#essay files

[cat-scarr]

Why Benkai is NOT Endgame: A Deconstruction of The Most Dangerous Ship | Catgirl

(Pun in the title absolutely intended.) 

Explicit language ahead. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Regardless of it being really weird that people even want this glorified abuse to be a thing...by the series' own logic, it is not and can not be the conclusive “endgame” for the main character. 

And it’s not just because I don’t like it. 

Let’s start from the beginning: Kai Green was the first and final love interest introduced in the Ben 10 series for the protagonist. For some, that is enough of a justification for this to be the case because, allegedly, it’s been “planned” to end up this way right from the start.

My immediate thought regarding that is that the series wasn’t actually planned ten years in advance, as you should infer from the several retcons throughout the continuing plotline. Ben 10 was a series that continued as it gained popularity, therefore something as insignificant as the romantic subplot would most likely not be prioritized in the production process that early on.

Now, the bigger issue is that, when it comes to the writing of the actual relationship dynamic...well, they basically sank their own ship. Voluntarily. 

Thanks to a certain misinformed child Spanner and episodes like “The Most Dangerous Game Show,” much of the audience came to accept this was the girl our main hero was going to marry without a doubt. 

I’m here to tell you right now, that, by the series’ own logic, that is not true. 

I’ve explained the reasons why, canonically, the Prime Timeline can not be anchored to just one of the future outcomes introduced in the series here. But, to reiterate, all of reality exists in the form of an Omniverse. Therefore, there are several future outcomes for the main character’s future and all of them can, and do, exist at the same time. 

By that logic, in regards to relationships, technically, any ship you can think of can exist in its own separate alternate universe. As is the case for the Ben 10K future where he wields the Biomnitrix, and where the relationship in question does end up happening. 

But, let’s be clear, this is one alternate universe within the Ben 10 Omniverse. For all we know, things could have gone very differently in that reality, since reality can “branch off” at any point in time. 

Related to that is the issue of this kid…

…whose main reason for insisting that the pairing in question is “endgame” is because he is “from the future,” allegedly, and if the pairing in question does not happen, according to him, he will suddenly no longer exist. Again, as I’ve already outlined in the aforementioned essay, his logic is not only extremely flawed, but entirely wrong.

In short, due to his reality already existing, it can not cease to exist because every reality exists within a collective Omniverse at the same time. 

Therefore, claiming that it’s “endgame” because of a supposed “destiny” is also wrong. 

You know what was established from the very beginning? The toxic relationship dynamic. 

Let me put it this way: Do you really think that after saving the whole universe several times, and dedicating his entire life to continuing to do so...THIS is what Ben deserves? Do you have no respect for the character who was at the centre of your childhood nostalgia, who is clearly important enough for you to stick around this long, whatsoever? You really DON'T think he deserves better than THIS? 

If you, the reader, are one of those people, I’m glad you’re here. Every episode they are in together has something to unpack. And I fully intend on presenting a comprehensive list of everything you need to know. 

Benwolf. 

I find it really funny when people think that this is the only reason the character in question is so disliked. It is, by far, the least incriminating episode for her. I mean, considering Ben was capable of making good decisions at his age during his first run of saving the world, I'd argue one should be capable of knowing better when it comes to something as simple as what you should and shouldn’t say to someone. But regardless, rejecting a guy because you don't feel the same is not inherently bad. Especially at their age. 

The real problem begins two installations later once she is reintroduced within the series continuity and doesn’t at all improve from her first appearance. 

An American Benwolf in London, six years later. 

In which, Kai calls Ben for help after the Forever Knights get in the way of her “archaeological mission.” 

Before we go any further, I want to preface by acknowledging that Ben did not have to do anything she said. His only obligation was his own job, and what he chose to do in this situation was entirely because he wanted to help. 

Moving on, as soon as they land, as Ben is introducing Rook to Kai, she cuts him off and says this: 

“I just called you for backup, you know.” 

In case you’re not getting the picture, she was the first one to sour the mood with this uncalled for comment. As you’ll see later on, Ben isn’t the one starting their arguments, contrary to what some like to argue. From this point on, the rest of Ben and Kai’s interactions follow the same pattern.

Despite that, this episode also includes the second time in the series Ben has saved her life. I feel as though, since it’s expected of him to do so because he’s a superhero, it’s glossed over. But it shouldn’t be. Ben doesn’t discriminate on whose life to save based on their behaviour towards him. Just take a look at “Alone Together,” where Ben literally has to work alongside his former enemy (who at that point in time wanted him dead) in order for the both of them to survive. He’s very clearly able to cooperate and try to get along, even with those who were previously his mortal enemies. 

But Kai clearly only directs her bitchiness towards him. 

Finally, they both exclaim, simultaneously, “he’s/she’s NOT my boyfriend/girlfriend!” Enough said. 

Fight at the Museum. 

In which Ben is first treated as a nuisance and then emotionally manipulated into being a security guard. Don’t believe me? Here, take another look.

The episode opens with a museum exhibit, which we quickly learn is Kai’s exhibit, of course, and full of artifacts of alien origin, some of which she doesn’t even know the history behind. Which is a whole issue in itself that ties into the actual fight in this episode. Nothing Ben said throughout the exhibit tour was offensive to any extreme degree. However, despite that, the fact that he even spoke at all was enough to warrant treating him (the guy she emailed an invite to) as a nuisance.

Tell me why, then, does she change her attitude so drastically as soon as she needs him to meet her own ends?

Afterwards, they spend the whole episode fighting and then viciously denying wanting to be together at any point in the future. Ben says there is “no way”, and Kai agrees, saying “the feeling is mutual.” 

I mean, it was already a dumb move to put all the artifacts she (quite literally) stole on display where criminals can easily find them and steal them (and did), so she really wouldn't have been "nice" to Ben for any other reason besides needing him for some purpose that benefits her. And Ben, always being inclined to do the right thing, couldn't say no because of two reasons:

1. If he left, and something was stolen, the blame would be put on him for not being there to help prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. (Despite that happening anyway because she put herself in that situation, not because Ben didn't do a good enough job.)

2. It's his job to protect everything and everyone. He's technically working overtime (and as a teenager), but being a hero is a 24/7 job and he's dedicated to it to the point of attaching his worth as a person to being seen as a hero and doing his job efficiently.

And then there’s the ending. Ben promises to do everything in his power to help, regardless that he and Kai have been fighting all day. I mean, can he even have every single Plumber in the galaxy on the job? That’s a big request just to make one person feel better. 

But Kai turns around and doesn’t even realize this. Instead, chooses to yell in his face. I can see very well that she’s upset, and I can acknowledge that when people are upset they may act erratically, or irrationally. But, this was not his fault, and judging by the way he reaches out for her when she turns away, shows that he clearly feels guilty for not having done enough to solve the problem and help immediately.

But she completely ignores it and in the next episode, continues to put the blame on him. 

The Secret of Dos Santos. 

In which Ben comes to help Kai replace her previously stolen artifact literally only because someone (Kai, who else) was acting as if it is his fault it was lost in the first place. When, let’s not forget, it wasn’t. 

Kai: "You owe me an orb!"

Let’s be reasonable. Ben is not responsible for her inventory. Kai was the one who had voluntarily put it all in harm's way. He didn’t sign up to be her security guard. He doesn’t “owe” her anything. 

On the contrary, Kai actually does owe him something: her life, considering by this point he saved her several times. The very least she could do is be grateful, even if Ben doesn't demand that of anyone he saves. Every time he saves the world from a threat, he indirectly saves the lives of people who may not even like him, allowing them to continue to be a nuisance in his life. But, again, he doesn’t discriminate against who to save. His job is to save lives, and that’s what he does. 

That being said, it seems like every vaguely nice thing she does for him is regretted instantly, as if she is looking for reasons that he is not deserving of it at all. 

In this episode, Kai is searching for a temple, and once Ben comes across said temple, he makes the choice to run back to her and let her know where it is. And, that choice is important to mention, because Ben and Kai just got into (yet another) argument. Instead of allowing her to find what she was looking for herself, he chose to put their fight aside to do what he came here to do in the first place: help her out. 

She was appreciative until she learned that Ben hadn’t been the first one to notice the temple, took back her gratitude, and lashed out. This was uncalled for because it didn’t matter if Skurd had noticed the temple first, it was Ben who chose to turn back and literally bring her to what she was looking for. He had still helped her out.

That doesn’t call for a face stomping. 

Just because Ben can handle it, since it’s a common occurrence for him in his line of work, that does not mean he should have to put up with this sad excuse for a potential love interest treating him essentially the same way some of his worst enemies do. 

Let this sink in: the only other character who’s ever stomped on Ben was Vilgax. 

It’s pretty clear you don’t treat someone you care about, much less someone who has saved your life, and won’t hesitate to do so again, like literal trash on the ground. 

And, if using his face as rug for her dirty ass boots wasn’t bad enough, after they enter the temple, get past the traps, leading to the three of them falling to their would-be certain brutal injury if Ben hadn’t stepped in (and done most of the work fighting off their opponents) she fools him into thinking she was going to help him up and proceeds to drop him on his ass.

For absolutely no reason, might I add, besides that it’s somehow okay, in her mind, to do this to Ben only because it’s him. She most likely wouldn’t do this to any other character unless she had some kind of aversion towards them or they were a bad guy who is deserving of it. Which Ben is not. 

If everything that happened in this episode was supposed to strengthen their relationship somehow, or push them together, the fact that Kai said that Ben can "forget about all the stuff Spanner said about them being a couple someday," before storming off despite the fact that Ben was joking about it, showing that he wasn’t serious about it either...doesn’t really work to prove to the audience that it did anything besides divide them even more. 

The Most Dangerous Game Show. 

In which the entire episode once again attempts to push them together, eventually leading up to another character being used to try to “confirm” that they will eventually get married and live happily ever after all the shit I just outlined. Romance by force, huh? Really convincing argument. 

But, as bad as that is, it’s besides the point. Even the character they use to try to further push this narrative, Charles Zenith, in the end, claims the following:

“You don’t really have to marry her (Kai). For entertainment purposes only. I'm not the villain. We’re just giving the people something they want.” 

I may be reading between the lines here, but it almost sounds like they’re indirectly addressing the fandom with this line, since it’s commonly known that a lot of us are divided on certain decisions made in canon. 

I want to assume that they’d be paying attention to the opinions of the people who are watching the show they’re producing, and if that audience is generally unhappy with certain decisions that can’t be undone by this point, the only way to appease them would be to make it so that nothing is set in stone.

Stating things like “this doesn’t really have to happen” within the episode, and a writer also confirming that what they’ve hinted at on screen “isn’t necessarily” the future of this character only further adds to that speculation.

Pretty much everything being done with this series is “for entertainment purposes only.” The “fun of the character” is to tell his story in many different ways instead of forcing him into a specific box. As such, the fandom also proceeds to do the same, creating endless alternate universes for these characters simply because it’s fun. 

Furthermore, I have no doubt that they know the original series is extremely cherished by the whole fandom due to nostalgia, and, by extension, the original series Ben 10,000 future is also extensively praised by the majority. Them choosing to have this character say “we’re just giving the people something they want” seems like they’re referring to forcing Omniverse Ben onto the path to that particular future so early on with the whole “Ben has to marry Kai” thing, despite their questionable chemistry.

It’s like they want that possibility out there to appease certain people, but also make it so that it’s not absolutely necessary. If it was, they would have made more of an effort to make them compatible.

The End of an Era. 

Where the alternate universe that Spanner came from is literally shown on screen. Proving, for a final time, that it is not  “endgame,” actually. 

Keeping all of this in mind, behind the scenes, the writers were likely using the multiverse plot line as a means to bring back Ben 10,000 (or introduce a new version of him, actually) because, as I said, if you’re at all familiar with the fans of the series, they love the concept of Ben 10,000.

Focusing on the multiverse allows them to insert Kai into a story taking place in an alternate universe within the Ben 10 Omniverse and (attempts) to give her an actual role besides just "love interest," through which there would then be more of a reason to then reintroduce her into the main storyline as a new "love interest", whether or not they become a thing officially and definitively.  

It’s likely this was done to tie up loose ends from the series before, as opposed to shoving the story into ONE direction, because that writes them into a corner and goes against the logic they set up in the final series.

Now that I’ve gone over their history and we’re all caught up, I’ll go over some common excuses. 

“Her lifestyle fits into his lifestyle.”

“Her attitude balances out his arrogance.” 

"It's just teasing."

Would YOU let someone step right on your face, drop you flat on your ass into a body of water fully clothed, and take every opportunity to discredit you and just say "oh, it's okay, they're just teasing me"?

You're making excuses for what would realistically be considered bullying, at the very least, if you absolutely can not accept the use of the word "abuse" to describe this dynamic. No, that isn’t harmless. The aggression is completely intended and done on purpose. 

Some people argue that Kai as a character had a lot of wasted potential. But, while I admit there is no reason she couldn’t have been written differently, I disagree. I won’t like a character just because they might have had the possibility to be something else, or something better, they were chosen to be portrayed this way. By doing that, you’re ignoring the issues I have just outlined and acting as if they don’t exist. 

I realize that no relationship is "perfect," but again, that is no excuse because they deliberately chose to show us all the flaws in this pairing alongside next to nothing good, when they could have very well done the opposite. In the end, it just seems like the only point they were trying to make was what a bad idea this would be in the first place. 

So, no, Ben did not “end up” with her. If that’s what you think, you need a rewatch. 

And, when it comes to the future of Ben 10, I’m all for more official content, but please, let’s leave this shit in the past.

#I present The Anti Benkai Masterpost #this one's been in the drafts for a few months #but recent events have brought up the topic of discussion sooo #ben 10 #ben 10 omniverse #ben tennyson #kai green #anti benkai #benkai #essay files

[corvigae]

It's funny to me how The Sims 2 still showed up in the top 100 video games tags for 2023 Tumblr Year In Review. Against all odds, we're still relevant. Cockroach ass game.

#ts2 #the sims 2 #show us a broken 20 year old game we'll show you countless fixes and hours of dedicated gameplay and video essays #along with several hard drives worth of cc #i ran out of storage on my pc recently. my solution - deleting unnecessary files like the solid 5g i have of cc? #nah. by a new expandable hard drive. clearly. #personal grumblings

[quantumshade]

thinking about this meme i made again

#and we're both right. is the thing #also it does often apply the other way around. sometimes ten requires multi page essays while all i can say about twelve is 'her <3' #anyway i'm clearing out my files on my computer before i start school again and i'm finding so many of my old memes #doctor who #delia.txt

[samanthamulder]

THE X-FILES (1993-2018)

SEASON FIVE — What do you hope to find? I mean, in the end.

#txf #tv #txf5 #the x files #txfedit #tvedit #scifiedit #horroredit #90sedit #.gif #thexfilesnet #*txfrewatch #lol I had like a whole essay written in the tags here of how I feel about this season but I don't want to be too much of a hater so. #it has a few iconic motws that I wouldn't wanna miss out on but as a whole it ranks pretty low for me I think #the mytharc really starts to go off the rails here (intriguing idea with the mass ''abductions'' and all that but who came up with #that nonsense about some war between the alien species. why did that need to be a thing??) #and then some of the most important themes (like scully's faith) simply do not resonate with me #I rlly like the end as an episode and as a season finale tho (hence the quote for the caption. LOVE it) so I'm not saying it's ALL bad :') #*saul queued

[trash-and-trash-accessories]

Fox Mulder doesn't have the "I Want To Believe" poster there because he's crazy. He doesn't have it there to broadcast his beliefs or as a mantra or to remind him to always look for aliens.

Fox Mulder keeps that "I Want To Believe" sign above his desk to remind him of his own internal biases.

That sign hangs above Mulder's desk to remind him of his own shortcomings and flaws. He's aware that he's a hack with dangerous beliefs and prone to flights of fancy and maybe even delusions. He's aware that he's desperately searching for aliens and monsters where there are only men doing bad things. And he has to remind himself of that, constantly.

That's why he's thrilled when he meets Scully and she challenges his beliefs, says that logically aliens don't exist. He's thrilled when she tells him to cut the crap in the pilot episode. He needs someone to challenge him. He needs someone who won't take his shit and put up with his flights of fancy. And he knows it. He's been dealing with himself for years and he feels relief and joy when Scully comes in and says enough of your bullshit. We're doing this my way. With science and logic. He isn't smiling and teasing her because he thinks he's smarter and better than her. He's smiling because she's exactly the person he needs in his life.

That's why he tells her right away that he's a UFO freak with trauma about his sister and a true believer. Not because he's trying to convince her to believe, but because he needs her to understand where he's coming from and what's wrong with him. So she can understand that either he's a dangerous lunatic himself, or he's delving into a dangerous conspiracy and either way she could be collateral damage if she stays with him. He spends the pilot episode reckoning with the idea that either he's a maniac or he's pulling this young fresh detective into danger. When she starts agreeing with him he gets upset, talks her out of it.

Mulder keeps that sign above his desk to remind himself to look into the "reasonable logical" explanations. He keeps that sign on his desk because he knows he's flawed and biased and frankly, dangerous.

He tells Scully exactly what he thinks is happening and about all the crazy stuff he believes not because he's trying to convince her to believe too, but so she can be his sounding board. So she can throw his illogical bullshit back in his face and remind him to look past his own biases and paranoia and quasi-religious zealotry. Because he knows he needs that. He knows he's in a conspiracy brained echo chamber of his own making and having a slow-burn mental breakdown. And he sees Scully as salvation from himself. As another figure in his quasi-religious belief system. The savior.

As the series develops he relies on her more and more to reality check him. Literally reality check him and manage what he worries might all be a delusion.

Mulder pretends he's confident and all the constant criticism and sidelong glances don't get to him and that might be true because he doesn't respect those people but he respects Scully. And he needs someone he respects to tell him when he's wrong, when he's being biased or actively delusional. Scully is his salvation. She's compassionate about his trauma and the reasoning behind his beliefs, but confident and logical enough to tell him when it's all bullshit. She's his savior, his rock, and often his only real connection to material reality.

#in conclusion Dana Scully is Jesus #haha but for real she is #the x files #x files #fox mulder #dana scully #mulder and scully #agent mulder #spooky mulder #okay she might be more of an allegory for the Mother Mary #but she's actually more of a Jesus figure herself #in this essay I will #someone help the media analysis chip in my brain won't turn off #also goddamn this man loves sticking his hand in mysterious substances #in episode four he chases a coyote into the woods by himself this man is crazy #fox mulder is a dangerous maniac #and I love him #I love this whorish delusional man #oh and he puts his hand in and then tastes what he knows is probably poisonous foxglove #honestly there's no substance fox mulder won't stick his hand in and or taste

[pinchinschlimbah]

Still thinking about this article and also generally what we've seen of the new Dick Turpin series so far and was suddenly struck with a realization. Themes of queerness and gender nonconformity have always been present in Noel's work, but this really feels like the first time where those themes are the overall POINT of a media he's created rather than incidental.

Dick himself is heavily traditionally queer coded, both in his interests/character traits (fashion design, knitting, tea, crossdressing, the color purple, kindness and emotional intelligence, encouraging those around them to also be their most flamboyant and authentic selves etc) and the way others react to him because of it- much of the tension of the first two episodes comes from Dick's father and Leslie both looking down on Dick for not acting in ways they deem to be what a real man is like, and Dick being described as "strange" and "creative" feel practically like euphemisms not to mention him literally being called names like "foppy tit" to discredit his abilities as a highwayman.

In the first 30 minute episode alone we have 3 major characters (Dick, Moose, and Nell) presenting in gender-nonconforming ways. When we are originally introduced to the Essex gang, their leader Tom King immediately kills the most outwardly queer person in the group for no real reason, and the rest of the gang later admits that they hated Tom's oppressive and callous leadership style and start to come out of their shells more once they get to know Dick. Dick's first course of action before anything else is to help the gang be their most authentic selves- he encourages Moose to embrace his emotional nature by speaking about his feelings and then to embrace his femininity by making custom dresses for him AND in a bit of a throwaway line Dick admits that he once spent an entire year wearing dresses himself! While the reveal that Nell has been pretending to be a man initially comes as Dick saying he thinks its cool if she wants to dress as a man, it appears he also ends up giving her the safety and confidence to realize that she's still the toughest one in the group, disguise or not! So far Honesty feels like he just needed someone to generally look up to and show him what can be possible, but I'm hoping we'll get a more in depth arc from him in the future episodes. Everyone is given stylish new outfits to make them feel powerful and then brought out to show them off and get a portrait done together- already a bonded found family who'd risk their lives for each other! And episode 2, where were left at so far, ends with an indication that others in the highwayman community are becoming interested in Dick's softer kinder way of doing things.... It makes perfect sense to me that now, while promoting a show where the whole central messaging is that you can find success through creativity, compassion, authenticity, and of course a bit of panache, rather than adhering to old fashioned violent and restrictive societal expectations, we've gotten one of the clearest statements yet about Noel's relationship with his own gender, and I'm very excited to see where else this series might take us!

#working on an even longer essay about noel and queerness and the concept of coming out that I said I was gonna write forever ago #but wanted to get this out as its own thought for now #noel fielding #gender files #gay yelling #dick turpin #the completely made up adventures of dick turpin #shouts into void

[activatebutterflyshield]

I was compelled last night and I’m quite honestly scared of whatever 11:59 PM me intended for those middle sections. At least I still know my colors when sleep deprived, and I’m sure someone else on here can fill the blank spots out better than I can on a full eight hours of shut-eye.

#oh god on high what do i tag this with #the crane wives #the paper kites #cosmo sheldrake #fish in a birdcage #the arcadian wild #the oh hellos #dirt poor robins #the amazing devil #venn diagram #me running my mouth #im pretty sure you could put all the text boxes in this file in a jar shake it to hell and back and pour it over the diagram #and itd still make some degree of sense #says a lot about my music taste eh mates? #anyone who sees this and relates to any degree please o please say so #i have essays worth of analysis i can spit out about most of these musicians #not on command though i need to get kinda existential first #theres three paragraphs about the eurus ep hanging out in my drafts and i think my motivation for that is somewhere behind the couch #with the spiders and my childhood nail clippings

[viasplat]

I typed up the Pentiment bibliography for my own use and thought I’d share it here too. In case anyone else is fixated enough on this game to embark on some light extra-curricular reading

I haven’t searched for every one of these books but a fair few can be found via one of the following: JSTOR / archive.org / pdfdrive.com / libgen + libgen.rocks; or respective websites for the journal articles.

List below the cut!

Beach, Alison I, Women as Scribes: Book Production and Monastic Reform in Twelfth-Century Bavaria. Cambridge University Press, 2004

Berger, Jutta Maria. Die Geschichte der Gastfreundschaft im hochmittelalterlichen Mönchtum die Cistercienser. Akademie Verlag GmbH, 1999

Blickle, Peter. The Revolution of 1525. Translated by Thomas A. Brady, Jr. and H.C. Erik Midelfort. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985

Brady, Thomas A., Jr. “Imperial Destinies: A New Biography of the Emperor Maximilian I.” The Journal of Modern History, vol.62, no.2, 1990. pp. 298-314

Brandl, Rainer. “Art or Craft? Art and the Artist in Medieval Nuremberg.” Gothic and Renaissance Art in Nuremberg 1300-2550. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986

Byars, Jana L., “Prostitutes and Prostitution in Late Medieval Barcelona.” Masters Theses. Western Michigan University, 1997

Cashion, Debra Taylor. “The Art of Nikolaus Glockendon: Imitation and Originality in the Art of Renaissance Germany.” Journal of Historians of Netherlandish Art, vol.2, no.1-2, 2010

de Hamel, Christopher. A History of Illuminated Manuscripts. Phaidon Press Limited, 1986

Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose. Translated by William Weaver. Mariner Books, 2014

Eco, Umberto. Baudolino. Translated by William Weave. Boston, Mariner Books, 2003

Fournier, Jacques. “The Inquisition Records of Jacques Fournier.” Translated by Nancy P. Stork, San Jose University, 2020

Geary, Patrick. “Humiliation of Saints.” In Saints and their cults: studies in religious sociology, folklore, and history. Edited by Stephen Wilson. Cambridge University Press, 1985. pp. 123-140

Harrington, Joel F. The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013

Hertzka, Gottfied and Wighard Strehlow. Große Hildegard-Apotheke. Christiana-Verlag, 2017

Hildegard von Bingen. Physica. Edited by Reiner Hildebrandt and Thomas Gloning. De Gruyter, 2010

Julian of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love. Translated by Barry Windeatt. Oxford University Press, 2015

Karras, Ruth Mazo. Sexuality in Medieval Europe: Doing Unto Others. Routledge, 2017

Kerr, Julie. Monastic Hospitality: The Benedictines in England, c.1070-c.1250. Boydell Press, 2007

Kieckhefer, Richard. Forbidden rites: a necromancer's manual of the fifteenth century. Sutton, 1997

Kümin, Beat and B. Ann Tlusty. The World of the Tavern: Public Houses in Early Modern Europe. Routledge, 2017

Ilner, Thomas, et al. The Economy of Dürnberg-Bei-Hallein: an Iron Age Salt-mining Centre in the Austrian Alps. The Antiquaries Journal, vol. 83, 2003. pp. 123-194

Làng, Benedek. Unlocked Books: Manuscripts of Learned Magic in the Medieval Libraries of Central Europe. The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008

Lindeman, Mary. Medicine and Society in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press, 2010

Lowe, Kate. “'Representing' Africa: Ambassadors and Princes from Christian Africa to Renaissance Italy and Portugal, 1402-1608.” Transactions of the Royal Historical Society Sixth Series, vol. 17, pp. 101-128

Meyers, David. “Ritual, Confession, and Religion in Sixteenth-Century Germany.” Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte, vol. 89, 1998. pp. 125-143

Murat, Zuleika. “Wall paintings through the ages: the medieval period (Italy, twelfth to fifteenth century).” Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, vol. 12, no. 191. Springer, October 2021. pp. 1-27

Overty, Joanne Filippone. “The Cost of Doing Scribal Business: Prices of Manuscript Books in England, 1300-1483.” Book History 11, 2008. pp. 1-32

Page, Sophie. Magic in the Cloister: Pious Motives, Illicit Interests and Occult Approaches to the Medieval Universe. The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2013

Park, Katharine. “The Criminal and the Saintly Body: Autopsy and Dissection in Renaissance Italy.” Renaissance Quarterly, vol. 47, no. 1, Spring 1994. pp. 1-33

Rebel, Hermann. Peasant Classes: The Bureaucratization of Property and Family Relations under Early Habsburg Absolutism, 1511-1636. Princeton University Press, 1983

Rublack, Ulinka. “Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Female Body in Early Modern Germany.” Past & Present, vol. 150, no. 1, February 1996. pp. 84-110

Salvadore, Matteo. “The Ethiopian Age of Exploration: Prester John's Discovery of Europe, 1306-1458.” Journal of World History, vol. 21, no. 4, 2011. pp. 593 - 627

Sangster, Alan. “The Earliest Known Treatise on Double Entry Bookkeeping by Marino de Raphaeli”. The Accounting Historians Journal, vol. 42, no. 2, 2015. pp. 1-33.

Throop, Priscilla. Hildegard von Bingen's Physica: The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing. Healing Arts Press, 1998

Usher, Abbott Payson. “The Origins of Banking: The Primitive Bank of Deposit, 1200-1600.” The Economic History Review, vol. 4, no. 4, 1934. pp. 399-428

Waldman, Louis A. “Commissioning Art in Florence for Matthias Corvinus: The Painter and Agent Alexander Formoser and his Sons, Jacopo and Raffaello del Tedesco.” Italy and Hungary: Humanism and Art in the Early Renaissance. Edited by Péter Farbaky and Louis A. Waldman, Villa I Tatti, 2011. pp. 427-501

Wendt, Ulrich. Kultur und Jagd: ein Birschgang durch die Geschichte. G. Reimer, 1907

Whelan, Mark. “Taxes, Wagenburgs and a Nightingale: The Imperial Abbey of Ellwangen and the Hussite Wars, 1427-1435.” The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, vol. 72, no. 4, 2021, pp. 751-777.e

Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press, 2008

Yardeni, Ada. The Book of Hebrew Script: History, Paleography, Script Styles, Calligraphy & Design. Tyndale House Publishers, 2010

#pentiment #Pentiment bibliography #some of these books give me strong first-year undergrad vibes #even just seeing ulinka rublack’s name gives me semi-traumatic flashbacks to cultural history seminars #would I cope better with it now that I don’t have to write essays each week on the topic? #¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ #probs not tbh #also it probably would have been a lot faster if I could have pulled this list from game files somehow #but I do not know how to do that :))) #Anyway I hope this is of use to somebody at some point #I wish you all a very happy reading about the primitive deposit banking system everybody 😌

[wilhelmsbee]

one too many years, some tattooed eyelids on a facelift, (thought you might want to know now.) mind over matter is magic, I do magic.

#I had to compress this for Tumblr the actual file size is 600 mb fml... #anyway final White Ferrari of the show (I made one every season) so it had to end happily!!! #I am writing an essay ab the ending I love it sm #also I'm back to working on the essays expect them slowly coming out again #if anyone wants a full essay for this (or any of my edits) just ask I will #I'll even do a huge one about each White Ferrari and how they're different but the format would be different to the current one obviously #anyway I need to get back to doing my assignment #happy ttpd day btw!!! #ellieeditposting #young royals #young royals edit #wilmon #wilmon edit #young royals season 2 #young royals s2 #young royals s1 #young royals season 1 #young royals s3 #young royals season 3 #wilmon x frank ocean #wilmon x white ferrari

[waitingforthesunrise]

was sending a picture of a mongoose family in my honors program application a regrettable choice? stay tuned

#see ok her s the the thing #It’s the most elite and difficult program on campus right #But the application was silly and weird as hell #And there was a pic of a mongoose in the invite email for no apparent reason except motivation to read #So it had a place where you could upload any file you wanted #….so I uploaded a mongoose family saying he’s looked lonely #here’s some friends #I am now. slightly regretting my life choices #Uh pls accept me for my unhinged 3K voluntary essay on Greek tragedy and the mongoose. pls

[cat-scarr]

In Defence of the Superhero Boyfriend: An Analysis of the Questionable Romantic Subplots in Ben 10 (& Masterpost of All My Points) | Catgirl (2022)

No, Ben is NOT a “Bad Boyfriend” (2018) Revamp

Literally half the fandom:

Well, I beg to differ.  

Because, this argument is insisted far too often when most of what I’ve seen points to the opposite. If you’re familiar with previous writing at all, you should know that Ben is my favourite character from all of fiction. So, while I’ll admit my bias (and by extension, motivation for writing all of this), the facts of the matter do not lie.

The following episodes supposedly prove the argument in question correct. I disagree. So, to make sense of why that is, let’s tear them apart, shall we?

Pet Project. + Don’t Fear the Repo. 

I won’t call out specific critics, but I did want to call attention to this episode first because it introduces the basis for all conflict between these two for the rest of their relationship. And that is a misunderstanding of perspective. 

Ben: “But why would the Forever Knights want to steal Ship?” Kevin: “Please. It can turn into anything it touches. It’s like a cup of instant weapon.”

After this exchange of dialogue, the screen cuts to this shot of his expression. 

This is where I’d like to remind you that this episode takes place before the episode where Max is revealed to be alive (“Voided”), and after several similar situations where Ben thought he would lose those closest to him (Secret of the Omnitrix, and “The Alliance”). More on this here.

My point is that because of his past experience, he sees where this is going. The idea that being proactive is somehow “wrong” is already backwards.

Next, as has been stated and argued several times on this blog, SHIP IS NOT A DOG. Ben is right to see Ship for what he is. And in doing so, by extension, it proves he cares that his girlfriend is in possession of what could be highly dangerous alien weaponry. And, let’s not forget, she has very little experience with it. 

All of his experience with alien technology has been shown on screen. On top of that, due to the alien tech literally strapped to his wrist 24/7, he even has the same powers as Ship. He knows exactly what that species can do. He would know what he’s talking about. At this point in the plotline, Julie doesn’t even know the half of it. She should realize that he’s looking out for her.

This same conflict is brought up again next episode (“Don’t Fear the Repo”), proving that as much as it can be used in her own self defense, it can absolutely be a lethal weapon. He shouldn’t even need to go halfway across the galaxy for that to be obvious. 

Duped. 

This is the beginning of something strangely recurring during the rest of the series. And that is making Ben out to be the bad guy unreasonably. 

Following his rise to intergalactic fame after “War of the Worlds,” by Ultimate Alien, Ben's name has spread across the earth itself. And, becoming famous on that level changes a lot. The most obvious thing being the fact that he can’t go anywhere without recognition. And, considering why that’s even happening, he shouldn’t be villainized for it. 

This episode isn’t generally regarded as good because of the way Ben is written. And, despite trying to put him in a negative light, he split himself into three to try to make everyone happy in a situation where making the “right” choice was practically impossible. So, he didn’t choose. 

The fact that his solution was to try to deal with everything at once should show you his true intentions. 

In this episode, he can be quoted saying, “[I was] trying to be sensitive to everyone’s needs.” Later in the same series, he can also be quoted saying, “Now I can help everybody at once.” Previously, he can be quoted saying, "It's in my interest to help anybody who needs it." Evidently, the fundamental basis of his job is to be of help, and excels at that job due to the fact that the basis of his character aligns with it.

What kind of bad guy does something with good intentions? 

Hero Time.  

It's justifiable to be angry when someone else kisses your significant other. However, I think his reaction to the kidnapping of his girlfriend speaks for itself.

In regards to Jennifer, it was very clear that he was only hanging around her because it gave him the opportunity to meet his childhood hero. It seems to be forgotten that, since then, she has actually tried to kill Ben twice, along with Nemesis. 

Which brings me to my next point: how damaging must it be then to look down at your childhood hero, defeated by you? Watching him become a villain, who would have killed two people if a real hero had not intervened?

In the end, this episode serves to display the ways in which intergalactic fame can complicate life. From excessive attention, to unexpected rivalry, and how that has the potential to take the hero down a less than heroic path. It’s supposed to show the things that could go wrong - all the ways in which the life of a superhero isn't so black and white - and, again, display how the hero instead chooses to do “the right thing.” As established by the end of the continuity, despite obviously being disappointed by those he looked up to, Ben went on to surpass his own heroes. 

In case it isn't registering, all this conflict was introduced in order for it to be overcome by the hero thereby proving himself as a hero by continuing to do the "the right thing" in the end. The story does not end with the fact that his relationship has issues. What counts is how he resolves them, and that he does try to at all.

The Transmogrification of Eunice. 

(That episode which some people had very...concerning opinions on. More on that here.)

At this point (two seasons into Ultimate Alien), Ben doesn’t have much time for a stable relationship. This isn’t entirely his own fault. Prior to this, he was dealing with Aggregor threatening the galaxy, and subsequently, Kevin losing his mind. So Ben was, in fact, very busy. Regardless if you view him as sixteen or seventeen by the end of Omniverse, all the battles he fights from this point until the end of the continuity happen one after another.

During this part of the series alone, all this had happened: 

In “Map of Infinity,” Aggregor almost kills Ben and his team while they are trying to prevent power from falling into the wrong hands. 

In “Deep,” Ben’s team initially thinks he dies by sacrificing himself to save a planet. 

In “Where the Magic Happens,” the whole team actually does get killed temporarily by Charmcaster. 

Obviously, his team was there, too. So they can, and should, back this up. 

Considering the experience they already have with aliens and especially alien criminals (some of which I have just outlined), why should they even take anything Eunice says as the truth? 

But wait, look at that - the main hero doing “the right thing.” Again.

Ben: "You can't just store a human being." Azmuth: "She's not human. She's a construct. No more alive than any of your transformations. She's not real." Ben: "Who are you to say that? My transformations are real and she's way more human than you are." 

And that’s besides the fact that he was under the impression he had been broken up with. I doubt his stance on the matter would change, regardless.

Eye of the Beholder

My original arguments on why this episode actually portrays him as a good boyfriend can be found here. Once again, the entire episode’s plot is about how he is actively trying to do “the right thing” because, once again, they’ve set him up to be a character inclined to do good.

I mean, imagine being so morally correct that you can't even tell a lie without your eye twitching. (Ben 10: Alien Force - “Good Copy, Bad Copy.”) He’s so morally correct, in fact, that it is an inconvenience to him and sometimes a threat to his life. He will literally die to do “the right thing.” (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien - "The Perfect Sacrifice") And consistent with his moral code, Ben is doing the opposite of everything an actual “bad boyfriend” would do when confronted with issues in their relationship.

In fact, I’ll give you a list:

The screen deliberately shows his face to prove that he immediately regrets being even remotely rude to Julie, and half a second later beginning to go after her to imply that’s what he would have done next.

Give him an entire monologue talking about how Julie really matters to him, despite all the problems rising up between them. Here it is, word for word.

“So I let her go. I guess I shouldn’t have. But I still had Forever Knights to trash! And after that, there’s always the press. But you know, they’re ditch-able. Kind of. You don’t have to do their interviews but they’ll still trash you on their stupid cable shows. I guess there’s no way to escape the things that really matter…like Julie.”

Showing him then proceeding to go after his friends (who ditched him) by literally flying into space, because he wants to communicate, instead of ignoring them the way they had done to him.

Staying with them once he catches up despite constantly being disrespected. No, not rightfully, because he’s literally in the process of righting his ‘wrong’ behaviour and is still being treated like he’s doing something wrong.

Taking initiative to own up to his mistakes and acknowledge how he might have made Julie feel, whether intentionally or not, and literally making a promise to try to do better just like she asks. And, might I add, keeping that promise in a later episode.

Seriously, how many of us actually go out of our way to do all of this after a petty argument?

All of this happened to begin with because of his job. She threatened to break up with him because being a superhero is a 24/7 job. It’s what he always wanted to do, and now it’s destroying his relationship. That’s a valid reason to be upset.

Revenge of the Swarm. + The Perfect Girlfriend. 

You know that scene I just mentioned where he promises to try to do better? Here he is doing exactly that.

This episode uses it’s conflict to display how the hero chooses to do the right thing (again) instead of losing themselves to power - how it had unfortunately played out for Elena, whose story is used (at least in this episode) to portray that idea.

And, the next time she shows up, the only reason Elena gets caught is because Ben was trying to be a good boyfriend and do something with his girlfriend that would make her happy in return for the sacrifice he thought she had made for him. 

The Flame Keeper’s Circle. 

This one has a very similar conflict to a previous episode, (“Pet Project,”) and, big surprise, a similar response from the main hero.

Despite meaning well, Julie gets herself into trouble with none other than one of Ben’s most dangerous enemies - Vilgax. And, Ben spends the entirety of this episode trying to cooperate with her so that she could understand that his past experience gives him the credibility to say when she’s in danger. It should go without saying that he disagrees with her stance for her own good. You can read my full analysis of this episode here. 

Rules of Engagement. 

In which Ben learns that he’s been dumped based on a complete misunderstanding (and hypocrisy, considering the insistence you “may as well be broken up” is not a break up, apparently, but a distracted phone call, where Ben clearly tells her that what he is saying is NOT directed at her, is supposed to be one in her mind). 

Take a good look at this scene. Ester gets thrown across the room, her limbs literally tangled in knots, and in the process knocks Julie over. In response, what does Ben do? 

Specifically runs over to his now ex-girlfriend (who can absolutely get up by herself) to help her up and remains there on one knee with his arms around her in this protective position while he argues with Looma about how what she’s doing is wrong. You know, his usual behaviour. 

During the confrontation, Ben can be quoted saying, “You need to put this right." and "You’re hurting people.” 

I don’t want to hear another word about how horrible he is.  

Dare I reiterate the obvious? Since the writers are clearly attempting to write a character inclined to do good, they even allow Julie to have a moment of doubt when she comes to the realization that her ex-boyfriend isn’t actually all that terrible. But, most importantly, she realizes that his dedication to his hero work also shouldn’t have been seen as wrong. (Neither should being successful in his career, or confident in his accomplishments, for the record.)

In her own words, “At the end of the day, he does a lot of good. So cut him a break.” 

Have you ever considered that, based on their individual careers and lifestyles, they just weren’t right for each other? Being a bad partner and living up to someone's specific standards are two different things. If your partner wants you to be someone you're not, or can't be in Ben's case, it's not your responsibility to change your entire life to suit what they want. That's exactly what Elena was doing in "The Perfect Girlfriend" and, as was established in that episode, it's unhealthy. 

Catfight

If he isn’t boyfriend material, explain to me why then, does he have so many girls fighting over him?

The logical answer is that there must be a reason. The idea that the existence of so many girls in his life lends to the argument I’m fighting misses the reasons why they’re even there - out of their own volition. He didn’t deliberately go out looking for them. They came to him. And, the more famous and successful he becomes, the more of them there are. 

I don’t personally like the…questionable reoccurring focus on forced marriage. However, it does bring up a valid point. Every time this is a plot point, it ties back to his job. And that’s because he and his work represent something. On a galactic level, his name carries a sort of weight. And, anyone married to someone of that legacy - a living legend, if I may - is tying themselves to something extremely important to the entire universe, for better or worse.

That being said, I will resist the urge to reiterate how much neither of these two nuisances princesses deserve him, but I will present to you this quote. 

Ben: “Listen to yourselves. You’ve both defeated me at some point or other. Neither of you need some trophy guy hanging on your arm. You’re both strong, capable leaders on your own. And it’s high time your four-armed and froggy followers respectively, well, respected that.”

Wow, Ben 10 just said “respect women” to women who don’t respect him. You hear that, fandom?

Fight at the Museum + The Most Dangerous Game Show

With these two final episodes, the series continues to stress that a lot of girls are willing to fight over him. So…don’t you think it’s slightly nonsensical to villainize the guy that several girls are apparently fighting over? 

And that’s disregarding the quality of these “love interests,” mind you. Ester particularly has a reputation in the fandom for being the “best girl” out of all the love interests despite taking the side of another problematic character.

According to Kai, her work is for the purpose of uniting humans and aliens by showing them how they are similar, right? Well, because of all Ben has done, by Omniverse, humans and aliens live together in harmony already. It’s extremely stupid to act like he doesn’t realize the importance of what he has already done. He’s the reason all the people visiting the exhibit - human and alien alike - can peacefully stand in the same room. 

And yet, despite all of that, the plot continues to prove my point. When confronted with conflict, it is made apparent that time and time again, Ben tries to “do the right thing.” Azmuth even said so himself that Ben keeps ultimately “doing the right thing” in the end, because - as this is a story about how and why he remains a hero - that was the whole point. 

The romantic subplots are there to expand the universe of Ben 10. And, as the universe exists within a story about a superhero, it is important to take into account the conclusion of each conflict instead of solely the conflict alone since a hero's job is to resolve conflict. Again, that was the whole point.

In conclusion, if this still is what you believe makes up a bad boyfriend, then I suggest you take a look at people who have done significantly worse. Yes, they exist. Shocker.

Perhaps he was right to laugh, then…calling him a terrible BF really is a joke. 

#this is the last time I'm gonna be repeating myself #but I wanted to make a cohesive post with practically everything I argue on this topic #for ease of reference #ben 10 #ben 10 alien force #ben 10 uaf #ben 10 ultimate alien #ben tennyson #ben 10 love interests #essay files #fiction analysis #sci fi tv #sci fi romance #benlie

[desceros]

I feel like Donnie would be mush for his teeny, itty bitty little baby girl.

someone has been peeking in my google drive again i see....

yeah i think he (rise donnie specifically since that's the papatello i'm working on) would be one of those dads who has a big talk about how he's so strict, about the intense regiment he has his kid on to maximize their development, and he's always the most annoying piece of shit at the PTA meeting. flex brag flex brag

but then his little toddler comes up to him on wobbly legs and puts her hands on his calf, tapping at him for his attention and looks up at him with paint all over her face from where she got into the art supplies at the back of the classroom and made a huge ass mess, and he just melts at her crooked little grin (bc dad is the favorite) and is completely incapable of chastising her in any shape or form

that changes when she grows up and starts to act so much like him that he HAS to be firmer with her. the first time he has to put her in time out they both ugly cry a lot

#ask tag #oh god. don't get me started on papatello anon-chan i am on a fuckin RAZOR THIN MARGIN HERE #'don. hon. listen. i love you so much.' #'...and yet i sense a *but* coming' #'...but you have GOT to stop hitting reply all and telling the entire school our daughter is the light of your life and the best child. #i got THREE phone calls from the principal at work this morning. also why isn't YOUR number the one on the file???' #'scoff. i shall stop doing it when it stops being true. also im doing important work that can't be interrupted.' #'but you can interrupt it long enough to draft a fucking five thousand word essay on why our child is the best of all time??!?' #'hm. you're right. it should probably be at least ten thousand. i need the space to discuss her academic achievements as well. good point.' #'SHE IS FOUR.' #papatello

[waterlinkedgirl]

Musical Touken Ranbu: Gou on Stage ~ Satomi Hakkenden; New Edition english sub

At long long last I am able to present you the subtitles for the senshuuraku of Goumyu! After a very turbulent year, I'm glad to be lowkey picking up subtitling again. For this performance, though, I won't be able to do a tl notes file. If I were fair to myself, I'd allow myself to write my grievances with what Goumyu's plot does to what had been established for Kogitsunemaru and Mikazuki when those are relevant, but if I were fair to you all, I wouldn't give you a file that's 90% complaining and 10% actual notes or background.

Don't let my grievances distract from the performance though, it's still genuinely fantastic even if the theming choices may be painful to me. Especially Oodenta is fantastic. Goodness gracious.

Keep in mind that this is only the subtitle file, timed and tled to the DMM senshuuraku. The archive version will have a talk at the start, so the starting times of the subs will have to be delayed accordingly.

Download the subs for Goumyu here!

#gou on stage #goumyu #shinpen satomi hakkenden #touken ranbu #toumyu #Water's translations #I may not be able to do a tl notes file in good faith #but in perhaps slightly more neutral faith- if it is wished for- I could still write the #“how goumyu deconstructs Kogi's themes and generalises them/hands them to others” essay #I'm especially mad about the omote/ura thing #and the way mukau tsuchioto seems to be invoked #as well as the subtle nagoritsuki #ngl goumyu is THE reason why I dread the upcoming myu with Mika without Kogi #closely followed by TKO #anyway yes Tamazusa!Oodenta can step on me #and goumyu is a lovely meta-commentary on what it means to put on a stage performance #it works really well with toumyu's themescape otherwise it just. chooses to Undo Kogi (hyperbolically worded) #it also hooks into and contextualises TKO further-- which is part of the problem (Sui...) #ANYWAY. DUE TO NO KOGI I SHALL BE DOING TSUWA NEXT #WILL ALSO SERVE AS GREAT PREP FOR THE NEW MYU FOR EVERYONE INTERESTED #if I can make even a single person see what I saw in Toumyu (in general but also for KogiMika up to Kotobuki-) I'll be very happy

[reach-forthestars]

WHAT is the point. They want “higher quality” shit but 50% of fans watched when it was back at buzzfeed and they sat at a desk with yellow and blue text and a couple random pictures thrown in.

“Mystery Files” is them in a BASEMENT. “Ghost Files” sure is more expensive, but not that much more???? “Dish Granted” is hella expensive, but still i don’t fully blame steven. They all agreed to a stupid fucking decision and all 3 of them deserve the backlash from it.

They’re also most likely going to make LESS money. The amount of people who will not be supporting this is insane, and hella deserved. Sure 6$ isn’t a lot, but it’s also not a lot for them then too?? Especially the fact many won’t watch now because of this. And at the end of the day, not everyone has that money???

Yea support artists, but they’re getting supported. They have a patreon, merch, ad revenue, shows, etc. They’re getting supported.

And back to the fact they want “higher quality” shit? I know damn well half of these fans would watch if they sat at a plastic fucking table, with two folding chairs, and just talked about crime.

Or if they went into a haunted place with a cheap camera and just made jokes.

But the thing is we don’t have to, because OBVIOUSLY they were affording all of this.

And yea maybe they’re unable to keep up with all of the bills or anything they need to pay. Then downsize. They have so many employees, for what? They have a giant ass office, for what?

Also, the fact they would make “eat the rich” jokes all the time is so fucking ironic to me.

In conclusion, take down the quality, make more merch, have more shows, whatever you need to do for more money. But is it necessary to make the rest of us suffer?

#watcher #shane madej #ryan bergara #steven lim #i wrote this instead of my english essay #puppet history #ghost files

[the-meme-monarch]

hi. i am back to reading an unauthorized fan treatise which i greatly recommend and so spoilers. absolutely obsessed how gottie started off writing this essay to prove rob and nathan were dating and went to further parasocial and stalkerish means and subsequently has gotten entangled with All The Shit of rob's past (and present!) dark web/criminal activity which caught his attention and he's going to further lengths in attempt to silence her Such As Breaking Into Her Home To Steal Her Laptop and all the while she finds the time to write Basically real person fiction about how she thinks him and nathan fell in love. she is Actively being targeted by an A-list celebrity.

#im not done w it yet ofc but again spoilers. i have gotten to the part where nathan as Been Missing For A Week ! andi know theres murder ! #words from the monarch #an unauthorized fan treatise #can not tell you how fucking scared i was went i started seeing the court document file talk at the tops and bottoms of the essay entries #FUCKING!!!!! 'at the time this entry was uploaded the victim was already dead' HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[syntia13treeman]

Case files 02.01

what I think happened in:

Case 02.01, the case of "Portrait of Daria Gray" or "The artist becomes the canvas."

Daria's story is pretty straightforward. What we know about Daria: she's a struggling left-handed artist who used to wear a lot of hand-me-down clothes from her sister, and she doesn't like the way she looks. At some point she decides to get a bit of a makeover and, among more mundane things, she starts shopping for a new tattoo. She finds a deal too good to be true (it is) offered by one 'Ink5oul'.

Ink5oul is sketchy as hell, and definitely has something supernatural going on. The tattoo they gives Daria (with no input from her, WTF! - paintbrush, floral patterns and glittering symbols) hurts much more than it should, but also heals almost instantly.

Looking at the tattoo (which is 'perfect') fills Daria with sudden desire to paint an autoportrait (which comes out 'perfect'). And once that is done, looking at it again makes her realize she can adjust herself (and make herself perfect).

So she takes her painting tools, most notably a pallet knife, right to her own face (and soon pretty much every other body part) and gives herself an impromptu plastic surgery. Which goes on uninterrupted for several days (???!?!!?!) until her room-mate Sarah comes home. Poor Sarah walks in on Daria while she has a knife stuck in her jaw, understandably freaks out and punches Daria, at which point half of Daria's face collapses under her hand like putty.

Having no idea that her room-mate has been touched by the spooky, Sarah comes up with the only rational explanation she can think of, which is that Daria poured some acid on her own face (which is very comic-book logic, but maybe Sarah paid more attention to Batman than chemistry and biology class as a teen).

So now Daria has severely disfigured face, and also is officially considered suicidal and a danger to herself and must go to therapy. (Honestly, she needs therapy).

There are two things, aside from the obvious, that grabbed my attention here:

The voice. Narration in the first case was that of a pretty normal email - a little bit rambly, a little bit disjointed, referencing things that the recipient would know about that we can only infer. The second case had a perfectly average forum thread. This case... also starts out with pretty realistic voice - right until the moment Daria stats talking about the tattoo. Then suddenly this story gets ridiculously verbose. The way she describes the studio, the tattooing process, the tattoo itself, the painting process and finally the 'adjustments' - the details, the wording - there's no way a regular person talks that way. Not in real time, not about a traumatic event that they very much don't want to talk about at all. So where is this coming from? I think it's the ink. Until proven otherwise, I'm going to assume that Ink5soul's tattoo somehow infused Daria with power to 'express herself' perfectly in whatever medium she's using - be it words, paint, or her own flesh.

Invasion of privacy issues all over the place. First Daria's tattooing session is streamed for who knows how many Ink5oul's fans without her say-so, and then her be-damned therapy session gets intercepted by some weird basement government branch. Daria glosses over the former and doesn't know about the latter, but they are there. And there was that private email in case of 'Not-Arthur' too. I wonder how present this theme will be in rest of the show. One thing I can bet on: if one of the cases doesn't deal with a conspiracy theorist yelling about government spying on them, I'm gonna eat my hat. (And the poor paranoid guy will be 100% right, just not in the way they think).

#the magnus protocol #tmagp 02 #tmagp case files #tmagp case 02.01 #Daria Gray #(not her actual name but I'm going to nickname there that for now) #Ink5oul #that little rat bastard #also #I was away from my PC last two days and I TRIED writing this from my phone #and I absolutely could not do that #how on earth do some people manage to write whole damn essays and fanfics from their phones #HOW #how do you type and edit without mouse and keyboard #are you wizards? #I fear you and salute you #ep. written by Alexander J. Newall #ep. written by A.J.N+J.S.