#Daddy Charming Parallels

[r3d-redemptions]

Mephistopheles & Raphael parallel

right, bare with me because i just want to discuss their parallel because it’s so fascinating to me. i don’t see it discussed enough. spoilers ahead!

• unsurprisingly, mephistopheles is charming and as cunning, but he can display different façades sometimes. and yet, behind that cold surface, mephisto is a walking contradiction. “Fiendish codex II” (i absolutely recommend getting this if you want to know more about the hells, it has all the essential about them) also describes him as depite for someone who appears cold and reserved all the time, mephistopheles would have an actual temper tantrum. something he does is “destroying everything around him in a thunderous explosion of hellfire and devastating magic.”

•mephistopheles appears as a handsome gentleman! he speaks in an intelligent, calculated manner and of course wit won’t be absent.

•he also doesn’t give up easilly when something gets in his way he would always find ways to get whatever he wants.

•he is always eager to find out new information around him, things thay could make himself even more powerful because he wants to take over asmodeus too

now, doesn’t what i’ve described above remind you of raphael? and isn’t it interesting how raph hates his daddy so much yet he wants to be so much like him? that’s daddy issues at its finest, if you ask me. besides, raphael’s inner conflict seems to be familliar to mephistopheles’, but in his case the conflict is based on the fact that he’s a half devil. the fact that he’s a human too makes him absolutely more vulnerable, unlike how devils are supposed to be. however, in my opinion, it’s his human form that brings him most of his sucess in deals after all.

regarding how raphael appears and expresses himself: he gives the first impression of an intelligent gentleman, but as the plot progresses, he’s a cunning little bastard that has us easily around his fingers. interestingly enough, he seems to display the same façade as his father… beyond having the inherited personality(most likely), i think raphael decided to display a very simillar façade to his fathers’ after he’s seen Mephistopheles becoming this powerful with such a personality.

and my favourite part so far: raphael’s ambition! in a case where you give the crown to gale and he becomes a god in the epilogue raphael is still very determined to take over as he would rise from the gods’ ruins, like he says. also, before fighting him in the house of hope, you can be something like “if you kill me you won’t have the crown” he’s like “yeah whatever i’ll get it because i can😠”.

about the finding information part… isn’t it interesting how around the house of hope you find so much powerul equipment? man seeks ANYTHING that can make him feel powerful. mind you, i’ve always found the amount of equipment he has around the house of hope pretty impressive ngl

(also the fact that he can manage so many portals? i wonder how they appeared in the house of hope in the first place, someone enlighten me pls xd)

anyway yeah, just wanted to ramble about it for now. i hope you enjoyed my yapping and that i made sense lol. thx for the attention and for reachig this point of the post :)

#raphael bg3 #raphael the cambion

[dracanthropic]

So I've been watching Leverage (almost done with Redemption and sad about it) and that led me to watching the Librarians mostly because Christian Kane is in it and he's my favorite at the moment (but also like...that is really my kinda show).

I've noticed a few parallels between Eliot Spencer and Jacob stone. The weirdest one being that they're both from Oklahoma? Which of course makes them both a bit of a country boy.

They also both have daddy issues stemming from not following the plans that their fathers set out for them (very different plans and very different fathers. Eliot's father is a great guy Stone's father is an ass).

Both are good fighters. Eliot is like legendary status, his name strikes fear into his enemies. Stone is great in a bar fight and the most competent fighter when Baird isn't around.

For very different reasons they both speak many languages.

They are also...huge flirts. Especially early on, we see Eliot flirting with random women while in the middle of big fights and he is also able to charm his way through a bunch of situations. Stone literally flirts with Lamia while they are fighting each other. Both of them are rather gruff (Eliot more so) but very charming and also very soft and gentle at times.

Basically Christian Kane plays the same character in two shows and I'm love him. But seriously....both from Oklahoma?!

#Leverage #leverage redemption #the librarians #eliot spencer #jacob stone #christian kane #same character

[cophene]

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐄 | ohshc; ten.

* • ° something to shake things up

previous chapter || next chapter || table of contents

pairing : ohshc x gn reader summary : perhaps no one at ouran is more qualified to deal with a broken heart than the host club. with a student’s heartbreak painfully obvious to everyone but themself, the host club takes it upon themselves to remedy that. all against that student’s better judgement. notes : multi-chapter fic, sfw, doesn’t follow canon plot word count : 2.4k+

“Why are we having another meeting?” Haruhi grumbled to herself. She stabbed her chopsticks into her bento box, irritated at having been dragged from the dining hall to Music Room 3 by the twins.

“You know I don’t call these meetings unless absolutely necessary,” Kyoya said, flipping through pages in his notebook. 

“Don’t you enjoy spending time with Daddy?” Tamaki said, making to steal a piece of egg from Haruhi’s lunch. 

“Not more than is necessary, actually.” She pointedly pushed her lunch away from him. Tamaki’s lip trembled and he sniffled as he went back to take his seat. “Why are you still so mean to me?”

“What are we waiting for? Everyone’s here,” Hikaru said, draping an arm over the back of his chair.

Honey looked up. “Actually, we’re still missing—”

The doors of the music room opened with a theatrical bang. Who else but Renge stormed in, dressed in a long trench coat and oversized sunglasses. She tossed a manilla folder onto the table the hosts were gathered around, grabbed a tart from the plate in front of Honey, pushed Kaoru out of his seat and nearly whipped Haruhi in the face with her hair.

“Hey!” the affected parties yelled.

“Hope you weren’t thinking of starting without me,” Renge said, taking a huge bite of tart. “I haven’t been working my butt off for the past few days just to be left out.”

“Working on what, exactly?” Hikaru said, lifting up the manilla folder with a finger. Renge slapped his hand away, sliding the folder toward her.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow.“Is that what I think it is?”

Renge smirked. “It most definitely is.”

 “Do I even want to know?” Haruhi sighed.

Renge slid the sunglasses into her hair. “After countless hours of sleuthing, reaching out to my extensive network of informants and connections, and using my cognitive excellence and prowess, I have done the impossible.” Renge looked from one host to another, clearly delighting in the suspense. “I have discovered the identity of Y/N’s ex.”

“Isn’t that a breach of privacy?” Haruhi began to say, but was drowned out by the other hosts.

Honey: “Who is it?”

Kyoya: “What connections do they have?”

Hikaru: “Are they hot?”

Kaoru: “Where do they live?”

Mori: “...”

Tamaki: “Well, they can’t be as charming as I am.”

Renge finished off her tart before saying, “His name is Nishio Keiji.”

The hosts stared blankly at her. “Who?”

“He’s the one who won the Young Leaders Award, isn’t he?” Mori said to Renge. “Candidates are chosen from upstanding students who display a prerogative in improving their community. Keiji was able to bring together teenagers and the elderly in his community by involving them in a documentary paralleling their experiences.”

“Mori, how do you know that?” Tamaki asked, sounding scandalized.

Mori blinked. “I watched the documentary,” he said simply. “It was well done. I just didn’t know he used to date Y/N.”

“Way to steal my thunder,” Renge said, pouting. “I was going to say all of that.”

“But how did you find that out?” Haruhi said.

“Oh, backwards searching,” Hikaru said, scrolling through his phone with Kaoru. “Y/N deleted all of their photos but this Keiji person didn’t. There are still a bunch of photos of the two of them together.”

“I thought I was the one doing the explaining!” Renge whined. By now, she was totally sidelined in favour of the hosts opening her manilla folder and going through all of her intel.

Keiji Nishio. He was indeed young and upstanding. He liked creating his own music and short films. He was an avid public speaker and lover of dogs. His parents were executives, hardworking and respectable. He was easy, casual, and very charming. Looking at the snapshots of him and Y/N together, it wasn’t hard to see why Y/N had fallen for him.

Tamaki grew visibly distressed. “He seems so … so…”

“Normal?” Haruhi said.

“Why don’t you try perceptive?” Kaoru said.

“Capable,” Hikaru suggested.

“Confident.”

“Striking.”

“Self-possessed.”

“He seems really nice,” Honey said, nibbling on a cookie as he spread a few photos in front of him. “How could he have broken Y/N’s heart?”

“I was just about to ask that,” Kyoya said. “While all of this is invaluable, we still don’t know how Keiji and Y/N fell apart.”

“Well, I haven’t gotten to that part yet,” Renge said defensively. “This is just the background.”

“It must have been serious,” Mori said, and everyone seemed to agree.

“How is this information invaluable, exactly?” Haruhi asked. “What does knowing who Y/N’s ex is do for us?”

“Now we know how to approach Y/N,” Kyoya said. “And what we should avoid.”

Haruhi narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure? Because this just seems like you were too curious to leave it alone.”

Kyoya smiled sweetly at her. Haruhi knew him well enough to read the sarcasm in the expression.

“Well, we’ll be taking these then,” the twins said, neatly sweeping up everything on the table back into the folder.

“That’s all my hard work! What are you going to do with it?” Renge said.

“Blackmail,” the twins answered.

Haruhi gaped at them, then turned to Kyoya. He didn’t seem concerned, however, setting out his laptop on the table.

“Now to move on to the next order of business,” he said. “The Host Club’s profits aren’t where I’d like them to be, especially this far in the semester. I would like some ideas on how to generate more profit and potentially bring in new guests.”

“The Host Club isn’t doing well?” Tamaki gasped.

“Read between the lines, Boss,” Kaoru said. “If the Shadow King said we’re not doing well, it means we’re doing fine.”

“Yeah. Kyoya is just a greedy Vice President,” Hikaru said. “You know we make more money than all of the sports teams combined.”

“Not the swim team,” Kyoya said. “Which is why I’m concerned. It’s embarrassing that we’re being beaten out by a bunch of hooligans in swim trunks.” He finished whatever he was typing and looked up expectantly. “Well? Any suggestions?”

“We should have a bake sale!” Honey exclaimed.

“Too much effort. And your dentist has you on watch for another cavity.”

“Photoshoot?” Hikaru suggested. 

“After your social media debacle? No.”

“Neolithic bonfire,” Tamaki announced. For a second, everyone had to stop to just process the ludicrousy of it.

“I’ll put it under consideration,” Kyoya said, if only to prevent Tamaki from skulking off. Tamaki beamed at him.

“Banquets tend to do pretty well,” Haruhi mused. “It’s a little soon to be hosting another one, though.”

“You need something to shake things up,” Renge said. “Something unexpected.”

“We aren’t doing that already?” Haruhi said dryly.

“Something unexpected…” Tamaki said, tapping a finger against his chin. His eyes glazed over. “Something like…”

He paused. A sparkle entered his violet eyes. 

“Someone like.” 

“Someone like what?” the twins asked bluntly.

“Kyoya, what do you say to adding a new member to the club?” Tamaki said, an eager, almost manic smile lighting his face.

Kyoya was typing away on his laptop. “That’s a terrible idea.”

Tamaki’s jaw dropped. “Terrible? But it’s unexpected, isn’t it? A new face is just what the Host Club needs! We need to add more variety to our services! Like a neglected bouquet, a single bloom can reawaken notice to its surrounding flowers. Our guests are getting tired of looking at our beautiful faces!”

“There’s a reason the hosts in this club are here. We all occupy a specific type, and that already allows us to cater to a large guest base. I wouldn’t have allowed Haruhi to become a host at all except that she managed to find a different host type we hadn’t thought of.”

“There are countless types of hosts that could join our ranks,” Tamaki argued.

Kyoya looked over his glasses at him. “Yes, but none with the appeal to remain a long term host.”

Tamaki crossed his arms. “You’re being unfair.”

Kyoya sighed and closed his laptop. “Fine. I’ll humour you. Say we wanted a new host, long term or otherwise. Just who do you have in mind?”

Kaoru snapped his fingers. “Kasanoda, the Delinquent-Secretly-Soft Type.”

Hikaru grinned. “Nekozawa, the Dark-Hidden-Charm Type.”

“Oh, who’s the kid that Tamaki trained for a while?” Kaoru asked. 

“Takaoji … Shiro?” Haruhi said.

“Yeah, just bring him back,” Hikaru said. “We had a whole bunch of new guests because of him.”

Kyoya gave Tamaki an unimpressed look. “Need I say more? We’d be using more resources than we are already just to train a new host.”

“We’d be willing to help train a host if it will help the club, right, Taka-chan?” Honey said, and Mori nodded.

“You’re not thinking out of the box enough,” Renge said dismissively. “Those are all people who have been in the Host Club before.”

“Precisely,” Tamaki agreed. “I have someone very specific in mind.” He smiled beatifically at the hosts, as though expecting them to read his mind.

Surprisingly enough, they did.

You had come to associate the Hitachiin twins as the harbingers of misfortune. You couldn’t think of one good thing that could come from the two of them striding towards you. As such, you immediately turned on your heel and tried to go back the way you’d come from.

As always, the twins each clamped a hand on your shoulder.

“You’re coming with us,” they said together. 

“I’m taking a day off from the club today,” you said, backing away from them. “I mean, you’re all so busy, you shouldn’t have to deal with me all the time. You have your guests and it’d be selfish to be spending so much time—”

“Blabber all you want, but let’s go,” Hikaru (or at least who you thought was Hikaru) said. You had no choice but to go along with them, because it was easier than causing a scene in the hallways.

If you couldn’t beat them and all that.

Maybe it was just you, but the twins seemed to have a little extra pep in their step. They were excited about something, and you were sure you didn’t want to know what about. Once you were in front of Music Room 3, they pushed you in before quickly closing the doors behind them.

You were early. None of the guests had arrived yet.

“Welcome back, my dear,” Tamaki said, walking towards you with his arms raised. “We’ve been expecting you.”

You sidestepped the hug and Tamaki nearly tripped. He recovered himself with a wounded cough.

“Did I do something wrong?” you said, looking around for Haruhi, Honey and Mori. Good. They were here. You wouldn’t have to suffer this alone.

“Not at all,” Tamaki said. “In fact, we have wonderful  news for you.”

You looked around at the hosts, trying to gauge by their faces what “wonderful news” entailed. Tamaki was beaming, but when was he not? The twins looked devious as ever, and Kyoya’s face was a smooth lake. Honey was bouncing on the balls of his feet and Mori’s lips were pursed. When you glanced at Haruhi, she gave you a small, apologetic smile.

All of a sudden, Renge’s voice came from behind you, rising from her platform out of the ground. You startled, forgetting it was there.

“Starting today,” she said grandly, “you are a host.”

You stared up at Renge on her platform. Then you turned around and reached for the door handle.

“Where are you going?” Hikaru said, stepping in front of one of the doors.

“You don’t have anything to say to that?” Kaoru said, blocking the other door.

“Hell. No,” you said. You turned back around to the other hosts. “I don’t know what kind of joke this is supposed to be, but it isn’t funny. I don’t want to be a host. I don’t have any interest in that whatsoever.”

The hosts seemed surprised at your vehemence.

“You won’t even give it a try?” Honey said, widening his eyes hopefully.

“Why? You said you were going to ‘heal my broken heart.’ How is making me a host going to help that? Isn’t that your job?”

“You don’t need to know the specifics, but you are aware that the Host Club operates on payments from guests, yes?” Kyoya said. “While Tamaki was generous enough to offer our services for free, the fact remains that we need to be compensated for our time.”

You scowled. “I don’t know how many times I’ve told you that I never asked for this.You all started this yourselves. It's unfair to expect anything of me.”

“Y/N’s right,” Haruhi said and you liked her all the better for it. “They never wanted to be a host. If they don’t want to do it, then they don’t want to do it.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I have things to do,” you said, even though there were no such things to do. The twins reluctantly stepped aside and you had just twisted the doorknob when Renge said, “You’re just afraid, aren’t you?”

“What?” “You just don’t want to be a host because you’re afraid no one will like you. You’re scared you won’t know what to do. You just don’t want to embarrass yourself.”

Renge’s voice was high and taunting. You gritted your teeth, seeing the bait plainly and willing yourself not to take it.

“You’re just too scared that you don’t know how to flirt.”

“You think I don’t know how to flirt?” You spun around. You couldn’t let this slide. Your pride wouldn’t allow it. “You’d be hard pressed to find someone better than me.”

“Really?” Renge said.

“Yeah, really. I’m not afraid. I can flirt and charm and swoon people just fine. Whatever you do at the Host Club isn’t hard. You just talk and smile and look pretty.”

“You think we’re pretty?” Tamaki said, but you ignored him.

Renge leaned over the railing of her platform. “I wonder if you can back up those claims.”

You scoffed. “You know what? Fine. I’ll be a host then. You just watch how well I do it, and by the end, you’ll regret making me a host because I’ll have won all of your guests over.” It was a ballsy thing to say, but you didn’t care. Renge’s goading had worked. You were all fired up now.

Renge smiled, not at you, but at Kyoya. “Told ya.”

Kyoya shrugged. He glanced at his wristwatch, then straightened out his blazer.

“We’ll open the Host Club for business, then.” He glanced at you. “I hope you won’t make too many mistakes. We are still a business at the end of the day.”

You blew out a breath through your nose. “I’m well aware.”

previous chapter || next chapter || table of contents

#ohshc #ohshc x reader #ouran high school host club #gender neutral reader #disceohshc

[circusrat13]

lame portal-ified disney song by me

*to the tune of "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast*

"Miss Caroline!"

CAROLINE

Scientists' town, Artificial village Ev'ry day New explosions there Underground Full of crazy people Waking up to say:

SCIENTISTS

Oh god! Oh no! Emergency! Hold on!

CAROLINE

Here's Mr. Wheatley with reports, like always I guess, some test-subjects just died Making science, bending time Since the day we dug that mine In the state of Michigan

WHEATLEY

Good Morning, Miss Caroline!

CAROLINE

Good morning, Wheatley.

WHEATLEY

Where are you off to?

CAROLINE

The turret production-line. Mr. Johnson wanted me to count How many bullets per bullet it takes to…

WHEATLEY

Y-Yeah, that's great. Jerry! Down the lift shaft! Hurry up, mate!

MALE SCIENTISTS

Look there she goes Miss Caroline, she's gorgeous Smart and collected, can't you tell?

LADY SCIENTISTS

But she's just some poor assistant!

RICK/ADVENTURE CORE

But her body's like a pistol

SCIENTISTS

She's a heart and soul of Aperture for sure!

MALE SCIENTIST 1

Hello!

LADY SCIENTIST 1

Good day!

MALE SCIENTIST 1

How's hard-light bridges?

LADY SCIENTIST 2

Hello!

MALE SCIENTIST 2

Good day!

LADY SCIENTIST 2

Where's Mantis Men?

MALE SCIENTIST 3

We need more cubes!

LADY SCIENTIST 3

They're in the storage

CAROLINE

We're forwarding the cause of science with our lives!

CAVE JOHNSON

Ah, Caroline!

CAROLINE

Good morning, Mr. Johnson, sir! I was just about to go the bullet expertise…

CAVE JOHNSON

Good, and what's about compensation vouchers? Are they ready?

CAROLINE

Yes, they're on your desk!

CAVE JOHNSON

Give them to the reception.

CAROLINE

Right! Of course!

CAVE JOHNSON

And tell the lab boys we need gel pipes In spheres from 12 to 20 up and running by Tuesday

CAROLINE

Will be done, sir! Is there something else I can do for you?

CAVE JOHNSON

Keep doing what you're doing. Oh, and remind the repair wing guy that we still have that leak in the west hall.

CAROLINE

Yes, sir.

CAVE JOHNSON

Thank you, Caroline. You're a gem.

CAROLINE

Oh, Mr. Johnson.

SCIENTISTS

Look there she goes, the essence of our science! (So close to Mr. Johnson, too) With her long thick brown hair And red scarf around her neck What a puzzle this Miss Caroline must be!

CAROLINE

Oh, isn't this a triumph? All the points of data ready to compute Here's in Aperture Science We can laugh at physics and just hope We won't get sued!

VIRGIL/MAINTENANCE CORE

Now it's no wonder that we kicked Black Mesa Our methods got no parallel

CRAIG/FACT CORE

But we signed their trading pact Borealis is a fact!

KEVIN/SPACE CORE

And my daddy gotta take it into space!

SCIENTISTS

We are the best researching team! We're making portals and we'll win this race!

GREG

Wow! It seems your pep talk got them all inspired, Mr. Johnson! You're the greatest boss in the whole world!

CAVE JOHNSON

I know.

GREG

But there are still some problems with the GLaDOS project. We don't have a required intellect substance.

CAVE JOHNSON

It's true, Greg. But I've got my sights set on one particular assistant.

GREG

You mean Miss Caroline?!

CAVE JOHNSON

She's the one. The only woman whom I can trust to run the facility the way I used to.

GREG

But she's -

CAVE JOHNSON

The most loyal assistant I had.

GREG

I know, but -

CAVE JOHNSON

That makes her the best. And don't Aperture Science deserve the best?

GREG

Of course it does!

CAVE JOHNSON

Right from the moment when I met her, saw her I said she is the one we need! She's the energy, no resting And has passion for the testing So I'm making plans to put her in the charge!

LADY SCIENTISTS

Look there He goes Isn't he handsome? Oh, Mister Johnson He's the best! My circuits blow I'm hardly breathing He's such a tall, clever and charming man!

[some banter that I cut out, because i had no inspo]

CAROLINE

We're forwarding the cause of science with our souls!

CAVE JOHNSON

Just watch, She's going to outlive you all!

SCIENTISTS

He chose Miss Caroline to be his heir It's such an honor, to be fair!

LADY SCIENTISTS

But what if she doesn't want it?

MALE SCIENTISTS

Then we make her, like he ordered!

SCIENTISTS

'Cause she really is our only hope She'll live forever like a God She'll rule facility for long Miss Caroline!

#portal #portal 2 #portal stories: mel #portal caroline #portal glados #portal cave johnson #portal wheatley #portal virgil #portal rick #portal space core #portal fact core #portal greg #google who greg is if you don't know lol #i am cringe but i am free

[dr-aegon]

2023 CHARACTER WRAPPED

thank you for tagging me my lovelies @st-eve-barnes @sylasthegrim ❤️❤️❤️

9. Verna - The Fall of The House of Usher

character of death in human form always has fascinated me. of course carla gugino playing her is major win for everyone.

8. Jinx - Arcane

her character design, mannerisms, vocal cadences, and oh those eyes!!! let me tell you arcane is goat of all of animation history. and imo jinx is the best character in it.

7. Silco - Arcane

cunning and vengeful like a typical villain, but also emotional and vulnerable. and sometimes not so smart and it makes him a better character.

6. Homelander - The Boys

an irredeemable and actually terrifying villain, and anthony starr is perhaps one of the greatest actors of all time. his performance is spine chillingly good and is so fun to watch.

5. Roman Roy - Succession

kieran culkin is very good at the role. roman is a disaster. spoiled rich boy, mommy and daddy complex, court jester, and kicked puppy all swirling together. and i love him for it.

4. Kendall Roy - Succession

oh kendall. i relate to him so much. come to think of it, kendall and aegon ii have so many profound parallels.

3. Alicent Hightower - House of the Dragon

my heart aches for her. she deserved so much better.

2. Aemond Targaryen - House of the Dragon

need i say anything?

1. Aegon II Targaryen - House of the Dragon

there is so much i could say about him and how much i feel for this character. he is 90% of my thoughts. of course tgc playing him is a big part of the character ‘s charm. but i love canon aegon ii just as much.

zero pressure tag : @very-straight-blog @please-buckme @inthedayswhenlandswerefew @smokesandsugars @azperja @ravensking @korovievs @dykealloy @bloodrvn @jdr3ad @tsarinasansa

#2023 character wrapped #aegon ii targaryen #aemond targaryen #verna #homelander #jinx #jinx arcane #silco #silco arcane #alicent hightower #roman roy #kendall roy #succession #house of the dragon #hotd #arcane #the fall of the house of usher #the boys

[bladesmitten]

10 characters | 10 fandoms | 10 a negotiable number of tags

tagged by @mathlann yay thank you!!

there may be a recurring theme with some of the characters but let's not unpack all of that. also after the 5th placement, they're all tied in my heart okay?

franziska von karma - ace attorney. THEEEE favourite character of all time ever since the first word she says: "revenge." i could write 10 paragraphs of everything i love about her but i'll save you all from that. but perhaps the best thing about her is that she breaks the cycle without even knowing it, and proves herself a better person than her father without compromising her identity. <3

childe - genshin impact. also loved this guy upon his very first appearance. a character who got into a traumatic situation when he was young and gained eldritch powers because of it? and nevertheless remained an optimistic person? but also wants to gain strength and power at all costs? say less!

wyll ravengard - baldur's gate 3. ummm need i say more? fine, fine. he's so charming and handsome and dork supreme and king of whimsy, but most importantly, he's kind, despite everything he's been through. it takes an enormous amount of strength to remain hopeful and kind, and a lot of people (unfortunately) overlook that. also his character trope--paladin-coded warlock--is so so interesting and--[gets dragged off the stage]

shiv roy - succession. she's so sucks!!!! i love you selfish and arrogant babygirl who not only has daddy issues, but has mommy issues too. i love you shiv who would do anything for power and is the most like her father and gets trapped in the cycle anyways!!!

azula - avatar the last airbender. azula did nothing wrong.

severa - fire emblem: awakening. i love you insecure babygirl who overcompensates for everything by being abrasive. who feels like she's living in the shadow of her perfect mother. who ends up just like her mother in a darker timeline, protecting the exalt in an (un)requited love (lucisev truther btw)

jinx - arcane. i like her in the game but i love her in this series. i was really astounded with her character, what happened to her as powder and her parallels with her sister vi, and how she became the jinx we all know and love

mako mori - pacific rim. i love her dynamics with stacker and with raleigh ;___; also her sparring scene was soooo gooooood. the entire movie is just great, favourite of all time

claire - fleabag. i love claire's entire character and her juxtaposition with her sister fleabag, who's a mess. eldest daughter energy. learns to be selfish and pursue what she truly loves instead of maintaining her reputation at the expense of her well-being. also i just really love ambitious over-achieving characters

eve polastri - killing eve. i'm ignoring season 4 but god, i love the way her character changes throughout the series. she's so enthralled with villanelle and she hides it under the guise of pursuing an assassin but really she's so fascinated by her and it leads to her ruin as she keeps pursuing her with no regard for anything or anyone else in her life.

tagging, if you like - @bladeofavernus @droodle-bug @landlordevil @katagawajr @courierseis @targaryeirene and whoever else wants to do this :3c

#.txt #it's funny how there are only two men in this list #but they're babygirls. to me #tag games

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

The Cinderella parallels are adding up more and more;

Reader works has a maid and is nicknamed Cinders (by us)

Evil dad (instead of stepmother) and one dead mom

Loki being the endgame "Prince Charming" (using the title veeeerry loosely)

And now Frigga is giving her a makeover (your latest comment of her being fairy godmother just added onto it)

Its all coming together! Funny how it took me nearly twenty chapters to realize it lol 😅

Not excited for when "the clock strikes midnight". You know daddy dearest is going to have something to say about her new look

I agree! It wasn't the original intent but it's unfolded that way ahahhaha. I'm enjoying it :)

[coffeecacao]

A rampant rant about my new Autistic special interest because idk how to even process how much I love it. This will be long but I'm on mobile and can't break it so I will tag it as such.

Psst. Pssst. Come over here. You wanna hear a secret?

WATCH LITTLE DEMON.

THE MAIN CAST OF CHARACTERS AND ACTORS ARE PHENOMENAL. I am not sitting you when I say never have I been so thoroughly charmed, entranced, and transfixed on an ensemble as this one since I watched Suchet's Orient Express, and that had Jessica Chastain AND Daddy Downtown. I've always adored Aubrey Plaza's work but in this role she soars. It almost feels even more tethered to her than April, which is crazy for a witch(wait, what am I thinking, of course this role suits her). Plus her character is fantastic! Neither Plaza nor her character nor the writing pull any punches about portraying this strong woman dragged into a life of supernatural self defense and unexpected single motherhood. But she deserves and will receive her own post. DANNY. DANNY DEVITO. If you had told me or Plaza herself that she would one day play Danny Divito's ex lover, Jesus Christ(sorry Dan) we'd've bought you a beer. Not only does he obviously bring the comedy, but his depth of character shines through in those precious little moments when we get a glimpse into his multifaceted character. Look at the picture up top! That shot!! You've got Aubrey and babyvito in the background but centered with Divito in the foreground as a CHICKEN, cluck cluck representing how he has been stalking these two, searching for them, and now that the woman whose life he ruined and the child he's plotting to use are in his sights, he is not letting them out. He goes on to watch their house at the end of the episode. But here, his ominous figure is also one of concern after defending his daughter, plus the fact that he is still a CHICKEN, all of this balanced in the layers of comedy, toxicity, absurdity, and secret care that make up his character. BUT he's not even the MAIN FOCUS of the scene, that's Babyvito and Plaza! You've got Babyvee's red dress paralleling the blood behind her symbolizing her having started her menstrual cycle for the first time, having to become a woman, having to grow up when her reality is shattering around her and her home is broken. You have Plaza, in black and white, her conflicting moral code, comforting her. You have the demon in the background in red and white. You have PLAZA'S FACE AND ACTING. YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED JUST WATCH THE SHOW JESUS CHR--

coffeecacao.exe has stopped working

#long text post #little demon #rant #watch this show #please #devito #danny devito #babyvito #christina #chrissy #aubrey plaza #hulu #ld

[docholligay]

So, as I was just incessantly yammering about, there are two American Wests.

1) The actual American West: A Victorian-era time and place in American (and Canadian) history, after the Civil War, where the combination of new lands being brought into the US and Canadian fold, the instability of America after the Civil War, and the rush of technology created a truly unique historical place and time whose only real ‘competition’ is Australia, but it very very mild as compares.  It was a very difficult, boundary pushing, emotionally complicated and constantly churning place and culture. People often found the measure of themselves, and sometimes had to be disappointed with what they found. Other places have ELEMENTS of the Am-Can West--cattle ranching and driving as we understood it came from South America and Mexico--but the unique socio-historical elements really have no parallel, which is a large part of why for many years, European and Asian ‘audiences’ really got into it, which I think is neat. I always regret that I never met Jetty’s grandfather because he would have been so fucking delighted that I can ride a horse and shoot a revolver and have branded cattle.

2) The West(tm). This is Bonanza, this is John Wayne, this is the Dollars trilogy. This is the idea of the shootout at high noon. This is good sheriff versus bad gang. This is lone gunslinger coming to save the town, which is itself, given its popularity in the 60s and 70s, a cultural view of America AS gunslinger, coming in to save others from threats (communism). Watching the old Mag 7 against the new is fascinating because it really accurately portrays the changing American ideas of anxiety and evil, as well as good*. This is where the phrase white hat black hat COMES FROM, is the very old Westerns had sheriffs in white hats, and villains in black hats. Where Doc was clever and erudite and likeable and tragic instead of a short-tempered, endlessly bitter, alcoholic, terminally ill, racist for his TIME motherfucker**.

Where Martha Jane Canary*** was Calamity Jane.

We are CLEARLY in option two, and let’s be clear I really don’t expect different in a children’s cartoon. I mean, the damn thing is CALLED “the LEGEND of Calamity Jane” not “The mostly sad and pathetic reality of Martha (Calamity) Jane Canary). I am chuckling at the fact that she apparently uses a whip instead of a gun I mean not sound like a complete American here, but what is even the point of a western if you aren’t using a gun? Especially because apparently the naughty bads use guns. If you bring a whip to a gun fight you are just going to get shot, kids, mark my words. I mean, I’m not suggesting the kiddies pick up guns but I’m also not suggesting they go after the guys with guns, so.

Also I love that they have her as sexy. This is Calamity Jane:

Contrary to popular belief, she didn’t wear men’s clothes all that often. That became a part of her legend, and she wore them for photo opportunities as part of her shtick. It’s actually why she became famous. Actually perhaps that’s ungenerous. She was a wild, interesting, charming and funny woman, who was a rampant alcoholic and fantastically fun liar. But, she got her start because she was with a camp and happened to be in men’s clothing for practicality’s sake, and he snapped her picture because it was such an odd thing, to be a woman wearing men’s clothes, and not trying to hide anything about that. Jane was just...pragmatic to a point, but not pragmatic enough to realize passing as a man was 87 times safer, which is why that’s what many women who dressed in men’s clothing for whatever reason did.

My favorite fact about Calamity Jane is that when she died, the Gardiner, MT, newspaper’s headline was “Calamity Jane Finally Does the Right Thing” which is so darkly hilarious to me, please don’t let anyone tell you people had a sense of propriety back then, at least not out West--the East was still trying to impress Daddy England and so the social rules were different there.

*Also I really wish that had done better, it was really, really fantastic to see a movie by a black man about the American West that showed a lot of understanding of, and love for, both the American West and the American Western, and imagining his place in it. And it was just, fun. It was a fun fucking movie.

** People always assume I ‘like Doc’ which I suppose in a sense I do because I find him fucking fascinating, and he is fairly unique among Western figures in his background, his education, his aims and history. LOVE reading about him, I just think he’s NEAT. But uh....don’t make the mistake that I LMM him and want to suck his dick or nothin. He was terrible. Like, pretty much irredeemable, if I were to believe in the concept of a person being so. he certainly never got his shit together before he died.

***this is pronounced kænərɪ, or, to be less precise, closer to cannery, not like canary (the bird).

#Doc watches Legend of Calamity Jane #Calamity Jane ep 10 #'as I was just incessantly yammering..' *continues to incessantly yammer* #sorry y'all this is my fucking trap card

[yuujispinkhair]

Girl, who of your men is good at parallel parking? (I don't like parallel parking at all and after getting my license I stopped bothering doing it in three steps) 👼🏼

Aaaaaaah same!!! But I hate any form of parking if other cars are anywhere near me. I can't remember how it is done correctly, and I miscalculate how much space I need or don't need. I am a bad driver. I needed three tries to even get my license.

But listen, here are my headcanons about my boyfies :)

Ok, Yuuji first. He cannot drive either lol. But Yuuji is a brave man! And a bit stupid too...in a very cute way! Even though he isn't good at driving, he will do it anyways. Especially if I am scared of it. He will be like, "Of course, I will drive you, cutie! We can do it together!" Yuuji will just stop in the middle of the road and let me get out there and be like, "Yeah, I will wait here. Don't worry!" and he'll smile his sunshine smile at everyone who gets angry. He will probably make some new friends during that time lol. He is just so charming, my sweet baby.

Yakuza Prince Yuuji is a great driver and so sexy during it!! He drives me everywhere with his sportscars, plays his music, and sings along. And I lose my mind because he is so hot!!! He also won't get any speeding or parking ticket because he is literally the Prince of Tokyo's underworld, and no police in this city will ever bother him with petty things like that :)

Yakuza King Sukuna doesn't drive himself. He has someone who drives him :) And of course, he assigns me a personal driver too. So yeah, that's the most comfortable option!! This man is a true King and Daddy who takes care of anything for me. He manages my whole life, and I am grateful for it!!

The newest version of Sukuna I am dating is a guy in his early twenties who works at his cousin's coffee shop and is some kind of bad boy lol. He will drive me if I say I am scared. Because he's actually a really caring boyfie. He is good at parking but still a bad driver because of his road rage lmaooo. I will have to worry all the time that he gets into stupid fights with other drivers because he doesn't like the way they drive or they dare criticize his way of driving :)

Bokuto baby is worried about parking just as much as me. He once hit another car, and ever since that day, he has been very insecure about his parking skills. But Bo has a good solution! He will call Akaashi to come pick me up and drive me anywhere I want lol. Big owl tears, "Please, help us, Akaashiiiiii!!" He is such a sweetie, and I appreciate that we are both a mess lol. And I mean, hey, he organized a driver for me, so I am happy!

Thank you for the ask, babe!! <3<3<3 It was fun to imagine my boys in this scenario!

[twdmusicboxmystery]

11x23: Family - First Thoughts

Okay, what did everyone else think of ep 23? I thought it was awesome! Not only was the end so heart-meltingly sweet (“Daddy?”) but it was totally full and action and BETH CALLBACKS!!! Did you catch them all? If not, keep reading!

***As always, spoilers for the episode abound below. Don’t read until you’ve watched!***

So, the first thing I want to point out is Judith’s monologue at the beginning. Obviously we’ve been paying close attention to those for this entire block of episodes. But this one REALLY reminded me of Beth’s monologue at the beginning of Inmates. Now, of course the words and images they showed were different. Because using the exact same ones would be obvious and wouldn’t work for what���s going on in the show right now. But the ideas are very similar. I’ve bolded corresponding ideas below. Check it out:

Judith: 

“For the longest time, we were just fighting to survive. Trying to get back what we lost. This family, my family, we would do anything to protect each other. And we’re fighting now for something else. Something bigger. A new beginning. But that comes with a cost. There’s always a cost. I never got to know my mom, Lori. My brother Carl dreamed of a day when we’d all live together in peace. My mom Michonne tired to hang up her sword. My dad Rick was searching for mercy. And me? Well, I guess I’m a Grimes too. I keep thinking about something my mom told me. A secret saying she used to share with my dad. It was like a good luck charm. For me and RJ, too. I was afraid to say it out loud. I was afraid to say so many things out loud. But we didn’t know when we started this, that this would be the day everything changed forever.”

Beth in Inmates: 

“Hey, I know it’s been a while. I’m gonna be honest. I forgot about you. After the farm, we were always moving. But something happened. Something good. Finally. We found a prison. Daddy thinks we can make it into a home. He says we can grow crops in the field. Find pigs and chickens. Stop running, stop scavenging. Lori’s baby is just about due. She’ll need a safe place when it comes. The rest of us, we just need a safe place to be. I woke up in my own bed yesterday. My own bed, in my own room. But I’ve been keeping my bag packed, keeping my gun close. I’ve been afraid to get my hopes up, thinking we can actually stay here. The thing is, I’ve been starting to get afraid that it’s easier just to be afraid. But this morning, Daddy said something: “If you don’t have hope, what’s the point of living?” So, I unpacked my bag, and I found you. So, I’m gonna start writing in you again. And I’m gonna write this down now because you should write down wishes to make ‘em come true. We can live here. We can live here for the rest of our lives.”

Okay, so again, obviously different words. But both talk about what was lost (the farm, or Judith just saying ‘what we lost.’) They also both talk about a new beginning. Judith actually says that, Beth talks about finding the prison. Both mention Lori in some way. It’s notable that Beth mentioned Judith’s birth, and now Judith, so much like Beth, is doing the monologues. And both talk about what being afraid, but trying to let go of that fear. Both actually use the words, “I was afraid” or “starting to get afraid.” 

I would even argue that Beth talks about her journal, though we don’t actually see it in the sequence, while Judith pulls out Michonne’s paper of laws that she had the community leaders sign. Both have to do with records of what has gone before, as well as planning for the future. 

See the similarities? Well, buckle up, grasshoppers, that’s just the beginning of the parallels.

Next, we have Rosita and Gabriel on the train, talking about faith. Again, Rosita = Daryl in Inmates, and Gabe = Beth. Rosita sort of mocks his faith a little, but he just smiles and affirms it. Very similar to Beth and Daryl’s exchange about faith in Inmates.

This one may be small potatoes, but it got an eyebrow raise from me. We see a walker, walking along the tracks, just before the train hits it. 

Maybe just an excuse for walker gore, but it reminded me of the walker we saw in 5x01 walking along the tracks. People called that the “Andrea walker” because it was wearing Andrea’s S3 outfit, but it also had a handcuff attached to one hand. There’s no doubt in my mind that it was a foreshadow of Beth’s arc.

Beth was already imprisoned at Grady by this time, and she took over many of comic-book-Andrea’s storylines. Especially her scars. So, seeing another walker walking along the traintracks felt like a callback to 5x01, and  hence, a Beth clue.

Next, we had Daryl telling Judith that after this mission, he’ll tell her every story he has about everyone who ever loved her. OBVIOUSLY that would include stories about Beth. 

And for the record, this is actually the second time he’s said something like this to someone. The other person was Lydia, back in 9x16, The Storm. When they were looking at the pictures above Maggie’s desk at Hilltop, he told her one day he’d tell her about them. As far as we know, he never has. But they aren’t putting things like this into the show by accident or without any intention of following them up. Granted, I don’t think we’ll see this in ep 24, but we will at some point. And of course we have the spinoffs coming up.

Next, we have Lydia’s arm. A sad development, but we’re not seeing any indication that she’ll die from it. With Cassidy Mclincy spotted in France, there’s a very good chance she’ll be part of the spinoff. But the main thing here is that, while they tried hard to equate it with Aaron losing his arm, it was really more reminiscent of Tyrese. 

Not only because it was a walker bite (Aaron’s was not) but because they held her arm out and cut it off with a sword. Even the camera angle was exactly like Tyreese’s in 5x09. You know, the last official episode we saw Beth in, with tons of foreshadows of the CRM. Just saying.

Seeing the group crouch outside the CW, looking for a way in reminded me of the end of 4x16, when Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carl did something similar before going into Terminus.

Eugene fights with a trooper in his room. It reminded me a lot of Daryl’s fight with Officer Lecari in 5x07 Crossed. We already talked about how they called back to that in the earlier episode when Daryl and Carol had to fight people off, but this felt similar to me.

Now, for the biggest parallel. Since footage of Daryl carrying Judith surfaced some time ago, we’ve known for a while that Judith would be injured, but we didn’t know how. She was SHOT guys. SHOT. And the entire train station sequence was one big replay of Grady.

So, first we have Judith pushing Maggie out of the way. Oh man. We could go several ways on that. Judith, our little sheriff, just saved Maggie’s life. Beth’s sister. She was also being heroic and saving someone in general, just as Beth tried to save Noah.

As soon as she’s shot, just as Beth was shot, she goes down, and Daryl bends over here. The major difference here is that Judith is not shot in the head, and Daryl is not assuming she’s dead. He’s just terrified she might die of her injuries. 

WE also saw everything go into slow motion, just as at Grady. 

WE see Pamela’s reaction, just as we saw Dawn’s. 

And they showed other members of TF having terrified reactions to Judith being shot, just as we saw at Grady.

I also think there was a parallel to Rick’s disappearance here. Daryl tells Zeke to throw the fire extinguisher in the air. Fire extinguishers are symbols we’ve pointed at for some time. 

But it’s also red, and when Daryl shoots it, it explodes, giving them a way to escape. It’s very similar to Rick firing his gun at the red dynamite on the bridge, which saved the communities from the walker horde. I think there’s a purposeful parallel there.

Then, Daryl just so happens to carry Judith out in the same way he carried Beth. Now, AK said they wanted to equate it with Rick carrying Carl in S2 after he was shot. And given the parental relationship Daryl has with Judith, I think that’s valid. But with all the other Grady parallels, I don’t think we can discount the Beth parallels, either. It’s both.

But we can even go deeper than that. At the beginning, Judith put her (Carl’s/Rick’s) sheriff’s hat on RJ. This was very much a “new sheriff in town” moment. Now, it’s not exact, because the hat was put on Beth in 4x16, and Judith (the Beth character) put it on someone else, but I don’t think the details are super important here. 

I mean, it wouldn’t have made sense having someone else give it to Judith because she already had it. The point is, the hat was put on Beth’s head in 4x16, and a few episodes later (5x08) she was shot in the Grady sequence and carried out in Daryl’s arms. Here, Judith put the hat on RJ, and  a little later in the same episode, was shot in a very Grady-like sequence, and carried out in Daryl’s arms.

And I suspected (and kind of knew because of the leaked footage) that all of this stuff we’ve seen that’s been a clear repeat of 4b would culminate in a Grady like sequence.

And guys, that’s AWESOME for us. Because it shows that they’re doing repeat sequences to lead up to Beth’s return.

We don’t know for sure if we’ll see Beth in 11x24. I really hope we will, in an after-the-credits coda at least. But if we don’t, it won’t matter all that much to me (other than the usual disappointment). I know there will be those who roll their eyes and leave TD, talking about how we’ve been preaching her return for years and now the show has ended and we’re still holding on.

And okay. I totally get it. But people who say that don’t really understand the story TWD is trying to tell. Beth was never going to return until the CRM storyline came around. Of course we didn’t understand that back in S6, S7, S8, etc. But we’ve learned and understood more as each season progressed. Grady was tied to the CRM, and we know the CRM will be explored in the spinoffs, so either way, we’re looking to those for Beth’s story.

Meanwhile, they’ve done a complete retelling of 4b, right up to and threw the Grady storyline. This, in my mind, is obviously leading up to Beth showing up.

I’m going to do a more in-depth post later this week about the musical coda and how they’re using it here, but just trust me on this, guys. We’re right on track here.  

The other thing to ponder is that this simply MUST be a massive clue to what happened with Beth. I mean, in terms of why she was shot. Judith was shot when pushing someone out of the way; trying to save them. Now, Beth wasn’t doing that in a literal way when she was hit, but you could argue that she was confronting Dawn to try and save Noah.

But perhaps more to the point, Judith was shot accidentally. Pam was aiming for someone else (Maggie) and accidentally hit Judith. We still can’t say much about the details of how that happened with Beth, but to me, this is pretty good evidence that she was shot by accident. There were theories about someone trying to shoot Rick in that hallway, because he was a threat. But for me, especially given that the female officer says, “hold your fire. It was just about her,” it seems clear to me that someone at Grady was trying to take out Dawn. They were aiming for her, but hit Beth instead. 

Again, because of all the Coda parallels here, this is pretty good proof in my mind that that’s what happened in the hallway of Grady. And even that should bring everyone hope because the showrunners are STILL letting us believe Dawn shot her. If Beth wasn’t coming back and none of this was relevant, they would have explained the ending of Coda to us by now. The fact that they haven’t shows that they’re still planning to at some point. 

We even have some of the missing 17 days figured in here. While Daryl is carrying Judith, TF is running around, trying to escape, and ends up surrounded by walkers. Basically the exact thing we think happened with Beth during the missing 17 days, leading to her being left behind. They are even surrounded by chain link fences here, which is very reminiscent of Grady. Grady had the green military tents. Here, we have a different kind of military: the white CW troopers.

So yeah. I’m gonna leave you with that today, but there’s plenty more to say about this episode.

I also want to note that while AK said they would be ending the series very well and tying things up nicely, rather than JUST setting up for the spinoffs, it really isn’t looking that way. I kind of think she was full of it, lol. Maybe they will tie things up nicely the last five minutes of the next episode, but they have a LOT of ground to cover for just one more episode. Lots of action and stuff that still has to happen. So, I’m looking forward to a nice, cliff-hangery set up for the spinoffs.

Also, remember that the final episode won’t be put on the app one week early. So, no one will be seeing it until next Sunday. Can’t wait!

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #BETH IS COMING #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

[lesbianmarrow]

oh also i watched our flag means death episode 6 and i get why you guys are obsessed with izzy hands. he’s such a funny horrible guy. i would like this show better if blackbeard and stede bonnet were women but as it is its fine i guess. REALLY funny to me that taika waititi’s character has trauma related to his father. taika waititi will see a project he’s involved in and be like can i insert daddy issues into this and not wait for an answer. the parallel of blackbeard choking his dad to death with a rope vs cutting stede free from the noose when he first meets him and saving his life......good stuff. one issue i have is im really bad at telling the supporting cast apart because theyre mostly all dirty growly men. but i like jim and oluwande and i also like lucius although i didnt like him at first but his girlish charm has won me over. and thats my thoughts on our flag means death

#syl posts #our flag means death

[myplasticadversary]

On my Caroline/Chuck parallels again, and how Chuck thinks Jimmy intruded on his marriage and that’s to blame for his illness, and obviously Rebecca must have liked his charming puppy brother more, and Caroline acting like she had nothing to do with Shiv wanting the “pasta and daddy please”

Oh definitely, the "you always seem to get what you want" bitterness and resentment.

#chuck mcgill #caroline collingwood #jimmy mcgill #shiv roy #better call saul #succession #tbssb universe

[vissbitch]

Current working idea is that Travis grew up the son of a preacher in a dying Midwestern town. Very much one of the those "everyone knows everyone / you live, grow up, and die here," types that smother you until you can't take it anymore.

Very disillusioned with faith (especially after the embrace) but knowledgeable enough to use his daddy's fire and brimstone charm to make it on his own.

Eventually catches his sire's attention who in turn spends a handful of years introducing ideas and concepts that will make embrace an appealing idea.

Unlife sucks actually and now you have to make the most of it while being cursed by a god you'd renounced and bound to a literal monster of a man.

The quote The Devil is real. And he's not a little red man with horns and a tail. He can be beautiful. Because he's a fallen angel, and he used to be God's favorite in relation to his sire is very much a major influence.

Maybe Tremere? Something something the parallel between the smothering ecosystem of a small town and the Pyramid before it's destruction.

Ravnos? He'd certainly be good at swindling folks out of their money playing the part of a poor preacher's boy just trying to spread the word of God

I'd say the ministry but I don't really like their vibes even if all the snake imagery is so good like goddamn

Definitely gotta have a folkloric bane or block that's always been my jam and I refuse to let it go.

Less overtly sexual and crass, instead more backhanded compliments (bless your heart) and manipulation tactics

Explores ideas of becoming a monster willingly (society already says you're one), getting more than you bargained for, making the best of a bad situation, accepting the reality of what you are, etc etc

Looks it's three am I'm just getting this out there to have it out there

#ooc post. deleting.

[the-liminal-place]

JUST PASSIN' THROUGH

.

You hold your own.

Can quick-draw

your baby brother's screams 

in what some might call waking dreams stuffed

like choux pastry with those nasty little pigtails

you tie too tight with rubber bands  (the ones the postman didn't care enough about),

pulling

that fine, fine hair

covered in snot

into stupid gathered fluffy tufts and you laugh

and you laugh

at the way it sprouts it's silly way out from that massive swede

they all call his head.

It's short-lived mirth then drowning in the wet, wet earth of muddy puddles mixed with verses of yet more piss-yellow whines

–Jesus fucking Christ, you're bored–

and, a happy accident, 

it happens again.

Mum comes in, steamroller cola fizz-pop bang!

Trouble.

A piglet in muck, right in it, you are.

How it breeds around you, they say.

They're the fucking pigs.

It’s more like bleeding out, you reckon, 

gushing out from taps that are your twice-scuffed knees and broken knuckles and too-round stupid, stupid face.

You can even feel it's warmth oozing out your eyes sometimes, your bruised-mauve and claret dripping peepers, 

when you know that they're only really watering,

leaking in the east wind, 

the freezing cold gusts your big bastard brother makes whenever he passes 

you by and literally spits

in your one good eye—oh, no, they're both 20/20. But shit, that's your better side.

Cunt.

.

So you're off

blazing the trail to Mexico (into the centre of a faux fur shanty town in which you're supposed to grow in, 

like a plant, 

only the only

water 'round here is the ocean, The Great Dirty Grey, and you're not as prickly as a cactus, not yet, even though you've been practicing. A lot.

And anyway the sun's all wrong).

Fleeing now, you "borrow" your mother's mother's

tiny creamy pearls and string them 'round your stringy neck, a hangman's noose and

not quite right, no, never.

But they’re in lieu of. Something. An honour? A badge. Like, what? Like the one Pat Garrett got? Yeah. Not really real.

Just for show.

The Greatest Show on Earth.

And you've already stolen your father's outdoor smile and that hateful roll of his hazel eyes. Your own eyes, they're blue. Like absolutely nobody else in your family. 

You plaster on a sneer, a roughcast pebble-dash you got while reading adult library books way past somebody's bedtime,

when the freight trains pass by slowly. 

What a joke. 

You don't have words but you guess you'll just impress upon them the hard, hard life you lead, with all of… this. You can pretend you're an apostle, who's to know otherwise?

None of them.

None of them.

Slamming the door with all these old and new-to-you weapons, nestled low in their makeshift holsters—

and okay, it's not exactly an arsenal but shit, you're only fourteen.

It's not like the war is ending anytime soon. 

No fuckin way.

.

Once clear (road parallel to the main street, you're not an idiot), 

you use giant Cook's kitchen matches 

to sulpher light the smokes; duty-free ciggies with bright orange filters that the neighbour gave to you just because you took the time to talk to the old dear.

No one else can seem to stand her, honestly. Her own husband only comes by on Wednesdays and Sundays. Never even sees her own kids. We'll, that's what she says.

Whether anybody likes you or not you're on your own sweet way. Kicking

up metal horse dust on your lonesome path to Don Pepe's Saloon

(It's a tacky shot bar. You won't go in, you'll hang around outside and smoke these stinkers as if you're waiting for someone. Flash these new tits you absolutely fucking hate. But so fucking what).

Shiny sneaker spurs 

now drag

through the wet sand salt-dirt that settles

on everything, crystalline on

your shrink-wrap skin

your nana's charms

your daddy's grin

your wild, wild desperation

your. Something.

(You're wrong.)

And you lose, again, with your home stuck to your soul like your least favourite flavour of bubble gum.

Fuck.

Off. 

. 

There's yet another stray barking in one of forty-three-thousand labyrinthine alleyways and when you stop to stroke it and it gnashes at your hand, you actually find yourself jealous of it.

Ha. That's sad.

And. It's not as if if you're not trying. 

You do try. 

You really fucking try, 

it's just. 

All so fucking WANK.

Tripe.

Tripe butties dipped in dog shit gravy. 

Man , you don't even know what it is that's so fucking awful. 

What the fuck is that about?

You sometimes find yourself wishing God were real. 

Wowee.

That’s how fucking bad it is.

.

Sighing now, a song, long and loud with a drawn-out chorus, just like the real people never do, you start to take only half-lungfuls of the Good Sea-Air.

You're saving up

for your real life.

For what's to come. 

You walk on.

Right past the harrowing saloon.

Fuck it. Fuck that.

Because it's not as if you're here to stay

anyway.

No real friends to make like hay bails used to climb to the top shelf in the big barn to hide away from your pious Pa and his rusty pitchfork. 

Your name's not Backwater Sal. Or Tommy "Tuck" Tucker.

You, you're just passin' through.

A drifter.

Cowboy in a town with no damn prairies. Hell (well, almost). 

And, again, you find yourself back

at the Big Drink you always say you hate.

What a fucking joke.

You twirl your one key on twelve keyrings, 

shit slinger. 

“It's almost High-noon” 

you chant like crazy under your partial breath on your way out

to your way out,

the coming tide, 

to the arse-end of Nofuckingwhere.

You fuckin wish.

.

#poems #poetry #poets of tumblr #just passin' through #coming of age #trans #transmasc #trans poetry #trans poet #cw body dysmorphia #tw suicide ideation #liminal words #the liminal place