#You need the carrot! It can't be all STICK or what is the point?! What is there to look forward to

[corrodedcoughin]

From the outside Eddie presents as a person with very little care for the opinions of others. This however is a shield, an armour class so high that no roll is beating him. Or so he likes to think. Truth is, it's shitty armour that would dissolve in water. But he can't let anyone know that. Needs to keep up appearances, needs to keep performing. 

This would all be fine if it weren't for the fact that Steve Harrington is aiming a metaphorical water pistol at his heart at point blank range. 

When did it start? Oh, who knows! 

Eddie knows, oh Eddie knows alright. Shamefully it wasn't even a mind-meltingly-he’s-so-hot-take-me-now moment that made Eddie's weevil brain latch onto the idea of Steve and never let go. No. It was during lunch period, because is there really a more romantic setting to have your heart shattered and reformed into the image of your new love? You see Eddie was attacked! Ambushed by his feelings! The traitors! He was mid conversation with Jeff about the best unconventional food combinations. Eddie was arguing for bananas with sliced cheese and was not being given a fair hearing on the matter when he turned his head at the most inopportune moment. The moment that ruined everything. Because in that head swivel Eddie saw Steve being Steve. He saw 'The Hair' without the mask. Steve had been tapped on the shoulder by one of his sport boys and had turned around to display a perfectly normal serious face. Except, on that serious face was two carrot sticks placed in his mouth like walrus tusks before he decided to further ruin Eddie by breaking out in the most disgustingly beautiful fit of laughter. Then! Then he had the audacity to take the sticks out and shove them up his nose. This was complete idiot behaviour and Eddie had never been more endeared in his life. Fuck. 

'Ground control to Munson, anyone in there?' Before Eddie could register what was happening Gareth had appeared from behind and started knocking on Eddie's head. Gareth could try all he wanted, Eddie was in a severe case of ooey gooey heart eyes over The Societal Norm that was Steve Harrington. 

'You okay man? You look vaguely constipated. More than usual I mean. You eat too many of those vitamin gummies again?' Gareth had taken a seat next to Eddie now and was promptly swapping out their lunch trays. His chocolate pudding to Eddie, Eddie's vanilla to Jeff and two applesauces to Ian. In return Gareth got an extra pretzel, no sweet tooth on that boy, which they all agreed was concerning and confirmed their theory that Gareth did not have earthly origins. 

'Dude shut up. And anyway it was ONE time. AND WHO TOLD YOU?' He didn't mean to shout but when a man's bowel's movements are brought up in a public setting what else is he to do? And...and oh no. Oh no, no. Eddie had turned back to get another sneaky look at Steve and was met by the whole table staring back. The whole table including Steve. Steve that was now making eye contact with Eddie while smiling in a deliciously confused way. Delicious?? Why was he giving Steve food adjectives? Who was he becoming? Next thing he'll be wanting to take a bite out of him!...maybe...maybe that wasn't such a bad idea actually, file that in his ‘think about later’ box.

'Harrington is totally staring at you. Eddie stop looking at him, stop! Do not engage with them! I swear to god I just want one lunch without drama!' Jeff said, finally breaking into Eddie's consciousness. 

Feeling himself going bright red Eddie returned to his body just as Steve waved with a carrot stick in hand. Bright red was now a thing of the past. Eddie's face was crimson. Eddie’s entire body could probably be used as a beacon for airplanes looking to land. Eddie's only option now was to seek employment as a court jester in order to make use of his permanently altered complexion.  Internally screaming, and maybe very quietly outwardly screaming too, Eddie swivelled abruptly in his seat. Fixed his gaze on the table in front of him and absolutely did not think about pretty Steve looked with a vegetable stuck in his face holes. Except he did and didn’t stop thinking about it for a long time.

#something lighter anyway #not what i had intended to start on but it's what got finished #maybe possible potentially a part two maybe! idk! #eddie gets swoopy tummy squeezey heart evertime he sees carrot sticks #by passes the area when he goes shopping with wayne faster than usual #starts BLUSHING #wayne has questions but at the same time...does not want to know #and I think that's fair. #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things

[mkmas]

Take Me, My Beloved Villain - Jude Jazza

sorry for any mistakes 🙇‍♀️ also everything is owned by cybird, i only translated

Kate: Ju-Jude, please let go! I can walk on my own!

Jude grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me down the corridor.

Jude: You’re going to run away as soon as I let go. I have to be cautious.

Kate: I won’t run away! I will pay back what I owe you…!

Today is the 31st of December.

I had been helping Victor make preparations for the countdown party since this morning.

However, Jude suddenly appeared in the kitchen.

“Have you forgotten that you owe me for saving your life yesterday? I will have you pay me back in labor.” …….. Then, he kidnapped me.

(I’m grateful to Jude for saving me from almost getting shot last night. He saved my life)

(But…)

Kate: It must be hard for Victor to prepare alone…..

Jude: Ha, you’re worried about him? How kind of the princess.

Jude: But it’s useless to try to measure someone who is the Queen's aide by ordinary standards.

Jude: No matter how much you complain, it's already decided that you're going to help me with my work. Shut up and follow me.

And so, I was forcibly brought to the common room.

On the desk is a familiar typewriter.

Jude: Use it to transcribe the handwritten documents. The format should be the same as the sample.

Ellis: Jude, I got what you asked for.

Ellis, who came into the room after us, had his hands full of papers.

Kate: Thi-This many…..!?

I trembled, and Jude gave me a cold glare.

Jude: Can’t do it? Was your life so light that you didn't deserve a job of this magnitude?

Jude: Sorry….. I must have overestimated.

Kate: Life isn’t light, even for me. But….. It’s too much, I don’t know if I can do it alone.

Ellis: It's okay, Kate. Jude wouldn't ask someone who isn’t capable.

(….. Ellis and Jude are like carrot and stick)***

Kate: ….. I understand. I will do it wholeheartedly…..

Jude: Don’t put your heart into it. All I want is speed and accuracy.

Jude: If you miss even 1 letter….. Do you want to know what happens?

I began work with a twitch in my cheeks, sensing that it was more than just a threat.

———

Jude: ….. That’s enough.

Jude stopped my work at 7pm, a few hours after we started.

Kate: Eh…. But it looks like there are still some paperwork left to do…..

Jude: No matter how much progress you make, there's no point in reviewing if I can't catch up.

(But I think Jude's revision work is well on its way….?)

Jude: ….. What’s with that face? I told you to stop, but you’re not happy?

Kate: N-No. It’s not like that.

(….. That’s right. Jude said so, so let’s call it a day)

I've learned from experience that pestering him will only make him grumpier, so I decided to clean up my desk.

Kate: What kind of year would you like to have next year, Jude? Do you have any resolutions?

Jude: Resolutions? I have nothing like that.

Jude: The year changes, but in reality, there’s no actual real effect. It's just an arbitrary boundary decided by humans.

Jude: Last year, this year, next year, nothing I do will be any different.

(If I recall correctly….. Jude needs money to fulfill his promise to someone)

(That’s what you’re working so hard for, right)

Kate: Jude is pushing forward towards his goal.…. It’s amazing.

Jude: Flattery will get you nothing in return.

Kate: I’m not looking for anything in return, I really do think so.

It didn't mean anything, but Jude frowned as if he had eaten something he didn't like.

He waved his hand as if to tell me to get the hell out of the room.

———

Victor: Kate! Are you finished with the work Jude asked you to do?

Kate: Yes, he doesn't need any more help today.

Victor: The best timing, we were just about to eat.

Victor: I'm glad Jude kept his promise to me.

(Oh, by the way…..)

———

It was when Jude came to the kitchen to take me away.

Kate: Sorry, Victor.…. I have to help Jude.

Victor: Don't worry about it. I'll prepare everything for you too!

Victor: But….. With all these delicious food prepared, you have to get Kate back in time for dinner, okay?

Jude: It’s up to her to decide when she can go home.

———

(….. Jude, I guess you let me go because it was time for dinner.)

The timing of the work being stopped seemed unnatural, so it must be it.

Then, time passed as everyone gathered in the dining room to eat.

However, Jude never came to the dining room.

(I guess his work isn't done yet…..)

Curious, I kept looking at the door, but there was no sign of anyone coming in.

Roger: Kate, could you do me a favor?

Kate: Yes, what is it?

Roger: I want you to bring Jude some food.

Roger: Jude hasn't eaten anything since lunch, has he? If he dies, we'll have a lot of work to do starting in the new year and it will be troublesome.

Roger: He would get annoyed if I nag him so I would be grateful if the young lady can encourage him.

Kate: …..! I understand!

Having found a good reason to visit Jude, I put some food on the plate and left the dining room.

Alfons: ….. Saying you’re worried when you’re really not, how shameless.

Roger: It’s not really a lie, is it? Well, the biggest motive was that the young lady was worried.

———

I came to the common room with a bowl of hot soup and a loaf of bread.

(Huh…..? Jude isn’t here. He left his papers here, so he’ll probably be back soon)

There, my eyes fell on the desk that Jude had been using.

(Ah….. I knew it, it was a lie that the revision process couldn't keep up)

The paperwork I had finished producing had long since been reviewed, and another new set of work documents was spread out on the desk.

(From the moment we met... Jude has been mercilessly and arrogantly cornering me.)

(So why does he sometimes give me kindness that is hard to understand?)

Is it just a whim, or is it to win me over and use me.…. or is it something more?

(….. I don't know what Jude's true feelings are, which is why I'm so curious and want to know)

But, even in the midst of uncertainty, there are certain things.

I hope Jude’s dream comes true one day, those are my feelings.

(That's right! Let's make a wish for the New Year!)

(I think I'll use.….. this wooden desk that Jude used)

Kate: Touch wood…..

While whispering, I tapped the desk lightly. It's a spell that has been passed down in England for a long time to ward off evil spirits.

Jude: ...... What are you doing?

Kate: !?

I heard a doubtful voice behind me and turned to see Jude standing there.

Kate: Wh-When did you get here…..!?

Jude: Just now. …… So, what’s up with the princess?

Jude: Muttering to the desk with a grim look, were you trying to put a curse on me?

Kate: It’s the opposite! I brought dinner, and gave Jude a good luck spell.

Stuttering my words, I explained that I had no malicious intentions.

Jude: I don't need silly wishes like "I hope my wish comes true".

Kate: N-No! I didn’t wish like that.

Jude: ….. Oh?

Jude raised an eyebrow in interest. I felt like he was urging me to continue, so I opened my mouth again.

Kate: ….. Jude says if you owe something, you should pay it back.

Jude: Loans exist to be paid back.

Kate: If the loan is to be paid back…..

Kate: In that same sense, I hope your efforts will be rewarded as well.

Jude: …..

Kate: That’s why….. I wished that Jude’s efforts would be rewarded.

Jude: ….. What a childish wish.

Jude's reaction was as cold as I expected, but that was okay.

Whatever I wish in my heart, is my choice.

Jude: And yours?

Kate: What is?

Jude: Resolutions, resolutions. I'll have to pay you back for your questionable spells. It's a pain in the ass, but.

I never thought that he would give back what I had wished for on my own.

This kind of discipline may be one of the reasons why Jude has been so successful in his work.

(My resolutions for this year are…..)

Kate: ….. I would like to get to know Jude and spend more time with him.

Jude: Spend even more time with me? Come on, you don't have to make that your resolution.

Kate: Eh…..?

Jude: You owe me a lot, remember?

Jude: You don't think you can pay back in a day what you owe me for saving your life, do you?

Kate: Eh, it’s not right!?

Jude: You said it yourself, life is not light. It's not even close.

Jude: Don't even think you can leave me until you pay off all your debts.

(Then that means….. I can spend a lot of time by Jude's side?)

Jude was probably just stating the obvious, that I owe him and I should pay him back, and that there is no special meaning to this.

(It bothers me that I'm treated like a labor force, but still... I don't know why... I'm happy)

The fact that I wanted to be by your side and was allowed to do so even for whatever reason warms my heart.

Jude: ….. Respond.

Kate: Ye-Yes…..! Next year too-

At that moment, as if timed perfectly, a bang sounded.

When I turned around, I saw large fireworks going off in the distance from the common room window.

(….. Oh, it's the New Year already)

Kate: ….. Let’s get along well this year too, Jude.

Jude: Haha, what a gentle and polite bow….. Hopeless.

Jude removes his gaze from mine to resume his work.

It was a new year that came without a countdown, but that didn’t bother me.

Maybe it's because I'm looking forward to being by Jude’s side this year.

***carrot and stick (飴と鞭) or candy and whip = combination of reward + punishment.

#jude jazza #ikemen villains #ikevil #i always do these late at night so mistakes are inevitable #also.. what happened to the soup.. :( #i just learned what touch wood means ^^

[indigo-scarf]

Draco DID want to be a Death Eater (and here’s why)

If I had a Sickle for every time I’ve read that Draco became a Death Eater against his will, forced by either his father or Voldemort, I’d be as rich as the Malfoys. However, that is not true in canon, and Draco is much more compelling and tragic for it.

It’s explicitly shown in HBP that Draco was enthusiastic about serving Voldemort in the beginning. Bellatrix, who’s ever eager to call out any unfaithfulness to Voldemort, defends Draco:

“And I will say this for Draco: he isn’t shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad of a chance to prove himself, excited at the prospect —” (HBP2)

Draco himself gloats about it:

“Well, you never know,” said Malfoy with the ghost of a smirk. “I might have … er … moved on to bigger and better things.” [...] “When the Dark Lord takes over, is he going to care how many O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s anyone's got? Of course he isn't. It'll be all about the kind of service he received, the level of devotion he was shown.” [...] Crabbe and Goyle were both sitting with their mouths open like gargoyles. Pansy was gazing down at Malfoy as though she had never seen anything so awe-inspiring. “I can see Hogwarts,” said Malfoy, clearly relishing the effect he had created as he pointed out of the blackened window. (HBP7)

And he’s preoccupied with the “glory” he thinks he’ll get by completing his mission:

“I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!” (Draco to Snape, HBP15)

“[Snape]'s been offering me plenty of help — wanting all the glory for himself — wanting a bit of the action — [...] But I haven't told him what I've been doing in the Room of Requirement, he's going to wake up tomorrow and it'll all be over and he won't be the Dark Lord's favourite any more, he'll be nothing compared to me, nothing!” (HBP29)

Of course there are threats and fear involved, as well, since this is Voldemort we’re talking about, but it’s both the carrot and the stick. When Draco starts to think he might fail, he focusses on the threats, hence:

“No one can help me,” said Malfoy. His whole body was shaking. “I can't do it... I can't... It won't work… and unless I do it soon... he says he'll kill me…” (HBP24)

Nonetheless, as per the previous quotes, he oscillates between being terrified of failure and chasing the rewards of success up until the very end, in the Astronomy Tower.

As I've argued extensively in my Hand of Glory meta, I see Draco’s becoming a Death Eather as an attempt to both prove himself to his father and to prove himself better than his father.

It’s not that Draco has lost love or respect for Lucius, but he still wants to take the opportunity to make his father finally see his value by out-doing him. If Lucius’s DoM blunder triggered the Malfoys’ fall from grace, Draco’s success will earn them even more honour than they had before.

At the same time, though, Draco’s actions are not truly emancipatory because his father remains the point of reference that determines his worth.

Ultimately, Draco’s motive for taking the Mark is less about belief in the cause, and more about his daddy issues paradox: wanting to prove himself a grown up man, but doing so in a desperate, rash bid for the paternal validation he so sorely lacks.

Draco starts HBP insisting that he’s “...not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother”, and “perfectly capable of doing [his] shopping alone” (HBP6), but by the end of the book he’s feeling quite incapable of doing things alone, and still struggling with his need for approval from a father figure.

To me, this is much more interesting than simple external coercion. Draco’s own lack of independent self-worth is what leads him to destroy his life, and what renders him unable to be dissuaded from it. He dismisses anyone who tries to warn or help him, because he assumes they must share his own repressed lack of belief in himself, and marches solitary and obstinate towards his own ruin.

#draco malfoy #hp meta #my stuff

[morgana-ren]

Ascended Astarion is so full of veiled threats and warnings against you misbehaving and I love it.

I won't need to compel you, because you're going to be wonderfully obedient.

Meaning he absolutely will.

He also is definitely toeing the line of yandere.

"Don't stray too far. But you'd never dream of doing that, would you?"

"As much I wish to sequester you in a deep chamber of my palace and keep ypu all to myself..."

The looks and body language is so manipulative. He's so careful with what he says and how he says it. There's no definite answers to your questions or worries, he feeds you platitudes and empty reassurances without actually saying anything.

Its such a toxic, and definitely crossing the line into an abusive, relationship. Ascended Astarion feeds into my kink of being owned and subjugated so hard

Astarion is a very different kind of predator than Cazador.

Cazador was a lot of brute force. An abusive master that had no need to placate his slaves because he was bigger, stronger, and better than they were. They had to obey him by nature. He never had to worry about underhanded tactics because at the end of the day, they were incapable of hurting him. He didn't give a fuck about them beyond their usefulness to him. If they died or got hurt, he only cared because of how it inconvenienced him. When Astarion disappeared, he didn't care because he cared for Astarion in any capacity; it was because Astarion dared to disobey him and inconvenience him.

So how did Astarion survive? Through manipulation. Through subtle action. Through words dipped in sugar and sweet smiles that hid absolutely venomous lies.

Now he is the power to be feared. He is the powerful one. Sure, he could break bones or flay flesh or whatever else have you, but old habits die hard. Why use the rod when gentle coaxing will work just as well?

Astarion has a vastly different relationship with Tav than he had with Cazador. His old master did not care about him at all. He didn't care if he was miserable or in pain or in the process of having his soul utterly destroyed. Astarion was a means to an end to him. He did not matter at all. There was no need to waste kindness on him. He did as he was told or he was punished. A very simple but effective system.

Tav, on the other hand, is very important to Astarion.

Now, does that mean he won't hurt her? Absolutely not. If she gets mouthy enough, or disobedient enough, or gets out of line, he will absolutely hurt her. Not in the same ways that Cazador did, mind you, but just as dreadful. Just as soul-breaking.

His words act as a warning.

'Behave, and you'll be just fine.'

He's pulling the opposite move. He's brandishing the carrot rather than the stick. He's saying "I won't do this to you." as opposed to saying what he will do. He's leaving that part up to your imagination, but he is letting you know that your actions very much do have repercussions.

Cazador didn't really give a singular fuck about Astarion. But oh, Astarion cares about Tav. Or, perhaps care is the wrong word. He is obsessed with her.

He won't kill her. He won't flay her and mar her beauty. He won't lock her in a tomb underground where she can't be by his side. But he will make her obey. He has other ways of doing that, and he's telling you outright what they are and what he wants without technically saying it.

He doesn't just want Tav, he is demanding her.

He's effectively saying "You belong to me and are mine to do with as I please" without actively having to say it. Cazador didn't have nearly the finesse that Astarion does. He would just outright say that. But Astarion? He's a smooth operator. But it's not just manipulation at that point anymore, is it? You know he has the power to back up those threats. You know that if you anger him, you very much will not like the consequences. You don't necessarily know what he will do to you if you dare to try and leave him, but you know he will find you. You know you can't escape. You know a lot of people will die in his efforts to exert his control over you.

Astarion doesn't have to outright say "I own you" because he can say it without saying it. He has a very special way with words where thinking about the consequences of it might be worse than facing them. He tells you that he will lock you away, but says it in such a way that it sounds like there's reasons he doesn't want to do that, and that obviously if he has to, it will be your fault. He tells you he's not going to compell you, and that if he does, it will obviously be because you made him do it.

It's the beginnings of a tactic that you see a lot in abusive relationships where the partner isn't just an outright brute. It's a great way to keep someone under your thumb. It's a great way to keep someone subservient and obedient without having to hurt them every time they anger you.

"I'll never have to hurt you if you behave. If you don't behave, obviously I have to hurt you. But that would be your fault, wouldn't it?"

He is extremely unhinged, obsessed, and possessive while seeming entirely composed. He is warning Tav to stay close. To obey. To be a good girl. Because if she doesn't? Well, whatever happens to her is going to be her fault. He loves her. He's doing it to keep her safe. To keep her in line. He doesn't want to hurt her (right? oh, never, he'd never want to hurt her, surely it doesn't get him off to exercise his power over her.) He loves her.

But there's nothing he won't do to keep his beloved queen and consort his safe.

#morgana and friends #Ascended astarion spoilers #astarion x tav #he absolutely does own and subjugate her no doubt about it #honestly feeds my kinks as well tbh

[legionofpotatoes]

All other criticisms of modern Star Wars aside, the thing that gets me the most is how every single story is being written to fit into some Avengers-level grand finale that just isn't laying a solid enough foundation to make it worth the wait. Regardless of whether the individual stories are good or bad, what makes them fall so short, imo, is that there's usually no real payoff within their own runtimes (unless you count cheap callbacks or loose promises of More, which you shouldn't)

Like, I already knew halfway through Ahsoka that we were in for a cliffhanger and it's just like...alright, guess we'll see how this ends in about 5 years? Even Mando, which had a great first season and was poised to stand on its own two feet and ride off on a rootin' tootin' bounty huntin' adventure, has ultimately become yet another dusty path on the road to the current Big Plot with an indeterminate due date. That's not deliciously addictive media, it's a dry-ass carrot on a spindly little stick, lol

Of course, this is a problem that many franchises are happily getting cozy with lately because everybody wants to have their own Infinity War / Endgame moment, but I guess it seems a bit more egregious with Star Wars because, ironically, it used to work best because it had less overall focus. Like, sure, we had concurrent movies, animated series, and games, but they were always happy to do their own things and tell their own stories with definitive conclusions. Now it all has to funnel into the Big New Plot and, man, I honestly just can't bring myself to care when it feels like an endless waiting game

I definitely need to get around to watching Visions at some point because, every time it pops up, it sounds like the lifeblood that Star Wars sorely needs atm

Yeah the setup-and-payoff a-to-b type dramatic clarity that seemed so entrenched into the very bones of cinematic grammar - up to around the emergence of streaming, wink wink nudge nudge - is sorely missed in star wars atm. sure maybe downsized writers rooms fidgeting with limited series formats instead of doing actual seasonal TV has something to do with it, but even that is probably such a small piece of the larger issue that spins all this longform storytelling bullshit ferry wheel around.

Another part is certainly chasing the MCU business model of it all like you said. Carrot on a stick is verbatim how I've often described these things myself, the endless promise of another promise of another promise instead of forming a complete thought with a beginning and an end. servicing the plot before story at all costs. another part still is reverence towards the aesthetic trappings of the source material instead of its themes, trying to nail the exact texture of tatooine's huts and dial in the perfect balance of lightsaber choreography and pay homage to a thousand iconic shots before articulating something true in the text.

And like it's an endless laundry list, this confluence of capital-I Issues both industry-scale and creatively-driven that seem to be flaying the skin off the bones of whatever star wars even "is" nowadays. no one can answer that in the context of billions of dollars made off toys and storylines centering around this one moment in fictional history about sons and fathers and empires and rebellions. so they just keep twisting in the wind filling in any gaps within that period. I don't know nonnie, it's all so bleak. ahsoka and obi wan and even mando tbh. as charming as season 1 was, it truly felt like it coasted on its incredible restraint to avoid muddying its aesthetic with cameos, and lucked into effective storytelling as a result of that utterly unintentional alchemy. that's obviously well and truly gone now as its true optics have reared head.

what star wars is by itself is such a pointless discussion, right? andor argues it's a perfectly functional heightened universe that can support incredibly nuanced and dramatically charged stories of grassroots rebellion and the bureaucratic strain of fascist regimes. visions argues it's a world beholden to the force, an endlessly mutable and elegant metaphor that can support infinite monomyths and fairy tales. both are equally fantastic at executing on their takes, despite being in diametrically opposite extremes of interpreting the source. so it's not really about that at all, why the other stuff sucks this bad.

they're just bad at the craft of it, that's really it. whether it's auteur worship or business decisions rotting that fish down, it still rots all the same. maybe the new writers' guild contracts can shift the winds a little, because I was so securely done with star wars and then the aforementioned 2 shows came and affected me. so, so profoundly that I'm back on the hook again. like a lil sucker!

#long post #anon #asks #boy howdy forgive me mister baby yoda for I have engaged in star wars discourse again #this will definitely not backfire on me as it never before has.

[booburry]

Sam Coe Headcanon 3/??

SFW but this is going to be about Lillian and their dynamic so...read knowing you are probably going to hate her more after this.

100% Spoilers

As I am sure y'all have been doing, I have been watching Lillian like a hawk and wishing my dusty could actually give her a piece of MY mind. But it also had me thinking a lot of what type of person she is and what their relationship must have been like...

Lillian is 100% a narcissist with a capital N, A, R, C, I, S, S, I, S, T!

I truly think the reason she took Sam 'on' and 'saved him' was so that she could have the accolade of 'Saving the Last Coe'

Or because she saw how weak and vulnerable he was at that time she knew he would be an easy man to manipulate

She definitely gave false support only to get the noose around his neck tighter

I truly think she is the main reason Sam and his Dad couldn't manage to reconcile at all, even a small part, as with him moving further away from the 'Coe' name and dynasty he had in mind, the more spiteful he became of his 'ungrateful and unworthy child'

Knowing how much Jacob manipulated Sam made it really easy for him to see what he had with Lillian (atleast at the time but not in reflection) as love. He had never really known much else except for the few memories he has from his mom

She gaslit every fucking emotion he had

She would use 'logic' to diffuse any concerns or valid upsets with Sam

She kept them focused on the job, to the point where I see Sam not really knowing true details of her life--mostly just how she is/was as a ranger and surface level information (ie only child)

I think she used the promise of a family 'some day' as a carrot on a stick for Sam, keeping him tethered to her even when he was starting to become unhappy.

She 100% did not want Cora. Not only is she a confirmed unplanned baby, but given how Sam was the main caretaker, she refers to her daughter as a 'puppy' crawling after Sam and her 'closest ranger bud from Neon' has to ask her if her name is Cora. So...fuck her.

When Sam tells you that he just hit a wall one day and that is why he left, it just screams to me how she just constantly dismissed him, didn't care for his needs or upsets or discuss ANY of his emotions

It's also crazy cause in all the dialogue I have seen and experienced with her, she never talks about her emotions. The only one is jealousy towards Sam with how attached Cora is to him, which is just upset that someone could see Lillian as lesser than anyone or anything.

She would 100% hate the P/C and, outside of canon dialogue, would do everything in her power to put a wedge between them and Sam

I think every few months she crawls back to Sam only for intimacy cause that is, truly, the only way I can justify Sam still being hung up on such a bitch

Like she truly must have broken him if he can't see the vile person that she is

Pleeeeease Bethesda - let me kill her. Accidents happen in a gun fight, okay?

Okay????

#sam coe #starfield #starfield sam coe #headcanons #lillian hart #starfield headcanon

[roseredsnow]

Water propagating kitchen scraps

So I mentioned on a reblog the other way that there's some kitchen scraps (mostly veg) you can regrow the greens of via water propagation and my parents are out for the night so I now have photos to use for a proper step by step.

Step one

In my example the other day I used onions and carrots so that's what I'm using here, step one is simply to cut off the end we'll be using, for carrots this is the top and for onions the bottom, you'll want to leave a couple inches.

Step two

Honestly for the first few days this is literally the only other step.

Place the lowermost end in water, not too much and don't submerge entirely as this will promote rot, but just enough for the roots to grow from.

(Unfortunately I don't have a deeper plate to show the carrot with at the moment but there is water there)

That's the end of what I have photos for currently I'll reblog once I have more but next steps after roots have grown is to plant them in soil as normal.

————————————————————————

However I do have another example which is ginger (I believe this also works for potatoes)

For this some store bought gingers may need washing first as apparently some place spray them with something to prevent further growth that was not the case with what we had at home though.

To then encourage growth of an eye I think you're supposed to leave it in a dark place, again this had already developed for what I'm using so can't share picture of before.

In the picture below the bit at the end with a blue arrow is an eye and the red arrows are pointing to potential eyes.

Now you can use a full piece of ginger and do normal water propagation just make sure the eyes are above water but from what I've seen if you cut a section off this may be the better method (probably to prevent rot).

Place the section in between two pieces of damp paper towel.

And store in a dark place.

Once again cause I've literally just started this and never done it before I don't have any further pictures but same again once roots are forming burry in soil.

With all of these you can actually go straight to soil but propagating means you can ensure roots form.

If you're struggling to find containers the right size to stop your scraps from being too submerged you can use cocktail sticks suspend it in air but I don't have any.

Let me know if there's any questions hopefully I can help.

#solarpunk #solar punk #hopepunk #gardening #kitchen scraps #vegetables

[threadbaresweater]

plz share ur recipes if u can🙏 I'm 23 and just learing how to pack lunches because I'm substitute teaching everyday and painfully learning that I really can't work 8 hours on just celsius😭

oh, my darling..

if you have a rice cooker, rice is one of the easiest things to prep and have on hand. I recently upgraded ours and it says it will make oatmeal, too, but I haven't tried yet. This weekend, I made honey Sriracha chicken. you'll need:

2-3 pounds of boneless skinless chicken cuts of your choice- breasts or thighs work well

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce

4 cloves of garlic, minced (you can also use what I lovingly refer to as "jarlic"- it's minced garlic in a jar, usually found in the produce section at the grocery store. it doesn't taste as good as fresh garlic, but it's easy and quick)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

2 tablespoons corn starch

Mix all of this together and pour over chicken in a slow cooker. cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4. shred the chicken when it's fork tender. if you're packing lunches with it, let it cook completely (along with the rice) and divide it up into containers. I really like the glass storage containers (these are the ones I have). honestly, if you make enough rice, this will get you through a week of lunches!

I also make a big bowl of fruit salad. any kind of fruit you like! just wash, cut, and store in an airtight container or divide into your meal prep containers and it's a good snack on the go. Adult lunchables are fun too. Get yourself some fancy crackers and some kind of meat (salami, turkey breast, ham..), a brick of cheese that you can slice up, and trail mix or nuts. some of the meal prep containers have dividers if you shop around and are good for storing these.

Those bagged salad kits are really nice. You get all the stuff you need and only have to mix it. You can add protein if you like, but they're also great on their own! I also always keep simple things on hand for snacks- string cheese, protein bars, good old pb+j, carrot sticks, celery, and cucumbers are favorites around here.

Casseroles are always nice, and they keep well for a few days. You can throw just about anything you like in a baking dish and have a meal for a few days. This Chicken Bacon Ranch pasta is one that even my picky eater loves. Another easy idea is sandwiches. You can be as creative or simple as you like! Grilled or baked, any kind of bread or veggies you want. The possibilities are literally endless.

Honestly, if you do a little Google searching for what you like, there are millions of recipes out there- ranging from super simple to complicated (but ultimately rewarding!). I'm happy to point you in the direction of what my family loves, but I'm sure you have your own taste and preferences, too.

#maybe i have a career in food blogging if i can get my thoughts organized hehe #i would love a recipe exchange or something similar #tw food

[mxtantrights]

famous dc! au (dick's version)

TRACK FOURTEEN (DELUXE VERSION): I'M YOUR MAN / GIVE A LITTLE BIT

It's Winter holiday time in Hollywood and nothing feels like the holidays. Maybe its the building feeling of homesickness inside of you, or the feeling of change in the air. The sun is out and its way hotter than you're used to this time of year.

You really miss the snow. You miss the snow angles you would pass by on the street. And the snowmen that were falling apart but made with love with scarves and carrot noses.

You've been dating Dick Grayson for six months now, and he's taken you by surprise at each turn. When you needed to take new head shots for another project you wanted to apply to he helped you out-meaning he offered to take you to a professional studio and drop twelve hundred dollars on you. You of course made sure that didn't happen and made him take the pictures himself.

Another time, he offered to shut down the aquarium to take you just because you were having a bad day. It was a really kind and generous offer but you couldn't imagine inconveniencing anyone because your boyfriend is Hollywood's heartthrob.

Today just felt different. It felt like you really didn't want to be in the state of California at all. And if you saw another palm tree you might throw up. That's why you've stayed inside your apartment all week. Dick has been over all week too but you can't keep coming up with excuses about why your skin hasn't seen the sun.

A knock on your bedroom door raps and you know it's him. You tell him to come in. The door opens and in walks your boyfriend. But it's strange. He's dressed in a coat and a scarf.

He has Haley in his arms. You sit up in bed with a confused look on your face.

"Dickie?" you ask.

"Yes darling?" he asks, teasingly.

"It's eighty nine degrees outside." you say.

Dick hums, "no I don't think it is."

"You're gonna faint from the heat." you counter.

Dick shakes his head, "It's actually snowing outside, so I don't know what you're talking about."

You look at him then. Maybe he's trying method acting? You get up from the bed and pull back the curtains, back facing the window ready to prove him wrong.

"I need you to look outside Dickie." you say.

"Oh I am." he says with all the confidence in the world.

You turn around to point outside to the green gras but your eyes are met with nothing but white. White? You pull open your window and stick your head out. It's still hot. But there's snow on the ground.

There's snow on the ground?

"What going on? Why is there snow on the ground? It's hot." you speak.

"I know you were missing home so I thought I'd bring a piece of it here." he explains.

Your whirl around all at once. Then you're running over to Dick. You wrap your arms around his neck and embrace him fully. Your legs wrap around him barely and he holds onto you.

"Thank you so much, you are the best person I've ever met and I can't believe you did this for me. You're the best, Dick Grayson." you gleefully say.

He hugs you even tighter.

"I know, I know. But I also promised the kids that they could come out in about twenty minutes so if you wanna make the first snow angel we have to go right now." Dick says.

You let go of him and run to your closet. Your hands push and pull the hangers and the clothing inside. That's when you realize you don't have any coats. It's California!

"I don't have a coat!" you shout.

"Oh you don't need it. It's artificial anyways." Dick says.

Then he's grabbing your arm and pulling you out of your apartment, down the steps and out into the backyard. You happily fall into the snow on your back and swipe your arms and legs.

Dick watches from above as the smile that he had missed this past week finally forms on your lips.

-

Dick thinks it can't get any better than this. He's got the warm sun on his skin, the water at his feet and the love of his life right by his side. He looks over at you, only to find you not there. He looks around frantically thinking he lost you.

But his eyes catch you at the bar talking to an older woman. Of course. You are so charismatic and charming. She's laughing at something you said and you're smiling at her.

You look over at him and his heart melts. You tell him that you're coming, he tells you not to rush. You turn back to your new friend.

Dick lets out a sigh of relief. He doesn't care what position he's in on the charts right now. Or if enough of his merchandise is selling. Or if the latest roll out is going as projected.

All there is to think about is you and the island sun.

"I made a friend!" you shout as you run over to Dick.

He laughs, "I can see that."

"That was fun. She wanted to paint us." you explain to him.

Dick looks at you with a funny look, "Naked?"

"No! She just liked how we looked against the sunset. She wanted to know if you'd be okay with it, so I came over to ask you." you wrap your arm around his waist.

He places a few kisses on your hairline, "I'd like it. Tell her yes."

He watches as you turn around and give a thumbs up. He can't help but smile at you as you do. For the first time, being in love isn't something he wants to shy away from or feels the need to be embarrassed about.

Love.

Huh.

"She also said she knew your dad." you speak up.

Dick is pulled out of his trance right then and there. He looks down at you with his full attention now. You look mildly confused why he seems to attentive.

"The woman back there? The woman you were just talking to?" he asks.

You nod your head, "Yeah but I mean, don't people say that all the time? How can you believe it's true?"

Dick looks back to see the woman again, but she's gone. Bruce has never told him anything about his first love and yet Dick feels like the universe doesn't leave room for coincidences.

He turns back to you, "I could always ask him when we get back. He's due to tell me some stories from the past anyways."

"Aw, that's sweet. Maybe we can find your dad someone!" you smile.

"Maybe..."

-

Dick sets the tea down on the table in front of him. His father, Bruce, comes walking around the table and sits next to him on the couch. He sets down his own mug on the table-coaster provided via Alfred.

"So, I think I ran into your first love while I was on vacation."

Bruce almost chokes on his drink. He looks over at his son slowly. Dick notices that Bruce has gone somewhat still. And not his usual still where he's still processing details and making observations and what not.

This was new.

He was unfocused. Fazed.

"What do you mean by that?" Bruce asks.

"I mean when I was on the beach, there was a woman there. She said she knew you." Dick explains.

Bruce sits up, his back straight like a board. He tries to look unfazed, like he's just passing the time with this conversation but Dick can tell this is probably one of the most important conversations he's had in a while. Or at least one that he's firmly committed to.

"Describe her." Bruce commands.

Dick can't help to wonder what the hell happened between the two of them. He's never seen Bruce so on edge before. Dick goes on to describe the woman he saw. With each detail that flies out of his mouth Bruce shuts his eyes, turns away, and shifts his body.

"Bruce what's going on? I thought you said that you didn't fail." Dick asks.

Bruce scoffs, "I said that to give you confidence. I failed, miserably and hard."

Dick slinks back into the couch. He lets out a breath of air and crosses his arms across his chest.

"Well, what are we gonna do?" Dick asks.

Bruce looks over at him, "What do you mean?"

"How are you gonna get the love of your life back?"

#famous dc! au (dick's version) #dc x reader #dc imagine #dc fanfic #dc x you #dick grayson x reader #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson x you #dick grayson fanfic

[smolcinnamonchipmunk]

God, I'm probably going to rewatch the entirety of Hazbin for weeks, something I occasionally do with Helluva. Again, both mostly just passive interests away from my blog... until the actual show dropped and my absolute hyperfixation mode went haywire

Say what you want about the plot and designs themselves, I understand if it's not someone's cup of tea (Personally, I don't particularly like South Park, Family Guy, or Rick and Morty (anymore)), and the fact that it's pretty rushed, a fact I'll certainly agree with, but it is a fucking ACHIEVEMENT

I LOVE the busy designs and saturated colors, even if most are shades of red (If I had a show, it'd be mostly green and purple, lmao). I love the hand drawn and more cartoony style with fantastic VFX animation and backgrounds. I love the concept of Heaven vs Hell with demons and angels where angels can suck and demons can be good. I actually like that Adam was an entitled asshole because he didn't have to try for his wives, they were made FOR him

I don't go around looking for adult animation anymore because there's so many fucking Family Guy and Rick and Morty repetitive ass shows that use rigging and the same goddamn adult animation art style formula. Brickleberry, Paradise PD, American Dad, so on and so forth. Episodic drivel that KIND of teases a plot to keep you watching but it's the television equivalent of empty calories that you put on in the background. I stopped watching Rick and Morty after season 4 because it was just keeping the carrot on the stick way too far for me to care enough to keep watching (that and the whole Justin Roiland fiasco)

There's good adult shows, don't get me wrong, but almost nothing ANIMATED that's substantial and fun. There's a few, but it's smothered under Family Guy copycats and horribly stiff rigging that's cheap and bland by this point, and some are just downright depressing (Sorry Bojack and Tuca, I just couldn't handle you, I'm already sad half the time). To be honest, I almost didn't watch Inside Job because of the style, and even though it was mostly episodic it was fantastic!

Why can't I, for the decades of life I presumably still have past 18, have life in an animation made for adults? Charm? Pizzazz? Plot and color and FUN? Fucking anything more than the capitalistic weeds that choke the market just to turn a profit for the companies involved. I get it. Companies need to make a profit or they'll go in the red, lose money, yada, yada

But, in an already bleak fucking world where it's only getting bleaker and some corporations want to replace NINETY percent of an animated film/show process to AI eventually? I'm choked and burnout and everyday feels like there's no point in trying to make anything because the fucking programs will do it for us anyways, probably by stealing MORE from people who try. I don't need to see Meg from Family Guy get farted on or abused for no reason, or the Family Guy rip off equivalents that do it for shock value. I don't need copypaste stale material or IP revivals that beat over original ideas because they're safe and nostalgic, inevitably fucking up most of the time

Hazbin Hotel is far from perfect, but it got greenlit. It got picked up. It got to be written and MADE. I can almost guarantee you that Amazon only gave them eight episodes to start with, without certainty on whether or not it would be continued with them. I can almost guarantee you they had SOMEONE keep an eye on Helluva Boss's reception on YouTube to see if it would be profitable enough to continue Hazbin (After all, similar target demographic, right?) and the team wasn't informed until halfway through full production of season one that they'd get a second one. There may have even been the chance of them dropping Hazbin if Helluva's numbers didn't stay up

I love Hazbin and Helluva with so much of my heart because they're small oasis's in the corporate world that would prefer people work the warehouse and not the arts. Yes, I know Hazbin is on Amazon and 'Amazon bad', but if it's not encouraged by viewage (Which I'm sure it's doing well in right now) then original works will continue to be looked over in favor of shitty reboots or live action recreations

Ugh, anyways. I'm not sure how to end this. I just had to get my thoughts out

#cinntalks #unnecessary ramble #i love these two fucking shows #like way too much #cry happiness kind of love #didn't mean to talk this much again #long post #hazbin thoughts

[havendance]

Santaquest Pt. 4: New Comics Version!

Taking a break from reading the endless old comics holiday anthologies to check out some *new* DC comics!

DC's Twas the Mite before Christmas!

We've got an appearance of who I believe is the real Santa in the Booster Gold story: The Santa Copies.

Booster Gold: Whatever this looks like, I swear-- I didn't kill Santa!

Santa gets hit by some piece of Alien technology that causes anyone who touches him to turn into him! Booster, who had touched him, proceeds to go off and stop a mugging while in Santa Mode:

Rip Hunter: Booster! Get back here!

Only when he touches the muggers, they turn into Santa too! And then they all go off to deliver presents:

Skeets (voice over): "...we've lucked out with the man they're turning into." Booster: Merry Christmas!

Fortunately, Rip Hunter is able to reverse it and things return to normal.

Batman - Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1

This one's from last week, but since we'll also be covering #2, let's get caught up first.

Strange vampires attack some carrollers. When Batman and Robin show up to investigate, none other appears to aid them than Santa Claus! (And also Zatanna)

Santa: I came as soon as I heard. The draug never got Farther than Norther Europe before. For them to be free again and in GOtham City is... ...bad tidings. Prancer (he has glowing eyes and looks rad): Snort. Santa: Easy there, Prancer.

We learn that Batman once trained under Santa Claus! (If I didn't have like 5 other wips I want to get done, I'd almost want to write that story)

Santa: That it has. I've followed your exploits. Robin (Damian): Wait, What-- Batman: We met during my years abroad. He showed me a few things I still use.

This isn't your average Santa though, he's jaded and cool:

Damian: Clau-- You can't be serious. I don't believe in Santa! Santa: You and me both, kid.

Uhh, this is getting kind of long, so let's put in a cut. The rest of issue 1 and issue #2 beneath!

This Santa also doesn't need to worry about Christmas, he spends all his time hunting monsters! (Man there aren't enough exclamation points in these new-fangled comics. I've got to use more in my summary to make up for it!)

Santa: It's fine-- It hasn't needed me to happen in centuries. No, I hunted and trapped all the Draug and somehow they've been set loose again. That's why I'm here. Someone freed them from the catacombs I sealed myself. Deep underground. Only I knew they were there.

The issue ends with the Krampus attacking and injuring Zatanna! Santa once sealed him away, but now he's back!

Batman - Santa Claus: Silent Knight #2

We open with Santa taking Zatanna away for medical treatment. He leaves a message for Batman and his allies and they retreat to a Batcave to view it! During a flashback sequence we learn that Santa and Krampus used to be friends, working together to bring order!

Santa: And one day, hopefully, the carrot alone will be enough. Krampus: Bah! The stick, the stick! Nightwing: Interesting--they brought order to chaos by scaring the wicked.

However, this all came to an end, when Santa mistakenly thought the Krampus had eaten some children and banished him! Once he realized his mistake, it was too late for him to fix it. The next night, the draug are Batman, but Batman calls in Miss Martian, Green Arrow, and Black Canary to help! (And they all look super bad-ass while doing it) In the end of the battle, someone else shows up--Superman!

Superman: You never said-- --that you knew. Santa.

What's Krampus up to? Does Superman also know Santa? Is he upset that his extremely secretive friend kept secrets from him? Will Santa and Krampus be able to reconcile due to Christmas Spirit? All this more I'm sure we'll find out in the next issues.

#tuesday spoilers #dc #havendance reads comics #santaquest 2k23 #anyway a post with actual thoughts and not santaquest style recaps will be coming tomorrow probably #carthago delenda est

[theseventhoffrostfall]

Israel needs to look at Turkey and realize that the west probably wont do anything major if they do raze gaza/palestine and tbh they should have just done it 50 years ago and dealt with the consequences then. But when Turkey wants to do something geopolitically shitty, they don't whine and beg for NATO to tell them it's ok, they just fucking do it, ignore the criticism, take the political punch on the chin, and get back to cooperating with the west. I'd rather not raze the Gaza strip, but if you're gonna do it, you have to understand people will protest that, and trying to lobby countries to suspend the 1st amendment/other equivalents just comes off as extremely petty.

People are gonna make a stink at the UN sure but we all kinda know that if they did go full Manifest Destiny we'd still work with them anyways. It's a brutal as fuck, Sisko level choice but personally, I do think the 2 State Solution has failed and will never work. Fair or not, it is what it is. I don't like how Israel handled it and there's no way to even isolate it in a vacuum either with Western powers, anti-Western powers, and even the concepts of Jewishness/Israeli (a nationality? Ethnicity? Religion?) and Islam/non-western views of nationhood making it fucking impossible to isolate variables on. It all just fucking sucks and I hate it, but if there's ever any chance for peace, the Palestinians either have to be forcibly co-opted into Israeli identities with carrot/stick approaches, resettled elsewhere, or just literally driven into the sea. Ideally offering housing and healthcare and jobs would at least let you get a baseline of what percentage of Palestinians DO want a chance to have a better life and who is a hardliner, and even then you cant just kill al the hardliners. And the whole "they're a sovereign state so we can invade and collectively punish them" but also "they're locked in there like the Warsaw ghetto and we cut their power and deny them food" dichotomy is also maybe a reason they feel like striking back.

And even then it's gonna be generations before we might see any hope of reconciliation. But this was a papercut that festered and rotted and turned gangrenous and at this point you can't just clean the wound and change the bandages, this shit is gonna happen again, and again, and again back and forth. Maybe next time it'll be 10 Palestinians shot, or maybe 100 Israeli civvies, maybe 100,000 die when Iran lets them smuggle in a bomb, who knows.

It kind of reminds me of Dune in that Netanyahu is Paul and he KNOWS what has to be done and he's still too afraid to do it. Not that it's a golden path or anything, moreso that his actions have created something that can't be stopped and applying the brakes now is just making it drag on longer and more messily and he needs to see his ideals through regardless of the cost and push through to the other side. Which again, sucks, and I hate it, but there's no way this can be resolved either without a lot of hard, immediate, violent political change, or running away from that and doing another 50 years of low intensity back and forths.

I'm gonna go ahead and advise you not to make pop culture analogies on a post saying genocide is the only realistically logical option.

[ladyluscinia]

Ok, so there's one line that I want to talk about, but I think it's getting off topic in my current Izzy meta so I'm gonna sidebar into a separate post.

In 1x04, during his resignation speech, Izzy says:

"For years I've followed your every whim, I've managed your increasingly erratic moods, I've massaged this crew when they were worried about your judgement..."

The first two points line up with what we see of Izzy - obviously he's not good at managing Edward's moods but it is apparent that he's trying, and that Edward's mood swings are real enough he needs someone to try - but the third one seems to inspire a lot of debate.

I think a lot of people hear that phrase and assume it means breaking out people skills, persuading and reassuring and smoothly lying as needed to convince the crew that everything is fine and dandy (which I'll acknowledge is the connotation you get from "massaged"). And then they try to picture Izzy doing that, imagine at best his scrambling in Ed's 1x10 depression era, and even the most ardent Izzy apologist struggles to believe it. From a meta standpoint, Izzy lying here can have a lot of implications - toxic caretaker, inflating his own importance, manipulation, etc. - and most people are offering pretty solidly constructed arguments, but I can't quite make them click.

The thing is... I don't think Izzy would mean it that way???

First, Edward knows Izzy, and no one who has has known Izzy for more than 5 minutes would believe he's been doing that. Top stupidest moments to lie. Izzy might be good at self deception for repression reasons but I can't imagine he actually thinks he's been doing anything resembling that, so it's not ego. And finally, possibly most importantly, persuading and reassuring the crew through communication and plying bonds of trust is the kind of leadership style that Izzy straight up does not believe in. Why would he be falsely associating himself with it?

Rather, I think Izzy and Edward are both on the same wavelength about what "massaging" the crew entails, and it's pretty much what Izzy actually has been doing. Moreover, I think it technically works.

"Piracy is a culture of abuse" we establish in the first episode, and most every pirate we meet understands there is a traditional way things are done and power is maintained. It's what Hornigold was pulling when Edward and Jack reminisce fondly about being "beaten like dogs," it's why Edward would never have tried to rock a silk robe on deck before meeting Stede, and it's all about respect. As a captain, you get respect by violently claiming riches and glory (see what most of the Revenge crew expects in early eps, especially Pete) and you secure respect / power by force (Buttons encouraging that "iron fist"). Edward and Izzy know this.

Izzy "massaging" the crew would be a blend of blunt reminders why working for Blackbeard is the best gig you will ever get and threats / physical punishment for questioning him. Carrot and stick method, with a very unpleasant stick. That moment where he yanks on Fang's beard isn't proof he can't massage the crew, it is part of him keeping them loyal in the standard pirate way. "Don't ask why Blackbeard wants this thing done, just do it because Blackbeard is telling you to." (Sidenote: While it's mean to Fang - bad Izzy - as a general rule Izzy seems to trust Fang to get jobs done, so it's not completely a sign of disrespect. He's reinforcing power for show and they are all somewhat aware of that.) And since the show is critiquing a social status quo more than an individual management style, I don't think we're meant to read it as wholly ineffective. Good? Fuck no. But - with Edward's crew at least - probably effective and accepted as normal.

(Stede's crew is different, being specifically protected from the abusive standard approach, so of course Izzy can't make them do shit. And by the time he does have the authority, he has no one around who is willing to accept the old system or enforce it. A bad social status quo loses power in an improved social system.)

So going back to that bit of the line, Izzy means and Edward hears: "I've kept the money flowing and the supplies stocked. I've talked up your reputation and mystery. And I've immediately and effectively disciplined anyone who was stupid enough express doubts."

And lest we fall into the trap of underestimating Edward... He's fully fucking on board with this system. It's not just Izzy's thing that he's letting him run with or whatever.

Edward's response in this conversation is a mocking "Sounds stressful, Izzy" because he's already got what he thinks is a foolproof and brilliant plan (which he's concealing to fuck around), so as far as he's concerned, Izzy's complaints are baseless and therefore he's just bitching about doing his job. Edward himself has been leaning on the same expectations and power structures all episode. He's just a hell of a lot subtler about it (because that favors the leadership dynamic they have going on).

Not even a minute before, Edward was introducing Stede as "Blackbeard" to the crew, and absolutely threatening them to play along. As soon as Stede comes out he very flatly demands "Clap" over his shoulder, then he's back to having fun. He's laughing when he first tells the crew to line up and greet Stede, but when they don't listen he repeats the order in a way that clearly conveys Do Not Ignore Me. Stede's crew thinks he's way crazier than advertised but they are also terrified, and Edward is using that to take control of the ship. And there's another very telling moment (to me) earlier in the episode when he first meets them.

The first Blackbeard scene cuts straight from Izzy suggesting executing the whole crew and Edward not caring at all (I think his mind is still on the clouds tbh) to Pete being in awe. Funny, but it makes it easy to miss Edward's apathy. Then Ivan smacks Pete on the back of the head and Edward jumps off that for his introduction. The first words he says that the crew can hear are "Boys, boys, boys! Hey, don't brutalize our guests like that," and this is deliberate as fuck. Edward is peacocking through that whole interaction, being showered with praise and awe up until Frenchie asks if they are going to live and Izzy shuts it down.

And what does Edward do? He shrugs.

Aw shucks, looks like Izzy is being a buzzkill. Anyway, Edward is off to go poke around the ship some more, good luck random pirates with the whole being pressed into repair work by his men thing, see you all later! Fang hisses and yells at Izzy's command, Ivan punches Pete in the gut again, and Edward doesn't even glance over. Because he's not actually disapproving. It's basically just a good cop / bad cop routine, and Edward did the friendly introduction bit. He made a good first impression, made them want to impress him, and now he's walking away (still talking to Izzy) to let the violent enforcement bit resume since that's how shit gets done.

Carrot. And stick.

It's just how you run a pirate ship.

#our flag means death #the line connotation is strong enough that i can't confidently say 'you are wrong' #but a lot of stuff in this episode is why i tend to view the problems with izzy's leadership on a more systemic level #i just don't feel like he's that far from 'mainstream piracy' in his understanding of authority structures. *stede* is #(and stede's system is based on better principles but he can't make it work until he addresses his own personal and privilege issues) #not to say izzy doesn't struggle to lead *alone* but that's mostly tied up in him needing edward. they work as a unit #izzy hands ofmd #blackbeard ofmd #my meta #ofmd meta #ofmd 1x04 #ladyluscinia

[morgana-ren]

... Come to think of it, that vampiric competitiveness that kept Astarion as a comparatively dull tool to other minions of other villains has not served Cazador well at all. Imagine what he could have if he instead dangled the offer of true vampirism in front of Astarion as the carrot to slavery's stick, and used that motivation to mold him into a tool by nourishing that manipulative nature with the skills needed to be a successful hunter, rather than using him as a punching bag and occasionally bait.

Sure, Astarion already brought enough beautiful people for his master to enjoy if the little "eat this rat or get flayed" choice was a frequent enough occurrence for him to consider it normal. Based on how you first meet, he's already a half decent sneak and liar when it doesn't come to hiding his dinner (though he clearly gets better at it, since we never discover the bear he snacked on) and when he puts his mind to it, he can be very flattering- at least as keen to butter you up as Gale when he wants something. With him in our party, he's clearly sharpening his guile and beguiling and he doesn't have a master vampire guiding his development. Imagine if he had a real teacher.

If Cazador was a little smarter about how he played with his toys, we might have a very different mess of a man on our hands, and a much more dangerous one... A resentful one of his master, I can't imagine that changing, but perhaps not as rebellious if they were to ever cross paths again because there would seem to be more paths to freedom from his shitty circumstance than "run and pray I'm never discovered because how could I ever hope to overpower the monster that's haunted me for centuries?"

Why, poor Tav might well have ended up one of those beautiful people offered up to his master.

Truthfully, the little I know of Cazador has him seeming up his own ass-- to a fault.

I don't think he ever considered utilizing Asto as a tool, mainly because I don't think he considered the fact that he might need tools. I understand the mind frame of arrogance that one might find themselves in given the ultimate power of a vampire lord, but this complacency has inevitably ended up breeding his end.

The cruelty, as far as we know, was the point of it all. Asto himself says that he got off on it, and thoroughly enjoyed the power he had over others to the degree that it became the driving point behind his very existence.

However...

After a recent playthrough, I have a few theories about Asto and his checkered history with the Gur, because as we know, it wasn't actually Cazador who sent the monster hunter after him. If you cast 'Speak with the Dead' on the hunter who has been sent to hunt him, you can discover that it wasn't quite Cazador who sent him. Who it was isn't said outright, but given some changes in dialogue, I'm inclined to believe that it's likely someone high and powerful to them.

After all, what kind of monster hunter would barter with a hag just to fulfill a contract for some random asshole? Especially a Gur that would be well versed in the Faustian nature of deals with such creatures? But if someone meaningful-- someone powerful-- asked you to do a thing, or had a message relayed to you to do so... well, that's a different story.

The fact that Cazador showed up to save his life could be entirely a coincidence-- or maybe it isn't. Cazador clearly is aware of his absence, and if there are others who seek to have him hunted, who else but Cazador would have the information they seek? It's been hundreds of years since 'Politician Astarion' disappeared. Who else would have known that he was still alive? Who else would know that he had disappeared from his 'post?'

I have a strange feeling that Cazador, while ultimately being a sadist who did indeed get off on it all, has a little more involvement with his demise than is initially made straight forward information.

And if there was ulterior motive there, he likely never would have considered honing Astarion's talents beyond torturing him. There's a reason that Asto was kept as he was, though the full extent of everyone's involvement is too shadowed to truly speculate with accuracy in this current EA state of the game.

I don't doubt that Cazador enjoyed it. Not even a little. But I don't think that's all there is to it.

#morgana and friends #astarion

[taggedmemes]

SENTENCE MEME ⟶ OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH / 1.2 always feel free to tweak the sentence to fit your muse.

'finally... the entire world will have access to good bread.'

'and his eyes glow?'

'he's young and succulent, huh?'

'we don't need to start eating each other.'

'you're dead, and i'm not listening.'

'the point is to rest our bodies as well as our minds.'

'look, there's literally no way to mess this up.'

'can my vacation be torturing the hostages?'

'oh, i do find torturing hostages relaxing.'

'i'll just take them to the brink of death. i won't go all the way.'

'he'd stick hot pokers up their assholes!'

'you're not really a murderer though, are you? i mean, you was, you was sort of... around when he died.'

'he's saying you don't... you know, when you kill, you die as well.'

'i'd absolutely murder someone for a bath.'

'let's try a more calm activity. like lying flat on the beach in the sun.'

'you can just leave the gin alone for today.'

'wait, he kills children?'

'he's not a bloody monster.'

'yeah? what are you gonna do about it?'

'i'll show you what i'm gonna do about it.'

'don't fucking call me babyface.'

'this... will eventually be a harpsichord.'

'no, it kinda resembles a sharp carrot.'

'wanna wager i can name a thousand different sea creatures?'

'fuck the beach!'

'what kind of fucking idiot runs his ship aground?'

'the price of revenge is steep.'

'you're not ghosts, are you?'

'i'm sure it's just a formality.'

'i think there's been a misunderstanding.'

'he's clearly very unwell.'

'he struck a man with a paperweight. the rest was just gravity.'

'maybe i didn't say it out loud, but i called it in my mind.'

'you can't call something in your mind. it defeats the purpose of calling.'

'to be fair, i didn't fully kill the man.'

'he was horrible, even as a little boy.'

'until you resolve this guilt, you'll continue to be haunted.'

'there is no ghost 'cause they don't exist.'

'why does he keep insulting me?'

'i'm incredible at keeping secrets. my mom thought i liked girls for years.'

'the best secret keepers are corpses.'

'look... whatever you're going through right now, it's none of my business. but i understand what it's like to live in disguise.'

'let's just say not all beards are actual beards, if you get my drift.'

'oh, you are so fucking dead!'

'i don't know, but they look much tougher than us.'

'why don't you go down there and confront them then, big man.'

'i'm your king now, bitch.'

'i will not be trifled with, so don't even think about trifling me.'

'don't trifle. don't you trifle.'

'i didn't know this isle was haunted.'

'i've already ruined one man's head this week, and believe me, i'll do it again.'

'he does have the eyes of a madman.'

'i think he broke my nose. my nose is broken.'

'some men are not built for adventure. some men should concern themselves with gentler things.'

'boy, i've had an epiphany!'

'well, there go those fancyboys.'

'shame we couldn't murder 'em. even a little bit of murder would've been nice.'

'what a knob.'

#KIND / IN CHARACTER. #KIND / SENTENCE. #BASED ON / TV SHOW. #our flag means death #ofmd #sentence starters

[foximator-blog]

My older Mixels stuff still gets some likes, but actually I've been going through and redoing all my character renders and making modifications to colors and builds. Basically so my characters can be built in real life. I'm making instructions too.

Why not start with my custom...

Series 10

Since I'm pretending to carry on from where the canon series left off. The only weird thing though... Is that there's one character in series 10 I didn't actually make. A small Lego creator cat poly bag. I just treat them like a Mixel, because when I saw it on the shelf it reminded me of my love for the Mixels series and kicked off the creative storm that would lead to hundreds of Custom characters lol.

The Fluffeez

No one knows where this tribe of animal-like Mixels came from. But they started popping up in the central park of Mixopolis. They're so cute and fluffy though, so no one really questioned it.

Meowzer: (the original cat poly bag) is the street smart leader. While not malicious,he knows how to use his looks and charms to get what he and his tribe need. He also often has to keep his tribe mates out of trouble, which leaves him tired enough for multiple cat naps.

Ruffle: Ruffle is the rough and tumble member of the tribe and the most playful. He seems to be full of boundless energy and is often begging others to play fetch or chase. He sometimes ends up running right into trouble by mistake, which Meowzer has to bail him out of.

Hoppz: Hoppz is shy and skittish. They're easily startled by sudden noises and big looking threats... But if you offer a carrot and are quiet and peaceful, then Hoppz will end up being your best friend.

The Mixies Cousins

Because the Mixies were my favorite tribe from series 7, I figured I'd make a expansion to them. While not a requirement, I tried sticking to the naming scheme of the original tribe.

Tunzy: Tunzy is a cheerful Mixel known to play catchy and bouncy tunes on his piano teeth that captivate others to the point they can't help but dance. This includes Tunzy himself... He's just a bit of a clumsy dancer.

Drumsy: if you ever need a strong beat to march to, then Drumsy is just the Mixel to call. He's always marching around and drumming a steady rhythm. Think you can keep in time to his beat?

Strumzy: Strumzy isn't really one to use his words. This Mite Mixel may not speak, but he can still pluck at your heart strings with his music. He's surprisingly quite expressive when he starts playing music.

The Brutherwoodz

The Brutherwoodz are a mysterious forest dwelling tribe who have just now realized a big city has been built nearby. Thankfully,their neck of the woods has been marked as a nature preservation.

Treelo: the oldest and wisest of the Brutherwoodz, and thus the leader. Though he is also a little lazy. The only reason he started growing apples on his branches was so he wouldn't have to move as often to get food.

Sproutz: this forest Mixel is a bit of a gremlin, gnawing on rocks and rooting for mushrooms in his free time, and really just getting messy the rest of the time. The only thing that really scares him is scissors or other sharp objects.

Brambell: Brambell is a cheeky prankster who likes to climb on trees... Before jumping down to spook unsuspecting people passing by. He finds the reactions priceless, but sometimes his vine fingers get really tangled and that can be pretty annoying.

Bonus: the Nixels get their own render! From left to right, these Nixels come with Ruffle, Tunzy, and Sproutz respectively.

Due to the ten image limit, the Maxes will get their own post... Along with the link to the instructions.

#custom lego mixels #mixels #lego renders #stud.io #lego mixels #custom series 10 #Fluffeez #Mixies #Brutherwoodz #lego #Nixels #mixels mocs #mixels au #lego creator #(the cat is the only official set I treat like a mixel I promise. i know it's dumb)