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problemswithbooks · 2 years

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I’m kinda glad the next season there not adding no new characters and I’m hoping for a happy ending and according to duffers will is going to take center stage but I’ll believe it when I see it

Yeah, it'll be nice not to spend a bunch of time introducing new characters, especially since they seem to only be there so they people to kill that the audience cares about who aren't the main cast.

I do hope there's a happy ending.

Some people have speculated that Eddie might come back as an undead pawn of Vecna, who maybe they can save. I sort of doubt it at the moment sense they haven't done that sort of thing before, but I won't complain if Eddie comes back. He was a really fun character, and out of the dead cast, I think bringing him back would make the most sense.

AS for Will, I agree that he should play a big role in the last season. He has the biggest connection the the Upside Down along with El, and he has been poorly utilized for most of the show, usually ending up a damsel in destress. So it'd be nice if he got to have a better, and bigger role in the final.

I've seen a lot of talk that says Byler (Will/Mike) is going to be end game ship wise and that's going to be a part of his big role. Personally, I hesitate to say it will happen and am a little worried seeing how sure people are that it's going to be canon. I remember to much of that in past fandoms, like Sherlock or Voltron. People were so sure their ship was 100% going to happen and then were furious when it didn't materialize. With Sherlock that was understandable because the fans were purposely baited, but Voltron wasn't like that, yet people were still counting their chickens before they hatched, so to speak.

I'm not against the ship, but I do think if it happens the Duffers are going to have to be spot on with their writing to make it work and not feel tacked on. As many Byler shippers have pointed out Mike has been pretty shit to Will, while also being a crap boyfriend to El. For me at least it would be weird to have El break up with Mike because he's been shitty to her (only seeing El as a superman/weapon), and then to have Will and Mike get together, especially if he also develops powers.

Unless there's a time skip between them getting together, for me it'd just feel like Mike hadn't had enough time to grow and change after his break up with El. That he was bound to repeat the same mistakes with Will.

#ask #thanks for the ask :)#sorry it got buried #Stranger Things #I admit I am a little bias toward Byler because as an Aro person I'm a little sick of the #traumatized teens get together and live happily ever after trope #like to honest none of these people should be dating #they all seem rather bad at thanks to the Duffers writing #which is either brilliant because they act like real teens who break up every 5 min and don't really get relationship stuff yet #or terrible because they do mean for these ships to be really romantic and for watchers to see them as working out in the future #like even if Byler happened I'd have no faith that it'd last more then a few months given Mike's track record with El #which I guess isn't bad #gay teens deserve to have rep that shows them having crappy first relationships too #but i doubt any end ships will be treated as temporary #shows like to end on the ships being forever #which I would get for older couples like Joyce and Hopper #but not so much for teens who have already shown that they like breaking up at a moments notice #like I won't really believe any of the end game ships lasting more then a few months with any of the younger kids

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aotopmha · 4 years

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Attack On Titan Chapter 124 Thoughts

Chapter 36, the focus chapter Sasha had, has for the longest time been labeled as a filler chapter, but I maintain that it's thematically probably one of the most important chapters of the story and I think this chapter only adds to this idea.

Attack on Titan has such a strong perspective and thematic core and I think that's what makes this chapter a really solid one instead of just a chapter to drag this story out or just set all the ducks in row for what's coming.

Even if Eren succumbs to the demon inside of him, as Nicolo puts it, and has to be killed to be stopped, there are characters that haven't succumbed to their demons yet.

The story provides at least some source of hope even in it’s most darkest moments and compared to many other stories that go for this kind of exploration of humanity, I actually think this is one of the more balanced ones when it comes to the hope and darkness in the story. Usually the finale for these kind of stories is covered in a thick layer of cynicism, with the real, more idealistic perspective and actual thematic point of the story coming out in a understated, but firm manner - From the New World and Devilman Crybaby come to mind the most to me when it comes to anime.

Cynical stories about humanity to me are stories that have no empathy for humanity and just tell you how horrible it is.

Even as Jean expresses his cynical viewpoint this chapter, it’s full of understanding on the meta level.

As he's been doing since moral ambiguity has taken the center stage, Jean simply tries to rationalize a very difficult situation. It’s not there to say that the rest of humanity deserves this or humanity is shitty and that’s that.

The story has a lot of empathy for Eren's situation as it should because the readers have been with Eren on this journey for a long time and are conflicted just as the characters are.

Some of this material might be redundant (and I think the anime could help out here once more), but to me it's still very effective.

Some of my favorite themes in stories are learning to see the world in a more complex light and fighting against all the negative within yourself and I'm pretty much eating all of this up not only because it's themes that I love, but also because I think they are handled a bit more complexly than usual.

These have been some of the most fundamental ideas of the story since the first chapter: it all started with the most basic idea of standing up and keeping up the fight despite the fear and loss someone experiences and we’re right back here at the end of the story.

As I said in my initial post and what I’d say is the second strongest part of this chapter to me overall behind Nicolo’s speech about having a demon within yourself and leaving the forest, is Gabi's character arc.

Eren has been the primary positive representation of this struggle of fighting your demons for a while, but now it's Gabi - she fights to return everyone she loves to Reiner (and her) and does so without throwing anyone else under the bus, while Eren is now the negative representation of that struggle.

Stories about struggling with the bad in yourself don't often have negative examples where people lose against their demons, either, that's why I find Eren so interesting, as well.

The story truly paints nobody or nothing at fault here but human nature and I think you don’t really see that often.

Maybe in some story there is some conspiracy going on with some organization or some individual orchestrating everything that is wrong with the world - see Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Dragon Ball or most other Shounen stuff. I enjoy that stuff - a central antagonistic force that represents everything that the protagonist shouldn't be/is representitive of an opposing ideaology isn't even foreign to AoT - for a time it was the Colossal Titan and the other shifters, the nobles within the walls, then Zeke specifically, all the way circling back to Eren himself and it very much helps to give direction to a story.

AoT just claims the root of all evil isn't one specific antagonistic character or group, but the parts of human nature that might drive us to hurt others.

The shitty nobles of the walls and King Fritz? Instead of the story just telling you how horrible they are, it also says that it’s human nature to grow corrupt - Ymir Fritz got her Titan powers by pure coincidence and naturally, humans took advantage of it. The humanity outside the walls? They aren't just a evil hivemind, in fact most of them are innocent people and the element that causes the most problems is actually ignorance.

Desiring power, being scared and hurting others because of being scared and doing anything you possibly could to survive, even if it also involves hurting others - it’s all shown as something natural, but also something to overcome rather than a inherent, unchangeable part of humanity.

It’s not just “that’s how humanity just is and there’s nothing we can do about it”, it’s “that’s how humanity is, but we can do something about it”.

It's human to succumb to these instincts, but we can also be above them.

This chapter is called "Thaw" and majority of it is about barriers between people melting away - Gabi and Kaya, Shadis and the recruits, the 104th and Gabi and of course, even the barrier Annie is surrounded by melting away.

Eren's presence as an enemy seems to have caused everyone to at least temporarily try and put their differences aside for the sake of survival, so whether Eren planned this or not, on some level unity is being achieved because nobody wants to die. This situation is playing into humanity’s intrinsic desire to survive and strive. Eren’s message to the Eldians really might be something to facilitate at least a temporary truce among all the sides for everyone to survive and if the Eldians play a essential part in stopping this, their contribution would be impossible to ignore and therefore they should get something positive out of this.

I suppose how believable it would feel narratively is up to everyone individually, but I don’t feel like it’s all that naive if you frame it like that.

Looking at it myself, I think some people would fall back to rely on their worse instincts, but I also think some wouldn't - an overly cruel humanity is just as unrealistic as an overly kind one.

There's nothing much for me to say about Annie because the panel of her being out of her crystal says nothing, but her plot thread is now at least addressed.

Finally, some neat details are Armin once again taking action with the Manouver Gear as he did before to be consistent with some physical character growth we've seen of him and Connie taking away Falco to finally also address the plot thread with his mother - if it came ahead somehow, I think Connie finally having enough makes sense and was properly built up.

Nile ultimately had his character arc capped off in a fine way prior to this chapter, so what happened here worked for me.

Looks like Pixis actually didn't get eaten by a female Titan, but rather taken out by a character with the history of being mistaken for a girl, so there you go. Armin also ended his life with respect, which I think also works fine here.

It's also nice Shadis gets to have a little bit of a character development moment of acting instead of just remaining passive.

I think now the plot threads left to address are:

1) The Ackerman powers

2) Levi and Hange

3) Historia

4) Eren

5) Kiyomi

6) The Warhammer Titan

I think the story can do it just fine looking at the timetable with the announced season 4. Some of these don't need very elaborate explanations and can be combined with other stuff - like Connie's mother.

I expect Levi and Hange, Annie, Eren and Historia to all get separate chapters and the other stuff to get mixed in there.

I think it'd work out with 8-10 more chapters.

This chapter, though, was a solid set-up chapter with side character payoffs and closures here and there to me.

I think the story is definitely doing it's best to give closure to everything - Connie's mother and Annie have seemed to be dropped plot threads for many people for a while now, but the story brought them back and seems to wish to address them in some manner.

The story has already broken ground among mystery box stories for actually answering most of it's huge mysteries in time, but as I've gone into in a bunch of my chapter posts for some time now, if it satisfyingly sticks the final landing, even in however flawed way, I think it'll definitely be special just for that.

#Attack on Titan #Shingeki no Kyojin #AoT 124 #SnK 124 #Chapter 124 #AoT #SnK

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elusive---ivory · 5 years

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The Woman In Velvet pt 8

Aaaa, this took way too long, but here we are

PAIRING: Arthur Fleck x Oc

WARNING: Mentions of abuse, and self harm

Masterlist (masterlist isn't working rn, will try to update it later)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Taglist:

@princessgeekface @memory-mortis @gloomybih @mijachula (if you'd like to be on my Taglist message me or send me an ask 💗)

Sandy sat next to Arthur in the hospital room. His mother laid next to the two of them. Gently comforting Arthur, Sandy rubbed his back. His eyes stayed focused on his mother.

"She'll be fine, sweetheart. I'm gonna go get a coffee. Do you want one?" Sandy got up, kissing Arthur's forehead.

"Yeah," He whispered, gently.

Sandy walked down to the hospital's cafeteria, grabbing two black coffees.

"So in a world where everyone thinks they can do my job. Get a load of this guy, who thinks that if you just keep laughing, people will think you're funny." Murray Franklin spoke through the television screen. Sandy looked over at Arthur, who was holding onto his mother's hand.

Sandy never liked Murray Franklin, it always reminded her of her uncle's cigars. It made her shiver. She knew how much Murray meant to Arthur, even though she didn't care about the guy all that much, she loved seeing Arthur happy.

"You know, haha, I hated school, ha, when I was a kid. I, ha ha, h-hated school. My mother would say 'You should enjoy it, one day you'll have to work for a living.' No, I won't, ma. I'm gonna be a comedian."

Arthur's eyes were glued on the television screen. He turned over to Sandy, and grabbed her hand, pointing at the TV to prove it was him. She smiled, holding his hand.

"Heh, you should've listened to your mother." Murray said, as the audience roared with laughter. "Play another clip, Bobby. I love this guy."

Another clip of Arthur's stand up began to play.

"When I told people I was gonna be a comedian, everyone laughed at me. Well, no one's laughing now."

"You can say that again, pal." Murray commented.

Arthur's joy quickly became anger. He let out of Sandy's hand.

"Now, this is my personal favorite. Some girl runs up on stage, and kisses the guy. Makes me think she's an actress getting paid to do it."

It was Sandy running up onstage, kissing Arthur. There was a bunch of ooos and ahhs from the audience.

Sandy glared at the TV. "What an asshole." She mumbled, under her breath. Sandy looked over at Arthur.

Arthur didn't look at her. He had a strong grimace on his face.

"Are you real?" He asked. He turned around to Sandy. "Or are you just a 'paid actress'?" Arthur spat out the word 'actress.' Arthur's emerald eyes bored into Sandy head.

Sandy smiled gently at Arthur. "Darling, I'm as real as you are now. I'm a real life, breathing human being. I love you, Arthur." Sandy held Arthur's hand close to her chest.

Arthur felt frozen in place as he felt Sandy's heartbeat steady in his palm. He leaned in the crook of her neck, keeping his hand on her chest.

"Let's go, Artie." Sandy smiled, kissing his head.

"Ok." He whispered, softly.

Sandy led Arthur to his apartment. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you in your apartment? I'd be more than happy to." She asked, politely.

"I'll be ok." Arthur jiggled his keys opening his front door. Sandy turned away, walking towards the elevator.

"Hey, Sandy." Arthur called.

Sandy turned around. "Yeah." She called back.

"Could you stay?" Arthur asked, meekly.

She smiled. "Of, course."

Sandy sat comfortably on the couch with Arthur on her lap.

"Fuck Thomas Wayne and Fuck the system." An angry protester shouted on the television. It seemed like Thomas Wayne was all over the news, as well as the riots and the protesters.

Sandy wasn't paying attention. Her hands subconsciously ran through Arthur's hair.

"So, Wayne manor didn't go well?" She asked, slowly falling asleep.

"No, it didn't. Maybe tomorrow." Arthur mumbled against her thighs, watching closely to the television screen.

"Maybe." Sandy repeated. "Tomorrow's that rally. That sure sounds like fun. I never did like Thomas Wayne."

Arthur lifted his head up from her lap. "Why not?"

Sandy shrugged, not answering his question.

She looked up at the TV screen. "My uncle died today." Sandy said, aloud. Her face held no emotion.

Arthur looked up at her. His eyes filled up with remorse. "Oh. That must be hard." Arthur got up to her eye level.

Sandy started laughing hysterically. "Ha, you know what's funny, Art. He can't hurt me anymore. Just like Dennis. Those poor, poor, fucking bastards."

Arthur got off of Sandy's lap. He looked at her in shock. Her laughter was uncharacteristic.

"Why should we feel sorry? Because I'll tell you one thing, Art. I haven't felt a single bit of remorse since those fuckers croaked." Sandy's laughter subsided.

It clicked in Arthur. "Wow." Arthur's laughter was triggered from Sandy's.

"Laugh it up, baby. Life is a comedy. That's why people laugh, because laughter takes your breath away. Much like a kiss." Sandy picked up a cigarette that was lying on the floor.

Arthur continued his laughter. "Y-you're right, Sandy. Ha, ha, ha."

She smirked holding the cigarette in her mouth.

His laughter subsided. He looked up at Sandy with pain in his eyes. "You're just like me. I've never met someone like you. Someone that understands." Arthur looked down at Sandy's arm. He saw the burn in the center of her arm. "What happened there?" He pointed to it.

She lit the cigarette in her mouth and looked at him shrugging.

Arthur held Sandy's arm. "Please don't." He kissed Sandy's burn. "Please, dear."

Arthur's pitiful expression was too much for Sandy. She held him close and broke down crying. "I love you, Arthur."

He smiled returning the favor. "I love you too." He kissed her cheek gently.

Sandy laid on Arthur's chest, feeling his heartbeat. His heart made a soft beat lulling her too sleep.

The sun shined through the window, beaming on Sandy's forehead. Her nose twitched as she opened her eyes to her surroundings. She was laying in bed next to a sleeping Arthur. Sandy smiled at his sleeping figure, leaning over giving him a kiss on his forehead. Arthur's sleepy ocean green eyes slowly opened.

"Good morning." Sandy smiled, kissing his cheek.

"Hmmm." Arthur mumbled, pulling Sandy closer.

"Hey, are you heading to the rally tonight?" She fluffed his hair a little bit, trying to get his attention.

Arthur mumbled something that sounded like a yes.

Sandy smiled. She got off the bed. Arthur made a faint whine.

"What? I have to get my stuff from my apartment." She giggled. "I'm off from work, but I still gotta check my messages. I'll be back."

Arthur lifted his head, tilting it slightly at Sandy. "You promise?"

Sandy kissed his head. "I promise."

She walked out of the bedroom, giving Arthur a small glance.

Sandy walked up to her apartment, using the stairs. The elevator was getting fixed, so she couldn't use that. Once she entered her apartment, Sandy went to her kitchen. The rats had gotten into her fridge and chewed up her paper towels and all her remaining food. She sighed, rubbing her temples. Sandy tapped on the answering machine.

"You have (1) new message." The same monotonous voice said.

"Voicemail 1:

Sandy? Hi! It's your cousin, Deliah. I've sure you've heard about our dad. Destiny has been been living out in the country for a while, but she'll be home in time for the wake. Since, Daddy's funeral isn't until tomorrow, I wanted ask if we could hang. It hasn't been the same since you've moved to the bad part of Gotham. Not to mention with the riots going on, it'd be nice to catch up."

The message ended.

Sandy rolled her eyes. She picked up the phone and dialed some numbers.

"Sandy! Hi Sugar! How are you?" Deliah's Jersey accent called through the phone.

"I've been fine, Dee. How about you?" Sandy said, tired. She had played through the motions in her head.

Dee wasn't a sort of trustworthy person. She had a long history of drug abuse, and was a trust fund baby at it's finest.

"Oh, I've been better. Ya know, I'm heading to this bar, tonight, down by Wayne Hall. You should come." Dee said, excitedly through the phone.

"I don't know, Dee." Sandy sighed.

"Come on, Sandy. I know tensions are high right now, but you should really loosen up. It'll be great for ya. Who knows maybe we can find you a lucky guy?" Dee teased on the phone.

Sandy scoffed. "I think I'm all set."

"Sandy, please. I'm begging. It'll be fun. I promise." Dee whined.

"Ugh. Fine, okay. If you'll excuse me, I have to get going." Sandy groaned, rubbing her temples.

"Great! See ya at 6." Dee hung up the phone.

Sandy gently put the phone back on the kitchen counter. She had cleaned up her kitchen, and decided to head back downstairs again.

Arthur had already gotten up. He cleaned up around his apartment. He heard a familiar knock at the door. Arthur walked over and opened the door.

He smiled widely. "Hey, I was beginning to worry about you." Arthur said, half jokingly.

"Yeah, one of my cousins, Dee, called. She wants me to come with her to some bar." Sandy sighed, frustrated while sitting on the couch.

Arthur's eyebrows furrowed into a frown. "You're not going, are you?"

"I didn't say no." Sandy shrugged.

Arthur looked down, turning his back to Sandy. "Ok." He said, coolly.

She put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, dear. It's near Wayne Hall. It will be lame." Her reassurance wasn't enough.

"Uh-huh." He answered back, sharply.

"Arthur, babe, please don't act like this. I know it's unexpected, but Dee kept pestering me, besides the funeral's tomorrow and I-"

Arthur cut Sandy off with a glare. He walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"You are mine." He growled through his teeth.

Sandy's eyes widened. "Arthur I-"

Arthur cupped her face, and cut her off again with a kiss. Sandy kissed back, putting her hands around his neck. She back up into a wall. Arthur pulled away.

Sandy smirked. "Do you really think that would convince me not to go?"

Arthur looked down, backing away from Sandy. "Yeah." He smirked back. "Did it work?"

"Almost." Sandy giggled, kissing his forehead.

Arthur frowned, again.

Sandy gently pet Arthur's head. "Hey, I'll be back before the rally. I love you, Art." She kissed his forehead.

Arthur wanted to trust her. He felt happiness around her. He didn't want that happiness to go away.

"I love you too, Sandy. You're my everything." Arthur's eyes dilated.

#joker arthur fleck #arthur fleck x reader #arthur fleck #arthur fleck x oc #joker movie #joker 2019 #joker x reader #the woman in velvet

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