Buny :] 🐇

how to make a tumblr post (and get notes!)

Have never seen any post discuss these exact things, so i'm sharing my insights with y'all*

Use images. They don't have to be good or spectacular like this extremely coherent thing I just made. They just need to catch the eye break up dashboard monotony.

The gif search feature is an unreliable wild card at best and a NSFW eye gouge at worst, but it gives credit to the op of the gif

If you're an artist your whole post is your images, so skip to the links and tags section of this post because the rest won't help much.

-> Image Descriptions

When making a post that contains images, hover over an image and click the meatballs icon in the lower right corner of the image. Click "update description" to add a description. It isn't always necessary, but it is very courteous for a variety of accessibility reasons.

-> Text

Break up your text. Run-on sentences are standard here, lack of punctuation too, you can really do whatever you want, but avoid massive blocks of text. unless you've got a really incendiary opening line and the entire center of that granite chunk of text is actually comedy gold, hard-hitting tumblr journalism, or one of those zany confessional posts that can be followed up by the drive thru meme

break up

your text.

and go light on the ALL CAPS. save it for emphasis or when you're feeling very unhinged or saRcAStiC y'know how that goes, i don't need to explain it. this site has a very dry tone to its posts so caps are rare. also periods

Bullet points and numbered posts are good and fine. The "Chat" post option is used less often these days, but different groups found uses for it so it sticks around.

Titles Matter

they help break up text and put people at ease. they are best for informative, mature posts but can make you look like a square in more relaxed conversations. sometimes they are also great for emphasis in a comedic sh*tpost (censorship is entirely up to you, btw. you don't have to censor much on tumblr except titties and genitals).

Tumblr automatically shortens long posts now, but etiquette asks that you tag #long post if you want to avoid clogging up someone's dash. It don't matter too much though, this is the "color of the sky" site, so get used to posts being too long

That being said "READ MORE" is a fantastic feature. Use it when you want some level of privacy like "hey, only click below if you want to hear about my problems" or "click below to read my 18+ fanfic." Read more is also great in case you want to delete something forever. If a reblogged post has a read more, but op deleted the og post, that content is gone (readmore has to be on the og post at time of posting for this to work, btw; edits to og post do not span all reblogs)

the other bells and whistles like colored font or italics are helpful in improving text, but we don't really rely on them. every mode of looking at this site alters those aspects somehow so we often ignore them

-> Links

Hint: People don't want to click links. We don't know where they're taking us. Most of us are on our phone and don't want to open another tab or leave the app to go on the browser. We're cozy here on Tumblr and do not wish to be whisked away (unless it's a rickroll)

Don't leave the link thumbnail to do all the work, like so

add a little sneak peak info, maybe your favorite line from the article or a reason why it's important for people to know the info on the other side of that link. Sell it!

When you're adding a link into a list, i.e. no large thumbnail just a line of text leading you to another site, try not to copy/paste the link as is

"https://......"

No one wants to click on that it's gross and scary. It's screams "meh, i'll click later if i feel like it." If the build up to the link is too good to resist ("if you want to save the orphaned puppies here's the link") then that http mess is sufficient.

Otherwise, dress your links up a little by including the title or a description of what the link goes to:

Or, if it's an informal post where you're just popping info in to back up whatever insane thing you just said, just write something like "link here" or "(x)" and hyperlink it.

-> Tags

artists, writers, and other creators: leave a tag on your creative content that makes it easy for blog visitors to see it all at once. e.g. "My work" and we click on that while on your blog and see only your works

You can have up to thirty tags on any post. All will make your post show up in searches and followed tags (it used to be only the first five tags that got you traction). However,

Please. Do not tag everything you can possibly imagine being relevant to your post because

It's called tag spam and it's against TOS

Everyone here hates that

No one is going to check all those tags ever. Someone might search one five years from now and accidentally find your post hanging out in the ether and they'll still ignore it.

Your imagination is wicked tiny because I guarantee the perfect tag is going to be something indecipherable and seemingly niche.

Follow popular tags (or at least be aware of them)

If yours is an off-the-cuff post and you don't have time to find out what a niche group is into then wing it, sure, idc. this is also the shitposting site do whatever you want

Don't put your hate in the fan tags. This is the unapologetically-like-dumb-things site and your negativity is not wanted. You can still complain, just avoid tagging to get the attention of the fans of whatever you're complaining about. That enables pvp and even nonfans will know you deserve the backlash

-> Audio & Video

clickable by nature because we all love noise and moving images so there's no special way to share posts like this. just post them with good tags and maybe a one-liner, and they'll sell themselves

Tip: it's nice to add descriptions to these too but it isn't common

Protip: if the audio is the best part of the video (e.g. a baby burps REALLY loudly and it's hilarious) please caption or tag "Unmute!"

-> mkay bye

that's all i can think of right now. will update later if i remember something

---

*this is year eleven of my time on tumbles and i studied marketing in college for like six of those years and have been applying that bupkis to tumblr ever since. every post i see that gets no traction and every lovely artist that goes nowhere on here bothers me so deeply and i sincerely want y'all to succeed <3 <3

+ If you find this helpful and want to support my blog, I have a ko-fi!

+ If you're concerned about my mental health from being on Tumblr so long and want to contribute to my "get better" fund, I have a ko-fi!

BEATING HEART EFFECT TUTORIAL: I was asked by the amazing Samantha @shegos how I made the animated beating heart effect on my Witcher gifset so I thought I would make a tutorial about it! I’ve used this same effect before on this Merlin gifset. This tutorial assumes you have basic giffing skills and work on Photoshop with a timeline.

step 1: To start off, I have made my gifs, colored them, blended them so this is where I’m at. You don’t need a blended gif for this, you can use it on any gif you want, this is just mine.

I had to find a heart shape to work with so I went over to google and typed various types of “heart png” “real heart transparent” till I found what I wanted. This is the heart I used, you can use anything that attracts your eye. I open it on Photoshop and use the Magic Eraser Tool (you can see my settings in the image below) and delete the background and tiny specs of the background seeping into the heart.

step 2: You open up your gif (we need the frames here so you save your gif and open it again) and you drag your heart atop the layers while having chosen the first frame on your animation. This is what your timeline should look like now.

I didn’t like how straight the heart looked, so I tilted it a bit to the left by going over to Edit > Transform > Rotate. Lastly, I changed the heart’s opacity to 83, depends on what you prefer. 

step 3: Now we have to prepare the heart for the animation process. We make a group, add the heart inside, and make these adjustments layers set on normal: 

Then you create a new layer and color it with this hex: 

You set this layer to blending mode overlay. Then you duplicate it three times and set the new three layers to blending mode soft light. Lastly, you select all of the adjustment layers, right click and create clipping mask, so your other layers are safe and set the entire group mode to darken. So now, this is what your layers tab should look like. 

The last last step before animating, is to duplicate your group, and change the new one to blending mode luminosity and opacity 30%, again here depends on your preference.

step 4:  Here comes the fun part! To time this as correctly as I could (I’m sure you folks are better at math than me) I went over to youtube and found a beating heart sound. Be careful, for this part, you only change the opacity of the first group you made, I’ll tell you later what you do with the second one. You choose your first frame in your timeline and go over to the first group and choose only the colored layers, not the gradient maps. So then you start with 100% opacity and then change it depending on how the sound feels frame by frame. I was basically starting the sound, stopping at points, changed the opacity, played it again, changed things e.t.c. These are my settings, with my gif speed being 0.07. 

1 to 4: 100% 5: 25% 6: 50% 7. 60% 8: 75% 9: 100%

then 4 frames 100% again and then 5-9 then again 4 frames 100% you see how it goes. While doing this, I was saving my gif and opening it up on tumblr a lot, to test out different types of opacity settings and speeds. It took a while but worth it.

step 5: Here are the last steps. You go over to the luminosity blending mode group, select the four colored layers, and set them all to 25%, while having chosen the first frame in your timeline so it works on all of them. It looked a bit too colored for my taste so I changed that little thing.  Then I added the text I wanted I wanted and voila!

I truly hope that was helpful, for many of these steps I was playing around on photoshop, so you do what works for you. Also, I used some different blending modes and settings for my Merlin set, so this effect depends a lot on how your og gif looks like. So try around things and any questions you have, my askbox is open ❤️

Proof of drLvorobotnik Twitter reposting my stuff since they wanted to stir drama and make it public after I tried to DM privately.

Colors Japanese translation screenshots - exact amount, frames, sub text size, etc

Repost FEB 27 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1630147943217889281

Og JAN 27 2023: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/707566272731316224/based-japanese-colors-eggman-hes-like-you-are?source=share

See any differences? Exactly. Was even scheduled to post exactly a month after mine in this case. It's not a coincidence.

Cute style art upscale in which I erased the bg, lined up the art, and upscaled myself

Repost JUN 15 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1630680372932407296

Og JAN 5 2023: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/705652378852032512/i-finally-found-the-sheet-of-the-clean-art-of-the?source=share

I cropped and lined up the art myself too before upscaling it. Want to see the original it comes from?

Now try to tell me they coincidentally edited and lined them up exactly the same way

Archie cover EDIT and upscale:

Repost JUNE 20 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1670954778547855366

Og JAN 27 2023: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/707561354007019520/i-absolutely-adore-this-cover-its-one-of-my?source=share

This includes my art edit. Let me show you how

The actual cover had a glasses lense coloring error on the left, where the blue goes too far and isn't circled off. And there's a white border around the bg https://www.deviantart.com/sdowner/art/Sonic-Universe-39-Cover-282494516

Notice how the repost has my cropped and fixed circled left lense edit version? I drew that black line on and colored it myself.

Actual cover:

My edit:

The repost:

My recording of the actual game I then screenshot that's overly saturated because of the recorder having issues, exact frame in my post too:

Repost JUNE 22 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1671702742698541056

Og MAY 7 2023: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/716691124721500160/im-planning-on-making-a-much-more-in-depth-post?source=share

Eggman slapping belly gif

Repost JUNE 28 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1674137071349317633?s=20

Og DECEMBER 5 2020: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/636629231814705152/i-realized-that-ive-only-ever-made-a-gif-of-my?source=share

Origins floatie gif

Repost MAY 16 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1658329878146560001

Og JUNE 21 2022: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/687689067876548608/sonic-origins-eggman-gifs-55-look-at-him-on-his?source=share:

Origins fist pump gif saturated with added contrast by me

Repost JULY 3 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1675933625362030602:

Og JUNE 21 2022: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/687689104200269824/sonic-origins-eggman-gifs-25-mischievous-egg?source=share

They're the exact same starting frame, length, and added saturation and contrast by me. I have way more of these too

They started trying to screenshot my gifs thinking I wouldn't notice, like this sandwich gif. I turned up the lightness in this gif so you can barely see Eggman's glove on the right side. You can see this is in their repost screenshot too, it also matches the very first frame of the paused gif. It's from me.

Repost JULY 24 2023: https://twitter.com/DrlvoRobotnik/status/1683292101990129665

Og JUNE 7 2020: https://www.tumblr.com/egg-emperor/620225073127768064/eggman-sandwich-appreciation?source=share

I'll be adding more to this as I gather the rest as there's many many more, too many to cover but I have at least 30+ of them saved that I could compare. But just getting these out before they private, block me, or delete the tweets. If they do it's further proof they're guilty and trying to cover their tracks. Though these images clearly prove enough

Welcome Home — 11/21 & 12/25 updates!

ㅤㅤㅤAlthough not many things were added, what we were given gives us more insight into whoever's writing these and a lot of material for theory making. Let's see what's new!

→ og. website! // previous update ←

WARNING !! Heavy spoilers for Welcome Home lay ahead!

ㅤㅤㅤI encourage you to experience the website for yourself before reading this, as it'll take from the experience you'd have otherwise!

★ TABLE OF CONTENTS

November 21st Update 1.- Welcome Home Page 2.- Stickers 3.- The Playfellow Exhibition 4.- Sally's Profile 5.- Transcripts

December 25th Update 1.- Welcome Home Page 2.- Stickers 3.- Playfellow Exhibition 4.- Sally's Profile 5.- Transcripts

November 21st Update

1.- Welcome Home page

ㅤㅤㅤNoticable as soon as we walk in the website, the text in the website's update has been replaced by "Write Hello." ㅤㅤㅤIt's also fair to notice that, all the spooky decorations having been taken down and everything having went back to a somewhat normal state, the illustration of Wally sitting on a rock's filename has gone back to "HELLO_edited.png" after being changed to "HappyHalloween!!.png".

2.- Stickers

ㅤㅤㅤHeading now to our next page, "Stickers", we can see that "Write "OK."" has been written on the top right corner of the "Neighbors!" heading.

3.- The Playfellow Exhibition

ㅤㅤㅤThis time on the top left corner of "The Playfellow Exhibition" heading, we can find "Turn The Playfellow Exhibition upside down." written.

4.- Sally's Profile

ㅤㅤㅤTaking a small trip to Your Neighborhood and going into Sally's profile, "Reverse this image of Sally." is visible on top of her profile art.

5.- Transcripts

ㅤㅤㅤTaking anoother small trip now to the Transcripts page, and scrolling down to the "MYSTERY AUDIO" section, to its right the text "Move Barnaby." can be seen.

December 25th Update

1.- Welcome Home page

ㅤㅤㅤGoing back to the home page, we can find that, under the previously written order in the Website's Updates section, "HELLO" is being written in a similar fashion to other doodles around the website. Hovering over the letters with a cursor lets us see the pop-up text "Hello".

2.- Stickers

ㅤㅤㅤIn the Stickers page, the changes are even more visible. All the gifs of all the neighbors have been used to spell out "OK", and a smiley face is being drawn in the blank space inside of the O. Hovering over it lets us see the message "I did not write it. I did something else. I know who these neighbors are. Do you like them too?". ㅤㅤㅤUnder it, the small banners and rotating titles are duplicated and spread around with no visible order, all except for the logos with colorful backgrounds. Those, in turn, can be found to the right of the page, in the white space, forming a house shape around one of the blue eyes found in every page of the website, and another around the non-shining gifs of Wally and Home, who remarkably have not been duplicated like the others.

3.- The Playfellow Exhibition

ㅤㅤㅤIn the page of the exhibition, all instances of its name have been rotated 180º degrees. What seems to be a christmas tree —or Welcome Home's parallel of one— is being drawn below the left side of the first two paragraphs, and hovering over it tells us "I did not know what to do. I think I am correct. Is it Homewarming where you are? Happy Homewarming."

4.- Sally's Profile

ㅤㅤㅤHeading back to Sally's profile, her illustration has been edited so that we're looking at the back of the courtain once behind her, showing that it has her face printied, or painted, on the middle. Hovering over it shows the message "I did not understand you. Does this help you?".

5.- Transcripts

ㅤㅤㅤIn our final stop for today, transcripts, Barnaby's name card has been moved and turned over to the right of the page, on the white space once again. His head is being drawn over it, its message simply reading "Do you like Barnaby here?".

The Will Wood Drama - an explanation and breakdown for those who need it TW: Allegations of grooming and manipulation, talks of unhealthy/toxic relationships, and talks of relapsing into self harm

So yesterday (7/31/22) a user posted a twitter thread saying he was groomed by Will Wood, and it has been archived by someone else* with og screenshots being found and showing the account that wasn’t in the og thread.** But I will be recapping and then giving my insight. It gets long.

TL:DR: Op has a deeply unhealthy relationship with Will where sexual intimacy is on and off in cycles. Both parties are negatively effected by it. I believe Op that it happened and that it caused serious harm but I cannot find the specific behaviors of grooming/manipulation/emotional abuse in the thread Op makes.

Notice: Do not harass and give death threats to Op. I don’t care what you think or believe in this situation, it is never okay to deliver death threats. Nor does it excuse being insensitive pricks. He’s been mobbed enough by stans who cannot give the situation delicacy and nuance. He’s still a person who was hurt and is still hurting. There is no intent of maliciousness from him, do not assume that.

*The archive has censored nudes of Will. Which is completely uncalled for and wrong to do. Nudes were exchanged with consent under the explicit agreement that it stay private. I understand that Op was being mobbed for proof that this was Will, posted, and the quickly deleted it. The archive has no right to keep the images nor do I think it was a necessary addition of proof that the exchange happened. I also hear a rumor through the grapevine that these photos allegedly don’t look like him and/or were doctored but I am in no place to confirm/deny because I don’t know what Will looks like either than a white man.

**Another rumor is that the insta account wasn’t manage by Will and thus could’ve been someone impersonating him? I don’t buy that because the later text messages do reference the insta ones. But I also don’t follow Will’s social medias so idk who manages what and where and what he types like. Again not my call to make.

Edit: As new information comes to light it will be in the replies. New links have been added already. In one of the links we see more people come forward with further problematic behavior from Will in the past. If you have further information, read what’s already in there and then explain your own. The asks on my blog regarding this are more broader discussion than actual evidence gathering/analysis, that will stay in the replies for convenience.

At age 18 in 2018 op becomes facebook friends with Will and they had a casual friendly relationship. Time passes, they meet at a concert in 2019 and talk, more time passes and they moved to snapchat and again, was friendly. They talk and Will finds out Op is selling nsfw content of themselves and expresses some interest even with guilt. Because there is an age gap and he is aware Op is a fan. There are screenshots of that and him mentioning it would be “cancel city” if people saw he bought nudes from an 18yo fan. (worth noting that op does state that they were talking on snap but the screenshots are of an insta convo here, but benefit of the doubt that it’s a slip.) Pictures are paid for, Op feels “starstruck” but fine with this even tho Will expresses some residual guilt.

(Note: I am not jumping at Will’s guilt and unease here as proof of bad behavior. People feel guilt for sexual desires esp when it’s taboo, even when it’s 100% fine. Just as I’m giving Op grace, I will give Will grace too, I know nothing about either them as people. But I do know feeling guilt over sexual attraction because it something you can’t control, and I do know famous people are esp prone to judgement and anxiety that can be internalize. Yes there is an age gap, but they met as adults and he has never personally known them as a child. The experience difference from age can be a valid concern in any relationship, but in the context of just buying pictures I don’t think that’s relevant.)

The night afterwards Will brings up sexting for money but pulled out, being personally uncomfortable with it and then wanting the sexual undertone of their relationship to be removed. Op says thats fine and that’s that. 

The next part is Op expresses some self-conscious issues regarding being in college classes and a certain incident not elaborated on. We get a screenshot of Will comforting Op citing they are mature and smart. Here Op says that it sounds like the “youre so mature for your age” sentiment perverts use to get close to kids, and although they want to believe Will is just being nice they now think it creepy because it coupled with Will’s earlier worry of being “cancelled” for buying pics of an 18 yo.

Now the full sentence is “You’re smart and mature and you have a good head on your shoulders.” I personally don’t think this is creepy or being used in the same way as a pervert would. If my friend was insecure about being in college that is something I would probably would say to them too. In context, I feel this is fairly innocent and doesn’t prove anything wrong of Will.

After that they’re talking just as casual friends for a bit. Eventually Will makes a sexual advance again and it is reciprocated. Free of charge they would exchange pictures occasionally. It is here Op openly admits to feeling completely dependent on his praise and feeling as if he didn’t, Will would leave.

Now there are no screenshots of conversation to be further proof of Op’s word that Will would stop being friends if they weren’t sexting. Giving Op the benefit of the doubt, those feelings were genuinely felt. But I genuinely don’t know if Op felt that because Will had made some comment to suggest it or Op’s codependency was feeding that anxious feeling. I simply do not know. As someone who has been codependent in an intimate relationships before and still has anxious issues, I can tell you that even though these fears are genuine and have mental and physical effects, sometimes they really aren’t founded. It doesn’t mean theyre invalid fears, but it’s just not very applicable to the current situation.

Again, I cannot be 100% sure whether that worry here is founded or not. Considering Will had been able to keep a friendship with Op before and after the introduction of sexual pictures, I can see where the nagging thought would be there but that also shows he was capable of being friends without it. idk. So while I’m keeping it in mind that op has this fear + codependency because it will color their side of future interactions, I am also giving Will the benefit of the doubt that he’s unaware of this complex. After all, they’d been friends with healthy communication for a time.

It is now that Op says these next messages and timeline specifically come from insta. Op describes this as a cycle. They would sext. Will would then feel weird about it. They would stop. He would get “bored” and then it would start again. And this cycle would continue until march 2020. (Now i dont know what Op means by “stop” whether it would stop only the sexting or communication altogether. I’m leaning towards the former and assume that going forward.)

Now, is this healthy? Absolutely not. It sounds like Op and Will are in an unhealthy cycle of being attracted to and wanting each other’s attention. But being unable to properly expressed and place and enforce boundaries down of what attraction this is and how that relationship should be. It a definite issue, but something they both need to communicate in order to find a solution. When it comes to what a relationship is, it requires both people to work together to find a way to make it work to decide if it’s not worth it anymore.

Op does not elaborate further on this cycle. Which is fine, I wouldn’t want to think a lot about it if I were in that place either. What memories mightve felt fine and good in the moment definitely can feel tainted and fuzzy later due to new associations to the event/someone in the event. I get it.

If Will had intentionally encouraged Op to be codependent, lead Op on, that would 100% be on Will and be a terrible terrible thing. That would qualify as grooming and manipulating them. Worth every bit of condemnation. However, this thread doesn’t elaborate if that happened. And at the point Op doesn’t claim that, just that it was a cycle. A clearly unhealthy one. We have no idea what it looked like beyond the sexting starting and stopping.

I do want to clarify because I saw some people saying this: You can be groomed at any age. Kids are not the only ones groomed. It’s just that an adult/child dynamic is the easiest to leverage and most recognizable. You can also be groomed regardless of occupation. I understand Op was selling nsfw content, that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly immune from grooming. All grooming requires is using pressure to force you to take on a certain role. This pressure could be from emotional or physical abuse, leveraging authority, leveraging status, basically anything. In this specific case, the implication is that Will would’ve leverage his status to get Op to do things. The fact that there is an age gap would imply that because Op is younger, Op would have less experience and knowledge that could play into Will’s advantage here.

That is entirely possible, but at this point in the thread, Op doesn’t claim that happening. And there are no screenshots here, so there is no dialogue to see contribute to that reasoning. Not saying it couldn’t exist, but it’s not presented. So while I’m believing Op that something unhealthy was happening between them, I’m not placing a word as to what type of unhealthy relationship it is without more context.

Op goes to Will’s last show before the lockdown, talks to the bass player more than Will and then gets home to see sexual messages from Will. I have no idea where in that cycle this incident would be in. Just that this happened during the cycles.

After that show, lockdown starts. Op’s home life gets really traumatizing during this. This additional trauma is relevant because Op would turn to Will during these times. Citing him being a friend and having relevant experience regarding the traumatic development. This is also during the cycle of have a sexual relationship with Will, in their own words saying they were a “sexual object” to him. Again, no dialogue to be seen so I don’t know where exactly Op is getting this, but if he felt like an object, he felt like an object. I cannot dissuade that. No one has a right to make calls on what someone else is feeling. I can only wonder where it came from and what contributed to that feeling. The most I can confidently say it’s that this unhealthy cycle was causing it, but not what specifically about it. We’re not provided further elaboration and I’m not gonna demand that of Op.

One night of this traumatizing development at home around 2/3am Op is on a spiral at genuine risk to relapsing into self harm and turns to Will. Will stays up with them until 6am to help them through it. Op is calmed down and goes to sleep safe and unharmed. Op describes the next few days of him being extremely grateful that Will did this, while Will is being standoffish with one word replies. Eventually Op confronts Will and asks if he had done something wrong.

This is the correct course of action. If Will was upset at smth Op said he should’ve said something instead of being vague and standoffish. That is on Will, but that’s poor communication, not necessarily manipulation.

Op then quotes but doesn’t provide screenshots that Will says Op was being manipulative, only coming to Will for sexual purposes, and made him out to be an “emotional dumping ground.” Breaking that down, there is no cause to assume Op was being manipulative. There is no cause to believe Op only wanted sexual attention from Will, in fact Op already stated it was the attention from a local star that drove a lot of this attachment. Op seems willing and okay with sexual intimacy at this point, but I don’t think Op wanted only sex. It is the “emotional dumping ground” aspect that likely has some genuine weight to it.

Op is already dependent on Will for emotional support and going through a lot of trauma. And as someone who’s been there, it’s so easy to dump on the person you’ve formed a codependency on. Both appropriately vent and inappropriately dumb baggage on them. It’s not fair to the other person, even when they do want to help. I’ve been on both sides of that, it’s awful. I don’t think Op was intentional in harming Will if they were dumping trauma on him often during this time, but it doesn’t mean it still couldn’t have caused harm. It’s already established that Op and Will’s relationship had serious communication and boundary issues at this point. I am not surprised that Will would’ve felt like an emotional dumping ground in this situation.

Op goes on to say he’s mortified that “someone that [he] revered as a god-like figure, [told him he] was being manipulative for asking for help.” And no, asking for help is not inherently a manipulative thing, in fact the “asking” part is what gives the other person a healthy chance to not help. Telling someone they’re manipulative for asking for help is a huge dick move. On the other hand, asking someone to talk you down from relapse is tall order. Now I don’t know if Op specifically told Will a relapse felt oncoming when first asking for help, or it was revealed through prompting and conversation later on. Regardless, it was made apparent to Will, hence why he stayed up with them. I don’t know how those hours went down and I would never ask Op to try and remember how it did.

But asking someone to help you through a mental health crisis is a tall order. Especially at 3am to a person you have an on and off inconsistent relationship with. There is a reason you go to someone trained in a mental health crisis, they are prepared and know how to help and handle your situation. If you ever find yourself in Op’s position, call/text a mental health service line. The one I’m familiar with is 741741, double check for what is in your area/country. No matter what that is going to be a key and/or turning point in a relationship. I am not saying don’t go to friends/family/partner when youre struggling, but you also have to understand they’re not always going to know what to do. And if this is happening over text, which is what happened between Will and Op, there’s even less they can do now coupled with knowing they can’t do much if things take a turn. It’s an intense emotional labor that yes, some people are more than willing to do for someone they love, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not a difficult thing to ask.

I feel for Op, I really really do. And Will is wrong to call that manipulative, because I genuinely don’t think Op was intentional trying to harm, but I can 100% see and find it valid as to why he would be uncomfortable with that incident. It’s not an excuse to be standoffish for days but yeah, maybe it takes time to figure out how to address that.

What raises a big red flag for me is that Op openly admits to revering Will in a god-like manner. Under no circumstances should you be revering anyone like that. I knew Op was dependent to the point of codependency (I should clarify that codependency is my interpretation of this, not Op’s.) but holy shit is that so much worse. That is such an unhealthy mindset to have towards someone and it sets up any relationship to be unhealthy and poor. And the thing is, Op doesn’t elaborate where it came from.

If this is indeed grooming, Will would have had to encourage and enable and endorse this god-like image. For starters, I have no idea if Will knew or figured out Op had this mindset. The only thing seemed to have been made explicit is the trauma Op’s enduring through lockdown and as such the codependency would’ve been made obvious. And if I recall correctly, Will has stated he doesn’t like to be idolized by his fans. Most people don’t and I do know that celebs are the ones that have to be explicit in saying they don’t like idolization because it happens so much. 

What I make of this revering is that unfortunately Op had set themselves up for tragedy. Having such bad idolization and dependency from the beginning he seemingly couldn’t get away from. Even if you enter a healthy relationship, that is how it gets severely damaged if you don’t keep it in check. I can say that with full confidence because I have damaged a good relationship with codependency before. It’s unfortunate, it’s a tragedy, but that’s how the cookies crumbles.

Now, if Will intentionally put that mentality onto, enabled, or intentionally capitalize on that, he would 100% be a manipulative person in this. Deserving to be condemned and held accountable for taking advantage of a vulnerable person. But at no point does Op say he knew or enabled this. I’m assuming Will has caught onto the dependency, but only because the traumatic environment Op was in had him cling to Will. And I can see being sympathetic to the situation and thus not addressing the dependency right away because it could ease up once the trauma isn’t actively happening. I don’t know if he was aware of it before lockdown and certainly don’t expect him to have thought he was being revered in a godly manner at any point.

All Op elaborates is he still struggling to ask for help because of this. And I do not blame Op for that, I feel for him because I have the exact same struggle because of previous relationships. And that Op and Will barely talk for months after this confrontation. At this point Op is heartbroken and feels like he ruined everything.

Then Op’s feelings about the situation evolves after speaking to friends about it. Now the feeling is that Op was “groomed by a man with insane power over [him.]”

I don’t want to bash on Op’s friends. I don’t know what they were told and the context or any of that. I am sure they only want what’s best for Op and have his best interest in mind. I will never fault someone for genuinely believing something bad happened and pointing it out. However, I still don’t know at what point this relationship became grooming. It was definitely unhealthy, and probably toxic at some point, but I do not see where Will intentionally leveraged power to make Op do something. It’s not in any dialogue exchange shown. Maybe the screenshots have been lost, which I wouldn’t fault Op for. All I can gather from the relationship is that it’s unhealthy and clearly brought distraught to both sides. I believe Op that something unhealthy went down and fucked him up, I can see that. And if Op’s friends, who likely have more details, believe something wrong went down I am inclined to believe.

I’m just scouring and rereading and I can’t find the grooming behavior.

Sometime after Op’s evolved feelings, Will reaches out to apologize to Op. The screenshots provided are of an apple text exchange. Will apologizes for acting hot and cold, and for making Op feel like he didn’t care. He says it’s not a reflection on Op and it was on him and his own issues. He says he recognizes he did something wrong, he is working on it, and that it is “too little too late” in Op’s case, but he is sorry and wishes him better. It is a solid apology. I do not see faults in it and so long as he keeps to his word that he tries to improve, he’s done his part. Sounds like he’s made his peace with his part in the relationship.

Op accepts the apology and then tells Will he’s done some thinking and thinks it was extremely inappropriate it even happened. (I’m assuming this refers to the sexual intimacy part of the relationship.) He goes on to tell Will he should’ve been more mindful to who he speaks to and what he means to them. Op’s specifically points out their age gap and the fact that he idolized him. That there was a lot of power there. Will apologizes for taking a lot of time to respond, he’s collecting his thoughts, and then Op states he’s realized he’s “not entirely blameless” which I’m interpreting as he understands his idolization of Will is something he went into the relationship with, which isn’t Will’s fault at all. It also could be that Will didn’t grasp the full extent of the idolization and dependency, which again wouldn’t have been his fault either.

While Will absolutely should have addressed idolizing and then the dependency that became apparent, he is not a mind reader and had no way to know how deep it went with Op. It’s also entirely possible he’s human and just didn’t know how to navigate a relationship with the power tipped to one side. On that point, I’m not sure if there are resources for that besides couple’s therapy. And I can’t even say if they labelled themselves as a proper couple because Op never states what it was called. Certain relationships come with certain expectations.

(Personally I am of the believe if if you’re going into any intimate relationship, platonic, romantic, or sexual, what kind of relationship you’re looking for and are willing to be in should be an explicit conversation up front. It should also be a continuing conversation as it develops. But I also understand most people don’t enter relationships like that or take the time to think about doing that. And if it does works out find without that, I can’t find fault in that.)

Will doesn’t respond for a week and Op blocks him so he can stop focusing on it and move on. Good on Op, good for him. He then states that weeks after My Body Your Temple comes out, he reads the lyrics to it. This causes a spiral because the lyrics remind him of what happen, stating that it’s a lot of the language and sentiment Will used with him. This spiral is what prompts Op to write the thread.

I have no doubt in my mind it would’ve been triggering for Op. The first time thinking about Will after this and it’s a song discussing vulnerability and intimacy with sexual language. Again, I feel for Op. I don’t think it was Will’s intention to use language similar to that relationship. The song was written for a podcast called Camp Here & There. I’m not familiar with the podcasts but genius.com says it’s about The Elephant Man. Whatever character that is. I heard the song without knowing it was apart of the podcast, and his songs have like 100 different interpretations sometimes anyways.

Op said he felt free from the relationship after writing it all out, which I am happy for. Sometimes it takes writing and dumping it all out there to process and feel better and I want Op to feel better because he is clearly hurting bad. I do think this relationship was very unhealthy and has lasting effects I hope he recovers from.

I’m just confused at where the apparent manipulation and sexual grooming is. I reread over and over. I don’t know where is the behavior of Will intentionally capitalizing on Op. I don’t know where’s this behavior of Will forcing and pressuring Op. It’s possible that it’s there and just not in the few screenshots provided and just wasn’t properly elaborated on in the description of this relationship. But I see everything that says “unhealthy” but I don’t see grooming, manipulation, or emotional abuse like he said this was.

I believe Op 100% that something bad and unhealthy happened. Everything here really does strike a chord someone deeply hurt. And I genuinely feel sorry that it happened and I wish them peace and recovery and better things. But I’ve reread the thread over and over at different points in time. I cannot find what I can use to specifically label this unhealthy relationship as being groomed or abused. I don’t know where it came from.

And I’m not pointing that out to victim blame or make accusations against Op, I do not want more harm and harassment on him. I’m pointing it out because I think everyone would do good learn the difference between an unhealthy relationship and an abusive one. One that’s unhealthy by chance and circumstances vs unhealthy by deliberate actions and intentions. One’s a tragedy and the other a crime.

Op wouldn’t have made these things up. Everyone knows if you accuse anyone, let alone a celebrity, there are going to be people coming out of the woodworks to play devil’s advocate and tear into your life. Making up drama is not worth that. He also has the expressed interest of helping other people avoid what happened to him. And that is noble and good, especially when you’re doing that by opening up about something that has hurt you so deeply.

It’s just that, the lesson and warning I get isn’t “Will is a predator” it’s “Don’t place people on such a pedestal and then get into an intimate relationship with them without stepping away from that. Be wary of becoming codependent.” Both still valid warnings, even if it’s not quite what Op is going for. With or without Will’s name or age gap on the relationship, those are the two conclusions I see with how the relationship has been laid out.

(Another thing is that this whole thing was seemingly wrapped up with the apology. Op doesn’t accuse Will of these things in that exchange. Something understandable because its a weighty accusation to make to someone directly. Even the best of people will want a further confrontation from that, and Op was not benefiting from focusing on Will and that relationship at that point to begin with. It seemed like that was going to be that, and they both were going to be done with the relationship for good. But then Op’s spiral with the new song prompted the thread.)

Op later tweets he doesn’t care if people listen to his music, it’s not about Will’s career it’s Will as a person he wants people to be safe from. And he makes the valid point of hardly anyone knows him outside of the face of the artist, of course he’d be a bit different off stage. It’s also in that tweet where he says Will he made Op need “to keep going back to him validation.” Which again, I don’t know where that’s coming from, but I do believe Op when he says he felt that way. I have no reason not to believe him.

Obviously I’m not gonna blame anyone who doesn’t want to listen to Will Wood after this, even if just for a little bit because of how this development sours things. It is your choice to continue or not continue engaging with his content and how. I do think most people can give a little bit more tact to the sensitive situation. Be nice and civil to Op at least. Better yet, leave him alone. He’s been through enough mobbing.

I believe there was a call for anyone else who had an experience with Will to step forward if they feel comfortable doing so. If a legitimate pattern of behavior is revealed, obviously then accountability needs to be held. But until then this really does feel like a unhealthy relationship that was wrapped up and both parties were processing and moving on until the spiral happen. An unhealthy relationship that maybe we didn’t need to know about? I don’t know. But if for a moment, writing the thread gave Op relief and I’d never deny him or anyone else that.

I feel for Op so so much. This just doesn’t tell me enough about Will to make a definite conclusion on him. I cannot in good conscious alleged abuse because I cannot point to a specifically abusive behavior in the thread. Maybe in due time more will be revealed to shed more light on the situation. And if more evidence is revealed, it will inform my conclusions then. But as it is right now, it’s just a deeply unhealthy relationship worsen by circumstances and fumbling on both parties. And I feel bad, it seems tragic to me. And it doesn’t mean Op deserved any of this angst by any means, but what else could be said about it?

It’s 4am and I’m p sure I started this post around 10:30/11pm. I’m without internet rn so ig ill post this when I wake up from sleep. And at 11am this has been reviewed and ready for posting. I don’t typically feel the urge to comment on discourse, esp one of this nature, but I’ve seen some bad faith takes as well as some confusion and questions. And this is something I feel can help people get a better grasp on the situation.

Obviously, make your own conclusions. Believe the victim that something bad happened; but also when you give someone you don’t know grace about something serious, you should also give the other person in the relationship grace when applicable. You don’t know either of them. Also understand that relationships can come with some nuance to it, which is applicable here. Maybe the cards were always set up for failure. Maybe Will genuinely mishandled the relationship. Maybe Op’s revering and codependency is something Will couldn’t have handled well at that time. I cannot say anything for certain because I don’t know enough about how the relationship carried to make that call. All I can say with certainty is that it was a deeply unhealthy relationship for them both and that they both contributed to that unhealthy aspect.

Just playing around with gel pens, pencils and some phone coloring again! I’m still learning shading , but I think she came out well!

Original and other versions under the cut

I almost made this one the top image. I think she’s pretty eye-catching, looks like she belongs at a club or something. But I ultimately like the blue lighting more than this gold lighting as an eye catcher.

I think. You can really tell that this is where I added the skin color via phone. It doesn’t look bad exactly it just definitely doesn’t vibe. Still, I love how the lips turned out on her in this one. And the tip of her earring looks a lot like dried blood, which is hella cool.

Here’s the Og! Besides cropping, it isn’t edited in any way. I think considering I had the odd selection of slightly sparkly red, orange, neon green and medium blue gel pens, the colors worked out.

Here the shading looks like a burn, but I think the part facing the light looks nice! Not shiny enough though, unfortunately. However, I think her lips look especially soft. And her streaks pop with pizazz.

I don’t know where the purple came from in the phone editing process, but I love it! This one really opens my eyes to the possible color combos between orange and dull light purple.

I love the shine in this one. It’s very bloody looking, like a war poster almost, but some gold still shines through. I think she looks especially old in this.

I love this one because it looks like an old photo. I feel like I found a still from over a hundred years ago.

Quick-ish Guide to Using the New Post Editor and Cutting Replies

Hi folks! Tumblr has finally made it to where any new blogs created from this point forward will be defaulted to the NFP(new) post editor, and the option for the legacy editor is no longer available. Honestly, major bummer and a not-so-small inconvenience for many of us in the RPC. That being said, I have found a workaround that has far worked for me personally, and I'd like to share it with you guys in the hopes that helps anyone having to use a new blog to enjoy some tumblr roleplaying!

The very first step you'll want to take pretty much as soon as you create the blog, will be to reach out to staff in regards to permission for using javascript on your new blog. This tends to take a bit for them to process, but it's essential when it comes to customizing your theme, muse, connections, and plots pages. That being said, you can still roleplay just as well without these aspects either while you wait or just as a default. Everyone chooses to run their blog's aesthetic in whatever way works for them! You may find a detailed guide on contacting staff about this matter at the following link: https://glenthemes.tumblr.com/post/683796810867900416/using-javascript-on-tumblr-pages-how-to-ask

Now, onto the matter of cutting replies!

Step one: Get the X-Kit Rewritten extension installed on your browser! New X-Kit will not work with the new editor in any way that will allow for editable reblogs the way that we're used to. And honestly, even X-Kit Rewritten won't allow for this either (at least as of now) but it will help in allowing the cutting of posts so that the dash remains legible for all. This extension will show up on the browser where any other extensions do, as opposed to dashboard header. You'll be able to customize all the options you'd like, but for the purposes of this guide, you'll want to ensure you enable the 'Trim Reblogs' feature (for context, I'm using Firefox as the browser here)

Step two: Cutting replies!

So once the proper X-Kit has been installed, it's on to replies. The cutting of replies is in itself a multi-step process, but much like with previous workarounds that have had to be employed, once you've done it a few times, it gets easier to go through.

First, you'll want to locate the post you want to reply to. I find it easier to work with posts if they're in my drafts, but this is totally a personal preference. You do you! The important bit is to ensure that the trim button is showing at the bottom of the post, near the reblog/edit button

If this button is not showing up on the post in question, it is not able to be trimmed. This can happen if the post is too new, and the reply will show the 'og' post at the top, but this usually stops after at least one reblog has been made

DO NOT CLICK THIS AT THIS TIME! The temptation will be there, and it's honestly just intuitive to believe that this is the next logical step, but it -in usual tumblr fashion- is not lol

Second, you'll want to go ahead and open the post for editing. Yes, both previous replies will still be there, but at this time you can go ahead and add your reply as you normally would beneath them

As an additional note on adding image media, I've personally found that the best way to avoid having your gif/image/icon come up as a linked item in the final post, is to save the image to your computer and upload it into the post using the 'add image' feature in the editor

Third, once you're happy with your reply, you'll want to save the draft. Some folks save back to their drafts, I prefer to lick 'add to queue' just as a habit to keep tumblr from posting something before I'm ready for it to be posted lol Regardless, you'll want to find the newly saved draft which will contain (at minimum) three replies and should still be showing the 'trim' button

Now is the time to click this button. It should lead to the following screen:

You'll want to select the trail items or previous posts that you want to trim, and the click on trim. NOTE: this will usually trim both of the previous replies, making the only visible reply your newest addition, but it will keep it on the same thread for the other writer to find

If the 'root' or starter for the thread was written with the legacy editor -which so far, majority will be- you'll first receive this message prior to the option to trim:

You'll want to just click on continue and proceed with the steps above but, you'll also want to follow the...

Fourth step! Once you've gone through the trimming process, go ahead and refresh the entire browser tab/window you're working in and scroll to locate the newly trimmed reply to verify that the trimming went according to planned.

NOTE: I've personally found that the trimming appears to have worked as intended immediately following the steps, but once I refresh the page or navigate away and back to my queue it shows my new reply doubled. Though this may only be something that occurs with newer threads where the ‘root’ post will be shown for the first couple of reblogs

At this point I've found you don't really have to repeat the trim action. You can simply click the 'edit' button and delete the 'bottom' reply. Once saved, the reply will then show as intended for posting

Fifth, is just acceptance. It's not what we're used to, but it'll do for now. AND, as small consolation, the new editor does let you edit your tags. Like you can legit click on a tag that you may have mistyped, and you can edit right there without having to delete the whole tag and retype it...#awinisawin

Translating "Viking" Fra Norge til Amerika

So long story short, my grandmother (Not related but close enough to be called my grandmother) gave me some of her family's old books as a gift. The book I listed in the title was written in 1894 and brought over from her grandfather, Thor, to Odin, Minnesota from Oslo. It tells the story of the "Viking" which was a replica longship that was sailed to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 from Bergen. I have been doing my best to translate it with the intention of giving it to her, at least in part.

I don't know Norwegian, so I've been doing my best to type what I'm finding into Google Translate and edit from there, while learning to read the language along the way. I have only gotten through a page so far and I think I'm running into syntax issues and some words that the translator simply isn't understanding. I was wondering if anyone could read this and let me know if this feels like it's going down the right track and maybe give some clarification. I'm assuming some of my issues are due to the fact that this is written in a style that's over 100 years old and thus uses obsolete spellings or words. I'm vaguely aware of the language split that happened around this time and think that's what's causing my issues.

I'm attaching an image of the page from the book as well in case anyone notices that I identified a letter incorrectly.

This is what I have input into the translator based on my reading

Saavel på denne jom på hin Side Atlanterhavet blir jeg ofte møtt med spørsmålet: Hva fikk deg til å ta del i dette eventyret?

Som Svar på disje spørsmålet jfal Jeg tillater meg følgende forklaringer:

"Bergens Havnemisjion" beghndte jin Birfjomhed 21de januar 1890. Denne Misjions Formaal er at være hiemmeværende sømænd til støtte og hælp jaavel i legemlig jom aandelig henfeede. On jådan misjionsgren er her jædeles nødvendig. I en jom Bergen med jå livlig søjart er her til enjver Tid aj Uaret en hel del søjolf. Under jit dels fortere, dels længere Ophold er her mange aj dem, fom de timelig og aandelig trænger, at der ræffes dem en hiælpende Hånd. Dette jar "Bergens Havnemisjion" jorjøgt. Og det er mit haab og min Tro, at Gjerningen her gud vedfjendt jig, jå den er blevet iffe jå jå til Beljigndlje.

Men den har navt meget at, fjælig hvad bed øfonomijfe angår, jå det aj Mangel på Midler ojte har jaldt nofjå hårdt at holde Gjerningen gående.

______________________________________________________________________________________---

This is what the translator gave back with some notes I've added.

As well (I think this must mean "Even on this side of the Atlantic" but I'm not sure) on this side of the Atlantic I am often met with the question: What made you take part in this adventure? As an answer to this question, I allow myself the following explanations:

"Bergens Havnemisjion" (Bergen's Harbor Mission ?) began in Birfjomhed on 21st January 1890. The purpose of this mission is to be a support and help for sailors staying at home, both physically and spiritually. Yes, a missionary branch is absolutely necessary here. In Bergen, with its lively sea life, there are quite a few sea elves (Possible slang for sailors? It gave me similar results in Danish and Norwegian) here at any time of the year. During jit partly faster, partly longer stay, there are many of them here, for they are temporally and spiritually in need, that a helping hand is given to them. (This sentence seems to be saying that some are in Bergen for a long time, some for a short time and they require assistance or work) This year "Bergens Havnemisjion" was founded. And it is my hope and my faith that the deed here, God forbid, yes it has become iffe yes yes to Beljigndlje. (No idea what is going on with this sentence. I think something structural like word order is messing me up.) But it has known a lot that, as far as the economy is concerned, the lack of funds has made it hard enough to keep the work going.

3 with Seggy if possible? Thanks 💚

Thanks for requesting this one @romanseggy – I hope you enjoy it! Very much inspired by I Won’t Give Up, by Jason Mraz. Also tagging @texanstarslove as he is your OG man  💖

This is the first blurb of my birthday prompt list! Starting the countdown to the big day…now!

“It’s you, it always has been”

*

“Hey, sweetheart, are you busy?”

You looked up from where you were reading your book on the sofa, to where Tyler was crouched over the dogs lying on their beds, and couldn’t help but smile fondly at him. He was such a softie sometimes.

“Never too busy for you,” you shot back, winking dramatically.

Tyler laughed, giving Marshall one last head ruffle before walking over to you. He held out a hand for you to take, which you did, although you raised an eyebrow suspiciously at him. What was he up to?

“Dance with me?” he asked, smiling oh-so-innocently.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re really doing if I do?”

“Of course,” Tyler grinned.

Well that was that then. You rested one hand on his chest, his arm going around your waist – his free hand pressed a button on his phone, before he tucked it into his pocket, and took your own hand with his, clasping it gently. The opening bars of a song started playing, Tyler swaying you from side to side, making your heart beat a little faster. Where this came from, you didn’t know. But you were sure as hell going to appreciate it while it lasted.

When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise

Well, there's so much they hold

“Oh I love this song!” you gasped

Tyler just grinned, squeezing your waist gently. “I know you do,”

You laughed at his blasé attitude, throwing your head back slightly. This man really could be ridiculous sometimes. But god knows you loved him anyway.

You really did love him.

“I know you think I’m ridiculous,” Tyler murmured, “But indulge me?”

Damn he knew you well. Whoops.

“Of course I will, you old romantic,” you mused.

Tyler winked in response, just pulling you a little closer, making you sigh happily as you continued to sway to the music.

Well, I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love

I'm still looking up

Tyler cleared his throat, making you look up at him. The seriousness on his face made you frown. He never looked this serious unless it was something important. What was wrong? You couldn’t help but frown.

“Everything okay, Ty?” you asked softly.

Your boyfriend just huffed a laugh, smiling wryly at you. “You always have been able to read me so well,”

“Well, I mean, after all these years it would be worrying if I couldn’t,” you said dryly, trying to keep your tone light.

Because you could see in his eyes that he was nervous. So nervous. What was making him act like this?

“You’re right, we have been together a long time now. So long that I don’t know what I would do without you in my life,”

The softness of his voice made your breath catch in your throat. Why was he saying these things?

“Ty?” you asked, confused.

“When I think of how I want to spend the rest of my life, with who I want to spend the rest of my life…it’s you, it always has been,” he said seriously.

A lump rose in your throat as your heart started beating a little faster. Was he…was he really…

Oh god.

“I just don’t want to spend another day without knowing that you’ll always be by my side, like I’ll always be like yours. You make me want to be a better man, sweetheart. And I promise I always will try to be exactly what you deserve,”

You whimpered as Tyler let go of you, reaching into his pocket, barely able to remember how to breathe, let alone able to control all of the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm you.

And then he stepped back, and knelt down on one knee. You couldn’t take your eyes off him as he reached out for your hand.

“I love you. So much,” he murmured.

Your breath caught in your throat. “I love you too,” you whispered.

Then he smiled.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

The way he looked up at you, eyes so full of love and hope, made all of your careful control crumble, and you found yourself unable to stop the tears that trickled down your cheeks as you nodded a little helplessly.

“Of course I will. Of course I’ll marry you!” you said, voice more than a little shaky.

The relief that flooded across Tyler’s face was instant, making you laugh a little wetly as he slowly slid the ring onto your finger. Holy shit. Holy shit. Did that really just happen?

“Get up here so I can kiss you,” you demanded.

Tyler laughed, quickly standing up to take your lips in a firm kiss, arms sliding around you tightly as you threw your arms around his neck. When you eventually pulled away, it wasn’t only your face that was wet with tears.

“I was so nervous,” he admitted, voice a little choked up.

“I could tell you were nervous…but I had no idea you were going to do this,” you giggled, trying to wipe your cheeks dry.

“You had no idea?” he laughed.

You just shook your head, smiling. “Best surprise ever,”

Tyler threw his head back laughing, making you smile even wider.

“You know, I always thought you would want something more public than this,” you confessed.

You knew how much his public image meant to him – you’d gotten used to that a long time ago.

“But I knew you wouldn’t,” Tyler shrugged, smiling at you.

Butterflies filled your stomach. This man. This incredibly thoughtful man.

“Ty…” you murmured.

“I compromised,” Tyler added, a little sheepishly.

Oh?

“Oh?” you asked, repeating your thought.

Tyler looked over to where the dogs were still lying, making you confused. What?

“Marshall, come here boy!”

You couldn’t help but laugh, hand flying up to cover your mouth, as you spotted the GoPro strapped to Marshall’s chest. That sneak was setting it up just before he asked you to dance!

“I figured it might be pretty fun to play at our wedding? You know, after we’ve edited? We can also take stills from the video, if you wanted to send a photo to your family,” Tyler suggested hopefully.

You jaw dropped slightly at his planning, tears springing to your eyes. He really had thought all of this through, hadn’t he?

“Yeah, yeah that sounds good to me,” you nodded, sniffing.

Tyler grinned, pressing a slow sweet kiss to your lips, before he leaned down to stop the camera recording. You ruffled Marshall’s ears, what a good boy, before you looked back up at Tyler.

“We haven’t finished our dance yet, Mr Seguin,” you said simply.

The smile that spread over Tyler’s face made your heart beat a little faster.

“No we haven’t, soon-to-be-Mrs Seguin,” he grinned.

Holy shit.

Tyler laughed at the stunned look on your face as he tugged you back into a dance hold, swaying you together once more.

'Cause even the stars, they burn

Some even fall to the earth

We've got a lot to learn

God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up

Now then. Thinking back on the question(s) Nauđr, you listed a fair few different meanings for it which I found quite interesting.

I was wondering if others in the Younger Futhark also had different meanings as well, beyond what's mentioned in the Rune Poems?

Yes, and I'm glad you asked. This is something that I've been trying to convince people is cool for so long that I have nearly given up. The rather popular translated edition of Skuggi's Galdraskræða ('The Sorceror's Screed' in English) has a bunch of this in it, but because it doesn't have secondary commentary most people don't know what they're looking at (not to mention that some of the information seems actually confused or mismatched in a couple places, not that that isn't normal for this kind of stuff). There's also some discussion of it in R. I. Page's edition of the Icelandic Rune Poem, as the rune poem is composed of these kennings and is very much part of the same tradition (indeed, there is no real Icelandic rune poem, just different configurations of these, some from a discernibly older stratum than others). Page's edition can be found here and I highly recommend it: http://www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/

All of the runes that were current in Iceland, usually including runes created by adding diacritics to other runes (such as the p-rune, plástur 'bandage' and the ö-rune ör 'arrow'), have these big lists of kennings that are recorded in probably dozens of manuscripts, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries, I think a few a little older. In that last post I forgot to link the manuscript I was using, but it's here, open to the page where the list of kennings starts: https://handrit.is/en/manuscript/imaging/is/Lbs04-2334#page/205v++(414+of+600)/mode/2up

This manuscript is quite late (1894) and not necessarily representative, in fact by my estimation it contains some things that should be considered mistakes, but I like using it because it has a lot and because it's (relatively) easy for me to read. This, manuscript ÍB 299 4to from 1764, is a somewhat more typical example which I also like to use. Here's some kennings for ár.

This is gonna be a real rough quick crack at it (and I'm normalizing) because doing this right takes a lot of time, so don't go quoting me or if you do, ask me to take a closer look first:

ᛆ Ár. Himna skin. [ling?]. Jarðar gróði. Vatna gróði. Akur gróði. flugna fögnuður, gleði þjóða, siglu [fákur?], átrúnaður allra hluta, þurrkur og þresking. [Gum(n)a gaman. gott sumar, gróinn akur. vatna vin víður og ávöxtur, fróvgun skógar, skýja og flugna, fögnuður rósa, skip á ferð, foldar fegurð, fróns prýði, himna skygning, hulin hjálmur, þurrkur og þorsti, þursa [kæti?], afreks hlátur.

ᛆ Year/Harvest. brightness of the sky/heavens, [ling??]. Produce/growth of the earth. Produce/growth of water. Produce/growth of field. Birds' celebration/happiness, celebration/happiness of the people, sail-horse [=ship][?], religion/belief of all things, dry weather and threshing. men's delight. good summer, grown (crop)field, (field of water?), trees and fruit, fertility of the forest, clouds and birds, celebration/happiness of roses? (or rór(r)a 'of the peaceful'??), ship on a voyage, beauty of earth, adornment of the land, visibility of the skies (probably an error for himna skenking = 'outpouring from the sky' as is found in ÍB 299 4to linked above, either rain or more like 'gift from the heavens,' read into that what you will), hidden helmet, dryness and thirst, thurse's fun, accomplishment's laughter.

You'll notice some of these are a bit confusing or unexpected and some of that can result from copy errors and things like that. It's difficult and messy to work with which is probably why there aren't editions and things like that. Undoubtedly I both read at least something wrong, and also translated something else wrong. But despite the difficulties it's still baffling to me that more heathens aren't interested in this. I suspect it's because it's so chaotic instead of the neat, pure, systematic, and unambiguous that they've been convinced is what a tradition looks like (lmao).

I've kicked around the idea of compiling a bunch of these but I don't find that the work it takes is worth it considering the lack of interest. To do it right, well enough that it's worth doing at all, is a lot of work. It would involve cross-referencing manuscripts, checking possible alternative readings, and going through a lot of repetition. The two trends in heathenry with regard to runes seem to be either continued insistence on upholding only the most ancient and pure (read: fake) mysteries of the Elder Futhark in a way that isn't incompatible with Völkisch mysticism, or reducing the entire context to "they're just letters (and nothing else)." For the most part the only times I've found anyone express interest in knowing more it was someone I've never interacted with going:

You can ask me for translation, and I actually do have plans to make a bunch of this available but it's going to take me a lot of time and unfortunately it isn't really a priority. I could probably churn stuff out like I did above but on the off chance that heathens actually did care about it that would surely send all of my mistakes into circulation and it would take years to root them out.

KH AU: Out of Time Wayfinders

Part 1, Notes, P2 Light Side, P2 Dark Side, Dark Side Epilogue

Character descriptions/ “concepts”

WARNING!!! I am not an artist nor do I have any photoshop type programs. All the images I used are normal KH images I found on Google and did my best to edit them in Paint. I just wanted to make a visual for what I would think/like the characters to look like.

Sora:

Is the most unchanged out of all of them. (Has freckles)

Has two different outfits (OG KH1 outfit and LoD outfit)

Wears actual pants in the LoD (lol). OG outfit is used as a traveling off world outfit.

Gets KH2 outfit as usual from three fairies after recovery.

Kairi:

Gets a pair of shorts when coming to the LoD along with a jacket similar to Soras’.

New outfit from three fairies.

honestly the best one out of the 5 i did

Riku:

Loses his stupid fishing pants.

Outfit is mostly the same but with added coat/jacket.

Has gained a few scars from the RoD.

KH2 outfit the same.

Ventus:

Aqua’s height from BBS.

Dawns a coat similar to Eraqus (mostly for the LoD, but sometimes wears it off world).

Hair as grown a bit.

Aqua:

Still taller then Ven by a few inches.

Hair has grown down to her shoulders (bit past).

Scars from RoD.

Outfit update (something like below. Didn’t exactly know what I wanted to do).

Has cloak???

really didn’t know exactly what to do with her. but i like this as a base for more to be added or something

Namine:

Outfit is the same as in game.

Blond hair with black ends (like an ombre)

Not much of a fighter. Mostly healer role, but very good with magic.

Gets a staff.

Roxas:

Influenced by Ven by a bit (hairstyle and face structure).

Brown hair like Sora.

Heterochromia: 1 blue, 1 red.

Few inches taller than Sora.

Has a bit more of a temper.

Extremely protective of Xion.

didnt bother making the hair perfect cause tired and bit lazy. do like the eye tho

Xion:

Very little influence from Kairi.

Extremely long black hair (brown highlights in the light). Like long, long. As in someone pls give her a hair tie.

Tanner then Roxas and has Sora’s freckles.

Purple eyes.

Sora’s face structure but slimmer.

Same height as Roxas making her the tallest girl.

hair could be longer and a bit more wildish

Original Unedited Jeff The Killer Image

WARNING: Brief mention of suicide as that is part of one of the theories

Now, I have to admit, yes, the story (or at least the well known Jeff Woods) is well known in the community. But the origins of the image aren't, in fact, we do not know what's the truth here.

This is the image in question. It's paired up with both the original and the more well known late 2000 or early 2010's remake, which the latter can be read here warning it's a super long read, as I have no clue where the very first one is.

But, this isn't about any of the stories and more so the image.

There's a few things that are tricky about this image, and that is:

A) Where did it come from? B) Was this an edited image of Katy Robinson? C) Who made it or who is in it?

I'll go over those points today as an apology for being away so long and I didn't get to do my planned April Fools prank as I forgotten about it till now.

First, where did this come from?

One video on YouTube, that's entirely in Japanese, uploaded in early August of 2007 (could've been earlier), shows the image near the end of the video after showing the audience an odd looking baby. It's flashed for a bit before black screen with Japanese text.

This is one of the earliest appearances of Jeff, and it could've been earlier than that because Japan has their own video sharing site themselves. And I heard it's a meme there? I'm not to sure about that, I'll leave a link at the very end where I got the inspo to make this blog post.

But, people don't seem to like that theory so we move onto the Katy Robinson Theory.

For those who don't know, Katy Robinson is a girl who went into 4-Chan, posted a photo, got bullied and sadly killed herself afterwards. The following is an image often linked with this theory.

Now, while yes, if this is the case, it's a very tragic one. But the thing is, another image of Katy was found on a Christian website, on a section of email's they've gotten. Those emails were sent after she died, so unless her sister (the one who posted the above image) sent them out of her sis looking gothic then it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Also, her name might be Heather White, not Katy Robinson.

Now onto the last topic, who made it/who was in it?

It couldn't have been Katy/Heather, as the story attached to that theory could be false; so the first of them is plausible, at least to me. The first one is that it's a Stickcam girl, and the other is of a mask made by Sessur (the original maker of the OG more or less unknown version).

The Stickcam girl story is very simple. A girl posted a picture of her trying to look good, some 4-chan users made up some edits and one of them blew up because people thought she wasn't that attractive. This thread is most likely lost to time unless someone screenshotted it to high heavens, so we most likely don't know what the OG thread looked like. As for the mask theory, in an interview with Scare Theater Sessur says that the image was simply a latex mask with eyes added with red eye lids for blinking that had black rings over it.

However let's take another look at the image once again:

Now, I haven't worn a latex mask, but I have seen several in person and this doesn't look like it really is latex. For example the sides of the lips look drawn out and 'feathered', most likely in Photoshop (which could be the case, but it's never specified), and the lighting is off. If the face is so bright while the background isn't? I know that this might've been a pic taken by someone in the story (maybe? please correct me), but if the flash was on then you might've gotten more of the background than this.

Also here's an actual Jeff the killer latex mask below for comparison. Notice how the smile doesn't seem super drawn out and 'feathered' like it does in the above image?

So this is where we stand. An unknown origin for a famous creepypasta image and a few theories out there. Here's the video that was my inspo for the blog post and I hope that y'all check out my previous post for giving me suggestions on what to cover next!

CURRENT STATUS:

Unknown/lost

☽  \  ::   LAW  

first and foremost, this is an independent and selective blog of Setsuna from Hanyo no Yashahime. the character does not belong to me.

THE MUN  you can call me emma. I am 24 years old, and I am currently on a full time job so expect my activity to not be high, since I also have other blogs.  english is not my first language. if you see a grammatical error , fell free to point them out by dm. 

THREADS  I like to write; however, I also believe in quality over quantity. I prefer to go for para, but I can also do one-liners , which will also be thrown to the dash from time to time.  you are not require to use icons or format your writing to roleplay with me. if you’re a personal , you are welcome to like my threads , but please refrain from reblogging them.

FOLLOWING/UNFOLLOWING   if I follow you, is because I want to roleplay with you and your muse. if you follow me first, there is a 99.9% I will follow back if I see there are ways for our muses to interact. the chances of me unfollowing a blog are very rare; but I will have no problems unfollowing anyone starting drama or are caught sending me or anyone hate. I do not follow callout culture , I won’t do it , and I won’t participate in it. same goes for drama. this is a drama free blog , and I intend to keep my dash free of it.

TRIGGERS   I have no triggers at the moment. but please let me know if you have any triggers. I always read rules first before following so if you have them listed in your rules page, believe me, I will add it to my tag list. the inuyasha anime and manga contain gore, ( and my muse is a hanyo who slays demons for a living ) so expect to see it here.

SHIPPING  although is not the main focus , shipping is welcome but there needs to be chemistry between my muse and yours.   I will not, by any means, ship setsuna & towa together. I don’t care if they were separated  when they were four, or if setsuna lost all her memories of her & doesn’t  recognizes her as  her sister.. I will not do it, it will be a ship I will not do. if you ship it, I respect it. I am no one to judge what you ship. but just don’t force me into it. another ship I won’t do is setsuna x moroha. again , you are welcome to ship them but it is something I will not do.

NFSW  /  SMUT    as mentioned in the “ triggers ”  section , this blog will contain gore. japaenese folklore , youkai culture , blood , etc. given the nature of the show , there will be images and gifs about it. however , I will tag them accordingly for those who can’t stand watching it.    I will not do smut here. I do not feel comfortable writing , and the most important note is that setsuna is 14 years old , so it’s a huge no from me. 

ICONS    I edit my own icons. I take screenshots of my muse when she appears in the anime, and edit them myself. please, do not take them and claim them as your own.

☽ :: / verses

(  main for now  )  canon ::  follows the canon story of yashahime. tag:  ☽   \   •» || verse001 ::  canon - writing’s on the wall «•

canon divergent ::  pretty much the same as canon , with the exception that in this verse , her memories were erased during the fire by the dream butterfly  ,  &  was found by kohaku  (  @puppet-slayer​  )   &  raised by him in the taijiya village. years later , she ends up working for him as a demon slayer. tag:  ☽   \   •» || verse002 ::  canon divergent  «•

au ( alternate universe ) ::  nothing bad happen. no one mysteriously disappeared & nobody is stuck in trees.  setsuna grew up with her father & the og cast around her.  tag:  ☽   \   •» || verse003 ::  au -  nobody is stuck in trees  «•

more  to  be  added...

Echo-inspired Season 1 Playlist

So I’ve been meaning to share this for… a really long time.  But I’m kind of glad that I waited so long because I found a bunch more songs to add and ended up doing an edit on this playlist this weekend, so this is where it landed.  It’s a bit of a beast—40+ songs. (And it’s my shorter Echo playlist… I have another one I’m still playing with that has all of these, plus the show’s soundtrack songs, plus recommendations that I’m still considering for future Echo use…so this is the reasonably lengthen one…haha).  If you just want to go to Spotify and check it out, here’s the link.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14ZIHN2MwjfgFbA6yF3RAO?si=5vPkiahyQw-voaZjqMLWsw  

If you want to read my rambles about the progression of the songs and why I picked them, along with some lyrics from each one that make me think of Echo, that beastly monstrosity is below the cut for you!  Here’s just the track list:

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles 2. People Need a Melody - the Head and the Heart 3. A World to Explore - Joshua Radin 4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart 5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie 6. It’s OK - Natalie Taylor 7. Something American - Jade Bird 8. Anchor - Novo Amor 9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young 10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue 12. The Storm - The Airborne Toxic Event 13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band 14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 15. Ruins - Jade Bird 16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody 17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers 18. Wild Heart - Bleachers 19. Dream - Bishop Briggs 20. Lullaby - Lord Huron 21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre 22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 23. 17 - Jade Bird 24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie 25. Lose that Light - Folly and the Hunter 26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne 27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids 28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor 29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide 30. Courage - P!nk 31. Easy - Camilla Cabello 32. Day Too Soon - Sis 33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore 34. Side by Side - Layup 35. Electric Love - BØRNS 36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow feat. Stephanie Briggs 37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last 38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart 39. Come to this - Natalie Taylor 40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish 41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos 42. Poetry by Dead Men - Sara Bareilles 43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows 44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

PRE-SHOW

1. Armor - Sara Bareilles

Stolen from Carina’s Liz mix, and obviously heavy on the Ortecho vibe in general. I might associate it a little more with Rosa back in the flashbacks, being proud of Liz and protective of her.

You think I am high and mighty mister Wait til you meet my little sister

2. People Need A Melody - the Head and the Heart

This song just gives me images of Max sitting at home over the years, listening to music, and then Bright Eyes comes on and it just takes him back to that day in the desert when he was lucky enough to be openly in love with Liz for one day before everything went to hell. 💔

All those books in your head, Is that all this really was? Just a role you play that you could hide behind Is it what you want? To bury yourself away Before your time goes I don’t want a love that holds us back I don’t want a life that I can’t have

Cause people need a melody to open their eyes Like a key to a memory frozen in time Holding onto everything, you’re stuck in the past Boy, when you gonna learn the world moves fast?

3. A World to Explore - Josh Radin

Liz leaves on her road trip, pushing the past away, and moving forward into her new life.

Yesterday rains came Everything’s changing The past has closed its door Well I know there’s something more I know there’s so much more So far to go On this open road, a world to explore So far to go On this open road, away we go

4. Missed Connection - the Head and the Heart

Somewhat self explanatory, I think. Mostly I just think of Max staying in Roswell haunted by all of the what ifs, and how close he and Liz came to being something real.

Did you find what you were looking for? Had to open every single door I get the feeling you’ve been here before From a missed connection Don’t tell me I lost a step Criss-crossed in the wrong direction Found myself in a conversation From a missed connection

5. Summer Years - Death Cab for Cutie

This is, like, my #1 Max over the 10 year gap song. I just hear him all through it, haunted by Rosa’s death and the coverup, heartbroken by Liz’s sudden departure, and trapped in his life.  

Sometimes I’m overcome by every choice I couldn’t outrun… And I wonder where you are tonight If the one you’re with is a compromise Cause we’re walking lines in parallel That will never meet and it’s just as well

6. It’s Ok - Natalie Taylor

You know in the pilot, Max says he used to think about what he’d say if he ever saw Liz again. Meaning he didn’t really anymore. Meaning at some point he let go of the hope of her returning to Roswell. That’s kind of where my mind goes listening to this song.

It only hurts me to live this way Holding on to yesterday… Close my eyes, you’re gone And I’m the only one still holding on It’s ok I’ve got to let you go

7. Something American - Jade Bird

I have an old-school song fic just waiting to come out inspired by this song… I hear a lot of different things in it. Mostly I hear Max and the memory of Liz and Cameron in it. With a little bit of Kyle thrown in too.

In my dreams I find The stars align and they all collide And it’s you and I back in time It feels so right But you don’t call me now And I don’t think too much about you When she’s not around I can feel you’re lonely

PILOT

8. Anchor - Novo Amor

Max’s reaction to Liz finally coming home & hoping she’ll stay.

I hear your ship is coming in Your tears a sea for me to swim I hear a storm is coming in My dear, is it all we’ve ever been Anchor up to me, love

9. Harvest Moon - Neil Young

Max gets that brief smile on his face when he’s watching Liz dance in the Crashdown, before he lets her know he’s there. And this is what I hear going through his head in that moment.

When we were strangers I’d watch you from afar When we were lovers I’d love you with all my heart… Because I’m still in love with you I want to see you dance again

10. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band

It honestly took me a long time to get on board with adding this one, because it’s such an important OG Max/Liz song.  But a while back in one of her Q&As, Carina said that if she could give the pilot a title it’d be this, and even with this different version of Max and Liz it still is the perfect song and perfect metaphor for their experience in the pilot.

Lost for you I’m so lost for you You come crash into me

11. Silhouettes - Oscar Blue

I mean…. 

Do I need to say anything more?  Okay, well here are some lyrics to emphasize my point.

She’s a diamond in the coal Something that enchants my soul Graceful and captivating Just one glance and my mind is invaded… So should I try really really hard Or just keep loving you from afar… Oh can we walk into the sunset Until our bodies are silhouettes Cause busy days cause busy lives And maybe you’ll just keep on walking by Are my hopes just gonna suffocate in my doubt Or am I being my anxious self drowning my chances out

SO MUCH FOR THE AFTERGLOW

12. The Storm - the Airborne Toxic Event

I definitely stole this from someone else’s Echo mix…but take it as a compliment! I definitely see a little bit of Liz coming home in this song, both from her perspective and Max’s. But in my playlist’s narrative I also see this as being kind of like the end of 1x02, when Liz makes the decision to stay and investigate Rosa’s murder.

I surprise myself sometimes The way the days unfold and this road unwinds You tell me you see it too And the miles seem like inches when I think of you It’s been 25 days since I’ve been gone 25 weeks since I’ve seen my home I spent 25 months chasing this song and all of this time I’ve been alone Then you walk right through the doorway You tell me you’re here to stay

TEARING UP MY HEART

13. The Space Between - Dave Matthews Band

So if the last song was the end of 1x02, that means now we’re in the awkward, heartbreaking period where Max is pouring his heart out, and Liz is pretending to feel nothing because she doesn’t trust him. 💔 Which is basically the running theme for the next few songs…

You cannot quit me so quickly There’s no hope in you for me… The space between the wicked lies we tell And hope to keep safe from the pain… We’re strange allies with warring hearts…

14. Walls - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

My brother played this song while we were driving from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in February.  It was the morning after Smells Like Teen Spirit aired, Liz had just told Max that she never wanted to see him again, and I heard this song for the first time and said to myself, “YES.”

All around your island there’s a barricade That keeps out the danger that holds in the pain Sometimes you’re happy sometimes you cry Half of me is ocean half of me is sky But you’ve got a heart so big it could crush this town But I can’t hold out forever even walls fall down

15. Ruins - Jade Bird

Just…I think about Max and that painful scene between him and Liz at the end of this episode, and how much her accusations throw him off.  And the resulting explosion that caused the blackout.

How do we have to do this again? I’ll tell you how I’m feeling You’re like a cryptomaniac trying to connect the dots and the facts How do we have to be here? ‘Cause these hotels, I just can’t relax The more I bend, the worse that I snap I feel like a goddamn maniac

Tell me what did I do to deserve somebody like you? It’s too hard to tell the truth nothing’s real and nothing’s rude I’m just a product of my emotions and they’re all setting off again… You sure you wanna do this now? Oh, you sure you wanna do this now?

'Cause I mean it when I say that I don’t understand And I mean it when I say that I’m not sure who I am 'Cause one minute I love you and the next it’s all in ruins One minute thinking of you and the next my mind’s in ruins

WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE

16. The Last Time - Taylor Swift feat. Gary Lightbody

Very much the Crashdown “how do you truly feel about me” scene.

Find myself at your door just like all those times before I’m not sure how I got there all roads, they lead me here I imagine you are home in your room, all alone And you open your eyes into mine and everything feels better And right before your eyes I’m breaking No past, no reasons why just you and me This is the last time I’m asking you this Put my name at the top of your list This is the last time I’m asking you why You break my heart in the blink of an eye

DON’T SPEAK

Don’t Speak is one of my favorite chunks of this playlist. I love the pre-pilot set of songs, this set, and then the Recovering the Satellites to the end set the most out of all of this whole thing. Just thought I’d share. Also 3 of my 4 favorite episodes. Hmmm… 🤔

17. Run No More - the Talbott Brothers

So, this is kind of my interpretation of Max’s POV after learning that Isobel sent Liz away. I feel like that knowledge and the realization that Michael and Isobel had manipulated the biggest heartbreak of his life, and lied to him for a decade about it, kind of freed him in a sense.  And for the first time he felt like he could stop hiding and release his guilt.  If Liz hadn’t been in trouble, I think he would have gone straight to her and confessed everything.

It doesn’t get easier the further I run It gets harder to carry the weight of what I’ve done I am speaking from experience I don’t wanna run no more

18. Wild Heart - Bleachers Pretty much same themes as above.  These two songs to me are kind of the combo of that determination in Max.  Above is more focused on his guilt and wanting to reveal the truth.  This one is more about his love for Liz and his determination to find her and protect her and love her.

As I sat with the echoes of lies that I told I felt young, never changed by crooked hearts… Well, everything has changed And now it’s only you that matters I will find any way to your wild heart

19. Dream - Bishop Briggs

I don’t remember who did a fanvid to this…was it Mo? It was wonderful and it’s perfect for the end of this episode.  Max running to save Liz from Wyatt Long and wanting to come clean to her, even though he knew it would likely still make her turn away from him. Liz breaking down at the end…sniffles.

Oh, I had a dream that you couldn’t hear me screaming Trying to tell you everything but it wouldn’t stop you leaving I wanna wake up where your love is 'Cause your love is always waking mine

I wanna break down where your heart gets So torn it’s almost breaking mine I wanna lay here, lost and bitter So long, I feel like I could die I wanna tell you what my truth is But it’s buried down inside

20. Lullaby - Lord Huron

I heart this song… and I think it speaks to Liz in this episode so much.  The danger she puts herself in, Wyatt!Noah coming after her, Max desperately wanting to protect her… 

You arrive along with the sun Where have you been darlin’? What have you done? You were out finding trouble again There’s a fire in your eyes and there’s blood on your hands Come inside and lie down to sleep You ain’t gonna run and you know that you’re beat Rest awhile, they’re coming for you There’s a price to be paid for the things that we do

Fall asleep and forget all your troubles Dream of laughter and old friends and lovers Dream of when you were innocent

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

21. Watch Me - Labi Siffre Early in the episode, when they were happy and innocent. I feel like this song just kind of captures that young love, high school vibe.

Watch me when you look my way See me smiling, be my night and day Touch me in your own sweet way Feel me tremble, you take my words away All of the time I love you Make you a rhyme, I love you

22. Grew Up Fast - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Here’s another Tom Petty song from my brother’s playlist that we listened to on the way to the Grand Canyon on the day after this episode aired.  I heard it, and immediately thought of the Pod Squad (and Liz) and how the incidents surrounding Rosa’s death kind of forced them all out of their youth and into a traumatic adulthood.  Also I think it kind of bridges back to the present with Max telling Liz the story of Rosa’s death and her reaction towards him at the end of the episode.

We grew up fast when lies were just a fact of life We grew up mad cause we never had a home… Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down Hey, my brother I’ve got no fight with you, I just can’t lie down No, I just can’t lie down, I just can’t lie down Well, you know who I am So don’t treat me like I’m someone else… You never talk like that to no one else You never scream like that for no one else

23. 17 - Jade Bird

This…just…the look on Max’s face when Liz runs out after telling him she never wants to see him again. It’s like his heart is breaking all over again.

You asked me to be yours, well you’re tempting fate How I left a promise but it’s one I can’t make Lord knows it’d kill me if you walked away But darling my lies, they hide you from the pain Stay, let me explain why I act so mean Don’t look away, baby, it’s not all that it seems I’m so afraid that you’ll just get up and leave My heart will break like I’m 17

I SAW THE SIGN & BARELY BREATHING

24. Your Hurricane - Death Cab for Cutie

“Liz Ortecho is my hurricane.”  Max is such a ball of anger and angst in this episode.  This song may lean a little more on the anger side than really played out in the episode, but I still think it works, considering that Liz spends much of this episode creating the serum.

You used to be such a delicate kid A lonely fish in a sea full of squid So I can’t blame you for leaving how you did You just fell off the grid 'Cause heaven is a hole in the sky The stars are cracks in the ceiling of night But you can’t be your own alibi As hard as you try It’s a tired refrain you’re singing over and over again As you try to explain who’s at fault for your mistakes But I won’t be the debris in your hurricane

25. Lose That Light - Folly and the Hunter

I don’t recall where I got this song from…it may have come from someone else’s playlist.  But it makes me think about how rough of a go Max has it in Barely Breathing and how Liz is, like, the light that kind of guides him through it, that he has faith in to save his sister.

In my arms you fell, after fighting tooth and nail. The convictions you have are all gone now. You followed that trail, just to take a chance and fail. Do not let that dark voice call you out Even if it gets hard, don’t lose that light…

26. Such a Simple Thing - Ray LaMontagne

I see this as the end of the episode, when they are so close to being on the same page, but Liz is still afraid and still puts up that wall.  Max sees how amazing she is, how she’s willing to fight to save Isobel for him.  And Liz is beginning to feel it as well, because the drive to do it for Max, to comfort him, was so powerful.  “My heart is like paper” = Max, “yours is like a flame” = Liz.

Tell me what you’re feeling I can take the pain Tell me that you mean it That you won’t leave again Tell me what your heart wants Such a simple thing My heart is like paper Yours is like a flame

SONGS ABOUT TEXAS

27. Make These Colors Real - Hush Kids

This song just makes me think about that vibe all through Songs About Texas prior to the kiss.  The heart eyes looks, the touches, how close they are to going there, even though it hasn’t happened yet.  This is also the only song I couldn’t find lyrics for online so I transcribed as best I can, but I couldn’t figure one line out, so I just left it off the post! Sorryyyy… 

I guess you win, I guess I’ll see you around again Locked eyes, brushed hands. I’ll lie and say we’re only friends Yes I want you but I don’t want to Cause I can’t hold you when I want to So maybe I’m selfish, maybe it’s reckless Maybe I’m out of my mind

Ooh you make me weak you, you make me seek you You’d make me dive down to the depth of your ocean Ooh if I could hold you… I’d make these colors real

28. Surrender - Natalie Taylor

Throughout this whole episode I feel like there’s a general sense of Liz giving up her fight against Max.  She can’t hide how much she loves him anymore.  She hasn’t quite decided to be with him yet…but throughout the episode that wall thins more and more until she finally does give in to him.

No one will win this time I just want you back I’m running to your side Flying my white flag, my white flag… Whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re ready Can we, can we surrender I surrender

29. I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide

I’m pretty sure this came from another Echo playlist…because it’s the perfect song to represent Max’s speech to Liz to reveal how well he sees her.

I find it hard to believe you don’t know The beauty you are But if you don’t let me be your eyes A hand to your darkness, so you won’t be afraid When you think the night has seen your mind That inside you’re twisted and unkind Let me stand to show that you are blind Please put down your hands 'Cause I see you I’ll be your mirror, reflect what you are

30. Courage - P!nk

That split second before Liz decides to grab Max and pull him in for the kiss…

See, I let the light in the darkest places Let the sun shine, pain goes away Nothing is permanent for me Have I the courage to change?

31. Easy - Camilla Cabello

It’s almost ridiculous how Echo’s first kiss this song is. Like, seriously, Camilla? Do you watch RNM? Are you an Echo shipper? Is this your own personal fan song?

You really, really know me The future and the old me All of the mazes and the madness in my mind You really, really love me You know me and you love me And it’s the kind of thing I always hoped I’d find

Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy Touch me 'til I find myself, in a feeling Tell me with your hands that you’re never leaving Always thought I was hard to love 'Til you made it seem so easy, seem so easy All I know is you, heal me when I’m broken, heal me when I’m broken All I know is you, saved me and you know it, saved me and you know it

32. Day Too Soon - Sia

Liz making the choice that it is finally the right time for her to stop running. Okay, Max has been waiting patiently, but for Liz everything has finally perfectly collided.

Pick me up in your arms Carry me away from harm You’re never gonna put me down I know you’re just one good man You’ll tire before we see land You’re never gonna put me down You’ll risk all this for just a kiss I promise I will not resist

Promise you won’t hold me down And when we reach a good place Let’s be sure to leave no trace Promise they won’t track us down

Now I’ve been running all my life I ran away, I ran away from good Yeah, I’ve been waiting all my life You’re not a day, you’re not a day too soon

33. Truly Madly Deeply - Yoke Lore

Awesome cover of 90’s song? Check! Super romantic to the point of almost cheesy? Check! It’s got Echo getting together written all over it.

I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy. I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you need. I’ll love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do I want to stand with you on a mountain I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever. Until the sky falls down on me

I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING, CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA, CREEP

34. Side By Side - Layup

Sadly, I don’t have a lot of songs for this chunk of episodes for Echo. But they’re finally together, on the same team, being awesome, so that’s pretty much all I’m getting at with this song.

And so, now I go down all these roads with you, my home And now, I’ll keep you close I hope you know - I love you most So here I walk by your side, oh, on our own time Oh, we’ll be alright, as long as we stay side by side From the coldest nights to warmer degrees we’ll get by You and I, side by side

RECOVERING THE SATELLITES

35. Electric Love - BØRNS

I mean… Alien!God Max channeling all that lightning to get the job done is fucking sexy. And then he just marches home to worship his love the way Liz deserves. *nods firmly*

Baby you’re like lightning in a bottle I can’t let you go now that I got it All I need is to be struck By your electric love Baby, you’re electric love Electric love Rushing through me I feel your energy rushing through me…

36. Duet - Penny and Sparrow f/ Stephanie Briggs

Echo love scene. Just ignore that Liz is not wearing a dress. Everything else fits. And the chorus? *chefs kiss* “Because I’ve seen you and I know you”...ties right back to their first kiss and Max proving to Liz that he isn’t holding onto some high school fantasy.  “And I’m not going anywhere”...it breaks my heart because it was 100% true in that moment…but hours later Max is dead. 😭

I bet your shoulders can hold more than just the straps of that tiny dress That I’ll help you slide aside when we get home I’ve seen 'em carry family and the steel drum weight of me Effortless, just like that dress that I’ll help off I bet your back can carry more than just the weight of your button-down One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home I’ve seen you carry family and all my insecurities One by one, they’ll come undone when we get home

Because I’ve seen you And I know you And I’m not going anywhere

37. Atlas: Two - Sleeping at Last

This is, like, the most Max song ever. Especially where his head is at right at the end of Recovering the Satellites after he and Liz make love, when he is straight up in worshipful puppy mode.  It makes me both 😍 and 😭, because I love how much he loves her, but I know how unhealthy his devotion is, and that it leads to him dying. 

Sweetheart, you look a little tired when did you last eat? Come in and make yourself right at home stay as long as you need Tell me, is something wrong? If something’s wrong, you can count on me You know I’ll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat It’s okay if you can’t find the words Let me take your coat and this weight off of your shoulders

Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters, if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached It’s okay if you can’t catch your breath You can take the oxygen straight out of my own chest I know exactly how the rule goes put my mask on first No, I don’t want to talk about myself tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up ‘til you’re good as new And maybe one day I will get around to fixing myself too I don’t even know where to start Already tired of trying to recall when it all fell apart I just want to love you, to love you, to love you well I just want to learn how, somehow, to be loved myself Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you without any strings attached What a privilege it is to love A great honor to hold you, love Like a force to be reckoned with A mighty ocean or a gentle kiss I will love you with every single thing I have Like a tidal wave, I’ll make a mess Or calm waters if that serves you best I will love you without any strings attached I will love you without a single string attached

38. Another Story - the Head and the Heart

In my head this is another afterglow, Max manic on love & power and it pushes him to do something crazy song...I both see he and Liz happy together in his bed in the morning sunlights and flickering firelight...and Max deciding to heal Rosa. 😍😭

These are just flames burning in your fireplace I hear your voice and it seems as if it was all a dream I wish it was all a dream I see a world, a world turning in on itself Are we just like hungry wolves howling in the night I don’t want no music tonight

Every time I hear another story Oh the poor boy lost his head Everybody feels a little crazy But we go on living with it

39. Come to This - Natalie Taylor

Liz crying over Max’s body 😭😭😭. There is no heart eyes here.  It’s all just paaaain. 😭😭😭

How can this happen? How can this be? There is no ending, there is no peace The darkness is so close The light so quickly goes And now it’s all gone Now it’s all gone Will you hear me when I speak? Do you feel the pain with me? I’ve tried to be so strong I thought that hope would come But you’re not here

Oh, the darkness keeps its grip Oh, how’d it come to this? Oh, please come back Please come back

40. Six Feet Under - Billie Eilish

More Liz crying over Max’s body…and just love and pain and death and sadness. 😭😭😭

Retrace my lips Erase your touch It’s all too much for me Blow away Like smoke in air How can you die carelessly? Our love is six feet under I can’t help but wonder If our grave was watered by the rain Would roses bloom? Could roses bloom?

POST-SEASON 1

These are just kind of my headcanon songs of various post-S1 reactions from Liz at various different dark moments.

41. Hello My Old Heart - the Oh Hellos

I see a lot of people attribute this song to Liz at the beginning of the show, but I think it’s more appropriate at the end of the season. I’d love it if they use this song in Season 2.  I see it more as Liz putting the walls she had at the beginning of the show back up again after loving and losing Max, which would break my heart. But I think it’s how she would cope while he’s gone and then those walls would come back down.

Hello, my old heart It’s been so long Since I’ve given you away And every day, I add another stone To the walls I built around you To keep you safe

Oh, oh, don’t leave me here alone Don’t tell me that we’ve grown For having loved a little while Oh, oh, I don’t wanna be alone I wanna find a home And I wanna share it with you

42. Poetry By Dead Men - Sara Bareilles

I can see this scene in my head. I can see Liz and Max both longing for this scene in their head. Just the simple domesticity of drinking coffee together in the afterglow, while Max reads poetry to Liz.  Except that he had to go and die first and that just fucking sucks.  So I hear some anger and a little bit of “don’t let the door hit you on your way out” in this song, and I could see Liz occasionally just having moments of anger in her grief where she feels this way. Briefly.

By the time you hear this, who knows where I might be Singing about another near-miss love that ended incomplete I was ready, but you weren’t So jump with your net from this bridge you’ve burned I wanted to tell you things, all the secrets I’ve been keeping I saw it in front of me, but then you just kept disappearing A good dream, almost, now I tell your ghost

I wanted to be your girl in a white T-shirt Over coffee, stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men I wanted to be your girl with your hands on my skin Stirring in the cinnamon While you read me poetry by dead men

43. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows

This is one of the few episode titles where the lyrics actually get to me, like in a plotty way. But not necessarily from what happens in the episode, so much as the idea of Liz questioning later whether the brief moment of love she had with Max was worth all of the accompanying pain. 😭😭😭😭

So why’d you come home to this sleepless town? It’s a lifetime commitment, recovering the satellites All anybody really wants to know is When you’re gonna come down, when you’re gonna come down But we only stay in orbit for a moment of time And then you’re everybody’s satellite I wish that you were mine, I wish that you were mine

44. The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson

Definitely stole this from someone else, but it’s perfect and I love ending with it, because even though it’s loaded down with all of the pain we’re feeling at the end of the season, it also has a little twinge of hope and possibility for that future day when Max comes back (which we all know he will)!  So in other words, it’s 😭😭😍😍

The sky looks pissed The wind talks back My bones are shifting in my skin And you my love are gone My room feels wrong The bed won’t fit I cannot seem to operate And you my love are gone

I’ll never say that I’ll never love But I don’t say a lot of things And you my love are gone

So glide away on soapy heels And promise not to promise anymore And if you come around again Then I will take, Then I will take, The chain from off the door

In the Afterlight Review

5/5 stars Recommended for people who like: dystopian, found families, psychic powers, inner group conflict, impossible decisions After where we left off at the end of NF, ITA opens up in a very distinctly apocalyptic setting. The series has always vaguely had that feel in the way most near-future dystopian books do, but the EMP and bombing of LA tipped the scale further into apocalypse territory. I enjoyed how Bracken really explored the vision of a bombed-out LA and the impacts that might have on suburbs like Burbank. Something about the image of burned, shelled cars and brick rubble and abandoned shops just does something for me in terms of settings, aesthetic, and mood. I think, in this case, it works quite well to set the tone of the first bit of the book. The second setting is pretty neat too. It’s another League location in California, but a bit farther north. The place is like a huge compound with secret rooms as well as tunnels connecting it to different locations. It’s the perfect place to hide a bunch of kids while you’re planning an action against, say, the ‘rehabilitation’ camps Psi kids are kept in. Aside from suiting the purposes of the characters, this second setting also visualizes the divide that starts to occur between what’s left of the League in CA, with some (most) of them hanging out in the Garage, which is separated from the main portion of the compound by a long tunnel, and those that are left mostly sticking to the main part of the compound. The Garage is definitely cooler visually, I’ll say that, but the ideology and plans of those who hang out there is a little too optimistic for reality. With this as the last book dedicated to Ruby’s story, it’s mostly about closing out her arc. After LA, she wants so desperately to do the right thing by everyone and is stretching herself so thin it’s no wonder certain stuff ends up happening. She’s much more in-tune with her powers, though she still doesn’t like using them and still wants a cure. I like how things go for her in this one, for the most part. I feel bad for her in this one more so than the others. She’s so down in the dumps and so few people see it, like, I think Liam picks up on it, but it’s only really addressed when they have some down time together, which is neverand then the only other one to really mention her emotional mood is Zu. So, Ruby basically has a boyfriend who’s as busy and her and a 13-year-old to discuss her mental state with….not great options. With all her issues on her powers and the insecurities that come with that, added into the mess with Jude and dealing with Clancy and the issue with the League agents and wrangling everyone, it just gets to be a lot and I feel so bad for her. One thing I am not too pleased about is her and Liam’s arguments and distance. Like…the entire thing is just so dumb and takes up multiple chapters, and then it’s resolved in one and they’re all peachy-keen again, which makes me wonder if the tension between them really needed to last as long as it did (but I’ve decided to blame exhaustion, stress, and Clancy for this one). Speaking of Liam…I’m not really sure what to think of him in this one. He’s definitely gung-ho for helping other kids and making sure that the camps are shut down, but his plans for going about it lack the teeth that they had in TDM (and, ironically, his OG plans are the ones Ruby builds on and he disagrees with, so…). I can’t tell if he’s just reeling from everything that happened in NF or if it’s just a weird character change that makes him inclined to think that a media storm will successfully bring the camp system down or what. His change in plan combined with his dislike of Cole, his distrust for the League, and Ruby’s own insecurities, just leads to him coming out as quick to irritate in this one. I will give him the fact that having your memory stolen and then regifted would be extremely jarring and invasive. I get why he writes the note, and I get why he’d be touchy and angry about that, but the rest of the stuff is just, I’m pretty sure, just his judgement getting clouded. Not to mention, he’s a hell of a lot more reckless, though we are seeing things through Ruby’s POV and he could always have been exceedingly careful, so there’s that. Outside of those interrelated changes, he is largely still the super sweet, super supportive, protective Liam we saw in TDM and NF. Even when he is fighting with Ruby, or even later with Cole, he still wants to understand and combine ideas instead of dismissing them out of turn. Chubs is once-again stuck between his two friends and hates it, though he does his best to work with them. I feel like Chubs gets a lot more mature in this one and faces things with a wiser attitude than he did before. I mean, he was always the more cautious one of the bunch but he just got an extra layer of professionalism added to him throughout this book. He seems a lot more at ease with life and with himself, which was good to see. On the other side of the spectrum, we get to see a much more emotional Vida than we have before. Sure, in NF we saw her angry plenty, but here there’s a mix of sadness and grief and desperation and camaraderie and support we didn’t get in the previous book. Her walls break down a lot more and she’s willing to admit that she’d prefer to talk about what happened to Jude rather than just shove it down and away like everyone else seems inclined to do. She also starts a surprisingly tight friendship with Zu, and the two of them are definitely a force. Zu comes in about a third- to halfway through the book. I love Zu, she’s such a great character personality-wise, but she also has a way of cutting right to the center of things and helping people. She may be young, only 13 in this one, but she’s go the insight of someone much older. What happened in the novella In Time has clearly impacted her when she first comes into ITA, but she slowly and steadily overcomes it, learning and helping those around her and letting them boost her in return. She grows a lot as a character, and it was awesome to read. Nico is an interesting character, since he was in NF, but it was difficult to really get a feel for who he was as a character in that one. Here, we see he has a lot of regret over what happened in LA, and he’s working to reconcile the Clancy he used to know to the person Clancy is now. Nico’s unflinchingly loyal, but he’s come to realize he put his money on the wrong horse and is struggling to make it up to everyone. Clancy’s still a piece of work and none of his character development comes internally, it’s all external. We do get to meet his mom, though, and combined with what we know of President Gray….well, it just explains a lot. Okay, it’s kind of spoilery, but I absolutely adore the entire thing Ruby has going on once she’s back in Thurmond. She goes back in and she’s struggling so much with the feelings of fear and absolute terror the place instill in her, plus the worry that the plan won’t work because the people on the other side won’t come or won’t come in time, just makes the fact she fights through it all that much better. I wish her reunion with Sam was a little better, though, I did want there to be a bigger thing with them, but whatever, we get that in Beyond the Night. My favorite scene from this collection of chapters is when Ruby’s in the control tower with O’Ryan and just snaps on his ass. It’s great. Of the main three books—TDM, NF, and ITA—this one comes in as my second favorite, with TDM as the first and NF as the last. The settings are, once again, fantastic, and I love a lot of the plot and events that occur in this book. I do think that Ruby and Liam fighting as much as they do only to have an insta-make-up was not great (though I do have my suspicions that they’re issues were exacerbated by Clancy manipulating Ruby. Ever notice how the two times he does it large-scale, she’s also separated emotionally, and generally physically, from (primarily) Liam and the others? My hunch is Clancy saw how well it worked the first time and used his Orange powers to manipulate it into happening again). Overall, ITA is a good ending to the series and I’m pretty satisfied with it all around. Clancy Story in 2018 Edition 5/5 stars The story picks up from when Ruby went to see Clancy at the end of ITA. The collection is basically a run-through of Clancy’s worst moments. There are some of them, like when he and Hayes and Olivia find East River to establish it that aren’t too bad. Then there are others, like the ones where he’s strapped to a table getting experimented on, that are downright awful. Most of them fall somewhere in between. The way it’s set up, I believe it’s a reverse chronological order of Clancy’s memories. The first one is from ITA, when he tells Ruby that she’s the one who tipped off the PSFs about the Sawtooth camp, and the last one is from when he’s pretty little, probably around three or four. I like that, as we progress through the story and the memories, we also get to see how Clancy’s warped mind was built up bit by bit. As a child, he obviously has little malice other than when it comes to protecting himself from others. As time goes on and he’s experimented on, that malice and cruelty grows into what it is in the first memory. Aside from the way we’re seeing each memory erase based on how recent it is, I love how Bracken chose to end each scene with “a heartbeat, and it’s gone.” There’s just something about that line, about the speed and finality of it that I just love. Nico features in most of the memories, so we get to see how Clancy, in his own weird way, does have feelings for the other boy. Clancy doesn’t have full-blown romantic feelings about Nico, or even what I’d necessarily call a crush, but he definitely is attached to him and Nico holds sway. I think this might be my favorite ‘exclusive short’ of the bunch. It’s a combo of the formatting of the piece and the way we get to see inside Clancy’s head and watch his development into the person he is in the TDM series that makes it one of my favorites.

Note: Since Through the Dark is just a bind-up of the novellas, it’s coming out on Saturday and TDL’s review will be coming out next Wednesday