kordrawszadr

[kordrawszadr]

so about that Irken society-

Thinking about this post by aperfecttimeforscreaming, because I love it and it drips with the exact flavour of existential dread I imagine living under the Irken Empire actually comes with (if any of its citizens wind up with enough spare time to stop and think about it). 

But I’m making a separate post cuz I feel like an absolute asshat writing a rambling essay on someone else’s post whomp whomp

Basically, I hc that Irken society is a cautionary tale of late-stage capitalism & rampant consumerism, where Irkens ARE their jobs to the point they are referred to by their role/rank before their name. And not just higher ranking Irkens like commander Poki. Even table-headed-service-drone Bob gets the whole mouthful of his full job title spewed out (unless he’s being condescended to), and he’s probably among the lowest ranking Irkens out there. The gap between high and low ranking members of their society is so enormous the lowest ranking members are forced to crawl around as literal furniture for the elites. And there is. Literally. No reason for the table-headed-service-drones to exist beyond the amusement of their superiors (and/or a very public punishment for stepping out of line) Like, they’re more than capable of putting a serving tray on treads or something, and frankly, that would probably work better than forcing some poor asshole to hobble around without spilling anyone’s drinks. So this entire class exists solely to highlight the monumental gap between the rich/tall and poor/short (I would just say between the largest and smallest, but money does seem to play some sort of role in social standing, as we see with Bob talking back to Purple when he thought he was going to be a millionaire.)

Irkens begin training for a productive career literally from the moment of their hatching, and I assume the grand majority of them work right up until the day they die. It’s like the absolute illogical extreme of rise-and-grind culture, where if an activity is not demonstratively beneficial to the Empire, it’s considered a waste of time. And Irkens have such little spare time, it would be extra stupid to waste it. 

Like I’ve mentioned before that I don’t think ‘hobbies’ are A Thing among Irkens, because their society is pretty much built on instant gratification. Why piss away what little free time you have between shifts baking a cake when you can just pop into the nearest bakery and buy one that’s going to look and probably taste better than anything you could make on your own? Buying stuff benefits the Irken economy, and then that Irken has a bit more spare time to veg out and passively watch some Irken-produced and/or approved TV, or perhaps do some more shopping if they’ve got the monies. It’s why Zim never stopped to do shit for himself just for the fun of it, like paint or put together puzzles, until he wound up in a position where he literally had the rest of time to not be justifiably productive. Even then, who even knows how long he kept working on his mission before it finally sank in that nothing he did mattered because he was stuck in a time loop. 

Basically, Irkens exist in this self-feeding loop of eating, sleeping, and breathing in how Irk is the Best, and by extension Irkens are the Best, and Irk is only as Great as it is (and has infinite capacity to be Even Greater) due to all Irkens doing their Best. Because the Irken machine needs every happy little cog working at full capacity in their proper place for things to run smoothly. I think this is ultimately where PAKs and the Control Brains rose from- because Irkens are the Best (but there were still ways they could be better- maybe if they slept less so they could work longer and didn’t need to keep taking so many breaks to eat and defecate. And the Control Brains were designed to be truly Perfect- entities of pure logic, devoid of personal desire beyond the further expansion and improvement of Irken society. They could depose the Tallest and run the entire show if only they had the slightest shred of ambition) 

However, at this point, I think the Irken Empire is actually just a gigantic Rube Goldberg machine- this massive, intricate, brilliant machine that churns and whirrs and ultimately accomplishes nothing. Their entire culture, history, and society has been sanitized, simplified, and rewritten/refined so often over the centuries there’s just… nothing of substance left beneath all the self aggrandizing. Maybe there was a reason for their obsession with domination at some point in the distant past, but that reason has been long forgotten, and now their war-mongering ways are so deeply woven into their identity that they just conquer without having any plans for the planets they’re subjugating. They do it just because they’re damn good at it. Irkens are destined to either consume and destroy until there’s literally nothing left, or their massive empire collapses under it’s own bloated weight. 

As for the Irkens themselves- I imagine their default state consists of this constant droning ennui numbing them from the inside out if they can’t find anything suitably distracting. Individuals are intensely socially isolated, as they’re raised to be completely independent and to view their peers more as competition than companions. (At least Invaders are, but it’s not hard to imagine it’s a broader Irken trait too.) 

It’s like the social media effect; Irkens are fed the image that everyone around them is happy and living their best lives- if an individual is unhappy, then it’s a personal failing. And maybe if they feel dissatisfied they should buy some more stuff. Why, that one crewmate bought the latest phone a couple days ago, and they don’t seem like they’re being slowly eaten alive by a horrible, gnawing sensation that you can’t identify if it’s your soul being crushed or an aching void where a soul should have been if you had one. Maybe you should get a new phone too. That’ll probably help. And if you’re feeling especially hollow between shifts, you can always pop by the vending machine 👍 And yes, you are the Only One That Feels This Way, so don’t embarrass yourself by bringing it up to your coworkers. They’ve got enough of your shit to gossip about already. 

Basically, if you’re Irken, good for you! You’re great by default (but you can always be better, and if you fall short of expectations you can always be replaced, and, most importantly, never forget that it can always be worse) If you’re ever overwhelmed by that silly urge to scream and scream and scream until something ruptures in your throat, please be considerate to your fellow Irkens and wait until your scheduled break, then take it to the soundproof rooms out back. It’s not a good look to make your issues everyone else’s problem 😊

[kordrawszadr]

DO NOT SUPPORT SALVATION ARMY 

[kordrawszadr]

There is not a lot of sexual scenes. Please at least read IMDb before saying stuff like this. Yes there is a lot of violence.

When I was 12 I watched the saw movies. I know that's just me!- but I wanted to throw it out there.

Talking about and promoting a show in general isn't 'promoting it to kids.' Parents need to monitor their children's internet usage. It isn't the job of a stranger to tailor their jobs/livelihood to children.

I do understand what you're saying though. I don't think young children should watch this. I'd say maybe 13+ with parental supervision.

It shows a lot of grim realities and struggles that people face. It might not be right for everyone. Parents need to gauge that before letting them watch it.

(Not trying to be mean or anything! Just how I see it)

I am going to get a lot of hate for this.

Please stop promoting squid game to children.

I've noticed a lot of very popular people (will not name names) making content about it. A lot of those people have an audience that includes kids.

My 12 year old brother has watched it.

And it doesn't seem like a huge deal. But to me it is. I have not watched it, because I dislike it.

It has very graphic things that I really don't think people as young as these creators' audiences should be watching it.

Have your opinions on the show. I've heard the story is good.

I just dont think promoting a show that has a lot of gore and sexual scenes is a very good thing to promote.

Thank you for listening.

[kordrawszadr]

Just like I said. Illegal adoption.

https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/immigrant-mom-loses-effort-regain-son-us-parents/story?id=16803067

[kordrawszadr]

SEND ME A CHARACTER + EMOTION/COLOR PALETTE (OR BOTH)

feel free to reblog and use them yourself :)

[kordrawszadr]

Here's my mock Invader Zim cover, in stores never

[kordrawszadr]

AAAAA

Seeing an ad for venom: let there be carnage made me realize that I hadn’t posted my iz Venom AU ref sheet here yet!! (Click to see full pictures in good quality 👍)

[kordrawszadr]

For later

So, y'all wanna read one of the best, most in-character, this-definitely-could-be-an-episode IZ fanfics out there? 👌

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21299942/chapters/50721308

Scene from chapter 7 of AGAINST THE MACHINE, by the talented @faithfulwhispers-art . Also done as a commission.

[kordrawszadr]

Dib

[kordrawszadr]

Sorry I've been dead.. not that people care but still I'm sorry XD

[kordrawszadr]

Please Reblog is Your Blog is Safe for Non-Binary People.

If my mutuals can’t rb this then we can’t be mutuals

[kordrawszadr]

It's impossible for you to have used neopronouns 20 years ago, stop lying for clout

I regret to inform you that xe/xem has been around longer than I have been alive. But also that 20 years ago, I was a freshman in college studying Queer Theory.

[kordrawszadr]

it finally makes a return to the public eye .... here’s the deleted invader zim scene from the episode abducted!

i managed to get in contact with the original uploader of the video that had been copyright claimed by viacom on youtube for years during which we had no way to view it but they were able to retrieve it for me!

it was apparently cut for time and because jhonen wanted less action in the episode.

this is actually a pretty important scene lore-wise since it adds to the evidence that irken PAKs will act outside of the host’s will when they are incapacitated

[kordrawszadr]

Hi. So recently I was in a car crash and I fucked up my back, meaning I can no longer do my manual labor job. I’m trying this to accumulate the funds to fix my truck, go to a doctor for my back and heart, and also travel to Iowa for a family emergency, so if you can, please consider buying a sketch or two! Otherwise please spread this around. If you want to buy (or possibly even donate!) please dm me. Payment is through PayPal!

[kordrawszadr]

I'm not a self-shipper, but I love yall sm!

10 reasons why self-shipping is good

1. It helps people who have a low sense of self-worth and makes them see themselves through the eyes of someone who would stick by them no matter what.

2. It’s a valid form of self-love.

3. People can use it as a coping method (example: someone still living in an abusive household and are unable to escape so they take solace in their favorite fictional world), or as a simple comfort method.

4. It can literally save lives.

5. There is no risk of infidelity, heartbreak, or even abuse and venereal diseases.

6. People can be legitimately attracted to fictional characters.

7. There’s no obligation to disregard your own feelings just to keep them happy or sacrifice important ambitions to stay with them.

8. Some people use the idea that their fave will be proud of them if they reach a certain goal as motivation.

9. For some people, self-shipping can help them find themselves.

10. It’s 100% harmless.

Oh, and contrary to what antis believe, self-shippers actually CAN distinguish reality from fiction, so miss us with that tired old argument.

[kordrawszadr]

this is the funniest fucking panel this series has ever produced

[kordrawszadr]

Hi. I hate filler scenes, they drive me up the wall BUT i'm currently drafting one of my stories and notice that it needs a filler scene. Do you have any advice on how to make filler scenes feel less like they are a waste of words and feel more like they belong in the story?

How to Fix Your Filler Scenes

The whole reason a scene would be considered "filler" was if it offered no contribution whatsoever to plot, worldbuilding, or character development within the narrative. Filler takes up space, can make the pacing drag, and often adds quantity but not quality to your story.

You never want ANY 100% filler scenes in your work, especially if you plan on publishing traditionally and need to keep your word count down, and unfortunately, there aren't many exceptions to this.

However, a lot of people rely heavily on filler to provide a segue into the next part of their story and keep the pacing steady, so in that case, how do you make these filler scenes worthwhile?

Here are some ways to fix your filler scenes to make them meaningful (and essential) to the story!

1. Make it About The Characters and Their Relationships

A good way to make a scene not filler is if you use it to help develop your characters or the relationships between them.

Maybe you can use this time to make your protagonist and their love interest grow closer, or maybe you could use it to reveal some backstory that you weren't sure where to piece into the narrative beforehand.

Maybe your protagonist has a revelation about themselves or about the others in their group, whether through a meaningful conversation or by observing their behavior.

This could be a good time to show how your characters view the world around them, having philosophical conversation about love or death or anything in between, or to show them changing their views based on their experiences and the experiences of others.

All in all, if you make your scene an important aspect of your story when it comes to character development, then it's not filler at all, and will serve the story well in not only connecting two important events, but also allowing the reader to learn more about the people they've invested in.

2. Make it About the Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding is an important part of any story, especially in high fantasy and Sci-Fi. If you need to take a break from your plot in order to make sure things aren’t going by too fast, perhaps take some time to develop the world that your characters live in. 

Now, I’m not saying to use this time to infodump everything there is about your character’s world, but instead show it off in a beautiful and poignant scene that can be coupled with character development. 

It’s the night before a big event. The lovers sneak out of the motel to enjoy a drink at the bar at the far edge of the intergalactic satellite they’ve docked at to refuel. Perhaps while drunk, one of the characters reveals something about their past they’d meant to keep hidden?

A character takes their foreign friend shopping in a bazaar unlike anything you’ve ever scene before. Perhaps they find an item of interest there that helps them along their journey?

These scenarios make sure that the “filler” is actually an important aspect of the story that would actually take away from the overall quality if it were removed. 

3. Make it About Suspense

It's night. The sun is going down. The fire crackles and sputters.

Tomorrow, the characters will be off to battle. They know that they might be sitting in a room with people who will be dead by the following evening. They wonder if this will be the last time they see each other alive, if this will be the last conversations they ever have while they're all in one piece.

Suspense is a great way to make your filler scene important, building up the tension leading up to the next scene. Of course, this scene can only be used to segue into a very, very integral moment in the story, perhaps even the climax, so use it wisely.

Suspenseful scenes often benefit from an interesting setting and high-tension description and dialogue, and can also be paired with character development to show how your protagonists react in the face of fear.

4. Understand that Sometimes Cutting the Scene May Be For the Best

Sometimes, things just don't work out with the above ideas. Perhaps it's too late in the story to develop characters or worldbuilding, or maybe the subsequent event isn't important enough to prompt an entire scene dedicated to suspense.

In that case, it's probably best to just cut the filler scene. To keep from the timeskip being weird, have the event you want to segue into be at the beginning of a new chapter, or maybe re-work the narrative so that it weaves together more easily.

It'll be difficult to do this, especially if you've grown attached to what you've written, but I promise it'll work out all the better in the end; each aspect of the story is supposed to mean something, and I wouldn’t want you to put in all that effort and time into crafting a scene that, in the end, doesn’t really do much for the narrative.

Hope this helped, and happy writing!