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#i don't get to show my love for this sort of body horror a lot
princeloww · 4 months
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DAVID TENNANT ROLES STARTERPACK
(Different roles, where to find them and what they're like!!!) (+ more that I didn't go into included at the end)
*disclaimer: this is sort of UK orientated, 'cos I don't know any American streaming services or where stuff is available in other countries, so PLEASE comment other places you can watch things!!!!
- Takin' Over the Asylum (CAMPBELL BAIN)
Follows a DJ and a group of patients trying to keep a radio station going in a mental hospital. David plays one of the main characters, Campbell Bain, a mostly upbeat and energetic young boy with lots of enthusiasm and spirit. Some angst!
☆ YOUTUBE (free)
- Blackpool (PETER CARLISLE)
A body is found in an arcade run by Ripley Holden, and him and his entire family are pulled into the murder investigation surrounding it. DI Peter Carlisle is working on the case, and highly suspicious of Ripley. He's a pretty major character and has a romantic plot - as well as a few funny musical numbers. Includes sex scenes.
☆ UKTV PLAY (free in UK), AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
- Casanova (GIACOMO CASANOVA)
The (mostly sexual) adventures of Giacomo Casanova, a charming and fraudulent man who falls in love very quickly and very dramatically with a lot of people, all while essentially bullshitting through life and jumping on every opportunity to make money. Includes sex scenes but also angst, such as illness, injuries, some violence, and general suffering.
☆ MYFLIXERX.TO (free), AMAZON
- Recovery (ALAN HAMILTON)
A man and his family coping with the recovery and rehabilitation process after he (Alan, David Tennant) suffers from brain damage. Angsty. Lots of crying, suicide references, head injury stuff.
☆ YOUTUBE (free)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (BARTY CROUCH JR)
I recommend pirating this one so you're not supporting JK Rowling. DT plays Barty Crouch JR, an antagonist and the son of Barty Crouch. He's kind of a minor character, as he's not actually in a lot of scenes.
☆ Probably on most pirating sites (my go to is MYFLIXERX.TO)
- Learners (CHRISTOPHER ??)
Lighthearted movie about a woman trying to pass her driving test. David plays Chris, her driving instructor. He's a bit of a dork, very sweet and kind. Has a love plot, briefly fights a guy. No major angst.
☆ YOUTUBE (free)
- Hamlet (HAMLET)
Hamlet. Prince of Denmark wants vengeance after his father's death. I haven't actually watched this one yet but I assume it's got the same amount of angst and drama as Hamlet typically does.
☆ AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
- Single Father (DAVE TYLER)
After a fatal car accident, Dave Tyler (DT) is left to parent four children on his own. Still struggling through grief, Dave falls in love again and attempts to hide it. Has LOTS of crying, lots of kissing, sex scenes, DT being miserable and sobbing, etc.
☆ MYFLIXERX.TO (free)
- Rex Is Not Your Lawyer (REX ALEXANDER)
Unaired pilot. Only 40 minutes. Show wasn't picked up, but it is very good. Rex is a successful and skilled lawyer who is forced to stop practising when he starts having panic attacks every time he speaks in court. He decides instead to coach people who want to represent themselves. Lots of DT in very tight suits. American accent. Not MAJOR angst but he does has daddy issues and a panic disorder, so.
☆ YOUTUBE (free)
- Fright Night (PETER VINCENT)
A kid discovers that his neighbour is a vampire, and he seeks out a famous vampire slayer to help him. Peter Vincent (DT) does not live up to his name, and turns out to actually be sort of pathetic. No major angst, not a lot of clothes, no romance, but lots of eyeliner. He's very bisexual. Violence, vampire horror, creepy neighbour.
☆ DISNEY+, AMAZON PRIME
- The Decoy Bride (JAMES ARBER)
Celebrity Lara Tyler tries to get married to her author fiancé James Arber, but the paparazzi interrupts the wedding. Desperate to keep it private, she takes James to the island that he based his book on. Somehow, the paparazzi still find them, and they hire a decoy bride to pretend to be Lara. Romance, kissing, light hearted, minimal angst. David in a funny outfit. Fake dating trope?
☆ AMAZON PRIME
- Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger (Donald and Roderick Peterson)
Sequel to Nativity, but you don't need to watch the first one. Primary school teacher Donald Peterson (DT) is forced to take his class to Wales to participate in A Song For Christmas, a festive singing competition. Here he is put against his twin brother, who is a successful composer and with whom he has a strained relationship. Light angst - lots of daddy issues, but generally sweet.
☆ AMAZON, I think its on NOW TV???
- The Escape Artist (WILL BURTON)
A defence lawyer, Will Burton, gets a murderer off free, and very quickly grows to regret it, when his client comes after his family next. Lots of murder. Like three murders I think. Hot lawyer DT.
☆ AMAZON (I can't believe I forgot this one)
- What We Did On Our Holiday (DOUG MCLEOD)
A family go to Scotland for their grandfather's 70th birthday. Doug (DT) and his wife (Rosamund Pike) are getting a divorce, but are hiding it from the rest of the family. Movie is mostly focused on the kids and their grandad, but David has a few moments, and he's generally present throughout. Funny, slightly shocking at times, family film. No major angst. Character death.
☆ AMAZON PRIME
- Richard II (RICHARD II)
Shakespeare's Richard II. David plays the titular character, the extravagant, heartless and cold King of England, Richard II. We see his fall from grace as he is stripped of everything he owns and knows. Quite angsty. Long hair, androgynous David. Queer kiss scene (although they are cousins, soo...)
☆ you can find a link in a REDDIT comment if you search for it, AMAZON PRIME
- Broadchurch (ALEC HARDY)
An eleven-year-old boy is murdered in a small town, sending shock-waves through the community. Story follows both the family and communities response to the crime, as well as the investigation done by DI Alec Hardy (DT) and DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman). Lots of angst from Alec. He is sick and hiding it. Injury, dizziness, panic attacks, that sort of thing - as well as a heart attack. He has a lot of trauma and daddy issues. Season three touches on topics of rape (warning).
- Mad To Be Normal (RD LIANG)
Biopic about RD Liang, a Scottish psychiatrist. Sex, misogyny, mental health topics, some self-harm (done by another character)
☆ AMAZON (sensing a pattern)
- Good Omens (CROWLEY)
An angel (Michael Sheen) and a demon work together to stop the end of the world. Queer romance (canon), some angst. Drama, comedy, LGBTQ+. David plays Crowley, the demon (who "sauntered vaguely downwards" rather than fell from heaven)
☆ AMAZON PRIME
- Staged (DAVID TENNANT)
A COVID lockdown comedy about David Tennant and Michael Sheen talking via Zoom during the lockdown. Actually quite sad at times? Mostly silly, though. Features Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg.
☆ BBC Iplayer (UK) (or VPN)
- Around The World in 80 Days (PHILEAS FOGG)
Phileas Fogg, a quiet and reserved man, decides to travel around the world in 80 days, after he receives an anonymous postcard calling him a coward. Cute found family, drama, angst (ex-lover stuff, internalised cowardice, illness, near death experience), some violence. There's a scene where Phileas gets flogged (whipped, essentially) quite violently, and it's somewhat graphic. Touches on themes of racism. Phileas is 100% neurodivergent.
☆ BBC Iplayer (UK) (or VPN)
- Inside Man (HARRY WATLING)
DT plays a vicar, Harry, who is involved in a murder after trying to protect his son - who was accused of having CP. Suicide themes, murder, self-harm - explores the idea that any person can murder, if they're pushed the right way. Includes topics to do with CP and pedophilia.
☆ NETFLIX, AMAZON
- Litvinenko (LITVINENKO)
Biopic about Alexander Litvinenko. A group of detectives investigate the poisoning of Litvinenko. David is bald in this show. (Scary)
☆ ITVX (UK) (or VPN)
- Doctor who (10TH AND 14TH DOCTORS)
Do I need to explain Doctor Who???? David Tennant plays the tenth and fourteenth regenerations of The Doctor, a Time Lord from outerspace. He travels around in the TARDIS with human companions.
☆ BBC Iplayer (UK)
I think I'm gonna leave it there, but there are a LOT that I have not touched on. This post is a very accurate and long list of everything on DT's filmography, so i recommend you check that out.
Other things I didn't mention (off the top of my head):
There She Goes, Bad Samaritan, Einstein and Eddington, Rab. C Nesbitt, Bright Young Things, LA Without a Map, Much Ado About Nothing, Duck Patrol, True Love, Gracepoint, Camping (US), Nan's Christmas Carol, Mary Queen of Scots, (You, Me and Him), Secret Smile, Deadwater Fell, Jessica Jones, Dramarama, Spies of Warsaw, AND A LOT MORE. (+ voice acting roles, and also his narrating work on Spy In The Wild (2017)
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transmascissues · 3 months
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I know that saying T turning twinks into otters and bears is supposed to be positivity, but it feels excluding of those of us that didn't get those effects from T. Trans men can look all kinds of ways and I keep seeing posts that almost belittle the idea of trans men remaining like that after T, but some of us do. Lift up the ones who do turn into otters and bears and those that don't. It's already a point of dysphoria for a lot of people
it is not humanly possible for me to include every single possible transmasc experience in one post, nor is it my responsibility to try to. positivity for one experience does not equal negativity toward other experiences. if you want a positivity post for people who don’t get those effects from t, by all means make one and i’ll fully support you in that, but don’t treat other kinds of positivity as wrong just because they’re not for you.
i am a trans man who went from a twink to an otter on t, and i put that line in because that’s an aspect of my transition that i’m incredibly proud of. i’m allowed to do that, and i’m not required to fulfill some sort of quota of positivity for other people to make that okay. me showing pride in my body and bodies like mine isn’t belittling other kinds of bodies, and i would challenge you to really ask yourself why you interpreted positivity for other people as automatically negative toward you. sometimes some things just aren’t for you and that’s okay. i’m sure there are other parts of that post that did apply to you, as well as plenty of other positivity posts that do. and if not? make some! send them to me, i’d love to reblog them! every positivity post you see is just a trans person making the posts they want to see more of, and you can do the same.
not to mention, hair growth and weight gain on t are incredibly stigmatized. people constantly talk about how bad they think all the hair looks or how gross they think it is when we don’t shave, and gaining weight is something that’s pretty much always framed as a negative side effect instead of a desirable and euphoric change. people literally try to convince us not to go on t by saying “you’re not going to stay an androgynous twink, you’re going to be hairy and all your fat will move to your stomach and you’ll just look like your dad.” that’s a horror story to a lot of people; that’s the thing that they think will disgust us enough to decide we don’t want to go on t.
so if you see a lot of posts hyping up trans otters and bears, it’s not us saying other kinds of bodies aren’t as good, it’s just us pushing back against those narratives and saying “no, our bodies are good too, actually, and i’m glad t made me look this way.” that’s not to say there isn’t also a lot of negativity toward trans men who are smaller and less hairy; no matter how we look, people will find a reason to hate our bodies because they hate us. but you really can’t put the blame on trans otters and bears who just want to send a message that our bodies aren’t bad.
if seeing positivity for trans bodies that aren’t like yours makes you dysphoric, please understand that that’s a personal thing you need to learn how to deal with and not the fault of the people who just want to feel good about their bodies as much as you do. it’s okay to want positivity for your kind of trans body and i promise you those posts are out there, but you can’t expect every single one to cater to your specific experiences.
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comicaurora · 4 months
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YOU WATCHED CENTAURWORLD?!
YOU USED IT AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE TROPE TALK!!!!
It is my favorite and I require to know your thoughts on it.
It's. Hm
So I think it absolutely accomplished what it set out to do, which means it is a successful work of art. But I think what it was aiming for didn't work for me?
In its efforts to play with centaurworld's ridiculousness versus the gritty nightmare of the "real world", it tonally undercuts almost all of its profound moments and then tries to get profound character moments out of squeeky-toy inflatable cartoon characters. Of the main cast, Horse and Wammawink are basically the only ones who get sufficient development to feel like real characters capable of carrying impactful moments, and the rest of the crew are basically walking punchlines - even speedrunning their respective Tragic Backstories doesn't do much to strengthen them, because in the present of the show they're fundamentally joke characters incapable of emotional subtlety. It kinda feels like if a Looney Tunes episode randomly dropped a flashback to baby Daffy Duck being moses'd into the bullrushes as if that mattered to how he functioned now. Plus, once we start jumping back to the Real World again, it turns out all those characters are also wacky in their own way - lots of very quippy dialogue and self-referential humor. Instead of Horse feeling broadly representative of her world's tone, she feels like the most serious character in the entire show - at least until season 2 where her dialogue starts being 50% fart jokes by volume.
Overall I think I loved what they set up in season 1, but not how they paid it off in season 2. There's the themes they establish in season 1 of how centaurworld has a cartoonifying effect on everyone who comes there, and the way this plays to Horse early on is full on cartoon body horror - a realistic horse slowly and inexorably transforming into a parody of itself. I thought that was a fascinating way to frame it, and it was nightmarish to contemplate! It comes to a really strong head in the Whaletaur Shaman episode when her friends seem to finally realize how much she's been struggling and suffering and how, despite it looking like a big joke to everyone, it's profoundly unfunny to her. But while she gets a nice emotional resolution at the end of that episode, the underlying horror is never addressed again. She still seems unhappy with her new cartoon body, but the transformations are from this point forward framed as uncomplicated positives that everybody thinks are funny.
It's purposefully blending comedy and horror together, but the execution feels like the disparate ingredients are hindering each other's effectiveness. The horror stuff rarely gets sufficient gravity and is just left as Hey Look Horrifying Implications, and the jokes are often undermined by all the seriousness left lying around. It's a flavor combination that doesn't work for me.
And then the stuff with the Deertaur and the Princess is incredibly interesting and profound and tragic, and I don't understand why it's happening in the same show as everything else?
Also, this is a minor nitpick, but the musical numbers were astounding in the first season but seemed to experience some sort of weird categorical downgrade in season 2. All the solid numbers were reprises from season 1.
Centaurworld was doing something very much on purpose, and I just don't think I got what that something was.
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galactiquest · 8 months
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Feral for affection uncanny vash or knives.
🌻have a good day
Hi there Sunflower Anon! I'm going to call you that, especially if you come back again with another sunflower. Thanks for the ask!!
I've seen the uncanny Vash and Knives stuff blow up in popularity. I Was there. Though sometimes I feel it's disingenuous to call them uncanny--that's our human interpretation of their forms. Maybe something more along the lines of primal? Well, syntax aside, I think it's a super fun idea to lean more into the alien ideals of Plants. I have plenty of my own headcanons for how the two look and operate, but, let's not focus on that right now. Let's just get affectionate!
Vash and Knives x Reader: Affections (Uncanny ver.)
Content Warnings: General uncanny or possibly unnerving content ahead. Features like multiple eyes/limbs/etc. are discussed, and there may be an implicit body horror to it. No violence, though! Just cuteness aside from all that!
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Vash
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I think Vash is pretty hesitant at first to show you any sort of uncanny parts of himself. I mean, we already know how he feels about his scars--he really doesn't want to scare you off, especially once you two have become close.
But if you can slowly and gently coax him out of his shell, if you can convince him that yes, you'll love every part of him, no matter how ugly he may think those parts are, he'll eventually relent.
And at first, it's just a few features that pop out. It might be reflective, glowy eyes in the nighttime, or fingers that have grown out just a little too long for the average man, or even a few spiny scutes along his back.
Once he's comfortable, though? He lets it all hang out. Not like that--he just allows his true form to come through. And there's lots of limbs and even some sharp edges to deal with... But if you're patient, you'll find he's maybe even more affectionate like this!
Cuddles end up the best because now instead of two (sometimes one, if he has the prosthetic off) arms around you, it's six (more like five!) and you are ever-so-tightly squeezed against his body. He also has a very comfortable temperature, so you never have to worry about being too hot or too cold. It's just right!
Purring. Yes, I know it's cliché, I know that it's mentioned in every imagine, but come on. It's so cute. I don't think it's like animal purring, though, maybe more like an engine. Or perhaps more akin to a larger cat purring. Less cutesy, more... well, rumbly. Sometimes it makes his whole body vibrate.
With his extra appendages, he loves to tickle you. Prepare to be bombarded with tickles. He's able to dance across your skin so fast that you can barely catch him in time to try and swat him away.
Kisses! He tries to be so careful with kisses since his jaw can unhinge and all that. And lots of teeth get in the way. But if you don't mind that... Or perhaps, if you're into that... Well, you can definitely start experimenting. But he's still as gentle as possible.
Knives
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Now this is someone who's not afraid to show you their true self. Knives is going to quickly reveal his primal form to you. If you can't learn to get comfortable with it, he's obviously not for you. (It begs the question as to why he keeps a more humanoid form too--maybe it's just easier to get around in human-sized spaces with?)
No matter your initial reaction, I think he's going to make some kind of comment. You get scared? Typical human. You like it? Disgusting. You act as utterly neutral as possible? Don't lie to yourself. There's seriously no winning with him.
But with whatever charm (or perhaps sheer persistence) you give, the two of you are a pair now. And if there's one word to describe how he acts with you? It's protective.
If you two are ever out and about, he's got a sharp, bright wing curled over and around you, shielding from peering eyes. On the outside, it's all points and blades (and knives?) but on the inside, only for you to see, there's some softer, more downy feathers. Just so you won't rust up the blades, whatever you say, Knives.
His conscious self isn't keen to showing affection, but his subconscious body sure is. Expect a few tingly vines trying to wrap around and hold your hand, or a tail-like appendage that rests on your waist/shoulders, or a wing tickling your cheek. He swears he isn't doing it intentionally.
Unlike his brother, he's not a super affectionate guy, as stated above, so don't expect much in the way of kisses. Unless the two of you are alone, and he's in a better-than-usual mood. Then his cravings might get the better of him, and he might just tackle on top of you to bite a chunk out of you--I mean, get a few sloppy kisses in.
Overall? In front of others, relatively distant. Behind closed doors? You're becoming his. Tight tendrils keep you close at night, teeth nibble at the nape of your neck, the sharp edges of leaves or feathers tease your skin but never come too close. He's too precise to actually ever hurt you.
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End Notes: I think their "true" forms are something akin to an insectoid/angelic/plant-like mix, where it's sort of indescribable, archaic, tangled and messy. Maybe I ought to draw them and show you all...~
Also, there REALLY need to be more 1998 Knives gifs, or I'm about to pony up and just make a buttload of my own.
Okay, last note. Sorry this took me a while! I just moved back into college and my first week was busy! (^人^)
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keydekyie · 6 months
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𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕣
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~Frequently asked questions~
Wondering what the hell that human-faced bear monster was that you saw on your dash? Can't figure out whether it's supposed to be scary or cute? Confused deeply?
Well do I have the solution for you: All your questions answered, and more!
First of all: what am I looking at?
uh... well, the creatures are called Kanai. They're basically a sphinx, a creature with a human face, but instead of the body of a lion, it's a bear! It's not that weird! (right?) Oh, and they're also the size of a house. Don't worry about it, it's fine. It's fine.
What is this setting?
The story is set in my headworld, which is a sort of an alternate-reality Earth, and specifically in a country called Kellabor. Here's a big worldbuilding dump if you're curious, but there's no need to read it all before diving into the books. You'll discover everything important along the way.
So there are books?
Yes! I've published two books in the series, and I'm working on the third. I have a masterpost explaining them with content warnings here.
Okay but what is the story, really? What happens?
It's a very PG slow-burn fantasy romance adventure story with a dash of horror.
Oh, so there's romance?
Yep! It's been planned that way since the first words I put down. If you get through the first two books and are wondering where the hell the romance happens, just remember: it's a slow burn. A sloooow burn. We'll get there.
How many books are there going to be?
So far, I'm planning on four. Originally, I had three planned, but the second one was getting too long and I had to split it in half. That's why book II: The Crossing ends on a cliffhanger. Don't worry, it's not going to take four books to get to the cute parts.
Is there going to be a happy ending?
Yes! Yes, I promise there will be a happy ending. Might not, uh... seem very likely, at times, but yes.
What's the inspiration behind this story?
If you want a long somewhat-spoilery answer, you can read this, but the tl;dr non-spoilery version is:
I wanted to write a story about a monster and a human where the monster is the one facing the ethical dilemma, and they come to be friends and care about each other. And go on adventures. And love each other.
Wait, so... are the giant bear monsters the good guys?
Um... yes and no. There really aren't clear good guys or bad guys in this story. I'm going to have to ask you to have a bit of an open mind, here.
Okay, but I swear I saw a gif of one of these monsters eating someone. Was that from this?
Yeah, that gif is from a side-project set in the same world. It's a little more explicit than anything that happens on screen in TMatB, but let's just say it's not... uncharacteristic. That's the dash of horror I mentioned.
Listen... it's the dash of horror that makes the cute stuff that much cuter. The horror is the flavor. Trust me on this one.
Wait so if the bear monsters eat people, how are they not obviously the bad guys?
It's complicated! You'll find nothing is black and white here in Kellabor. The country has a long, mysterious, complex history, and so do each of my characters.
Okay but... what happens, though? Who's this girl I keep seeing in these drawings? Why does it sometimes seem like they are enemies and sometimes not?
The protagonists start out in conflict in book I due to ✨circumstances✨. They have a lot of issues to work out. Depending on where they are in the story, drawings of them might show them being more antagonistic or more sweet. It'll all make sense with context.
I'm still confused...
Ask box is always open! ♥️
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cikrovat · 2 months
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wanna make a little rumble about this two funny guys, nothing much, just a rumble really, if you would read it to the end it would be cool 👉👈 but you don't have to! two hats spoilers too be ready
so, sif and loop, huh
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a lot of people under my comic with this two did mentioned that I've wrote them super DID or like a system and I didn't noticed that at the time, but more I thought about it, the more I understand that I did it again
the whole idea of them being in one body is just really sells this, to be honest. with sif being in control most of the time and loop kinda existing their life together, because in fact it's their life too. they both understand that, even though loop didn't feel quiet belonging here, like they doesn't exactly deserve this life. after all - they fail, fail miserably, it's a sif who is a hero of this story in the end, but also they don't exactly get it that it's because of them sif succeeded. just a small change, a person who can listen and say something. who is changing with you, a helping hand
sif is a grounded reminder for loop that they succeeded, in a way, too. and everyone around them too
also in my hc loop and sif doesn't tell their family at first about this all, it's just.. awkward and too much information and also it's just two sifs and their problems with expressing themselves. well, they learning!! a little!! especially after this wild experience!!!
but everyone still notice that sif is sometimes can change their behavior. I see loop as someone who can be mean, they doesn't exactly afreid of showing negative emotions anymore such as anger and they WILL fight if they will see that sif or someone from their family being mistreated, or make a very nasty commentary, or anything, but very passive aggressively. Their family at first thinks that mb it's just a trauma response, wich is particularly true, but I think Odile and/or Isa would notice that there is certain pattern to Siffrin behavior and it's definitely Someone Else
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In Isa case he would probably notice that this Certain Someone has very similar mannerisms with Sifrin, to how they move and act, to how they just talk. differents comes to what they talk. when sif is more lighthearted and silly, loops jokes can sometimes be a little bit on the self doubt side, and harsh to themselves, and their tone can feel a little more official
Odile would try to confront Sif a lot with little questions (because she was observing Loop and Sif sometimes act like them!!!! you think it's a coincidence?????) but she trust Sifrin to tell her if there is something wrong, (after all they had this talk), and Sif in her eyes looks much more happier (well, she has only one comparison with this one day before king but she can imagine how much worse it was + loop probably told a lot), so she understands that there is something but it's isn't bad and Sif just need time
Loop sometimes attend in the Emotional Buddies Club with Mira, too, because usually Sif makes them (they thinks it's very important for them too (it is)). and usually loop is trying to mimic siffrin a lot, but sometimes fails miserably and trails off. they still can say it's something from the loops and thing, but Mira also notice how sometimes Sif just change mid sentence because Sif just kicks Loop and let's them talk
and bonbon is just bonbon, Loop really loves spending their time with bonbon and trying all sorts of different things they cook. different NEW things.
tho not one of them can stomach the banana ever again. it's a nice fruit, but when the smell hits... they both would probably tell this story to their family, and while they would nervously giggle a little - their family would be a little in shock. just one of the horror from the loops they grew accustomed to. and their family doesn't exactly like that
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also I think that loop still can matterialise their body if situation deems necessary, it was their body now, after all, and they grew quite fond of their mystic nature. but when looking at the mirror they see sifrin and themselves - they really put in question if they need any body at all
also as a fun bonus idea shadow's that I drew may be just a thing in their head, like they aren't real, they just show who is in control and who isn't. or they may be a real thing and sometimes their family would notice this funky spike shadow on the ground and , what??
haha, thank you for reading if u are here
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raayllum · 10 months
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it’s high key really annoying the attention toh gets on this website while no one acknowledges tdp exists
Yeah, sometimes I wish TDP got more recognition and appreciation in a fandom space for its storytelling (the parallels, the worldbuilding, the mature theme explorations) simply because we haven't had a western kids' show go this hard since TLOK (even if I think Korra stumbles in a lot of ways) and arguably ATLA in its explorations of war and morality, two things that TDP is obsessed with, as well as a sometimes overwhelming discussion of Grief.
However, to be frank, while many teen and adult fans of kids cartoons say that they want darker themes and storylines, what that usually means, I think, is more akin to something like TOH or She Ra, in which you know 1) your favourite characters will always typically survive with maybe one or two minor parental or villainous exceptions, and 2) one or two characters in an otherwise fairly cookie cutter 'good guy' cast will have a redemption arc or be quirky morally dubious in a way that's played for comedy, and there will be a handful of significantly "Oh Shit!" darker or creepier moments. The characters are mostly teenagers, the heavier plot stuff is regulated to a few standout episodes, with most of the other conflicts being things like figuring out how to make friends or struggling with not fitting in or deciding what you want to do with your life. And those are all good explorations, and it's not as though TDP doesn't touch on some of that (Callum is finding his place in the world, Rayla is 'changing careers', Ez struggles with his new responsibilities and not fitting in, Soren - like Hunter - leaves an emotionally abusive relationship with a parental figure).
But I think it's TDP's attachment of all of those things to morality that makes the emotional stakes higher and less comforting and/or comfortable for people who are, likely, going to fiction for escapism rather than exploration. (To be clear: one is not better than the other, I just know what my personal preferences are.) Rayla's 'career/schooling' change is whether she's going to kill people for a living; Callum deciding what sort of mage he's going to be is rooted in deciding how much he's willing to either slowly destroy himself or take on the impossible, both with some dire consequences; Ezran not fitting is is also tied to having mysterious, unknown magical powers the story still hasn't fully explained the root cause of. Yes, the three main kids are typically good people who want to do the right thing, but that's much easier said than done (Ezran burning the monster soldiers, Callum's ruthlessness, Rayla's self sacrificial tendencies manifesting in destructive ways). TDP is never going to have an episode of "I lied to my friends because I wanted them to think I was cool or not a nerd" or "I'm scared of them preferring someone else over me" or "I need to learn how to be a good friend" (hi TOH with like 5 episodes and She Ra).
Like Rayla lies to the boys, but that's because she isn't sure how to tell them that her father murdered theirs and made them orphans, and she's worried it will accordingly be a wedge between them.
Like, there's hardly any episodes of TDP that don't talk about grief or death or both in some manner. The show consistently explores unreliable narrators across all sides of its ethical spectrum(s). S4 has a subplot regarding religious traditions and the ethics of the death penalty. Most of Arc 1 and now into Arc 2 sees good people with good intentions or understandable motivations doing pretty terrible things to either themselves, the people around them, or both. The death and body horror imagery aren't one offs, but consistent series defining elements that are always treated seriously. Villains aren't people who don't love their families (or anyone) and good guys aren't good because they're good friends to one another. It's more complicated than that, from the body swap and discussions of the soul in S1, to the cycle of violence laid out explicitly in S2, to explorations of punishment and exile in S3.
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Overall, I'm fine with the success and appreciation that TDP gets; some of my students watch it, actually, which makes it useful in some of our lesson discussions. Because TDP is a good show for kids, yes, but it certainly never pulls its punches in forcing all of its ensemble cast through the wringer.
TLDR; due to age demographics and tonal differences, particularly in character conflicts, themes, and amount of Lore, I'm not surprised at all that TDP is pretty underrated on tumblr. Again, doesn't mean these elements of 'maturity' make it Better (although I do think it's written more cohesively than She Ra and more consistently than TOH in its set up and payoff), I just know where my (and many other's) preferences lay accordingly, and am not surprised at the split.
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mycenalucentipes · 10 months
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Ghosts || Draco Malfoy x Reader - Part 2
summary: Although your tragic ending lead you to being a ghost of Hogwarts, you managed to befriend Draco Malfoy. He would spill all of his secrets and worries to you. You would tell him little stories of you time alive. However, now that the Battle of Hogwarts is beginning, you have no idea what will happen to the two of you.
warnings: swearing, violence, war, explosions, mentions of death, rape, abuse, blood, ummm just lots of angst and sadness :)....
word count: 3,390
a/n: Idk how to summarize lol. I know I've title it as a Draco x Reader, but I don't really see them in a romantic sort of relationship? It would be too cruel to make them fall in love for each other I feel lol. There's going to a third part. I'm not sure how long though
Ghosts: Part 1
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As Snape’s brisk footsteps echoed through the bathroom, you instinctively hid behind one of the stall doors, still a little afraid of the stern professor. When Snape entered, seeing your lifeless form, his gaze softened as he sighed and kneeled down for further inspection.
“That unfortunate girl,” he murmured with a deep tone before standing up again. 
“Professor Snape?” You poked your head around, slightly startling the potions master. 
“Ah, Miss L/n. You’re still around,” he replied, trying to play it off as if he wasn’t startled by your sudden appearance. “I offer my condolences for your… unfortunate fate. May I ask what happened? Mr. Malfoy merely informed me that a Gryffindor boy was responsible for a murdered girl.”
With a solemn nod and a pained expression, you mustered the courage to tell the horrors of your ex. “It was my ex, Evander Gallo, he strangled me to death. He was an abusive bastard that wouldn’t let me go. I’m not really sure why.” You left out some more of the explicit details, not wanting to fully share that with a professor. Perhaps you might’ve still been alive had you managed to alert a professor of the ongoing situation. Your ex never let you get by with anything, therefore deeming it impossible to try. 
“I’m sorry to hear that. Why didn’t you alert a professor? Surely one of us could have helped. Such reprehensible actions would have warranted immediate expulsion.” Snape sighed again as you looked away, feeling ashamed all of a sudden.
You shook your head sadly. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t. He had his eyes on me 24/7. Anything I did, word got back to him. I would’ve been dead much sooner had I told anyone.” Snape didn’t quite know what to say to this. 
“There’s no need to apologise. You did nothing wrong.” Snape spoke in a soft and apologetic tone, not meaning to make you feel ashamed of the situation. “Miss L/n. I will come by later with Professor McGonagall. Please tell her as much as you can about this boy. The more evidence we have, the easier it will be to expel him.” With that, he gently levitated your body, taking it elsewhere for proper care. 
“Thank you professor!” You called out as he was halfway out the doors already. 
That evening, you spilled everything to Professor Snape and McGonagall. They stared back, horror in their eyes. How could they not have noticed? Your ex was incredible about not showing any signs of it in public. He kept you in his grasp for far too long that he left you without a fighting spirit. You were sobbing by the end of recounting your time alive with him. 
In the end, they both agreed expulsion was the best possible action. You felt as if a ton of bricks were lifted from your chest. You were so overjoyed that there were others willing to take your side and believe in you. You felt free. 
–==--==--==--==--==--==--==--
About a week later, late in the evening, Draco comes into the bathrooms, seeking your company. This time, he just wanted to catch up and hangout, an escape from the troubles going on in the school. 
“Oh! Hello, Draco. What brings you in at this hour?” You inquired, gracefully floating towards him from your perch on the mirrors. 
He offered a slight smile. “I figured I would come in and check on you.” You felt warmed at this action. He actually wanted to come back and talk to you! You smiled brightly at him and he felt his own heart swell with warmth at your cheerfulness. It was the first genuine, happy smile that decorated your face. Given your first meeting circumstances though, it made sense. 
“Thank you for alerting Professor Snape last time. He and McGonagall came and helped deal with my circumstances. They were so supportive, McGonagall especially. Now he’s expelled!” You cheered excitedly. “I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my chest. I would hug you if I could, haha.” Draco softly chuckled back.
“That’s good to hear, Y/n. I’m glad that prick won’t be around anymore. He really was a wretched git, wasn’t he? Figured he was just another annoying Gryffindor.” Draco smiled back at you, “When they announced his expulsion, the loudest cheers actually came from the Gryffindor table… I wish… others would have spoken up for you.” He added with a hint of disappointment. 
You gave a sympathetic look this time.
“I assume he was probably a prick to the other students, but he kept the abusive, predator side out of the public eye and only with me…So there really was no hard evidence for his expulsion.” You sighed. You seem to be sighing a lot, maybe one day you wouldn’t.
“I just wish it didn’t take the death of you for him to get expelled.” Draco mournfully replied back. 
“Hey, hey, it’s alright now, we can’t change the past events. We’ll try to move on from here I suppose.” You said, trying to change the tone of the conversation. Of course, you would take a while to heal from 5 long years of torture, but this week was a joyous one for you. “So, what’s been up with you?”  
“Not much different from the same situations,” Draco hummed, reluctant to sour the mood again with problems you both already knew about. 
During Draco’s time spent with you, he talked freely and without hesitance. He would trust you until the end of his time. He quickly learned how you loved talking about the candies from Honeydukes and the feasts served in the Great Hall for holidays, usually the desserts. You certainly had a sweet tooth. You expressed with bittersweetness that you would miss being able to taste the sweet flavours of Honeydukes’ treats. 
He loved hearing you talk and ramble about the small joys you had managed to find out of life. It was like a breath of fresh air for him. He asked if you had ever been able to travel before. You excitedly described your time on the east coast of Ireland. 
You talked of how dawn’s sunrise kissed the water, offering it a soft hue of pinks, oranges, and golds. Wisps of scattered clouds brushed the horizon with gentle shades of blush and apricot. Then there lie the tranquil rolling hills and the verdant valleys. The rays of sunlight gave the emerald green vegetation a soft, golden glow. The luscious grass swayed gently with the ocean breeze, glistening as the dew clung to the blades. 
You whispered that it was the only family vacation you had been on, but it was one of the most beautiful places. You wished to go back there someday. 
In exchange, Draco would tell you of his family's travels. They had been all over England mostly. You loved hearing his stories and was always astonished at how much money really could buy you. You asked him about his favourite foods from each place he visited. Then asked about their pastries and candies. You would then sigh saying how you wished you could drink a nice warm butterbeer. 
Another time he visited,he inquired about your time alive at Hogwarts, but not pushing for you to tell about your ex. You still had at least a few fond memories. 
Most of your favourite times were the times you spent alone, enjoying the little beauties the castle had to offer. You often roamed the halls in the early morning, brushing your fingers across the old stone walls, watching the sunrise seep through the windows and getting lost in your own thoughts. The mornings before breakfast were always peaceful. Very seldom did students wander around that early, opting to stay cosy in bed longer. 
You also spoke of how you loved sitting out by the Black Lake while reading a good book. The wind would gently blow against your face and the sun kissed your cheeks. Sitting in the soft grass, you would imagine your life as if it were going how you wanted. Or would make up your own fantasy scenarios that would put a small smile on your lips. It was your form of escapism. It was the only coping mechanism you knew would make life just a little more bearable.
In the middle of reminiscing, Draco interrupted with an abrupt question. 
“Are you able to move on? Um– I mean, from the ghost life?” 
You sadly shook your head. “I don’t think so. I did not think that I chose this life, but before I knew it, I woke up here, staring at my dead body.” You sighed quietly and huffed with slight amusement. “Though, if I could leave, I would definitely move on. I don’t want to be a bitter ghost here forever like Myrtle.” 
Draco was unsure if it were an appropriate time to be chuckling, but nodded along anyway. “If I find a way to send you off, I will make sure to come back and release you.” He offered a small smile. You looked to Draco knowing these chances were slim to none (he knew as well), but still comforted by his words nonetheless. 
“Thank you, Draco. That means so, so much to me.” 
–==--==--==--==--==--==--==--
The last time during that school year that Draco visited the bathrooms, he was in a panic. Just like the first time you met him. (This time, no new dead body to greet him). He briskly walked over to the sinks, breath heavy, tears spilling down his cheeks. 
He stared into the mirror for what felt like seconds, he felt like a serpent was constricting his chest. Ripping his sweater over his head, he threw it to the side, not caring where it landed. By now, you had wandered out from a cubicle, wondering if it was Draco again. 
“Draco?” You called out with a wobbly voice, “What’s wrong, Draco?” You asked in a clearer voice this time. He wouldn’t respond to you. He rubbed his forearm hard against his tears before bringing it back down to the sink. He gripped the edge of the sink so tightly, his knuckles turning white. 
Just then, you hear more footsteps slowly approaching. In the mirror, you could see that the approaching figure was Harry Potter.  Draco didn’t notice as sobs wracked his frame.
“I know what you did, Malfoy…” Harry said in a low tone, “you hexed her, didn’t you?”
Draco’s head shot up and snapped towards the source of the voice. His eyes were frantic and fearful for a second before turning angry.
Before you knew it, Draco quickly drew his wand, firing off a wordless spell. You gasped in horror, not wanting anyone to duel and get hurt or worse. Harry managed to dodge the spell, only to throw one right back at Draco. He also managed to dodge the spell, running towards the cubicles. Harry followed suit. 
You let out a cry of fear, wanting to help, but feeling so useless. You were but a ghost, you couldn’t really do anything, couldn’t protect either of them. Spells kept getting thrown back and forth. Water was bursting from the now broken pipes. 
“Sectumsempra!” You watched in horror as Harry landed a hit on Draco. Without thinking, you tried to step in the way of the spell. Though it hit you, it still went right through your misty form, sending Draco flying back. You winced at the sight of a spell being thrown at you, but only for a split second as you heard Draco’s body hit the ground.
Fearing the worst, you made a dash to go find the nearest professor should anything happen. Professor Snape happened to be heading in the direction where the duel happened. 
“Professor! Please, I need help! Draco and Harry, they– he–, in the bathrooms, please help!” You frantically cried out, so panicked that forming sentences was difficult. Only short bursts of panicked words fumbled out of your mouth. Snape understood though. His pace sped up as he took longer, quicker strides to reach the bathrooms. 
Frantic sobs escaped your lips as you watched the blood pour from Draco’s body, a pained expression painted across his face. Harry stood there, just staring at the scene unfolding. Snape rushed to Draco’s side, kneeling down and whispering the counter spell. 
As his low voice chanted vulnera sanentur, the blood that once marbled the water on the bathroom floor began returning to the cuts on Draco’s body. Draco’s whimpers and groans of pain soon quieted as he fell into unconsciousness. 
“Ms. L/n, I will be taking Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing now,” Snape muttered while carefully lifting Draco’s unconscious form. You quietly thanked him as he walked out of the bathrooms. 
With a blank stare, you perched yourself atop one of the sinks, thinking back to the events that just happened, the fear, the violence, it couldn’t possibly become any worse, right? 
You sat like that for a while, listening to the water drip and flow from the still broken pipes. Eventually another professor had come in and repaired the broken pieces, paying you no mind as you still sat on the sinks. You weren’t really sure how long you sat there, but it was very dark outside when your mind finally released you from your spiralling thoughts.  
“I think I’ll go visit Draco,” you whispered to no one in particular. You braved leaving the bathrooms to fetch help, you could make it to the hospital wing, couldn’t you? The other ghosts of Hogwarts–minus Moaning Myrtle– could all roam free, so why not you? 
Cautiously, you peeped your head through the door and slowly, but eventually slipped your whole figure out. Once you were out, you peered down at your misty form, smiling that you had left the confines of the bathrooms. 
Everything was calm, night time was always so peaceful. It was almost serene to just float around the empty corridors. The moon shone brightly and the stars twinkled in all of their glory. A soft breeze blew every now and then, making the leaves quiver and the grass sway. Oh how you wish you could feel these little things again. 
Before you knew it, you were hovering next to Draco’s bedside, his expression looked so peaceful. You assumed Madame Pomfrey provided him with potions to help any pains and for a peaceful rest. Looking at the clock on the table, it showed it was nearly four in the morning. The dark blue night was not so deep anymore, but fading into a purple hue as the time ticked by. 
A couple hours had passed by the time Draco’s eyelids fluttered open. He was a bit dazed as he tried to gather his surroundings, unsure of where he was. Without turning his head, he let his eyes slide over to the right of him. He was met with your silvery form, deep in thought, not paying any mind to him. 
“You came.” He said, though it came out as more of a question than anything. 
You startled from your thoughts, “Oh! You’re awake! Are you alright now? How are you feeling? Does anything hurt still? Shall I grab Madame Pomfrey?” You couldn’t help yourself as questions fell from your mouth. Though you quickly slapped your hands over your mouth, squeaking out a muffled ‘sorry’ as Draco slightly smiled at your embarrassment. 
“I’m alright now I suppose. Thank you for coming. How did you leave though?” Draco asked, his brain finally processing that you had actually left the bathrooms. Over the weeks he got to know you, you had not once left the bathrooms where you met your tragic fate.
“You know, I’m not actually bound to that bathroom, right?” You giggled at his question. “I suppose I was just afraid to leave… or maybe I wasn’t ready to face the rest of the world and accept my fate.” You looked down, feeling a little embarrassed about your hesitancy to leave. 
“Oh, I–” “No, there’s no need for any apologies! I feel much better about my situation now though. I feel lighter. I feel more free. Now I’m wishing I actually was free and not stuck here on Earth like this.” You cut Draco off before he could begin any sort of apologies. You had enough of those and didn’t feel like hearing more. You laughed a bit as you expressed your thoughts out loud though, “I can go play with the other ghosts of Hogwarts now. Maybe that will be alright.” 
A genuine smile dawned on Draco’s face as he gave an airy chuckle. “Yeah, go and make some ghost friends. Oh how they grow up so fast!” You punched him in the arm, though your fist went right through, but the gesture made Draco laugh harder. He was glad that things were turning brighter for you. 
–==--==--==--=The Day the War Started=--==--==--==--
Draco was back in your bathroom, ranting, rambling, pouring his heart out to you again. Though you had the option to leave the bathrooms, it was your home base for now. You figured eventually you would choose somewhere else though. Eventually the horrific memories would plague your mind and you would need to escape them, but for some reason, you felt drawn to the bathrooms still. Perhaps, because you died there, your soul and body were somehow connected to the location. Who knows though?
“Y/n, there’s a war coming. Voldemort and his army are already on their way. Y/n, what do I do? I don’t want to face this. I don’t want to have to choose between the innocent and then my parents. I can’t–” Draco would cry if he hadn’t used all of his tears up in the days before. He couldn’t sleep, barely ate, and did not attend his classes since he was stuck at the Malfoy Manor. 
You were at a loss for words, unsure of how to help. The war was coming, there was nothing you or anyone could do to stop it. So you silently sat on your sink, listening to Draco with sorrowful eyes, wishing you could help ease his worries. 
Just as he was going into another rant, a loud explosion startled the both of you into complete silence. Dreading it wasn’t what you thought was happening. 
“Draco, you have to go.” You whispered sadly. He searched your eyes for any reassurance or hope or anything that might give him a clear answer. 
“Will you– will you still be here?” Draco’s voice, raspy from sobs and screams, wavered as he asked in a quiet voice. A sad smile formed on your lips.
“Of course silly. I don’t think I can just disappear,” you laughed slightly and reached for his arm. He felt goosebumps form where your fingers grazed through his arm. “Go, you’ll find your way.” 
He nodded at you, fear, panic, sadness, all mixed into his expression. His stormy grey eyes watered as he looked at you one last time before turning to head out and join the oncoming war. 
Only moments later, you heard what sounded like Death Eaters swarming the hallways, throwing violent spells at anyone and anything in their way. 
Then only a minute later, half of the ceiling and wall came crashing down next to you. Though you were a ghost, you still jumped away, the rubble startling you as it came crashing down. 
The once repaired pipes were now burst again, water flooded the floors once again. You could see out into the hallways now, watching as students swarmed in panic, trying to escape the grasp of Death Eaters. There were students duelling adults twice their age with more magical experience than them. Spells were flying, more walls came crashing down. None of it sparing students and adults alike. 
Everything was so brutal and cruel. The world was cruel. 
Unable to bear watching more death and injury, you fled from your half destroyed bathroom. It was just wishful thinking, but you hoped Draco would come find you, to show you that he was still alive and fighting. It was just wishful thinking though. You didn’t have the bravery to go watch the battles yet. Without being able to help, it was unbearable to watch students sacrifice their lives like this. 
Just wishful thinking.
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kazewhara · 2 years
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and with great power...
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# — pairing: spidey!kazuha x gn!reader
# — characters: gender neutral reader, spidey!kazuha
# — summary: ...comes great responsibility.
# — warnings: mentions of blood, injury, violence, mentions of character death (confirmed minor character death, no real MCD)
# — tags: spider-man!kazuha, nursing student!reader, physical hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, confessions, kisses, a little bit of arguing, lots of banter, kazuha almost dies (HE DOESN'T ACTUALLY DIE, REST ASSURED)
# — notes: always wanted to make a title like that. (edit: i'm crawling on my hands and knees forcing this in y'all's face, LOL) as always, reblogs and reactions are greatly appreciated and i hope you enjoy!
wanna join the tag list?
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✧ — 🍁🕷— ✧
the whole city saw it happen. everyone, all eight million people, watched in mutual shock and horror as the beloved vigilante known as spider-man was bested by the newest supervillain that terrorized the city streets.
to be fair, kazuha tries to reason with himself, he didn't go down without a fight. and at the end of it all, he still technically came out on top. the villain put on quite the show but grew too greedy in the end; once kazuha figured out their weakness, it was easy to figure out how to take them out. doing so was easier said than done, and it certainly wasn't ideal for the villain to have to die in the end, but with them out of the way, the city was safe — you were safe — and that's all that mattered.
well, sort of.
kazuha's never worried too much about his public appearance. it's not like he was keeping the city safe for the attention. in fact, he doesn't like it very much — he actually thinks he hates it now, especially since the villain somehow televised most of the entire battle. the entire city had to see him get stabbed and knocked unconscious. the end of the fight and the villain's defeat didn't seem to be shown to the public, so essentially, the people think that spider-man is dead.
kazuha stops his shambling down the alleyway and leans on the concrete wall. "they may not have to think that much longer..." he groans to himself.
barely conscious and annoyed beyond belief, kazuha has been trying to feel his way around the backstreets of the city to find your apartment for over an hour now. with the extent of his injuries, the average person would have dropped dead over thirty minutes ago; kazuha considers himself lucky that he managed to make it this far. he would have swung here, but he's fairly sure he'd widen one of several gaping wounds, and he'd rather not do that when he's so close to his destination. but close or not, his body is finally reaching its limits. it's hard to tell if he's made it to your building or not. he'd planned to scale the wall all the way to your balcony, but he doesn't think he can lift another finger.
kazuha slowly eases himself to the ground and rests his back against the wall with a weak chuckle. he can practically hear your enraged yelling now. you'd probably panic at the sight of him and make some snarky comment about him interrupting yet another one of your extensive study sessions. you'd force him to lay still and tell him to shut up every couple of seconds even if he wasn't saying anything, and he'd probably laugh at you.
"it's a shame," he whispers to no one, "i can't do that anymore."
kazuha's breathing becomes uneven. he may not be a nurse like you (he can hear your rebuttals already), but he's sure he's dying. the sleep that's creeping up on him feels oddly final; he knows for a fact that if he closes his eyes now, he's never going to open them again. but he wants to keep them open — he wants so badly to see you one last time, even if only for a second.
you, the only person he's ever loved; the only person who means anything to him; the only person left in this world who cares about him.
kazuha wheezes a laugh. technically, you don't care about him; he's long since pieced together that you've fallen in love with the masked version of him, yet he still swung by almost every day to see you.
"i'm a glutton for punishment, aren't i?" he murmurs.
...he misses you. he's going to miss you.
kazuha pulls his mask off and rests the back of his head on the wall with a sigh. at least he's going to die having kissed you at least once. the memory brings a smile to his face, but it quickly crumbles. he promised he would come back safely. he even sealed it with a kiss, and yet here he sits, barely clinging to life alone in an alleyway.
"...i'm sorry." he whispers.
"...zuha..?"
kazuha blinks slowly, his vision dotted with black spots. did someone call him just now?
"oh my fucking god..! kazuha!"
there's the quick slapping of feet on pavement approaching, but kazuha doesn't move to see who it is. there's no real use in that, he thinks tiredly. with what little strength he has remaining, he tugs the mask back over his face. whoever it was that called him already saw him in the suit, but he may as well try to salvage what little privacy he has left, if any.
the footsteps stop and the person's once distant voice comes in clear from right beside him. "no, no, no, don't cover your face! don't hide from me, please, i--"
kazuha frowns from behind the mask. that voice... it sounds an awful lot like... you?
"no," he rasps. "that can't be right."
your voice doesn't go away. if anything, it gets clearer. "what can't be right? kazu-- i-i mean, spider-man, you have to get up!" you touch his arm gingerly, a silent request for permission to do so. when kazuha doesn't move, you pull his arm up and drape it over your shoulders. he groans loudly and you begin to spew apologies. "i'm sorry, i'm sorry, just bear with me, okay?"
in a moment of desperation, kazuha's brain tries to switch itself back on. it is you — you're actually here, trying to help him. the heavens took pity on him and let him be with you one last time, but now that you're actually here, he finds himself scrambling to find ways to stay alive for just a moment longer. unfortunately, his body's exhausted just about all of its energy reserves — he's nearly dead in the water.
that doesn't stop you, though. despite all odds (and kazuha's agonized noises), you put your all into helping him into your building, into the elevator, and into your apartment. it takes far longer than you would have liked, but carrying a half-dead body isn't exactly easy for non-morticians. the entire way up, you could hear spider-man mumbling incoherently, the occasional apology coming in clear.
"if you're really sorry," you grunt as you lay him on your carpet as gently as possible, "you'll stay alive."
kazuha tries to laugh, but it comes out as a cross between a pant and a groan. "i'm... not too sure about that one, dove..."
you press your fingers to his pulse point; just barely a flutter. you need to act, and fast.
on any other day, you'd bemoan your status as spider-man's personal caretaker. you can't even call yourself his doctor -- or nurse, for that matter. you're just a nursing student who just so happened to stumble across him one day in the very same alleyway you just found him in.
but today, you have not one life in your hands, but two. and you'd be damned if you let either of them slip through your fingers.
you rush to your linen closet and sweep an entire shelf clean of medical tools and supplies. you're going to need everything you've got. you find a sizable hole in the suit and cut away the cloth on spider-man's (kazuha's?) torso with a pair of scissors.
the damage is almost as bad as you thought it was; there are four large clean cuts amongst a palette of bruises on his body, each one steadily oozing blood. with the way he's (barely) breathing, you'd assume that he's broken quite a few ribs, and that doesn't even begin to cover what you assume is similar lacerations on his arms and legs that are hidden beneath the suit.
"first things first," you whisper to yourself, your voice trembling. it's going to be a long night.
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it takes almost eight hours to stabilize spider-man.
thanks to your lack of expertise and access to high-end supplies, it takes far longer for you to get his body to stop going in and out of shock. but in spite of it all, you did it. once you wrap the final bandage, you sit back and look at the carnage. there's blood everywhere; you're going to have to trash this carpet. the thought almost makes you laugh. almost.
now that you have the time to think about something other than keeping someone alive, you find yourself scanning over spider-man's slumbering body. how were you supposed to explain any of this to him when he woke up? he wouldn't be surprised to know where he was, but you remember what you saw when you found him.
how were you supposed to tell kazuha that you found out his secret? do you even tell him at all? how do you tell him?
your thoughts are halted by a yawn. tears spring to your eyes with how big it is. maybe you're still thinking too hard; after all this, you need time to process — time to rest. so, you climb onto your couch, lay yourself out, and let exhaustion take you under.
you awake to the sound of your balcony door opening.
you shoot upright and squint and shield your eyes immediately. it's impossibly bright outside; did you sleep until morning? you blink back the vertigo and your vision clears to see spider-man with one foot out the door. you may not be fully awake, but you jump to your feet anyways, panicking. "wait!" you yell at him.
spider-man doesn't flinch, but he does stop. he looks over his shoulder at you, the gesture uncharacteristically cold for him. you feel your heart sink. "you're finally awake." he says evenly. "good afternoon."
"afternoon?" you parrot back. you fumble for your phone and check the time. sure enough, it's well into the afternoon — not only that, but you slept for over 24 hours straight. you gape, but then remember what you sat up to do. when you look back at him, you see spider-man perching on the edge of your balcony, ready to leave. "no, no, stop, seriously! wait a second, dammit!"
"i'm afraid i can't," he barely turns to face you again. "i have to go now."
"what about your injuries?"
"eighteen hours of sleep was more than enough for me to regain my strength." spider-man faces the city again. "now, if you'll excuse me."
you ball your hand into a fist at your side. why isn't he listening to you? why isn't he trying to crack a joke with you? why does it feel like he's never going to come back? if your heart sinks any lower, you think you're going to throw up.
what can you say to make him stay? he's so close to leaving. there's a lump the size of a rock in your throat and the words become stuck. you need to think of something. say something, anything!
"kazuha, please... don't go."
that gives him pause. you exhale, relieved, when spider-man — no, kazuha — hops down to stand on your balcony properly. finally, he turns to face you completely. you notice that the holes you made in his suit have been closed; he must have found your sewing kit while you were sleeping.
kazuha's shoulders sag. "i can't stay here." he says your name so softly, the sound of it jostles the lump in your throat. "i have to leave."
you swallow thickly. "and do what, almost get yourself killed again?" you don't know how the words are coming to you so easily. "i don't think so."
"in my defense," he tries to joke, "i nearly get myself killed every day."
it feels so sick to you, seeing the man who you'd barely managed to resuscitate make light of everything that's happened. he will never know of the four times his pulse completely stopped, of the hours you spent choking back tears as you desperately tried to keep him alive. you're barely holding it together now as you look him in the face — you still haven't even had time to process the fact that you've fallen in love with kazuha twice over.
molten tears sting your eyes. "am i a joke to you?" your throat tightens and your vision blurs.
you wonder what expression kazuha is making beneath that mask. the fact that you can't see his face — the fact that he still won't let you — only makes your face burn hotter. "no," he says. he says it like you've personally offended him. "never, i--"
"then stay." you demand. your vision blurs with unshed tears. there's just too much to process. "please, just... stay."
kazuha seems to consider your request. then, he walks further in your apartment. there's still so much distance between you two. is he doing that on purpose? he's silent for a while before he pulls the mask off, revealing his face. before you stands kazuha, the barista you've been seeing for the past couple of months. something akin to regret swims in his autumn colored eyes.
you bristle. "don't look at me like that."
"like what?"
"like you want to leave." you barely manage to get the words out. "like you don't want to be here anymore." when kazuha doesn't say anything right away, you feel your heart crack. "is this really that painful for you?"
kazuha frowns, his pretty features marred by regret and something else you can't quite place. "you were never supposed to find out this way." he sighs quietly. "you weren't supposed to find out at all."
you feel tears sting your eyes. so you were going to start a relationship with a man who was hiding a secret as big as this one? was he really never planning on telling you this? "why?" is all you can manage.
"for your safety." kazuha's response is quick, almost sharp. his brows twitch downwards.
"why?" you feel like a broken record. "i could've handled knowing something like this, i--"
"songbird," kazuha comes closer to you and you shudder subtly. you're not used to hearing that name come from his lips. "if someone found out that you knew my secret, there would be serious trouble. and i... i can't let anything happen to you. i won't let anything happen to you."
and yet here you stand with a single tear slipping from your eye. you're not sure what it is that's breaking your heart. it could be many things, really: it could be the fact that you're relieved to know that in the end, you were in love with kazuha all along, or that you've been keeping him alive for months without knowing, or that he literally died in your arms several times during the night, and had you not resuscitated him, you would have had to unmask his corpse.
there's just so much weighing on you, and you're nowhere near prepared (nor awake) enough to handle it all.
kazuha's in front of you in an instant, his hand coming up to rest on your cheek and swipe the tear away. he calls your name softly, like it's a fragile thing. he's been treating you that way this entire time, you realize. "don't cry, please." he almost begs.
"i just don't understand," your voice cracks. "how long were you going to-- to lie to me, kazuha?"
it's kazuha's turn to crumble. he visibly winces, clearly bothered by your choice of words. it's harsh, but you're right; he's been lying to you as both spider-man and as himself. "however long i could." he admits. more tears roll down your cheeks and he cups your face and rests his forehead on yours. "please believe me. it was for your own good, dove. i never intended to hurt you. that's the last thing i ever wanted."
"i know," you sniff. "i know, but..." you're at a loss for words. you stop for a moment and just bask in how warm he feels. the silence you share is weighted; so heavy that it closes your throat and nearly chokes you. kazuha's gloved fingers swipe your cheeks free of tears, however endless they may seem.
"what if i'd lost you?" you finally ask. "what if-- what if i couldn't help you? what if i ki--"
"you wouldn't have." kazuha cuts you off quickly. "i knew that you wouldn't. you have my gratitude. i literally owe you my life. but.."
"but..?" you echo. "but what?"
"i can't entrust that job to you any longer." kazuha's hands leave your face and you shiver at the loss of warmth. "i can't..." a pained expression makes its way across his face. "i can't see you anymore, dove. i have to go."
kazuha doesn't make any move to leave just yet, but you grab his hand, keeping him in place. it's almost funny -- he said he had to go, yet he curls his fingers when you take his hand, tightening his grip on you. "i can still help you!" you insist. "d-don't just cut me out-- i can help you, so let me help!"
kazuha shakes his head. "and run the risk of you getting hurt? no. i can't do that."
"kazuha, please--"
he calls your name, soft but firm. "i told you, no."
"i was always at risk of getting hurt! what's so different now?"
that doesn't seem to sit well with kazuha. something dark skitters across his face. "you're too important to me. i need you to stay safe, and... and if that means that i have to keep you away, then so be it."
"what the hell?" you throw kazuha's hand away from you. "you've been doing this ever since--" you stutter for a second, your emotions and memories coming in too fast for you to process. "fuck, you've been doing this since we met! making decisions without asking me how i feel!"
kazuha reaches towards you, but you slap his hand away.
"i take you in and patch you up once, and suddenly you decide that i'm your personal doctor. did you ever ask me if i wanted to help? no! you just kept coming back!" the words flow out of you faster than a rushing river current. "you dumped the responsibility of keeping you alive on my shoulders without my consent, and now that i'm doing it, you suddenly want to take it away -- again without asking me if i'm okay with it!"
"dove, breathe."
"oh, fuck you." you hiss. your head hurts. "i'm not going to let you jerk me around anymore, kazuha. i can't do that." a fresh wave of tears hits you, but you blink them back. "i don't care what you say; you're stuck with me whether you like it or not. you made this bed, so you better lie in it, dammit."
kazuha just stares at you. he's silent as you sniff and catch your breath from your outburst. something about his silence feels so condescending, so oppressive. something tells you that you're not getting through to him. then, after a long pause, he speaks.
"you're right." he says.
what?
"huh?" you reply, too stunned for words.
kazuha gives you a wry smile. "you're completely right. i dragged you into this and it would be... improper of me to push you out of it." he looks so pained by his words -- like the weight of his actions is finally coming to crush him. "i pulled you in all because i..." he trails off and looks past you.
"you what, kazuha?" you move in an attempt to meet his eyes, but he avoids you. is he finally going to tell you why he did this? "why did you keep coming back here?"
something so vulnerable and raw crosses kazuha's face and he doesn't catch it in time. the sight of it makes your eyes widen. his jaw sets and he finally meets your eyes. he looks so serious -- you're not used to it. as if he can hear your thoughts, kazuha exhales slowly, and the tension leaves with his breath. he seems to be his usual self once more.
"because i was in love with you." kazuha says after a beat. "and i'm standing here because i still am."
you balk. as obvious as it should have been based on how you two have been dancing around each other for the past couple of months, the idea of kazuha liking you back in earnest -- the thought of him loving you -- just never crossed your mind. you thought yourself alone in your intense feelings, and you were okay with it. you still had kazuha's affection at the end of the day; you were content with what you had.
perhaps it was because your feelings had split between kazuha and spider-man that you believed your feelings to be one-sided. spider-man could never have loved you back -- your intense emotions would be a hindrance to him. so by that logic, you automatically assumed the same must be the case for kazuha.
but it's not. it never was. spider-man and kazuha are the same person. and he's in love with you.
kazuha keeps talking. "i latched onto you, songbird." he huffs a laugh, the sound derisive. "it was a desperate move on my part. clinging to the one person who'd shown interest in me -- to both sides of me. i couldn't stand the thought of being without you. i still can't."
"then--"
"but there are some sacrifices that must be made." kazuha's words are firm, but his voice wavers. his whole expression shifts, and you can see just how uncertain he is about all of this. he gives you a tight smile. "if i have to lose you to keep you safe, then i'd lose you a million times over. i would do anything if it means keeping you out of harm's way."
you don't speak and for a while, neither does kazuha. the two of you let his words marinate and you can see plain as day just how affected he truly is by this decision. now that you're thinking about it, you think that this sounds scripted -- like kazuha made this decision and kept it on the back burner as a last resort. but if that's the case, then there's one thing he didn't account for: the depth of his feelings.
tentatively, you reach up and brush kazuha's face with the tips of your fingers. he blinks at you but doesn't pull away. you cup his face in one hand and sigh softly. "you don't really want to leave," you whisper. "do you?"
kazuha shuts his eyes and leans into your touch. he doesn't answer verbally, but you both know that what you said was correct. he presses the faintest kiss against your palm and looks you in the eyes. "i love you." he declares just loud enough for you to hear. "i want to keep you safe, but... truthfully, i... i want to do so by your side."
kazuha's words dance around every corner of your brain, lighting you up from the inside out. you lean in and lightly brush your lips over his, sending butterflies loose in your stomach. "then stay." you whisper in the space between.
you can feel kazuha sigh. he pulls you in for a longer, sweeter kiss, murmuring something incomprehensible as he does. kazuha's lips are soft and his hands are so gentle as they brush over your face. you try to break the kiss to say something, but kazuha keeps you in place, murmuring a soft, breathless wait.
he seems satisfied after a few more minutes, breaking the kiss to leave one on your nose and forehead. "hey, kazuha?" you murmur as he does.
"hmm?"
"i love you, too." it's almost liberating, finally getting that off your chest. your face burns with your confession, and when you see the way kazuha's crimson eyes brighten, your body temperature rises even further. god only knows what he's thinking right now. you avert your eyes. "kazuha... promise me something."
kazuha nods. you can still feel his eyes on you. "anything."
"come back to me alive." you chuckle quietly. "i'd say come back safe, but that's, uh... not our thing, apparently. so just... don't die out there. let me take care of y-- mmf--"
kazuha silences you with a kiss, one you melt into. when he pulls away, he looks torn. it takes a second for you to realize just how loaded your request is. in his line of work, where most of his opponents would rather see him dead than merely unconscious, staying alive is quite the hefty task.
he brushes his thumb over your cheek, his brows carrying the slightest draw to them. "you know--"
"i know." you cut him off with a weak smile. "i know. but at the very least... try your best. please."
kazuha looks at you for just a moment longer before leaning back in, resting his forehead on yours. "i'll do my best," he says. "for you."
you let your eyes slip shut. the thought of him leaving you after this makes your stomach turn. so you ask, "will you stay?"
kazuha's answering hum is immediate. "i will." he pulls you into his arms and sighs, the sound low. "i will."
you wrap your arms around him in turn and heave a soft sigh of your own. it's starting to dawn on you just how much you're taking on by having him here like this. kazuha's secret is a monumental one -- one that you now share. the safety of the city rests in your hands as well, now; whether you're ready to handle that responsibility or not doesn't matter anymore. your choice to stand by kazuha's side means that you're choosing to help take on the burden he's been shouldering alone.
you tighten your arms around him. you'll be damned if you let something like this happen to him again.
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✦ okay, okay, i know i've written better endings, but i didn't know how else to wrap this one up..
✦ but FINALLY this comes to an end... this has been in my drafts for AGES. i suppose you can say i'm cleaning out my drafts? i'm going to try wrapping up some old stuff and checking it to see if it's worth posting! there's some good stuff in here, y'know?
✦ anyways, i hope you liked this!
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pianocat939 · 1 year
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Imagine how PISSED the turtles would be if m/c had a close friend in the isekai/sentient bot au. Especially if said friend tried to drag m/c into another fandom over rottmnt.
M/c’s friend better send his prayers because they are FUCKED once their reality is breached by the turtles. Heck, Raph wouldn’t even hold back!
The turtles would probably be so livid they would target m/c’s friend and kill them directly after they kidnap m/c. They would walk through the portal towards m/c, coated in blood…
The moment m/c starts spending just slightly more time with them than the turtles (they consider m/c watching them on tv as ‘spending time with them’) is when all hell breaks loose. They probably would go for the kill while m/c is watching, just to make sure they know that the turtles are their only lovers friends :)
Also, I love your idea on Mikey getting angry when one of his bros says they can hear m/c as well. I doubt he would get far with telling off others and claiming they are lying, considering they can all hear m/c. After a while, he would kinda have to warm up to the idea that they can all hear m/c. He may develop the belief that m/c is some sort of divine being that watches over him and his family… giving small pieces of guidance as they go on…
…Either that or Mikey gets humbled by his bros :/
Either way, m/c‘s only real chance of escape is to destroy any piece of tech near them, break any connection with the show (if it is a sentient bot au, they would have to block the numbers and wipe the phone before destroying it), make a fake identity and change your physical appearance by a lot (m/c would most likely have to have some form of surgery to make distinguishable features disappear), and move to a completely new state/ country…
But even that may not be enough… I mean, DNA is a thing m/c can’t really change, so, depending how much info the turtles have of m/c, their only hope of escape may be to hide in THEIR universe as a mutant… just hope m/c doesn’t become a turtle :/ (that would be kinda funny tho- m/c attempting to mutate themselves to escape and ending up a turtle. Yeah, they wouldn’t be hidden for too long. Oh, the sweet, sweet irony).
And how would m/c’s friend escape? Well… let’s just say that they are the first person the turtles are targeting once they realize m/c has went into hiding… and m/c’s friend knows where they went… looks like m/c may not be so safe anymore after all…
Tw: implied past murder, blood, delusional perhaps- and uh... maybe implied future kidnapping?
“Shh…I’m right here, my divinity, your devotée is right here just for you.” Mikey shushes, rocking you in his arms as his blood-covered body stains your clothing. You stare at the all the blood dripping off their bodies.
Are they the reason why your friend hasn’t been responding to you?
You couldn’t move, too much in shock to even blink. You couldn’t even shed a tear, from horror and fear swallowing your heart.
“They were keeping you away from being taken care of by us! For me to take care of you…” Leo tried to justify, his arms reaching out to caress your face.
Donnie crossed his arms and glanced away, not wanting to witness the sight of his brother coddling the person he was obsessed with. “Keeping you from taking care of yourself..." He mumbled quietly, eyes narrowed as he grips his staff tighter. Grimacing at the blood that pooled around his feet. "They were hurting you...mentally and perhaps even physically."
Raph walks beside Mikey and pats your head, his eyes showing a sympathetic expression. "I know you didn't want to see them...disappear, but we really couldn't stand you being away from us anymore. But don't worry, we'll treat you way better than they ever did."
You could only continue to stare in cold terror.
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sendarya · 5 months
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Hey! Love your videos, always so thought out and we'll articulated. Looking forward to seeing more 💕
I was wondering your thoughts on the idea of angels & demons self actualising? It was a big theme in the show Lucifer and I recently discovered Neil Gaiman had been a writer for the source material!
Haven't seen too many thoughts of it yet and was wondering if you'd come across any theories
Have a fab weekend 💖
Oh, absolutely! That's an important concept being explored in Good Omens as well. I also didn't know Neil wrote some episodes of Lucifer! Where does he find time to sleep?
I haven't got a terribly long response off the top of my head, but we do see how angels and demons don't even think they have free will in the beginning, but some of them are slowly learning to exercise it nonetheless. Heaven and hell certainly keep all of the entities quite heavily suppressed. Much like the minisode The Body Snatcher, where poverty keeps Wee Morag and Elspeth from reaching their potential, and the unjust heirarcy and oppression of the common person in the early industrial west, heaven and hell keep the demons and angels poor, not with money, but in terms of stimulus and experience. Poor Muriel only sees someone else every few hundred years? The demons live very much like the poorest workers in the early 1800s. It's a theme we see explored in all sorts of media. In Little Shop of Horrors, the Ronettes say " how do you expect us to better ourselves, mister when you from skid row, ain’t no such thing." And in Utopia, Sir Thomas Moore wrote " For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.".
Humans seem to have been exploring this concept probably every since there were humans capable of doing so. And yet, we still get caught up in anachronistic thinking, as Azirapahle was, that people can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and make choices that aren't even available to them.
But the angels and demons that get sent to earth have more opportunity to learn and grow and change, and yes, perhaps eventually to self actualize. Both Crowley and Aziraphale are still under heaven and hells thumbs, even though they had a brief respite. Only when they throw off those oppressive yolks entirely will they be free to be themselves, and that's when I think we'll really see them shine.
Ok, turns out I had more to say on that topic than I realized. Thanks for the excellent question/ thought. I think I'd like to explore this a lot more!
Have a fab weekend yourself! 😊❤️
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melliotwrites · 6 months
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Hi! I’m writing my own music, and Adamandi is an inspiration. I’m just wondering, has there been any inspiration when it came to you two writing musicals? (Adamandi, The Art of Pleasing Princes, Ghost Story, and any other future musicals.) Such as, any movies, TV shows or any other musicals? I find the aesthetics and music in these musicals all so different and I love that! And the themes in these musicals are so interesting! (/vpos!)
Great question! It's hard to separate genuine inspiration from research, since once we get an idea we usually try to consume everything that's related to what we want to write to figure out what we wanna add to the cultural conversation. Sometimes we also get inspiration from a work because we don't like it and want to position our piece in opposition to that one. But for this post we'll try to keep it to Genuine Inspiration that we consumed before we wrote each piece (hey, this thing is cool, this helped me figure out how I wanna write my thing for the better.)
Maybe we'll break this up by show:
TAOPP
Fun light fantasy with heart that plays with the tropes of fantasy settings, a la classic DND settings, Six of Crows, Terry Pratchett
Mel took a class on the High Middle Ages and read On The Origins of Courtliness (from which the title is derived!) and The Ballad of Tristan and Isolde, which got sort of melangéd into the Princes court world- living and dying by the king's pleasure, etc.
Aesthetically, the TV show The Great? Mel watched it a little bit before writing Princes and the anachronistic dialogue + rules of court drama have something to do with it.
Not much musical inspo for this tbh, I think it was just our first go at Writing A Show Together so a lot of our influences were just other musical soundtracks we thought might be the vibe we were aiming for. (Probably Pippin, 35mm, Great Comet, etc..)
Similarly with lyrics, I wasn't really thinking of a lyrical style, but I think I based a lot of my song forms on Something Rotten as the other show I knew set in the same era (using the very loose definition of "the same era"). ~Mel
ADAMANDI GENERAL INSPO:
the usual dark academia medias (Maurice and Another Country were our favorites) and also attending undergrad at a dark academia ass college
Lots of folk horror! (The Wicker Man (1973) - was particularly fun for me in thinking about the Catholicism storyline -Mel)
Jordan Peele movies like Get Out and Us
For musicals, Passion was really inspirational in both tone and subject matter.
Lyrically, I tried to think about Falsettos and Sunday- very lyrically dense shows that portray the intricate vocabularies of a specific, often highly intellectual subculture. What shibboleths do academics use to identify who does and doesn't belong? And why is the word "shibboleth" so not singable :( I think really liking Matilda as a kid also had something to do with it. ~Mel
I looked at a lot of horror musicals for a research paper but didn't like them much. (Except Little Shop. I love Little Shop and kinned the dentist in high school.) So I guess that's inspiration but in a what-Not-to-do way? Which is how I stumble on a lot of "inspiration" - Elliot
ADAMANDI MUSICAL INSPO:
chamber pop, baroque pop (incorporating the orchestral/acoustic elements of "dark academia" movie soundtracks with alternative pop and rock that's associated with the dark academia aesthetic more thematically)
The Dresden Dolls/Amanda Palmer's music
swing, jazz, dark cabaret (for the 1930s vibe)
Murder ballads (e.g. American Murder Song)
also weirdly the soundtrack to the Yellowjackets TV show. I love the eerie vocals in them and the creepy use of body percussion/breath - Elliot
here's an early inspo playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2wjhDj3ZzR01ghNfB03sYC?si=6f38f4c5f2ee43c7)
GHOST STORY
(more of a reading list since we're thinking top-down for this one!)
M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang. I will never write anything as bangin' as "Being an Oriental, I could never be completely a man." - Elliot
Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection by Julia Kristeva
Stranger Intimacy by Nayan Shah
A View From the Bottom by Tan Hoang Nguyen
Ishtyle: Accenting Gay Indian Nightlife by Kareem Khubchandani
For musicals, Assassins and Parade
Arcadia and Follies are my touchstones for how the past and present can intersect onstage, and what got me excited about doing it ourselves! ~Mel
GHOST STORY MUSICAL INSPO
ragtime, jazz, Americana, blues, folk, country ! For inspo, trying to look for American folk music as close to 1880 as possible, but it's hard to find. Allowing myself to listen to stuff up til 1920.
Also alternative pop/rock/indie/whatever per usual. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0QwtUiwwZfc3TYMy0DarOq?si=cc9d5129d43b4aeb is my working inspiration playlist right now - Elliot
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donnerpartyofone · 2 months
Text
Everything I Watched While I Was Recovering From the Plague
I have a fantasy that watching a bunch of movies of wildly varying quality and content in close proximity can really bend your wires out of shape, like being exposed to too much radiation. I like to tell people that I had to get all those eye surgeries because of all the deranged stuff I subject my eyeballs to. My criteria for this marathon were "movies I want to watch but it's never 'the right time'" and "movies my sick husband in the next room is not interested in".
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THE IRON CLAW: Pretty much the big, dumb, lummoxy movie that you might expect. The script is surprisingly weak--the girlfriend declares that everything is a matter of fate minutes before saying "I believe we make our own luck"??--but the family curse part is sort of compelling in spite of it all. I admit I was partially in it for the freak show of muscle mania; for various cultural reasons the way bodies were presented (and the kinds of bodies people aspired to have) in the '80s was so different than it is now, the exhibition of flesh had a very different kind of character that's hard to describe but this movie with its bulbous wrestler bodies filling the screen gave me flashbacks. Zac Efron should keep his He-Man haircut.
DARK HARVEST: I've been struggling to describe this certain type of movie that's very form over function, with a pretty specific form: there's like a really forced "stylized" nostalgia thing with a lot of humorless "weirdness" attached in movies like FINAL GIRL and KNIVES AND SKIN, and to some degree THE REFLECTING SKIN although that's a more sophisticated example (that I still don't enjoy). Anyway DARK HARVEST adds a Pumpkinhead guy (not pictured below) to the mix, and he looks pretty good at least.
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THANKSGIVING: Well it's the best movie Eli Roth has made in a long time! It's OK. I like that the inciting incident is a Black Friday stampede, but it's too bad he didn't have the means to make it look more convincing; it feels like about a 150 people running around yelling and there's conspicuous amount of breathing room for the victims getting "crushed".
ZONE OF INTEREST: A tour of the ogre's castle, creepy and effective. Łukasz Żal's spy cam setup cleverly establishes a sense of being trapped in forbidden chambers.
GODLAND: Danish priest makes the perilous journey to Iceland, is a complete asshole to everyone he meets. Interesting, but more beautiful than interesting.
LINGERING: Goofy K horror in which a handful of different neurotic women are relentlessly mean to a small child. I often wonder about this trope of like, someone who is categorically unsuited to parenthood gets saddled with an orphan, and they REALLY don't want to adopt the orphan, but eventually they turn against their own personality and rational estimation of means because the orphan is so cute and/or sad. The implication seems to be that every one of us can and should be parents, and maybe this is even related to the (usually comedic) trope of the solitary curmudgeon who just wants to be left alone, until they undergo some kind of forced exposure therapy at the hands of their nosy neighbors who insist that no human being could actually enjoy their own company. This is an ongoing concern for me.
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UNREST: Anarchist watch factory workers in love. Second movie in the list that uses early photography as a motif (also GODLAND). Pretty interesting formally, and I like all the stuff about the development and spread of standardized hourly time.
WITCHHAMMER: 1970 Czech allegory for Communist "show trials". Man, whether you're making an exploitation movie or a political statement, witch hunt movies are always tough stuff, huh?
HONEYCOMB: A woman unravels mentally when her childhood furniture arrives at her home, and she and her husband play out a series of weird infantile psychodramas as an escape from the pressures of their bourgeois existence. More interesting than enjoyable, and I'm not always sure how interesting it really is. There's a certain brand of European '60s filmmaking that involves a lot of improvised shrieking and laughing and crying and rolling around on the floor that makes me question whether it's really as hollow as I think it is, or if I'm just not a sophisticated enough viewer to understand the power of it, or if its original power was really dependent on its context in the development of cinema. Maybe the answer is a little of everything.
THE SWEET HOURS: A Spanish writer's latest play parses the Freudian mysteries of his childhood, and he fully immerses himself in the rehearsals to seek the truth by reliving his memories. It's actually not that deep but maintains a great air of importance anyway.
NIGHT GAMES: A young aristocrat brings his bride to his childhood manse where their surroundings trigger immersive memories of his debauched youth, in which--wait a minute, am I watching the same fucking movie for the third time? Not really but that was weird. Criterion notes that this is supposedly John Waters' favorite movie, which makes a lot of sense when you've heard him say that he used to force Divine to drop acid with him and go see Bergman movies, which Divine HATED. What's really funny to me is that if you basically do not want to drop acid and watch a Bergman movie then you'd think nothing could make you do it more than once! The idea of John Waters tricking Divine into doing this repeatedly is fucking hilarious.
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SAM NOW: Disturbing documentary made by some young dudes trying to find out why their mother suddenly abandoned them when they were kids. It's a decent enough movie but I was extremely unsettled by the blithe naivete of the young brothers set against the increasingly obvious fact that there's something pretty bad going on with the mom. Get ready for a lot of discomfort and unresolved questions if you watch this.
LIZZIE: Why is it that nobody has made a good Lizzie Borden movie? It's one of those overly familiar tales that's just sitting there in plain view still waiting for a solid adaptation, kind of like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but that at least has the great Disney cartoon in among all the so-so film attempts. You really want this to be good with Kirsten Stewart and Chloe Sevigny AND Denis O'Hare who I love to death, but it's just not that compelling. Actually it doesn't even dig into the most interesting details of the story in my opinion, I guess we needed to save time for extra lesbian makeouts. Also I hate to say it but Chloe Sevigny is really miscast; I love her but her whole thing is being really easy-going and natural, and that doesn't really work for this character (or she's not getting the direction that worked on AHS). Oh well.
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MAIDSTONE: See my notes at the end of HONEYCOMB. I found this almost totally unwatchable. I've never read any Norman Mailer. Is Norman Mailer still cool, or did he just seem cool to some people at the time? Was Norman Mailer sort of like an adolescent rebellion phase that American literature had to go through in order to get to wherever it is now? A cursory review of his legacy seems to indicate this. Or maybe it's just really hard for me to sympathize with someone who goes way out of his way to piss off women, and then his defense against the inevitable backlash is "SEE? Feminism is fascist bullshit because look how I'm being treated!" I still see men do this on the smaller scale of their personal relationships--you know the drill, drive some poor woman insane, and then when she acts insane, invalidate everything she says by calling her insane--and they don't even need the excuse of clumsy satire to keep doing it, so forgive me if I don't find this approach very radical. And that's all setting aside Mailer's fetishization of the American Negro for whom it is not my place to speak, but you can imagine what that consists of if you don't already know. In any case I did not enjoy this movie, but I was on the edge of my seat the entire time waiting for the infamous Rip Torn hammer attack. I developed this whole fantasy that Rip Torn must reach a point where he just can't take it anymore and he tries to kill Norman Mailer. I mean *I* sure wanted to kill Norman Mailer, somebody has to do it, right? There are several moments in the film where it seems like someone has finally snapped and the cathartic murder might take place. What actually happens is that Rip Torn wanders up to Norman Mailer with a claw hammer, totally wild-eyed, and declares that he has finally understood that this great work of art can only be resolved with the death of the character Mailer plays. He really seems to believe what he's saying, and the sequence is extremely disturbing. In a way it's even disappointing, there were perfectly good, sober reasons to kill Norman Mailer without putting an unstable person in a chaotic and violent situation where he might naturally flip the fuck out! If MAIDSTONE has anything to tell us about the myth of the cowboy auteur, it might be that somebody like Norman Mailer shouldn't have free reign to abuse large groups of people even in the name of social critique or whatever, because one of them might turn out to be fucking crazy.
WANDA: I love movies that are made in Pittsburgh, I find them all totally fascinating. Or even just Pittsburgh-adjacent, like contrary to everybody else my favorite part of THE DEER HUNTER is the very beginning with the wedding, it's totally captivating to me. Anyway this is an odd, grimy little drama written and directed by Barbara Loden in which she plays the most incompetent woman in the world. It's a good time for a bad time, and if you're watching closely you'll see a poster for THE BRAINIAC in one of the scenes!
KISS DADDY GOODBYE: Obscure psychic kids movies starring Marilyn Burns and Fabian. Marilyn Burns is the nice teacher and Fabian is the cop who try to solve the mystery of the psychic kids, so they inevitably have sex because we have time for that I guess, but man Fabian's like roadside bachelor pad is SO SCARY. It has to be somebody's real hoarder house and it looks like it should be condemned, I felt nervous for Marilyn Burns! Marilyn Burns do NO eat or drink anything that comes out of that kitchen! Have you had your tetanus shot Marilyn Burns? Please run screaming, this is not a normal bachelor pad mess and it is not a good place for you to be naked!
The End.
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Killer Croc finding out that he’s dating a former Actress; finding out from flipping through TV Channels and seeing her in a Movie; a horror movie. He also learns that she has been in 3 movies and one TV Series; that ended after 1 Season due too poor ratings. He has sooo many questions! Like why? Why did you quit?. She said “Being an actress/actor isn’t all it’s cracked up too be” Dealing with Paparazzi’s, Social Media and even Stalkers. Overall, just not having any privacy and being on the go!
"The B-list blues" Killer Croc x f!reader
This is such a fun/different prompt! I don't see this dynamic often so I hope I do it justice.
TW: stalking, hate comments online
His brow furrows when he lands on a channel and sees someone that looks like his girlfriend. He almost remarks how her twin is on the TV until he squints. Underneath the screams of terror and fake blood- that's her!
"You never told me you were in a movie!" He's looking over at her to her nervous laugh. She's sort of standing there, frozen for a moment. It's difficult to talk about something you had to quit. Especially when said thing tends to represent a certain beauty standard that your partner has struggled with his whole life.
Yet, her boyfriend only expresses interest! What's it like being a big movie star? Lots of fans? This the only one? It's... a pleasant surprise.
"Well- I gotta see all of it, chere." He's a little surprised when she tells him it was only three movies and one season of a TV show. But she's gorgeous, look at her! And from what he's seen she's got that thing. What's it- the "it" thing.
It's a surprise when she tells him it's not because she couldn't get the jobs. She quit. At first he's willing to shrug it off- you don't like it, get out. But... he can tell there's something lingering that she's not saying. He knows that too well, that itch of tension under the skin.
His voice is low, "You wanna say why or is it uh..." His fingers tap the couch. "Too personal" feels clinical to him. Something Crane would say. She gets what hes trying to imply.
There are so many horror stories. Paparazzi from shitty smaller magazines trying to catch a photo of her when she wasn't looking her best. Comments online about her body, her face, her acting. Then there was the stalker-
"The what?" She winces. It was bound to come up at some point. It was several months of her life, after all. A fan that asked for an autograph, then joined an online fan club. When she was on the show, he was constantly sending her messages and attempting to get on set. While it had nothing to do with the show getting canceled- It certainly didn't help the stress surrounding it.
She sighs, "I couldn't... live my life. I was either constantly moving or scared to leave my house. I quit. I had to quit. I couldn't be that scared and anxious anymore-" There's a mist to her eyes that he can see forming. Waylon surrounds her with his body in a hug. The sigh that leaves her feels so heavy. Has she ever really talked about this?
His voice rumbles against her, "Want me to eat him? I'll bite some putain's face off for you."
It's just silly enough to make her laugh. She feels herself rising to her toes as he lowers his face down for a kiss. He wipes at her cheeks for any tears with his thumbs.
At some point he will joke that it's good she's dating him- they'll always be looking at the big green man with a skin condition in the pair. She can kiss him again and tell him she loves the way he looks and the way he is.
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grumpy-liebgott · 3 months
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Miscellaneous tag game
Made by the one and only @ronald-speirs <33 Thank you for the tag @panzershrike-pretz @mutantmanifesto @dontirrigateme @malarkgirlypop
Favorite place in the world you’ve visited?
I visited a town near this mountain in China called Siguniangshan Town once and I loved it so much. My country is pretty hot, so I enjoyed the cold air very much. The buildings there are so pretty, and the food is just amazing. Also I saw yaks and wild horses, which was really cool.
Something you’re proud of yourself for?
I'm proud of getting through 2023. It was a really stressful year for me, especially during my exams, but I pushed through. I've just received my results, and I'm happy to say that I passed with flying colours!
Favorite books?
The Invisible life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and The Hand, The Eye and The Heart by Zoe Mariott
Something that makes your heart happy when thinking about it?
My dogs - the way they practically melt when I scratch a specific spot on their bodies. The way Hollie curls up into a ball when she sleeps, and the way Mochi sleeps in the most ridiculous positions. The way they'd literally start climbing me if they want more attention. I just love them so much.
Favorite thing about your culture?
Definitely the food. Also the festivals.
When did you join the HBO War fandom? What was the first show you watched?
I joined quite recently, around winter 2023. The first show I watched was band of brothers!
Have you read any of Easy Company’s books? If so, which ones were your favorite?
Nope, but I hope to one day
Favorite HBO War character and your favorite moment with them?
Joe Liebgott. My favourite moment was that part when he said "woah, hershey bars!" Oh also that scene in the concentration camp. It just felt like such a raw moment for someone like Lieb who seems like a tough person most of the time.
George Luz. For him, my favourite moment was when he shouted "I HAVE NO IDEA" to Harry. Besides that, I like the part in Hagenau where he was just so done with everyone trying to take the chocolates.
Do you make content for any fandoms, if so; what sort of content?
No, but I hope to one day!
Favorite actor/actress and your favorite film of theirs?
Well, I've never really thought about it, but if I had to say, maybe Millie Bobby Brown. I loved watching her in Enola Holmes, and Stranger Things.
Favorite quote/s that you wish to share with others?
Uhh I don't really have a favourite quote, so I'm just gonna take one I like from Pinterest
"Have fun even if it's not the same kind of fun everyone else is having." - C. S. Lewis
Random fact your mutuals/followers don’t know about you?
Ummm, maybe that I'm currently taking a diploma in piano.
If you’re a writer, do you need a beta reader (say yes so I can be your beta reader 🤭)?
I'm not a writer, but maybe one day in the future???
Three things that make you smile?
My sister or my dad telling the dumbest jokes to ever exist.
Visiting the zoo/aquarium
Interacting with my mutuals
Any nicknames you like?
Not really. Zowie is actually a nickname already so that, I guess?
List some people you love to see around on tumblr!
@blueberry-ovaries @panzershrike-pretz @ronald-speirs @blood-mocha-latte @footprintsinthesxnd @mutantmanifesto @david-sharkthot-webster @sharkboyandlavalieb
I'm probably forgetting so many but those are the ones I see a lot
What would you do during a zombie apocalypse?
Die immediately. I have no survival skills and I'm SO unfit
Favorite movie?
1917, Enola Holmes (1 and 2), Mulan (animated and live action), Fury, Paddington (1 and 2), Black Widow
There's so many I just can't remember them.
Do you like horror movies?
No. I hate them. Whenever I'm forced to watch one, I'd spend the next few days sleeping on my sister's bed and jumping at every little thing.
Yes, I know I'm pathetic.
Tagging (no pressure!) : @flashnthunder @blueberry-ovaries @footprintsinthesxnd @georgieluz @a-gassy-antelope @b00ks1ut @sharkboyandlavalieb
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Hello! about your malevolent ask
[long ass answer- many apologies]
its a slightly goofy, sort of horror soap opera, in the vein of call of cthulu/tma. I dont find it Super Scary, but idk what your milage for horror is.
The overarching plot is drivin by the patrions (sp sorry), in the style of a choose your own adventure novel- you can usually tell where the choices are; it'll be something like 'omg arthur, we're at a crossroads- do we go left, to the evil cavern (where the horrors live) or right, to the evil woods (more horrors).' You can also hear more overt RPG stylings in the beginning- dice roll sounds for perception checks, etc. These do fade out after the first season.
Rough outline (some spoilers): John (a spirit/demon type guy) possesses Arthur (a detective from Arkham MA) and, in doing so, takes over his eyes. Now Arthur must navigate the world with only the guidance of the voice in his head. Horrors unfold, walls are walked into the boys are in their get-along consciousness. Think venom, if both of them were way bitchier and prone to swearing. and also eddy was blind.
IS IT GAY: Yes and no. If its a friendship, its really intense- but cannonicaly it has been very firmly stated that they are just friends. However, the relationship is intertwined and deep enough that many people consider it to be queerplatonic- Arthur being aromantic is a very popular interpretation, if that sweetens the pot for you (idk how loosely you're using gay here). Glib answer: its pretty queer, but no kissing.
COOL STUFF:
-A dramatic, intense relationship between a guy and the dude who lives in his head. They argue ( my god how they argue) they make up, they argue again.
-The saddest little english man (arthur) gets chucked off cliffs multiple times. Do you like men whimpering? This is the podcast for you!
-Very impressive voice acting: the writer voices absolutely everyone in the podcast (yes. everyone) and its genuinely almost unnoticeable. You really do have to have it pointed out to you.
-Fun, slightly campy (in the way of an rpg campaign) Lovecraft style horror
-Lovely piano soundtrack
-A gentleman called the butcher shows up in- what season 3? maybe?- and I adore him. Go singing irishman go. You get that violent homoeroticism.
Drawbacks:
Again, I don't really know your taste, but these are some of the things that might turn someone off from listening. YMMV etc.
-LOUD. If you dont like gentlemen yelling DIRECTLY AND ANGRILY INTO THE MIC then this is not for you. If you do like that, then you are about the have the time of your life. There is also just. An incredible amount of panting/heavy breathing. Also directly into the mic, and at length. Like, an 'i am secretly watching gay pornography' amount. I had it going on a speaker once and my roommate had questions, kind of amount
-Almost no women characters: understandable, since a dude is voicing Literally Everyone- but it is something of a sausage fest. Women exist in universe, they just tend to move in the backround/be unvoiced. Lots of 'oh heres whats happened to her' sort of describing around the 'I can't voice a woman' issue. One old lady has a few voice lines and thats it.
-Kind of a soap: This is a draw for me ngl, but if you are looking for TMA 2: the magnusing- she isn't it. Its a LOT lighter than tma, writing wise, and isnt exactly hitting any crazy new twists in its plot (if you've read Any lovecraftian stuff you probably wont be super surprised by anything)BUT. Its still very fun. Two dudes sharing a body, detective roadship shenanigans. They might kiss! Might see some skinned bodies or something.
The dynamics can be a lil repetative (wake up break up back together) and the plot can be a little- ehhhh. due to it being yk, patrion controlled- but that can be fun- it's pretty heavily a choose your own adventure story at heart, so if your down with that (and the sillyness that comes with it) then you'll like it.
-Gore: pretty gory. I enjoy that sort of thing/ am not really effected by it BUT if that not your cup of tea, then you might wanna skedaddle.
🤠 thats all. Again, apologies for the very long answer.
First off- don’t apologize! This gave me everything I needed- thank you for the detailed answer to my question! Looks like I’m giving this podcast a listen- everyone wish me luck 😭
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