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yuri-is-online · 3 months

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Could you share some of your ideas on improving the Twilight series?

There are a few ways that we can fix Twilight, but for now let's just focus on keeping its original premise: Bella moves to Forks, meets Edward, and is swept up into a word of supernatural happenings. I'm going to go through my issues one by one and then get to some overall points, this got stupidly long for no good reason I am so sorry.

I will note that I had to google some information about what happens in the first and fourth books because I did not watch those movies and I think I might have read the first book? But don't remember anything that happened in it.

Bella's Personality

Or lack of one is getting changed immediately. Stories are driven by the actions and desires of their characters and Bella is our MC. We need her to have reasons for making the choices she does beyond "she has to do this for the plot to progress."

Bella moves to Forks because she notices that her mother seems unhappy staying at home with her and not on the road with her new husband. From this we can assign Bella as being self-sacrificing, maybe to the point of self-sabotaging. She also is very self-reliant; she doesn't think she needs help from other people, especially not those who have a degree of authority over her because she assumes their help comes from them assuming she cannot take care of herself (and maaaaybe think that she's a burden) and not from a place of love.

When Jacob expresses a dislike of Sam, Bella supports him and validates his feelings. She is extremely upset and confused when he has suddenly changed his tune later and goes to confront Sam about it. In the movie this comes off as manipulative, as it seems like Bella is only really upset that Jacob isn't 100% focused on her anymore. I hate this! It makes the story much better if Bella goes to confront Sam because she is protective of her loved ones. Edward says he is afraid of not being able to protect her several times and she always responds with "then I'll protect you!" She should mean that! Let her be the over protective friend who will throw hands!!!

The one thing I do remember about the first book is an off hand remark about how "special and not like other girls" Bella was because she had already read Jane Austen for fun and that made her only able to relate to old people (something I had just gotten done doing which was probably why I stopped reading the book because middle school Yuri felt very insecure) and she also seems to like Shakespeare. But the books never seem to do anything with that, and it was pretty much the law in the early 2000s that your YA heroine needed to be into classic lit so it is a sort of basic trait. But it is still a trait, so Bella likes classic lit.

One of the things people unironically like about Twilight is how Stephanie Myer portrayed depression. Bella seems to be struggling from some pretty severe issues with her self-esteem and self-worth. She wants to be a vampire because she thinks it will fix her issues with herself; she's afraid of growing old and not being desirable to her partner which is sadly a very common fear people have so it makes her relatable which is good for the protag of a novel... but

If you are going to cover topics like self-loathing and depression we need to have a think about how to handle those topics responsibly which I don't think the og Twilight series does... for now let's just keep in mind that depression and self esteem are themes we should keep for Bella's personal character arc.

The Parents

Bella refers to both of her parents by their first names, unless she's talking to them. As someone who does this with her mother... that's not really something you do overnight or if you have an actual relationship with your parent. You can actually physically feel the gap between you, and it kind of sucks sometimes. It also explains a lot of those character traits listed above

Bella's mom sucks ass and I was surprised to find that's not as controversial of an opinion as I thought it would be. She is more invested in her relationship with her new husband than she is her daughter, Bella apparently was the primary cook, Bella keeps secrets from her mom because her mom's mental and emotional well being is extremely reliant on her, and to top it all off apparently she told Bella a bunch of intimate details about how she left her dad which IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO OH MY GOD. It isn't healthy for a kid to know the intimate details about the break down of their parent's marriage!!! Especially if it was messy!!! That's so damaging for a kid, it's a form of parentification where the child is forced to emotionally parent the person who is supposed to be doing the actual parenting. Charlie is a character no one seems to have any major complaints about, and that includes me: I think keeping him more or less the same works. He deeply loves his daughter and wants to have that personal relationship with her he never got to have while she was primarily living with her mother. His reactions to the things that happen in the series are completely normal and he shows the appropriate level of concern when Bella enters her depressive state after Edward breaks up with her.

The main thing I would change about how the parents are portrayed has to do with the break up between Edward and Bella in book 2. I think it was mentioned that Bella did not want to go to therapy... but given the circumstances: major depressive episode, night terrors, potentially abusive relationship, all after a major life change (the move to Forks) it would make sense to me for Bella and Charlie to go to a family therapist together before Bella goes to individual sessions. The breakdown of her parent's marriage, her mom's parentification of her, and her lack of real relationship with either parent is something I would want to see addressed and it's realistic for family therapy to be suggested with all those factors I mentioned. Bella doesn't need to have a fully mended relationship with her dad by the end of the series, but it would make the story a lot better if by connecting with him through family therapy she decides to trust him enough to tell him about Edward being a vampire and Jacob being a werewolf.

The Cullens

I have watched one episode of Vampire Diaries, so the concept of a why a bunch of vampire's would want to go back to highschool isn't too much of a concern for me. Using it as a way to re-learn what society is like makes sense… but that needs to be the stated reason and not vaguely implied. It also makes more sense to me if Rosalie and Emmet don't attend the highschool and instead pretend to be college students who live with Emmet's parents. Japser, Alice, and Edward are enough to work with, adding more characters to do nothing with doesn't actually help the flow of the story. And oh god does a lot of nothing happen in the actual series.

The overall concept for their characters doesn't bother me too too much. They're vampires who abstain from human blood and are empowered by not succumbing to their thirst, that's a pretty basic plot line and more importantly it gives us a conflict to work with. Everyone thinks the sparkles are dumb, so instead let's just go with the Dracula thing where they can't use their powers during the day. Since the Cullens are supposed to be stronger due to their lack of preying on humans, maybe they can use their powers but not as effectively? Alice still gets visions for example, but Edward has trouble telling whose thoughts are whose, Jasper can't always get a frim grip on people's emotions, Emmet isn't as strong, and Rosalie sort of just looks tired as opposed to beautiful.

The Volturi

They are the oldest vampire coven and potentially the largest. Again don't have much of a problem with this or wouldn't rather if they had some fucking character. I had to google Aro's name. He's one of their leaders and the only one who I felt was actually acting in the whole movie and I had to google his goddamn name. Also I am only going to mention this once and I am only going to talk about it here but:

Stephanie Myer is a Mormon and as a result her world building is very Mormon. Did you know Aro has a wife? I didn't, but pretty much every major character in the series is married and lives with their "children" and their children's spouses. Which is a fine way to live if you aren't weird about it but I don't trust these people aren't.

Anyway all of this section is to stay that they Volturi can more or less stay the same as they are already, but the rules they've established for vampire kind need to be introduced to the reader (and their existence) almost immediately instead of in book 2.

The Werewolves

The biggest thing I would change about the werewolves is the bit about them being "awakened" by the presence of vampires. I think it makes more sense if the wolves just awaken when they feel a strong need to protect their family period, the presence of vampires just makes the process speed up a whole lot because of the tribe's history. I also think it makes sense for the Pack to be viewed as sort of protectors of the land and the people from supernatural threats by humans who are aware, and for this to be sort of emphasized with Charlie's relationship with Jacob's dad and grandfather.

I mentioned that I would have Bella and Charlie connect after going to family therapy, but now that I think about it, I would also have Charlie know about the werewolf pack before Bella tells him. He leaves the supernatural policing to them and focuses on the human crimes, that way he's able to focus his resources and protect his people better. Maybe he comes to Bella first and admits he's been lying to her and lays out what he knows and that's what gets her to open up about Edward being a vampire.

Misc.

From what I have managed to piece together, the main "plot" of twilight is that Bella and Edward meet, they stare into each other's eyes a whole bunch and realize one has good smelling blood and the other is a vampire. Edward introduces Bella to his coven and some other vampires show up??? And want to eat Bella??? And then they run away and oh no. The evil vampires have found them again and try to eat Bella and then Edward kills him but leaves his wife alive so the rest of the books are just a girlboss trying to get revenge on Edward by killing his partner. Until the last book when the Volturi show up angry because Bella isn't a vampire yet and has given birth to a half vampire and while I am on that last point: no half vampire baby, we are throwing out that whole ass plot point. I think people sometimes go overboard in assuming Mormon creators make everything about their fiction Mormon but there is nothing more fundamentalist than immediately getting married and having kids at 18. It doesn't need to happen, we can just re-write that whole book. Ok? Ok.

This is probably where most of the variations in how to fix the series come in tbh. Is it just a romance series? Do you want supernatural adventures? What are the stakes? Do we address the abusive undertones to Bella and Edward's relationship and make it a plot point or do we try to fix Edward? The original series doesn't have much going on in it... except for one thing which I want to bring up now. If you like the idea of Twilight (vampire romance set in a small town where supernatural stuff happens) I would highly recommend playing the Wayhaven Chronicles by Misha Jenkins. Because she also has a protagonist with special blood that is enticing to vampires and blocks their powers… but in her interactive fiction series she explains it as being a natural mutation humans have evolved to protect themselves from supernaturals. Their blood also empowers all supernaturals, not just vampires. Both of these ideas are ones I like, but since the only creatures we are working with in Twilight are Vamps and Werewolves, let's keep Bella's blood to only effecting vampires.

For my part, the more I have thought about Edward's character, he doesn't seem like he's mature enough to be in a relationship. He clearly has some unaddressed traumas about his vampirism that are getting in the way of him making friends let alone a girlfriend, so for my "fixed" series he isn't Bella's endgame.

Anyway here are some more specific bullet points idk:

Book 1

James the tracker gets introduced before the actual vampire reveal happens. He tracks and attacks Bella, Edward protects her, and they start hanging out more based off of a mutual attraction fueled by Bella's desire to be needed and Edward's desire to preserve what he perceives to be as a pure human soul.

Alice becomes Bella's first real good friend and encourages her to explore things that interest her. Bella starts taking care of her appearance a bit more, not in a "oh good she wears make up now" way but in a way where she buys clothes because she likes them and not because her mom would approve of them and remembers to brush her hair.

Jacob is introduced and Bella thinks of him as friend, it's clear she sees him as still a kid and doesn't take him seriously. This bothers him, but we don't find out why in this book.

Edward tells Bella that James isn't something she should worry about any more, but that is a lie. He has been attempting to protect Bella on his own, with some help from Emmet and Rosalie on occasion, but he feels a personal responsibility to keep James away from Alice and Bella. (Alice apparently was turned by James or something? Anyway this should be a bonding point for Alice and Bella)

He still breaks in to watch her sleep and all that shit and Bella rationalizes this, even claiming to be flattered as all she's ever really wanted is to be cared about and this feels like someone cares.

But then she gets a call from James threatening her mother and because Bella sees herself as her mom's protector she runs straight into that trap.

Blah blah blah Edward has to drain poison from Bella, they officially start dating.

Book 2

Bella's birthday. She doesn't like being the center of attention or birthdays in general and no one really seems to get this. Her dad asks if she wants a cake or something and promises not to buy candles, and since Bella likes cake she agrees if he promises not to sing.

Her friends at school wish her happy birthday except for Jacob who gives her his present "just because." It's clear to Edward that Jacob is someone she cares about and this makes him jealous because he cannot stand seeing her interact happily with someone else.

Alice has planned a birthday party for Bella and is extremely excited to officially introduce her to the rest of the family, even though she has already met them, since she knows how much Edward likes Bella and she's rooting for him.

Blah blah blah, cut happens, Jasper freaks, Carslie talks a bit with Bella, and then oof

Edward dumps Bella in the middle of the woods the next day and she doesn't take it well. Speaking of which this pissed me off so fucking much "oh uwu I can't be with u because I am worried about how fragile u are and I'll huuuurt you" *proceeds to break up with her in the middle of the fucking woods where she can easily get lost and die*

Depressive episode like normal

Bella realizes she can still see Edward if she is about to do something dangerous and still goes to find those motorbikes and take them to Jacob.

Bella's human friends don't really get as much of a focus even though they are there, so I'd like to bring them back here for a moment. Maybe the pink one encourages Bella to go see a therapist after Bella brushes off her dad's suggestion because she's been thinking about the risk seeking behavior and is worried she encouraged it. She also admits to seeing a therapist herself and this surprises Bella, who decides maybe it couldn't really hurt.

As Bella talks with Jacob she says something about him being a kid and he gets offended by this, heavily hinting at maybe him liking her

But, as opposed to Edward who always brushed off Bella's offer of protection, when talking about Sam Jacob reacts positively to Bella's offer of help and makes the same promise. "You watch my back I'll watch yours."

Cliff diving scene stays but like it's not done on a whim, Bella gets a group together of kids from the highschool maybe? No weird movie date scene because that was cringe.

Anyway Edward thinks she dies, Alice comes for a visit, werewolf Jake freaks but trusts Bella when she says she will be fine and says he trusts her.

The book ends with Bella bargaining for the Cullen's freedom from the Volturi by agreeing to become a vampire, initially she offers to allow Aro or whatever the fuck to turn her but Alice intervenes and offers to do it herself. They set a date for after her graduation, and are warned of grave consequences if they do not comply.

Edward and Bella do not get back together at the end of the book.

Book 3

Bella and Alice are back to being besties. While Bella is not back together with Edward, but she is not dating Jacob either. She is attempting to maintain a friendship with both but it's not really working, as Jacob can tell she's keeping some sort of secret from him.

This secret being her impending turning, and the general theme of people trying to convince her that she doesn't need to do this remains.

There is a real focus on the lack of choice most of the Cullens had with becoming vampires and how that has affected them, with a heavy emphasis placed on Edward.

Edward and Carlisle have a long talk. Carlisle talks about the concept of soulmates and how he always hoped Edward would find his, but admits he maybe placed too much of an emphasis on that instead of actually addressing the problems he was having in the hopes that love would fix him.

Since this is my post, I think Aro should be a sort of character foil to Edward. Ed doesn't want Bella to become a vampire even though she would (allegedly) make a very powerful one, while Aro should be obsessed with making Bella into a vampire because of her blood. I would also make it so that Aro's "wife" was once like Bella, with the same good smelling blood, and directly contrast Aro's sense of ownership over her with how Edward had been thinking about Bella.

This terrifies Edward who also has a deep talk with Bella and apologizes, and while Bella accepts it they still don't get back together because-

Bella always had more chemistry with Jacob anyway. They share interests and hobbies, they like talking with each other, Jake is someone she is good friends with and someone she really is going to miss when she dies and becomes a vampire.

Idc let the plot with the newborn army remain, but like make the talk about imprinting actually mean something. Maybe Jacob has already imprinted on Bella but he's keeping that shit to himself because he doesn't want to pressure her.

Maybe it all comes out while he's wounded and Bella finally tells him about what she has agreed to do.

And then the book ends with them both agreeing they don't want that to happen

There's a book 4?

So I have no idea what goes on in the end of the Twilight series.

There's a war?

But not actually because it was just a vision Alice had?

Um I think there is potential for some sort of actual battle between the Volturi, other vampire covens, and the werewolves.

Apparently according to the wiki Aro's wife is locked in a tower somewhere in a trance because he killed her sister? And she was upset about that?

Uhhhh maybe they decide to use that to spark some in fighting between the Volturi

Jacob and Bella can get married at the sensible age of like 25 in the epilogue

And Edward gets with someone else idk. Maybe one of the newborns from Vicky's army who he goes on a healing journey with.

meh that's what I've got. I still like the idea of Bella being into catching beetles and moths and that's why she's ok with being in the woods a whole lot but that's not super important.

I think it should sort of low key freak both Edward and Jacob out. But that's just my opinion~

#<3 asks #talking shop #twilight saga #i guess #anyway sorry this is what i choose to grace you all with #i'm dealing with some heart issues atm so i'm in and out of drs appointments #if you have to go to the er i would recommend against going alone #i am more or less ok to be clear!#just stressed and taking some new meds #and trying to slowly ease myself back into writing so i don't stress myself out more

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restinslices · 4 months

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(I swear to y’all, imma go back to Mortal Kombat. But I have to rant. Imma pretend it’s the early 2000s and rant about Twilight. If you’re pro any of the Cullens, don’t even read this)

I’m not saying Jacob should’ve kissed Bella, but my thing is this; Jacob kisses you and you call him a dog and say you hope Edward kills him. Edward has done foul shit the ENTIRE SERIES and you let him slide repeatedly. There’s this part where Bella gets mad and says something like “at least Edward an act like an adult”. Bitch. He IS AN ADULT. What do you mean? Bella is way more harsh when it comes to Jacob and I don’t get why she holds so much anger towards this child and holds him to this high standard but has none of these feelings when it comes to the old ass adult she’s with. Since I’m typing, Stephanie Myers is weird and idc what y’all say. I remember Bella described Leah as beautiful in an EXOTIC way. MA’AM? It feels like she realized how asshole-ish the Cullens are and tried to make the wolves seem worse but all I’m thinking is “they’re definitely in the right when it comes to not liking the Cullens”.

The wolves don’t like vampires because they’re a safety risk. The Cullens being there (keep in mind, they’re rich enough to leave and never come back) is triggering these young ass people to turn into wolves. The Cullens don’t like the wolves because?? They have no valid reason. Edward constantly says the wolves are dangerous and yeah, they’re not the safest to be around but compared to vampires they’re a lot safer. Bella has only been harmed by vampires and only the vampires have tried to end her life. James, Laurent, Jasper, Victoria, the new born army that’s forming, the Volturi. She’s only been in danger because of the wolves once. Like, I don’t get how Stephanie expects us to agree with Edward when there’s proof that the wolves are way safer. Not 100% safe but better than vampires. And while I love Seth, I swear Seth is the “you’re not like the others” character. They only like Seth because he doesn’t hold animosity towards them as if that animosity isn’t valid. It’s giving “you’re not like other blacks, you talk proper” (ik he’s not black, it’s an example). I’m finishing the books because I’m too deep to quit but I wish they let Victoria finish the job.

#anti cullen #anti edward cullen #anti carlisle cullen #anti esme cullen #anti alice cullen #anti jasper cullen #anti rosalie cullen #Emmett is the only Cullen I like rn but that can change #I know it is 2024 but listen-#anti bella swan #twilight #Slices Speaks

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catladyoftheyr · 3 months

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Summer Vacation chapter 1/??

You kissed me in a way that’s gonna screw me up forever

Characters: Bella x Edward

Summary: Bella’s grounded after the events of the first book so Edward’s been sneaking into her room at night to spend time together. They end up kissing and things get a little steamy.

Word count: 839

A/N: my favorite parts of twilight are just Bella and Edward being cute together. I love them doing regular teenage things and I wish Stephanie Myer had given us content of them just being teenagers over the summer. This series is just me writing my ideal summer romance bc I have twilight brainrot. Edward might be slightly out of character idk and idc. This is my MY version of him 🫡

Edward and I had only been dating for a couple months officially. So much has happened since I moved to Forks in January that it’s felt like ages. It hasn’t even been a month since what Charlie had started calling The Incident when I stormed out of the house and told Charlie I couldn’t be trapped here like my mom. I still felt guilty for intentionally hurting his feelings, especially since I couldn’t tell him the truth. “Hey dad, my boyfriend and his entire family are vampires and another vampire tried to kill me in the ballet studio I went to as a kid.” Would probably make Charlie institutionalize me.

I heard my window softly slide open and Edward materialized in my bedroom. This had become a habit since I was still technically grounded. Charlie had tried to convince me to stop seeing Edward, and when that failed he’d declared that I was grounded until further notice. “Hi,” I whispered, unsure if Charlie was asleep yet. “You can pick the movie tonight.” I’d been saving my wages from my part-time job and managed to buy a small TV and DVD player from a local thrift shop. Edward rummaged carefully through the small stack of DVDs and held up a copy of Pride and Prejudice before sliding the disc in. We sat next to each other in my bed and Edward planted a light kiss on the top of my head.

“You smell like coconut,” he murmured.

“New shampoo”

“How long does Charlie plan on keeping you locked up in the house for?”

“Probably forever at this rate. I keep trying to convince him that I've learned my lesson but I feel like he’s not budging. He thinks you’re a bad influence.” I can't say I entirely blamed Charlie. He was doing his best to parent me on his own and I wasn’t making it very easy lately. Still, I wish he’d ease up a little. I leaned my head against Edward’s shoulder, wanting to feel the coolness of his skin. His eyes were focused on the screen but my gut told me he wasn’t paying attention. I wished I could know what he was thinking about, and I know he wished the same of me.

I traced the veins in his hands with my fingers. Edward stiffed and I looked up at him for the signal to continue. He nodded and my fingers continued to tread lightly up his arms. Physical intimacy was still largely uncharted territory in our relationship. I wanted so desperately to allow us to be less restrained with how we touched each other but we both knew the risks. I knelt and turned to face him on the bed and cupped his jaw gently in my hands. Edward was if a marble statue of a Greek God had come to life. He was classically beautiful and his features were stern but gentle underneath. I closed the gap between us and let our lips connect.

His lips were cold at first but quickly warmed with mine on them. Edward didn’t technically need to breathe but I felt cool air hit my face as we kissed. I felt Edward’s hands grip my hair and pull me closer. We broke apart so I could breathe and I locked my eyes in his. His eyes darkened with passion and he let his hands fall from my hair. “Do you want to keep going?” He asked. I nodded fervently and slid his hands down to my hips. Edward lifted me onto his lap and I locked my legs behind him. I was tired of being careful and controlled. I needed to touch him. Our lips met again and I moaned softly. I gripped my hands into his hair and tried to leverage myself even closer. His hands dug into my hips firmly. Even in passion he was in control of himself; he could snap me in half if he wasn’t cautious but I didn’t care anymore.

Edward pulled back to look at me. “You’re so beautiful, Bella” he whispered in the dark before his lips moved to my neck. I gasped and wrapped my arms around him tighter, digging my nails into his shoulders. He sucked lightly, surely intending to leave a mark. He’d told me that vampires marked their mates but this was new behavior for Edward. I whispered as he made his way to my collarbones, planting light kisses all the way down. “I love you” he said softly.

“I love you too. Keep going please” I said breathlessly. Just as Edward was about to oblige my request there were footsteps in the hallway. We both froze and I silently prayed for Charlie to go back to bed. The only sound in the dark room was my breathing and the television. Charlie knocked lightly on my door and I swore under my breath. “Yeah?” I called out.

“Can you turn the volume down please? I have to be up early tomorrow. Goodnight, Bells.”

“Okay I will. Goodnight, Dad.”

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allieandskeletons · 1 year

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Hey there, HYBRIDs and fans of other Slenderverse webseries. I'm quite experienced when it comes to writing I guess and I'd like to start my own blog related to that.

Anyway, here are some things that I'll write and will not write!

- First off, definitely not anything illegal. I'll not mention them as it's already easy to guess based on that single word. Any such requests will instantly be denied and I don't wanna see them either.

- I will not write NSFW or smut as I'm not comfortable with that. Sorry, I just don't write those kind of things.

- I'm mostly looking to write for EverymanHYBRID at the moment, so I'd prefer requests based on it although I can do Marble Hornets too.

I can write for Evan Myers, HABIT, Vincent Everyman, Stephanie and Jeffrey Koval. I might do requests that's based on other characters, but those are just my likings.

For Marble Hornets I mostly want to write for Alex Kralie and Tim Wright at the moment.

Yes, I do reader requests and that's mostly what my blog will revolve around. I can do romantic, platonic, familial requests!

If you have a request, don't be afraid to ask! I'd love to hear 'em. Just remember to clarify whether you want headcanons or a story.

Soo ask if you want to!

#everymanhybrid #slenderverse #habit emh #vincent everyman #marble hornets #slenderverse x reader

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anightmarethisdamage · 7 months

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'Medusa' MV First Reactions

Guys, I have a secret. I was wondering why I liked JUST B. This is a common problem I have - in between comebacks I wonder why I like a group - do I really like ATEEZ? Do I really like TXT? SEVENTEEN? ENHYPEN? Are they really that good? It only happens with boy groups which is kind of funny.

But every single time those groups have a comeback, I remember instantly why I like them. And 'Medusa' was no different.

I LOVED THIS. It filled my heart with joy and I was so happy and proud to see them performing like this and to see how their budget has got bigger (or, maybe it hasn't but they just got better at using it well). The only thing that would have made it better would having Sangwoo be involved too.

I think the song is amazing, and it's got some nice links to their previous storyline. They aren't hitting it as hard as they previously did, for whatever reason, but a lot of groups tend to lose their storyline over time and then come back to it - BTS, ENHYPEN, TXT, etc.

That said, there were still some great references and visual shortcuts they use, so let's talk about it!

So you know how last time they started exploring the real world after escaping? Um... well, it doesn't look like it went very well for them, does it? Let's just say that.

Also, while Naneun had lots of people - a bright city, cars moving by, some people walking in the streets, implied people in a cosy cafe, etc, Medusa has no one. The transition from a nice paved road in Naneun to a dusty dirt road in Medusa really reminds me of every apocalypse movie ever, especially things like Mad Max and The Maze Runner, or just... any zombie movie. For some reason it also reminds me of Stephanie Myer's The Host, but please don't hold that against me.

Anyway, let's just say that, as the description reads, this MV very clearly follows on from Naneun, showing a downfall and the need for the boys to work together to overcome it. It also uses motifs both from the 'JUST B' series and their new one.

Alright that's enough of DY just lying there - let's move on.

Moving camera is a nice visual shortcut for change and transition/a journey. Very JUST B themes.

For those wondering - I think this was shot in the US, not Australia, since I'm pretty sure we don't have cacti like that in Aus.

My dudes that is not a safe place to dance.

Okay, nice. The hollowed out train car which has become a visual shortcut in kpop for loss, destruction, isolation, and so on (See TXT Sugar Rush Ryde Japanese ver, BTS Spring Day, that one LOONA member's solo). Along with this dance move it definitely gives this MV a poignant and tragic atmosphere.

Very apocalyptic.

Bruv that is such a cool shot. It really gets the apocalyptic everything-is-falling-apart idea across.

The gas mask is also really simple visual shortcut for this, but it makes me ask what they need the masks for - zombies? Covid? Something else?

Or it could just be a metaphor for their voices being silenced in DAMAGE...?

Mr Jimin you look very cool.

Arm bands have become a common symbol for leaders these days in kpop.

Also - train tracks which represent a journey - but walking along them is often a hard and dangerous one. I like how we can see the telephone poles in the distance but no civilisation - it hints that there may have once been a civilisation, but not any more.

I love this part of the song but I have no clue what Geonu's glasses are for except for looking cool and apocalyptic.

NVM y'all they're his high-tech surveillance goggles to make sure the people from DAMAGE aren't going to get them again.

I know that the drone can be a symbol of surveillance and them fighting back against the people who hurt them, and that the cars are a symbol of a long journey and so on, but I have been questioning every single comeback how this random group of brainwashed orphan kids got their hands on some nice cars, quadbikes, and drones.

This section at 48 seconds has some super cool editing. I didn't even notice there was a cut here.

Trains - another symbol of transit. For some reason, freight trains always still go during the apocalypse. This is THE ONLY other hint we get of humans in this MV. The train is usually shorthand for a civilisation that they either need to take down by sabotaging said train, or that they need to join by joining said train. I'm thinking joining by the fact that there is no train-blowing-up in this MV.

Why does Bain have a plant baby in the middle of the apocalypse? Also, I think this is the first plant we have ever seen in their MVs - showing that, despite the apocalypse, there is still hope - although it's fragile and needs careful looking after.

Holy moly he phased into another reality - or, kind of. There are a few options here; 1) a flashback, 2) an alternative timeline/butterfly effect thing 3) in a time loop 4) a dream.

But whatever it is, he still seems to have some knowledge of his reality since there's still no water.

Um... thank you. But I could have figured that out myself.

This suggests to me that perhaps the apocalypse came about because of some 'The Lorax 2012' situation where the government sells and restricts access to a necessity, leading to... well, the apocalypse and anarchy.

What are you all shocked for? Wasn't it obvious this would happen?

Oh dear... Um.. Anyone remember the blue-pill-red-pill of DAMAGE?

So, initially I thought they were being brainwashed here, but since it's the red pill, perhaps this is what releases them from their dream state when they're still in a relatively normal world (sans water)?

Looks like I'm at least a little bit right, since we instantly go back to the dangerous outdoors.

I'm not sure what the sign says - but I think it's 'hotel' - another symbol of transit and journey. And also potentially a place of danger (ahem, psycho, ahem).

Literally how did they get such a nice looking car? Did they murder someone? Anyway, good on them for planning something, I guess.

So notice here that there are other people, but we're still in the populated and relatively bright city - the dream world, most likely. Hence, their plan must be to escape this world.

Yes, pour your heart out, Geonu!!!!!

The sign reads 'Rosslyn Hotel' The Rosslyn Hotel was a hotel in Los Angeles in 1923 which was notable for its massive glowing neon sign. It was later transformed into low income and homeless housing - so it really has become in a way, a symbol of transit, journey, and hardship.

Mandatory shopping scene, except there's a twist...

There's nothing there! Because they're still in the dream or whatever it is. There goes their plan... and Jimin knows it.

I love their faces in this screenshot.

WHY DO YOU LOOK SHOCKED, YOU KNEW THIS?!?!?! Does the dream make them lose all memory and common sense, too?

Lmao Bain's acting is through the roof he looks so devestated for no reason - dude you knew it would be like this!

No name is... Sangwoo? Wistful thinking, methinks, but there's no other explanation.

Good luck finding that water...

Well at least they had a little fun on their quest. I guess the dream state also makes them immune to dying of dehydration.

Hence, the journey to find water (ahem, Rango, ahem).

See you in part 2 since I reached the image limit!

#just b #only b #medusa #just b theories #mv analysis

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highpri3stess · 1 year

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As a book person (literature, mostly) I can boldly say that I preferred it when booktok did not exist.

When I got tiktok, I wanted to find a niche of people that are my kind of people who read literature and other books. I also wanted more recommendations because who doesn't like reading new books?

But then falling into the booktok hole I discovered two things; 1. Either people just by books for the aesthetic cover and keep it in the shelves for the dark academia aura and 2. The books that people do read are actually very terrible.

I don't like judging books based on other reviews but it's one of these situation where the critics are right. Let me use Collen Hoover for example. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt that she could write abuse correctly. I've read 'Loilita' a little and I saw how the author frames it in such a way that you KNOW you're seeing the story from the point of view and it evokes disgust and anger at his actions. But with characters such as Lily and Ryle and all the books she's written, the concept of romanticizing abuse is so staple in her books, it's considered normal and sweet. I don't have a problem with her writing about abuse and someone falling for their abuser and being trapped with them. I don't have a problem with the character thinking the abuse is something romantic to them (because hell, it happens). I don't have a problem with Hoover writing about problematic stuff.

I have a problem with it's depiction in the eyes of the reader. Even if you are god's strongest soldier, I kid you not, Hoover's style depicts abuse as a normalized type of thing or something that is only important to drive the plot forward. The diction used to describe the feeling is so bad, like as if nothing is wrong when there are things that are just off. Even Stephanie Myers' depiction of Bella and Edward's relationship has you thinking 'something's off about these two' but there are no sort of alarming sounds available in Hoovers writing.

Then the LGBTQA+ fiction is another disappointing area. I would see 'oh a gay retelling of beauty and the beast with poc' and it's just like a bland book with poor diction and romance between two white gay characters and their black bestie that supports them. I refuse to read a 'oh it's a queer love story book' without describing the plot. It's like telling me 'Oh this man and this woman fell in love' or 'a woman is the main character' and you expect me to like read that??

You may say what makes me a judge of that? Yeah, I write shitty fanfics of my blorbos so I can't really say anything right? Well, if someone who writes 4k words of shitty unrealistic smut is telling you that booktok books are worse for wear, it means that the situation is that bad.

No booktok book quells my interest as a reader. It doesn't keep me on my toes nor does it evoke any form of critical thinking in me except to just give the book to charity. It evokes no emotions from me because booktok writers are not treating it like an art, they're treating it like a cash grabbing attempt. Every booktok book has the emotion of a bland cardboard paper.

Also, the lack of nuance of readers these days is just painful. You call the author of 'Lolita' a pervert but you swear up and down 'It ends with us' is the best romance novel you've ever read.

#i thought booktok was like a book club thingy but unfortunately no #these are my takes #booktok #fanfic #books #literature #intellect is dead and we've spat on it's grave #collen hoover

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nightingale2004 · 2 months

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Can everyone who has seen all the twilight movies answer me one....simple.....question?

HOW TF DOES EVERY OTHER VAMPIRE COUPLE AND CHARACTER HAVE AMAZING BACKSTORIES AND CHEMISTRY WITH EACH OTHER WHILE BELLA AND EDWARD HAVE NONE?!?!??!

Someone please answer me this

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iamthelowercase · 1 year

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I am dealing with a lot of localized stress right now, and what I want to do about it is read a whole bunch of fanfic for escapism. So I am requesting recommendations: both fic recs, and recommendations of tags or combinations-of-tags to search on Ao3.

For fic recs: I will read your fandom, if it's a stand-alone capable fic! Also, I will probably read Bionicle fics regardless, and I'll have a list of fandoms below.

In addition to Ao3, I'm willing to read stories on the SB/SV/QQ trifecta or Royal Road.

I would like fics that are complete with a happy ending, and/or are written as fluffy/happy/feel-good.

I would particularly appreciate fics with a trans and/or plural protagonist. These don't have to be the plot, but there's no point here if they're not relevant to the plot. (Eg Babylon 5: Copilots on SV, AlexSeanchai's t4t Miraculous Ladybug fic that I was looking for earlier.)

I massively prefer speculative fiction/SFF. So everything from Pacific Rim, to superheroes, to Star Wars/Star Trek, to LotR style fantasy. If you give me a mundane AU, that will ruin the interest for me; but if you give me SFF characters doing mundane things in an unambiguously SFF setting, I'll probably eat it up. (Like the coffee shop scenes and skateboarding scene in this fic.)

Moderate adventure (more Star Wars original trilogy than LotR) or relationship focus & development, please. If you've read The Course Of Honor or Winters Orbit, that does a delightful job of balancing both.

Nobody dies is not necessary, but I don't want protagonist death unless they also explicitly get better. Friendly vampires etc count as "getting better".

Hard "no"s for the purpose of this request:

S/M

mind control

dubcon

humiliation

A/B/O

"Ao3 explicit"-worthy gore

I am not looking for porn here. I don't mind sex scenes if I see them coming and think they fit, but if I don't they can (and have!) ruin stories for me in a way that's counter-productive to what I'm after here.

Bonus points for stories which take a "mainstream" trope, invert it somehow, and then play the inverted version completely straight. (Eg, "smol shy nerd/tol jock" is cute and fun if it's gender-flipped and written for tenderness and feel-good fluff [login required][explicit][archive warnings would apply].)

Bonus points if it's queer somehow. Mentioning this feels like it might be redundant, but it is worth saying. Bonus points if it’s leftish. No, further left than that. Look, unless Star Trek is way off to the right, there’s still a lot of room to go further left.

Bonus points if fics you rec are available as podfic!

Fandoms I know I'm down for reading:

Bionicle

Worm

Miraculous Ladybug

Pacific Rim

The Host (Stephanie Myers, book)

RWBY

The Murderbot Diaries

Good Omens

Where The Stars Fell

Anything by Cliffc999 if it has a complete arc and I feel it meets the key vibes goals, regardless of if it meets other criteria or if I've ever heard of the fandom before.

Marvel superheroes (various -- broad-strokes comicsverse, MCU (movies up to approximately Civil War/Black Panther), and Into The Spider-Verse movie are all welcome, as are original spins on any of those. Eg, the Spider-Liv series on SV is great, but too recent for a re-read.)

Teen Titans (similar in spirit, but I'm only really familiar with the core 5 and the early 1980s "introduction of Raven and Starfire" era comics)

I fully expect to love Sense8 and Babylon 5 if I ever get around to watching them. As such, entry-friendly fics that don't spoil the main experience too much are welcome in those fandoms.

Comfort movies:

Apollo 13

The Princess Bride.

Anticipated (but unconfirmed) additions to that list:

Pacific Rim

Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension

Mad Max: Fury Road

Grease Monkey fills a similar niche in comic books. Also if you're reccing from RR, you should know that I'm loving Sovereign of Wrath.

#recommendation request

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msookyspooky · 2 years

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I kinda wanna get into writing but I'm scared itl go terrible and people will make fun of me D:

Any tips?

Just write. It sounds harsh but you will always have critics. But I can guarantee you for every critic you have you will have tons more fans.

Practice with one shots and drabbles, view other peoples writing, write what you like that keeps you interested. It's free content and if ppl don't like it they can fuck off. Writing stories for yourself is THEE best advice I can ever give. I write my Scream fanfic bc it's something I love, fans of my work are just a very wonderful bonus.🖤🖤🖤🖤

What's the worse that could happen? You could get your pride hurt by being made fun of? Stephanie Myer is still made fun of for Twilight and having vampires sparkle (And criticized for her racism towards Native Tribes and her Mormon ideas but we're focusing only on the writing itself rn ) but that doesn't change the fact its now a cult classic and has been one of the most popular book series of our generation despite ppl claiming vampires sparkling was the worst idea they ever heard.

E.L. James got ripped to shreds for 50 shades because of the mistakes and borderline abuse she wrote as BDSM and the wording she used to describe body parts (I still laugh at chocolate starfish wtf ☠️) But it doesn't change the fact it was a Twilight fanfic turned into a book series turned into a movie that turned into a worldwide box office sell out.

AND both books heavily implied to be self inserts as the leading ladies. Like....IM JS!! If these books that were arguably trash with cringe ideas and cringe self inserts veiled as not self inserts can become best selling books then why can't your fanfics or writing in general become recognized and popular? The difference between them is they took a chance and you're not because you're scared of the tiny chance you'll get made fun of. Even if you do, that is one person's opinion vs hundreds of others that might adore your work!

Write. You'll never write anything if you only wait to write something 'good'. I had murderers singing Wasn't Me in a car ride to Taco Bell, okay? I laughed while writing it because it seemed so ridiculous but not a soul said nearly as nasty of the things about it as I did in my own head.

Write.

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laurensliminalspace · 1 year

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Eight steps to finding your NF calling

Please note: NF = Intuitive Feeler in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or the “Idealists” in Keirsey’s typology system. NF personality types tend to overlap with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs).

Many NFs struggle to find their calling in life – and usually, for NF people they are searching for a calling, a life purpose. Generally NFs don’t just want a job, they want a meaningful career and vocational direction. Of course, for various reasons NFs may have to work at a job they don’t find particularly stimulating or rewarding. Some may work at a fairly mundane job to support their family, or to fund other creative, spiritual or community service pursuits. I have found NF people to be quite adaptable and are found in all kinds of different workplaces – not just the typical “recommended” careers for their type.

Of all the types, NFs have the most difficulty dealing with jobs and career choices, because the things which NFs at excel at are generally not all that profitable. NFs are typically most interested in and most skilled at various forms of creative arts, music, psychology, social justice, advocacy and community service work. Unfortunately these jobs are often less profitable than many other career paths, and the skills of NFs do not immediately lend themselves to make a great deal of money. This can lead to all sorts of problems, like the “starving artist” syndrome.

Nevertheless, many NFs do not aspire to be affluent, and do not find money or conventional forms of status to be terribly motivating. Yet it is a necessity of life, and it can be frustrating when you can’t find a job in the area that you are most passionate about. Personally, I have experienced conflicting feelings about making money from the vocational areas I’m interested in. Sometimes there is a sense of guilt, or a feeling that these things are too important to make them into a business. I get concerned that money may interfere with my motivation, or somehow detract from the real purpose.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that making money can be a positive thing, as long as it is done in an ethical way. Also, making a profit can be a really good thing, as it enables me to be more generous and give to others. As the successful artist and entrepreneur, Stephanie Rose Freeman says, money amplifies who you are.

But I do think that dealing with the business side of things can make NFs uncomfortable, as many of these areas – for instance the music industry – are very profit-driven, and this conflicts with NF values in many cases. There is also a common frustration that our culture and society does not always value and is not always willing to pay for the things which NFs view as important and essential to life.

It does seem that the perceiving types have more difficulty making a decision about what to study or what career path to follow, compared to the judging types who are a bit more stable in their sense of direction. As an ENFP, I know that I change my mind a lot – and I’ve also noticed many INFPs do the same thing. I heard one middle-aged INFP lady proclaim, “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up!” If you are wrestling with this and feel like you should know by now, then you are not alone. It’s not just a challenge for teenagers and young adults – people of all ages have trouble finding direction and knowing what they want to do with their life.

So what is the solution? I won’t claim to have any instant or simple answers to “finding your true calling”. Besides, the concept of “calling” will vary from person to person. For some people, it might mean a spiritual purpose or mission. For others it is more about a career or a particular area of study. Still others see their purpose and goals in life to be more about marriage, family and relationships. For most NFs, I think the idea of “calling” embraces all the above areas, but some people emphasise one aspect more than others.

I would like to share some tips, suggestions and ideas that I have found helpful. This is not professional advice, so feel free to take it or leave it! I have a keen interest in psychology and counselling, but I am by no means qualified. The only qualification I have is that I am an NF, and I’ve observed a many other NFs throughout my life.

Here are eight factors to consider:

One: Write down your dreams and goals, and be willing to brainstorm all kinds of ideas – even the ones that seem wild and wacky. Some people find it helpful to do something creative, such as making a collage of their “ideal life” or the things they are passionate about. Others may be inspired by images on Pinterest, which reflect their hopes and dreams for the future. I once made a slideshow of images which music, which reflected my desires for the future and my sense of identity.

Don’t just consider your long-term goals here, but consider what would your ideal day look like. What would you be doing? How would you spend your time? This can help you get more granular and gain clarity about what you would like to be doing on a day-to-day basis. For instance, you may love painting, but if you’re an extrovert then being isolated on your own in a studio may not be an optimal situation long-term.

Two: Remember there are different seasons of life, and in each season there may be a different focus. In one season of life, I may be focusing primarily on my studies. In another season, I may put more effort into my friendships and community involvement. There may be seasons of travel, searching and self-discovery. Many will go through seasons of investing in their marriage and children. Allow yourself to go through these seasons, and recognise that each one is valid – even if other people do not value them or think you are wasting your time.

Three: Some people make the idea of “calling” all about having your dream job or career. This can be wonderful, but don’t be limited if you are stuck in a mundane job right now. Is there some volunteering you can do which would be rewarding? What creative areas can you pursue in the mean time? Do you have a business idea you would like to explore on the side? Is there a course you could study part-time? Try to see your calling and purpose in a more holistic way, and embrace different ways of finding fulfillment.

Four: This one is particularly for the ENFPs and INFPs: cut yourself a bit of slack. Most NFPs take longer than others to really work out their true calling, purpose and mission in life. People may judge you as unstable, flighty or uncommitted – but don’t take it personally! Many people, especially SJ types, will not easily resonate with NF values. They may find it hard to see the connection between all the different jobs and areas of study you have engaged in, but you will see a common thread among them. Don’t internalise the judgements of other people, hard as it may be.

Five: I really like how Mike from NF Geeks describes NF “path finding” and his recommendations. Mike advises NF types to look for careers that embrace the values of ‘transformation’ and ‘transcendence’. (See link at the bottom of the page.) This can be found in many different types of work, but those principles are important to keep in mind when choosing a career direction or path of study. Also, don’t just consider the kind of job you prefer, but the type of lifestyle and relationships you want.

Six: Be open to different types of careers and various ways of gaining an income. Some people have a couple of part-time jobs, or run their own business on the side. Many NFs enjoy being an entrepreneur, as it gives them lots of scope for flexibility and creativity – as well as doing something more meaningful. For instance, I’m sure that many self-employed life coaches are NFs! I’ve been really inspired by Marianne Cantwell’s book ‘How to be a Free Range Human’ which explores various unconventional career paths.

Seven: Consider what gives you energy and what drains your energy. When do you feel excited, energised and inspired? What gets your juices flowing? Introverts may want to be careful of jobs that require too much extroversion, as they will often end up very drained at the end of the day and will not have much energy left for their friends and family. Extroverts may get too lonely and feel isolated working from home all the time. Personally, I’ve found jobs that require a great deal of attention to detail can be draining, as generally these are areas that Sensors excel at.

Eight: See if you can find people living lives that inspire you – preferably someone you know. Get to know them and ask them questions. Find out how they got into their particular vocation or career. You might even be able to find a mentor who can encourage you and give you wise advice. However, be careful of trying to emulate someone else who may have very different skills and talents from you. Remember to appreciate your own unique gifts and calling, rather than copying another person.

Further Resources:

Puttylike: A Home for Multipotentialites

NF Pathfinding Video by Dr Mike Boudria

150+ Art Careers – The Ultimate List

Live Your Legend: Change the World by Doing Work You Love

How to Be a Free Range Human by Marianne Cantwell

Career Shifters Blog

#career #calling #purpose #meaning #vocation #multipotentialite #scanner #nfs #mbti #intuitivefeeling #idealists #keirsey #personalitytypes #typology #hsp #highlysensitive

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