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#and i don't mean personal accomplishments i mean like. there are SO many foods i haven't tried yet...
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do you have advice on how to write genuine dialogue? i have a very severe case of when getting into the mindset of writing, and specifically writing dialogue, i only regurgitate whatever i have heard/seen from other media. it just seems unoriginal, ingenuine, and for aesthetic value only (i end up writing something out of a poem and not real people conversations). please help 😞
Writing Dialogue That Sounds Natural/Genuine
1 - Know Your Characters Well - One of the most important elements of writing natural/genuine-sounding dialogue is making sure you know your characters well. If you don't know who they are... their personalities, their experiences, what they care about, what they know and don't know... then you can't accurately envision what they'd have to say in a conversation. See: Making Personalities Unique and Keeping Them Straight
2 - Flesh Out Character Voice - "Character voice" is how your character's background, experiences, and personality affect what they say and how they speak. This isn't about quality of voice... it's about vocal personality. See: Giving Your Characters a Unique Voice
3 - Know What They're Going To Talk About - There's nothing that sounds more unnatural and inauthentic than characters having a conversation that has no relevance to anything. That said, it's super important to understand why you're writing this dialogue scene... what are you trying to accomplish with it? How does that move the story forward, move character development forward, or deliver important information to the reader? What needs to be said and why? Being clear on this can help you craft dialogue that sounds natural and genuine because it's relevant and serves a purpose.
4 - Balance Exposition, Action, and Dialogue - Overall, we want our stories to have a relative balance of exposition (explaining things), action (things happening), and dialogue. We want a relative balance of exposition, action, and dialogue in our scenes, too. What I mean by "relative" is you generally wouldn't want a scene that's all dialogue, very little action, and no exposition. (And I say "generally" because there can be exceptions... short scenes, scenes that serve a unique purpose, scenes with unique requirements, etc.) So, it's important to really think about the needs of your scene, what you're trying to accomplish, and make sure you've got a relative balance of dialogue, exposition, and action (as long as it works for the scene.) See: Exposition, Action, and Dialogue, and How to Pace Your Story
5 - Write Dialogue with Sensory and Emotional Depth - We never want our dialogue to be just words batted back and forth between two or more people. Dialogue needs to have depth, and we give it that depth in two ways.
-- Sensory Details in Dialogue -- Sight: what are the characters doing as they talk? What is their body language? Facial expressions? Hand gestures? How do they physically interact with their environment and others in the conversation? Sound: quality of voice (when characters voices get loud or soft, when a voice is gritty or raspy, when the speaker has an accent or speaks with a particular tone or cadence) as we as sounds like coughing, clearing the throat, or sighing... and sounds resulting from the character's interactions with the environment or others. Smell: bad breath or alcohol on the breath... or good breath... the smell of the speaker's perfume or body odor, the smell of a cigarette they're smoking, or a food they're eating.
Taste: there aren't many opportunities to include taste in dialogue, but possibilities would be tasting bile due to something awful someone said in the conversation, tasting food or drink sampled during conversation, or even "tasting" a smell associated with the environment during the conversation.
Feel: again, this will be more environmental... feeling a "chill" in the room when something cruel or scary is said. Noticing things felt due to the environment or interaction with the environment/others. Internal physical sensations felt during conversation.
*** And, it's important to note that I'm not suggesting that you include every sense or lots of sensory details. It's just adding a few that make sense can add depth and authenticity to the dialogue.
-- Emotional Details in Dialogue --
You also want to be sure to explore the emotional impact of the conversation as well as what characters are thinking as they participate in the conversation, and what they feel about what others are saying. As mentioned above in the "feel" portion of sensory details, you can explore the internal sensations caused by emotions felt as a result of the conversation. Stomach turning due to something unpleasant being said. Butterflies in stomach due to something exciting being said. Chill up the spine due to something scary being said. You can also explore emotions through visual emotional cues, which brings us back to things like body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Letting us know what characters are thinking and feeling (emotionally) during the conversation--or what they appear to be thinking and feeling if they don't say or we can't be inside their heads--adds depth and authenticity to the dialogue scene.
Happy writing!
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sirfrogsworth · 4 months
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I posted the below on my Facebook. I am secretly trying to head things off at the pass. Every time people see pictures of me out and about, they think I have been magically cured or my health status has improved. And I know going to Florida is going to give people that impression.
But also, I just wish a few of my relatives could understand my situation better. And why I didn't come to Christmas. And why I might try to come to Christmas now.
I guess I'll see how this goes.
-----------------------------------
One of the biggest struggles I've had my entire adult life is explaining why I appear fine whenever people see me. I say I am very sick and bed-bound and then they see me and I am out of bed and talking and joking and... a normal healthy person.
What many don't realize is I am making a choice.
A choice to get sick.
I can use up all my energy in a short time frame to accomplish a difficult chore or entertain a friend or go to a doctor, but that is going to have a consequence.
The more I do, the more severe the consequence.
In the ME/CFS world this is called "post-exertional malaise." (for those interested, you can read more about it here: https://rthm.com/art.../what-is-post-exertional-malaise-pem/ )
Imagine every time you wanted to do something, you were *choosing* to get the flu.
Take a walk, get the flu.
Exercise, get the flu.
Spend a night out with friends, get the flu.
And you might be thinking, "Okay, it can't be as bad as the flu. I've had the flu and the flu sucks. No one would choose that."
I may not get the nasty respiratory symptoms, but everything else is pretty much the same. Crippling fatigue, horrible aches, and the loss of the will to do much of anything. Sometimes it is much worse than the flu. Some people don't know how much being this exhausted can hurt. They have never used up enough energy that their body is unable to power itself properly. I usually say it is like every cell in my body is starving and screaming for energy. I feel it in every inch of my body—and not just on the surface... through and through. So, like... cubic inches.
Sometimes I don't even have the energy to power my legs. Trying to stand feels exactly the same as trying to lift a barbell with way more weight than you can lift. I can't get upstairs or even walk to the kitchen. It's a concentrated misery that defies description, despite my constant attempts to try.
Sometimes I get lucky and this flu lasts for a day or two. But the more active I am, the longer it can last. And the severity increases as well. There is also a cumulative version of this—where if I do a bunch of little things over a longer period of time, eventually it will catch up to me and I may be stuck in bed for a few weeks.
And when I say "stuck in bed" I mean stuck in bed.
Short trips to the bathroom and a few minutes in the kitchen to make food. If I spend too much time upright, my legs will literally give out and I will be stuck on the floor until I recharge enough energy to get up again. It would be like every time you needed to get up, you had to hold your breath. Not to mention, the more I do, the longer the recovery will take.
For a long time I chose to never get the flu. I stayed in bed and did just enough to avoid the worst of PEM. I skipped family get-togethers. I didn't see my friends. And I lived my life inside the computer. Some may find that sad, but I actually found a way to make this work. I ran a successful blog that was seen by millions of people and I met my two best friends who I now consider my new family.
One thing that allowed me to choose not to get the flu was my parents. I fear some thought they were spoiling me. They did my laundry. They helped clean my room. They got my groceries. They cooked my food. They took on any chore they could so I could avoid the flu and live some semblance of a life on my computer. There is a lot of guilt wrapped up in that. I didn't ask them to do that. They just sort of... did. And I am so grateful to them.
To be fair, they would have to do these chores for themselves anyway, and tacking on my stuff wasn't a huge deal. But I know it caused them a little extra pain and a few post exertional consequences of their own. So I appreciated that sacrifice more than I can put into words.
But then they both got very sick. And not only could they not help me with my stuff, I had to help them with their stuff. And this was a difficult transition. I had to choose to get the flu to take care of my parents, but then if I got the flu, and I couldn't take care of my parents. I believe this is called a catch-22.
My initial solution was to just not take care of myself. At all. My health and mental well-being was set aside and I just gave all of my energy to them. I didn't shower. I forgot to take important medicines. I didn't do a single thing that brought me joy. And I'm reminded of that analogy of the airplane emergency where the oxygen masks drop. You put on your mask first before you put one on your child. Your instinct is to save them first at all costs. But if you pass out, they are screwed.
So I kept getting that cumulative version of the flu. I'd help them as much as I could for a week or a month and then I'd be useless to them for just as long. Living in the basement did not help. Stairs were very hard for me and constantly going up and down was a huge waste of energy.
And I'm sad to say, the level of care I gave to my mom was not great. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't understand how to balance my needs with hers. And it led to costly mistakes. She had several preventable falls that caused injuries. At one point she spent hours on the floor because I fell asleep and did not check on her. When you know someone needs regular supervision, you need to synchronize sleepy time.
Thankfully I learned from all of these lessons. Maybe not as quickly as I would have liked, but I did figure it out. I just wish I had learned them before my mom passed. I just wasn't able to give her the help she needed.
And you can tell me "you did your best" all you like, but this isn't a guilt I am choosing. It's just there and I feel it no matter what anyone says. In time I am hoping it will get lighter, but I'm afraid it cannot be wiped away with a well-intentioned platitude.
But with my dad, I decided to move upstairs. That was something I should have done much sooner. But I liked having my personal space and that was hard to give up. When he slept, I slept. When he spent 4 hours at dialysis 3x per week, I would make sure to take care of any personal needs. I would do chores a tiny bit at a time. 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there. And then I would lay on the couch in between and regain my strength. I did everything possible to not get the flu. And I got my flu shots so I wouldn't get the actual flu. (Get your flu shot! 50K die from it every year!) The only hitch in my plan was when I got a kidney stone at the same time my dad was in rehab. I have no idea how I got us through that.
I was very proud of the care I was able to give my dad. And I'm so grateful I was able to pay back just a tiny bit of what my parents did to help me. And the care I gave my father is the only thing that helps me feel better about my failures with my mom.
But now I am entering a new chapter of my life. And I find myself choosing to get the flu more often. I have decided sometimes it is worth the consequences. Part of that is because I am more used to it after dealing with it for 20 years. I have coping mechanisms and procedures and techniques to manage the symptoms. It doesn't make them suck any less, but it definitely makes it more manageable. It's akin to people with chronic pain who still feel the pain just as profoundly as when it was new, but they get so used to it that they forget that isn't how they are supposed to feel.
I approached this scientifically. I did tests. I went to the movies. I tried once a week and that was too much. Then I scaled it back and that was more manageable. Then I realized I had movies at home and decided to end that experiment.
I started to put my energy into something I enjoyed more. My photography. So I have been finding new ways to take pictures again. More experiments. I'm designing a simpler studio that requires much less energy. I'm creating a little product photography workstation where I don't have to set up everything each time I want to take a cool picture of an object. It will just be "turn on the lights" and "take the pictures."
Figuring all of this out made me realize how much I missed photography. And since I have been shooting test pictures here and there, my mental health has been noticeably better. And once I get this all figured out and set up, I am hoping some of you will let me take your photo. Or a photo of your kid. Or a pet. Whatever you have that needs photographing, I'm game.
I'm not going to charge. It's not going to be a business. I do not have the energy to "hustle." And asking people for money just sucked all of the fun out of my beloved art form. It corrupted it. I just love taking pictures and if you need a photo, I'd like to do that for you. I also restore old photos for fun. I'll talk about all of this more in another post when I am ready to start.
And then my grand experiment is coming next week.
I am going to travel.
I am going to see my best friend in Florida for two days. Two days of travel and two days of visiting. This is a scary choice. I know the aftermath is going to be difficult. But I need to get out of this house. I need to see my chosen family in person. And I have never been on a plane and I love the perspective from high places. I know people hate air travel, but for me, looking out that viewport is stunning television that cannot be matched.
Purposely making myself sick sounds like a bad idea. But it isn't life threatening. I have the free time to recover as long as I need to. And I can always choose not to get sick for a while if it gets too hard.
I just ask that people not see this as going from a worse life to a better one. I was really proud of the life I was able to create for myself while staying in bed. That took a long time to figure out. I met some of my favorite people. And I accomplished things I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams. Please do not shit on that life and think it was sad or meaningless. I was given that life as a gift from my parents and it kept me alive. It has always been a huge insult when people pitied that precious gift they gave me.
This is not a better life that I am trying to figure out. It is just better for me right now. My needs have changed. I have changed. So I am trying to adapt. I just ask that people understand when I go out and do something, please remember the choice I am making.
You may be tempted to say, "You are doing so much better!" I am not any better than I was 10 years ago. Actually, my health has degraded. It's just that before I didn't think getting the flu every time I did something was worth it. And I would hope everyone would understand that was a valid choice.
And now I am inviting those consequences.
On purpose.
Give me the flu, I guess.
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kingsandbastardz · 1 month
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here u go, ask for trying times: give me your pitch for shipping wudi, i've got maybe one foot on that ship but i'm curious on your thoughts (gl on the all-nighter!!)
I survived it, sorta. The deadlines keep trucking om 😭 So here's my thoughts:
It's really unfortunate that we don't see enough of Wuyan but I do think we have enough of a framework to draw some interesting conclusions about them both relationship-wise. So here's to me heavily analyzing the 5 minutes Wuyan is on screen! LMAO:
Service as show of devotion - Chooses to act like and appear as a lower rank personal servant to dfs even though he clearly has a lot of power to draw from to get things done and dfs tells him he sees his rank as being much higher
Of everyone that focuses their attention on dfs, he's the only one that doesn't want to own or control him (master di - slave, jlq - wife, llh - 主人, fdb - wants to be in charge)
Despite knowing he was massively outclassed, still put himself in lxy's path at donghai
Shared experience: both survived the Donghai battle together and both have matching chest scars courtesy of lxy. They also worked side by side for years to accomplish the same goals
Llh is presented as knowing dfs the best - but imo, that means wuyan knows even more. Wuyan knows all the why's that llh doesn't know
We don't see much general conversation but considering how relaxed dfs is around him and willing to winge about personal things - he seems like he's actually capable of communicating well with dfs lmao
Pure headcanon here, but I want to say he and dfs learned or figured out how to hide their chi at a high level together. DFS uses it all the time and seems to be undetectable even to llh - wuyan seems to be undetectable to the world - I mean i think his name means something like "without presence"? He comes pre-labelled. So I think it's something martial-skill related that would give additional meat to dfs' respect for him
Guards dfs' secrets - how dfs truly feels about all the mengzhu stuff and rankings etc. Don't know if he knows anything about Di Fortress, but anything he does know about dfs' background it's not going to be a topic of conversation
He pays attention to dfs' preferences and knows how to deliver them in the form he prefers (see jlq who doesn't know his preferences and hates that dfs doesn't like what she prepared for him)
As a personal guard, in the early days when dfs was weaker, he likely went with dfs to any secret meetings with llh, hid his chi to keep guard, and was privy to what went on between them. Likely is the only one that would know this information - which is also why he fully understands why dfs is obsessed with llh and supports him. And listened to him mourn him for however many years (I assume he's the one providing clean clothes and food during seclusion so that's 10 years of crying he's been privy to)
Is willing to extend his top level standard of service to the ppl dfs cares about
He acts like he's a nobody, and he's not a pretty face, but everything points to him actually being a very, very competent and high-level guy in his area of expertise? So a good match to dfs. His martial skill isn't comparable, so he can't fight him like lxy, but he can do all the things dfs doesn't like to do - like the organizational stuff, dealing with and managing ppl, etc.
Headcanon again: i can really see them having an experimental phase in their youth together. Like something where dfs and him kinda decide to test things out and then maybe deciding the timing was bad or they weren't into each other like that at that time or whatever. But deciding to remain friends instead. And continuing to build jinyuan alliance together and everything else. It's like best bro + work spouse rolled into one -- with the wild result that they come out even stronger at the end of it. Think lxy + zhan yunfei but they see each other and work together every day. Successfully. With some extra headcanon and a small stretch you can probably position him and dfs as foils to lxy and shan gudao? (Sadly not enough info about the formation of daily workings of JA back then)
headcanon continued: They have to have good communication because they negotiated or figured out how to navigate their Situation and have clearly been at it for awhile - with one being a 'servant' and with the other one having ptsd issues with servitude/slavery. In the waterfall scene we get to see dfs mildly checking in and essentially being all, "Uh, you still good there? Remember you can change things up any time you want. My opinion of you is still A++ fyi" and Wuyan essentially signalling he's fine by continuing on as always.
Wuyan is the last person alive that remembers who dfs was before Jinyuan Alliance and the development of the Di Mengzhu persona. He helped craft that persona.
Basically if you are into themes like fealty and devotion and the sort of comfort you can get from a long time friendship where they've seen each other at their worst. Where they've figured out how to communicate and operate/exist together seamlessly while making allowances for each others' needs and interests. This is it!
They could be queer platonic, they could be sexual, they can be any permutations of anything and it still doesn't change the basis of their relationship which is years of trust, communication, hard work and shared experiences.
Like imagine teenagers - one holding the other guy's hair up while he vomits blood and bile into an alley. Where they patch each others' wounds in the shadow of someone's doorway after getting their asses kicked but somehow also saving each other from getting killed that day. They're the ones that figure out how to kill together. How to hide together. They figure out how to teach others to kill and hide together. They build power with their joined hands and with it they gain the money and prestige that allows them a comfortable place to sleep and full bellies. They give this same thing to others. They build it up so well people can afford to do normal ppl shit like fall in love and get married.
These are things they likely wouldn't have thought of when they were engaged in a battle royale in the street. It's them, their circle of friends, against everyone else in the world. And even when all their friends are now dead - they're still alive. They're still together. They'll see it through.
Maybe one day they'll find their way into each other's beds - the future is ever changing. But whether they do or not doesn't matter - they already have each other. They've survived this much together. Anything else is just icing.
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chaos0pikachu · 18 days
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I am here actually to appreciate your post. I saw a blogger’s post saying The sign would have been ‘successful’ had it got filled with fantasy and romance and limit action to 10%. I wondered why that person, who says BL is all about romance, watched a show whose genre is action. Then I saw your post about people watching many shows to stay in fandom and I agree. Also you are right about dramas with a complex story receiving heavy criticism. Everything (even lack of proper plot or conflict) is exempted in a romance drama. No wonder most BLs are confined to ‘2 boys and their jealous & crying moments, routine conflicts enhanced by Escola or leads explaining how important Nikon printer is for their relationship’
Well damn hit me in the feels with this appreciation I'ma get all shy and shit.
I always wonder if by "successful" people mean in terms of critical acclaim, story telling, or monetarily. When it comes to Thai shows - and some please correct me if I'm wrong - it's difficult to tell how "successful" they are terms of audience reach/monetarily because there's no easily verifiable information. Like, there's Youtube numbers sure, but The Sign as an example, aired on Channel 3 what were it's ratings total on that channel? Idk, does anyone know that? Sincerely asking lol
Personally the way I like to judge a piece of media is what I call the Roger Ebert method; he often judged films based not solely on whether they were "good" or "bad but by how successfully they accomplished their goals.
If you read his review of Space Jam while it's clear Ebert doesn't think the movie is high art, "You can watch the movie on the sports and cartoon levels, and also appreciate the corporate strategy that's involved. [...] It is difficult for an actor to work in movies that combine live action with animation, because much of the time he cannot see the other characters in a scene with him. But Jordan has a natural ease and humor, an unforced charisma, that makes a good fit with the cartoon universe."
Ebert praises that the film, while filled with obvious product placement and banking on both nostalgia for the toons & star power of Jordan, accomplishes it's goal of being a family for that can be enjoyed by adults and children, and also the ability to blend techniques of live action, animation and 3D rendering.
I bring this up specifically b/c when I see "reviews" of shows in BL - the most common form of meta I see in BL fandom as a whole and that's not a knock just an observation - it's usually always about the narrative. Nothing about the filmmaking. And if there is discussion about he filmmaking it's usually misinformed or worse misinforming - no that's not what aperture means, yaoi framing isn't really a thing in film, the t-shirt is really just a t-shirt, etc, etc.
And like I get why. Fandom is more about story, what the words on a page or what the characters on screen are doing and saying. It's easier to talk about the amazing communication two characters have b/c you don't really need a film knowledge to discuss that. Which is a factor in why I think shows with lower stakes, more streamlined and straightforward plots get praised at a higher, less diligent and harsh level, than shows that are a bit more daring. They're less challenging in structure, they take less risks, so there's less to critique, and there's less room for a show to disappoint.
There comfort food, rather than trying something new at the restaurant. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, again, this is just a general observation.
To me, The Sign is miles better than Cooking Crush on a simple technical level. I only watched one episode of Cooking Crush and I found it pretty mediocre at best from all technical points: acting, editing, cinematography, directing, storytelling.
This isn't to say Cooking Crush is "bad" or that even if Cooking Crush was "bad" people shouldn't like it. I don't give a fuck if people like it, good for you chase the things that spark joy! I like lots of "bad" media, have y'all ever watched Jason Takes Manhattan?
For me, The Sign, like Space Jam, accomplishes it's goals and those were ambitious goals. An action fantasy BL that actually lives up to that premise and looks good?? The fight choreography looks great considering the obviously budget??
Like one of my issues with Laws of Attraction - aside from how painfully disinterested those kisses looked - was the fight choreography was bad.
The characters very rarely land hits in a way that looks real, or even marginally real. I can only speculate they didn't hire a stunt coordinator and/or couldn't hire stunt doubles so there was a worry of injury on set (for both reasons).
This isn't a disparagement on the actor(s) either, like stunt work is difficult and it's important to have professionals on set who can walk an actor through the steps so both them and others don't get hurt. Jackie Chan is probably one of the best known actors alive for stunt work, but watch how many times he fumbles and potentially hurts himself to the point where other actors are actively worried for him:
youtube
So yeah I'm going to give The Sign it's fucking gold star stickers b/c aside from some missteps in the gun handling - to many one handed gun fights but even then it wasn't all the time and bullets ran out of ammo! Y'all don't know how exciting for me that was to see - the fight scenes look damn good.
I understand the work that went into them, I understand the pre-production time that it took for the crew and cast to learn that and filming them well is another beast too.
There's a couple scenes with shaky cam that I dislike, but god do I love that first long take in The Sign. I love how good the CGI looks overall again, considering what is probably less budget than Black Christmas (2019).
I'm admittedly, fucking picky about what I watch b/c I'm really lazy and prefer watching films in general. I don't really like TV all that much, but if I am watching a tv show I wanna be impressed with more than just the characters talking to each other. Especially if said show is 12 hours or more.
When I'm looking at a piece of media - a comic, a novel, a film, a tv show - I'm thinking about stuff like "what were it's goals, and did it accomplish them? How was the filmmaking? How was the narrative structure? What is the time/place/culture this was made in?"
I'm not sure if people are arguing if The Sign was "successful" in terms of narratively, monetarily, or critically.
In reality we can only really speculate on how successful a Thai BL is based on data that's not not entirely accurate - social media, youtube stats, awards, etc - and even then most of that is based off international audience.
I can glean that 2gether was successful for gmmtv b/c it got a second season and a film, pretty much skyrocketed Bright and Win's individual careers but again, and created a cross country alliance for activism. But even all that is still speculation not facts (except the alliance that's a real thing that happened lol).
[This is all regardless of my own feelings regarding the show which is not kind. But feelings have nothing to do with individual discussion about how monetarily successful or accomplished a show is or isn't.]
Like it might be valid speculation on both shows but it should always come with a disclaimer of - these are not facts. Also, what is "popular" or "successful" can and will be dependent on individual countries too.
Take Cutie Pie for example, I would argue that it wasn't super "successful" here with American fans, but given how overwhelmingly popular Zee and NuNew are in both Thailand and Korea, I would then argue that the show was a success in Thailand and Korea. So was Cutie Pie "successful" or not? I would say yes!
Because "success" isn't and shouldn't be measured only by how western fans receive a piece of media.
In regards to The Sign, I'd argue it appears to be very successful with only the partial data I have at hand - social media which includes places like twitter, facebook, tumblr, the success of their sold out showing for the finale, a special episode, etc. If people argue it was unsuccessful in terms of narrative, well that's debatable and I have no interest in debating why the show is good except in terms of technical filmmaking and storytelling.
And even then it's a pointless debate like or dislike whatever just don't lie or mislead people regarding film terminology and techniques or harass people because they did like A Thing or clog up the tags with annoying posts about how you didn't like said Thing.
Overall, I don't give "reviews" on things I watch either positive or negative cause, well, I'm lazy lol, I don't believe putting how much I hate a show in it's tags and a thorough rating system would be to much work. I actually like how My Drama List rating system works, I just find most reviews on it to be Annoying lmao. Like giving Kinnporsche a 5 or below is absolutely bonkers to me but whatever es lo que es. But I also don't think my thoughts and opinions on shows are that valuable in terms of discussion.
These are mostly my general thoughts on fandom at large and it's not directly at any particular people its just observations at large across various social media platforms.
I think if you like more squeecore shows that's totally gucci, I just wish didn't proposite that 1) those are the only valid shows in terms of BL/queer media and 2) didn't overhype them to such sky high levels
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disabledunitypunk · 9 months
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Screenshot below:
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[Image ID: A tumblr post with the username cut off which reads "i mean this in the gentlest way possible: you need to eat vegetables. you need to become comfortable with doing so. i do not care if you are a picky eater because of autism (hi, i used to be this person!), you need to find at least some vegetables you can eat. find a different way to prepare them. chances are you would like a vegetable you hate if you prepared it in a stew or roasted it with seasoning or included it as an ingredient in a recipe. just. please start eating better. potatoes and corn are not sufficient vegetables for a healthy diet." /end ID]
No. Just no.
You don't HAVE TO do anything. ARFID is called an EATING DISORDER for a reason. What's it going to take to get it through your heads that some people cannot, under ANY circumstances, eat certain foods because of their neuroDISABILITIES. It's almost like disabilities of the brain can still make you NOT ABLE to do things!
You also have no moral obligation to be healthy. Healthism is one of the fundamental pillars of ableism. Health is a personal choice that must be fully, enthusiastically consensual (which does not mean you can mumble-grumble about the steps it takes to get there or have complex feelings that include resentment about the process or what caused the unhealthiness in the first place).
The "hi, I used to be this person!" is, get this, ALSO ABLEISM. Like good job, you had the ability to do something with effort that some people with your same disability can never do! Something that, might I add, you had no obligation to do but chose to because YOU either wanted it or were unfairly pressured to. Plus, the narrative of "you can overcome your disabilities if you try hard enough" is incredibly insidious even in disabled communities (in my experience, especially so in neurodivergent communities, but I'll also add my experiences aren't universal).
Just, everything about this post reeks of ableism. A "hey, if you're wanting to eat more veggies but can't because of sensory issues, these ways of preparing them might make them edible for you!" would have reached MORE people and accomplished more than... all of that.
I'd also like to add: healthism is how you get involuntary psychiatric holds for even people who are self-harming or using substances as a form of harm reduction. Healthism is how you get psychiatric and medical abuse that forces or manipulates you onto meds you do consent to being on (including coerced consent, as that is not consent).
Healthism and ableism both is why insurances and doctors require you to go to physical therapy to "get better" before even considering prescribing a mobility aid because "what if the mobility aid has health consequences when PT could 'fix' you?" Healthism is responsible for "do no harm" stopping at bodily harm and not taking a holistic, whole-person approach to making sure disabled people have a good quality of life.
Healthism is also a primary driver of fatphobia and to a lesser extent, medical intersexism. There is a normative idea of what "health" even is, one that is often incorrect and based in bigotry, that means deviations from that norm get blamed for any symptoms a person expresses while actual causes are ignored. "Corrective" measures are forced are many people who neither want nor need them to be healthy.
Healthism aims to make people more abled (or at least more able to conform to abled standards) without regard for their quality of life, personal wishes, or even consent. It is directly responsible for medical abuse.
It is also responsible for medical neglect, in that if you *can't* pursue a treatment option, doctors will often refuse to explore other treatments. Instead, they assume you're simply lazy and don't want to get better, and are therefore a waste of their time.
("Can't" here includes 'is technically possible but the consequences of doing so make you as sick or sicker/in as much or more pain/as or more disabled than not doing anything at all.)
Often there's another treatment option that would work just fine. Sometimes there's no viable option, and GOOD treatment then becomes exploring how to still live as fulfilling a life as possible with the condition untreated. Sometimes it's only possible to manage a disability that is usually fully possible to send into remission. There's a wide spectrum of experiences here.
But the most important thing is: what do YOU want for your body? Will conforming to standards of "health" help you feel happier and live a more preferable life for you? Will the requirements in the process of becoming "healthy" end up just making you sicker or more disabled in one way or another?
Also, are there access barriers or direct obstacles caused by your disability in the way of seeking the health outcomes you want? Are those outcomes not possible because of your disabilities, and if so, is healthy OR helpful to keep pushing yourself past your limits or trying and failing to do so? Have you made sure this is what YOU want, and not what you feel pressured into doing*?
*(Reminder to BELIEVE PEOPLE if they say it is what they want. We respect autonomy above all here.)
I've talked about this before, but recovery is about what YOU want and are able to do. There are no milestones you have to make or requirements you have to meet. It's okay to be unhealthy. Often, disability means you don't have a choice in the matter, and moralizing health is therefore moralizing disability.
It contributes to the myth that disability and chronic illness especially is a result of "bad choices", and especially the culturally christian idea that it is a "punishment" for "sinful behaviors" and "righteous behaviors" will be rewarded with the person becoming abled again.
As I said above, remember: Autonomy above all. What matters, first, foremost, and forever, is what each disabled individual wants. Helping other disabled people with tools to reach their desired bodily and psychiatric outcomes? Yes!! Do that!!
Disabled people don't owe anyone health, though, and certainly not standards of health that may make us sicker or more disabled than simply not conforming to them.
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blacklegsanjiii · 2 months
Note
abt Cocoyashi!Sanji, i imagine that Nami and Sanji didnt know about each other for a couple months. Nami was prbly away learning how to steal, Sanji was figuring out how to survive Arlong (poor boy thrown from abusive family to good dad to abusive crew like whiplash), and it took them a while to realize that there was another human kid around. Maybe Nami is arriving at the park with some more money and runs into Sanji bringing out food from the kitchen and two eleven-ish kids stare at the mirroring sawfish tattoos on their shoulder and hands like the spiderman meme
sanji is still upset at jinbei at first for arlong but to jinbei's surprise when he tries to apologize later, Sanji is upset about how Nami was hurt, not himself. He insists that Jinbei apologize to her rather than him
also imagine baby sanji telling baby nami stories about the all blue to cheer her up and her promising to include it in her map of the world once they're free of Arlong and can go sail. eventually they both stop talking about it as they get older but after Cocoyashi is freed Sanji brings out the barrel and looks Nami right in the eye as he promises to find the All Blue. in this world, Nami is the second to promise to accomplish her dream
(slightly unrelated but sanji smokes the same cigarettes bellmere did bc those were the ones nami would bring to him since the fishmen hated tobacco smoke, and in return sanji would make new tangerine dishes. his specialty is anything with citrus)
Lordt. Yes. They're pointing at each other like they shouldn't be there and then they realize they're both completely fucked. Whenever Nami can sneak into the kitchen Sanji feeds her. Nami always brings tangerines with her. Sanji tells her about the All Blue and how he wants to be the first to find it. Nami tells him about creating a map of the world and promises to put the All Blue in it when he finds it.
They hear about Jinbei from Arlong and Sanji is angry. Angry because he's the reason Arlong is like this and hurting Nami. Hurting the person he considers a sister. Sanji can't help but be angry and he's constantly jumping in to take her beatings. I also assume he's going to forgo eating to make sure Nami will. The first time he smokes Nami leaves a pack for him and it's over from there. He makes so many dishes for Nami and they're time together is their only source of joy.
Also yeah, the send off means so much more to them than the others realize.
When Jinbei finds out, probably one time he's in the galley with Sanji and they're alone Jinbei asks Sanji if he has any tattoos like Nami since they grew up together and that's all Jinbei knows. Sanji says he burned it off soon as he and Nami were free. Jinbei nods and asks about it and Sanji huffs and spits about Arlong and all the beatings and how much bullshit Nami had to go through. Jinbei apologizes but Sanji snaps that he should be apologizing to Nami and not him and Nami and Luffy are standing in the doorway.
"Jinbei doesn't owe anyone an apology! Arlong made his choice and we made ours." Nami would yell and Sanji probably just nods and goes to his cooking.
"I believe I owe you both an apology for the way Arlong treated you, your families and friends." Jinbei would argue.
"If she says you don't, then you don't. No worries." Sanji mutters as he cooks. "We have more important things to worry about."
"Yeah, we have an ocean to find, a map to complete, and man to make king of the pirates." Nami says as she sidles up to Sanji. "Dummy." She grins at him and he smiles back.
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kitashousewife · 1 year
Text
worth celebrating
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an: clearly this is inspired by my life so enjoy my self indulgence
pairing: timeskip!osamu x fem!reader
warnings: food/eating mentions, alcohol mentions, melodramatic angst but v v v fluffy
wc: 2.1k
-
submitted! final.doc at 6:58 pm
you blink. once. three times. that's it.
the feeling hits you slowly, then all at once. after some long years, your degree is finally complete. no more assignments, no more late-night studying sessions, no more exams, readings, or papers. it's overwhelming, really. you message everyone close to you with the news, basking in the warm wishes you recieve.
an emptiness sinks in soon after.
eyes trained on the now dimming computer screen, you begin to feel a little upset. everything you've worked so hard for, over in an instant. you're proud, so proud of what you've accomplished. but what now? newfound anxiety of the unknown settles over you, sinking into your bones. the weight of it all keeps you in your seat.
thankfully, a text from a friend pulls you out of your slight despair.
you should celebrate!!
you sigh, warm palms rubbing over your very tired eyes. you should celebrate, but how? it's past 7 pm at this point, all of your friends are preparing or taking their finals, and you're sure that you couldn't arrange something with this short of notice.
but, with that newfound anxiety comes newfound freedom. every second of free time is now yours. you have all the time in the world right now, no pesky deadlines can get in the way of that.
leaning into this new phase of life, you get yourself up and around. changing your clothes, grabbing what you need, and heading out the door. the fresh air feels incredible and new. it's almost as if each step releases some of the fear of the unknown, shaking off of your body.
"welcome to onigiri miya! sit wherever you'd like!"
the very familiar greeting is just what you need right now. your newly discovered favorite place to eat, with food you can guarantee is good, and service that's even better. thankfully, everyone must still be working on finals and such because you are the only person in the place.
that means you get a bar seat, right in front of the biggest reason you frequent this small restaurant.
"it's good to see ya! did ya need a menu?" osamu flips a small towel over his shoulder before reaching a tentative hand towards his menus. he's as handsome as ever. strong arms wrapped snugly in his plain black shirt, his onigiri miya cap snuggly on his head, and very trim torso wrapped in a well-worn black apron.
"yeah, i'll take one. might try something new," you half-joke, sipping at the water osamu gave you seconds earlier. he places the menu in front of you with a couple taps before turning around once more.
"i'll be ready for ya whenever yer ready, darlin'," his very harmless pet-name affects you, even though he's called you that many times before. settling your racing heart rate, you nod and scan over the menu.
"has it been like this all day?" you try and start a conversation, hoping the lack of customers gives you the chance to talk to osamu. the past few times you've been here, you haven't gotten more than a few words from your new friend across the bar.
"this entire week, really. i think finals are scarin' everyone off. i don't mind, though. gives me time to mess around in the kitchen." he turns around again, giving you a relaxed smile. you think that you prefer him like this. all to yourself, that is.
he feels the same. he was actually hoping he would see you this week. he knows that you're in school and must live close since you always come in on foot. he knows that you prefer your edamame to be served while you look over the menu, and that you would rather have flat water over sparkling. it may seem like a lot, but not to osamu. he wants to know more.
"have ya decided?"
you hum, giving him your order in a way that almost seems memorized. that makes him chuckle. every time you're in, you ask for a menu, only to order the exact same thing.
things are quiet for a few minutes, only the clicking of bowls and the beep from the rice cookers fill the air. your edamame shells are discarded before you know it, and your full attention is on osamu as he does what he does best.
his forearms flex with each press of the rice in his hands, fingers bending to make the perfect shape. his eyebrows pinch together in focus, as if each onigiri he forms isn't perfect every time.
"seen any good movies lately?"
you snort. "not really, i haven't had as much as a few minutes of spare time the past few weeks, which sucks."
"sounds like it. a hardworkin' gal like yerself needs to have a break once in a while, ya know. it's good for yer health, after all." he winks at you before scooping fillings, and your mouth goes dry. desperately reaching for your water, you take a couple sips before regaining composure.
"what about you, osamu? seen anything good lately yourself?"
he plates the first couple onigiri before shaking his head. his forearm reaches up to fix his cap on his hand again, gloved fingers relaxed and avoiding contact.
"nah, i've been seein' my friends and family lately. it's been fun," he chuckles. grabbing another ball of rice. "if they come in while yer here sometime, i'll be sure to introduce ya."
you smile. it's warmth settles into osamu, and he just wants to be close to you. wants to pull you in, spoil you and earn smiles like that every day.
"i'd like that. you have a twin, right?"
he rolls his eyes. something inside of him feels almost competitive, slightly worried that if he points him out in a photo or even tells you a bit about him, you won't want to talk to him anymore, pushing him aside like many have before. he thinks for a moment about saying something bad, telling you some of atsumu's flaws to keep you away. but he won't.
"i do," he starts, nodding slowly before platting two more rice balls and reaching over the bar to place them in front of you. he sighs. "he's right there actually, in that photo. i'm on the left. his name is atsumu." it's a rather simple photo, but it sits right in the middle of the photo collage near the register. it was taken on a trip the two of them took a few months back, posing in front of a statue they both thought was rather funny.
he braces for impact, waits for the he's so handsome and isn't he on that pro team? but it doesn't come.
"what does he do? does he work here with you?" you cover your mouth as you ask, swallowing the first bite of your dinner with a delighted hum. "this is perfect, by the way."
he chuckles. "he's actually a volleyball player, he plays professionally. that photo above it is us after one of his games," you glance over and nod, recognizing his twin almost immediately from images from social media. "and, i'm glad ya like it. anything for my favorite customer."
that last part slipped out. one of those moments where your thoughts are verbalized. he acts natural though, hoping you don't notice the surprised look on his face.
you don't but you can't stop thinking about what he said. you really hope he means it, though.
"are you guys close?"
"yeah, unfortunately," he derides, a chuckle following soon after. "he's my best friend. and these guys," he points to a photo near the bottom of the wall of atsumu, osamu, kita, and aran, laughing and posing next to an MSBY promotional poster. "these are my best friends. i actually buy my rice from the one in the middle, fun fact."
"that's so cool! i hope i get to meet them someday."
his chest warms at that. he feels a little more confident and less worried that you'll pass him over for his dumb brother. he clears his throat before tossing his gloves in the trash.
"i forgot to ask ya earlier; what brings ya in tonight?"
you laugh. "im celebrating, actually."
"oh, yeah?" he looks at you over his shoulder while he washes his hands. when he turns around, he's drying them off on the towel that was once on his shoulder. "what's the occasion?"
you feel shy, all of a sudden. your chapsticks tap at a loose piece of rice before you answer.
"i actually completed my degree tonight. i won't graduate unti-"
"are ya serious?" he exclaims, a wide smile covering his face. "that's amazing! that's cause for celebration, for sure! oh my gosh, do ya feel great or what?"
you laugh, a little surprised. you've talked about your studies with osamu before, but never how close you were to being finished. you feel warm, almost giddy at the excitement he's sharing with you.
"yeah, i do! it's a little weird, i don't think it's set in yet to be honest, bu-where are you going?" you give him a confused look when he starts to walk away without a word.
"i'll be right back! just wait there," he calls behind the swinging doors, and you sit up to try and catch a peak through the windows of the door. you see him walk back and forth and hear the clanging of glass before he busts through the doors once more.
"okay, continue, i'm listenin'!" his back is turned to you, but it almost sounds like he's popped a bottle of some kind.
"u-um, i was saying that i'm sure the feeling will set in soon, but i'll give it a few days," you shake your head, the excitement you felt once hitting submit hours earlier fills your senses once more. "wait, is that champagne?"
osamu walks around the bar to where you're sitting and sets down two flutes in front of you before joining you at the bar.
"yeah! i keep a few bottles on hand just in case someone is in celebratin' something. engagements, weddings, finishing college," he gives you a smirk and you could melt. now with him up close you can really take in how stunning he is. dark grey eyes with thick lashes, grey hair peaking out from his cap that looks so soft, you want to reach out and feel it between your fingertips. his soft, full lips are turned up on one side, and the faintest dimple rests in his cheek.
"see somethin' ya like?"
you sit up in your seat, before looking up at him with wide eyes.
"how about a toast?" he continues, raising his flute with his right hand. "to finishing something hard, and celebrating with the best company in the entire world." you laugh at him before clinking your glass against his.
you take a sip, swallowing with a sigh. not only is this some of the best champagne you've ever had, but you're feeling on top of the world right now.
"thank you osamu. this is really special. i don't even know how to thank you," you look up at him with a shy smile, fingers wrapped around the class. osamu's eyes watch the bubbles rise to the surface before meeting your gaze.
"don't mention it. you deserve it, i mean that. you've worked really hard and you deserve a little fun."
you take another sip before nodding.
"you're right. but i still owe you."
osamu feels a little dizzy, and it's not the champagne. it's the smell of cinnamon that's been filling his senses ever since he sat down, the sound of your laugh and the warmth of your voice is making every part of him focus on you.
"a date," he looks up at you with a grin before wiggling his eyebrows. "i'll take ya wherever ya want. i know a few good spots. whaddya say, miss graduate?"
you set your champagne down, worried the alcohol is already getting to your head. when you look up and see osamu, looking at you with hopeful eyes and taking a sip of his own, you nod.
"i'd love to."
osamu beams, tongue in cheek before standing up to clear your plate before you. the two of you turn when the chimes on the front door ring, a young couple walking in.
"welcome to onigiri miya," he calls before walking to his previous spot behind the bar.
"i'll get ya at 7 tomorrow, how does that sound? i know you've got a lot of free time now."
your heart skips a beat before you nod your head.
"can't wait."
328 notes · View notes
Text
William Rex
Chapter 4
 。⋆。˚🦋˚。⋆。
Liam: "Ah, Good morning, Kate. Come over here, eat with me."
The next morning, when I went to the dining room for breakfast, Liam's cheerful voice greeted me.
Kate: "Good morning."
Liam: "So, how was your date with Will?"
Kate: "Huh!? Er..Ummm....."
The word 'date' reminded me of what happened last night.
----FLASHBACK-----
William: "Then I'll commit one sin."
Kate: "Eh?"
William took my hand and lightly kissed the back of it.
Kate: "...!?"
It was a reverent kiss of greeting like one would give to a noblewoman, but my face suddenly became hot.
Kate: "W-What was that for.....?"
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William: "Kissing someone without asking for their consent is a fin sin. Now you have something to report to her Majesty."
Kate: "Ha.....? Ah....Ehh...."
(Is he caring for me....?)
Kate: "Thank you......"
Not knowing how to react, I could only reply in a hushed voice.
----FLASHBACK ENDS-----
There was no way I could write such a thing as a 'sin' in the report, and therefore, the report for the memorable first day was not submitted.
(I went along for the mission, but I didn't accomplish anything)
(Besides, if I call it a 'date' then it may be seen as I'm not taking my Fairy tale master job seriously....)
Liam: "Hello, Kate? Are you there?"
Kate: "Oh! Sorry. I just spaced out for a bit there. Last night was..."
Harrison: "....Liam."
Harrison, who was sitting across from Liam, puts down his salad fork as if to help me out when I looked dazed.
Harrison: "You don't have to ask her every single thing."
Harrison: "Look at her face. From the moment she entered the dining room, you can see that she had a good time."
(Eh)
Liam: "Hmmm....you think so?"
Kate: "What face are you talking about....?"
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Harrison: "You don't have to make excuses. Most people who go out with Will end up looking like this."
('Most people'....Looks like he has been on dates with many people)
(Then maybe...it's the same as what I heard last night)
"If he likes someone, he is willing to support you."
Looks like even I was counted as one of them.
(I'm going to be here for a month, so...I think it's better than being annoying)
Harrison: "...But you should be careful."
Kate: "Careful of what?"
Harrison: "Will is quick to love others. But....his love is like rain falling on grass and trees."
 。⋆。˚🦋˚。⋆。
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Harrison: "Will is quick to love others. But....his love is like rain falling on grass and trees."
Kate: "What do you mean?"
Harrison: "All I can say is that, don't get too hooked."
('Too hooked'.....)
Harrison's minty eyes cast a meaningful glance.
(....Romantically you mean?)
Kate: "Yes....I'll be careful."
(He certainly doesn't seem to be the incomprehensible psycopath....like I first thought he was)
(Whether or not to fall in love is a whole other matter)
He's in the business of killing people, and he's destined to meet a tragic end.
I can understand him as a person, but it was too dangerous to fall in love with him.
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Alphonse: "Good morning, everyone."
Elbert: "........."
Liam: "Good morning, you guys. It's unusual to see you two at the breakfast table."
Alphonse: "Now we wouldn't want our Lord El to pass away, do we? So I thought I would bring him here to give him some nourishment from time to time."
Harrison: "Seriously, what the hell is going on inside your body? .....You're always greedy, but when it comes to food, you never eat."
Elbert: "..........I don't know about that either."
Alphonse: "In El's case, isn't that kind of ironic?"
Master Elbert sits next to me and Mr. Alphonse sat across of him.
Kate: "Good morning."
Elbert: "........Good morning."
Master Elbert looked down languidly at his plate and then only sipped water with sliced lemons in it.
(Maybe he's sick....?)
As I stare at him with concern, he suddenly turns his gaze toward me.
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Elbert: "......."
His deep ocean-colored eyes twinkled as if he had found a shell on the beach.
Kate: "....?"
Elbert: "........Did something happen?"
Kate: "What do you mean?"
Elbert: "You look.......more beautiful than you did yesterday."
(B-Beautiful....?)
Being admired by someone who is the literal personification of beauty is more awkward than joyful.
Alphonse: "Elbert. Don't tell me you're going to turn Miss Kate into a silent object in your room?"
(Silent object....)
I remember noting in my notebook that Master Elbert is looking for the 'most beautiful' thing, and he locks them all away in his room.
Elbert: "...........If she is what I'm looking for then...."
(Huh.....!?)
That means if he likes me, he will lock me up in his room too!?
When I turn to look at Liam and Harrison for help.
Harrison: "You're guess is as good as mine, isn't it?"
Liam: "I have yet to see an actual human being locked inside of Master El's room, too."
 。⋆。˚🦋˚。⋆。
Kate: "Um....! I don't think I'm what you're looking for....!"
Alphonse: "Yes, I think 'best in the world' is an overestimation."
(You're right, but it's hurtful when you say it so clearly....)
Elbert: "..........Oh."
Master Elbert's profile sank into sorrowful melancholy once again.
(Thank god...I'm not going to be locked up)
(I'm sure that 'beautiful' is a misnomer)
(I am the same person I was yesterday)
To regain my composure, I brought my breakfast to my mouth.
(Anyway, today is the day I will officially start my duties as a Fairy tale master)
(I have to observe William with my own eyes and find out what I need to write in my report)
(To do that, first, I have to find William)
Kate: "Thank you for the meal."
Liam: "Are you going to look for Will?"
Kate: "? Yes."
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Liam: "Fufu, you're smiling. Cute."
Liam pokes my cheek with his fingertip.
(Eh....?)
I rushed to touch my cheek.
(Oh that....)
I was surprised to see that my mouth seemed to have relaxed just a little.
(.....Why.....)
Kate: ".......It's nothing like that."
With pursed lips, I left the dinning room.
It's just my job to find William.
There is no other reason.
........
(Is he not here....?)
I knocked on the door of William's room to compose myself, and I was.
I looked around, feeling shrugged off by the silence that returned.
(I wonder where he is. I should have asked for his schedule yesterday....hm?)
Then, softly, as if sunlight was flooding through the clouds, the sound of a piano could be heard.
(Piano....)
(....This song is)
(Yesterday's stage play song)
I started walking as if I was lured by the sweet whispering melody.
..........
On the grand piano set up in the hall, I find the silver hair I was looking for.
(....If I call him now, the music will stop)
I stopped a little far away, feeling regretful but the melody stopped suddenly.
Kate: "....Sorry, did I bother you?"
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William: "You don't have to. I was playing it to lure you out and it worked as intended. Good morning."
(Me...?)
Suddenly, the sweet words were spoken to me, and my heart fluttered.
Kate: "Good morning....."
The voice that came out of my mouth sounded like it was filled with confusion and a little bit of joy.
(No...it's just)
(I'm just...weirdly conscious of him because the other guys told me I looked happy, beautiful, etc)
Kate: "From today onwards, can you tell me your plans for the next day so I can come to find you."
William: "Haha, you will come looking for me?"
Kate: "Well....of course, because it's my job."
William: "I see, so it's for your job."
-----Options------
Yes, for my job.
Why did you repeat it?
Is there any problem?
-----------
Kate: "Yes, for my job."
William: "Hmmm? You have a strong sense of responsibility."
(....When I'm talking to William, I still get restless)
Kate: ".....You are...really good at playing piano."
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William: "I'm honored to receive your compliment. If you're interested, come sit next to me."
 。⋆。˚🦋˚。⋆。
William: "I'm honored to receive your compliment. If you're interested, come sit next to me."
William's bright red eyes were staring back at me.
(......Next to him?)
Hesitation crosses my mind.
(I have a feeling it's going to be dangerous)
Thinking back, I also had to bathe in the blood that night I met him.
It was because of his performance that I was drawn to him.
(There's no reason....why I should accept all of his invitations just because I'm on a mission)
(There is .....no reason)
But I was so attracted to William's gaze.
I found myself sitting down next to him.
(.....What am I even doing?)
(But...I wanna see his fingers moving and playing that melody?)
(I want to know....)
William: "Try to imitate me."
Kate: "Um....I've never played the piano before."
William: "It's okay. I'm sure you can do it."
William tapped the keys slowly with five fingers as if setting an example.
The simple melody resonated pleasantly, shaking the air in the hall.
William: "See? I told you didn't I."
Kate: "....Yes, you're right."
Kate: "Maybe, I can play it."
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Piano keys are heavier than I had imagined.
When I moved my fingers, I heard a popping sound, and even though it was just that, it made my heart skip a beat!
(It's a beautiful sound)
William: "Good job. Keep it up."
When the same melody is repeated, William begins to move his hands next to me.
With the addition of the accompaniment, the simple melody instantly flourished.
It was as if I had become an amazing pianist.
(.....It feels nice)
Like grains of light, the sound bounces in the air and makes my heart skip a beat.
The world looks so different next to him.
(It's like I am dragged out onto the stage, unknowingly)
(And it looks like I can't go back to the audience....)
I don't know if that would be a good thing for me....though.
William: "What do you wish for the most right now?"
William asks me as he plays.
(My wish....?)
When my fingers slip due to a lapse of concentration, the accompaniment modulates to pick up the offending note.
(My wish is....)
Kate: "Well, of course for now...I want to go back to my peaceful life."
William: "Really?"
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William: "Did you ever look this greedy in your peaceful life?"
 。⋆。˚🦋˚。⋆。
William: "Did you ever look this greedy in your peaceful life?"
(....Greedy?)
----FLASHBACK----
William: "There you go, my lady."
Kate: "....Thank you."
William: "You're welcome."
----FLASHBACK ENDS-----
(You mean that's how I looked like when we first met....?)
Kate: "There is no such thing...."
Kate: "I'm happy with my daily life, working in a worthwhile job....and occasionally going to the theater."
Certainly, there were times when I thought that if I took a step forward, a different world might open up to me.
However, I am sure that I have never felt that I am missing something so much as to be called 'greedy.'
(....Rather, it was more than enough for me)
I felt the weight of my notebook grow heavier in my pocket, and my hand stopped playing the piano.
Kate: ".....Why do you think I am greedy? You don't even know anything about me."
William: "Hmm......I wonder why?"
William's accompaniment also breaks off abruptly.
The afterglow faded away and silence fell.
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William: "I don't know, so I want to know. You were staring at me with those eyes that evening."
William: "Why are you still obsessed with your 'everyday' life, stifling yourself?"
(Those eyes...?)
I wonder what kind of eyes I was looking at him with that evening.
I feel as if he is staring at me, whom I don't even know, and my heart is stirring.
William: "Tell me, what do you want?"
Kate: "Why would you care so much....?"
William: "Because I'm interested in you."
William: "Any other reason would have been a red herring anyway, wouldn't it?"
(.....Ah......)
William's red eyes stare at me from a distance that almost touches the tip of our noses.
When I realized this, I finally remembered the closeness.
We were sitting next to each other on a narrow piano bench, and if one of us moved our arms just a little, we would bump into each other.
(I....)
The scent of the roses he wears grazes my nose, and my heart begins to beat loudly.
Kate: ".....I...I..."
I get that feeling again.
I want to escape. I need to escape.
His voice, his eyes, trying to get deep into my body and uncover something.
(I'm going crazy)
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William smiled gently as if he could see through my impatience.
He gently put his lips to my ear.
William: "....Let's start with something a little more rudimentary."
Giocondo: Happily - Normal Story
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not-poignant · 4 months
Note
I hope you have a lovely day with lots of snacks
Tl;dr the day was not lovely but there might be snacks
I actually didn't have many snacks today but I'm about to make up with it with a couple of churros and dark chocolate dipped strawberries.
Today I...woke up and showered and replied to comments on AO3 for a while, and then I spent about 4 hours formatting documents into PDFs of varying sizes for Patreon and Ream and uploading chapter commentaries into compilations. And then I did more formatting stuff behind the scenes while I stared at all the other behind the scenes stuff I need to do and thought 'writing is a hard job' quietly and intensely.
I ate lunch while I was working. I also made some memes about how overwhelmed I felt, and then made some for my readers too, lol.
And then I laid down for about 4 hours because I also have chronic illness (whee) and I am constantly in pain and varying degrees of fatigue and I literally must lie down every afternoon so I don't collapse in the evening (literally) - and I did a tiny bit of reading (webtoon: Shutline (which I immediately realised I'd read before and didn't fondly remember), webtoon: December (didn't mind this)) and then dozed restlessly because it was 40C/104F today. I also edited a Tiktok art video in Adobe Premier Rush, but I haven't put it up yet, and I should really do that.
Got up and made ham and cucumber sandwiches for dinner, and watched Girl with the Dogs on YouTube while I ate, and a Smosh video.
Then did some more work and helped a friend with her work stuff, and then I watered the garden for 1.5 hours because *points tiredly to the heatwave* and stared balefully at the dark sky (you can't water during the day - it's literally a heatwave but also it's illegal here to water during the day) with its few stars because they'd set up a severe weather warning due to extreme winds in our specific area and it was dead AF and oppressive out there and it was just hot instead.
I watched a few Tiktoks while I watered.
When I hung the hose up back on the holder thingo, I sang to my plants: 'I hope you make the best out of the water I just gave you, you little fucks' like a sweet lullaby, and a person who I didn't know was outside next door because it was like 9pm and pitch black laughed softly and sweetly, like they didn't expect it, and felt kind of fond. I didn't know I had any nice neighbours on that side of the house, so I mostly just thought 'WHOOPS SHIT' and then felt too embarrassed to say anything.
And then I came back inside and replied to some asks (hi!) and am hopefully going to eat churro's soon and it's 10pm and so I'm probably going to do some more work and then I'm going to go to bed while I feel stressed about the work I haven't done (currently Palmarosa is the heart beating beneath my floorboards). I will probably keep reading December. It's okayish.
I don't know if I'd call today lovely, because I'm burnt out and I want to put up the Christmas decorations but it's 10pm and idk if I should start that because it tends to make me severely ill to do it for a few days.
I'm a little sad, a lot lonely, a little melancholic, a little grumpy, and a little very excited about churros and chocolate dipped strawberries. I resent days that are 'work and sleep' sometimes, especially during November. That's my fault. That's on me. I'm a mean and shitty boss to myself.
Gotta do something about this burnout at some point, because December is the worst month for my PTSD, but I also need to keep getting paid, because medical bills and food and stuff. So like...finding the balance there is a constant work in progress.
There were some lovely moments today:
That little laugh from the neighbour in the dark
The first yellow peach of the season
Doing tricks with my cat (who is trained) for treats
Making silly little memes
Helping a friend with work stuff
Replying to some amazing comments
Watching cute dogs
Feeling pretty accomplished at putting up those compilations on Patreon/Ream even if I'm not done yet.
I hope you're having a lovely day too, anon, with many snacks.
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tyrantisterror · 5 months
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Most depictions of the sins Lust and Gluttony water (especially in media not interested in accuracy or research) them down to "wanting sex" and "eating lots of food" which is one-dimensional as hell. If you see any anthro representation of the seven sins, Gluttony will be a slobbish fat guy and Lust a sexy lady in revealing clothing.
The meaning Lust has in modern times been reinterpreted by some feminists to be about sex positivity, of people, especially women embracing their sexuality and enjoying sex without shame and guilt. Personally, I feel that this owes partially to my above mentioned "watering down" of sins, made by people who don't know anything about them other than the pop-culture depictions.
I personally do want to represent the Sins as more complex and even having positive aspects to them, but not in a way that "dumbs them down" to one-D caricatures. Do you have advice for how that could be accomplished, and whats y
*and whats your opinion on the "dumbing down" of the sins?
So, ok, when writing the seven deadly sins, I feel it's important to remember that sins are supposed to be, you know, bad, and harmful, and not good. And that means you have to look at what each of the seven sins are and ask, "How is this bad? How does this hurt people?"
Some are pretty obvious - for example, wrath = the cycle of violence, we have a billion stories about why that's harmful to pattern off of. Others take more thought - lust and gluttony can seem relatively harmless if you don't think about how the extremes of them can affect other people. People who think gluttony is bad because people get fat if they eat too much are boring and short-sighted - gluttony is bad because wasting food in a world where people grow hungry is a shameful form of violence by inaction.
All of the sins are harmful, and many are harmful in a variety of ways. You don't even need to do research to figure out why, just play the thought experiment out in your head: "how can doing this hurt myself and others? Let me count the ways." That's how you keep the sins from being watered down.
My opinion on dumbing down the sins is that it's generally pretty boring and, like, disappointing from the perspective of a freak like me who's spent way too much time studying demonology.
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psychoticallytrans · 9 months
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As a prison officer in the UK, the way disabled, lgbtq+ and ethnic minority people are treated in American prisons horrifies me. Some of the mistreatment stories I've heard have truly shaken me and I could never imagine treating an inmate that way. I'd like to ask a few questions about the concept of prison abolition.
A) does that mean that you want all prisons (in America) done away with?
B) if that happens, would you want to see the prison system rebuilt differently, with different values?
C) if not, what would you then want to see happen to those criminals who are not fit to be in the outside world?
The last one especially interests me, because I'm a huge believer in rehabilitation and redemption. I do a lot of work in it myself. However, I've met people who are genuinely unwilling/unable to be rehabilitated, and sometimes I think a (UK) prison is the safest place to put them, both for their sake and for others.
Abolition means exactly what it sounds like. No more prisons. It also isn't exclusive to the US. A lot of prison abolition advocates are here because our system is particularly heinous in comparison to the "best country" front our country puts on. I recommend that you look into what prison abolition advocates are saying in the UK. You might be surprised by what some of your fellows are doing to inmates, and how it harms them.
How we accomplish this varies in the details from person to person, but tends to involve a few factors:
One, dealing away with the reasons for as many crimes as possible. There are a lot of options for this. Reinforcing our social safety nets so that people don't have to fear for housing, for their children, for food or medicine. Reestablishing on a wide scale the availability of live-in mental health care, this time with far more oversight to prevent abuse of patients, and a strong lean towards the supportive decision making model and peer to peer support. Some crimes also just need to be struck from the books, such as drug use and possession, which needs to be considered a public health issue, not a criminal one.
Two, if someone does still commit a crime under this model, figuring out why they did it and addressing it with them. This often takes the form of community service, healthcare, job training, and a support team working to help them to reintegrate.
I ask you this. Of the people you don't think could reintegrate, how many of them would be able to do so if they had several people backing and supporting them doing so and knew that they would be safe and able to live a life outside? How many of those actually need lifelong live-in mental health care, which is almost impossible to access these days, rather than lifelong incarceration? And are you aware that it will be almost impossible to answer these questions for all of the inmates without making an attempt?
In the meantime, I'd like to leave you this link, which covers a brief history of prison abolition in the UK, and includes further reading at the end.
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scentedpepper · 3 days
Text
Missions, Malaise and Migas Pt. V | Leon Kennedy
Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4 Pt. 6 Pt. 7
Fandom: Resident Evil
Pairing: Leon Kennedy x Male Reader
Summary: Leon and Y/N have some underlying issues. Ones they tried to warn DSO about.
Content Warnings: None
Other Pairings: Luis Sera x Reader
Author Note(s): whoop whoop part five
Ada thinks it'll be fun.
It'll give her something to do besides be in and out of planes and cars and boats and a bar full of horny men and wasted women.
In her eyes, it will also be therapeutic for two love-scorned people who seem to be grappling and grinding on each other because of their own moronic emotions and stubborn attitudes.
What would it hurt?
She's already gathered the obvious.
–The obvious being Leon, that is. She could practically read it in the way he held his gun, the way his eyes twitched and how they looked at you. His gaze, a flash, but his behavior told her so many, many things.
The way his hands fiddled with it, the tapping of his left foot, the biting of his tongue. And you were oblivious. Moreso a side effect of you disliking the man than anything else. Because she knew you, she could see the skill in every wrinkle of your body. You were just a hardened, distrustful shell, and it was so cute. Two angry, headstrong people ready to bite the necks of anyone who entered their personal space. She was so giddy.
Pure bliss.
Excitement over cracking her dear Leon open like an egg.
All for you.
Her eyes flicker to you, then him, repeating, comparing. Analyzing and prying until finally, she rests back in the chair beside Luis and she's content, having already placed the seed of her diabolical plan.
"Luis. " She's almost gushing. "You got a map on the computer or something?"
He glances at her, and a broad smile comes across his face.
"Sí. Whatever you need. "
"Good. I have to go fetch something. "
She sees your eyebrow quirk towards her in curiousity. But you don't say much about it, your mouth occupied by a large bite of the sandwhich.
Before she heads out, she turns towards you and the words that escape her mouth cause the twitching of Leons trigger finger.
"I want you to come with me. "
"We have to go. " His tone is sharp and immediate, he doesn't allow room between her words and his. His eyes flicker quickly to yours. "I mean it, Y/N. "
Luis is shaking his head and you don't need words to tell Leon how you feel.
"We need to secure the area. If they aren't gonna find us, we have to try and find them. Otherwise, we're just waiting. "
"Then we wait. “
The words fly from your mouth like ninja stars.
"You expect to stay here longer than you have to?" Leon is aghast. "You got your rest. You've even ate. " He gestures to the plate. "Now let's go. "
"You want to walk back into the storm outside and spend the night out there when we have this?" Your arms spread outward. "What's the logic there, Leon? I mean, really, " you scoff, "what are we going to accomplish?"
"This isn't up for a vote, " Leon spits back, his head working, his tongue fumbling with how to explain to you that you're idiotic plan won't work. "We aren't waiting here to become dog food. “
"So sleeping in the woods solves that problem?"
"There isn't a better option. If they're aware of our presence and know we're with Luis, " he adds, "they're going to come hunting. "
"They haven't come yet, not even with everything, " a thumb rubs at a broken section of the thick wooden table. "Whatevers left of his crew is preoccupied trying to deal with the virus. "
"The calmer route will be to wait here. "
The sound of a new voice washes over you both.
Ada is about to take a step closer when Luis steps between her and you two, raising his hands, palms up, eyes wide. "Yo amigos, do you mind telling me what exactly is going on here?”
You both look at the taller man and his furrowed brow, attentive gaze. Ada has a bit of a smirk on her face, enjoying the dynamics.
It's only when Luis clicks his tongue and urges your attention do you answer.
"There's too much risk, with a lot of things. It's best we stay here. "
"Absolutely not. "
Leon talks almost immediately after you do, his words curt, and flat. Directly over yours.
Like you hadn't said anything to begin with.
"You do whatever the hell you want to, but we're not staying here to get gobbled up while you and Luis pal around, then use me as your shield when things go south. "
"You're so full of shit. " You spit back, your nerves crackling with energy.
His eyes are cool. "This isn't a democracy. “
"Neither is working for the fucking US government. "
Ada frowns a little bit at the outburst and her voice remains even.
"Try to relax. All of you. "
"Try this. " You gesture with a hand between yourself and Leon. "Assigning two people to bring back evidence of a potential new Bioweapon, and putting it on both of us is hard enough when you factor in all the shit trying to eat and kill us, " your hand is still up. "But the fact that one of these individuals is a glorified agent that's known for all but trying to get the drop on their partner isn't all that reassuring. “
Ada sees it. She sees it from Leon now. A crumbling, slowly as a boat losing its control over the waves in the ocean. The tightening of his lips, the firm set of his jaw, the quaking of his eyebrows.
And she sees you.
Recollecting. Repenting for one second as the heat radiates, scorching you alive from the inside out. You're embarrassed, hurt and even guilt is in there somewhere.
But it's not long.
Because your face is out of her view when you make headway for the door.
Ada's eyes widen ever-so slightly and the way Leon moves when you turn away. Like he's connected to you with a string and if he wants to let you go, he's gonna have to un-string himself first. It's in sync with Luis who gets up from his seat in an instant, his mouth opening to make verbal protests, to defuse.
But Adas hands are up, putting them both in pause like the press of a remote control button.
"Let him go. "
There's a mutual crease of foreheads and slack jaws.
"Ada. " The displeasure in Leon's voice is thick. Almost like smoke that fills the room and seems to get heavier and darker the longer time goes on.
She doesn't let him continue. "I'll go. Make sure he's safe. But you two– sit. "
Luis lowers himself first, without an ounce of fight, and Leon stays. His blue eyes pierce hers.
"He's volatile. " His tone is sharp.
She thinks about it a moment, how much truth to his statement. How far could you push him? How much shit could you feed to him until he really broke.
"He's not. " Ada admits. "Have you ever really spoken to your partner?" Her head tilts in a way that isn't a challenge, but curiosity, giving the impression that she wants him to think. "There's obviously a lot of information that has never been shared. "
"Didn't see you offering therapy sessions. " Leon spits.
Ada stares. Luis watches carefully, unsure how to react and unwilling to move.
Ada swallows like her throat is coated with tar, hardening her resolve. The expression she makes afterwards is one that almost physically sickens Leon.
It's patronizing.
Merciful.
She's looking at him like he's a child having a tantrum and not a man who had made hard choices since 1998.
"Oh, Leon. " Ada breathes the words out. She gives a slight shake of her head before moving on with her plan, feeling more confident in it as she gives Leon one last sympathetic look.
She hopes he can see the deeper meaning behind her look. How her eyes dip in sorrow, the way her features remain cool, untouched and not judgemental.
"It's not my job to play therapist. But if you'll allow, " she folds her hands neatly infront of her, "I'll see if I can not just secure him, but allow for a cooling off period between the two of you. "
"I don't care. "
"Sure you don't. " She gives him a quick wink before turning around, the sound of her footsteps against the tile becoming fainter and fainter.
He felt himself starting to get emotional, and suddenly, just as quickly as she appeared, she vanished again, going outside to fix a problem between two children with the capabilities to take down a large city.
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lunawings · 1 month
Text
Animaniacs in Concert, 2/17/24 in Bristol, CT
Or, the story of how I ran into Rob Paulsen and immediately threw up.
Not on him, thankfully.
Where to begin? From the beginning, I guess.
I talk a lot about Japanese voice actors on this blog and I have almost no thoughts about American anime dub voice actors (no offense, I just don't know their work). However, if you asked me my favorite American cartoon voice actor, it's Rob Paulsen. I knew his voice before I even knew he existed, and if you ask me, he's one of the most recognizable male voice actors in Saturday morning cartoons.
He's probably most known as being Yakko on Animaniacs, and "half the Ninja Turtles" as he puts it. ("Maybe if I live to 102 I can voice all of them!") I also personally really liked him in The Mask cartoon, I think it's some of his best work. (Even though he was doing Jim Carey, he kind of wasn't at the same time. He made it his own.) But even beyond his leading roles, he just seems to pop up all sorts of places, and it always makes my day when I recognize him as additional voices.
While Japanese voice actors are often young and excessively beautiful people you're supposed to swoon over, 80s/90s American cartoon voice actors aren't... quite... the same. And yet. I sorta do, in a weird way. I mean I've known Rob Paulsen's voice for as long as my brain has been making memories and that's a pretty huge impact on a person. A few years back, I stumbled upon a few videos of him on YouTube attending cons performing Yakko's World and such, and I just loved his personality and energy so much. So, I added seeing him perform someday to my mental list of goals to accomplish if I ever returned to the US.
Fast forward again to the 2020s, the Animaniacs revival comes out on Hulu (I don't care what anyone says I freakin loved it) and I hear he's touring again with Animaniacs in Concert. I looked up the dates and none of them were remotely near me. As I checked back one day, mourning the possible missed opportunity and debating how far I might go, a new show popped up in Bristol, CT. How random, I thought. I checked if it was doable for me, and it was! It wasn't feasible as a day trip, but still doable. And once I saw there was one FRONT ROW SEAT LEFT, the deal was sealed as I quickly bought the ticket and reserved a room at the only hotel I could find in the area, the Bristol Double Tree.
Fast forward to yesterday. I arrived in Bristol just after noon following an uber and FOUR different buses. I'd woken up way too early, I was hungry and tired, and not feeling too great. I decided food would be my first plan of action, and since I didn't quite understand how to order room service (the menu wasn't loading on my phone anyway) and there wasn't anything within walking distance, I decided to just head downstairs and eat at the hotel restaurant/bar.
As I was waiting for my impossible burger and fries, I decided to take off the Yakko's World hoodie I'd been wearing.
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I bought it specifically to wear to the show, and I'd already spilled a little coffee on it this morning and didn't want to risk having to wash it again. So I tucked it behind me in the booth.
Shortly after that, another group walked in and sat at the table next to me. An older guy and some ladies. I wasn't paying much attention to them as I thought they were maybe a part of the wedding party I heard was at the hotel. My food came and I focused on that.
But then someone else walked in and joined them. Someone I very much DID recognize. "Oh there you are!" "Hi, I'm Rob!"
The next moment is kind of a blur so I'm not exactly sure whether I jumped a little or if I did the dramatic eyes widen slow turn, but I definitely had some kind of a visible reaction as I looked over to the table. It was then that I locked eyes with who at that moment I first realized was Maurice Lamarche, voice of Brain (from Pinky and the Brain) and many MANY Futurama characters (more than I realized as I learned later). He was the older man I mentioned earlier, and had been sitting there the entire time. And at that moment I thought perhaps he knew everything. (Both the fact that I recognized the new person who had just walked in, and the fact that I hadn't recognized Maurice himself until now.)
So I'm pretty sure I have at least mild prosopagnosia (face blindness) so it is hard for me to recognize people right away.
But there was something I could never fail to recognize, and that was the voice of Rob Paulsen, who was the person who had just walked into the room and joined the table with Maurice.
I'm not sure how they knew the women they were dining with, but they were all catching up, asking them if they were going to the show, etc. I listened a bit as Rob happily talked to them about the impact of the show and its fans. Such as how devoted fans would actually fly in to see them and how the average age of the audience was about 40 (hah ha... not yet but I'm getting there). He even mentioned Tress MacNeille at one point! Maurice was right in my view, but Rob was at an angle where I couldn't see him without turning my head but oh lord it was definitely him.
I had no idea what to do at this point. Do I say something? Do I not? Would it be terrible to just say hi and that I'm looking forward to the show??
I've been to a lot of events with voice actors in the past, especially in Japan, but I still just... cannot handle meeting famous people that I admire. Actually seeing them up close is intense enough, but actually TALKING to them? I don't know how anyone can do it.
I'm reminded of Amari in Idol Land PriPara, that episode where she meets Hibiki...
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Yeah, basically me. For the people who visualize in their head while they are reading something, just replace whatever you imagine I look like with Amari and this story will fit very well.
All while this is all racing through my mind, I'm still shoveling french fries into my mouth while trying (and probably failing) to stay calm and act normal (even though I'm pretty sure Maurice is onto me) and I soon realize I've got a couple fries stuck in my throat (as often happens when I'm eating without paying attention, as I'm a very fast eater). I exaggerated a little in my previous post when I said I was choking, but it was hard to swallow and I realized I'd have to sneak off to the bathroom to deal with it without causing any more of a scene. I basically threw my credit card on the table and ran, though (which was dumb in hindsight, but I didn't want anyone to think I was dine-dashing).
In the end, after I came back, I decided to just quietly pay the bill and leave without saying anything, scrunching and hiding my Yakko hoodie the best I could. I didn't want to interrupt them during their private time, and for that reason I didn't try to take any photos or videos either. So I have no proof that this happened but it very much did.
And it made sense, I realized later. I already knew that the Double Tree in Bristol was literally the only hotel in the area, where else would they be!!?
After leaving the table I was so worked up I basically walked straight out of the hotel because I didn't know what else to do and headed to the Carosel Museum of New England where I killed at least two whole hours sitting on a bench looking at intricately carved 100+ year old wooden animals while nursing my exhaustion and caffeine cravings. (The museum isn't that big, I just literally did not know what else to do with myself.)
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But I learned that most carousel horses are only decorated on the side that faces the customers. And since they were all hand-carved back then, the opposite side would often be carved by a less experienced carver in training or something. ISN'T THAT NEAT?
I thought that was neat.
Anyway.
Eventually I downed an energy drink I bought from a convenience store as I went on my way to the venue of the show.
I was still super early since I ran out of the hotel super early but there was already a crowd gathered outside. At first I didn't know this was the reason people had gathered, but the first 40 people to line up were eligible to sign up for a "meet-and-greet" with everyone after the show. And when I reached the front of the line, it was still open.
"Sure?" I said, not really fully understanding what I was signing up for. And so I headed inside.
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The show opened with Yakko's Universe (SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SONG) and of course closed with Yakko's World as the finale. What came in between was quite random. Despite not being an actual cast member, the real star of the show was composer Randy Rogel. Rob of course voiced Yakko and his other characters, and Randy voiced... almost everyone else haha. Just using his own voice most of the time, but still. He sang as Dot a lot.
And it seemed like he picked the songs they played not necessarily by what songs were popular, but by what songs he and Rob had stories to talk about. For example, they did a bunch of songs from the failed show Histeria when Rob literally broke into tears (he was acting) while talking about how Randy had to actually, physically, go to a library to research the topics he was writing about back in those days. Randy also played an alternate version of the song LA DOT that had sat untouched in a folder for decades.
Rob's voice doesn't sound quite the same as it used to, as anyone who has seen the 2020 Animaniacs series would know, but he can still do it all! And considering he survived throat cancer, and came back to not only work again but sing live!? He sounds amazing!
Maurice Lamarche was also of course a part of the show, and although he only "sang" one song as Brain, his interactions in character as Brain with Rob as Pinky were probably the highlight of the whole show. (They did a whole "Who's on First" sketch talking about what countries to conquer, with Pinky misunderstanding "Hungary", "Turkey" and "Chili".)
Maurice also did a showcase of his voice, including so many other Animaniacs and Futurama characters I had no idea were him, not to mention frikkin Toucan Sam and the narrator of Lexus commercials.
The only thing that disappointed me a little about the show, was they didn't really do anything from the 2020 series, but I guess Randy wasn't as involved with the music in that. So, oh well.
I didn't take many photos/videos during the show, since I wasn't fully sure of the etiquette (still kinda have my Japan brain for these sort of things) and since I was in the front row I wanted to give them my full attention. I think there are plenty of videos online anyway, since at least one segment was one I'd already seen before.
So, after the show ended, people began to line up for the meet-and-greet, and it was then that I fully understood what I had gotten myself into.
Each of us would get about a minute to talk with them individually, get their signature, and get a picture if we wanted. I was really kicking myself for not bringing anything to sign! I really had no idea it would actually be an option! (In the days leading up to the show I had been looking at Rob's website where I noticed he normally charges $60 for an autograph, so I didn't think he would do it for free.)
But more importantly, I realized I was going to have to actually face them. TALK TO THEM. The exact thing I had run away from earlier in the day.
And again, I considered just running away. But I had taken a spot on that list. A spot that could have gone to someone else and it was too late to give away now. So, I told myself, I had to see this through. No matter what.
As the line inched closer I panicked over whether they would recognize me from the hotel or not as I rehearsed in my head over and over again all the things I could say. I was honestly juggling between two or three entire scripts by the time it was finally my turn and when realized... after all that...
I did not need to say anything.
Rob saw my hoodie ("It's me!") so he knew I was there for him, and he knew I was nervous. So he did all the talking. (After all, that is his job. Literally!) He took my hand and complimented my hoodie, my hair, and everything. He said so many nice things about me (I even got a "Hellooooo nurse!") and even broke the ice by introducing me to "his friend the Brain" so I got to shake hands with Maurice as well. (I STILL THINK HE KNEW. So I felt a little awkward then but other than that) it was just such a wonderful interaction. Rob was so nice and kind and I got the impression he really, really cares about his fans.
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So I missed out on the autograph, but I did get a picture, and I left the entire experience feeling so warm and fuzzy and oddly complete. Childhood dream achieved.
It took me another four busses and an uber to get home today (I left around 8am, walked into my door after 4...) but it was all very worth it.
I'm mostly at peace with how things turned out, but if I ever get the chance to see them again, at a Comicon or whatever, I'll be sure to bring a Futurama DVD boxset for Maurice to sign and maybe try to acquire an old Animanics or Mask the Animated Series VHS for Rob!
You know, it's pretty ridiculous how easy it is to meet and get signatures from famous voice actors in this country. That almost never happens in Japan. I mean, I'm planning to go to an actual Love Live concert in Japan next month, and here I am oddly depressed I can't fly out to Seattle to see Chiemi and Coco at Sakura-con instead because I might get to actually meet MEET them there haha.
Even though it would be another disaster if I actually did.
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Hahah...
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feith-rikya · 4 months
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All these characters are from an RPG campaign called; Gehenna's Gates, set in the world of Vampire The Masquerade. Feel free to ask any questions!
Danya Vetranov & Jonah: 
Danya met Jonah as the owner of Elysium, thinking of him as just an eccentric person, with his head in the clouds and a fixation on whales. So, in her innocence, she had befriended him, treating him a bit like the child he seemed to be, and on the other side the ancient vampire didn't seem to mind. After many gifts of whales of all kinds and sizes, they became like siblings, but neither was truly aware of the other's abilities.
Danya had a rude awakening when she discovered that behind the figure of the Mother, the True Black Hand, the death of hundreds of Malkavians was actually Jonah's doing. Jonah, who was nothing more than the projection of the desire of an old madman to exterminate every single vampire on the face of the earth. Born with hatred for his own kind and himself, restrained only by the love of the people around him.
When the altars were discovered, Jonah's behavior became more erratic and unsettling, leading Danya to accidentally summon Lucifer, unleashing a fight that nearly killed Jonah. After this betrayal, the Malkavian took away from the entire coterie the “Gifts” he had granted. It meant he had implemented a discipline on them and their loved ones that nullified the curses of their clans, bringing everyone a bit closer to the beast.
Jonah retreated into the labyrinth after the injury and was declared an enemy of the coterie. But Danya couldn't let it end like that; she wanted to find that good part of him and bring her brother back home. And so, she wrote him a letter:
“Dear Jonah,
I hope this letter finds you somehow, even though I still don't know how to deliver it to you.
Well, if you are reading it somehow, I managed.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to accomplish, I know I don't want to blame you or justify my behavior; I don't think it would do much good. Perhaps I just want to offer you some of my truth in exchange for what you've given us. It's possible that you don't care and will tear up this letter as soon as you read my words, but if you decide to continue, I hope you can find something in it. Anything. Forgive me; I am far from being a writer, so be lenient with my grammatical errors and my inelegant style. 
You know many things about me — when I was born, where, who my father was, and even the name of a mother who is totally unknown to me.
I wonder if you know other things.
Like the winter in Kiev, the snow knee-deep, having to make our way through the cold with old and worn-out clothes that no longer kept the chill at bay. Staying inside a worn-out tent, trying to get warm with a semi-functional stove and hoping the warmth allows you to open your eyes the next day. On those winter nights, with the punishing snow falling on the city, it was impossible to wander around begging or robbing passersby.
So, we were forced to stay in the tent, close together, trying to warm ourselves as much as possible, with the little food we managed to get from the soup kitchen.
It was during those winter nights that my father taught me to read. Sipping his usual whiskey and holding me on his lap while flipping through the children's book he had stolen for me from a flea market. He pointed out the words and made me read them over and over, then moved on to whole sentences, then the small paragraphs of the illustrated book, until I could read it aloud on my own. He even had me mark the letters and words in the blank parts of the book, so I also learned to write.
In the package accompanying this letter, you will find a copy of that same book. I only found out recently that it was a rather renowned children's book. "The Giving Tree."
When he finally managed to reveal the meaning of the graphic signs accompanied by simple drawings, I was quite disturbed.
It was a rather tragic story to learn to read, and I found myself practically reciting it by heart.
I'm sorry it's not an important, ancient, unique book, written in a nonexistent language and containing the secrets of the world. It's just a simple children's book with a sad ending that taught me to read.
For you, perhaps, it won't mean anything. You have read so much, studied so long, and know much more than can be known in ten lifetimes.
But for me, it was the only source of culture in my life for a long time, and one of the few ways to reflect on the world. Even if I might not even be able to tell you what this book is trying to teach, maybe nothing, maybe just that not all stories need to have a happy ending.
Sometimes I think that maybe we won't have one either, no matter how hard we try or how good our intentions may be...
But in the end, what will remain, and what no apocalypse can take away, not even the apocalypse itself, are the bonds we have created and the people we have touched with our being.
When that day you spoke about how you felt, that anguishing sensation of sinking into the cold abyss of the ocean, I felt closer to you than ever.
You touched me deeply.
It might seem strange to you that someone like me, who doesn't share a fraction of the burden you carry, can even understand what you feel...
But at that moment, I knew exactly what you were talking about.
That feeling of helplessness, the constant and futile effort to stay afloat, only to see the surface getting farther away, and the light becoming dimmer and more scattered.
The darkness of the sea claiming you, and immense beasts ready to devour you, oblivious to your dreams and hopes.
I feel that way almost every day, sometimes more, sometimes less, even in times when we've been at peace. I was aware that a small wave could destroy my sandcastle.
Or a big whale could devour me and take me into eternal darkness.
You will find a second book in the box, "The Adventures of Pinocchio"; surely, you know it.
It's a book I read when I was still in the circus.
My sire had the habit of picking up everything the audience forgot inside the fair, keeping the valuable things for himself and sharing the rest.
But I must say that for me, he always kept the most useful or cute objects, "fit for a young lady," as he jokingly said.
I read it slowly but with great attention; at the time, I found it hilarious and grew fond of it. Unfortunately, my copy burned away with my circus, and like it, all I have left is the memory and nothing more.
I will candidly admit that this book makes me think of you in a much more polymorphic way than you might imagine.
Sometimes, I have felt like the puppet of the story, naive, careless, teased, and manipulated by creatures much bigger than him. In those moments, I thought of you as a strange but wise-talking Jiminy Cricket wanting to show me the right way.
At times, I thought of you as Pinocchio, so eager to become something different from yourself. Perhaps a bit arrogantly, I hoped to be the Blue Fairy helping you reach your dream.
But recently, I must admit I have felt more like the puppet who never learns from his mistakes, and you as the whale about to devour me.
But despite the fear, frustration, my inability to understand the reasons behind all this, and at the risk of being entirely devoured, I don't like the idea of you being alone in that dark maze.
I don't like leaving you to sink without even trying to throw you a lifeline.
In the box, you will find an MP3 in which I had Mr. Frost record a melody for you. Please listen to it when you feel particularly bad; it should help, or at least I hope so.
I don't want to ask you for anything or beg you to put things back the way they were; I don't think it would lead to anything. I'm not even sure others would agree.
The only thing I hope is that you can see some goodness in my actions, as I see in yours.
It wasn't our intention, but we hurt you, and for that, I am sorry, for whatever my shaky words are worth on this paper.
I close this letter, hoping it keeps you company along with the things I've given you.
I will always be your sister, Jonah. Remember that.
With love,
Danya”
That letter convinced Jonah to return to Danya, at least to see what she wanted to accomplish. Despite his initial reluctance, tension, and the fear she felt, he eventually gave in. No vampire so young had ever shown him so much courage, after all he could have obliterated her mind with just a thought. Embracing her, he apologized for his behavior, and between them, there was nothing left to hide. If he wanted to destroy vampires, she would do everything to stop him, and they both accepted it. Since then, the peculiar Malkavian has settled in Danya's home, seeking in her the serenity and carefreeness he had never had. Meanwhile the Ravnos, besides keeping an eye on him, desired to recreate that extended family she missed so much from the circus.
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othellovonryan-1000 · 11 months
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So I had this idea for a rant Revali would go on, and while I'm literally never going to expand on it, I have to get it out of my brain or the goblin up there is gonna throw a fit.
So enjoy.
"I worked my ass off to stand where I am today, to earn the title of champion. You were all born into power and prestige, given this right the moment you took your first breath. You all are very talented, dangerous people, I'll admit. But that doesn't change the fact you are all the respective royalty of your regions. I am not.
While you were born treated like Hylia herself, given only the best foods, the best beds, the best training, I had to drag myself off the ground and out of the mud when I was a child, teach myself to survive, and make my own fucking way. I picked myself up when nobody wanted me, I taught myself archery, I became powerful! A revered archer, the best the Rito has ever seen! I did that myself! I became respected by myself, because of myself and my hard work, I HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE DAY ONE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WERE JUST BORN LUCKY AND TURNED UP A NOSE AT THOSE WHO WEREN'T. Oooh, maybe you didn't mean to, but you certainly did. I worked. And I bled. And I cried. For so many years I learned my craft, made myself into a person who could be called Master Archer Revali.
....And then he came along. Link. The hero. The 'legend'.
Maybe he isn't royalty, but he was certainly well off. We've all seen his house, we all know who his father is. How could we not! And yet he comes along, finds some glowing sword, and suddenly I'm obsolete.
All those years of work, all the time of feeling insignificant and inferior and weak all come flooding back, because the great hero Link has arrived.
Because of him I am inferior to my own people. Because of you lot, whenever we go traveling, my accomplishments are set aside, because of people who assume I simply was born lucky like you.
So keep feeling all high and mighty on your respective thrones. I'm just fine down here, so long as you don't get in my way."
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delwaaunglor · 3 months
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So, curious. What fictional character's death has impacted your life the most? I don't mean who's death made you weep the most. I don't mean who's death made you not okay for days. Such emotions can be brought on by pure shock. I'm asking which fictional character's death made such an impact on you that it influenced your worldview, the way you approach life, your philosophy, the way you breathe from day-to-day. When I sat and pondered the question, the first fictional character's death I thought of was Jak Fleet from the Erevis Cale novels. But Jak didn't really change the way I looked at things. He was inspiring, to be sure. But his death didn't change the way I thought of anything. He just confirmed ideals I already held, and I look to him as a heroic example of what sacrifice for a greater good looks like. So as I thought about the question, I realized it was a character I didn't cry over the first time I read the scene. I didn't cry over him the 20th time I read it, either. But as I get older, his death scene becomes more and more poignant. That character, if you haven't already guessed, is Thorin Oakenshield. When he charges out of the Lonely Mountain's gate in the battle of Five Armies, he's a king come into his own. All the years of wanting revenge on Smaug, to reclaim the gold and the throne that was his birthright is accomplished in that moment. He is King Under the Mountain. He's got everything he ever wanted. But then he falls. He dies. And his last words to Bilbo aren't the words of a proud king who has everything he ever wanted. They're the words of a dwarf who's gained wisdom that pains him to admit. "If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell." This is a dwarf. A king of a people known for their craftsmanship and love of beautiful things, particularly those made of metals precious and mundane. Yet, at the end of his life, his dying words almost echo Ecclesiastes in its subtext. "Vanity of vanity." He's fought, lost friends and kin, all for a mountain of gold. And he's naught to show for it, because in a few minutes he will draw his last breath and not be able to enjoy one single coin of his conquest. That quote has changed the way I look at life in ways I can't even begin to exhaustively list. It's changed the way I look at politics and economics. It's changed the way I look at friendships and who I choose to spend time with. It's changed the kinds of theologians I give ear to. It's impacted so many of my personal choices in what I decide to do with the time that is given to me. So who's your character?
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