex. https://fileuplod.com/ of forex is one that is quite complicated and has prompted voluminous discussion and study for a very long time. The odds of you blundering into an untried but successful strategy are vanishingly small. Becoming more knowledgeable about trading, and then developing a strategy, is really in your best interest. If you think you can get certain pieces of software to make you money, you might consider giving this software complete control over your account. This is dangerous and can cause huge losses. Placing stop losses is less scientific and more artistic when applied to Forex. As a trader, remember to learn the correct balance, combining gut instinct with technical acumen. In other words, it takes a lot of practice and experience to master the stop loss. If you're an amateur Forex trader, the idea of trading numerous currencies may appeal to you. Restrain yourself to one pair while you are learning the basics. You can keep your losses to a minimum by making sure you have a solid understanding of the markets before moving into new currency pairs. A fairly safe investment historically is the Canadian dollar. Forex trading can be difficult if you don't know the news in a foreign country. Canadian money closely mimics the trends of American money. S. dollar, which indicates that it is a very good investment. Do the opposite of what you were going to do. Having a certain way of doing things will help you withstand your natural impulses. One attribute of a great Forex trader is that he always gets back up when he falls. Periods of unsuccessful ventures will inevitably arise for any person engaged in trading. Diligence and hard work will make you stand out from other forex traders. It may seem horrible to go on, but you should stick with it. If you are a beginning forex trader, resist the temptation to expand your trading into too many markets. Go with currency that is a major player. Having your hands in too many different markets can lead to confusion. As a result you can become reckless, which would not be a very good investment strategy. Forex trading centers around currency exchanges around the world. The tips you are about to read will help you understand Forex and generate another source of income, as long as you exercise self-control and patience.

#https://fileuplod.com/