Hogwarts Kills It With Their Holiday Aesthetics, Though. It Feels Like Just Yesterday That I Was Praising

THAT IS THE MOST MAJESTIC SAILOR-CAT I HAVE EVER BEEN BLESSED TO LAY MY EYES UPON. 

Fair seas and happy sailing, dear Ditty <3 I am thrilled to have spotted you on this fine website. 

Ditty, our ship cat, looking magnificent and nautical.

Now available as a print in my online print shop!

Happy belated black hole day because I have a bad habit of forgetting things in my drafts! 

Also both the black hole picture and Treasure Planet are still awesome. 

Happy black hole day!!

They are truly fascinating

(The part neon ghost is replying to is where I asked if Cherri Cola's gender was a Welcome to Night Vale reference)

Now I can't help imagining a WTNV/Killjoy crossover though. Like, what if Night Vale is the Zone 13 no one talks about or something? Most of the time the radio signals can’t make it through that patch of weird interference, but once in a while, the wind blows just right and over the static the Killjoys hear not Dr. Death Defying but a strange man mooning over a handsome scientist or whispering the name ‘Huntokar’... 

"What's your gender?" + the characters i hc as enby

Party Poison: *nods thoughtfully* "Yes, i do, indeed, have one."

Show Pony: "Dunno, lost it in the City. Hope to get it back some day." *sighs whistfully looking in the distance*

Cherri Cola: *shrugs* "Partially boy, mostly void."

I just remembered that I submitted things to this page years ago, long before I had a tumblr, and a couple of them got published. Now that I do have a tumblr I thought I might as well share a thing to which I contributed :) 

I should note that I did write this one back before I saw the 50th anniversary special, though that was still not quite aaaall the epic Time War drama I was hoping for. Also, someone in the notes has pointed out that the Big Finish audios go more into it, and I have really been wanting to get into those more for a while. I should put them on my Christmas list. 

Actually, now I’d say it’s not specifically that I want more about the Time War anymore. I just want more Gallifrey in general. Like, I know the Doctor left because he found it stuffy and boring and whatnot (or because he was afraid, according to 12, but I imagine it was some combination thereof), but I want more backstory on his childhood and his school days, and more emotional drama with his family (who are apparently no longer disapparated from existence, so he should have to deal with them) and old friends (especially the Master, but other ones, too). There’s just so much emotional tension for the Doctor to deal with on Gallifrey! 

I should really go back to those Doctor’s childhood fics I was writing. I even came up with my own longform version of the Doctor’s original Gallifreyan name--his real one, not his school nickname. Remind me to tell you about it some time; I was starting to write it here but then I realized this post was long enough and my naming of the Doctor is going to take a whole long post of its own to explain. 

Yeeessss, this is perfect, haha :) I mean, in the second case, I’m pretty sure Jim would re-arrest the heck out of Ed regardless of Oswald’s lack of testimony, but that first scenario is beautiful and I can 100% see Ed doing a super dramatic reveal exactly like that.

I ramble about my feelings on the end of Gotham (and shows ending generally) below the cut...

I’m so not ready for Gotham to end, though. I still haven’t seen last Thursday’s episode, and tomorrow is opening night of the play I’m in so I won’t be able to watch tomorrow’s episode, either (not that I would watch out of order, but like, I could catch up tonight... but also I’m super tired between work and rehearsals and everything, and I don’t want to rush one of the only two remaining episodes of this show I’ve been obsessed with going on a year now). But... urgggh, this is that thing I always run into where I have trouble letting a show go. I so often wind up saving the last 1-4 episodes of a show I love because it’s just hard to finish it, to not have it anymore. I’ve seen all but the last couple of episodes of White Collar, Leverage, Psych, A Series of Unfortunate Events... It’s a thing I do.

But the trouble with Gotham in particular is, well, now I’m on tumblr. I haven’t been able to scroll through my dashboard in a week since the last episode aired and I’m trying not to spoil myself. I did open it a time or two, just to glance at it; just tonight I caught a glimpse of a gifset of Os and Ed hugging after Oswald’s eye wound (which I’ve known about for quite a while from the bts pics, interviews, and trailers) but the hug gave me FEEEELLS and I haven’t even seen the episode and I’m not ready but also I want to see it? Uggh once this play is over I’m just going to have to watch the last two episodes, if only so I can safely use tumblr again.

And also, I know this saving thing doesn’t actually make more of a show I love exist. In a way, I like the idea that there’s something more there for me to go back to, but like, in a way I’m depriving myself of part of the story. I know I should just watch the last episodes of things, but it’s so hard to let things go... I’m a hoarder in so many ways, including of unwatched final episodes, I suppose. But yeah, I’ll have to watch Gotham so I can go back to looking at tumblr other than in my old drafts and likes, I suppose.

Well, and I also know that I’ll enjoy a thing best if I consume it while it’s still in an active obsession cycle. Although, my obsession cycle with Gotham has been semi-dormant for a while since I ran out of binging to do, so I’m not the closest to it I’ve ever been, but it’s still giving me feels, so I should watch it.

This has been: I talk myself into watching the end of Gotham some time in the near future. We’ll see if I listen.

But anyways, if you see me on tumblr looking at spoilers tomorrow remind me to stop!! Haha. I have a huge backlog of drafts to process anywho. I should be working through those.

And also wish me broken limbs! Almost, Maine opens tomorrow!!

And, happy end of Gotham, to those witnessing it tomorrow. I hope it’s a good one...

Oswald and Edward; married in the time jump.

Stay with me. Oswald and Edward are seen working together in the time jump. If Gotham is going to suggest that they have been operating as criminals, doing illegal stuff together for years, wouldn't it make sense that the two of them would have exploited the heck out of Marital Privilege? The law that protects the confidential communications between spouses during their marriage from being used as a testimonial in a court case? Meaning that one can never be forced to rat out the other? What a dramatic reveal that would be. 

___________________________________________________________

Imagine it. After lying low for months, Oswald Cobblepot resurfaces and puts a grand scheme in motion. The GCPD knows its Oswald, so they grab The Riddler to question him because he likely knows all about said plan.

Riddler is in the cold interrogation room, all pristine in his green suit, bowler hat and leather gloves. Completely relaxed and in his element. Jim slams some files on the table and goes through how they know Edward knows what Oswald is up to.

All the while Riddler has this shit eating grin as he loosens his gloves, one finger at a time, as he listens to what Jim is saying.

“While I would love to help you out, Jim…” Riddler begins as he places his arm upright on the table, so his hand is almost eve level with Jim. A bit unnecessary but it allows him to be as dramatic as possible as he removes his left glove with a flourish to reveal a gold ring on his ring finger. “I’m afraid you can’t legally force me to testify against my… Husband.”

___________________________________________________________

“I don’t suppose you know anything about The Riddlers most recent escape from Arkham…?” a tired Jim deadpans to Oswald in the middle of a high-end restaurant, where the Riddler is blatantly seated across from Oswald. Martini in hand, smugly leading back in his chair, still in his stripped Arkham robes just to rub it in.

“I’m afraid I legally can’t say Jim” Oswald replies with mock sincerity.

This is still one of the most heartwarming Martin edits I’ve ever seen. The trouble is that I saw it before I saw season 4, so it actually set my expectations for Oswald’s skill as a dad unrealistically high. Not that I’m saying he’s not a good dad (nor am I saying he’s not not a good dad in canon... I mean... it’s complicated), it’s just that I didn’t actually realize this was an incorrect quote the first time I saw it (despite how clearly labeled I now see it is) and I was really hoping this was actually going to be canon. It’s just so perfect, the misfit mobster comforting his misfit son, and it really fits with the emotion in their eyes, the passion and the sadness and the hurt. And after all, Oswald already compared himself to a Roman ruler in Augustus Caesar; it’s not that much of stretch for him to compare himself (and Martin) to a Greek philosopher. 

Also, this is yet another reason purple is the best color ;) 

Incorrect Gotham Quotes: The Purple Thread. 4x09: Let Them Eat Pie

Hm, interesting... Wasn’t there an interview where Robin said that as soon as Gotham was done filming, he’d shave all his dyed-black hair off so it could grow back out blond? Well... this is after filming finished, right?

Maybe he just hasn’t had time yet, or maybe they asked him to keep the hair for a while in case they need to film pickup shots still. Or, maybe he’s changed his mind and decided to keep it black for a while. It does look quite nice, after all :) 

Or maybe, just maybe... could there be more? *insert hopeful smile*

Endless gifs of Robin Lord Taylor: At the Paley Center for Media 2018

So the one on the left is from August of 2010 but it’s about the closest I could find; side note, I have had a whole heck of a wild nostalgia trip today looking back through old pictures on my mom’s computer to find this. 

And yet, oddly, I’m kind of surprised how little I’ve changed from then until now? For a minute I almost wondered if this picture was dated wrong because some of the pictures of me in 2009 looked like they were from much longer ago somehow, but I think the date is right... I guess it’s kind of hilarious to me looking at how much everyone else in these pictures has changed and I just. Have not. 14 year old me and 24 year old me look almost the same. Maybe this is why it’s so hard for me to believe that much time has passed, haha. If I wasn’t a coward and I’d dyed my hair this summer like I was thinking about, maybe... but anyways, yeah. I’m perhaps a bit better accessorized now, although in fairness 2010 me was on a hike to the Cascades in Pembroke, Va, which is also why I was wearing my conspicuously rainbow-colored swimsuit under my shirt. But so much is still the same I’m a little flabbergasted that it’s been a literal decade between these pictures. 

*Kill All Your Friends starts playing* It’s been ten *bleep*ing years.... Sorry, wrong album. 

the 10th anniversary of Danger Days is coming up on November 22nd and i think we should all post what we looked like when the album was released verses now yknow “me November 2010 vs me November 2020” i think that’d be really cute

So, the snow live wallpaper I've been using on my phone kept crashing on me, and I figured it was time for a new phone background. As luck would have it, I’d seen this beautiful comic illustration earlier that same day, and I thought it would make a perfect screensaver for my phone!

I messed with the tint, warmth, and saturation a bit to give it a purplish cast in order to make it match my personal color palette, and then I screenshotted it so it would match the dimensions of my phone screen, and behold, my new wallpaper:

[Image IDs: A comic book drawing with Buffy in the foreground, wearing a cute dress that is white on top with purple flowers along the shoulder and side, short, ruffled sleeves, and a light blue skirt, raising her signature Slayer ‘scythe’ as she takes a semi-crouched action pose. Her hair is partially braided in two segments on the sides and tied back in a loose bun, and her expression is determined. Behind Buffy, Spike is leaping dramatically in the direction opposite from the one she is facing, though his eyes seem to cast back towards her. His signature long black leather coat sweeps out behind him and a stake is clutched in his right hand. He has a similarly fierce look on his face, although it is not his ‘vamp face’, but his cheekbones are sharp as ever. In the background, there’s a stack of three wooden crates, a brick wall, and a string of red paper lanterns with tassels hanging down from them. The second image is the same as the first but is tinted to be a bright pinkish-purplish tone and it has black bars added at the top and bottom. End ID]

I’m quite fond of my new wallpaper! I’m still just reading Season 8 and so I haven’t reached where Spike shows up quite yet, but I’m very much looking forward to it; from a few panels I’ve seen, it looks like it’s going to be really cute. Anyways, having this as my phone screensaver has been making me smile whenever I open it. It’s a very cute and dynamic Spuffy art piece! Feel free to use my screensaver edit on your own phone if you’d like.

By the way, if anyone wants to take my image ID without the part about my screensaver edit and put it on just the first post, that would be totally fine, though I’d happily appreciate credit. Thanks! 

I put a couple more variations of my edits to this picture below the cut:

In case your phone has a different aspect ratio than mine (it’s a Pixel 3), I’ll stick the original edit here so you can screenshot or crop it however your phone requires. (It’s just the above tinted image but without the bars that make it fit my screen’s height.)

Oh, and also here’s a much less dramatically tinted version that I made first before I decided to tint it more, if anyone would like to use that: 

Variant cover for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 10 #9, by Rebekah Isaacs

I love how a discussion of tropes can turn into an actual, full-length, illustrated story and get me emotionally involved. This was beautiful. Admittedly I could predict the gist of the villain’s motivations from a ways out, but that twist about MC-kun caught me by surprise and definitely gave me feels. I’m not even that familiar with anime tropes, but the mechanics of this story world were fascinating, and that was a quite the battle scene! 

This is exactly the sort of random find that I love about this site. 

You know those anime meta posts along the lines of “I was born with pink hair. The doctors told my parents I was a Main Character and ever since my life has not known peace from demons/spirits/sports competitions/harems who find me”

Well I see that, and I raise you this:

An anime boy whose appearance is, by absolutely anyone’s account, completely and utterly average. Mundane hair. Mundane eyes. Not even glasses to set him the tiniest bit apart. A simple, unmemorable, unrecognizable civilian among a backdrop of millions.

And he has a lot of passions, and a lot of ambitions, which he hones every chance he gets. He’s dabbled in sports and archery and cooking and just about anything you could wrap a competition around. And he’s competed in many of these. Every chance he gets. With all of his passion and all of his might.

He’s crushed by the competition every single time.

Until one day–one day something clicks for him. Something that should have seemed obvious from the start and yet never was–as though everyone, including himself, was unwittingly blind to it. It clicks, when he realizes every kid who’s beaten him in competition, every kid who’s gone on to fame and glory and acclaim, has been some candy-haired gel-spiked ridiculously-dressed fucker. 

There’s some trend there that this Main Character boy can’t explain and can’t understand but he decides, this one time, fuck it. He’ll play along too. He’s got a model train competition in four days, and he’s got nothing more to lose. He hits up the department store, buys the pinkest, noxious-est, fruitiest hair dye he can find, the spikiest hair gel available, and the gaudiest clothes on the thrift rack. He enters the model train competition looking like a bubble gum gijinka.

And he wins.

Suddenly, the other candy-haired contestants notice him. They talk to him. They pledge rivalries. Girls notice him. Judges applaud him. Acclaimed model train aficionados offer him internships across the world. He’s hit on something. 

The main cast expands to cover just about every candy-hair cliche in the book: from the mostly-normal-looking demure school girl with the blue hair to the Naruto-est, yelling-est boy with the red-and-green spiked hair. The cool megane senpais, the purple haired tsunderes, suddenly everyone is interested in him. They’re prodigies and upstarts and underdogs and they truly believe that this main character boy is one of them.

So the main character boy maintains his ruse. He touches up his roots at dawn every morning and carefully attends to his gelled spikes and tells absolutely no one about this great, uncanny, unfathomable secret he’s stumbled upon. He wins his competitions left and right. He racks up the acclaim. He’s hailed as a prodigy of all trades, just now bursting onto the scene, and boils to the top of all his candy-haired peers.

He’s rising up, his every dream within his grasp. Until one day he gets a note under his door, taped to an old picture of his Normal Boring self from middle school, that says “You don’t belong”