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proton-selfships · 2 months

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So I just read this great post by @kittyandco and it struck a really, really deep chord with me as someone who was also in the selfship community in ye olden days (as in, pre-pandemic olden days).

Now, don't get me wrong, those days weren't perfect either. I still experienced hostility for little reason, and it still hurts me to think about and affects my ability to trust people to this day. And I sure as hell wasn't the only one, or the one who had it the worst. But that lack of good faith that used to be the exception really does feel like the norm now, and it makes interacting way more stressful than it ever was back then. You're expected to read novella-length DNIs and can't interact with or follow anyone without fearing that you missed one of your fandoms on their DNI list and will get shit for it.

(And those pages are often confusing to navigate and use hard-to-read colors, to boot. Seriously, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines should be mandatory reading for anyone making a Carrd or Rentry account)

And that's not even to mention the fear of what you say to someone in a private conversation getting twisted and shared and vagueposted about without your permission. That's something I've witnessed happen to multiple friends of mine. Again, isolated incidents back then, way more common than it should be now.

Meanwhile, *old woman voice* back in my day... What I always think back to was the really popular ask game that would go around, where you could ask whoever reblogged it to come up with headcanons for your F/Os. And people were sending each other asks left and right! People were excited to look up F/Os they'd never heard of to come up with a little pick-me-up for the person in their ask box! And I remember them being a blast to read and write!

Nowadays? If your F/Os are from sources that's not in the media zeitgeist or another limited set of perennial sources people will generally know enough to engage with... Good luck getting anyone to talk to you. (And that definitely goes double for anyone who ships with characters who aren't white men or isn't white themselves, that's a whole other issue that I've definitely experienced as a lesbian.)

I think it's both the growing atmosphere of hostility and social media in general's growing focus on "making content" and "branding" that keeps people from reaching out to each other unless they ship the same kinds of things they do. It's not really a community anymore. And that sucks, because that's a problem that's infected selfship spaces from the social media landscape as a whole

But I think we could still make the choice to see each other as people. Because, at the end of the day, selfshippers don't really have anywhere else to go. We're all just a bunch of people who carry love for characters in our hearts. Shouldn't we be willing to extend that love to each other, too?

(Obviously, this comes with caveats. I don't know if this is just me and my friends, but it also feels like we're all just too tired nowadays to reach out or meaningfully engage with other shippers' work. I'm definitely guilty of going MIA for long periods for that reason, so I'm not going to act like the lack of interaction with my blog specifically isn't my fault there. But in my experience I've seen a lot of that exhaustion come from this, from the walking on eggshells and the lack of reciprocity of the energy you put in, so it all still applies)

#these aren't my comprehensive thoughts and are pretty stream-of-consciousness #but I've been sitting on these thoughts for too long and just needed to get it all out of my system #selfship #selfshipping #selfship community #peyton says stuff #about selfship #public service announcement

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theliterarywolf · 3 months

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I feel awful for the people who worked on Hazbin Hotel. First, it’s been the punching bag of Twitter for a couple years now and when it finally comes out everyone is either using that 50,000 dollar porn thing to mock it or just completely trashing the show. Anyone I see on Twitter who does like it has their opinion completely discarded if their tweet about liking it gets too far out of their circle

I can’t imagine my passion project starting off with that much support and then when it’s released is instead shit on by what must seem like millions of people

Anon, can I tell you something? Come here.

I know it's been a while since the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (especially since it was back in the 'making movies not only to make money but to also have a mainstay in the cultural zeitgeist' era), but I'm not sure if you remember a certain scene.

youtube

"You are, without doubt, the worst pirate I've ever heard of." "...But you have heard of me."

Every person who creates, be you an artist, a writer, a filmmaker, actor, musician, whathaveyou, who also strives for recognition knows that success and popularity isn't just a game of creating a following of incessant praise.

You will get some negative pushback. That much is inevitable. Hell, even if you create something as mundane as singing about how much you like girls as a straight man, that can bring in swathes of critical reception and memeing.

So, Hazbin finally releasing? Of course there's going to be people who have a critical impression of it. However! Critical doesn't always come from a negative place.

When it comes to creators, we actually strive for critique. Any creator worth their merit should always strive to become better and, in order to do that, you need to kind of feedback that can only come from a third set of eyes.

However... The field of critique often gets swamped with people who want to exhibit sour grapes and, despite what they think, continue the reach of early 2000s review-culture (i.e.: nothing but negativity and complaints because you're so smart and aware, unlike all of the sheep that call themselves fans~)

That's when I get frustrated for creators who make it big. Because how are they going to legitimately improve when they are inundated by nothing but sour grapes and purposeful discarding of media literacy?

But, I will end with this and it ties back into that scene mentioned above: the ones who have done nothing but complain and be negative and harp on and on? Even when they themselves will insist that no one should watch shows like this or give them any attention?

'This is the worst show ever! Everything about it sucks! I'm going to sit here and list everything bad that I encountered while watching!' '...But you did take time out of your day to watch.'

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bridenore · 1 year

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HD older fic recs : post HBP

Here are a few recs for older fics that were written between Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows came out. Posted in alphabetical, order as always.

Agnus Dei by SilentAuror [20k]

Post-Hogwarts. Mystery abounds in the Auror Department, and two of the Aurors find themselves experiencing a friendship more intense than it should be.

Allegiance and Sedition by SilentAuror [98k]

The war is in its fifth year, and Harry finds himself caught up in the confusion of friend versus enemy, spy versus traitor.

Avocados and Pears and Slytherin Sweaters by Ms Semicolon [6k]

In which Draco discovers the Real World.

Bagels and Barbecues and Strawberry Ice Cream by Ms Semicolon [1k]

Sequel to Avocados and Pears and Slytherin Sweaters

Bite Me, Hate Memes by pir8fancier [44k]

Draco Malfoy is incensed to realize that someone is trying to usurp his position as the premier Harry Potter hater.

Black, in the Smothering Dark by @lol-zeitgeistic [101k]

Harry Potter is rescued from the Dursleys and spends the summer with his god…father? This is the prequel to The Hush of War. Beta’d by giesha_kitten/laureen.

The Hush of War by @lol-zeitgeistic [351k]

Voldemort has made a bargain with Harry to stop killing muggles and muggle-borns (when at all possible, of course) in exchange for Harry’s cooperation. While Harry thinks he’s using the time to find a way to defeat the Dark Lord, he will realize that Voldemort is always one step ahead, and so long as he isn’t killing anyone…what’s the big deal? He has bigger things to worry about now, anyway. Includes dementors, pureblood culture, the prophecy, what exactly happened with Lily’s sacrifice, magical breakthroughs, children Death Eaters, and portraits of family. Final pairing: H/D. Sequel to Black, in the Smothering Dark.

Bond by AnnaFugazzi [173k]

Yet another one of those Harry And Draco Are Forced To Be Together By Something Beyond Their Control And Then Stuff Happens Leading To Twoo Wuv stories. Because every HD writer has to write at least one.

Coins by Inell [5k]

Coins make a certain jingling sound whenever they are tossed onto the top of a wooden bureau.

The Copper Cauldron by Newshound [150k+]

Draco thought his life had ended after being imprisoned in Azkaban. It will take the love of the man he regards as his greatest enemy, the faith of his most trusted confidante, and the hope imparted by a beloved child to convince him that his life has truly just begun.

Double Edged Sword by @romaine2424 [554k]

Harry thinks his life has been planned out, but the night he comes of age changes everything. Now there are decisions to be made and a path to be chosen, and the choices before him will change the lives of everyone he knows. But when destiny calls, Harry finds himself ready to listen.

This is an epic story of the love between Harry and Draco. Join them as they journey through their life together, through the good times and the bad, facing obstacles both external and internal, and see how they come to be who they were meant to be.

Eight Days in November by @emmagrant01 [8k]

Harry hides Draco form Death Eaters during the war. A lot can happen in eight days.

Hands Open by mizBean [5k]

Harry likes to remember.

In Which Harry Potter Discovers a River In Egypt by Kestrel_Sparhawk [23k]

A missing roommate, a mysteriously familiar male prostitute, murdered Muggles, and an angry boss are all making life difficult for Auror Harry Potter. And that’s before he discovers that the reason he’s avoided having girlfriends for three years is not just because he doesn’t like publicity.

Leave Your Field to Flower by @emmagrant01 [12k]

Draco Malfoy is like all the other Survivors of the disaster – except for one called Harry Potter.

The Longest Night by coffeejunkii [3k]

Draco discovers that waiting doesn’t equal hoping, and that some wishes do come true.

Resistance by SilentAuror [25k]

Everyone but Harry seems to have forgiven Malfoy his past, and tensions are thick in the Auror Department.

Seven Days in June by fourth_rose [46k]

The war is over, the survivors are moving on. The hero is finally allowed to go on leave – and meets an old enemy, who is working in a Muggle profession in a city without magic.

Seven Days in June - the DVD extras by fourth_rose [9k]

Extras for my Harry/Draco fic "Seven Days in June" (post-Hogwarts, written before book 7) - missing scenes, little future ficlets, alternate POVs, and so on.

Spinner’s End by SilentAuror [18k]

The war is in full swing when Harry is forced to spend an unexpected stint in Spinner’s End.

Stain of Silence by Brummel [28k]

After the war, Draco serves out his sentence in Harry Potter's house.

The Last Dance by Brummel [3k]

James Potter, 5, ruminates on his father's birthday and associated issues.

That Which Divides Us by oldenuf2nb / @dianacopland [126k]

Three years after what would have been their seventh year at Hogwarts, the war between the forces of light and Voldemort’s minions grinds on. But even within the ranks of the Order of the Phoenix there are vast disagreements over what is good for ‘the Chosen One’ and his volatile relationship with Draco Malfoy has many on edge. Sometimes even the best intentions can reap disaster.

Their Kind of Forever by furiosity [34k]

The final part of Harry’s Auror training forces him to walk the line between truth and lie, between the wizarding world and the Muggle world, between the life he thought he’d have and the disappointing reality. And through it all, he finds unexpected solace in a most unlikely person’s company.

Things That Change by eutychides [84k]

After Hogwarts, everything changes.

War Wounds by SilentAuror [30k]

Some wounds take longer to recover from than others. HP/DM, with background HP/GW. Themes of alcoholism, love triangles, and dubious fidelity.

A Wave in Windless Water by reposoir [57k]

Harry, Hermione, and Ron work together in Godric’s Hollow to find and destroy Voldemort’s horcruxes. With the unexpected arrival of Draco Malfoy, Harry has the burden of both the horcruxes and new worries weighing him down.

Woman Scorned by pir8fancier [1k]

Pansy is a little too smug for her own good.

The world of the living by fourth_rose [17k]

A traumatised war hero and a convicted criminal under the roof of an eccentric journalist make for a rather odd ensemble, but Luna has never had a problem with oddities as long as they make sense.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

#my recs #drarry #drarry recs

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frozen10fanzine · 2 months

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Frozen Through the Years

Yearly Spotlight: 2013 (Part 3 & Last)

Written by @toriofthetrees

In the wake of its massive success, Frozen had cultural impact that created fascinating (and sometimes intense) discussion. A fandom was quickly forming around Frozen, sprouting off of the long-established Disney fandom.

For many, Elsa and her story mattered. The film reverberated significantly with the LGBT community, in communities of mental health and neurodiversity, and generally with anyone who understood how it felt to live a life hiding who you are. Elsa's hugely popular number Let it Go would go on later to receive an Oscar, no doubt because it’s message of self-acceptance resonated with so many.

Let it Go is also remembered to be legendary at consuming the zeitgeist. It can be globally agreed that through all of Frozen's successes, the people who truly deserved an award were the parents who patiently sat through Elsa’s number over and over for love of their little Frozen fans.

Stay Tuned for More

👆🏻 Click above if you want to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Frozen. The due date is April 12, 2024.

We look forward to seeing your memories ❄️

#frozen10 #frozen #frozen 2 #frohana #water has memory #sven #anna #olaf #elsa #olaf's frozen adventure #ofa #frozen fever #fandom #fandom projects #moodboard

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glass-bottomed-ego · 8 months

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Fic recs: five fics i’ve enjoyed recently (in no particular order)

(idea stolen from @alexturne 💜)

(these aren’t all that recent bc most of the ones I have enjoyed recently are the ones @alexturne mentioned in her post, so I’ll also just put some fics that I think deserve some praise 😊).

1. sometime in the future by @blacktrickle

In a world quite similar to this one, Miles Kane is an international supermodel an d Alex Turner is the rockstar who has broken his heart one too many times. Now, two years after their most vicious break up, Alex is asking for one more shot, but this time, Miles won’t make it easy.

(8/10 chaps, 109k)

This fic immediately comes to mind. I’m not even gonna bother playing it cool - I think about this fic a lot. Honestly one of the best milex fics I have ever read and it’s not even over yet (but I know I’ll love it just as much or probably even more by the time it ends anyway). It is so extremely well written it could literally be a novel. Blacktrickle never fails to impress me with each chapter - the way she links together different parts of the stories and the details of this world that she has created. I could literally go on about it forever, but I won’t. I have never recommended so many people a single fic and, like always, I will be checking my bookmarks on ao3 for an update every day until the end (and then I will be patiently waiting for anything else blacktrickle comes up with).

2. never get tired of dancing (with you) by salutdamour on ao3/ @depressedraisin on tumblr.

"The old squirrelcage is getting rusty, I fear. Images and words from the past I could recollect in a jiffy are fading out fast. I can't remember the name of that pub in Liverpool where my cousins and I played that Beatles cover before I went to New York. I can't remember what the sunshine in Hydra felt like on my skin, what the air on the island smelt like. I can't remember the last time I kissed Al.

Even if no one will set eyes upon these papers before long after me, Al and anyone else who has a part to play here are gone, it feels good to have left something to history. The story of Al's life is history and I might have contributed to capturing a small, if not insignificant part of it. If nothing else, I have something to flip through and reminisce on my deathbed. When I breathe my last breath, it is the enormous love I felt towards Alex that I would like to be the last thing I remember."

Miles Kane's Personal Journal, May 2016

OR: the story of rock legend Miles Kane and poet-singer Alex Turner, through Kane's eyes.

(3/5 chaps, 25k)

This fic is just so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I teared up already within the first few paragraphs of the first chapter. The characterisations of both Miles and Alex are amazing, and their love is so special: so free but all-encompassing. Although I wasn’t alive at the time, I feel like the author encapsulated the zeitgeist of the 70s really well - the whole vibe and atmosphere of this fic just feels like Bowie was around haha. I don’t know whether this fic will be continued as it hasn’t been updated in a while, but I sure hope it will!

3. under these lights you look beautiful by @alexturne

Miles got completely lost in his voice. There was a faraway quality to it, like he belonged somewhere else entirely, but somehow had decided to grace them with his presence and Miles felt blessed to be near him if even for a short while. The subtle elegance hidden in his slender figure, the mannerisms of his fingers wrapped around the corners of his notebook. His words were spoken softly, quietly, but without any hesitation or faltering.

Alex is an elusive poet, who has a way with words and Miles is a bartender, who is completely mesmerized.

(14 chaps, 103k)

Oh, how I wish I could read this fic for the first time again. It is one of my favourite milex fics ever. The first time I read it, I barely put my phone down until I finished it, it is that good. The author is also one of my favs, so ofc this fic and all of her other fics are amazing. The autumn vibes are lovely, humbug alex is just exquisite, their romance is so so pure and innocent (until it isn’t lol), and the pacing of it is perfect. Never has a kiss on the cheek excited me so much before 🤣! I will be rereading this many times to come haha.

4. inhaler by @perfectly-clear-from-here

"I like it, your music, it's... what's the word, unadulterated, got a genuine feel to it, 's good."

Alex smiles back and runs a hand through his hair, ruffling it into his desired style. He looks like he's about to say something, but he holds himself back as Miles seems as though he's about to continue.

"You're good, on stage I mean," Miles takes another drag, sucking another sharp tug into his lung, "You look like you're... like you're somewhere else."

A smirk breaks across Alex's expression, his eyes move from Miles's, to the ground, then back to Miles's again.

"There's nowhere to hide up there y'know," he tugs at the front of his jacket, a deep blue Adidas windbreaker, further shielding himself from the crisp January air, his gaze settles a bit as he sighs, "So I just hide behind the noise."

A fast forming friendship between Alex and Miles takes a turn after a range of sleepless nights, shared cigarettes, loud music and a bar fight.

(3/20 chaps, 22k)

Man, oh, man. With merely 3 chapters this fic already has me in a chokehold. I just love the vibes of this fic so much and I am a sucker for a bit of slow burn friends to lovers. The pacing so far is perfect and the author has really encaptured how I imagine how quickly Miles and Alex bonded when they first met. The song references are so cleverly woven in, like Miles smoking organic cigarettes; I love each one so much. I just know that by the time this fic ends it will be one of my holy grails. I can’t wait for the next chapter!

5. Can’t Help Myself by @yellowloid

Busy with work as Miles has been, finding time to hang out with each other over the past few weeks has been difficult, if not impossible. It's come to a point that stressful meetings and incessant calls have gotten in the way of them spending time with each other, on multiple occasions and in more than one way.

When the nth Zoom meeting gets between him and his boyfriend, Alex finally decides he's had enough.

(16k)

I love every single one of yellowloid’s fics, and this is no exception. I mean… damn. This fic is so sexy, hot, and ends with milex just being hopelessly in love with each other - basically everything the author is an expert in writing. As I have said before, yellowloid is the queen of milex smut, although there are so many close contenders.

#milex fanfiction #there were so many others i wanted to mention agghh!!

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purplehanfu · 9 months

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Stay With Me: Episodes 1-12

notes: Spoilers! Stay with me indeed- I'm calling it right here: if you want to watch this, do it now before it gets pulled or edited. Master list of all recaps

Do you remember Addicted: Heroin? The drama that came out in 2016 and was unceremoniously yanked before it even finished broadcasting for being too gay? How its existing episodes were then highly censored? How its source material contained very problematic elements? Well, this is a remake. Why someone thought that would be a good idea at this particular juncture is anyone's guess.

How it started (in 2016)

How it’s going (in 2023)

But you know what? It’s working. Although I think they are dancing on the knife’s edge with regard to what they can get away with:

I await your heterosexual explanations for this. Btw, this scene took place as the two leads were moving into their own place together.

The Story

It’s a tale as old as time. Boy’s parents get divorced, boy’s mother marries a cold, emotionally distant and wealthy businessman who has a son. The son, angered at his father’s remarriage, leaves home and inadvertently enrolls in the school that the boy attends. The two fall in love without knowing each other’s real identities (until about episode 6). Rich bad boy falling for the humble, poor and brilliant top student: what a satisfying trope.

Our class president is Su Yu played by Zhang Jiong Min, seen here finding out he has a stepbrother:

And our bad boy is Wu Bi played by Xu Bin, seen here comparing moms:

Sidebar: enjoy my eerily accurate prediction regarding Xu Bin’s career here.

Just Show Me the Gay “Bromance”

selected evidence:

and in conclusion:

I rest my case.

The Good

So far the story seems a little, uh, gentler than the 2016 version

All the side characters! Dad’s a sweetheart and little DuoDuo steals every scene she’s in.

Surprising amount of humor for a story with so much angst

Be careful where you say that DuoDuo, Barbie is very much in the zeitgeist right now.

The Bad

They only mention in passing (in about episode 5!) that the year is 2006. Up until then the viewer is left to wonder why everyone is using Nokia 3310s and all the computers have CRT monitors.

is that Hu Ge in the top right corner? (Edit: It is! Thanks for the confirmation @dangermousie !)

Final Thoughts

That’s totally a platonic friend stare. 🥰↔🥰

Master list of all recaps

#stay with me #zhang jiong min #xu bin #just the first episode

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palettepainter · 10 months

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Incorrect quotes 2.0

I’ll update this when I got the rest of Zoot’s cousin designs posted, but I couldn’t resit! Ran belongs to @rottedbrainz, Gabe belongs to @posies-and-bundles, Liv is mine (for anyone knew Liv and Randy are Zoot’s cousins, Liv being the youngest one whose the same age as Scooter, Gabe is Zoot’s dad)

Gabe: Oh god, they texted you ‘hi.’’ punctuation only means one thing, Zoot. They're mad at you. Zoot: No, it's Liv. They're just being gramatically correct! *meanwhile* Liv: And then I used a period so they'd know that I'm mad at them. Rand: A period doesn't say 'I'm mad', it says 'you're dead to me'. Liv: I stand by my choice.

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Rand: I haven't slept in seventy-three hours. Liv: Eighty. Democratically elected leader of insomnia. Gabe: Bitch, it's been ninety for me. I'm going for an even one hundred. Zoot: You guys are fucking terrifying.

////

Liv: Everyone synchronise your watches. Gabe: I don't know how to do that. Rand: I don't wear a watch. Zoot: Time is a construct.

////

Liv: Shh, here comes Gabe! Zoot: Quick, Rand, start talking about boring nerd stuff! Rand: You know, nerd culture is mainstream now, so when you use the word “nerd” derogatorily, it means you’re the one that’s out of the zeitgeist. Zoot: Yes, that’s perfect. Just like that.

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Rand: Sometimes I drink milk straight from the container. Zoot: The cow?? Rand: What? Liv: Zoot, W H Y?

////

Zoot & Gabe in the back of Rand's car: MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS! Liv: We have food at home. Rand: *pulls into the McDonald's drivethrough* Zoot & Gabe: YAYYYYYY! Rand: *orders one black coffee and leaves*

////

Liv: Ducks are better than rabbits. Zoot: What? Rabbits are adorable. Have you ever been in a fight with a duck? Ducks are jerks. Rand: Duck is delicious! Rabbit is all gamey. Zoot: We’re not talking about flavour, Rand! Rand: Flavour counts! Zoot: Who carries around a duck’s foot for good luck? Anyone? Gabe: You wrap yourself in a comforter stuffed with rabbit hair. I’ll wrap myself in a comforter stuffed with duck feathers! Who’s cozier? Zoot: Okay, but- Gabe: NO, NO, NO, NO. WHO’S COZIER? Rand: Then why don’t we take a rabbit, a duck, stick ‘em in a cardboard box and let them fight it out! Zoot: BECAUSE IT’S ILLEGAL, RAND! Rand: ONLY IF WE BET ON IT, ZOOT! Liv: I- Jesus-

////

Zoot: How late were you up last night? Rand & Gabe, in tandem: Me? Zoot: No, not you two. You stay up late all the time. Zoot, to Liv: You.

////

Gabe: Which country has the most birds? Gabe: Portu-geese! Zoot: That's a language. Gabe: Portu-gull? Zoot: Good recovery. Liv: I think you mean good re-dovery. Rand: TURKEY. HOW DID WE MISS TURKEY?

////

*In a horror movie situation* Rand: I've got no service in my phone here. Liv: Shoot, my battery just died. Gabe: Sorry guys, I just broke my phone with a hammer. Zoot: Guys, my phone is a book.

////

-This quote with kiddo Liv-

Gabe: Yesterday, I watched Liv try to eat a decorative rock from Zoot's potted plant. Rand caught them, and told them they can't eat rocks. Liv started whining something about no food being in the house before walking away.

////

Liv: How do Zoot and Gabe usually get out of these messes? Rand: They don't. They just make a bigger mess that cancels the first one out.

////

*The gang when they drop food on the floor* Rand: Aw man. *Throws it away* Liv: Five second rule! Gabe: Foolish germs, thinking they can stop me!? *Eats it off the floor* Zoot: *Sobs on the floor*

////

Rand: You were stabbed. Do you remember anything? Gabe: Only the ambulance ride to the hospital. Rand: That wasn't an ambulance, I drove you. Gabe: But I heard a siren. Zoot: That was Liv. Liv: Sorry, I got nervous.

////

Police: You’re under arrest for trying to carry three people on a single motorcycle. Zoot, with Rand and Gabe behind them: Wait, what do you mean THREE?! Police: Yes…three. Zoot: Oh, my God— What the fuck!? Police: Wha- Zoot: Liv FUCKING FELL OFF!

////

Rand: ARE YOU- Gabe: Fucking. Rand: KIDDING ME?! YOU- Gabe: Fucking. Rand: IDIOT! Zoot: …What was that? Gabe: Liv banned Rand from swearing, so I’m helping them out.

#Muppets #The Muppets #Muppet OC #Liv #Gabe #Rand #Zoot #The electric mayhem #Zoot's cousins #incorrect quotes

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thisaintascenereviews · 9 months

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Various Artists – Barbie: The Album

Mentioning the phrase “pop music” seems to illicit a lot of reactions, usually within the realms of “I love it” and “I hate it.” Most people either seem to love pop music, or at the very least, certain artists within it, or they loathe it. I wanted to preface this review with my own rather complicated history with pop, because pop music is a genre that I have a rather strange “relationship” with. I got into music during the early to mid-00s, when pop music was in an interesting place, thanks to house / dubstep music being huge, and a lot of well-established artists now were just getting started, such as Lady Gaga, Kesha, The Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and many more, but pop music was starting to become boring and bland. I was also much more into emo, pop-punk, and metalcore, although I would come to realize years later, a lot of the pop-punk that I listened to was merely pop-rock with an emo lens through it. Thirteen-year-old me thought I was the bee’s knees for listening to that edgier and darker kind of music (I did like some “classic rock” at the time, too), and I thought that was “real music,” as every preteen and teenager tends to think during adolescence. I just didn’t find anything to like when it came to “mainstream” music, but that all changed in the winter of 2012.

I remember it like yesterday, because it was one of those things you won’t forget. I was in FYE, and I had just discovered the magic of that store, but I was looking around for whatever I could find. I was always looking for anything at all, and I could spend hours in music stores, but I ended up finding a copy of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Say what you will about Jackson as a person, as well as his legacy, but Thriller is one of the best albums ever made. Without going detail into it, it’s a record that I knew about without even knowing anything about pop music. It’s one of those albums that I knew I needed to hear, so I picked it up for a good price (they always had stuff on sale, too, and that really helped my decision picking it up), and I ended up falling head over heels for it. What was interesting, however, is that, despite being released in the 1980s, it changed my perception of what pop music is, let alone what it can be. Ever since then, I became a fan of pop music, and for years after, I enjoyed plenty of pop records, such as albums from Justin Timberlake, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Harry Styles’ solo material, just to name a few artists, but listening to that record opened up a whole new world for me.

Pop music, at its core, is escapism. Whether it’s from their own lives, or wanting to live through their favorite pop singers, they want to escape. The same can be said for all kinds of music, but pop music has always been “popular” for a reason. When people think of pop music, they think of catchy, accessible, and “safe” music that doesn’t push boundaries or offend anyone. When I listened to Thriller, that misconception was completely shattered. That was when I took pop music seriously, and every now and again, you can find a great pop record, but a lot of pop music is still relatively safe, tame, and bland. Not that it’s bad, but it doesn’t push any boundaries, although that’s not the point, since it’s to sell records and make money.

I’ve found myself not as interested in pop music over the years, thanks to own tastes shifting, and pop music as a whole changing. It just hasn’t appealed to me, minus a few artists, but every once in awhile, I’ll find something I like and that “something” right now is the Barbie movie soundtrack. This film, released just a few weeks ago, is the latest topic in the pop culture zeitgeist, alongside Oppenheimer, and alongside the film, a soundtrack was released that caught my curiosity by featuring some of the most popular names in pop, such as Lizzo, Khalid, the Kid Laroi, Dua Lipa, Karol G, and Billie Eilish, although one of the big songs from this record is the remix / interpolation of “Barbie Girl” by Aqua that features Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice. That’s a very stacked list of artists, let alone the whole record being produced by Mark Ronson of “Uptown Funk” fame.

Despite not listening to a lot of pop music anymore, I was curious to see how this soundtrack would pan out, especially not having seen the film yet. You can talk about this album in two ways, the first being how it holds up on its own as a soundtrack, and the second as a soundtrack after seeing the film, but because I haven’t seen the movie yet, I thought I’d first talk about it on its own, and then talk about it again once I see the movie, or write a small companion piece to along with this. Soundtracks typically are companion pieces to the movie or show they accompany, and there is often an expectation that they need to be as good, if not better, than the work they’re apart of. I won’t comment on the film, as I haven’t seen it yet, but I will say that the soundtrack works quite well on its own. The soundtrack doesn’t say anything or do anything that pushes any kind of boundary, and it does what you’d expect a Barbie soundtrack to do, which is give you an album’s worth of catchy, fun, and summery jams, and that’s okay! I’ve talked about many times how not everything needs to be deep, and this is a perfect example of that.

The Barbie soundtrack is fun, lighthearted, catchy, and enjoyable from beginning to end. A lot of the songs are quite good, if not great, and it feels like a cohesive soundtrack, instead feeling like a random soundtrack, instead feeling like a random assortment of artists. I’m curious as to how these songs work in the film, but a lot of solid tracks are here, such as “Pink” by Lizzo, “Speed Drive” by Charlie XCX, “Silver Platter” by Khalid, or the “Barbie Girl” remix I mentioned earlier. It won’t blow your mind, or ultimately change the way you think about pop music, but it’s a fun ride through the world of Barbie. There are a few standouts, such as Billie Eilish’s “What Were We Made For,” which I guarantee is going to do some numbers in the coming weeks, but there are also a few songs that don’t add anything or do anything, such as the Tame Impala song “Journey To The Real World,” which seems to have a better purpose in the movie, but it’s only a minute long, so it doesn’t really do anything or go anywhere. Haim has a song, too, entitled “Home,” and it’s a good song, but it’s nothing really that special. I enjoy listening to it, but I wouldn’t pretend it’s one of my favorites. If anything at all, listen to the soundtrack and pick out your favorites, but I don’t think anything on here is worth outright skipping, although Gayle (who’s famous for “abcdefu” from a couple of years ago) does have a weird song that interpolates “Butterfly” by Crazy Town. It’s kind of fun, but also very weird and makes no sense, especially for the Barbie movie, so I don’t know how that song fits into the overall narrative, but it’s a decent song, nonetheless.

I’m interested to see how the songs from the soundtrack fit into the film, so when I go back and listen to the soundtrack after seeing it, I can picture the songs in my head. I’m very excited to see how “I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling, who plays Ken in the movie, fits into the film, because that’s one of the funniest songs here. Nonetheless, this is a soundtrack that works for what it is – a catchy and fun good time. You don’t need anything more sometimes, since not everything needs to be deep, challenging, or have an underlying message to it. Sometimes a song or album can be fun, and you can enjoy it merely on a surface level. Sometimes enjoying things at face value is all you need. Pop music is at an interesting place right now because there’s nothing happening within the genre. I mean, the top three songs in the country as of this moment are country songs, so there’s no trend or overall idea that’s getting traction, unless you look at the trends of artists interpolating songs (the “Barbie Girl” remix is a perfect example of that), or the influence of nostalgia, but pop music is at a crossroads right now, so it’ll be interesting to see how this soundtrack charts and the impact that is has, especially since the film itself is doing very well at the moment. If you’re a fan of pop music, it’s worth hearing, because it has some catchy and fun summer jams on it, even if it won’t necessarily change your life.

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skinks · 10 months

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how do you keep finding these incredibly niche and incredibly awesome aesthetics

omg WELL, I will try to be concise here!!

basically it started because I got really into vaporwave relatively early in its existence, I think I discovered it in around 2013. Now, something about there being an entire online named Artistic Movement with clear design principles was extremely cool to me, and 2013 is also the earliest I can find a use of the term “junglepunk” on my blog, because this is the term I was using as a personal placeholder for the type of stuff that I have since discovered is being called utopian scholastic. I figured, if there wasn’t a “vaporwave” equivalent for the art/media niche I remembered so vividly, I would just call it something of my own.

So, I came to this newer discovery because in the decade since getting into vaporwave I’ve followed just… so many aesthetic blogs. One of my absolute favourites is @newwavearch90 but I love going on an adventure down various tumblr rabbit holes of related blogs and posts. I also watch a lot of design history videos on youtube, as well as having an interest in lost media, old web stuff, analog horror ARGs, stuff like that. For example, this guy’s video about clip art is very interesting:

youtube

And so, a few months ago youtube recommended me THIS video and as soon as I saw the thumbnail I was like oh holy shit, I know exactly what style of design this is talking about. Anyone who used Windows XP would recognise this:

youtube

And once again, like the vaporwave discovery, the realisation that there are ongoing efforts being made to classify design movements of which I have vivid living memory was like… mindblowing to me. For some reason, lol. My appreciation for vaporwave has always been through a reflective filter of the media produced during that time, my response to it is really my response to the media, as opposed to having any real emotional connection to the actual time period and places the media is portraying.

And so after discovering Frutiger Aero I googled it, and came across the CARI (Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute) site. They work to catalogue and index this exact stuff, the aesthetics and reasoning behind all these different movements. It’s also co-founded by the same guy who runs @newwavearch90. Finding the actual names of the aesthetics I have the most emotional connection/nostalgia for has been less of a stroke of luck, but more because I’ve been snooping around the types of blogs and websites where I just happened to see certain posts tagged either Global Village Coffeehouse or Utopian Scholastic, then the giant lightbulb goes off. The relief of putting a name to a sound, an image, a feeling that was so important and exciting and comforting to you in the past, that has shaped so much of your taste and interests in the years since.

I think the base concept of “aesthetics” in general has gotten a bad rap in recent years. I know it can be grating to see teenagers try to categorise their whole identities into the easily consumed “aesthetic”, but we can’t ignore how much ageism and specifically misogyny is wrapped up in that assessment. Like, yes, where once there were just preps and goths it can be depressing to see teenagers (especially teen girls) ask themselves whether they are “old money east coast quiet luxury aesthetic girlies” or “mallpunk y2k whimsigoth aesthetic girlies” - but the problem isn’t in teens trying to find their identity, it’s that social media pushes the search for identity specifically through consumerism.

Teens liking aesthetics on tiktok just isn’t my concern. I’m far more interested in how art and design aesthetics relate to consumerism, to technological advances, to socio-political cultural context, to societal values. Why did these aesthetics arise at the time they did, and why were they popular, why did they fall out of the zeitgeist etc.

So yeah, to be not at all concise in any way; it’s because this stuff fascinates me and I love researching it 🥳

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fuckyeahfightlock · 2 years

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I was away from home and my laptop last night so I’ll let you in on yesterday’s scary movie because I know you were missing it last night when I didn’t post.

I watched the new Hellraiser movie. I thought it was pretty good.

Tons and tons of fanboi tears about this reboot of the 1980s Hellraiser franchise. Apparently even though the demonic Cenobites originally envisioned by author Clive Barker were (according to him) genderless extrapolations of gay BDSM archetypes

weren’t the fanbois crying fanboi tears about the casting of transwoman Jamie Clayton as the iconic Priest of Hell known in the popular zeitgeist by the affectionate nickname “Pinhead.” Oh, how angry they were that Pinhead, a completely imaginary monster, was going to be an icky girl. Franchise destroyed, you’re ruining my childhood, why does everything have to be so gay (see aforementioned gay archetype discussion), blah and blah and blah blah blah.

Jamie Clayton as the updated version of Pinhead got accolades from both Clive Barker and Doug Bradley, who played the previous version, not that anyone necessarily needs their approval. Jamie looks amazing, and that VOICE. Well done, sound designers. Scary as hell.

Anyway, the plot of the movie involves a newly-clean junkie, Riley, accidentally acquiring the famous puzzle box, the Lament Configuration (or, at least, previously referred to as the Lament Configuration--the reboot adds some interesting lore which explains the box’s several configurations, including Lament, Lore, Leviathan, and Lazarus among others), and then, as the box is wont to do. . .opening the gates of hell, summoning forth the Cenobites to claim human sacrifices they will torment eternally.

Riley and her boyfriend, her brother and his boyfriend, and their roommate endeavour to understand what is happening and how to undo it. Road trip, Berkshires mansion, the Serbian doctor from ER and that one Madonna video whose first name I think I remember is Goran, puzzles puzzles all around, so many accidental stabbings, scary demons (of course), and a final girl who is flawed and wholly sympathetic. Very gory, but you knew that.

My only criticism is that the movie is perhaps too long, at around 2 hours. For a horror movie to be 2 hours long, it really needs to earn it, and I don’t feel that this one earns it. Just when I felt the crescendo coming, there were still 45 minutes left. The story is compelling enough, but things could have moved a little quicker. But as a Hellraiser fan from waaayyyyy back, I stand behind this reboot; far from demeaning the legacy of the franchise (which was uneven at best, tbh), this reimagining of Barker’s world adds to it.

#Hellraiser 2022 #Hellraiser #horror films #october 2022 #horror movies #long post

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olderthannetfic · 2 years

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Do you/your readers have any thoughts on Hetalia or the fandom? I was a HUGE fan back in middle school, and lately I’ve just been trying to contextualize it in the broader… everything. My mind keeps going in circles about it, it’s super frustrating.

I don’t feel guilt or anything about liking the series (beyond guilty pleasure because GOD was it bad. Don’t get me wrong sometimes I still cry thinking about it but it was very rarely good), I’m just not sure how to interact with it, or communicate with those who weren’t in the zeitgeist about it.

Like, yeah, I know that you live in an area that was under nazi occupation, but he’s only in the nazi uniform like, a third of the time! And he’s silly Nazi Germany, but most of the time he’s just silly regular Germany! Like… How many people were potentially hurt by seeing that celebrated, stamped on notebooks and tshirts? I have a tshirt with the axis powers in their uniforms, I wore that outside, did I hurt anyone by doing that? By the same token, there were a lot of people in the fandom that made their own nations with no small amount of pride. Like, quite a few indigenous people made their tribes and exposed people to their culture in a relevant way. If we don’t talk about it, are we doing a disservice to them by dismissing the thing they loved enough and were inspired enough by to attach their own marginalized identity to it? I don’t know of a single incident of the right trying to recruit based on it— It was gay and icky, plus the alt right wasn’t nearly as sophisticated in their recruitment methods.

I don’t know, there’s just so much around it and I’m so close my brain is having a hard time putting it altogether.

I was way too old when it came out and pretty much missed that fandom.

The fans who wore Nazi uniforms and did the salute should have known better. I remember hearing about that bullshit at the time. Most of the rest of the problematic shit from this fandom I can't find it in me to get worked up about.

The fan-created country characters are neat. Generally, I think Hetalia sparked a lot of creativity and a lot of interest from people across a broad range of countries, and that makes it different from something that's all Americans being insensitive about European history or all covert Nazis or something.

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rolandrockover · 4 months

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Within

… sounds like a reject from Carnival of Souls.

I seem to remember as it was yesterday that I read sentences of this kind over 25 years ago with mixed emotions in Psycho Circus reviews in still printed music magazines. To my ears it inevitably sounds like someone saying: She sounds like a Hotter Than Hell Reject. You know what I mean? The stupid thing is that this view of things has apparently remained perfectly preserved in certain fan circles to this day.

To counteract such stiffened thoughts step by step: Firstly, not all of Gene's songs were and are dark, but rather varied overall and right from the start. It's just that around with Carnival of Souls Kiss have produced an album with more dark songs than the usual single one. And it's not exactly as if Kiss have done this for the first time. Cue Creatures of the Night? Is anyone's bell ringing right now? Yes? Rightly so, because Creatures of the Night from 1982 is also teeming with dark songs. My goodness, even the ballad is dark, and that's a good thing. To this day, I haven't noticed any complaints about it, or critical cross-references from a song like Not For the Innocent to Creatures, as is almost ritual with Within. Or to the above-mentioned She and Hotter Than Hell? That dark and dirty heavy album from 1974?

But to draw another parallel between Carnival of Souls and Creatures of the Night, the former is more than often and regularly lambasted as a zeitgeist-adapting grunge rip-off. In contrast, I see need to say, nobody has ever dared to call Creatures an 80s production-stealing NWOBHM plagiarism. Unimaginable. But the truth is that Kiss have very rarely not done such a thing, and the chameleon-like adaptation to the music market is deeply anchored in their genes. Do I love them less for that? Jesus, no, on the contrary.

And what about Within's dark lyrics, which some would like to question? Well, what about them? Let them be dark, what's wrong with that? War Machine or Unholy are much darker, especially since Within's lyrics actually aren't that dark. Unless you have a similar problem with metaphors like that tattooed bald green guy from the Marvel movies (1).

For my part, I see it more as an ode to life, with a certain attitude to it, and for our very favorite demon, what more grandiose revelation could there be from him than just that? And it's not like this is the first time such content has crossed his lips, because it's certainly no quantum leap from A World Without Heroes' a world without sun, or for my sake bells that do not ring to Within's cry without tears and light without day. Both songs are full of these contradictory similes. And A World Without Heroes has experienced a renaissance at least since MTV Unplugged and has apparently been cleansed of the disgrace of Music from The Elder (2), which clearly still haunts a handful of people (3). But what continues to happen to Within, completely unjustly and purely arbitrarily, is tantamount to stigmatization. And silly on top of that.

I hereby demand immediate freedom for Within now and forever. I hope I have made myself clear enough.

Side Notes:

(1) Incidentally, one of the reasons for Marvel Comics' steadily growing success was its visual adaptation to the zeitgeist. The only problem is that they carved their own leg in the 90s, as luck would have it, but there were several different reasons for this.

(2) And, ohoo, Psycho Circus is literally teeming with Elder allusions.

(3) I just wonder which people that could be? Hmm.

Please do yourself a favor and listen to Charisma (Gene's voice), Thrills in the Night (main riff) or A World Without Heroes (lyrics) or even Strutter (the chorus riff), and then Within. After that, I don't want to hear any more of Carnival of Souls Reject.

Within (1998)

youtube

Charisma (1979)

youtube

A World Without Heroes (1981)

youtube

Thrills in the Night (1984)

youtube

Strutter (1974)

youtube

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onlydylanobrien · 2 years

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Dylan O’Brien & Zoey Deutch On Influencers, Erotic 80s Thrillers & Being #TeamTaylor

"I had some really wonderful, insightful conversations with public figures who have been cancelled." - by Harriet Sim

Starring in the confronting new drama Not Okay, co-stars Dylan O’Brien and Zoey Deutch sit down with marie claire Australia to talk about what drew them to the film, their first experience with influencer culture, and why they'll always been on Taylor Swift's team.

Marie Claire: Not Okay puts influencer culture under a microscope and examines how it’s become part of the zeitgeist. What drew you both to the script?

Zoey Deutch: I'm really fascinated by cancel culture. When you do a horrible thing, there are consequences, but we're in an interesting time where we sit behind our computers and play God, and decide who gets to live or die. Public shaming and cancellation isn't a new thing, but the scope, and how quick and inescapable it is, is new. I was really interested in that conversation and asking the question, should people be allowed to make mistakes? Do you believe in redemption? I think everybody looks inward. That's always been a really interesting thing for me to discuss; Internet culture, privilege and the mindless endless scrolling that we do. On social media you see war and school shootings, and then sprinkled in there are ads for hair and gummies and beyond Facetuned photos, and you're just hit with this stuff. That’s what drew me to the story.

MC: What was your first exposure to influencer culture?

Dylan O'Brien: I guess YouTube was the first iteration of it, and since then it's just had these different evolutions. It feels like anybody can become an influencer with the way TikTok is designed, it makes it easier to find your way to anyone's pages.

MC: Did any of the current influencers or make for a great character research?

ZD: We spoke to, and I won’t name names, many cancelled people. I had some really wonderful, insightful and interesting conversations with public figures who have been cancelled. They were multifaceted people who had made bad mistakes, and were suffering consequences, and were wondering, how long would they be suffering for.

MC: Dylan, you use Twitter, as a platform for advocacy on everything from pro-choice, LQBTQI rights, black lives matter ect. Why is using your voice and your platform on this medium something that is important to you?

DO: I think it's mostly driven by what's been going on in the world. The way I see it is that it’s this collective, this conversation and fight. In such unprecedented times it's sort of an emotional desperation. If you can possibly bring even the tiniest little percentage of awareness, I think it's our collective duty to do that together.

MC: Zoey you’re in Ed Sheeran’s Perfect music video and Dylan you’re the heartbreaker in Taylor’s All Too Well. What was the experience like?

DO: Working with Taylor was amazing. I can’t believe she’s real sometimes. She just naturally became a friend so quickly. It felt like we’d known each other for years, we’re the same age and have a lot of mutual friends. She’s the best and so brilliant.

ZD: What’s funny about both Taylor and Ed is they are both so prolific. They write hit after hit. Their songs are so deep, vulnerable and personal. I remember asking Ed ‘are you ever worried you’ll get writer’s block?’ And he’s like, ‘Absolutely not.’ They are similar in that sense, they just have so much to say.

MC: What genre would you like to tackle next?

DO: I’d love to do a horror movie.

ZD: Me too!

MC: Would you play the hero or the villain?

Dylan: I don’t think I’d be believable as the bad guy.

Zoey: Really? I think he could be a good creepy murderer and I mean that lovingly.

Dylan: For weeks I’ve been on this 80s erotic thriller kick. We’re got to bring back the erotic thriller.

Zoey: Dylan’s interested in being fully nude for an hour and a half. I feel confident we can make that happen.

MC: Have you read A Court of Thorn and Roses? It’s essentially fairy porn, but they’re making it into a film.

Dylan: What, no?

Zoey: Ok, we need to delve deep. Dylan’s looking into fairy porn now.

Dylan: This is cool.

Zoey: Okay, this is your next movie Dylan.

#dylan o'brien #not okay press #not okay cast #zoey deutch #taylor swift

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bluest-uwu-blowfishes · 2 years

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more ffxiv incorrect quotes

oh uh yeah spoilers, I guess

Alisaie: I just remembered this time I was telling a story to Alphinaud and it was clear he wasn't listening to me so I started making up this huge, gruesome story about a cult murder I'd witnessed while he sat there nodding along to my dramatic moral struggle about whether or not I should come forward. It was then I looked up to see the table next to us looked utterly horrified and long story short, that's why I should remember that other people have ears.

WoL: Shh, here comes Y'shtola! Alisae: Quick, Alphinaud, start talking about boring nerd stuff Alphinaud: You know, nerd culture is mainstream now, so when you use the word “nerd” derogatorily, it means you’re the one that’s out of the zeitgeist. Alisaie: Yes, that’s perfect. Just like that.

Alphinaud: When you've been a diplomat for as long as I have, you develop thick skin. Estinien: Navy blue isn't your color. Alphinaud: Navy blue brings out my eyes you prick! *chases after Estinien*

Ysayle: Hopefully Estinien has learned a lesson about respecting other people's feelings. Estinien: Oh, shut up and die Iceheart.

WoL: Manga lied to me. I never see bad boy types protecting stray kittens therefore revealing to me their soft side WoL: its always me picking up the cats WoL: maybe I'm the bad boy

Thancred: *shatters a window and climbs through it* Thancred: *turns around and helps Ryne through it* Breaking and entering is wrong, Ryne. Ryne: Okay.

WoL: When I met you I thought you were a real bitch. Estinien: What changed your mind? WoL: Oh, I still think you’re a bitch, I’ve just grown to like that about you.

WoL: What's gone wrong, Alisaie? Alisaie: Hey! That’s one hell of a thing to say to a person. Just because I’m calling doesn’t mean there’s a crisis. WoL: That’s technically true, I suppose. Why are you calling? Alisaie: Well... There’s a crisis.

Zenos: Hi- Alisaie: Leave before there's a terrible misunderstanding between my foot and your arse.

Estinien, trying to comfort anyone: What's the problem? Anxiety? Low self-esteem? Obsessive thoughts of random arson? I've been there.

Sir: There is no future. There is no past. Don't you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every fact. WoL: ...All I asked was if you wanted to cut your birthday cake first.

Estinien: Everyone knows that the Saint of Nymeia is an invention designed by the big five corporations to sell tinsel and video games to an unsuspecting public. Alisaie: The whole “childhood wonder” stage just blew right past you, didn’t it?

Alphinaud, post-ARR: *sighs* I have no friends... Tataru: Tataru: *coughs* Bitch, what am I? A roach?!

G'raha: The moon looks beautiful, doesn’t it? Alisaie, looking at G'raha: Yeah… but do you know what’s more beautiful? G'raha and Alisaie in unison: *sighs* WoL

#ffxiv incorrect quotes #ffxiv #so it's been a hot minute #I still have more of these but motivation is a bitch so uh yeah #ffxiv alphinaud #ffxiv alisaie #ffxiv estinien #ffxiv spoilers kind of

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shembl · 1 year

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Moby Dick FNP Chapter 22 - Merry Christmas!

Posting this here our of order compared to the other stuff for a couple of reasons. The first reason is it’s Christmas, so merry that, for all who celebrate or observe, and the second reason is that Whale Weekly has absolutely blasted past our pace and I think we should probably stick with the zeitgeist a bit I think.

We’ll still be pasting chapter by chapter, but here’s a little christmas treat; the sight of me desperately clinging to the discourse in an attempt to piggyback off Whale Weekly’s popularity.

We have more chapters in the bank which I’ll get around to posting soon, but in the meantime, Merry Christmas and please enjoy this slightly reworded, list-bulleted version of Chapter 22 of Moby Dick, now for Normal People

🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳 🐳

Chapter 22: Merry Christmas

There were a few last things to be done on the ship before we got going, mostly this was Charity, that nice lady from earlier, she was dropping off various gifts and nice things for the crew, including a nightcap (the hat type, not a drink) for this guy called Stubbs who was the second mate and also her brother in law, and also a spare bible for the steward, who’s name and familial links I am hazy on.

Then, Peleg and Bildad came out and stood all official-like.

Peleg turned to the chief mate and said “Now, Mr. Starbuck, are you sure everything is right? Captain Ahab is all ready—just spoke to him—nothing more to be got from shore, eh? Well, call all hands, then. Muster ’em aft here—blast ’em!”

“No need of profane words, however great the hurry, Peleg,” said Bildad, “but away with thee, friend Starbuck, and do our bidding.” I don’t know why, but Bildad always seemed to phrase things in the most ominous way possible.

Talking like a pair of big important order-givers weren’t they? At least for people who weren’t actually going out to sea with us! Don’t get me wrong, they probably know their stuff, but really shouldn’t Ahab have been the one up here shouting at everyone? Then I thought about it and remembered that his leg was bad, and that even if that wasn’t case, some captains just like to get drunk in their cabin, I’ve seen plenty of that in my time on boats, so really it was all okay. I relaxed a little. Not for long though, because just then Peleg started yelling at everyone.

“Aft here, ye sons of bachelors,” he cried, as the sailors lingered at the main-mast. Everyone over there started running around, wild-eyed.

“Strike the tent there!”—was the next order. I’d thought it was odd that there was a tent on deck to start with, so I suppose that taking it down was like a ritualistic re-boatening of the vessel, because tents don’t go to sea.

“Man the capstan! Blood and thunder!—jump!”—was the next command, and the crew did all these things.

The ship was getting under way, and anyone who knows ships knows that under way means it’s time for singing. Now, Bildad was never much of a party man in my experience, and he showed that at this time by singing some sort of boring religious song and tutting at the sailors who were en-masse, raucously roaring the hit shanty of the time “The Girls of Booble Alley.”

I found myself somewhat comforted by this bizarre scene, there was us on a ship made of bones, with heads full of dark prophecy and a crew singing rude songs, but somehow this pious little paragon of virtue called Bildad, maybe we weren’t all totally damned, if someone like that could put up with us, could have a stake in all this, then surely God wouldn’t fuck us all up, would he?

By now I had stopped moving the capstan and told Queequeg to do the same, I can’t really think and do manual labour at the same time and I had quite some pondering to do.

My leg almost exploded with some outside blunt force trauma slamming into them. I looked around and saw Peleg’s own leg dragging back across the deck towards him. He was swearing at everyone and especially at me. That was my first kick of the voyage.

“Is that the way they heave in the marchant service?” he roared. “Spring, thou sheep-head; spring, and break thy backbone! Why don’t ye spring, I say, all of ye—spring! Quohog! spring, thou chap with the red whiskers; spring there, Scotch-cap; spring, thou green pants. Spring, I say, all of ye, and spring your eyes out!” And so saying, he moved along the windlass, here and there using his leg very freely, meanwhile.

“Captain Peleg must have been drinking something to-day. Methinks!” I quipped hilariously as my leg went completely numb.

Finally the anchor was up, so were the sails, and the ship was moving. It was almost enough to make you forget that today was Christmas, nobody had gotten me a present, but instead of a little to open, the world itself lay open before me, truly the greatest present of all. And in that world there were whales waiting for me to hack up!

It wasn’t exactly a white christmas, no snow or anything like that, but it was bloody cold and bloody wet and you know what that means, weather fans, that means it was icy!

Massive icicles were forming on all the ropes and bones about the place, hanging down like big cold daggers ready to take your eyes if you look the wrong way, for a seasoned sailor like me, it was just business as usual. Business on Christmas Day.

The winds howled and the sea splashed at us but all the time, right on the front of the ship, steering us through was weird old Bildad, singing a merry, optimistic and religious tune, cutting right through all the weather-related atmos.

“Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,

Stand dressed in living green.

So to the Jews old Canaan stood,

While Jordan rolled between.”

I wasn’t fully sure what he was actually talking about, but that’s art for you isn’t it, it’s not about the content, it’s about how it you feel, and I was taking some time out from all that backbreaking labour to have a stand around and a feel. Losing myself to the music I felt optimistic, I felt like it wouldn’t be long before I was off running and rolling around in verdant fields with a happy sky and loads of lovely food within easy reach, I let myself go there in my mind, away from this damp and cold body that imprisons it, away from the ship made of bones and the guy who kept yelling at me and kicking me. For just a moment I was free. I was optimistic.

Eventually it was time for Bildad and Peleg to leave. They’d gotten us out of the port, so it was time for them to head back to land. Their little sailboat pulled up and they got ready to go. Peleg seemed alright but there was something odd about old Bildad. He clearly didn’t want to leave, it wasn’t just a boat, here is a list of things it also was to him;

-A ship set for a very long and perilous voyage

-A ship with thousands of his dollars invested in it

-A ship with an old (almost as old as he) buddy in it (the captain) who was set to revisit all the all the terrors of the pitiless jaw

-A ship with everything important in his life contained in it

To express this anguish, poor old Bildad lingered long and;

-Paced the deck with anxious strides

- Ran down into the cabin to say goodbye a few more times

- Came back on deck and looked windward, at the wide and endless waters

- He looked towards land

- He looked aloft

- He looked left

- He looked right

- He looked everywhere

- He looked nowhere

- He wrapped a rope around its pin

- He wrapped his own hand around Peleg’s

- He held up a lantern so that his face could be seen, and he wasn’t crying.

- He and Peleg stared at each other for a bit

- He said “Nevertheless old friend Peleg, I can stand it. yes. I can.”

Peleg took it all a little bit more sensibly, like a philosopher, a philosopher who isn’t afraid to cry.

And with that, Peleg offered a few words of support to his old pal “Captain Bildad—come, old shipmate, we must go.” he whispered before going full yelling-mode at the rest of the ship; “Back the main-yard there! Boat ahoy! Stand by to come close alongside, now! Careful, careful!—come, Bildad, boy—say your last. Luck to ye, Starbuck—luck to ye, Mr. Stubb—luck to ye, Mr. Flask—good-bye and good luck to ye all—and this day three years I’ll have a hot supper smoking for ye in old Nantucket. Hurrah and away!”

“God bless ye, and have ye in His holy keeping, men,” murmured old Bildad, almost incoherently. “I hope ye’ll have fine weather now, so that Captain Ahab may soon be moving among ye—a pleasant sun is all he needs, and ye’ll have plenty of them in the tropic voyage ye go. Be careful in the hunt, ye mates. Don’t stave the boats needlessly, ye harpooneers; good white cedar plank is raised full three per cent. within the year. Don’t forget your prayers, either. Mr. Starbuck, mind that cooper don’t waste the spare staves. Oh! the sail-needles are in the green locker! Don’t whale it too much a’ Lord’s days, men; but don’t miss a fair chance either, that’s rejecting Heaven’s good gifts. Have an eye to the molasses tierce, Mr. Stubb; it was a little leaky, I thought. If ye touch at the islands, Mr. Flask, beware of fornication. Good-bye, good-bye! Don’t keep that cheese too long down in the hold, Mr. Starbuck; it’ll spoil. Be careful with the butter—twenty cents the pound it was, and mind ye, if—”

“Come, come, Captain Bildad; stop palavering,—away!” and with that, Peleg hurried him over the side, and both dropped into the boat.

Ship and boat diverged; the cold, damp night breeze blew between; a screaming gull flew overhead; the two hulls wildly rolled; we gave three heavy-hearted cheers, and blindly plunged like fate into the lone Atlantic.

#moby dick #whale weekly #ishmael #bildad #peleg #herman melville #moby dick for normal people #christmas #holidays #ships #lists #merry christmas

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