My Full Piece For @luminaryzine :D

I think I just had the most beautiful interaction of my life.

I had a little bit of a breakdown outside of a pizza place earlier today. I cried harder than I have in years, tears pelting the concrete like rain and cloudy glasses. In the moment, I felt as small and powerless as an infant, one that had been dumped into a vat of quicksand. All I could do was sink farther and farther into that fear and sob. I can't remember a time that I've ever felt so defeated. So useless. So broken.

But then...

One small act. That's all it really took to remind me of the good in the world.

Two parents, around my mom's age had passed by just a little earlier. They had seen me sitting on the ground, calling my mom, and trying everything I could to slow my breathing through choked out breaths. I apologized for being in their way just moments earlier.

But... They didn't look at me with hatred or disgust or even pity. All of the emotions I felt towards myself in that moment, and I was SO sure anyone else would feel towards me if they saw me... Just wasn't there.

They asked if I was okay and gave me a pat on the shoulder. A stranger. A sobbing, absolutely pathetic looking, sniffling stranger. A soft act of kindness. Connection.

"You'll get through this, I promise. I know it's really hard right now, but I swear it won't last forever."

The two of them just kept going on. Telling me that I was loved and cared about and that I was going to get through this. These two absolute strangers. I thanked them so much, still sobbing, telling them that they made my day. And again.

"Do you know who else's days you make? Your parents. We have two kids of our own, and I know... I know every single day they make ours better. And I know for sure you do that too. College is rough, but you're going to get through this."

"And if anyone treats you bad, fuck them!"

"Yeah! You got this. It's all going to be okay, I promise. You're so strong."

I don't know who those two people were, but I swear they made me believe in the goodness of the world when I needed it the most. I wish them nothing but the best in their lives. I hope that if the time ever comes that either one of them, or their children, are alone and as terrified as I was... That they're given the same treatment. To look at that broken, petrified teenager and simply treat them with kindness. Reminding them that they deserve kindness.

The world is a dark, scary place, but it's never as bad as your mind makes it out to be... Because we're all on this little blue ball together. So please, the next time that you see someone a little down... Do me a favor. Give them a smile.

It makes all the difference.

I'm so tired of hearing that Phoenix saved Miles without hearing about any of its implications.

Because Phoenix's savior complex is a major problem not a solution. Because Wrightworth is not about Phoenix saving Miles, it's about them saving each other. Because in Farewell My Turnabout, Miles Edgeworth said "We aren't some sort of heroes. We're only human." and he was right.

AND BABY FINN TOO!!! WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT BABY!!! I NEED TO KNOW!!! SOMEONE KEEP HIM SAFE!!!

I'm goin through it

D:BH - 28 Stab Wounds Explained

It's 28th so it's the best day to share Bryan's explanation of the famous "Twenty-Eight stab wounds!" scene.

Bryan confirms there is 'a lot of little moments like this in the scenes' but personally I know only about very few of them. "Got it!" / Slamming the table / Pushing away by arm / Angrily gesticulating frustration from boss / More humane movements and expressions Did you guys noticed some other subtle things Connor repeats from Hank? Let's find them :D

not a big fan of AI but this is a top 10 video of all time for me

I think this is a really valid criticism, OP! Though, maybe I'm just optimistic, but I actually took the ending in a different way. I do agree with you that a lot of these mutliverse shows and movies lately have had that pattern of, "lmao get good loser", in response to valid issues, which is absolutely infurating to see. It feels demeaning, handwavy, and just overall frustrating!

But to me, I think the story of FC was about stagnation vs. growth; and about how wish fufillment isn't quite the way to achieve life of your dreams. Both Simon's and Fiona's stories are about acceptance about the shitty aspects of their lives, but more specifically, they're about how that acceptance begins to pave the way towards joy. At first it seems like it's the same message, but when you look a little deeper, it takes on a different form. Especially once you take in GolBetty and the Lich into account.

Fiona wants nothing more than to live in a magical world, one where she doesn't have to deal with the infurating nature of modern life. But once she goes on her big ol' magical, life changing adventure, she realizes that the world she holds dear is special in its own right. Her joy doesn't come immediately. She definitely seems happier after seeing Gary and Marshall together and not trying to kill eachother- but I think her true development comes from her being able to finally fulfill her dreams; and then being given a purpose: to rebuild their world and town. Sure, it's a lot of responsibility, but she's Fiona!!! I don't think this girl will ever go back to a traditional 9-5 ever again. She's their world's hero now.

Simon, on the other hand, is a bit slower to change. Yet again, though, his story is less about acceptance and more about ingenuity. As much as I hate to say it, because Finn is in no way a "mental health king", I think he was on the right path when tried to take Simon on an adventure to make him feel better. What Simon needed more than anything was to know that he was still needed. That he still mattered. Even though he felt alienated, like an artifact in a museum, he still had a point to be on that shelf. What Finn screwed up, though, was how he went about it. Simon could've gotten through this period by just talking to Marcy and being honest, but he's far too scared of letting her see him that unstable again. But once he's able to talk to Fiona about it, and see for a fact, that his actions mattered: that the simple act of caring for Marcline kept the Vampires from taking over Ooo- he begins to develop.

Again, although his final development wasn't shown until the montage, I think that's simply because we haven't seen the last of Simon. Or Fiona, for that matter. They aren't being told to accept the fact that they have nothing to live for, but to find it.

It's a story about how wish fulfillment doesn't always work out for the best and that sometimes, the true slice of heaven that you've been craving was just a world where you felt like you had a place. It's one where even a god who can make all your wishes come true can end up depriving you of a purpose once it's achieved. It's one about how dreams come true in stranger ways, like Scarab becoming Prismo's apprentice and being given the chance to make his own worlds, too. It's one where even when given the chance to imagine a new reality with your lover, you know it's time to accept the one you have for what it is.

Still, absolutely valid analysis, this was just my take! :D

Wasn’t crazy about the Fionna and Cake ending

A lot of things were fine. Good even. this isn’t about something as simple as “Simon didn’t end up with Betty 😡” because frankly I didn’t ever see that happening. No, it’s about this wishy-washy message I keep seeing in all this multiverse media. Tell me if this one sounds familiar: our heroes are unhappy with some aspect of their lives, like maybe they’re struggling to get by due to bad finances. then they go on some zany, multiverse-spanning adventure where they eventually learn that their universe is just fine!!! and that they’ve got to make the most of it!! (Also usually the big problem is cheaply resolved, like it never even mattered.)

and frankly, this style of story, which we keep fucking seeing, is starting to sound a hell of a lot like “suck it up, buttercup! if you wanted a good life you should have tried harder. have you ever considered getting out of your own way?”

you see this in EEAAO of course. “oh is the world too financially cruel? is your mom homophobic? well have you ever considered just asking nicely about both of those things, you dummy?” And honestly in a lot of ways the ending of Fionna and Cake is even worse. Why should Simon be happy with his shitty job at the fucking human zoo? Why should Fionna be happy with working a shitty job her entire life?

and then you think about who’s actually writing and directing our oh-so-uplifting multiverse stories and it’s like. oh yeah. millionaires. successful people. who actually got what they wanted out of life. they’re not saying *they* should be happy with nothing, no no no. they’re part of the *special people* who get to dream. *you’re* the one who should be satisfied with nothing. and let’s take it even further why not. how many of these successful types even deserve it? how many of them even make beautiful things? not a lot!!

personally, being told by someone who’s living their dream that I should just be happy being a little scrap of nothing makes me want to burn down the whole world. and I would have at least preferred at least a drop of that catharsis in the ending of Fionna and Cake

This clip will live rent free in my mind for 3000-5000 business days.

this show is so fucking funny

i always thought of you as made of moonlight because of that first night…

This amazing comic actually got me to realize the true difference between Stan and Bill. I was never able to pin down why I've never gotten on the "Bill reincarnates into Stan Pines" train, and I think this simple reason is why.

Stan Pines never stopped trying to make up for his mistakes. Call him what you want, but you can't deny that he's a man of accountability.

He became a grifter to prove to his family that he still deserved his last name. Instead of cutting them out like he absolutely deserved to, he spent a decade trying to make them proud.

When he fought his brother and accidentally pushed him into the portal- he didn't stop believing that he was out there! This man who never graduated high school taught himself how to put back together a multidimensional portal that had taken a man with 14 doctorates, the man who cannonicallt invented the first laptop, and oh yeah, an eltrich omnipotent demon to create.

When he didn't think he could take care of Dipper and Mabel, this greedy man spent his last cent to feed them and buy their ticket back home.

When he found out that Soos' birthday was triggering to him, he fought the US so hard to get rid of the date that he got put on a do not fly list.

And when the universe turned upside down, he sacrificed himself to save the world. To save his family.

But Bill... I don't think he fought nearly as hard to save his family. Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps he tried just as hard. But I doubt it.

Stan worked to repair his mistakes. Bill tried to run from them. Stan confronted his fears. Bill still is trapped by them.

OK I REALLY LIKE HOW IT TURNED OUT-