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saijspellhart · 6 days
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“Fall in love with taking care of yourself. Fall in love with the path of deep healing. Fall in love with becoming the best version of yourself but with patience, with compassion, and respect to your own journey.”
— Sylvester McNutt
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saijspellhart · 23 days
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Why is that fascinating? What I was most excited about is not and never will be a statement on the quality of the show.
That would be like criticizing Inuyasha as an adaptation of a manga simply because a Sesshoumaru fan was excited to see more Sesshoumaru.
Or criticizing Across the spiderverse because Someone's favorite Spiderman was Spider T-rex and they were just so flipping jovial to see Spider T-rex. (Even if it was for 5 seconds)
Me being so excited that my favorite character (Kyoshi) narrated the opening of NATLA and played a slightly more prominent role. (And by extension getting to see a few more Avatars who played significant roles in her books) is not a statement about the quality of the show.
Its a statement about me. It says lots about me. And that is that I LIKE Kyoshi. And since the post was made for my followers it was intended to let them know the character they know me for gushing about appeared in this series. And i was rightfully jovial about it.
Again if you want to see my praises and criticisms for the show you can check out my more in depth review.
Maybe we can have a real discussion out of respect, rather than you simply trying to twist a fan's excitement into a "gotcha" criticism.
Netflix Avatar Series - An extremely succinct review
It’s fucking good. Go watch it.
I’d write a whole ass review detailing why, but it’s late and I’m tired. I have so many thoughts about the series, and critical break downs for why I think a lot of the creative decisions worked. And even thoughts about how I think it could have been improved.
But overall I was not disappointed by this show. And if you love avatar Kyoshi from the novels… well let’s just say the creators were paying attention to the novels, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yang Chen, Roku… ;3
Please try to go into this series with an open mind.
It’s not a shot for shot remake. And honestly who would fucking want another Lion King situation.
Anyway. Loved this ATLA series almost as much as I loved the original cartoon, and I hope they get a season two.
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saijspellhart · 24 days
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One: I was trying not to spoil anything. And I wrote this when I was half asleep having just binged it.
Two: If you followed my blog you would know I’m not a diehard fan of the original cartoon, I’m a fan of the Kyoshi novels. I LIKE the previous avatars. I am not a nostalgic fan of the original series, having not watched it until I was an adult. I loved ATLA but I never adored the Aang Gang from the cartoon. I am however a fan of the Kyoshi novels. So a huge highlight for me was seeing more Kyoshi.
Three: actually check out my complete review of the series if you want in depth thoughts and feels about the main cast.
Four: You jumped to shallow conclusions based on nothing, and it says more about you, needing to scrape someone else’s positivity post so you can spread hate and disdain. (There are more respectful ways to tell people you didn’t enjoy something.)
Netflix Avatar Series - An extremely succinct review
It’s fucking good. Go watch it.
I’d write a whole ass review detailing why, but it’s late and I’m tired. I have so many thoughts about the series, and critical break downs for why I think a lot of the creative decisions worked. And even thoughts about how I think it could have been improved.
But overall I was not disappointed by this show. And if you love avatar Kyoshi from the novels… well let’s just say the creators were paying attention to the novels, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yang Chen, Roku… ;3
Please try to go into this series with an open mind.
It’s not a shot for shot remake. And honestly who would fucking want another Lion King situation.
Anyway. Loved this ATLA series almost as much as I loved the original cartoon, and I hope they get a season two.
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saijspellhart · 1 month
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Sokka’s sexism was not an important growing point for his character - an Essay
I’ve seen all the discourse online about people up in arms about the toning back of Sokka’s sexism in the Netflix ATLA. (Almost everyone I have spoken to have brought it up as a reason to hate the Netflix ATLA) I think that anger is knee jerk, and misguided. It never mattered WHAT the Netflix adaptation was changing, people were always going to be angry about it. They could have announced Momo is a girl now, and people would have raged. Momo being a girl would have changed NOTHING about the series, but people would have been outraged.
Just like I believe Sokka being sexist or not being sexist really changes nothing in the scope of the story, themes, and is not the character growth people claim it to be. Hear me out. Let’s break it down and think about it in terms of themes and character development and how it affects the entire plot.
Sokka is introduced as being cartoonishly sexist in the very first episode of ATLA. As a device simply to make Katara rage. He keeps this trait for a grand total of 3 episodes until episode four when a girl whoops his ass and his sexism is cured forever onward. In the span of a 30 minute episode Sokka’s sexism was given a what for and through that he was transformed into a better man?
Imagine if Zuko’s mental and emotional journey had been solved in a 30 min episode, and wasn’t a lessen he had to repeatedly fail and try and fail and try time and time again. Imagine if Katara’s waterbending journey, or obnoxious controlling nature was just solved in a 30 min episode and not something she struggled with and fought for the entire series.
But let’s say his sexism is super important as everyone claims. Let’s explore it.
When is it challenged ever again in the entire series?
When Sokka leads the invasion on the Fire Nation, there aren’t a bunch of women in that army. He leads an army of men.
When Sokka needs to find a sword master to teach him the art of sword play, it’s a man. He never needed to overcome sexism to accept a non-traditional master.
Nearly all women, sans Toph and Katara, that have any long lasting influential moments in Sokka’s character development are women he has a romance with. Woman whose motivations and agency rely on a man.
The Kyoshi warriors that kicked his ass? What of them? Sokka has to rescue Suki from prison. It’s not tackling some gender equality issue. Suki is a woman in distress and Sokka is the man who comes to rescue her. (Cute and romantic, but hardly tackling a gender cliche.)
Do the Kyoshi warriors ever engage in any actual battle that matters to the plot and win? Not really. Instead the important role of the Kyoshi warriors is to be nurturing to Appa while he’s lost. A traditionally female role. And to provide a way for Azula to overtake Bah Sing Sei. (Don’t get me wrong, I love the girls, but the show never again utilized them in a way that challenged sexism.)
Sokka didn’t need to overcome sexism to respect Azula. Azula commanded and earned all the respect she needed. Sokka didn’t need to overcome sexism to respect Toph. Toph earned his respect by kicking the ass of everyone around him.
At no point in the rest of ATLA was Sokka’s sexism ever challenged after episode 4. It never helped him become a better leader because he never had to lead women whose respect he needed to earn. It never helped him develop his warrior skills. It didn’t affect the plot and his growth as a character any farther than getting a hilarious butt whooping in the fourth episode.
Sokka overcoming sexism wasn’t well written, it was a GAG. A goof. Ha ha funny, man got his butt beat by women and was forever cured.
If we really think about it seriously, as character growth, people who have had sexism so rooted into their beliefs don’t just overcome it because one woman broke the status quo and kicked their ass. That’s lazy writing. It was lazy in the cartoon and it would have been extra lazy in a show that had even less time to explore the issue.
Sexism, if they REALLY wanted to tackle it as a serious issue, should have been a problem Sokka had to challenge several times, and have his preconceived notions proven wrong and dismantled. It should have made him a better leader, or a more respectful fighter.
Instead it’s treated like a joke.
The Netflix ATLA decided to tone it back with Sokka, because from a writing standpoint it made more sense thematically for Katara to challenge sexism with the Northernn water tribe. They didn’t have the time or the budget to poorly tackle the issue of sexism twice, so they focused tackling the issue where it mattered to the plot and where it mattered to KATARA’s character journey more.
I’m tired of people screaming how much they loved his sexism and how the Netflix adaptation is rotten without his sexism. It’s not a lack of media literacy that it was cut. It was media literacy that led to it being cut. A writer recognized when the message was important and when it wasn’t.
That’s all I got to say. You don’t have to agree with me. But these were my thoughts on the matter.
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saijspellhart · 1 month
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Things I liked about the Netflix ATLA and some critiques:
Before you read. Please go watch the series, take off your blinders and keep an open mind. It’s surprisingly good. This review has spoilers.
They reordered some scenes so that emotional moments would have a larger pay off. Like getting to see and experience Aang’s relationship with Monk Gyatsu, and seeing his tribe before it was destroyed. So when he has his breakdown in the air temple with Sokka and Katara later, you really feel and understand his agony.
Azula is introduced earlier, with a story running simultaneously with the Aang’s journey but not involved with his. So she has a chance to be more fleshed out and explored before she becomes a major threat. Only time will tell if this more complicated Azula comes close to the animated one. Big shoes to fill, but not a bad start.
Fire Lord Ozai plays a more sinister and oppressive role. Not a faceless boogeyman anymore. You get to see his machinations and the cruel games he’s playing with his family, and see the emotional abuse that warps them.
Appa is adorable as fuck, and so is Momo. So well animated, such gorgeous care put into them.
Kyoshi, Kuruk, and Roku make more of an appearance. With Kyoshi narrating the prologue. And if you loved the novels you’ll see they incorporated more of Kyoshi and Kuruk’s backstory from the novels than what we saw in the animated cartoon.
The acting was competent, even if a little wonky at times. I found Sokka very endearing, I loved the kid they cast as Aang and you can tell they really tried to find a balance between serious and playful. They didn’t always hit it, but the effort was there.
Zuko was great. I think they nailed him and he had great chemistry with the actor playing Iroh.
King Bumi was great, I love how they made his internal struggles more complex. He wasn’t just a crazy old man anymore. He was a crazy old man who was weary and worn down by the horrors of loss and war. A crazy old man who struggled to reconcile that the best friend he lost is the avatar and wasn’t there for him.
I loved the costume and set design. It was like stepping into the actual world of ATLA. Cities were complex and well constructed. Every setting was incredible and the attention to detail was intense.
Zuko’s boat is full of artifacts he pilfered from the Air Nomads while hunting for the avatar.
They changed how Aang got the bison whistle so it makes more sense and fits more seamlessly into the story. It never made sense why a random peddler would be selling a bison whistle if air nomads and bison have been gone for 100 years. Not impossible for a peddler to do, but not probable. The Netflix series actually gave more meaning for the artifact and changed how Aang received it.
Emotional points in the show are now more intense and brought me to tears.
Commander Zhao is more competent and conniving, and his presence felt more dangerous and less comedic.
Sokka’s outright sexism was changed from putting girls down, to just manly machismo, talking himself up. Not gone, but not degrading. They decided to let the sexism message shine more prominently with the northern water tribe, rather than tackle it twice with Sokka too. (Sokka’s sexism being solved in one episode was never well written to begin with. And the animated series quickly forgot about it and moved on to him tackling more important issues, like his being a non bender inadequacy, his leadership journey, his physical combat journey, and him finding himself as more than just the funny sarcastic guy.) For time constraints, it was better the Netflix series did not to tackle the same problem twice, especially when you might not have the resources to give both sexism issues the gravity it deserves. By focusing the sexism problem to the northern water tribe they were able to give Katara more attention.
We got to see Katara’s water-bending go from being ultra sloppy and weak to badass. It feels like they are spending more time focusing on her developing into a warrior rather than being the mom of the group. I’m honestly not sad about it. She’s still the hope ridden, emotional glue, but now it feels like she explores that warrior side a little deeper. It felt so earned when she got the title of master at the northern water tribe finale.
The actor playing uncle Iroh nailed the role. I couldn’t think of a better live action adaptation of Iroh. I love him so much.
The shirshu looks fucking phemonal.
Koh was scary as fuck and I love it. They really nailed his horror elements. Even if I’m a little sad that they changed some things about his face stealing. (He eats faces now to steal them, rather than stealing when someone shows emotion.)
The three actresses who play Mei, Azula and Tailee actually look appropriate for their age. Since they are introduced earlier, they are clearly younger, and since this show is intended to get more seasons, the casting choice made sense as we are intended to watch these girls grow up over the course of the entire show. These actors will get older, and the characters will get more menacing and sharper. It’s great. It’s thoughtful. I love it.
We get to see Zuko’s dynamics with his crew more. And find out that he did more than just speak out against his father at that meeting. His outburst at that meeting saved an entire squad of soldiers, and they don’t even know it. Zuko feels such disdain and bitterness because of the situation, and his crew doesn’t even know why. It’s so complex, you can see how the abuse Zuko endured causes him to take out his anger on his crew, and in turn they are bitter back. And it’s this cycle, that festers. But the crew also grows with Zuko, they change and evolve as he evolves. And it’s such a delight to watch.
They could have cut the Secret Tunnel minstrels altogether, given the time constraints and that the episode was mostly fluff in season two. A fun romp, but not necessary. But the creators knew people loved the minstrels so they found a way to use them anyway. Because they knew they were special. I am thankful for that, even if they show up waaay earlier than they should.
I was honestly more sold on Sokka and Suki’s relationship in the live action. It’s was so adorkable. Do I wish it had more time to develop? Yeah, of course I love a good slow burn. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun as hell watching the two flirt so badly with each other. Sokka being a buffoon, and Suki overstepping and being too rough, before realizing she was being too hard.
Some Critiques:
They reordered some episode storylines to happen at the same time, and while it does bloat some episodes. it’s understandable due the episode and budget limitations. In the cartoon, during the inventor episode Katara didn’t have a lot to do, and during the freedom fighters episode Sokka didn’t have a lot to do. So they ended up combining both stories into one hour long episode in the live action, so that both Katara and Sokka would be involved in something. Is it the best? No. But it makes sense. I get it.
Katara starts off bland in the first episode and it takes a bit for her to grow into the character.
The past avatars can be a bit strong with the doom and gloom, and I wish they’d toned that back.
Koh and Heibei (I dunno how to spell the panda spirit’s name) got combined to the same episode, and Koh stole Heibei’s spotlight. Again, I understand why these got combined, but I think it could have been handled a little better and Heibei should have gotten more closure.
There should have been a ninth episode, placed between the two episode Koh storyline, and the Northern Water Tribe storyline. Why? Because the Koh storyline was really heavy and intense. And it leads right into the season finale. An extra ninth episode should have been added with a more lighthearted tone. Something to ease the tension between the two very intense storylines.
Aang should have been using a glider to flit about the temples in the first episode. But it’s not something that ruins the whole show. It was a dumb that only happens in a single episode in the season.
I really missed Momo and Appa’s presence. They appeared atleast once in every episode, but it was still sad they weren’t more of a presence. Again I understand why. They were so beautifully animated that everytime they were on screen it (without a doubt) cost the production thousands of dollars. They were generous including as many of the unique animals and creatures as they had.
I still don’t think Sokka had enough time to develop a relationship with Yue at the northern water tribe. It was rushed and contrived in the animated version, and it was rushed and contrived in this Netflix version. There also wasn’t any of the chemistry like Sokka had with Suki to make the whirlwind romance work. I never liked the romance from the original, and I wasn’t a fan of it here. But that’s ok, because it’s such a small and insignificant thing.
In conclusion most of the changes I can see made were due to budget, and episode limitations. The creators were clearly trying to bring theater-cinematic quality to what was essentially an eight hour long film. And you cannot deny that this show is stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. Most of the episodes cut were filler, and while hilarious and mostly loved by fans, were stories not as necessary in the grand scope. You could feel the love and appreciation the creators included in this series. It wasn’t soulless, it wasn’t a heartless cash grab, it wasn’t a shot for shot (thank god) but it also didn’t butcher the source material.
I understand that the animated show creators had creative differences with the live action Netflix adaptation creators. But that doesn’t mean that the Netflix series completely failed. As every fanfic writer out there knows, the original authors are not going to love what you create based on their works. Tolkien hated every adaptation of his works, HATED them. But no one is going about saying that the Lord of the Rings trilogy movies were hot garbage. A creator doesn’t have to endorse a project for it to be good.
Netflix ATLA is good, it’s not perfect. And it never was going to be perfect. The cartoon it was based on wasn’t perfect either. But the ATLA cartoon was definitely some huge shoes to fill that set a bar very high. Any adaptation was going to struggle to be just as good.
I think the Netflix adaptation was a treat and a pleasure to watch. I think people should go into it with an open mind and see that it’s not trying to replace the cartoon. It’s a love letter to the cartoon.
PS: According to behind the scenes commentary on the Nickelodeon ATLA cartoon, the reason we didn’t get a season 4 was because the creators wanted a live action film. Nickelodeon offered the original cartoon creators the option to make season 4 or to spend the budget meant for season four on a live action ATLA film. The original creators chose the live action film directed by M. Night Shamalan. They wanted a live action for their show over a 4th season. They had no idea M. night would butcher their baby with his pathetic film all those years ago.
This show was a second chance after the M. night abomination. And you know what? It’s a pretty decent adaptation. And guess what? With a resurgence of interest in the series, we are getting more animated content for the original animated series. There’s definitely something for everyone on the horizon if this succeeds.
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saijspellhart · 1 month
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Netflix Avatar Series - An extremely succinct review
It’s fucking good. Go watch it.
I’d write a whole ass review detailing why, but it’s late and I’m tired. I have so many thoughts about the series, and critical break downs for why I think a lot of the creative decisions worked. And even thoughts about how I think it could have been improved.
But overall I was not disappointed by this show. And if you love avatar Kyoshi from the novels… well let’s just say the creators were paying attention to the novels, Kyoshi, Kuruk, Yang Chen, Roku… ;3
Please try to go into this series with an open mind.
It’s not a shot for shot remake. And honestly who would fucking want another Lion King situation.
Anyway. Loved this ATLA series almost as much as I loved the original cartoon, and I hope they get a season two.
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saijspellhart · 2 months
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Hi!!!!
...
I get so shy about asks...my last two (not you, different people) were never answered XD
anyway, I really love your writing! I just finished a 20 chapter fic about Kaiba (gradually and a little reluctantly) adopting Yugi because his grandpa died, and then Anzu dies (she's his GF in the story) so Yugi gets really sad and breaks down
I'm going to write a part 2, of basically Yugi going through therapy while living at Kaiba's house, could I PLEASE have some fluffy head canons of Kaiba and Yugi at the house while Yugi is experiencing depression? Basically he's suffering a bereavement overload (AKA he has trouble grieving for 2 people at a time)
Maybe just Kaiba..."trying" to be a dad, maybe Mokuba helped him with experience, but idk how that would go
I know you're busy, but if you have time, this would be rlly appreciated, and would help me a lot in writing my story!! thank you!
Well, given that I also lost three loved ones in my life, all in the same year, I can definitely empathize with the grief overload. I can say that some of the things my husband did to comfort me really helped. Even if they were small acts.
What if Kaiba found a sufficiently mind numbing game that they could both play to distract from the pain? (When I was grieving my husband and I played Borderlands 2 together.) What if Kaiba and Yugi played Kirby’s Epic Yarn, or Yoshi’s Woolly World, or Secret of Mana, or Pokémon. Games that are cute, and uplifting, and great two player games. And something where if Kaiba gets competative, as he does, it would be ridiculous and hilarious given how Cutesy the games are.
Or there could be moments where Kaiba brings Yugi a hot cocoa, with like ridiculous frills, mini marshmallows in color Star shapes, with whipped creme, and chocolate shavings, and little wafer cookies. Etc. Just such a rich person cup of cocoa. So incongruent with Kaiba’s uptight and grumpy demeanor.
You could have Kaiba cook him dinner, and totally botch it. Like accidentally cooking a meal that’s all potatoes. Mashed potatoes and french fries. Or a grilled cheese with a side of Mac and cheese. Ya know, just like silly things that are basically the same food twice, but Kaiba doesn’t think about it because he normally doesn’t cook food. Or maybe he cooks Yugi some dinosaur nuggets, and before Yugi can acknowledge the dinosaur shapes, he drowns them in molten gravy.
Kaiba could bring home a book. Something random. And just unprompted, start reading aloud from the book. Softly, with a tenderness so unlike his usual manner.
He could buy Yugi a nightlight. People who suffer from loss can often suffer from night terrors. Maybe the nightlight shines little Blue eyes white dragon shapes on the walls. Very on brand for Kaiba.
Maybe he buys Yugi a “Snuggy” the blanket with sleeves. Then grouses and mutters when Yugi doesn’t use the sleeves. But he sees Yugi use he blanket anyway and cocoon himself inside it.
Depression kinda makes you not want to do anything, especially grief depression, so Yugi might not be responsive during all these things. But it would be small feeble expressions, or subdued body language that would show Kaiba the things he’s doing affect Yugi.
Anyway, I hope the ideas help. Good luck on your Hurt/comfort fic. I’m sure it’ll be amazing. I think you got this.
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saijspellhart · 2 months
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it's so upsetting when ppl complain about not having fics to read but refuse to read wips like ?? this isn't a book store this is a community... the authors are less likely to finish it if y'all only show their work love after it's done...
this isn't a bookstore this is a community
SAY IT LOUDER ANON
i know WIPs can be frustrating because they don't always update constantly or consistently. sometimes they get abandoned. sometimes they go on hiatus for long periods of time.
trust me, i get it. but the fanfic community and fanfic writers thrive on people supporting their works in progress. "there aren't any fics to read" - no there ARE, you're just not reading them.
ao3 isn't netflix. you very rarely get a finished product all in one go that's not a one shot. that defeats the purpose of being able to upload individual chapters at different times.
we as a society are too used to instant gratification and "binging." fanfic wasn't designed for that. if you want to "binge read," go buy a published book. if you want to participate in fandom, support writers who are putting their work out there for free without any compensation other than your love, support, and encouragement.
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saijspellhart · 3 months
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The One Time I think My Step Dad Saved my Life.
I never liked my mother’s husband, we never got along and I always thought my Mom was too good for him. But it would be a disservice not to acknowledge that I think he saved my life once, and I’ll forever be grateful.
I was 18 at the time, I’d just made a dog suit for an anime con and had decided to wear it for Halloween too. (Not a fursuit in the traditional sense. Imagine you had a giant dog plushie, and you skinned it and wore it like a dog suit. Floppy, baggy, understuffed and everything.) it was my first major sewing project, I was so proud. It turned out exactly how I wanted it.
I took my two little half-brothers trick-or-treating that year. Running around the neighborhood with them collecting candy, having a great time. We made it back to my Mom’s house safely, but I wasn’t going to stay the night. There was supposed to be one more bus passing through the area and I planned to catch it and take the bus system back to my apartment.
The bus stop was just right across the street from my mom’s house, in a moderate neighborhood. Not quiet, but not busy. The street it was on saw quite a bit of traffic. Most of the street lights were well spaced, so the neighborhood got pretty dark at night. It was also late so all the trick-or-treaters had long gone home. I’m actually major scared of the dark, but I sucked it up and waited for the bus, still wearing my dog suit mind you.
For a while it was just me, all by myself. But then a man showed up out of no where a couple blocks down. I could see him whenever he wandered under a street light. I didn’t think much of it, he was pretty far off, it was Halloween, and my Mom’s house was right there. But the man was clearly walking in my direction.
It didn’t become strange until I saw he kept stopping.
Every so often he would stop, sort of loiter around, then start casually walking towards me again. I’m checking my phone for the time at this point, cause the bus should have been here already, but I hadn’t seen it. The man continued moving closer.
I began to realize that the man only moved closer when there wasn’t any traffic. The moment cars would drive down the road is when he stopped to loiter about. Then, when the cars disappeared he would casually walk my way again. I started to get really uneasy. I could sense something was very not right about this.
My Step-Dad happened to pull out of the drive way during all this, off to go party with some of his friends no doubt. He waved at me as he drove by, inevitably passing the strange man farther down the street. At this point the man was about four driveways away. I was seriously considering just darting across the road, going back in my Mom’s house and calling my older brother for a ride. But I was also telling myself I was paranoid and the bus would be there any minute.
The man continued to move closer until he was about two driveways away, and under a streetlight. Cars were passing again, so he’d resumed his loitering. Still no bus. I was wondering how fast I could actually run in a baggy dog suit.
The man had started moving again when a car suddenly pulled up to the curb in front of me. It was my Step-Dad. He had the window rolled down, stank of weed and cigarettes, but he told me to get in the car. At this point it didn’t matter how much I disliked him, I was scared and thankful. I hopped in the car and he drove off, passing the strange man who just stared the entire time, watching us go.
My step-Dad told me he was dropping me off at the bus station in the middle of the city, where I could catch a connecting bus and go home. He said he saw the weird man when he passed the first time, got a weird feeling, so he circled the block to come back and grab me. I thanked him. It was actually really touching that he was concerned about me, I’m not even his kid, and he never raised me.
I caught a bus home from the station, made it home safe. Celebrated the rest of Halloween with my older brother and my friend/roommate. I honestly didn’t dwell anymore on the experience after that.
It wasn’t until a couple days later we heard on the news there had been some assaults in the neighborhoods surrounding my Mom’s house on Halloween night. The gravity of my situation really hit me after that. I could have been one of those assaulted people, or worse.
Ever since I honestly believed my Step-Dad, in all his paranoid, conspiracy theory, people-hating delusions, saved my life that night. He’s dead now, he and my mom died in a car accident years ago. I never actually got to express my appreciation for that night, (aside from the generic, “thanks for the ride.”) We’d never spoken about it. Never talked about the assaults reported in the neighborhood. Never had any meaningful conversation about the situation. I don’t think he ever knew how much I appreciated that small act of concern.
To this day that was one of the most haunting and frightening experiences I’ve ever had. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. But I’ve kept this story to myself for a very long time, and even though my step-Dad is gone now, I wanted someone to hear this story.
Thank you Larry.
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saijspellhart · 3 months
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Oops, my hand slipped and I started a part 2 of Ushtey Yugi fic.
If you like Kelpies, and horses, or just mythological creatures in love with a human, then please go check out my fic, “So Where is the Line Drawn.” I wrote it as a secret santa gift, and it was such a blast to write.
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saijspellhart · 3 months
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Reblogging for Christmas this year.
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Merry Christmas!
Last year I received a Christmas card from a friend in the YGO fandom. It was so sweet and cheered me up so much. So this year I decided to draw my own card and send them out to a bunch of friends in the fandom. I wanted to pay the gesture forward.
You guys are all so wonderful, and I love you so much. I asked my coworker, Brit, what I should draw for my Christmas card, and she said it should be the boys wearing scarves, and Yugi dragging Atem into a kiss beneath mistletoe. I gave it my best shot.
Bonus! All the cards I’m sending out include these pretty vinyl stickers. Stickers under the cut.
Keep reading
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saijspellhart · 3 months
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So Where is the Line drawn?
Rated: T
Oneshot/Completed, (unless someone manages to pressure me into a sequel.)
Written by: Me! (Saij)
Summary: Atem is hunted, and Yugi is hunting him. A delicate game of predator and prey. Talking to his prey probably wasn’t his best play. But getting their hands stuck together and caught in a rainstorm definitely wasn’t part of the strategy. What’s this warmth in his chest?
Yugi isn’t sure what game he’s playing with this human anymore.
My submission for the 2023 Secret Santa event hosted by Hikari. A gift fic for @cloudsmachinations in which Yugi is an Ushtey (a monstrous water horse very similar to a Kelpie) and Atem is the unlucky (lucky?) human he’s hunting.
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saijspellhart · 3 months
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So Where is the Line drawn?
Rated: T
Oneshot/Completed, (unless someone manages to pressure me into a sequel.)
Written by: Me! (Saij)
Summary: Atem is hunted, and Yugi is hunting him. A delicate game of predator and prey. Talking to his prey probably wasn’t his best play. But getting their hands stuck together and caught in a rainstorm definitely wasn’t part of the strategy. What’s this warmth in his chest?
Yugi isn’t sure what game he’s playing with this human anymore.
My submission for the 2023 Secret Santa event hosted by Hikari. A gift fic for @cloudsmachinations in which Yugi is an Ushtey (a monstrous water horse very similar to a Kelpie) and Atem is the unlucky (lucky?) human he’s hunting.
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saijspellhart · 4 months
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Behold!
Hot naked bread. Apparently they felt bad and brushed a tiny bit of garlic butter around the edge of the crust for flavor. Which you can see in this picture should you squint.
“Pizza” Time!???
I told my husband I wanted to steal some crust off his pizza and dip it in the garlic butter sauce. But he’s ordering a Brooklyn style pizza which I guess doesn’t have a crust? Or very little?
Sad me said I wish I could get a pizza that was all crust and no toppings.
My husband said I could.
So he ordered me a pizza with no sauce, no cheese, no topping. Just the bread dough.
Turns out if you do that, the Dominoes app says, “warning, you’re ordering a pizza with no cheese or sauce.” And you can respond, “Don’t judge me, that’s how I like my pizza??”
If anyone cares, I’ll share a photo of my naked pizza in 30 mins I guess.
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saijspellhart · 4 months
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“Pizza” Time!???
I told my husband I wanted to steal some crust off his pizza and dip it in the garlic butter sauce. But he’s ordering a Brooklyn style pizza which I guess doesn’t have a crust? Or very little?
Sad me said I wish I could get a pizza that was all crust and no toppings.
My husband said I could.
So he ordered me a pizza with no sauce, no cheese, no topping. Just the bread dough.
Turns out if you do that, the Dominoes app says, “warning, you’re ordering a pizza with no cheese or sauce.” And you can respond, “Don’t judge me, that’s how I like my pizza??”
If anyone cares, I’ll share a photo of my naked pizza in 30 mins I guess.
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saijspellhart · 5 months
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Everyone out there watching FNAF and recognizing the cameos….
Meanwhile I watched the movie and couldn’t even tell the babysitter was the same woman when she wasn’t at the house babysitting anymore.
(No I didn’t catch any of the cameos.)
I didn’t even know Matpat was in the movie until my husband leaned over and whispered, “that’s Matpat.”
I watch fucking Matpat’s channel all the fucking time!!
Fucking fuck face blindness. Fucking bullshit. I can’t watch live action anything because I cannot recognize people unless they are cartoonishly distinct.
I want to cry.
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saijspellhart · 5 months
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Hey guys, Fiction can be Effed up and thats ok.
for all you creatives out ther worrying about how outraged people will be if you write the effed up story you want to write. Please remember. Without effed up stories we wouldnt have the entire horror genre.
And i dont know about you but the entire horror genre is a literal work of visual and storytelling art. One of the absolute last bastions of sandboxes for original ideas.
The rest of hollywood is hell bent on remakes and adaptations of preexisting media. But Horror always has a HUGE amount of entries every year from low budget and indy creators who are making glorious original content. With original ideas. And even film studios frequently greenlight original horror more often than other genres.
So when you are out there writing your original stories with the most depraved dead dove content imaginable. And you are scared people will hate it. Please know that there is an entire genre that celebrates the creativity of that content.
And that effed up creativity doesnt need to stay contained in the horror genre either. But without that freedom of creativity there wouldnt be a horror genre at all.
Purity culture would purge the horror genre.
So please keep creating your dead dove content.
Fake people and fake stories are not a reflection of real life. You can make a Saw franchise without wanting to commit torture pron in real life.
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