#to give younger newer writers a chance

[seventeendeer]

... prefacing this with "I'm not out to pick at your post here", because it intrigued me and made me reflect on how (relatively) little I know about the 60/70s and guns -- although you said that nobody knows how to write about various aspects about TF2's canon (middle-aged mostly-white mostly-men, the time period, guns, etc.), I'm unsure if that was hyperbole and thus I've gotta ask -- is there anyone within the fandom that you think has done a halfway decent job re: writing any of these things

I've been into TF2 for over a decade, and while I've read my share of fic, I freely admit I haven't found any I think really nailed it. at least not any that engaged with it constructively.

that's not to say it doesn't exist! the tf2 fandom is huge and I'm certain there are fantastic writers out there who know what they're doing.

however, I have found that increasingly in recent years, fans just ... don't even know where to start. back when I first entered the fandom (~2010), there was at least a basic understanding of the tropes the game is parodying, because they were much more present in the public consciousness. the game was conceived and released at a time where it was assumed players would recognize the genres parodied and the historical context depicted (if only from pop culture, if nothing else), and approach the characters accordingly.

however, times have changed and those assumptions no longer hold true. younger fans come into the game without the ability to recognize the cultural context it was supposed to exist in, which naturally leads to a flattened, superficial reading of the game.

which in turn leads to a fandom that is increasingly detached from the spirit of the game, who don't have the tools to interpret the comedy the way it was supposed to read when it was first released in 2007.

which in turn has made me less and less interested in engaging with the fandom. what I have seen does not encourage me to get back to it. like I mentioned in the post I made, even the newer official comics don't even seem to really "get" the original game, so it's no wonder the fandom struggles with the same thing. I think a lot of fanworks are more based on the comics than on the game anyway these days, which simply isn't my thing.

one piece of fanwork that has sparked my interest recently, though, is Emesis Blue! I haven't watched it yet, but from what little I've been able to gather, I think there's a chance it might actually be closer in spirit to the game than anything I've seen before. it makes certain creative choices I don't strictly find appealing, but just the fact that it's willing to veer closer to the soul of the game makes me very, very curious. even though it changes up a bunch of superficial details and has a very different tone from the game, I still get the feeling whoever made it had a real interest in engaging with the original "text" as it was intended to be read, even though it's done in a way that wasn't the intended fan reaction. I may very well give it a go at some point! I'd rather see fanwork that understands yet disregards canon intentionally as an artistic choice than fanwork that superficially resembles canon without understanding it. whether or not Emesis Blue is any good I have no idea, but I at least admire what it seems to be trying to do.

(although I should clarify I don't think knowing anything about guns is important to understanding TF2. when you read that post I made yesterday, I need you to imagine me with my head in my hands complaining drunkenly to a bartender who tells me I've had enough. some of it is definitely real annoyance, but some of it was also just exaggerated annoyance for the funnies because at the end of the day it's not that serious. TF2 will survive being largely misunderstood, I'm sure. I might not survive TF2 being misunderstood but that's a me-problem)

#asktheherd #deertalkstf2 #team fortress 2 #tf2 #yeah im putting this in the tags too idc i am pummeling that wasps nest #i already got one message from someone who was curious about what i was talking about and wanted to know more! #that's awesome! if i can spark interest in learning more about the oft-overlooked layers of tf2 that's great!! i will cope w the haters

[destinyc1020]

that film updates tweet about how only three male actors born in the 1990s have been nominated for an oscar had me thinking about how this generation of actors have been kind of underwhelming. Like compared to previous eras they just dont have the same screen presence or onscreen charisma. Like tom cruise, denzel, leo or even going further back to cary grant, robert redford, sidney potier, rock hudson, burt lancaster to name a few these men would command the screen, like they just had this natural talent that drew you in, I feel like thats missing. There just missing that magic.

On the other hand Its the women of this gen that really have been killing the game, and been excelling and constantly deliver incredible performances.

Link

You know Anon, I was gonna blame this on social media and fans just being OVER-invested in their faves and what they're doing these days, and THAT being the reason why so many stars of the past had more of an air of "mystery" and ability to really "disappear" onscreen into their roles, but then you mentioned the women KILLING the game, and so I didn't really have any excuse lol 😅🤣

One thing I think people need to stop doing though, is comparing every young actor to Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, and Leo DiCaprio. Part of that "magic" you saw onscreen was because you didn't know (or SEE) too many actors outside of the screen. Yes, paps have ALWAYS existed, but the Golden Age (and even the 70s,80s,90s, etc) was totally different from the celeb-heavy culture that we live in today, thanks to social media. 🙃

The newer generation of actors are living in a different time period. It could be also that the writing (and plot lines) for a lot of films these days just isn't what it used to be back in the day.... let's be honest! Aren't we in a writer's strike?? That's for a reason lol. 👀

I think people should just give these actors a chance. I don't think the younger actors in our generation are all that bad??? Is it just me?? 🤔 Most are pretty good actually! 👍🏾

I also feel like, no offense, but a lot of popular actors in the older times were typically chosen to be on screen simply because they were good looking and nice to look at onscreen. Nowadays, there's less emphasis on how good looking you are, but more so what a good actor you are. I personally think it's a good thing. 🤷🏾‍♀️ There are still good looking actors out here, don't give me wrong, but I think the emphasis is less on how good looking you are, and more so how well you can act.

It could also be that because you're actually living in the time period of NOW, you have a different view. 20 years from now, the younger generation might be saying: "Goodness, the actors these days don't command the screen the way Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, or Austin Butler did in the past" rofl 😅🤣

The WAY films are shot now are also different. I just don't think we should always be comparing to times past, when EVERYTHING was different (even how they shot films AND commercials!were so totally different). We don't wanna compare every new actress either to Halle Berry, Meryl Streep, Angela Basset, etc. They all grew up in a different time period, when things were a little different in Hollywood. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Society has changed.

Even back then though, the Academy still didn't like awarding young actors with Oscars at a young age. It's been going on for generations, lol. Young actresses, on the other hand, have a much better chance at winning an Oscar.

I'll just keep watching the projects that come out, and I'll see these actors evolve over time. I def think we have some very talented actors in our generation. 😃 But idk if we can really compare them to the past? Movies themselves have changed drastically from the past. Jmho

[mikkokomori]

Anonymous writer who wrote about Sunny's Mom. Back to the courtroom with Basil in IBKS! (I meant to put this in my last submission but I grew obsessed with Sunny's Mom aklsjdlfjdlkjfkljfd. Honestly, the poor woman lost almost everything in the game canon, and she really did lose everything in the bad ending and this AU...)

So the defense is trying to plead insanity defense (a not guilty plea is virtually impossible given the number of witnesses and the utter shit-show that went down that night) and it's working pretty well. The jury has a bit of sympathy for him.

So far, it looks like this:

Defense:

Basil had no actual parents to give him love

Mari was like an older sister for him. Then she commits suicide.

Her death causes his friend group to break up.

The Hooligans started bullying him.

His grandmother, the only person around to show him love and care, recently passed away, triggering his mental breakdown.

Sunny would not have died if he had taken extra care and caution and left the room to seek help. It was an unfortunate accident.

Prosecution:

Basil still had other social networks to reach out to: Polly, his teachers, the school counselor, mental health hotlines, and he could have attempted to form newer bonds when his friends left him.

Basil is possessive of Sunny. His attack made it clear that he had no intention of allowing Sunny to leave.

Counseling has shown that Basil was already mentally unstable after Mari's death, and was quickly deteriorating. His grandmother's death was only the tipping point.

Sunny was trying to be an honestly good friend to Basil. The reason he went to Basil's room in the first place was to check on him. Unfortunately, Basil was in the midst of a breakdown.

Aubrey, Kel, Hero and Polly all reported that the door was jammed when they attempted to enter. Reports state that the door was incredibly old and prone to being stuck. The hinges were faulty. It had to be broken down. Even if Sunny tried, he likely couldn't, not with Basil ensuring that he didn't get the chance to.

"How do you accidentally stab someone to death?"

And because Faraway Town seems small enough, gossip starts spreading, some about the mother, some about Basil.

"I can't help but feel sorry for her..."

"He killed someone, but I can't help feeling bad for him. It's sad for both sides..."

"I know he didn't really plan on killing him, but when I heard he was trying to keep him from moving away when it was supposed to be for [Sunny's] own good... I don't know what to think."

"I hear she's refusing any sort of financial compensation. She's not accepting guilty pleas, either. She really isn't the forgiving type anymore."

"I can see some disagreeing, but I have a hard time blaming her. She was gone for only a few days, expecting her baby to still be in the house, and then he was killed."

"Kind of strange that Basil deteriorated so badly when Mari wasn't even his sister..."

Finally, somebody asks, "Why did Mari commit suicide?"

It's an uncomfortable topic, because no one likes talking about it; but it does raise some eyebrows.

Mari was not just putting on a face. She really did have it all. Loving parents, an adorable baby brother, an equally loving and adorable boyfriend and a few other younger sibling figures, and even a cuddly cat. She was a good student with beautifully exceptional piano skills. She was on her way to graduate, more than ready to jump into college with a good handful of scholarships. Even with the expected frustrations and pressure of doing well, she tackled it with gusto. She even talked with her mother one day about proposing to Hero in the future! Once she had a fulfilling career, or at least a stable job, all that was left was to find a ring, take him to their childhood picnic spot by the park's lake under the stars, and if he said yes, tell everyone the good news. (A tragedy that she didn't live long enough for it.)

So what the hell happened...?

Then someone points out that Mari's estimated time of death was the day of the recital.

Knowing Mari, she would have been in her house's piano room, practicing. Sunny would have been practicing with her on his violin. Their parents were out shopping to prepare a big dinner for after the recital, leaving only the two siblings in the house. Mari had asked them to go without her and Sunny, so they would have extra time to practice. The parents agreed. Mari was old and capable enough to handle the house, and they knew she would call if their children needed something, or if anything else happened.

Was it clinical depression? Something that had gone undiagnosed? She didn't seem to have any episodes. But even if she did, if she was feeling terrible and couldn't take it anymore, why didn't she call for help? Surely, she knew she could, right?

Because at least one person would eventually come to the conclusion that Mari's suicide didn't make any sense, another question was asked, "Did she really commit suicide?"

Was it murder?

It couldn't have been murder, because the only other person in the house with Mari was Sunny, and he was only around twelve at the time. Plus, he loved and adored his big sister. What reason could he possibly have to kill her and deprive himself of the biggest joy in his life? At this point, though, he's dead. It certainly couldn't have been Hero. He loved her so much that, before they got together, he thought she liked someone else, and was trying his hardest to help her get together with them, until she told him straight to his face that she liked him. Sure, no couple is perfect and they did argue occasionally, but they always worked it out and got back together. He also has an alibi at her estimated time of death, buying gifts with Kel and running into Mari's parents at the grocery store. Aubrey also has an alibi, having been at the hair salon with her parents to get her hair trimmed.

That only leaves one. Where was Basil?

Mari's body (or her skeleton, rather) is dug back up with her mother's permission, and specialists confirm that while her neck was indeed damaged, they also found cranial and a few other bodily fractures that would not be present if Mari had only hung herself. Doctors also confirmed that she had bruises and scrapes when her body was still (mostly) intact the day she died.

It's concluded that her cause of death is not suicide by hanging, but falling from a tall enough height.

It's difficult to string someone up when they're bigger than you...but even a child can simply push them down the stairs, can't they?

#submission #anon lets get married fr #i love you thank you for existing GAAAAHGDHDHCD #KISSES YOU WOOHOOO THANK YOU FOR THIS #by far one of my favorite submissions #omori #omori sunny #omori basil #omori mari #omori aubrey #omori kel #omori hero #omori spoilers #what if? omori #anon submission #miko panta #anon writings

[literaticat]

The agent I'm considering signing with is young and only has a few years experience in anything publishing or writing related. She does have great mentors at a great agency so I'm not worried about the business side of things. But since I'm also young and constantly learning about my craft I wonder if I should go with an older more editorial agent instead. How much does your agent's editorial eye matter for new authors?

I guess it matters to some extent -- but I don't think that I'm any SMARTER or BETTER AT EDITING than I was when I was younger. I was fairly smart then, and I remain fairly smart. (As my great-grandmother would say, "could be better, could be worse, but thank the good lord I'm still on my own two feet!") -- some people by far younger than me are BRILLIANT editors. In fact MOST editors at publishers are younger than me! :-) So I wouldn't really be concerned that this young agent might not be great just because she's young.

If anything, I, a senior agent with a robust client list, am much less likely to take chances on books I think need a ton of work. Like... I just don't have time, and luckily, I'm in a position where I can be VERY picky. A new, "hungry" agent who is actively building their list is more likely to have time and energy to get deep in the weeds with revision than I am. That's certainly how I was when I was new/young, and had new/young clients -- and over the years, we have grown together.

If you are curious about her potential editorial style or acumen, ask her to talk to you about your book. What does SHE think it needs, editorially? Do her thoughts resonate with you? At the end of the day, YOU are the one who has to do the heavy lifting of actual revision, regardless of what agent you sign with.

You also can -- and should! -- ask to speak to some of her clients, assuming she has some, before you make your decision. Ask them what THEY think of her editing chops. You can't hope to REALLY know what it is like to work with somebody until you work with them -- but hopefully this intel from her clients, combined with her thoughts on your book, will give you a good idea.

[That isn't to say new writers should ONLY query young agents! By all means pick a mixture of newer agents and more experienced agents. And when/if you are lucky enough to have multiple offers, you can choose between them based on many factors, including what kind of editorial work they think your book needs, etc etc.]

[thundergrace]

#caroline dries #batwoman #i was wondering what happened there! #Chad and James are a good writing team #gotta be honest #there was no notable difference in their episodes #that made me go 'wait what happened?' lol #i think...i THINK they even wrote 2x05 #but anyway that's so dope that gave up an episode #to give younger newer writers a chance #3x07 #anyway man #bums me out that this season was reduced #i know a few shows were reduced #I'm just saying #these are great stories #and while the storytelling hasn't suffered much from the increased pace #it would've been nice if they could've taken their time

[damnhotmsimmons]

Assuming the cm revival is still happening, here's a list of what I want in the revival and what would make it better:

Tara, Luke and Matt getting more screentime and decent characterization

No more Reid angst and unnecessary drama(*cough*15x06 & 15x10*cough*cough*)

Garcia being in the revival, whether she returns to the BAU or not, it would be nice to see what she’s up to whether it’s about her new job or date and relationship with Luke

Garvez, seeing the development of their relationship since the end of 15x10

Resolving the Garcia stalker storyline from 15x04, maybe Alexei Stanovich resurfaces and Garcia needs the BAU’s help to stop him. Maybe it’s also coincidental that he resurfaces the moment Garcia starts a relationship with Luke

Letting Paget go gray when playing Emily again. The crappy wig has got to go

Have the team struggle to adjust to Garcia’s departure, maybe a callback to 11x20 or 6x03 when Garcia walks past JJ and Morgan’s empty office. Maybe Emily, JJ or Reid walk past Garcia’s empty office, which was once filled with light and colors

Emily struggling to find a convenient replacement for Garcia, which is tough as Garcia is irreplaceable but the team are not able to complete cases without a technical analyst

Have a realistic timeskip, maybe a few years have passed since 15x10 and we see how much has changed since Garcia left and so much has changed

More friendship moments with the ladies(and yes, this also includes Tara)

More Luke and Tara friendship moments

Give Tara more to do, I mean she was the only one who didn’t have an episode in the final season and I felt that Aisha was underutilized in that season especially when she’s been on the show since season 11

Same thing also applies to Matt, sure he has gotten some focus in three episodes in the last season but he was still underutilized and characterization from cmbb was ignored. Kinda jarring especially when some of those writers came from cmbb

Assuming that the revival will continue and knowing that Daniel has commitments to another show, maybe give Matt a proper send-off, just don’t pull an NCIS. Leave it open ended incase he’s able to return

If they want to revisit past cases, maybe resolve the escaped prisoners storyline, the one with the Romani family in 4x13 or bring back the unsubs from Lo-Fi/Mayhem since we didn’t know much about them and their motives. The latter could also be beneficial for Tara, Luke and Matt since Tara can use her forensic psychology skills when it comes to profiling the unsubs, Luke being from the Bronx indicates that he has some familiarity with the streets in NY and Matt utilizing his tracking skills and connections

Since the revival will be on Paramount+, I’m hoping that means the revivial gets a decent budget. I’ve never seen any original series from Paramount+(CBS All Access then) but I notice from gifs and commercials that the quality of those shows look good and I’m hoping the same applies to the revival, which means better lighting and no more of that ugly yellow filter

I’m also hoping that means better quality in the writing, maybe get new writers that understand the characters and show well. Fire the writers who suggested Jeid

Better wardrobe, it seemed that the quality for the wardrobe aside from Garcia’s went downhill

Be more consistent and acknowledge the character’s ptsd. I hate how they have the characters act like things are suddenly alright after one episode

no more gross and creepy unsub like the guy seeing the goat man or cutting off faces like wtf?!

give the revival a tone similar to the early seasons. Use the early seasons as a reference

another episode like 15x04. Since the revival will focus on one case as opposed to the usual “case of the week” type, maybe there’s room for a breather episode, and we see the characters on their day off, a little break from whatever serious storyline 

Let Rossi retire, honestly, he’s way out of his prime and it’s getting obvious that he’s too old to be going on the field especially when he got ambushed by Everett Lynch who is much younger than him. Honestly, the finale should have ended with Rossi retiring, especially as he’s been in the BAU since the beginning and it make sense that it ends with him leaving and moving on while the rest of the team move on without him

unpopular opinion, I think the show can last without Rossi/Joe

More Willifer moments and Katt moments. I’d also like to see Matt and Kristy taking care of baby Rose. I’d also suggest JJ and Matt bonding with their kids but that seems uncertain since depending on when the revival will be greenlit for production, there’s a chance that the kids grow out of their roles(JJ’s kids might not be that affected but Matt’s kids definitely will). Unless they either recast the kids(which isn’t uncommon for some shows) or have a timeskip which explains the kids being a bit older than in s15

Fix JJ’s character, I hate how the writers ruined her by making Jeid happen. AJ is a great actress and she cares about the character. Maybe have her interact with the newer team members, build up more of her friendship with Tara and Matt. I’m not sure how the writers can fix her characterization but I wished they push the whole Jeid storyline out and focus on her as a character

I’d love Hotch and Morgan to be mentioned or acknowledged, making it clear that the team still keeps in touch with them even though they’re no longer working for the BAU. Cameos would be nice but that depends on Shemar’s availability due to commitments to SWAT and the whole situation with Thomas during filming of s12

Guest appearances from other former characters would be nice but also unlikely since Gideon and Stephen are dead, Kate is mostly forgotten(plus Jennifer is on 9-1-1), and while Elle returning as an unsub would make an interesting storyline, it’s clear that Lola has no intentions on returning to CM(based on her IG stories)

seems like Blake, Jordan and possibly Seaver are the only likely candidates that have a better chance of returning as a guest but that depends on the actresses decisions and if the story allows it

Maybe learn from 15x05 since it was the highest rated episode, and has more ratings than the finale. Maybe the writers can learn from this and realized maybe they shouldn’t focus too much on Reid and Reid angst. There’s seven other characters, make the revival focus on all of them 

An update of Reid’s personal life, if he and Max are still together, and no angst

Getting to see the new BAU Jet

More BAU family bonding moments, whether it’s them having drinks, eating dinner together or celebrating something like a Garvez engagement, Rossi’s retirement or Matt’s first book being published

Retaining the opening title sequence. It’s not CM without it

 I know I might get my hopes up for this and be all disappointed if this post was all for nothing. Still, a girl can dream

Tagging: @illegalcerebral, @dreatine, @marvelfanlife, @jaqren, @yeoldespacebuns, @ropoto. Feel free to add anything incase I missed something

#spencer reid #jennifer jareau #emily prentiss #david rossi #penelope garcia #luke alvez #tara lewis #matt simmons #criminal minds

[film-enthusiastt]

Steve Rogers/Chris Evans Fic Recs

Check out the authors’ other works as well! If I listed any of your works and there’s wrong information or if you have a better summary, please message me or comment on what I need to fix!

Social Media Au

The Proposal(s) [8 Parts; Completed] Summary: Steve has the perfect girl. He’s bought the ring and now all he has to do is propose, which turns out to not be as easy as he thought it would be. By @imaginationintowords

Series

Break Me Like A Promise [4 Parts; Completed] Summary: In which Y/n learns to cope without her person, without the person who made her feel alive. The person who loved her...or so she thought. By @rarelikesel

Unexpected [23 Parts; Completed] Summary: You and Steve have been close friends for most of your adult lives. Leading up to the wedding of two of your friends—one being your sister—combined with Steve breaking up with his longtime girlfriend, you and Steve give in to the loneliness and have a one night stand, one that ends with consequences you never saw coming. You’re determined to stay friends, but as the months pass, both you and Steve come to realize what’s been lying in wait all along. By @sunriserose1023

Baby Love [9+ Parts; WIP] Summary: You find out that your chances of getting pregnant are starting to decrease as you are getting older. Chris, your best friend, offers to be your sperm donor. By @barnesandrogersfanfics

Just Friends [9+ Parts; WIP] Summary: After meeting Chris through a chance encounter, you become best friends. What he doesn’t know is you’ve been harboring feelings for him all these years afraid to ruin the friendship. As he goes through his casual hookups, doesn’t mean you can’t have yours. By @littlefiercequeen

Unexpected Gifts [16 parts; Completed] Summary: After college, you moved to L.A. to begin pursuing your dream in the movie industry. You started with an internship and worked your way into the position of stunt coordinator by the age of 25. Your life was finally working out, You were finishing the first week of training with the Marvel cast for "Avengers: Age of Ultron." You had it all put together until your younger sister took her life, left you full custody of her two-month-old daughter, and you found the love of your life. By @morganclaire4 

Love Connection [7 Parts; WIP] Summary: It’s about the reader being pregnant with Chris’s child, but they’re not together. The reader didn’t tell him because he dumped her, but Chris finds out later on in her pregnancy. By @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

One-Shots

Two Weeks Summary: Requested: “...Chris and bratty reader, he gets so fed up with her that he just takes her to make her shut up.” By @chrissquares

Baby Talk Summary: You and Chris have an argument about wanting to start a family and having kids. By @corie-the-writer

Double Proposal Summary: You were going to propose to Chris, but he does it back to you instead. BY @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

Instant Regret Summary: You and Chris have a fight because he thinks you're cheating and Chris pushes you away. Later that day you get into a horrible accident and he finds out some news that you have been hiding. By @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

My Angel Summary: Chris sees you on the Victoria’s Secret Runway for the first time and is completely blown away... BY @a-mess-of-fandoms

Football Game and Goldfish Summary: Nora absolutely loves football, maybe more than Chris. A little surprised too. By @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

Do Me A Favour Summary: Steve Rogers seeks out his ex-teammate (and ex-fiancée) as he tries to gather the team in order to reverse Thanos’s actions, but she isn’t happy to see him. By @shewritesandplants

Bittersweet Summary: When Steve travels back in time to 2012 New York, he meets someone he thought he lost a long time ago. By @selenasprompts

A-Z Smut Headcanons By @worksby-d

Wedding Date Summary: Requested: “Can you do a fluffy imagine where the reader and Chris are in a newer relationship and he invites her to be his date to one of his friend’s wedding?” By @worksby-d

Steve’s Top Secret Mission Summary: Steve does his research and you meet your fangirl crush. By @donutloverxo

Stevie Summary: Steve has been on a space mission for a week. When he gets back he’s completely different person. By @donutloverxo

The One I Remembered Summary: You were the only ex Chris remembers. And he misses you. He always thinks about you, hoping you were doing the same. What happens when he sees you again? By @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

Mile High Club Summary: You and Chris join the mile high club. By @ballyhoobarnes

Big Boston Family Summary: Requested: “pregnant reader with 2 kids x cevans?” By @iguessweallcrazyithinktho

Dodger Summary: Requested: “ I just saw a video of a dog whose owners had a baby and the dog slept in the baby's room at night and didn't leave it's side for anything, laying at the owner's feet when she was breastfeeding, watching the baby while it played on the floor, like... I imagine Dodger would do the same thing and Chris would love it .“ By @et-lesailes

Red Carpets & Interviews Summary: You and Chris are doing red carpet interviews and Chris can’t seem to keep his eyes or hands off of you. By @stylesstanx 

Interview Mishaps Summary:  Reader and company have an interview with Jimmy Fallon. Everything goes swimmingly until reader drops an earring. By @wintersoldierslut

Mistletoe Summary: Requested: “hi can i request a chris evans friends to lovers? when you are filming a movie together and its near the holidays so they do secret santa. The reader is chris' secret santa and she gives him a really meaningful gift that he didn't expect. maybe even include a mistletoe kiss and an age gap (she's in her early 20s)?? thank you! love ur work” By @rarelikesel

God Is A Woman Summary: It is said that anyone that is worthy to wield the hammer of Thor possesses the power of a God. You prove that God can indeed be a woman. By @honeyloverogers

Two-Shots

Baby Fever Summary: Chris really wants a baby, but he doesn’t know how to say it. By @ballyhoobarnes — Part 2 Summary: You and Chris start trying for a baby.

Babies! Assemble Summary: On a mission involving time travel, as if they haven’t learned at all that it’s dangerous, the Avengers get turned into babies. Including your boyfriend. By @honeyloverogers — Baby Self Summary: What if it was you that got turned into a baby instead? 

#Chris Evans #chris evans x reader #chris evans one shot #chris evans imagine #chris evans x y/n #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fic #Steve Rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers one shot #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers fanfiction #steve roggers fic

[terramythos]

TerraMythos 2021 Reading Challenge - Book 12 of 26

Title: A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1) (1968)

Author: Ursula K. Le Guin

Genre/Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Third-Person

Rating: 8/10

Date Began: 5/6/2021

Date Finished: 5/12/2021

Ged is a talented young magician with incredible potential-- possibly greater than any before him. He sets off to join the wizarding School of Roke, and quickly surpasses all of his peers. But in an act of arrogance, Ged tries to bring back the dead to impress a rival student. He unleashes a malevolent shadow upon the world, leaving him traumatized and permanently scarred. 

Soon Ged finds himself hunted by the shadow wherever he goes. None of his magic seems to work on it. Worse, he lives in fear that if the dark creature overtakes him, it will use his body as a weapon to harm others. Ged journeys from island to island in an attempt to find the solution and banish the shadow once and for all. 

Only in silence the word, only in dark the light,  only in dying life:  bright the hawk’s flight  on the empty sky. 

Content warnings and some spoilers below the cut. 

Content warnings for the book: Violence and death, including child death and animal death. Traumatic injury. 

As a fiction writer, Ursula K. Le Guin is best known for her Earthsea series, but I haven’t read them until now. She had a big impact on my childhood via a series of picture books called Catwings (they're... about a family of cats who can fly). As an adult, I’ve grown more intrigued as I've learned about Le Guin’s philosophies, especially anticapitalism. I read her famous horror story The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas last year and found it unsettling and thought-provoking. So I decided to read some of her longer works! And, of course, speculative fiction is always the way to my heart. My wonderful sister gave me the first four books of Earthsea for the holidays last year, and I’m finally getting the chance to read them. 

Overall I had a good time with A Wizard of Earthsea. It’s structured differently than a lot of fantasy novels I’ve read. While there is a big overarching plot, the individual chapters usually have their own complete story arc. It’s the type of book where you can read one chapter before bed and feel like you got a whole story; each part advances the main narrative while also providing a complete side adventure. 

There’s a lot of travel in A Wizard of Earthsea due to the setting. Earthsea is a giant, possibly world-spanning archipelago, meaning there’s a ton of islands, each of which has its own way of life. The conflict naturally has Ged travel from island to island and interact with various peoples and creatures. The closest comparison I can think of is The Odyssey, and I’d be shocked if Le Guin didn’t draw inspiration from that. Both stories involve the protagonist traveling by sea and meeting a variety of characters and mythological creatures through smaller, discrete conflicts and interactions. Usually I find long travel sequences boring, but in this case they were one of my favorite parts of the book. There’s always a sense of anticipation on where Ged’s journey will take him next. 

The magic system is also is pretty cool. The idea is that all parts of nature, from humans to goats to oceans, have hidden “true” names. Knowing something (or someone’s) true name gives one power over it (or them). Thus wizards use true names to manipulate nature; giving another person your true name is an act of absolute trust and devotion. However, a big theme of the book is equilibrium. One must always be aware of potential consequences when using magic. Changing the wind in one part of the world could cause a devastating storm one island over. Sort of a butterfly effect type thing. 

Even though violence is one of my content warnings, I’m impressed that Le Guin largely circumvents it in the story. In many fantasy stories, a wizard/mage character uses their magic to fight and crush their foes. Not so much in this novel. While Ged clashes with various entities through the story, he usually just outsmarts them. Thus his showdown with a big, fuck-off dragon boils down to Ged guessing its true name and telling it to leave. Antagonists are usually the ones instigating violence. 

One thing I found odd about the pacing of the book is it slowed down a lot in the last few chapters. There’s a big action sequence with serious consequences around the novel’s midpoint, but everything after that is slower and more reflective. On a surface reading level, I’m not sure I liked this. I’m used to stories ramping up the tension more and more until the end. However, I did like the climax itself, when Ged reveals the shadow’s true name. The central moral of the novel is that one needs to accept everything about themselves, including their past mistakes. Everyone has a dark side, which ties into the central theme of balance, and even the opening poem of the novel (which I used as the excerpt for this review). It’s a pretty universal idea, but Le Guin presents it in a thematically satisfying way. 

I tagged this as a Young Adult novel because Le Guin wrote it for a teenage audience. YA didn’t exist as its own genre at the time, but A Wizard of Earthsea is a coming of age story (a staple of YA), and even has a moral message of sorts at the end. However, sometimes it’s really obvious that it’s intended for a younger audience. As I get older, I’ve noticed that YA tends to be pretty blunt about its meaning and symbolism in a way adult novels aren’t. For example, while pursuing the shadow, Ged gets lost in a mysterious fogbank. To me this was a clear callback to the first chapter, where Ged outsmarts a band of barbarians by trapping them in a fog. But Le Guin also made sure to tell me several pages later, in case I missed the parallel. I’m torn on this when reading YA. While I’m not the intended audience, I feel this approach underestimates teenagers’ ability to critically examine a text. But YA teaches many how to view things that way, so I see why authors do it. Teens aren’t a monolith, but it is interesting to see this tendency to over-explain in a novel from 50+ years ago. 

A Wizard of Earthsea is surprisingly progressive in many respects. Perhaps the most obvious is race. Ged and most of the main cast are explicitly nonwhite and described as such in the text. This isn’t a huge revelation in 2021, but it’s amazing to see something like that in a mainstream fantasy novel from 1968. Apparently Le Guin struggled with publishers for a long time, as many early covers whitewashed Ged for the sake of “sales” until she gained more creative control. And the (shitty) film/TV adaptations of Earthsea are just as guilty. I went through a LOT of covers while researching this book, and even newer editions often opt for heavily stylized art, nonhuman subjects, etc. The cover I chose is from 1984, when Le Guin presumably had more influence on Ged’s portrayal. I’m interested to see how past book covers stack up when I deep dive on the other books. 

However, I found the book to be not so progressive when it came to gender roles (I know, I wasn’t expecting that either). Le Guin makes it very clear that all the famous and powerful wizards/mages in Earthsea are dudes. The wizard school toward the beginning is all dudes. All the adventurers and sailors in the story are dudes. Ged himself makes some pretty sexist comments (though to be fair, that was pre-character development). There are relatively few female characters in the story, and many are either bit parts or (in one case) a seductive, power-hungry villain. Portraying sexism in a fantasy setting isn’t an inherently bad thing. Jemisin’s Dreamblood duology, which I read earlier this year, introduced stringent gender roles in order to explore the insidious nature of misogyny. But A Wizard of Earthsea doesn’t really go beneath the surface level. Yarrow is probably the most well-written female character in the story, and she only shows up in the last few chapters. Again, I’m interested to see how Le Guin handles this in later entries; the next book stars a female protagonist and Ged’s the deuteragonist. 

I liked A Wizard of Earthsea overall, and I think it serves as a good introduction to both the series and a central recurring character. While I have some criticisms of the first book, I do realize it’s a relatively early work of Le Guin’s. The last novel in this series was published in 2001, so I’m interested to see how the characters and writing changed over 30+ years. 

#2021 reading challenge #8/10 #taylor reads

[isolaradiale]

“Mm…”

Setting down her mug of coffee, Betelgeuse readjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose. Staring at screens for too long could be exhausting; her eyes were staring to hurt. The data on the monitors behind her had long since faded into one incoherent blob. She really needed that coffee to kick in faster.

But, coffee or no coffee, at least she had been able to think, a feat that some might call “impressive”. Looking over everything had given her an idea.

Pushing her chair back, Betelgeuse got to her feet and gave a little stretch, only to start humming softly to herself as she practically bounced out of the room. Only once she reached a door at the end of the hallway did she pause, the humming stopping, so that she could gently smooth out her hair and make sure her ponytail was still decent so that she did not, in fact, look like she was only running on a few short naps.

Then she raised a hand to knock on the door, the sound echoing out down the hallway.

“He-llo, stars! I thought of something that might make for some interesting research…?”

☆               ★                ☆

The citizens of Spirale had grown used to the eclipses. Every few days, without fail, the sky would darken, and the inhabitants would shift -- time and time again, day in and day out. While a nuisance to newer faces maybe, inevitably it just became a part of life. An announcement that things had changed again. Anything repeated enough would just become routine, after all.

So when the sky grew dark again, today, that wasn’t out of the ordinary. Even at a first glance, everything seemed to be typical. Why question a routine playing out as it usually did? The winds didn’t blow any stronger than usual. The animals continued to sing their tunes. The day progressed, and the eclipse faded. The skies brightened once more.

But something more than a cursory glance showed that maybe today… wasn’t so usual, after all. A visit to the hole in the centre of Spirale, to the platform that any new faces found themselves waking up on, would show that there were no new faces after all. A glance at the contact list on anyone’s phone would show no shift in the population. No names seem to have changed.

Nobody had left.

And nobody had joined, either.

☆               ★                ☆

But something was notably… different.

It started slowly, at first. A wave seemed to wash over the city; not anything physical, oh no, but rather something mental. Anyone who had been asleep during the eclipse would find themselves waking up in an unfamiliar place, with no knowledge of how they had come to be in this city. Their rooms were unfamiliar, but looked far too lived in. More citizens still would simply blink, and suddenly -- be just as lost as those waking up. Why were they here? What was this city?

There was nothing to tell them where they were except for a notification on the phones found on their person or in their rooms:

Welcome to Spirale! :) Try not to worry too much about where you are; we promise everything will line up in time!

It rolled out over time, each wave hitting more than the last; faster. The citizens became… different. For each it was a personal change; some grew younger, and others still found themselves back in forms that they had long since lost.

And none of them seemed to know why they were here or what this Spirale might be. It sounded… safe somehow, though. Familiar.

But what was it…? Where were they…?

☆               ★                ☆

SO WHAT’S HAPPENED?

The affected characters have had their canon points moved back in time! They believe that they've been brought to Isola for the first time, with no knowledge of any of their prior time spent here. Wanted to bring your character from a really important event in their life, or from their childhood, but that wasn't really viable in the long run? You have the chance to play with that now!

Characters can be moved forward from their canon point too, but this is an “anomaly” and thus their memories can remain if you so choose! You must be planning to move your character up to that canon point anyway so as not to give them any meta knowledge they shouldn't have, but you can opt to use this event as a smooth way to update your canon point!

For instance, your character can slowly have their new memories trickle in, or the event time could be used to have them actively reflect on how things would have been different for them if they had been able to act in canon with their Isola knowledge and growth.

DO I HAVE TO BE AFFECTED?

Of course not! However, in order to gain participation credit in this case, your muse must interact with someone’s muse who is affected or else actively comment on the situation at hand.

Keeping in mind that the point of this event is to be able to explore what-ifs and growth paths for characters that may not have been able to take those routes otherwise, be sure to respect the wishes of each individual mun! While your character may have met an affected character in Isola before, for instance, don’t tell this character all about that without permission from the writer!

AM I LOCKED INTO A SINGLE CANON POINT?

No! You’re free to change your character’s canon point as many times as you want, but know that so long as your character is at a point before their Isola canon point, their memories will be reset each time.

MY CHARACTER CHANGES ENTIRELY IN THE PAST/FUTURE. IS THAT OKAY?

Absolutely! If it works with your canon point shift, anything is possible!

For example, a non-human character could return to the human form they once were, or a human character could revert to their non-human origins. This of course isn’t limited to these two options; your character can return to any different form they had in the past, so long as it works with their canon!

MY MUSE SHARES A CANON PAST WITH ANOTHER MUSE ON THE MASTERLIST, THOUGH!

We’re well aware that this is a possibility, too! In this case, you’ll have to either choose a point in your character’s past that doesn’t overlap, or else receive mun permission from the other muse to use an overlapping canon point! However, please realize that this is potentially an important development prospect for any doubles and someone asking permission from you isn't meant to step on your toes or anything; as well, please respect your double's decision if they do say no, as they may have a reason for declining!

WHAT ABOUT ABILITIES?

Characters that have abilities currently, but no abilities at the point they’ve been moved to, will not have any way to access the abilities they once had in Isola.

As well, if your character moves to a point where they have abilities that they no longer have as of their Isola canon point, they will also have no access to these abilities.

DO DRABBLES COUNT?

Yes! Drabbles of 500+ words will count for participation! As stated above, if your muse is unaffected, you can use this drabble to have them reflect on the situation at hand!

WILL OUR MUSES GET THEIR MEMORIES BACK AFTER THE EVENT?

At the end of the event, your muse will retain every memory they had before the event began; the memory loss of the event isn't permanent. So, yes! Their memories will return to them.

HOW LONG WILL THE EVENT LAST?

The event will last until 11:59:59 PM EST on July 10th!

#isola event #isola event: proxy

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #424

“got no superspeed, but i’m running this town”

What is the first line in the song you are currently listening to/last listened to? "I’m running out of time; I hope that I can save you somehow.” Are you an easy lay? Not in the slightest. What was the last reason you cried? Life and how inexplicably I'm failing at it. What’s hurting you right now? More like what isn't. Do you remember important dates? Only some. I'm awful with numbers. Do you own anything with the Playboy Bunny on it? No. Do you own a bean bag chair? No. Have you ever played Gamecube? At a friend's house. Have you ever played with toy cars before? Yeah, with my nephew. He LOVES monster trucks. Have you ever touched a caterpillar? Oh, definitely. I loved picking them up as a kid. What is your favorite kind of salad? Just plain 'ole iceberg lettuce with ranch, really. Are you any good at Ping-Pong? Holy hell no, I SUCK. What was/is your high school mascot? A firebird. Can you make cute little animals by folding paper? God no, I'm awful at origami. Like, I have zero concept of how to do it. What kind of music do you like? Various types of metal and rock. Do you like apple juice? Yeah. Do you like to draw? It's funny, like I do love it, but I barely ever do it because I get frustrated when I can't get what's in my head onto paper. What do you put on your french fries? Generally ketchup. How many people can comfortably sleep in your bed? Two. Do you want to have a big family in the future? I don't want kids, just pets. Probably a lot of pets. Is Vegas one of your must-see places? No. Pet rat: yay or nay? I've had multiple pet rats and I adore them. I've come to find I'm not the best at keeping rodents because changing the bedding so much sucks ass, but nevertheless they are fantastic pets for people who don't mind the maintenance. Would you call yourself a writer? Written any stories lately? Yes. I haven't written in a while, though. I just have absolutely zero motivation to RP. Are you good at reading people's body language? I probably overanalyze it, really. Ever threatened somebody and actually went through with it? I don’t threaten people. Does holding newborn babies scare you? Extremely. I feel like they're made of thin glass. Piercings: yay or nay? I LOVE piercings. They add an interesting touch to your appearance and to me just (usually) look super cool. There are very few piercings I don't like. Do you have a collage of pictures in your bedroom? No, but I want to make a motivation board very badly. Favorite Nicholas Cage movie? Ghost Rider. Were video games better in the 1980s, 1990s, or the 2000s? Why? '80s games bore me honestly, but I love some '90s and many 2000s games. I've got to say ultimately newer games win, because of graphics increasing immersion (no, I do not whatsoever believe graphics are everything or always make a better experience), voice acting improving immensely, etc. Have you ever watched The Beverly Hillbillies? Yes! Mom loves it so I used to watch it a lot with her as a kid. I'd still watch it. Did your mother ever sing lullabies to you when you were younger? Yes. Are you ready to get out of this town? I HATE THIS TOOOWN, IT'S SO WASHED UUU-UP, AND ALL MY FRIENDS DON'T GIVE A FUUU-UUUUUCK god hell yes get me the fuck out. Do you know anybody that is pregnant right now? Quite a few. What are you listening to? "Superluv” by Shane Dawson. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? No. Does your father have any facial hair? Yes. Did your grandparents teach you anything? My maternal grandmother, the only one I really ever knew, taught me I'm a disappointment, pretty much. And a bitch. Do you want/have a Bachelor’s degree? It'd be nice to have one, but I don't, and I'm not pursuing it again. I've wasted enough of my parents' money. Are you into superheroes? Who’s your favourite? Not seriously, but I enjoy them well enough. I like Spider-Man. What did you have for dinner last night? Mom ordered Mexican. I had two shrimp and cheese quesadillas and rice with cheese. Do you think you look similar to your siblings? No. Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Did you like it? Yeah, it's fun. Do you know your best friend’s middle name? Yes. Are you close to your father? I am. Have you ever had a serious conversation with your dad? Yeah. Would you rather have long or short hair? I enjoy having short hair way more. Who did you go/plan on going with to prom? I went with Jason twice. Have you ever been to a debate and speech tournament? Hell no, and I never would. Arguing makes me cry lmao. Are you someone who enjoys stand-up comedy? Yep. What’s one thing that scares you about living alone and being independent? A lot of things do, but one thing in specific that I fear is that I let the house become cluttered and messy. I'm so shit at cleaning, especially when I'm depressed. It's why my own bedroom isn't even fully decorated, and we've lived here since I wanna say last November. If someone offered you an all-expenses paid trip to one European country, where would you go and why? Germany, 'cuz I enjoy the culture and would love to try some foods and visit places. Have you ever won anything on the lottery? No. Are you interested in the World Cup? I couldn't possibly care less. What’s the longest time you’ve ever been on a plane for? Idk. Do you let your hair dry naturally or do you towel-dry it or blow dry it? I use a towel to dry it some, then let it really get the job done naturally. How many of the Harry Potter books have you read? None. Who last gave you their number? When I posted on Facebook about going on a mental health hiatus, my good friend Alon messaged me her number if I ever needed to talk. I was really thankful. Are you often the last one to understand a joke? Honestly yeah. I'm slow to grasp a lot of things. Your first black eye: Did you give it or get it? Never gotten or given one. Have you ever slept in a tent, indoors or out? Yes to both. Are you mad right now? I'm annoyed, but not mad. Are you allergic to nuts or dairy products? No. Has anyone ever called the cops on you? No. Do you ever actually drink milk alone? Yeah, I love milk. Do you have a sensitive gag reflex? It is EXTREMELY sensitive. What was the last situation to upset you? I'd rather not talk about it. Have you ever had an online argument? I have been heavily active on the Internet since I was like, 11. Maybe younger. I have been in plenty. Are you at risk for any medical issues? A lot of heart problems run in my family. I'm also suspicious I may develop diabetes, which also runs very heavily in my family. What were you doing at 7:00 a.m.? Surprisingly, I was asleep. Do you own a robe? No. What would you consider your life to be? A wreck. What is your favorite mark of punctuation? I like question marks. Who knows your biggest secret? Nobody. Do you think anyone has feelings for you? Probably not. How do you know? I just doubt it. I'm so unlikable right now. Could you go a day without eating? I don't think I could. I do not react to stomach pain well, and that includes when I'm hungry. How many bracelets do you have on your wrists right now? None. What’s your favorite drink? Strawberry Sunkist, but I don't allow myself to have it. I will DESTROY a can or five of it. Who was the last person that texted you? My mom. What are you craving? Nothing really right now. What was the first thing you ate today? An everything bagel. What was the last type of meat you ate? Pork. Have you taken any medication today? Yeah, I take some prescription meds in the morning and at night. Have you ever been to Hawaii? No, but that'd be cool. Do you know anyone who has diabetes? My mom, for one. Have you ever made a boy cry? Sadly. Who are you talking to? Nobody. Do you think you’ve ruined your chances with someone? Absolutely. Your parents split; would you want to live with your mom or dad? My parents are divorced, and I stayed with Mom. Would you strongly prefer to go out with someone of your own skin color/racial background? I couldn't care less. For you personally, is abortion an option in case of an accidental pregnancy? For others, absolutely. It's your right. For me myself, it's possible, idk. If I was God forbid raped, I probably would have an abortion. If I accidentally got pregnant in a healthy relationship, I'd probably have a "too bad, so sad" outlook where I'd suck it up and go through with the gestation because having sex and risking pregnancy was my own decision. Even if I'm pro-choice, I think I'd feel too guilty aborting, especially with the child being someone's I love. Is it a requirement that you communicate every day with your significant other (via phone, text, in person, whatever)? IF I had an s/o, no. I like to, but sometimes you just want space. Are you fetish-friendly? I'm not gonna lie, some fetishes are just too fucking weird for me. I TRY not to judge, because I doubt you can actually help fetishes, but I inevitably do sometimes. If you're asking would I engage in fetishes because my s/o liked them, possibly, but it would really depend on what it is. Have you ever cosplayed? No. I think cosplay is really cool, though. Do you support the exploration of outer space? If yes, would you consider taking a trip into space, or even to another planet? As creatures who crave knowledge and understanding of our universe, I do support space exploration, but I do NOT believe we should be spending as much money as we do on it. Taking care of the planet we're actually on is far more important imo. I wouldn't personally go to outer space. Is it okay for men to wear makeup? What’s your opinion of male crossdressers? It's totally okay! Guys with makeup can be super attractive. Crossdressers, too. Go for it. You’re in a new relationship and your partner admits that they have had 14 sexual partners. Does that sound like a lot to you? For me personally, yes. I don't even know if I'd date someone with 14 past sexual partners, honestly. I would admittedly question their loyalty. Would you let your children under 13 watch movies with full nudity? No. If someone asked you, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” would you know the answer right away? I would. What is your opinion concerning strip clubs? Not my scene at all, but so long as you respect the dancers, whatever. You do you.

#survey #surveys #random questions #lyrics: ''superluv'' by shane dawson

[gamersgrp1]

Diving into MACARTHUR by Bob Ong

         Macarthur is a book published by famous author Bob Ong from 2007, this was the author’s first ever work that went for a different path as Bob Ong is known to be a more humorous or comedic type of writer. However, this work went more serious and poked on the lives of the slum community here in the Philippines. The Cover of the book is actually referencing a part in the story with the blurred out red image of a toilet in the background covered by the huge text that says MACARTHUR. The story is about 4 friends being Cryus, Noel, Voltron and Jim. The characters have their own personal struggles throughout the story such as Jim having to take care of  family and Cyrus who has to take care of  grandpa’s medical bills. The story was fun to read with its funny writing and fun moments but what makes it more deeper is that this pokes much more deeper into the lives of people in the slum. With the 4 characters symbolizing a life of a filipino in the slum. The Philippines is in fact known to be one of the most wholesome countries in the world. But the harsh reality the people have to sweep under the rug is that the country has some massive problems such as poverty.

     Bob Ong is known to be a controversial writer amongst the literature community in the Philippines. Although a very famous writer in the country. The true identity is yet to be known to the fans. The way he tackled this specific problem of the Philippines that is poverty is quite special. The story really went deep on how life goes by in the slum. Including youth having to tackle drugs and authorities having a dark side to them. Though the story has some really sad moments. These moments in the real world are not as unique. These sad moments in the story are typical in the slum community due to how lackluster care has been given to this side of the community of the Philippines.

        The book delves deep as to how relationships in families are incredibly weak because of poverty. Noel’s family are always at constant fights against each other for some of the smallest reasons whether that be misplacing of valuables or even small misunderstanding. The family at one point in the story even kicked Noel out of the house out of anger, after going through so much though the thing is, Noel was innocent. He didn’t do anything wrong, he was just mentally tired of being the person of blame for everything going wrong in the family. Like when his sister was looking for certain valuables and immediately pointed the finger to Noel without giving him a voice to speak out. Though in the end the family reconciles and reunites with a better and stronger relationship. The way the book described what happened during these parts of the story would touch certain people’s hearts as some families in that community could wish for a better family or a better life as a family. But most of the time it all goes back to poverty.

     Not everyone is rich and privileged, not everyone experiences such luxury or any creature comforts, not even everyone gets to eat three meals a day, the Philippines is among the countries that is suffering from such poverty.So much to the point where innocent people would grow desperate to the point of drastic measures. Such an example is Cyrus from the story taking someone’s necklace and swallowing it to hide the evidence just to be able to get money from it, all so to take care of a loved one’s conditions.  Such a thing happens in real life as well, and the story just depicts that very well. Considering that the author is the comedic type, the author veering into this area of a sensitive topic is surprising, as it tackled the topic in such a way that more people would be- -aware of the other side of our country’s people, the slums, crime committed due to desperation

       It also talked a bit about how sometimes, the government authorities that everyone looks up to and trusts a lot, have a dark side in them as well as how the more fortunate people have an advantage in society. This was shown when Cyrus was being interrogated after being captured by the police for robbing a woman’s piece of jewelry. The lady quickly blamed Cyrus even though they haven’t given him a chance to defend himself just because of his status as being in poverty and immediately got thrown to jail. And then later on in the story, Cyrus was being used by a government figure most likely a cop as a side source of income using Cryus’ ability to be quick and agile, the cop told him to hand all the valuables he stole to him. This then led Cyrus to be so scared whenever a sign is shown that the cop is nearby and awaiting his bonus income, he would swallow way more non edible material than what his body could handle before including a few packets of drugs and even 1 whole ring of a necklace, adding the fact that Cyrus in the story is the youngest out of the four. It's so unfortunate to hear about this because the youth should really be focusing on their education and their future endeavors. But with the lack of money and power, the youth are stuck in a loop of having to strive to just barely survive in life. Since the youth can’t really do much and not get a job because they don’t have an education, they resort to very dark measures to be able to only afford as much as a basic meal you can get in a fast food chain. It’s also sad seeing how the law figures represented in the book are not what you would expect, society places all trust onto them, always praised for, always reliant for, so much that they would take advantage of it and use it for personal use instead of doing what is right.

     Lastly, it tested the bond and the trust with people. How far one would go to have their bond to be intact and just how long can their patience last as a relationship. During the story, Noel was the punching bag of his family. Even being innocent, his sister if not always blames him for any personal item of hers going missing even with Noel stating clearly without any lies that he has never seen this item before, their mother Aling Sally has been taking and suppressing all her sorrow and anger over the days of non-stop conflict between family members for even a slight mishap at times. Until one day, his sister Lyla’s watch goes missing, after his mom asking him if he recalls seeing it before, he finally snaps. Out of anger, he rushes downstairs, finds Lyla and finds the nearest plastic chair. And without hesitation, he throws it directly at Lyla after not being able to handle it anymore. The tension rises as soon as he starts rushing towards Lyla to start hitting her, the rest of the family then gets involved. After a short time, it stops, but Noel or anyone in the family wanted to witness what just happened, his younger sister has never seen them being as how they were a few moments ago, the already exhausted father unleashes his anger to Noel after that fight and forces him to move out of the house and as well as pouring continuous negative comments on Noel such as “you are a hopeless person” out of anger. But at the end of the story, after what went on with Cyrus, the family make a mutual agreement and they reconcile again living happily ever after, with the dad even offering him to eat with them. The story really tested everyone’s patience in a relationship and as to how far it can go during tense situations. Oftentimes in reality, it's either they break up and never try to reconcile again, or they would forgive each other, but there is still conflict inside them. Deep down inside, they would probably have something they would like to express to the relationship but with the stabbing thought of the other side of the relationship not being able to accept it and tear down the relationship. How long can your relationship go without being brutally honest to each other? Are you even willing to try and express opinions on the relationship?  Is the relationship healthy on both ends? And if so, how would you go about it?

     To Conclude, the story dwells deep into the morbid reality of the Philippines’ situation with poverty and how bad it has become these days to the point where even the youth, the new generation of families in there have to deal with these situations early on in their life, leading them into going through dark routes in their lives cycling to the next newer generation and the process repeats for generation to generation. Unless the government finds the time to handle the situation with more care, then the Citizens of the country will have a dark side to sweep under the rug for a long time. To anyone that is interested in looking at the book. It’s a genuinely good book to read, with its writing style and pacing on how it deals with a dark topic that being poverty in the Philippines. It also showed the test of relationships whether that be friends or even family and how far would you go to do what it takes to be satisfied in life during very dire moments in life. With the comedic lines and moments with also this sudden blend of seriousness would honestly become even someone who doesn’t read much an instant favorite even if they don’t read much if they take their time to read it

[rachelbethhines]

Tangled Salt Marathon - One Angry Princess

There’s two halves to this episode. The first is a well constructed, if over simple, mystery for the kiddos to solve. The other is a failed attempt at being ‘deep’ and ‘mature’.  

Summary: Attila is finally opening up his own bakery, but people generally don't want to stop by because of his scary helmet. The next day, Monty's Sweet Shoppe is destroyed, and Attila is arrested. He is about to be banished from the kingdom, but Rapunzel makes an appeal to investigate the matter further. 

The Episode is Meant to be a Homage to 12 Angry Men, but Misses the Point of the Original Film

So for those who haven’t seen the movie, (though really you should) 12 Angry Men is about a jury trying to decide if an accused person is guilty of a violent crime. At first the evidence seems clear, but one lone juror refuses to vote guilty until the evidence has been gone over again. One by one he convinces the other men to vote not guilty as they each have to face they’re own personal biases.

Sound familiar? 

In the show Rapunzel is the sole believer in Attila’s innocence despite evidence to the contrary. She insists on investigating herself while challenging everyone else’s personal biases. 

The difference?

12 Angry Men is a hard hitting look at how privilege, prejudice, and cognitive bias can interfere with the American judicial system. None of the jurors are named, but they are all middle class, presumably Christian, white guys. And that is the point. They are all different from the accused; a young, poor, arguably non-white teen (the play is intentionally vague about the kid’s race so that you can slot any minority in there) who has a history of getting into trouble. If you were to change the ethnicity, race, gender, class, or age of any of the 12 characters then you would suddenly have a very different story. It’s their backgrounds and pre-formed opinions that inform their decisions. Even the main protagonist is not exempt from re-examining his own personal biases. 

Meanwhile the writers of Tangled: the Series are too busy showing off how clever Rapunzel is to actually deal with the themes of injustice and bigotry that they added in themselves in the first place.

Rapunzel Knowing Attila Before Hand Weakens the Message

In 12 Angry Men none of the jurors know the accuse. In fact, they can’t know him. It’s against the law. In order to have an impartial jury, no one can have any ties to either the defendant or the prosecution, and they must not have knowledge of the case or have had specific experiences that might cause them to be biased or unfair. 

Rapunzel being Attila’s friend means that she already has her own bias and an invested interest in making sure Attila goes free. She’s not acting out of the simple goodness of her heart here. She’s doing something that directly benefits herself. 

I don’t expect a children’s fantasy show to recreate the US judicial system with all of the complexities there in, but I do expect it to uphold it’s heroine as the selfless person it claims her to be. Yet the show constantly undermines this supposed character trait by only having her help the people she befriends, and only if that help doesn’t require anything emotionally challenging or mentally taxing from her.   

How much more powerful would this episode be if Rapunzel was defending a stranger or someone she actively disliked? Imagine if it was Monty who was being accuse and Raps had to swallow her pride in order to do what is right. But that would require the show having Rapunzel actually learn something instead of placing her on a pedestal. It would also mean giving Monty a reason to exist rather than keeping him around to be a convenient red herring.      

Rapunzel Shouldn’t Have to Prove Attila’s Innocence 

Rather than have a courtroom drama the show opts to have a ‘whodunit’ story instead. This unfortunately gives the implication that Corona’s judicial system runs on a ‘guilty until proven innocent’ mantra, which is backwards to any humane legal system. ‘Innocent until proven guilty’, ‘reasonable doubt’, ‘due process’, are the cornerstones of our modern social ethics. 

In 12 Angry Men, we never find out if the accused actually committed the crime or not. That is because his actual innocence isn’t the point of the story. It’s about whether or not the system is working like it should or if it’s being compromised by human error. 

Once again, I don’t expect a recreation of the US judicial system, but if you’re writing a story for a modern audience then you need to reinforce modern morals. Simply crouching Corona’s legal system as ‘of the times’ or ‘fantasy’ while ignoring why we no longer have such systems in place reduces the story to puerile fare. 

It also means that show’s writers didn’t put enough thought into their world building. 

No One Calls Out the Obviously Corrupt System 

The show has interwoven throughout its ongoing narrative themes of classism, injustice, abuse, and authoritarianism, but then fails to follow through on those themes by not having any of the protagonists actually examine any of these issues. They just sit there in the background, even as the show tries it darndest to present Rapunzel as an arbiter of reform. However a person can’t bring about change if they can’t even admit that there is a problem to begin with.   

In this episode alone we have

Banishment is considered a reasonable punishment for an act of vandalism. A crime that is usually considered only a misdemeanor unless the damage goes over a certain amount. Keep in mind that not even most felonies would be given such a punishment in the real world

Introduces the prison barge that regularly carries away convicts. In the past ‘undesirables’ would be shipped off to prison colonies as a form of persecution. Attila and every other person we see subjected to Corona’s legal system are of a lower class. 

Many prejudge Attila based off his appearance, lower class, and past upbringing. However, it is either Attila who is expected to change or Rapunzel who is expected to win people over. At no point is anyone told that they shouldn’t be prejudiced to begin with. 

There is no judge, jury, or lawyers. The king alone decides the fate of criminals, the Captain is expected to be the both the prosecutor and the ‘executioner’, which is a conflict of interest, and the defendant has no one to represent them unless they so happen to know a kind statesperson. Meaning you have to be either rich or well connected in order to even have a chance to defend yourself. 

Oh and there’s this...

Uh, yeah you do. You’re the flipping king. You make the law. You’re the one to bring charges against Attila, and nearly every other criminal in the show, in the first place. 

The show constantly wants us to view Frederic as simply an everyman who is only doing his job, but he’s not. He’s a ruler and as such he has powers and responsibilities that no one else has or ever will have. The series gives both him and Rapunzel all of the privileges of being in charge without holding them to account for the consequences of their actions. 

By not pointing out how wrong these actions are, the show winds up avocating them instead. When I call Tangled the Series authoritarian, this is why. Because authority is never questioned even when clearly wrong and nepotism is presented as the solution to conflicts as oppose to being the problem itself.

The Show Introduces Complex Issues but Then Oversimplifies the Conflicts Surrounding Those Issues

The creators of the show have constantly declared that the series is ‘not for kids’. That they were shooting for an older audience than the pre-school time slot they were given. Now ignoring the fact that Tangled was always going to have a built in audince of pre-teen girls and ignoring that children’s media can be mature, TTS lacks the nuance needed to viewed as anything other than a pantomime. 

As stated before, this episode alone ignores the very real issues interlaced within the conflict in order to give us an overly simple mystery that anyone over the age of five could figure out.  

It’s frustrating to watch the show constantly skirt towards the edge of complexity only to see it chicken out and go for the low hanging fruit instead. As a consequence the series winds up being for no one. Too shallow for adults and older teens, but too confused in its morals to be shown to small children and younger adolescents. 

I wouldn’t recommend this show to a parent, not without encouraging them to view the series either before or alongside their child in order to counteract it’s ‘lessons’ and I know parents within the fandom itself who’ve stopped showing newer episodes to their kids; stating that they want their child to be old enough to point out the harmful messages to before doing so. 

Once Again No One Learns Anything 

Rapunzel doesn’t learn that the system is flawed. Attila doesn’t learn to open up to people. Nobody learns to treat people with respect and to not judge others based on appearances alone.

The whole point of the episode is to just show off how much ‘better’ Rapunzel is than everyone else. The show constantly feels the need to tear down other characters in an effort to make its favs look good as opposed to just letting the mains grow as people. 

Conclusion

Tangled the tv series is no 12 Angry Men. It’s no Steven Universe/Gravity Falls/Avatar:TLA/She-Ra/Gargoyles/Batman:TAS either. It barely reaches the same level as the likes of DnD, Sonic SATAM, or Voltron. Interesting ideas but poor pacing, build up, and lack of follow through, with some naff decisions thrown into the mix bring things down in quality. And unlike the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon from the early 80s, TTS lacks the benefit of being a pioneer in the field of animation, where such flaws are more forgivable. 

#tangled #anti-tangled #Rapunzel #rapunzel's tangled adventure #king frederic #critique #salt

[pro-bee]

the road less traveled

Note: I cooked this up in the last 24 hours to try to work through some writer’s block on my post-reunion WIP. So this is a bit of a stream of consciousness mess, but if I don’t post this now, I’m gonna chicken out and all my other ideas are going to go PFFT. Also, this is inspired by all the discourse you guys have been floating around lately so it’s your fault.

Rating: G

Spoilers: Nada. Generally season 17. Possibly AU depending on how you look at things. (Also assumes Summer of Secret Sex happened don’t start with me)

Relationships: Implied Tiva. Vague mentions of Bishop/Torres. General team bonding.

Words: 1700

Summary: Sometimes a case hits a little too close to home. Sometimes it makes people want to do something about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“How could they have known that they each had feelings for each other for so long and not done anything about it?! That had to have been torture!”

Bishop has been on a rant since their team got to their table at their favorite watering hole, decompressing after yet another wild case that has prodded at more than a few wounds between them. It was a story of star-crossed lovers, who held back on their feelings for one another for fear of ruining their friendship (and losing their jobs), until one made a tragic mistake and the other paid for it. One of those times where they get no satisfaction out of getting their suspect, because of the chaos left in its wake. 

“Don’t ask me. I have been in love with the same man since I was 23 and I still haven’t fully figured it out.”

Ziva’s unexpected candor (and unexpected help in the investigation) catches the younger agent off-guard; she wasn’t counting on things taking such a personal turn. Bishop gives her a sad smile, though the answer clearly isn’t the one she necessarily wants to hear at the moment. Torres shifts nervously in his seat across the table from her, unclear on where this conversation is headed, on edge the way he is whenever he’s around his predecessor.

The admission gives McGee pause, but maybe this isn’t the time to press.  “It’s funny, looking at us all now, with families of our own, I can’t imagine having to wait that long to finally be with the person you love. I mean, waiting for years just to act on your attraction…”

“Oh, we definitely acted on it,” she offers in typical Ziva bluntness. “We just failed to follow through on any of it.”

McGee nearly chokes on his drink at the revelation. The wheels start to spin in his head, his eyebrows creased in confusion, as he pieces it together at lightning speed. 

“You guys were sleeping together?!”

“I mean, not the whole time,” her hand waves around on its own, as if to punctuate the sentence, “But… some of the times, yes.”

“Like when?!”

“Now look who is butting in! I would expect that from Tony, but you?” She tsks at him, with mock sternness, until she notices the desperation in his eyes as his world seems to have turned upside down. “Okay, fine… Like… Like, when Gibbs retired, for instance.”

(“Gibbs retired?” “When did this happen?” their newer counterparts interject in unison, but their curiosity goes unanswered in the firestorm happening around them.)

“Back then?! That was… Ziva that almost fifteen years ago! You guys have been together for fifteen years?!”

“No! That is my whole point! We were not together together. We were just… what do you say? Letting out air?”

“Blowing off steam?”

“Yes! That!” Her own drink nearly flies off the table.

“Wait, that means—  How did you keep it a secret for so long?!”

“I knew!” Palmer offers helpfully.

“I am fairly certain everyone knew, eventually.”

“No way!  Gibbs didn’t.” 

“Gibbs definitely knew,” she snorts at the memory of being on the receiving end of his beady stare one morning when she and her partner were just a hair more heated in their bickering than usual, even for them.

“And you lived to tell the tale?!” Surely Boss would have banished them to desk duty, or worse yet, Inventory, if he found out they were hot bunking.

“I believe it was a case of don’t ask, don’t tell. Besides, it’s not like it affected our work.”

“True, you two were just as unprofessional as always.”

She flings her discarded crumpled straw wrapper at him.

His mind still reels, though.

“How— how did I not know that my best friends were hooking up behind my back?!”

“McGee!” she lilts, stretching his name out like a song in the way only she does,  “You cannot be serious! You wrote a whole book about us! Several, in fact!”

“For the last time, Tommy and Lisa were not about you and Tony! Those books were works of fiction!”

“Oh come on McGee,” pipes in Torres, who had until now tried his best to find any escape from this forced socialization. “Even I knew that! And I’ve never even read your books.”

“Or a book, period,” his partner mutters into her glass.

“How do you even know about—?”

“Bishop,” he shrugs.

“Ellie!”

“What?! It’s not like it’s a secret, Tim.”

“It’s personal! And again, Tommy and Lisa are fictional.”

Bishop and Torres roll their eyes in unison.

“Well, then, you must have psychic powers in addition to your keen observational skills as an agent,” she teases, with only a touch of sarcasm in her voice. She can’t believe they’re really hashing out their scars in the open like this, but it is a brave new world.

McGee finally shakes his head and laughs in disbelief, and even she can’t help the grin stretching across her face. Old friends, indeed.

She takes a breath and grounds herself back to reality, reminded again of the point she was trying to make in the first place. “What I am trying to say is that it is so easy to get caught up in your own fears when it comes to matters of the heart. You get so scared that you are not enough, that you are going to upset whatever it is between you, and that when you inevitably mess it all up, and you will, that you are going to ruin the one good thing you have. So you lie to yourself that you do not have it and that it does not mean anything.”

“Are we talking about you or the petty officer now?”

“Both,” she answers with a hint of a wistful smile. McGee returns with his own expression of sympathy, fully aware of all those twists and turns that have led to where his friends are now.

The group sits in companionable silence for a spell, the weight of the week’s case lifting, only to be replaced with familiar exhaustion. 

Ziva feels a buzz coming from her pocket, reminding her that, yes, these matters do come to a close somehow.

- Having fun on a school night?  

- Going down memory lane with the team. 

- The good ones, I hope?

- They are now. :-) Just about done, heading home soon.

- Can’t wait. Kiddo’s asleep. ;-) Love you. 

McGee across the table notices the way her eyes crinkle as she glances at her screen. Once again, he is grateful for these small mercies they’ve been granted. How this story eventually got the happy ending it deserved.

“Well, this has been fun, but it is getting late and I should get home.” She pushes herself off the seat and grabs her coat, untangling her curls from the collar as she twists her arms through the sleeves. “I will see you all soon, I hope.”

“Yeah, I’m beat too,” Torres chimes in, “I’ll walk you out.”

The gang exchange goodnights and talk to you laters, with only the faintest of intrigue from Bishop as her partner, who is not known for his chivalrous nature, follows Ziva out the door.

Standing face to face now, at their full height, Ziva narrows her own eyes at the man, seeing right through him and daring him to come out with it, already.

“Ziva, what you said in there… Is that why you keep pushing me about Bishop?”

She stares at her feet for a second and breaks into a genuine grin now.

“Ah, he finally catches on.”

He breathes in, swallowing his nerves with every gulp of air reaching his lungs. She supposes it’s time to put him out of his misery.

“Look, Agent Torres, if there is anything I have learned throughout all of this, it is that time is the most precious resource we have. I know that it sounds like a cliché, believe me, but it is the truth. When I think about all the time Tony and I wasted over the years… It was not worth it.”

“Yeah, but it seems to have worked out, right?”

“Yes, it has,” she presses her lips together in a regretful smile. “But it very nearly did not. We missed out on so much, I missed out on so much, and it was all because I let fear get the best of me. I liked to tell myself that I was not scared of anything, when really, I was scared of everything.”

Torres absorbs the confession with appropriate gravity.

“Nick, do not let fear rule you. I promise you, whatever happens, taking that chance is worth the risk. I wish I had had the courage much sooner. It might have saved us all a lot of pain.”

He glances through the blinds in the window at the object of this discussion, only for Ellie to catch his eye at that moment. They each avert their gaze on opposite sides of the pane, feeling decidedly like the suspects they’ve just interrogated, without fully understanding why.

“What if I can’t do it?”

“You are a smart man. You will figure it out. You bested me, did you not?” It’s his turn to laugh, and she answers in turn. Maybe she has gotten through to him, after all.

She reaches out to gently pat his elbow. “Take care, Agent Torres.” 

With that, she takes her leave and heads down the street towards her car, the heels of her boots clicking down the sidewalk with every step, leaving Nick to reflect on her words of wisdom. He shifts his weight from foot to foot, unsure of how to proceed. With one last look into the bar, he turns in the opposite direction in search of his own vehicle, more confused than ever. Yet somehow he knows that the former agent is right.

What he doesn’t realize as he turns his back is that Bishop takes one last look at him, Ziva’s words ringing in her ears as well. That maybe blazing the road not travelled is not as scary as it may seem. 

- Bishop, you’ve got a big mouth. See you tomorrow.

She grins at her phone in spite of herself. Maybe that’s a thought for another day. 

#my fanfiction #ziva david #can i tag this as tiva fanfiction? #i mean not really cause they aren't technically there #but i mean everything i write is tiva lmao #i don't even know what this is but i blame all of you #also i don't know anything about torres and bishop #so i just made assumptions #🤷‍♀️

[boystownhq]

Good morning, or whatever time of day it is where you live,  everyone! I’ve just bought my turnips in Animal Crossing, and I wanted to talk about something that’s been on my (sleep deprived) mind lately. Normally, I’d post this later when I’m usually online, but it’s bothering me to the point of needing to get this out. So, to quote a Hamilton lyric: “Can I be real a second? For just one millisecond.”

Inclusivity! 

That’s a concept I have been sounding like a broken record on for quite some time, and at the risk of sounding not only like a broken record but a cranky ol’ person, I’m going to talk about this again. And my hope is that this is the last time I have to because it’s frankly exhausting to post about this so much. But! I won’t stop fighting for it until everyone in this group feels like they belong not only on an interpersonal level, but on a character level as well. This is going to get a little long, so apologies in advance. This is something I feel rather passionate about. RP should be fun. And that means everyone here should be having fun. 

We’ve all seen it in the rp community, characters and players getting ignored. Frankly, I strongly dislike seeing that thing happen. That’s why I hopped from indie to rpgs, and then from rpg to rpg until I found Boystown. So, personally, to see it happening here is disheartening. Especially with our cast of diverse characters and FCs. That’s why I post so much about this subject. NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE should be made to be feel ignored. Not now, not EVER. A, Kat, and myself want Boystown HQ to be an inclusive, safe, and fun place for people to write -- NOT a place where only some of the people are having fun some of the time while others are left out. As I have said time and time again, this is not okay! Please, let’s be kind and make sure everyone feels like they belong. Here are a few areas where I have seen people being left out the most.

First off, OPEN STARTERS. Players don’t just post open starters just because they feel like updating the tag. They post starters hoping to get interactions. It pains me to go through our page of liked starters to see open starters where only one or two others have replied while some other characters are getting loads of people interacting. Yes, I know that some starters seem more open than others, but this is not the problem I’ve been seeing. I’ve been seeing starters be straight up ignored save for the like on the post that the admins give so it can be on our liked by page to combat Tumblr’s tag system being a mess. (click on 'liked by page’ to be taken to the starters page, loves!) Please, let’s not do that anymore! Let’s make sure every starter gets some love, please! It’s discouraging to see that as a writer, and I can safely say from personal experience it leads to one not wanting to post an open starter because of negative experiences and can even affect a newer player who just wants to make connections.

Second, FACE CLAIMS, AGE, and PERSONALITY TYPE. I get it! It’s exciting to see your favorite face claims. But where this doesn’t sit well with me is the fact that characters with underused face claims are being ignored. This is not cool! A face claim is what the character’s appearance is, and not usually who the character is as a person.  And as for personality type, it takes all kinds of personalities to make a great city! Some are more outgoing and friendly, while others are a bit more shy, and others can be kind of a jerk. And that’s okay! What’s not okay is seeing characters not getting replies just because of this. Age is a big thing I’ve seen as well. It’s okay to play a younger character, older character, or someone of middle age! In a city as diverse as Chicago, there are all different age ranges living together to form a community. Let’s see more interactions despite age of characters!   Everyone puts a lot of hard work into their muses, and we should give characters a chance no matter if they look like a popular face claim or not! The same applies to personality as well as age of a muse. No matter the personality, age, or face claim, every character should be given a chance!

Third, RELATIONSHIP STATUS. We have seen characters go from getting a lot of love while single, then getting none after getting into a relationship--especially  if the relationship is a monogamous relationship. This is not okay! Just because a character is not interested in sex outside of their partner does not mean that they’re not interested in a friendship or other platonic connection. Everyone could use more connections. Coworkers, friends, rivals, family, enemies, that guy you don’t quite know but you see while out running errands and such now and then who seems kinda cool when you talk to him --- these are all types of connections we’d like to see! It shouldn’t matter whether that character is interested in having sex with yours or not! And please, please, please! Let’s not drop replies when someone mentions they are in a relationship or turns a character down for sex. 

Last, but certainly not least important. All of these points are equally important! ASK MEMES.  Such great tools for character building and development. However, some people are getting lots of asks in their inbox while others are getting one or two.. or even nothing! Sometimes even because of points two and three. Not only is it good ask etiquette to send one or two to the person who you reblog from, it’s good reblog karma! If you see someone wanting questions for Honesty Hours or other AMA types of things, please send something to them before posting your own. If you’re worried about getting nothing back because you’re on anon, it’s okay to send asks off anon as well. And it’s okay if you hit ask limit. (Even if in my opinion, Tumblr shouldn’t have an ask limit.)

Feeling included is definitely one of the make or break issues for someone debating staying in the rp. So, please, let’s do better at making everyone feel loved! 

TL;DR: Inclusivity is key. Let’s see more of it!!

#boystadmin #boystooc #admin thayne #thayne this is a walgreens

[miranema]

When you are still talking about a show you are too old for..

warning: it’s loooong (TL;DR section at the bottom)

Just to be clear I have no intention to look into and review any more Winx Club related content and it’s not just because the current environment is not conducive to this kind of endeavor. After I finished paying off my debts I considered getting back to this but eventually decided against it because some of my thoughts regarding this show have changed a little and I overall no longer see the point. One of the things I wanted to accomplish when I first started was to figure out why this show never appealed to me when it first came out on the FoxBox and well, the answer was very simple if not ridiculously obvious. This show was not made for me.

I was a few months short of 13 when the show premiered in the US and had just enough experience in the genre to have expectations, and this was the problem. When western magical girl series started to show up in the early 2000s, I expected shows that improved upon the standards and cliches left by the likes of Sailor Moon and its genre contemporaries, not just in terms of visuals but writing as well. Winx Club however, seemed more in line with the type of cartoons that (since the 80s) popped up every now and then as promotional material for emerging lines of fashion dolls generally targeting younger girls, with the only difference being that it had a progressive story-line. Even if you argue that Winx Club was not so merchandise-driven in its first seasons, contemporary fashion and aesthetics had always been the selling point. By then, shows that prioritized visual appeal over writing and seemed to exists primarily as toy commercials, were starting to lose my interest. I was also getting tired of certain staples like romantic relationships being bland but senselessly overemphasized and characters (specially protagonists) being archetypes with little to no complexity.  

As an adult, I since looked back at shows of similar quality/target audience and I have surprisingly been able to find joy within them leading me to another conclusion. It’s not that I am too old and weary to appreciate animated media aimed at young girls. It’s more likely that Winx Club is a sore spot for me because it is the show that made me realize (if subconsciously) that networks in charge of delivering animated media to mainstream television were no longer invested in appealing to me. As a non-white, lower-middle class girl who was never all that into relationship-melodrama I felt that most cartoons of my day didn’t really catered to my interest and I think I saw the rise of Winx Club as a bitter indication that even the animated genres that I liked or tolerated would eventually become completely inaccessible to me.

I had some trouble finding out what the target audience bracket was for the first season. From what I eventually gathered it is either 4-8 or 5-10, although apparently concept-wise the show was intended for a slightly older age group. I give more credence to the first bracket because honestly I think this show works best as baby’s first magical girl series. The less experience you have in the genre, the less fed-up with tropes and the less expectations you have going in, the better.

Lets just make a thing clear. There is no such thing as being too old to watch cartoons. An art medium is not inherently tied to an age group. Unfortunately, everything is at the mercy of capitalism, specially art produced for entertainment. There is a lot of stupidity and outdated ideas governing how mainstream shows are made and to whom they are made for. Industries don’t like to take chances and they are reluctant to change in accordance to society unless an increased in profits can be assured to some degree…

Look, look! I swear I was just going to post a simple paragraph-long note to whoever cared, stating I was not going to continue reviewing Winx Club even though I am no longer in debt. But, I made the HUGE mistake of looking at the Wikipedia page, specifically the part where they quoted show creator Iginio Straffi defending the controversial choices made for season 8, and here I am, annoyed and rambling. To paraphrase, he claims kids around 10 years and older just don’t watch cartoons as much as they used to (sure, Jan) and they just had to retooled their show for a younger demographic and that just means it cannot be as complex as it used to be. Yes, complex is a word he ascribed to the earlier Winx Club content (level of complexity to be clear). I rolled my eyes, I died a little inside and overall I also decided, among other things, to never read another Iginio Straffi interview ever again.

In an effort to wash away this BS and exorcise some demons let me throw here some of my still lingering unwarranted Winx Club thoughts in no particular sequence before this platform collapses any further:

Winx Club is one of if not the longest running western magical girl group series and its success is likely attributed to the fact that back when it premiered in the US, it was the only accessible and visually appealing series to come out of the genre since the beginning of the millennium. It practically had a monopoly of its intended audience. In my neck of the woods, it was available without the need of a cable/satellite subscription. In contrast, Dinsey-owned W.I.T.C.H. didn’t have that same accessibility and I don’t think I even need to bring up anime in general. The one other magical girl show from around the same time that I remembered coming across in syndicated broadcast was Trollz, and well you look that up and tell me how much staying power that looked like it had.

If the show has struggled in recent years is of course NOT because older kids don’t watch cartoons nowadays. Rather I think the show runners are not quite grasping how the circumstances surrounding their target audience have changed since the early 2000s. There are a lot more options out there in terms of entertainment even if you narrow things down to only western magical girl cartoons, not to mention that Winx club no longer has an edge on accessibility. I also think we consume media faster and that along with all the new options of entertainment means we have less head space to dedicate to one single show. Putting a new coat of paint to the newer seasons is simply not enough to remain relevant.

Adding to the above, It’s been well over ten years since the show first premiered. I don’t have data to prove this, but I am willing to bet that a sizable chunk of viewers were there from the beginning or joined at the start of the Nickelodeon era. It makes little sense for changes in writing to include hacking its continuity, rewriting established lore and deleting whatever meager character development they ever had. Maybe it’s not a good idea to turn your show with progressive storytelling including aging characters, into a cash cow you intend to milk for as long as you can and beyond. Maybe they should have given the early seasons a proper conclusion and laid the groundwork for new groups of characters to lead fresh series within the same universe...or you know, a full reboot.

I am not saying that the show should suddenly conform to my tastes (though that would be nice) after all it was not made for me. I just think that people that stuck with it deserve more than what they have been getting. I saw some positive feedback with regards to World of Winx but from what little I saw I don’t think it was good enough to be the series for older fans. Tone might be slightly different but writing-wise it feels more or less the same as the current series. The attempts at humor are still not landing for me at least. Also, how old does Straffi thinks the older fans are? 10? Who knows, maybe season 8 did its job in drawing-in the next gen, and maybe the planned live action series will be all that the older fans have been asking for. I do wish them the best.

Regarding things that I changed my mind about (though only a little bit)...In more than one occasion I referred to Bloom as a mary sue and this has been digging at me. Either the term has become toxic and too often unfairly assigned to any female character in a leading position, or it was always an improper way to discuss mediocre writing. There are main characters that are created in part to serve as vehicles of indulgence for its intended audience. I don’t think these these type of characters need to be complex to be successful or serviceable but I do think relatability and/or likability are indicators of whether or not a specific indulgent protagonist is effective. I didn’t find Bloom to be effective but she seems to be popular enough with the younger range of fans and that’s what matters. All I am saying is that Bloom could have easily been better and all it would have taken was for the writers to slightly lower the pedestal they put her on. Otherwise, they should have just stuck with the Magical Bloom title so no one would have delusions that the show would ever focus on anyone else.

I stand by most of my other major criticisms of the series. Though I admit that when I was looking at each episode I would spend an unreasonable amount of time on small things or personal pet peeves.I maintain however that to whom a show is intended for should not be a determinant of quality and there are things worth discussing even if one is not within the age-range of said audience. However, it’s not hard to tell what Winx Club is mostly about; it’s romance-centered. If you are not all that invested on that sort of stuff or you don’t like what the show is offering, then there is little point in sticking around because you are just going to get more and more caught-up on the flaws. The fantasy world elements while ambitious in scope are not well developed and consistency is an issue since the beginning that only gets worse as the series goes on. Unless you can subsist solely on the aesthetics and merch-friendly elements, I wouldn’t bother beyond the first movie.

If Winx Club had been the definitive blue print shaping the future of western magical girls shows, I would probably feel justified in making this much of a fuss. However, pretty much any other show I have seen after the fact has been a deviation and an improvement. I believe that’s because more content creators that grew up with the genre (and understood the many ways it could be improved) are finding opportunities to bring their appreciation for it into the mainstream. It’s pointless for me to still complain about the older stuff. Heck, I can even find good things to say about Angel’s Friends and this is definitely a cartoon that was shaped by the success of the fairy school show. 

Winx Club is fine, it has as much right to exist as any other piece of mindless entertainment aimed at any demographic.  And that’s that.

TL;DR

I am not reviewing Winx Club stuff anymore. I just had a lot of thoughts that were brought up by an annoying Iginio Straffi quote I saw on the Wiki page while I was working on that last post. Extended rambling is what I apparently do when I am mildly upset. I barfed all this out in the hopes that I won’t think about this show again anytime soon.

 If morbid curiosity gets the better of me, I might give future Winx Club content a watch. I just won’t post about it because it seems I am incapable of finding joy in it.

No, I don’t take criticisms of the bad spelling/grammar of my ramblings. Let this mess be. This is also not a place for debate, the only discourse I welcome here is whether or not relatability is a word. Online dictionaries say it’s fine but my word processor says it is not a thing. Discuss! (JK)

Stay safe,

#winx club #ramblings #winx club review #cartoons #i am too old #winx #anyone ever heard of Angel's Friends? #I am either watching that next or Lady LovelyLocks #por que no los dos