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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 8 months

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Why do people still go to Mostro Lounge if Azul enslaved 225 students? Like how is he not out of bussines

I DON’T KNOW 😭 I’ve never understood that part???? And how easily everything is resolved????

The end of book 3 tries to hand-wave it off as, “well, Azul implemented a point card system/promotion that was just so good that it compensated for all the negative rumors about the bad things he actually did” but like 💀 even then, I never bought it…

Consider the prices plus how the point card system and its perks work:

Assuming that you need 50 points to get that consultation with Azul + the items listed here are the only ones that qualify toward the point system, that means you'd be spending at LEAST 250 thaumarks (which I'm going to consider the equivalent to 250 USD for the sake of simplicity), if not 300 thaumarks. That's not including any potential tax or tip they may charge on top of the cost of the actual menu items. If you're going for the three-point card perks, you're easily spending 750 to 900 bucks on the Mostro Lounge. Maybe that seems like chump change to some of the rich, privileged kids that attend NRC but that's still a considerable amount of money to spend at one establishment... I'll concede that the argument can be made that this investment is "worth it" because of Azul's consultation being such a useful thing. It seems like you could ask him for anything, so long as its within his means. So yeah, it’s true, his services can be an extremely powerful boon to have on your side (assuming, of course, that he's capable of granting your wish and you agree to the terms set). The issue then becomes a matter of trust between client and Azul.

I don't know about you, but I cannot believe that after Azul tricked and enslaved 220+ students (over a QUARTER of the total student body) with his promises that everyone would so easily forgive what he did and suddenly trust that he wouldn't try pulling similar shit again. And since I doubt any mob would drop 250-300 thaumarks in one day just to get the consultation ASAP (but a bunch of food he can't eat), the points system would be a long term commitment... meaning mobs go into this establishment regularly, knowing that it's run by a guy that would double cross them if it benefitted him, weirdly trusting that he wouldn't???????? Trusting that he had a sudden change of heart and wouldn’t revert back to his old ways???????? Not holding grudges??????? Nah, I don't buy that one bit. AZUL'S REP WOULD BE IN THE TOILET, AND I DON'T THINK A GOOD DEAL ON EATERY LOYALTY WOULD REVERSE THAT... At that point, the mobs are practically begging to be scammed… Also???? The only thing that Crowley technically told Azul he can't do is to take anyone's powers 💀 so literally nothing is stopping Azul from trying to one-up or cheat his clients out of other things... Agreements like the one where he tried to claim Ramshackle Dorm for himself would still be totally valid under Crowley's new but poorly defined restrictions. Why doesn't the headmaster just forbid Azul from running his shady side business altogether 😭 or at least revoke the manager position from Azul?????? The school gets 10% of the lounge’s profits, so maybe Crowley doesn’t want to lose that income—but if that’s the case, why not just put new management in charge and still reap the monetary benefits??? Even just upping the percentage the school takes from their earnings would be more of a punishment…

I'm about to cancel this man on Magicam for his crimes/j I guess this is easily explained by the mob students all being dumb/arrogant, but that’s such a cop-out 😭 My only hope is that volume 3 of the light novel adaptation will go more in-depth about the post-OB backlash Azul experiences (similar to how it did for volume 1) 💦 because the way the game presents it, it feels like he and the Mostro Lounge made an almost immediate comeback 😭 which isn’t realistic at all…

I guess all I have left to say is…

#twisted wonderland #twst #Azul Ashengrotto #disney twisted wonderland #notes from the writing raven #question #Yuu #twst light novel #twisted wonderland light novel #twst theory #twst theories #twisted wonderland theory #twisted wonderland theories #Dire Crowley

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lightlycareless · 3 months

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OMGGGGGG PLEASE WRITE NAOMI MEETING NANAMI!!!!

Heya anon!

No need to tell me twice!! I hope you enjoy this little piece of fluff I wrote about Nanami meeting Naomi :> or his general thoughts about the whole ordeal.

warnings: none. fluff. nanami worries for you, as always.

Happy reading!

Nanami guessed right when saying he wouldn’t be able to keep track of you after the wedding.

As soon as you went onto your honeymoon, you’ve completely disappeared from the world. Asides from the few rumors here and there of the places yournow husband had taken you to celebrate this union… he didn’t hear anything from you.

And that, alongside his new civilian job, Kento didn’t have much time to personally inquiry with your family (or you directly for that matter) about your whereabouts.

But, well, even after all this, he still supposes you’ve been doing well. After all, bad news always spread like wildfire, and if something of that nature happened, he has no doubt he would’ve known by now.

…

Still, would it be too much to ask of the universe to have good news work the same way?

Probably.

For now, he’ll do with what he heard, which unfortunately, didn’t pertain to you in its majority.

Apparently Naoya had been promoted to 1st grade. Good for him and his thriving career, which he assumes just got busier and busier.

What about you, though? What have you been up to these days? Last thing he knew about your career was that you were planning on retiring to focus on your new life as Naoya’s wife—but what exactly did that entail? And did you end up doing so?

He’ll find the answer soon enough, on one of his unwanted visits to his alma mater.

Nanami never thought he’d be back in this place ever again, certainly not with the way he openly denounced his relationship with the community and made a run for it.

But, as much as he would’ve loved to leave everything behind and dive into his new life, his previous one would always find its way back to him one way or the other, today, it was through some unfinished paperwork he urgently needed to deal with if he was to be promoted into a higher position.

As he walked through the once familiar campus grounds, Nanami toyed with the idea that this was perhaps the higher up’s attempt to rope him back into sorcery work.

It has to be—because there’s no way a school that prided themselves to be amongst the best equipped and prepared in the community could’ve messed up something as silly as missing a copy of his birth certificate; rendering him unable to get his diploma, and thus, impeding his growth on the professional field.

Or maybe they were, and at that point, there’s nothing he can do but give them the benefit of the doubt and go fix whatever issues they’ve unwittingly entangled themselves in, all while hoping he wouldn’t bump into any familiar faces, for he didn’t particularly feel in the mood to entertain either his old classmates, or teachers.

And talking about teachers… Nanami still can’t believe Gojo had decided to become one.

Of all the people the faculty could’ve chosen to guide the next generation, they went with the most irresponsible, arrogant, selfish, childish, immature one they could find.

He hates to think that was the best option, before agreeing that if you had continued to pursue your dream of becoming a teacher, you would’ve been an excellent one, far more than Satoru. Maybe.

Either way, Nanami still hoped for a lot of things.

Hoped that he wouldn’t meet familiar faces.

Hoped that he would be able to fix his mundane issue as quickly as possible…

And hoped that he wouldn’t find much traffic on his way back home.

But if there’s one thing he did not expect—nor thought it possible, not even in the most audacious realms of his imagination…

Was to see you again, here, today.

“Y/N?” He breathes. The sight of you might’ve been from a distant perspective, and not exactly from the best angle either, but even then, he was still able to recognize the figure of one of his closest friends during his time as a student.

And after a few more seconds of careful observation, he comes to the accurate conclusion that it was you, right there, before him—as if pulled right out of the confines of his thoughts!

Without time to waste, combined with his excitement of seeing you again after months of absence, Nanami swiftly rushes to your side, stopping just by the entrance of one of the many administrative offices, giving him the impression you were there for the same motive as him (perhaps the faculty was incompetent after all.) if not more.

Although with an additional companion, carefully strapped to your chest…

“Huh? Wha—Kento?!” You gasp, initially distraught by the noise of footsteps rapidly approaching your direction, only to relax when seeing it was your long-lost friend in the flesh! A sight that felt like a breath of fresh air against what was an uneventfully boring day up to that point. “Is that really you, Kento? I can’t—I can’t believe it!”

“I can say the same thing.” He responds, the corners of his lips slightly tugging upwards. “It’s nice to see you again, Y/N.”

“Oh, I missed you so much!” You bubbled, hurrying to hug him—until the reason of your prolonged absence, and now the happiness of your everyday life, stops you from it with a soft coo. As if suddenly remembering she was there, you mouth a small oh before giggling, excitedly looking up to him again. “Well, now you know what kept me so busy this past year!”

The reason why you hadn’t been able to contact him as frequently as you’ve done in the past presented itself as clear as day, dressed up in their cozy pink onesie and a knitted warm hat: a baby.

You and Naoya had become parents.

Consider him surprised.

But not because the two had a family—no, it was well-known that this is what you wanted—but rather… because it happened so soon after the wedding. It suddenly made sense why both were so eager to get married.

“I suppose introductions are overdue.” You say, a smile on your face as you look down to your baby, giving her a kiss on the top of her head before gesturing her to look over to Nanami—her golden eyes quickly following your lead. “Kento, this is my daughter, Naomi. Naomi, this is one of my best friends, Kento.”

He hesitates for a moment when it comes to responding, still taken aback by the presence of this small child… but after a few seconds of coming to terms with his thoughts, he takes a step closer to her, lowering to her level before giving her a soft smile.

“Nice to meet you, Naomi.” He greets, reaching for her small hand and greeting her. “I hope you’ve been good to your mom.”

The baby girl stares at him with such an intense curious look that makes Nanami wonder if perhaps he had something in his face, or if he should’ve been a bit tenderer in his approach… before his thoughts are abruptly interrupted by her suddenly turning her head back to you, resting against your chest and promptly hiding from him.

Almost as if she were… embarrassed.

«Cute» Nanami thinks, and you chuckle, finding her actions equally adorable—as you always did whenever she did as much as breathe— before leaning down to kiss her head once more and place your hand on her back, gently comforting her.

“I’m sorry about that, she’s quite shy with new people” you explain. “But once she’s used to you, she’s nothing but clingy.”

“That’s ok.” Nanami responds, currently far more amused with the fact that everything about her screamed she was Naoya’s daughter—from the small batch of dark hair seen underneath her warm hat, her golden big round eyes, to her name. And yet, even with all those things, he still capable of nothing that… “She has your nose.”

“I knew I she had something of me!” you gasp, ecstatic. “Everyone keeps telling me how she looks so much like Naoya, but she’s my daughter too, you know? I carried her for 9 months! She has to look like me somehow!! But still… I’m very happy she takes after my husband; I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“How old is she?”

“Just a few weeks, 13 to be precise.”

“So around… 3 months.” Meaning Naomi was born around January.

“And I still can’t believe it.” You swoon.

To think that just a few weeks ago she was still in your belly, patiently waiting for the day she’d be able to be in your arms… and now, she was there, with you, turning your reality into what you always dreamed of: a family conformed by those you loved the most.

You wished to say that overcoming this sentiment was only a matter of time, that it wouldn’t take much before you freed yourself of this nostalgia. But truth to be told, you knew that to be impossible—for as long as Naomi continues to grow, you’d feel as if time was nothing but fleeting.

But while you where basking in the blessings the presence of your daughter brought into your and Naoya’s life… Nanami was drowning in an overwhelming sense of regret for having missed what was an important milestone in your life.

More than would’ve—he should’ve been there with you, celebrating the birth of your daughter, as he suspected everyone important for you had done. How he knows you would’ve loved him to.

Just… what else did he miss?

“Congratulations.” He adds, offering a glimpse into his burdening feelings. “I wish I had told you before, but I didn’t know of your daughter until now.”

And then, the happiness radiating from your actions, if only briefly, disappears. Yet enough for him to notice.

“Oh, well… no one was supposed to.” You explain, he frowns.

“…Why?” Nanami naturally cautioned, for he couldn’t imagine a reason someone like you, whose dream was to start a family, indisputably happy that your wish was granted, would’ve kept this a secret.

You remain quiet, as if debating whether you should dive deeper into the matter or not… before accepting you at least owed Nanami an explanation to your absence.

Thus, you begin.

“There’s a reason why I essentially disappeared for a while. I wanted nothing more than to let you know of my pregnancy, but… let’s say that my role as Naoya’s wife came with some heavy… precautions.” You sigh. “I mean, I still do things as I always do, it’s not like I’m locked at the estate or anything, I just… have to be more careful about how I go on with my day—or who I talk to.

Because Naoya’s the heir of such prestigious family, he naturally becomes a target to anyone that might want to… get a benefit out of him. Obviously, that extends to me, and now…”

“Your daughter.”

You press your lips together, nodding.

“I really, really wanted to let you know, but after that day—I didn’t know if I should.”

“What do you mean?” Nanami frowns, concern in its highest. “Did… something happen?”

“No! I mean—they tried, but nothing came out of it., really. I’m fine now.”

“What do you mean they tried—Y/N, did someone hurt you? Or the baby?”

“No, I’m telling you—we’re fine! It was just a scare, nothing more.”

“That didn’t sound like a scare to me, Y/N. What happened? And more importantly, where was Naoya during all this?!”

“Nanami, it was just an accident— Naoya would’ve never allowed harm to befall me or Nao—”

And as if sensing your and Nanami’s growing distress, or perhaps remembering this experience throughout whatever little conscience she had at that moment, Naomi begins to wail, effectively snapping both out of trance.

“Oh, no, no, baby—did we scare you?” You coo, quick to rock her up and down while wrapping your arms around her, hoping that she’ll find comfort in the motion while you continue to reassure her. “It's ok, it was nothing but a disagreement, pumpkin. My friend is just worried for me—but Papa made sure that nothing ever happens to us again! So don’t worry your pretty little head about anything, ok?”

You lean your face gently against her head and then, start humming a lullaby.

The moment you spend comforting Naomi is brief, for it doesn’t take longer after that for her to begin to calm down, cries slowly quieting down as you continue to hum her what Nanami figured to be her favorite song— but as short as that instance was, it’s all that he needed to understand you genuinely enjoyed being a mother.

From the way you gently coo at her, give her little pats in the back, grow nothing but attentive to any need she may have… your joy was clear.

This is perhaps the happiest he has ever seen you in his whole life—probably even more than when you got married—and while his absence is something he’ll never be able to take back, he was ultimately glad that you were content.

And regretful that he had underestimated your safety, or Naoya’s efforts.

He just couldn’t help it—amongst those he called his friends, you were the only one left to protect. And such, he had to make sure you wouldn’t succumb to a horrible fate.

“Are you hungry, pumpkin? Oh, or maybe it’s time for you to take a nap?” you ask, looking at your bag.

“Is there something I can help you with?” he immediately asks upon seeing your brief struggle.

“Well, I could take you up on that lunch you told me about a while ago.” You tease, Nanami chuckles. “We have lots to catch up to do! Like telling me what you were doing here??”

“I was referring to Naomi, but sure, I’ll take you—if there isn’t any problem with her.”

“I think she’s just hungry and a bit sleepy—nothing a stroller can’t fix.” You say. “Everything’s on the car so I just need to make my way there.”

“Let me help you with the bag, then.” Nanami says, and without resistance, you let him take the bag from you as you sigh in relief.

“Ah, now that’s something I needed.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Nanami… it’s ok.” You add. “I get it—if anything your reaction was lighthearted to what my family did… but I swear, we’re fine now. As safe as ever.”

“That’s good to know.” He smiles, and the two begin to walk towards the parking lot. “Why were you here for anyways? I can’t imagine visiting a place like this could be thrilling, less with a baby—especially if you’ve come all the way from Kyoto.”

“Oh, I just came here to do some registrations for Naomi. You know, with her being part of the Zen’in clan and all that sorcerer stuff, it’s something I needed to do as soon as she was born—but I just kept procrastinating on it.” You explain. “I could’ve done all that in Kyoto, but since I’m also staying with my dad a bit, I’ve decided to do it here. Ever since Naoya got promoted to grade 1, he’s been nothing but busy, and I didn’t want to be alone while Naomi is still this young…”

“I’ve heard, congratulate him for me.” Nanami says. “I’m glad your family is keeping you company.”

“Maybe you can visit sometime too! I’m sure my dad would love to see you again—or maybe we can even go out more often? I have to make the most out of the fact Naoya doesn’t have me surrounded by bodyguards essentially all the time, or my siblings for that matter…”

He laughs.

“Hey! It’s not funny—I mean, he’s attentive… but do you know how annoying it is to have to tell everyone your every move all the time?” you cry. “Seriously, I sometimes even feel like a celebrity.”

Even if it’s a bit exaggerated, Nanami is glad to confirm he truly never had anything to worry. For Naoya not only remained caring, but very protective of you, and now, your baby daughter.

…

He still can’t believe it.

You and Naoya became parents during this last year.

Parents.

A family, from a relationship he once thought wouldn’t last long thanks to the preconceived notions he had of Naoya.

But he’s changed—stepped up to the role of your partner, and now, father.

It almost felt surreal, like it had been a way for his mind to explain what happened during the time of his absence.

But it wasn’t his imagination, it was there, right before him, in the form of a small, chubby looking baby that was named and looked after her father, as well as your beaming smile.

“—And obviously I want you to carry her!” you said, what little he managed to recover from the ongoing conversation after stepping out of his dwelling thoughts.

“Carry her…? If it’s too much problem, I’d rather not.” Nanami says, remembering her initial disapproval, you shake your head.

“Don’t be silly—it’s no problem. Besides, it is mandatory for me to take a picture of you two to add to the collection!”

“Collection?”

“Yep! I made Naomi an Instagram account where I’ll be posting pictures of her! I want to document everything—from her cute outfits, spending time with her grandpa, to when she’s opening her papa’s gifts, you know? I will not allow my memory to erase these precious moments from my conscience!” you firmly say. “Just send me a request and I’ll add you.”

When you once thought your parent’s photo album to be embarrassing, you are now openly replicating their behavior—although in your own style, of course. But the bottom line remained the same: it really was a parenting thing. At that, Nanami can only chuckle.

“Fine, I’ll make an account.”

“You won’t regret it! Just be sure to block Satoru though—the moment he finds out you have an account he will not leave you alone.”

And you were right, for as soon as he registered, requested to follow Naomi’s pseudo-account and saw you’ve already posted the picture you’ve taken of him and your daughter, the comment section did not waste any time to reflect the opinions Naomi’s admirers had about him: from his sudden reappearance to his “questionable influence” …

It was a circus. All starting from Satoru’s delusions.

hinata_please_unblock_me: You need to get him away from Naomi-chan. He’s going to make her boring and scary like him!!

l/n_hinata: Ha! That’s some bs if I’ve ever read one! He’s a much better influence than you’ll ever be! Also, did you make another account?! What the hell Satoru?? And @zenin_y/n why did you add him again??

zenin_y/n: Language, Hinata… also, wasn’t that Shoko’s account??

zenin_naoya: Get off my daughter’s page before I block both of you.

hinata_please_unblock_me: you wouldn’t dare. And if you do, I’ll just make another account!

l/n_hinata: I’m this close to filing a restraining order if you don’t behave!

hinata_please_unblock_me: @nanami_kento @nanami_kento @nanami_kento look what you’ve done!! Take responsibility of your actions 😡😡

hinata_please_unblock_me: Hey, why isn’t he getting tagged?! I know he has an account!! Wait, did he block me already?!?! 😭😭😭

zenin_naoya: That’s it. You’re getting blocked.

l/n_hinata: NO! @zenin_y/n please don’t let your husband do this to me!!!

naomis_granpda: What a lovely picture. Can’t wait to have Naomi over this weekend! 😊

Neither you nor Nanami could’ve foreseen his presence instigating such behavior from your friends and family, but as messy as it was, it was also heartwarming, realizing he missed a bit of the chaos from his life—maybe he’ll try to keep up with everyone a bit more.

Or at least with Naomi, who after warming up to his presence, was completely enthralled by him—specifically his blonde hair, which she tried to touch whenever possible, eyes widening when her small fingers finally graced his strands before giggling at its softness.

Well, it wouldn’t be the first time he intrigued one of the Zen’in with his hair. Now it’s just a matter of time to see if she’ll also follow in her father’s footsteps.

the thing y/n was referring to is this other oneshot. because why not!! let's connect them.

The last part is referencing a hc I posted a while ago: the reason why Naoya dyed his hair is because he heard you complimenting Nanami's a while ago, and wanting to impress you, he did the same thing. Although it stuck with him because he ended up liking it. 🤭

Also, I love how Eiichi is completely oblivious to the argument happening thanks to Nanami's picture with Naomi lol. He would be the epitome of this thing happening in mexico where aunties love sending tweety pictures to whatsapp group chats lol (very niche, I know 😂 that man is getting old I'm telling ya)

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this small interaction :> Nanami is one of the characters I consider to be... quite awkward when it comes to meeting kids, and probably wouldn't be all too affective, but he'll try for yours 🥺 specially for cute Naomi. believe me, he opens up a bit more, but he's overall happy for you 😭❤️

Thank you so much for sending in this ask!! it was a treat to write :3 ❤️

Take care, and hope to see you soon!

#ask #naoya zenin #naoya zen'in #naoya x reader #naoya zenin x reader #naoya zenin x you #jjk naoya #naoya zen'in x reader #jjk x reader #jjk fluff #jjk x you #prompt series: jujutsu kaisen

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ballisticbunni · 5 months

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I'd honestly kill to have a reverse au.

Maybe a tired young lawyer is hunting down a disillusioned ex doctor and bringing him tp justice while he has to work with his own fked up childhood and his constant pragmatic ways of solving issues, wanting to conform to ideals that don't really help him. While also dealing with his estranged sister om the loose running after him.

Make it worse, by having the ex doctor be the reason our hero had so much hope in goodness amd fairness. Now seeing his idol stray from his path, he doesn't know what to do with his own morality.

Maybe i just want johan to have actual human expressions

This actually sounds. So amazing. In fact, I already have so many angsty, heartbreaking, and grotesque ideas forming for this reverse au you wrote here. I can see it now.

I can imagine Dr. Tenma's downfall rooting from Eva calling off their engagement, and Udo Heinemann demoting him after rebelling his orders to not perform surgery on young Johan (instead of him running from his career in order to take down the Monster he supposedly brought back to life). It might not sound like a plausible vengeful origin story. But let's face it. In this case, when trying to grow as a person, and creating the perfect life, only to be thrown back down out of nowhere with absolutely no one to lean on—can destroy a person. Because whether we'd like to admit it or not, if it weren't for Johan granting Tenma his wish, and those doctors mysteriously dying, Tenma's life wouldn't have improved like it did (example: being promoted to Chief of Surgery.) Though, even then, his reputation was still at stake when Lunge got involved, and assumed Dr. Tenma was the culprit after witnessing how much the doctor benefited from his peers being murdered.

Moving on to Johan, now. Like he said, himself—he saw Dr. Tenma as a father figure the moment he was saved from a terrible fate that would have taken him at a young age. Which he's never had anyone go as far as to RISK themselves for him. All of the adults in both Johan's, and Anna's life have been cruel, and proved over again that no one could be trustworthy. Until Tenma refuted that idea. It left Johan wanting nothing more but to better himself, and learn from his trauma instead of using it to deceive, or harm anyone around him. As he becomes a young adult, his mind and body actually allow him to experience, and show true emotions. He no longer lets the past consume him. "Tomorrow will be a better day." He becomes a law student, is actually able to build genuine relationships and bonds, and also has the goal to reunite with both his beloved sister he was separated from after the Liebert's incident, and the doctor that he considered to be the father he never had.

Though, he's torn coming to find out that the doctor is not who he used to be. Tenma is working underground, as a black market doctor. But not like the one we saw in the manga/anime, or hear about in the sequel, Another Monster. He's one who'd conduct evil, and inhumane experiments. Because "not everyone is born equal," as Eva had once told him, and he uses that to his advantage. His healing hands are used to make everyone who will ever doubt, or walk all over him—regret. It's a power rush he gets after being wrongfully used at the Eisler Memorial Hospital.

Johan struggles. Battling his morality while now hunting down the doctor he once looked up to, and attempting to reconcile with his sister who will possibly never forget what he put her through, or ever forgive him for it, too. What will he do?

#naoki urasawa's monster #johan liebert #dr tenma #tenma kenzo #nina fortner #anna liebert #Sorry for rambling more than I should have #also i like the idea of johan and nina sort of switching personalities in this au as well #johan found peace but nina never recovered from it #AND i think i might have interpreted this reverse au the wrong way #BUT if this here reverse au meant tenma would be the young tired laywer and johan the deranged ex doctor i could go on about that as well #BECAUSE IMAGINE

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solarwynd · 4 months

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But staying in hybe not gonna benefit for him either. they already set their mind on hyping jk and make it as jungkook and the band thing. that's is why they already did trademark the logo because he is gonna have solo push 200% once he comeback. which isn't annoying when u think about they will def fuck up jimin. didn't we see how the released ctt mv on itunes to buy on 2nd week instead of 1st week which would've helped us to get into hot 100? they will never stop sabotaging him until they have in mind to push jk, which ain't gonna stop in next 5years atleast.

if jimin is in another company atleast on release dates and internal things he won't get sabatoges, what we need is no sabatoge which is already a luxurious thing to ask for. jimin has fan power and some qualities to attracts gps without push, which is a threat and hybe knows. I don't believe they won't fuck up upcoming project. we know jimin knows everything but does he know how low hybe gets upto!? his love for bts is admirable and one of the reason many pjms stick with him so i will never question his priority of pushing bts before himself. I just wish hybe or bts don't push him down :(

anyway I hope he opens his own label with us label for promotions too like how bp members doing rn. atleast papa park please start a label😭 it's not about promotions we just need those internal conflict and sabatoges away from him

Hypothetically, going the route bp did would the most beneficial option, because he could still be under hybe with bts, not have to worry about being trapped into a contract by any of those other labels for his solo career and he’d be in complete control without sabotage and the internal conflict like you said. Tbh, I never knew how seemingly easy (it still most likely isn’t) it was to open your own label as an idol though. Granted I feel like the ones who have, probably have accessibility to do it more freely but who knows if the idea of starting his own label has even crossed jimin’s mind.

But as long as hybe wants jk at the forefront, is aligned with scooter and jimin’s stays on the path of success he’s at, they’re gonna try and suppress him in some way. Even now there was an article that was put out (by the usual suspect) on Forbes undermining jimin and CTT not debuting on hot100 while completely ignoring the circumstances and highlighting jk in the same breath. It’s become second nature to that camp at this point it’s be so long since it was actually shocking to me. For Jimin himself though, I doubt he knows the ins and outs of exactly how hybe is fucking him over. The main people who are hyper vigilant of that would be us.

If jimin puts out another album or single that’s as successful as face and like crazy though? Or if the FACE vinyl gets manages to get that #1 on BB200 week after next, hybe is definitely gonna mobilize again. Cause that’ll be the third strike of jimin snatching what they had planned for JK and I know they’re trying to avoid that at any cost. And since JK is in MS the company is definitely gonna have to work hard to keep the narrative in his favor.

I know when he gets out of MS the emphasis will be put back on BTS primarily, but I don’t think jimin’s gonna completely pack his solo work away. Him (seemingly) working on two albums congruently doesn’t seem like someone who will de-center that. Cause jimin is definitely coming into his solo career and he’s looks to be enjoying navigating it creative wise. So hopefully when he doesn’t have enlistment looming over his head he’ll be able to fully settle into that part of his career more.

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aeltri · 5 days

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Choose Greek Love

I just stumbled upon something pretty shocking which paints Wanda Ventham in an even more unflattering light. I tried to give her and Tim the benefit of the doubt because Ben has spoken well of them. However, it's become clear to me that he's excusing the inexcusable because he was made to feel responsible for what happened to him. I remember something odd he said about a vacation home in Greece...

Except it's not his, it's Wanda's. I'm also willing to bet that it's in or around Thessaloniki for a rather sinister reason. Along with Tim's Freemasonic ties to Izmir it's an even more direct link to the Dönme Sabbatean sect. See, the foundations of Sabbatean-Frankism were first laid in Thessaloniki/Salonika in the late 17th century. It's unlikely that Ben's family are Cryptos otherwise the Sabbatean-Frankists wouldn't have called him a donkey (חמור) but they are multigenerational Shabbos Goys. They're indentured cult servants and Ben got stuck with the ancestral bill. This explains the nonsensical cover stories about getting hurt "down there", he was being molested even while on vacation.

Another thing that's odd is the fact that Wanda and Tim moved to that cottage on Moss' estate as soon as Ben was shipped off to Harrow. Said they sold the 3 bedroom flat in Kensington (not Kentish Town) which doesn't exactly scream financial hardship. We know that Ben got a scholarship and that Tim also got an inheritance that he probably invested in his son's education. Did Wanda get a cult promotion for handing Ben over to Andrew Birkin? As a Handler? Because this mirrors what Anneke Lucas, another SRA survivor reported. Her mom began to move up socially and financially once she too pimped her daughter out. This means that Wanda didn't put her career on hold because she loved her family. The reality was that she was a mid actress who was busy breaking kids in for MKUltra programming. She found her niche and made better money that way. "My parents loved the f*****g life out of me, so I felt confident about the world." So much so that they helped ruin it along with your sanity, Ben? Because the definition of "love" that my parents taught me is rather different. Then again, they don't belong to an evil cult that demanded that they hand over their firstborn!

#benedict cumberbatch

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deepdonutkid · 10 months

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Katniss in the Capitol

I read the tags in on my first posts of the little series called: “Katniss and Peeta’s roles reversed in Mockingjay” and quite a few people mentioned, that they’ll like the version of hijacked! Katniss the most when she is hysterically afraid.

And I already explained, why I think, turning her just like Peeta more violent, would make little to no sense for the Capitol, actually playing into Coin’s hands.

Well, I honestly must say the focus of the people commenting was clearing on the time after Katniss would be rescued from the Capitol, but in Mockingjay it took a while to come up with a plan and convincing Coin to go through with this and she liked Peeta more than Katniss.

If their roles would have been reversed, I highly doubt, Coin had any plans on rescuing Katniss, who was perceived by Coin as a wildcard. Coin even tried to kill Katniss in Mockingjay, by sending Peeta to them, to turn Katniss post-mortem into martyr. Which would benefit her, because then they have the symbol of the Mockingjay without actually having to deal with Katniss’ temper. So, why would that be any different, if she was the one to be stuck in the Capitol?

For Coin, it’s the best position to put Katniss in. She is suffering for the cause and Peeta is advocating for her. This, of course, pains a wonderful picture for the two star-crossed lovers, being torn apart by the consequences once again.

Peeta gets the image of a sympathic and dedicated lover, who would do anything for his girl and their baby. Showing the people in the districts, that everything the Capitol does is cruel and inhuman, while also showing them a boy, who is trying to fight the odds once again, even if they are not remotely in his favor.

So, no, Coin wouldn’t rush getting Katniss, even with Peeta pressing on that issue. She would milk it as long as she gets something out of it.

And while Katniss stays in the Capitol, she would have had an interview of course. Because Snow’s and Coin’s thinking are very much alike. He would also use the Victor he has to work in his favor. This time only, he didn’t get ‘good with words Peeta’ but ‘can’t act to save a fucking life Katniss’.

He knows, what Coin is thinking, wouldn’t kill Katniss. Since her victory, he had plenty of opportunities to do so, and he didn’t even try. But like I said, he would use her for interviews to promote the things, he wants her to say.

In the books, he is using Peeta to discredit Katniss, by portraying her as a dumb, naïve little girl, who had definitely no clue what she was doing and who never had in mind to start a rebellion. While the last part might apply to Katniss, the first part is certainly not true. When she picked up the berries, she was very aware, what the direct consequences might be. Katniss has proven herself to be somewhat of a quick thinker (solving the riddle with the clock, which even Beetee didn’t get).

Also, and okay, Snow couldn’t have known this, but Peeta trusts Katniss to think one step ahead. He never doubted her intentions. She told him to eat the berries, he did. She asked him to run away, he was ready to go. When she revoked that decision, he stayed with her. Peeta is 100% right or die with her. Which the first interview, they discredit that. Not only, that Katniss was destroying the arena on purpose, but also Peeta’s trust in her doings.

It effectively hurt Katniss and the cause at the same time. Katniss knew, Peeta didn’t quite mean, what he was saying, but she was still felt betrayed. Just like the rest of the rebels thought he was a traitor. But those still in between sides, saw someone who was begging for peace and mercy. Apart from Katniss’ POV, I think the interviews worked well. Not as well as the propos of course, but that’s a different discussing.

Finally, we can turn this around. There is a date set for an interview with Katniss and Ceasar to discredit Peeta and diminish the rebel’s cause. What would the Capitol do, with all their game makers and stylists and Snow?

They do have a certain flair for drama and Snow is a pretty petty bitch. Well, why not hit them, where it hurts and playing their own cards back at them. Meaning… portraying Katniss as pregnant, pointing out, how cruel it was for Peeta to leave her and the baby behind to join the rebels. A crying Katniss begging to cease fire.

To achieve this, they had to held Katniss at gun point, so she felt pressured enough to say, what they wanted to say and act how they wanted her to act. Probably nobody would have told her about the bombing in District 12 and they would threaten her to kill Peeta, Prim, her mother, Gale just everyone she cared about. But this is nothing new. Probably showing her some images from the uprising in the districts saying this is her fault.

Just imagine (yes, the true diabolic part starts now) being in Katniss’s position… talking about a baby, which was never there, talking about Peeta, not knowing if he is alive and talking down the rebellion, while she is convinced this is her fault AND on the same time, she still agrees with their demands, but now she has to act her way out of this, knowing she is not good at this, her first time trying to get out of this by playing the role Snow had assigned her failed terribly.

Now we think of Peeta. His own lie being thrown back at him. Seeing Katniss in clear distress. Knowing she is being held hostage and she has no information, so she is probably tortured just because. The looks he get from others just prove how he sees himself at that moment… as a coward, a failure and a prick. His plan to keep her safe, which he had since the reaping, ultimately failed and the words, he said to protect her, are getting back to him again. She is now in more danger than ever, because she is at Snow’s mercy.

#thg meta #thg thoughts #thg trilogy #hijacked Katniss #rebel! Peeta #the hunger games #the hunger games trilogy #katniss x peeta #katniss everdeen #peeta supremacy

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f0point5 · 4 days

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That being said, as I understand what I’ve read, Charles hasn’t been building a team around himself in the way Schumacher did, Lewis did (and I say this with a slight grain of salt because while I always believed that to be the case, the data of the last couple of years has not borne that out, nor does it seem right now that he will be taking a lot of people from Merc to Ferrari), or Max has./

I think if charles had an influence on binotto, Rueda and company out and fred in is a sign he is doing something. . They fired the guy who he had issues, they put a guy he trusts in his place, the development in the car last year directly benefited his style of driving. I don't understand why we presume that he is just a passive player in all of this?

I feel like it just down to a certain pre judgment with his personality being "nicer", so people assume he's weak or "doesn't have the balls"

For example with max, from what exactly do we say max has being building a team in red bull and not red bull build the team and the machine for him s?

It's just feels to me that in the end is down to a pre conception people have about drivers. Like max or sainz are viewed as more ruthless so people associate with being assertive and leadership. While charles is view as polite/sweet so people see this as passivity. Even tho he has said he prefers to solve things with the team in private and not expose in the media.

I don’t read enough Ferrari news to know how much influence Charles has on the Binotto firing. There were rumours flying that Binotto had enemies in the fold way back from before the promotion, there were rumours that they fired him to keep Charles, it’s probably somewhere in the middle. And I think Ferrari values Charles very highly, he is at this point an integral part of who they are as an F1 team.

I can’t speak too much on the car because I don’t know how much they built it for Charles, but Charles has a style of driving that makes the car faster. Had it been the opposite, and he liked more on the back end, would they have built the car to suit that? I don’t know.

I, for my part, don’t know Charles, I run on vibes, and the tiny bits of information I get from observing a very limited slice of his life. And he comes across as someone likes guidance, and likes to do things by consensus. Like someone who will open the conversation on a difficult topic, but will want everyone to buy into the discussion rather than steering it. And that doesn’t make him a weak person by any stretch, and not being an intensely domineering character is not a flaw. And that has nothing to do with being a “nice” guy, there’s a lot of passionate people who don’t like to be at the front of things and there’s a lot of quiet, polite people who are absolutely cutthroat.

Again, I do not claim to know anything about him, but a lot of these sentiments have been echoed by people who’ve had far more contact with him than I have. And yes, that is to an extent outside perception because we have his sport psychologist’s notes, and sure he could be a dark horse who goes about his boss business in absolute stealth silence, but I honestly doubt it. I don’t think we as viewers have anywhere near the full scope of his personality but on a professional level, I think collectively people have an inkling.

Yes, it’s a presumption, but a presumption is precisely that - an educated guess made with the evidence you’ve got.

I would bet my bottom dollar, without knowing these guys in real life, that Carlos has more audacity. The man was consistently behind Charles and his camp was still around planting stories about him and being social media whores. Now, does that mean he has more of a leadership personality? Absolutely not, and for people to confuse brash confidence with leadership is a big mistake.

As for Max, his relationship with the people around him is evident from how they talk about it. Max and GP are both very vocal about only wanting to work together. Max went to bat for Helmut off his own back when Helmut was almost ousted last year because he views Helmut as integral to his success. Helmut has supported him from a young age and has always been someone who pulls for Max. It’s been said that his side of the garage doesn’t have a high turnover of engineers because he likes to keep the same people and they like working for him. Okay he didn’t choose his dad and Raymond but he’s made the choice to keep them close and if there’s two people who’ve worked tirelessly to secure him every advantage it’s those two. I’m not saying that Max is some kind of gigaboss at hiring people or that he has chosen everyone around him, I’m saying the people who work with him seem inspired to keep working with him, and he seems to know who to hang onto and how to form a connection with those people. We’ll never know who would follow him if he decided to leave Red Bull until he actually leaves which is why I didn’t say much on that, but it seems like he makes the right moves.

At the end of the day I think it’s a bit different with Max because he has the Red Bull machine completely invested in him. Red Bull run a second car for the banter and they have bought into Max massively and they make that very obvious. Red Bull don’t mind looking like Team Verstappen. Whereas Ferrari will never look like Team Charles. That’s not the brand image they want. They don’t like team orders, they don’t like priority drivers, they run their team in a different way to the way they did back in Schumacher/Barrichello days. I think that comparison kind of does Charles dirty.

I guess maybe people look at examples of “first drivers” like Schumacher, Lewis, Max, Vettel, and they expect Charles to have that level of deference from the team, when it’s not really up to him.

In summation, I think the perception of Charles does play a role in informing people’s view of how he conducts himself professionally, which is only natural. We don’t work with him, we have nothing else to go off. To assume he is entirely a different way would make less sense. But we don’t have the whole picture, so we will never know. It’s all speculation, and it’s all incredibly nuanced.

This got so long I apologise to anyone who’s had to read all that 😭

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dogmetaph0r · 11 days

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10, 13 (alfie - i mean i have to - plus one of your choice) and 14 for salty asks game 👉👈

OOOH HERE WE GOOO

10. Most disliked arc? Why?

I didn’t not like it narratively, but I didn’t particularly enjoy the whole arc of trying to get Linda and Arthur back together :/ I did appreciate it in a “fellas we are never breaking the cycle” way, but it kinda drove a wedge between me and my enjoyment of Arthur’s boyfailure arc at some points. Linda kinda reminds me of my adorable little WASP-y mom so seeing her threatened and upset because a man will do anything but go to therapy……eugh, hard watch.

13. Unpopular opinion about XXX character?

Alfie - this is gonna maybe be a bit controversial (or not? idk it took a while for me to wrap my noggin around the vibes) but……I don’t think Alf is all that religious? He is very very involved in his community and seems to be a well respected member of Jewish society in Camden Town, but idk how much he really practices in his day-to-day. I could be entirely wrong (would be happy for a Jewish PB fan to correct me if I am, and honestly I much prefer the headcanons that imply it matters a bit to him because as you’re about to see….I love cultural exchange) but Alfie’s irreverence and self-deification don’t really come across as terribly devout to me. If you consider the non-TV works to be canon, he definitely seems to be of the impression that nothing really matters beyond the carnal. He does seem to believe in a God, but that God’s existence isn’t really consequential to him. So I think his Jewish identity is more forged in community than shared reverence! I can relate, in a way; I never practiced Catholicism, but because my entire dad’s side did and I grew up in a highly Catholic neighborhood, it impacts how I interact with the world. So that’s how I kinda see it: it’s not the religion that he practices, but more the identity of someone raised with the religion.

I also wanna doooooo……..

Polly - she wasn’t always a wise, rational woman throughout the show. There were plenty of times she acted out of anger, fear, stubbornness… and while I do love that we kinda treat her as our voice of reason, she’s still as flawed as the rest of them. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of fics fall into the idea that Polly knows everything. It makes for a good story driver, but I feel like that unfortunately just doesn’t encompass who Polly is as a person. I don’t wanna ramble super long AGAIN but I think a lot of her interactions with/about Michael kinda demonstrate that. She’s easily blinded by her fear of loss in particular, and in a way it’s very similar to Tommy’s motivations. I think that’s part of why they butt heads sometimes. I’d like to explore that more myself!

14. Unpopular opinion about your fandom?

Oooh boy, this one is kinda tough to say. But I think we have a looooong way to go as a fandom in terms of cultural sensitivity. I know we’re working with source material that already has a pretty problematic and shallow way of going about Romani characters, but I think it’s our duty as fans to sorta….grapple with that a bit? Address it with nuance? Or at least listen to POC, particularly Romani, creators who take issue with the things done in the show and in fan content. There are SO many aspects of the show itself that play into racist stereotypes about Romani people, and I’ve seen a number of tropes and fic concepts that revolve around those stereotypes in particularly shocking ways (for example, maybe don’t have “sold to the Shelby family” or “magical g**** fortune teller” as a plot point??? Many levels of inappropriate to that). I do largely give people the benefit of the doubt because I know that not everyone knows what to look out for, especially if they themselves are not targeted personally by bigotry in their communities, and fewer people know where to go to figure that out…. but I feel like specifically Romanichal culture is a strong enough theme in the show to warrant SOME promotion of cultural research. Of course we all have work to do (I’m no exception, and I wholeheartedly welcome concrit if anything in the story seems off) but I feel like some people really lean into exoticism and stereotypes without any unpacking of why they’re doing it. And, when other people express discomfort, I’ve seen more than once the sort of response that sums up to “well so-and-so said it’s not a slur/bad trope/stereotype so I’m gonna keep using it”. Thankfully it’s less prevalent here on tumblr but it’s still a problem! Let’s rid ourselves of the idea that any one culture is a monolith! Cultural exchange and education are exciting! Decolonize your writing! Respect and an open mind go a long way!

BUT YEAH basically that’s it teehee :•)

#telegram #for the last point: again I’m still learning as I go #but actually talking to/hearing from romani people and their varied opinions of the show have been very helpful #esp in navigating the more controversial plot points #and even just avoiding little things #like one throwaway line can leave a bad taste in someone’s mouth even if it wasn’t meant to be racist #so it’s good to know as much as you can to try and handle these topics appropriately

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chirpsythismorning · 1 year

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While i do agree with u i have some weird feelings about us analyzing real ppl lol idk idk

Is this about Noah being the Tom Holland of ST??

I think if this was about Noah’s identity or something substantial related to him personally, and not just a basic thing that happens in promoting content as an actor, that would be one thing. But this is literally just speculation about a cast-member in relation to what they are/aren’t revealing about the show publicly.

If fans were coming across private footage of Noah, with like friends without his consent, or if fans were like hacking his shit without his consent trying to come up with evidence based on that, yes that would feel invasive. But I don’t see how just talking about how his behavior in terms of publicly promoting the show, out in the open, in relation to other actors doing similar things to promote their projects, is weird?

But to be entirely fair, I know some fans completely separate their experience in the fandom from the actors, where some don’t even follow the cast or pay any sort of attention to their actions in relation to promotion, bc they just feel uncomfy about having any sort of association with them outside of the show? Which is valid to a major extent, especially just knowing how private a lot of actors are and would prefer that their everyday life not be intermixed with their work in a way they aren’t at all wanting fans to do.

I would say that when it comes to Noah specifically and what he posts in regards to the show, that’s just literal public knowledge he is offering up on his own, to the point where he is literally talking to fans directly by acknowledging them, and doing it repeatedly.

I personally would stick to instances of him clearly out in the public eye interacting with fans, knowing he’s doing so and comfortable with it, before I would feel the need to make a point about what it could/couldn’t mean, based on him being an actor with a job which usually requires some instances of keeping your mouth shut, or saying something with the guise that oops I’m not supposed to because it makes people feel like they’re in on a big joke, even though it’s actually quite the opposite.

I’m not gonna sit on here and go into all of Noah’s micro expressions he has or every detail of what he’s doing and what he means at any given point, especially if it literally has nothing to do with the show.

But if dude is on TikTok live spoiling stuff, only to end it with im gonna get in trouble, followed by just repeating over and over again, I’m just gonna respectfully assume that he is a professional and knows what he’s doing, and he wouldn’t put the show and it’s success in jeopardy. If anything I’m giving Noah the benefit of the doubt here to be doing something that is fairly common, bc the alternative would be that he’s careless and doesn’t think the rules apply to him which… I just don’t think is the case here.

If you’re someone who feels uncomfortable making any sort of post about the cast in relation to how they promote the show bc it feels weird to analyze a real persons actions, fair enough!

My main point in bringing it up was to remind ppl that Noah, just like all of the cast, are actors. I think people take EVERYTHING they say about the show as gospel, which is exactly what they want, so I fully respect wanting to just go with that so we don’t make their job harder for them? After all going along with the joke that he spoils things, just like fans did with Tom, is only actually funny to those who willfully believe everything he does is by accident when he goes online and talks about the show. It wouldn’t exactly be good for everyone to know he’s faking bc then it sort of defeats the purpose.

So yes we should try to keep this our little secret and not put him on blast over it.

In the future, we’ll just have to wait and see what he or the others are willing to reveal publicly about what they did/didn’t know while promoting the show over the years, if they’re even willing to share that knowledge. If and until then, all we can do is wait and see.

#stranger things #byler #shhh #I don’t want noah to get in trouble #bc there’s a lot of implications that come with him constantly mentioning byler #and if ppl knew that it was entirely intentional on his part and not a total accident #there would be ppl having hissy fits #and this sort of thing is meant to be a secret #so I guess I don’t personally see a reason to talk about it too much #if anyone asks me about it Noah is 100% telling truth about what he does and doesn’t know and there’s nothing else to it!!!!

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fideidefenswhore · 1 year

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I find it so strange how people, Chapuys, Alison Weir, Jane stans, want to stress how Jane was devoted to Mary. Just a general goodwill I could get, but they treat it like some cult worship obsession thing. It's like Jane isn't much there in the sources. so they focus on this to give her a character. But making her out to be some mary stan isn't a personality. And are we expected to believe Jane would prioritize Mary over any daughters she would've had, like putting mary in the succession before her own kids? It just doesn't add up.

It connects to the reverence she's always assumed to have for her not-immediate predecessor, which is always... odd to me because it's not mentioned in contemporary sources anywhere. Chapuys doesn't claim she revered Catherine, just that she served her.

On either side of things, the circumstances of her rise are not flattering. True, you could say this about her immediate predecessor, too, but I see 'if you like one it's hypocritical not to like the other' most often from those that hate Anne and revere her successor and predecessor. Rules for thee but not for me nonsense as per.

If we don't afford her the benefit of the doubt, again, the picture is not flattering. Anne knew of her by Feb 1536 at the latest (that is when she first mentions her); but it's likely she knew of the courtship even before that, meaning it began before that, possibly around December 1535. Where does that place Jane accordingly? By the standards of Aragonese faction, it would mean it's likely she was entertaining courtship from Henry while his wife was dying (this was not a moral dilemma for them, much like the Imperial mistress of 1534 wasn't, so long as these women were advancing the cause they supported). By the standards of the Boleyn faction, February 1536 onwards is Jane entertaining Henry's courtship while his wife is recovering from miscarriage. And we know the rest that Jane accepted as admission to the throne.

Maybe her (limited) support of Mary was situational or circumstantial, almost entirely? Examining the sequence of events and Chapuys' reports, it's hard to see any other conclusion. We begin with him asserting that her new stepmother is her Godsend and that Mary will finally take pride of place as heiress at court, yet weeks later she is excluded from the succession in Parliament, five months later we have his report that her arrival at court has been delayed until Jane's coronation. In context, the claim Mary was 'served with more ceremony than ever before' cannot be read as much more than a desperate attempt to save face.

The rest is counterfactual, but why would Jane promote Mary's interests over her own child/ren? Earlier reports can only be read as such if you believe Jane was pregnant was at the time (May 1536, and 'even before the concubine's arrest' as Chapuys said), but I don't believe she was. Jane didn't know she would have children by Henry and might have been less confident of that than Anne, having firsthand experience of all the reproductive tragedies of decades, two of her predecessors, not just one. If Chapuys is to be believed, her attempt to reinstate her stepdaughter as heir can be read as an attempt to bolster support for her own status as Queen, and the support of Mary if Jane did have a son that would displace her in the succession, or perhaps even a daughter that came behind her. Once Henry (again, taking Chapuys at face value) 'corrected' her, she seemed adaptable enough (that she didn't write to Mary until after she had capitulated to her father's demands is instructive...).

Even if the primary sources are limited to Chapuys, as far as recording actual affinity, he spoke more glowingly of Parr as Mary's stepmother than Jane, in the wash. Yet pop history seems to live in that space of Chapuys' promises of the future that wasn't fulfilled as if it materialized. What is read as proof of their mutual affection, Mary serving as chief mourner, was yet another symbol of her diminished status, reifying that Mary was no longer royal and barred from the succesion (royals in the succession had noblemen/women serve as their replacements in funerals). Chapuys did not protest this is as vehemently as he did the funeral of Catherine because the battle had already been lost.

#anon

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fastigiums · 10 months

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Konstantinos Volanakis, Argo, after 1850

In which Jaesun strikes some deals. Alternatively: Oops! All Bargaining. SETTING: May 2023 FEATURING: Hwang Jaesun, Lee Taein, Park Yundam WORD COUNT: 3.1k

“No lawyers” is Taein’s only stipulation. To be honest, Jaesun hadn’t even considered bringing a lawyer in the first place. It’s only when Taein starts talking, and he’s stuck sitting across from him in the dim lighting of a fine dining restaurant specializing in contemporary Korean cuisine with two Michelin stars—all Taein’s words—that he realizes he should have brought a lawyer anyway.

Taein talks in circles, about his entertainment company and his credentials and his experience. He barely touches his food. Jaesun, on the other hand, does not find the way the portions are dwarfed by the plates appealing. He’s cleared all eight courses and a full glass of wine so far. He has little to add to the conversation. More importantly, he’s trying to keep from eating or drinking too quickly. Taein’s words are so dry and draining that Jaesun starts at his second glass anyway.

Eventually, Taein shifts the subject back to Jaesun’s future—the much more important topic. Jaesun could find everything he wants to know about Taein on the Internet. He didn’t need to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

“What are your goals? What are you looking for?”

He’s been waiting for this for too long. Without any preamble, Jaesun says, “I want a debut. Now, or as soon as possible. The next few weeks would be perfect.”

Taein takes a sip of water as the tenth course is served. “That’s a very crunched timeline. There’s still the matter of your contract, your creative direction, marketing, design, manufacturing, promotions. It's not as simple as you may think.”

Jaesun can feel his ambitions slipping and sliding away. He grabs hold of them again. “It might be hard, but it would benefit us both.”

“You sound like you’ve made up your mind.”

“I have. I want to be Zenith Entertainment’s next artist.” He made up his mind before tonight. The days are passing faster and faster, and each one he spends out of the public eye correlates directly with a decrease in his popularity. He isn’t sure how much longer he can wait. His appearance on Boys Planet was nowhere near as explosive and momentous as he thought it might be. Jaesun didn’t win, and is currently fielding offers from no more than three companies, all of which are small and insignificant.

“You’ve changed your mind since the last time we met,” Taein says.

Jaesun doesn’t remember ever meeting Taein. He tries to think of any situations that would put him in the vicinity of any entertainment company CEO.

“You’ll have to refresh my memory,” he says. It sounds smoother and cleaner than admitting he’s forgotten.

“It would have been about six years ago now,” Taein says. He laces his fingers together, resting his forearms on the table. “You attended a Zenith Entertainment audition—the only Zenith Entertainment audition. You passed, but you declined the offer.”

Six years ago means Jaesun was in high school. He did a lot of auditions at the time. Six years ago also means that Zenith was still a fledgling company. Of course Jaesun hadn’t paid them any mind.

“I doubt that counts as a meeting,” he says.

“You made quite an impression. Attending audition after audition and never accepting an offer.”

Was his high school self really that transparent? “You knew that, and you still made me an offer?”

Taein shrugs. “I’ll admit I was conceited and thought I might be different. I saw potential in you then, and I still do now.”

Jaesun loves the sound of that, although he’d argue he has more than potential now. What has he done, if not prove himself, televised to the nation and the world? He clasps his hands together, forearms flat on the table, and leans forward. “You seem hesitant.”

“And you’re overly eager.”

Jaesun is young and energetic and afloat with hope. He’s supposed to be eager and accommodating and willing to give more than he’ll get.

“I am,” he concedes. He has to retract his arms from the table so the twelfth course can be served. Suddenly inspired, he adds, “What if I find my own debut album?”

Taein saws delicately at his meat. “Find? Not write?”

“I have nothing at the level I want to show,” Jaesun says. It sounds better than saying he doesn’t write music.

“You’re confident in your ability to find an album?” His voice is heavy with doubt.

“Yes,” Jaesun replies with more confidence than he feels. Good acting might be genetic, he thinks. It’s that, or the alcohol, coursing through his veins in the form of liquid courage. “You know who my parents are.”

“On the off chance you’re unable to procure yourself an album, you’ll debut according to my timeline and direction.”

Jaesun swallows his beef and agrees. It won’t come to that. He craves agency and control—he was never going to let anyone else dictate his image or his future.

He relaxes considerably after that, polishing off a second glass of wine. The meal is fifteen courses long and Taein peppers him with meaningless questions most likely meant to reveal something about his psyche until the end. Then he foots the bill, just as Jaesun expects.

“I look forward to working with you,” Jaesun says after, as they stand in the bustle of the mall outside of the restaurant. He straightens the hem of his suit jacket.

“As do I,” Taein says curtly. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “The exact terms and conditions of your contract will need to be discussed. I’ll contact you to discuss everything further. Good night, Jaesun.”

“Good night,” Jaesun says to his back, slightly slighted by his dismissal. He watches Taein’s quick clip across the tiled floor.

Not long after, he sobers up and regrets his bravado. He lets himself into his house, scrolling through his contacts at the same time. He wedges his phone between his shoulder and his ear, listening to the dial tone.

“Jaesun.” On the other end of the line, his former dance academy rival, Yundam, sounds surprised. “It’s been a long time. I thought you would have lost my number by now.”

“Why would I do that?” Jaesun puts the call on speaker as he struggles to untie his shoelaces.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you stopped talking to me years ago.”

“That was the past.” Jaesun flicks the living room light on and lies down on the couch, crossing one ankle over the other. His parents are rarely home and his younger sister, Sara, happens to be out with her friends. That’s good, because he doesn’t want to talk to his family about the shitty deal he made tonight.

“If you want to gloat, then get it over with. Did you finally pass a HYBE audition? No, wait, I have it. HYBE scouted you.” His voice drips with condescension.

Jaesun curses his younger self for being so idealistic and open with his dreams.

“That’s not it. I have a favor to ask of you,” he says. “Do you know any producers? I need an album in a few weeks.”

There’s a very long pause.

“We only speak when you want something from me,” Yundam says eventually.

“I don’t remember the last time we spoke.”

“And now you want something from me.” Yundam clicks his tongue disapprovingly. “We’re not friends, and we never were.”

Jaesun sighs. He didn’t expect him to say yes immediately. “What do you want? A shout-out or something?”

Yundam laughs. “You can’t seriously think that’s all a debut album is worth. Do you know how important it is? Don’t answer that. I want a cut of your profits and your continued goodwill. That includes shout-outs.”

“My goodwill,” he repeats.

“I mean it would be a disaster for you if people knew who you really are. Narcissistic, self-centered, arrogant, rude, spoiled, entitled, overbearing, a braggart, and unable to talk about anyone other than himself.”

Jaesun listens to the—unequivocally false—laundry list of his worst traits, staring at the ceiling in boredom. It wouldn’t be the worst scandal anyone’s ever faced. At the same time, it’s not a risk he wants to take. He’s never known Yundam to be so malicious. Or maybe he’s never known Yundam at all.

“Forget I asked,” he says. “I’m sure my parents know someone. Coming from you, it isn’t a guarantee anyway.”

Jaesun is loathe to ask his parents for help. They’d tell him he should give up being an idol, then. He can do this on his own. But it’s a better option than letting Yundam blackmail him.

Yundam changes his tone. “We can work something out. I’m sure Myungseo-hyung knows someone.”

He must want something from Jaesun just as badly as Jaesun needs this album from him.

“Then ask him,” Jaesun says, “and find out what else you want. I won’t let you extort me.”

“I know you like to exaggerate, but extortion is a reach.”

“I don’t, and it’s not.”

Jaesun ends up the call and drops his phone onto his chest. He’s so fucking screwed.

Two days later, Yundam sends him six audio files. The attached message reads, so myungseo does know a guy. one of his uni classmates. his name’s sungjae. this is meant to be an entire ep. if you don’t take it in two days he’ll sell it to someone else.

That gets Jaesun to sit up in his bed. Two days to decide if the files he’s just received are what he’s willing to stake the rest of his career on. Even without listening to it, it doesn’t feel like he has much of a choice. He’d rather die than ask his parents for help. He puts his AirPods in and presses play.

Nineteen minutes later, Jaesun’s worst fears are assuaged. The songs fit together well enough. The producer has the same low tenor voice range as him. He assumes that’s the producer singing his own demo tracks. It makes him feel as if he has a bit of a connection to the music.

He decides to let Yundam wait for some time. Jaesun will take the EP. He’d take it no matter what it is, he thinks. He’s more desperate than he realized. Even if it was fifteen minutes of incomprehensible noise, he’d have to use it.

He hates how trapped he feels. It isn’t supposed to be like this. He’s supposed to do so much better. He’s supposed to be so much more—not in the midst of signing a contract with a third rate entertainment company.

He spends a tense three hours trying not to think about his future or Yundam. He spends all three hours thinking about his future and Yundam. When he can’t wait any longer, Jaesun sends a text from his normal position splayed across the couch.

i’ll take it, he tells Yundam. Belatedly, he wonders if he should have asked Taein first. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Besides, it was his responsibility to find his music and his sound, and now he’s done that.

great! Yundam sends back. i want 40% of your profit. also, you can tell him yourself.

Jaesun chokes on his own spit, barely noticing the second part of Yundam’s message, which includes an attached phone number. That’s ridiculous. Sara sits across the room from him at the dining room table, editing a video. She doesn’t even look up.

He coughs once and sits up.

15%, he sends back. Is Yundam trying to rob him? It seems like it. He’s not making money. Jaesun knows that for certain. Field Day never took off—Jaesun kept more tabs on them than he’d like to admit, maybe out of jealousy or resentment or something else he’s not quite sure of. For as disappointed as he feels in his own career trajectory, he knows he’s more popular than Yundam is or was or ever will be.

30%, is Yundam’s extremely annoying answer.

20. An extremely uncomfortable thought occurs to Jaesun. this is only from the music profit, right?

Yundam doesn’t text back. He calls instead. Jaesun has to lie back down to get through this.

On the other end of the line, Yundam is laughing. He doesn’t try to hide it. The flush of anger that spreads through Jaesun’s chest is entirely unfamiliar. Yundam didn’t act like this years ago, when they were closer. That, he’s sure of.

“Music doesn’t make money, Jae,” Yundam says through sharp bursts of laughter. “God, Siyun must think I sound insane.”

“Don’t call me that,” Jaesun says coldly. He knows music doesn’t make money. But money is the one thing he’s never had a need of, the one thing that’d be so easy to give Yundam. Just not so much of it.

Yundam ignores him. “You’re so stingy. A miser. You’ll have it all soon. The endorsements, the commercials, the advertisements, the acting roles.”

There’s an obvious hint of resentment in his voice.

“Fifteen percent,” Jaesun says slowly, “and we’ll be friends in public.”

Yundam is silent for a moment. “That won’t help.”

He doesn’t know how much bargaining power he has. He makes another promise he’s not sure he can keep anyway. “I’ll get us a variety show. Just the two of us. You and me.” He knows he’ll have his own show. It’s an unnegotiable part of being an idol in the current era. The involvement of another person is a bit more unprecedented.

“You and I,” Yundam corrects sardonically. “I’ll settle for 20% of your profits if you get your show. 25% if it falls through.”

It still feels like highway robbery.

“If you do fuck it up,” he continues, “I’ll go straight to the tabloids, like I said before.”

Jaesun sighs. There’s no incentive for him to ruin anything. If he burns his bridge with Yundam in public, it could signal the beginning of the end for him too. He won’t even need the baseless rumors.

“Don’t worry about me,” he says. “Focus on yourself first.”

He ends the call before Yundam can get another word in. There’s no way they can pretend to be friendly with one another.

Jaesun will cross that bridge when he comes to it. He sends an introductory text to Sungjae. It occurs to him that he’s never done so many seemingly small and menial tasks for himself. He’s gone from the son of celebrities to a celebrity himself. There should be people willing to do all of this for him.

Disgruntled, he sends a borderline passive aggressive message to Taein. He attaches the music an almost secondary thought.

Taein reads his message almost instantly. Jaesun waits in suspense for a response. A full minute passes before he realizes he’s waiting for something that won’t come. As much as he hates to admit it, there’s nothing else he can do right now. He decides his time would be better spent standing behind Sara and breathing down on her neck until she notices him.

The days stretch slowly into a week. And then, just when he thought he couldn’t wait any longer, Taein calls him in again. He hasn’t responded to Jaesun’s texts in days.

Jaesun spends a few hours listening to Taein’s representative go back and forth with his aunt, a corporate lawyer who previously negotiated his trainee contract at Cube.

Then Taein makes the very strong suggestion that the two lawyers should leave. Jaesun’s aunt squeezes his shoulder. “You’ll

The ink has yet to dry on his idol contract when Taein says, “I have a few matters to discuss with you.”

Jaesun does not like the sound of that. He’s more entranced by the featureless white walls than anything else.

“First, about your album,” Taein continues.

Jaesun snaps to attention again.

“Before we go any further, I want to meet your producer.”

He feels his house of cards begin to waver. He’s never met him himself. All he knows is the little bits and pieces Yundam’s told him.

Grasping at straws, Jaesun says, “His name is Sungjae. He’s always busy, and he’s secretive about his work.”

Taein folds his arms. “How did you meet?”

“Through friends. One of my friends went to university with him.” He gives a highly simplified version of the true story. Jaesun isn’t friends with any of Yundam’s group members. He’s not going to explain that.

Seeing the stony expression on Taein’s face, he elaborates a little more. “They both studied music composition at Dankook University.” He has no idea what Myungseo studied. He’s certain Taein doesn’t either.

One more trivia fact comes to mind. “He’s a session musician now. I think he used to be in a band.”

“That’s enough,” Taein says, cutting him off.

Jaesun wonders what’s gotten into him. It works out, because he’s exhausting his store of information.

“The music is enjoyable. One more track will be added, and another will include a feature.”

Jaesun balks immediately. “With all due respect, sajangnim, that’s unnecessary.” And I don’t want to do it, he adds in his head. He already has six songs to learn, and not nearly enough time.

“I’m a soloist. I want to be the only person singing my songs.”

“This is not a discussion,” Taein says. “These are the changes I will be making to your album. I’ve given you enough concessions with your freedom to find a producer. Have you forgotten what you’ve signed?” He taps the stack of papers that make up Jaesun’s contract.

Jaesun makes the saddest, most desperate puppy-dog expression he can muster. It’s something he hasn’t had to do since he was thirteen begging his parents to please come and see his performance in Fiddler on the Roof.

“Don’t do that,” Taein says, looking unaffected and unamused. His tone softens slightly. “This will be good for you. See it as a chance to expand your reach as a celebrity past the people who saw your previous television appearance.”

Jaesun doesn’t quite believe him, but he lets it go for now. He has more to ask. “I have one more request.”

Taein looks like he’d rather eat glass. “What is it?”

“I want to have a variety show with a friend.”

Taein’s brow creases. “I assume your friend is a celebrity. Would it be too far to assume your friend is friends with Sungjae?”

Jaesun feels like a pane of glass—he’s been seen straight through. “That’s correct. He’s an idol too. I want to do this as a favor.”

He sits uncomfortably under Taein’s sharp gaze. It takes some time before he responds. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He doesn’t know who Taein would have to consult with, but that isn’t Jaesun’s problem. He’s done all he can. He reaches across the table for his contract and a pen. Flipping it over to the empty backside of the last page, he scribbles Yundam and his manager’s names and numbers.

Jaesun stands up and bows shallowly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sajangnim.” And nearly every day for the next seven years. It’s all he’s ever wanted.

#( ☆ ) ⸻ here i am : [ writing. ]#ficnetfairy #fictional idol community #idolverse #idol oc #kpop fanfic #kpop oc #mixing greek and latin influences bc i speak english and therefore idc #i actually don't know if i like this or not but we ball

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angorwhosebabyisthis · 11 months

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[cw: abuse apologism, ableism both anti-autistic and anti-NPD, metaphorical sensory torture, physical and emotional abuse, child abuse, sibling and parental abuse.]

ivan and adam's dynamic is sticky to dive into because boyyyy howdy is the idea of 'mutual abuse' one to approach with the sensitivity gloves On, and ivan definitely becomes physically and verbally/emotionally abusive toward adam after the coma...

...but even ignoring the tip-of-the-iceberg red flags for adam having abused ivan when they were younger, i'm realizing the more i look at it that adam's behavior toward him is also deeply emotionally abusive. and not in an 'abuse victim with no power in the situation looking for any opportunity to get away with potshots against their abuser, even when it's below the belt' way. it's abusive in a 'constantly looking for opportunities to shove an autistic's hands into Unbearable Bad Textures in situations where they can't resist or get away, and will face humiliation and social punishment--and likely further sensory torture--for trying' way.

(to be more specific, while i don't doubt that ivan is also autistic, by the above i mean that he very blatantly has NPD, and adam does the equivalent.)

this isn't reserved for when they're out of earshot of the general, either. adam does it in extraordinarily nasty manner in front of them both, and not only does the general not express disapproval, he takes adam's side. adam is, again, not having to dodge around a dynamic where their father will favor ivan over him if conflict and/or abuse gets involved; if anything, ivan is the one who waits until they're out of his sight to be nasty to adam.

which is, you know, characteristic of some kinds of abuse; not letting him off the hook there. but of the two, adam is the one we see brazenly and openly get away with abusive behavior toward ivan, despite the general supposedly favoring him. andrakkus loses his shit when adam indicates the idea of ivan is less than perfect while he's not around, but when it comes to how adam treats him the general does not protect him--express any kind of care for his physical or emotional wellbeing at all--ever.

if anything, the general gets cold and nasty toward ivan when ivan is a dick toward adam in front of him without disguising it behind faux-concern, or doesn't do things for him that he was told to. even just neutrally saying 'forgive me for speaking out of turn, but i'm not sure [adam] is up to this' almost gets him punched on the spot, which the general barely restrains himself from; whereas adam has to REALLY go over the line for what the general thinks is unacceptable--to the point of outright defector rhetoric--to get hit in the face. regardless of whether and how much of a regular occurrence it might have been before the coma, he has to push HARD for it to happen afterward, during the period of time where ivan is being abusive.

the books try to play it off like ivan's the one with all the power over adam, who can do and get away with whatever he wants; but it is shown consistently, over and over, to be the exact opposite. praising ivan and elevating him above adam is always something the general does to hurt adam directly. ivan does not actually benefit from the general's 'favor' that we see, ever, except for getting a medal and a party, until he's finally promoted when the general thinks adam is dead. he has no agency when it comes to adam unless it's behind the general's back, or in a situation where his method of doing things is judged more effective for the mission.

like. insulting adam constantly, and choosing him to do drills with so he can beat him up, is abusive. (assuming adam did not have a choice in the latter, which isn't stated but seems like they're trying to imply.) he had the choice not to do those things. it's not okay.

but it's fucking skeezy as shit that the books try to make you root for adam as the underdog in this dynamic, who's Kind of Mean to His Abuser but It's Justified to Find Little Opportunities to Fight Back Where He Can; because if we're going to play by those rules, it's ivan who is clearly lashing out at an abuser he has very little power over outside of a couple pockets of agency he can find.

like. this isn't even going into how adam's ableist abuse of him is part of a pattern where he's good at seeking out, and then taking advantage of, neurodivergence to abuse and manipulate people. that's a post of its own probably, or a reblog in this thread. but god damn does it make my skin crawl that these books expect you to cheer for--with--an abuser forcing their autistic victim's hands into sandpaper while they're not allowed to pull away or scream.

#lorien legacies #ivanick shu-ra #adamus sutekh #LL tag #LL crit tag #cws in post #the crit files #dyn: so glad you're awake #fuck off adam #i just fuckin.... ugh ugh ugh i hate it so much oh my god #ivan's awful but his situation is so much worse and so much more powerless than the authors pretend it is

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none-shall-caricature-me · 2 years

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So I'm watching The Mandela Catalogue, TW it has suicide, paranoia and complete horror

My theories / questions after Volume 1 :

1. Episode 1 :

If alternates were ONLY using psychological warfare, why stay inside your house ? Now I know it may be because if you go outside you may encounter an alternate, get M.A.D. and die; but won't staying inside be deliberately isolating and cutting you off from outside help, thus increasing your paranoia ? Like. If you're among good samaritans or brave people outside, someone might atleast check on you. Was this announcement MADE by an alternate to promote that isolation ? Lol. Or is there simply a huge risk of alternates roaming about outside ?

Also, why would the government instruct you to kill yourself ? If instead someone actually fights the alternate, using normal weapons, evasion or other means, and the government / vigilante later arrives at the scene to check - won't that give them more useful info about what an alternate does ? Whereas the victim killing themselves wouldn't give them much useful info. Was this announcement REALLY made by the government, or is it an alternate's doing ?

2. Episode 2 :

The tape says 'wrong move, Mark' just before his death. WHO wrote that ? Can't be an actual sensible law enforcement officer, since that 'wrong move' warning is way too vague - unless the police guys already know why it was a wrong move. Did an alternate make this tape, or tamper with a genuine tape ? Is it just from the narrator's POV ?

Also, what exactly is the wrong move ? Mark opened the door after unsuccessfully calling for help for days, then yelled 'you bastard', then a gunshot and blood on the screen or simply some weird paranormal lighting effect. Afterwards we see Mark's dead body with the face censored and the words 'nobody came for me'. Again, who wrote that ? The position of the gun makes it seem like he committed suicide tho.

Plus, if you acted like Mieruko and simply ignored / pretended to be completely unaffected / suppressed your fear, would you be safe from an alternate ?

3. Episode 3 :

Either the police force / government is completely corrupt and / or cowardly, or an alternate made that 'encounter' warning. After the 3 normal procedures, the tape glitches and then the warning to just abandon victims of alternates and save yourself appears. That's weird - why didn't the police make a separate tape for that, or normally edit the tape to add the new content ? Why does it glitch ? Could be a simple processing error too, but was the tape intercepted by an alternate to spread fear for its own benefit ?

And the warning is pretty off too. Either the higher ups are dumb af and hope that alternates won't spread beyong Mandela County, but I doubt that. The rational save - your - skin thing to do would be to make some trained people encounter and fight the alternates and send back data, to see how and why they attack and how to avoid / defeat them. But instead the authorities tell the police to 'take no risks' at all, and just turn a blind eye. This means that the police know that avoiding alternates is the only way and exactly how to avoid them - just like in the case of a horrible incurable infection - OR that alternates made this message so that nobody would even try to stop them.

4. So we often see / hear about alternates appearing on 'analog / natural screens' or over analog communication devices - analogue televisions, mirrors, Mark's analog camera, glass windows, over call, on the radio, on broadcast warnings etc. Analogue signals transmit natural radio or light waves without converting them into binary code, whereas digital tech converts natural sound / light (electromagnetic) waves into binary code and then transmits and demodulates the signal.

Does this mean the alternates are made of / can control natural sound and electromagnetic (light) waves - transmission on analog tech and reflections / refractions on mirrors and glass windows ? Like a phantasm of physics ? After all, we only see Mark's alternates on the analog TV, on his analog camera, through a glass window - and we also see the other alternates in video or sound recordings. Is this why there's a law about destruction of analog TVs and mirrors ?

But of course, there is an exception - The Fake - Gabriel. He talks in binary code and manifests to Noah despite there being no screens or glass windows. And yes, there are ambivalencies in the normal alternates too - like when in volume 2, the alternate tells Adam to look behind him through the radio, was that alternate actually going to manifest or just appear on a screen ?

And why does the broadcast warning tell people to avoid being very religious / philosophical ?

#the mandela catalogue #tmc #mandela county #the mandela catalog #the mandela catalouge #not bsd

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