[idkplp]

mostly rbs + shitposting

new ena card looks amazing

Current spotlight interest: 🎃IWTV, PJSK🦇

#blahb — nonsense talk

#analysis — longer analysis posts

trans people are the coolest. go away if youre weird

fandom tags: #gravity falls / #deltarune / #pjsk / #vocaloid / #legends of avantris / #iwtv / #mp100 / #danganronpa / #madoka magica / #tgcf / #mdzs / #erha / #ace attorney / #yugioh / #naruto / #tadc / #death note

others: #color palette / #faves / #art inspo / #meme / #info / #ref …etc

[asmogorna]

Gals oh so proper

[taffypointby]

do you mind if i sit heeeeeeere :333

[nikoco11]

no, i haven't heard back from them. have you?

[nikoco11]

thinking about toriel trying to encourage kris out of the house this day. and carol calling before hand, confirming noelle is going to go. thinking about how this isn’t the first time carol has had this horrible phone call

[idkplp]

havent watched the new tvl episode yet....i need to make another bingo board

[idkplp]

Do if it’s a hot take but Armand in Paris is very different from Armand in Dubai. He seems almost asleep or detached in Paris in comparison to Dubai.

In iwtv s3 so far, he is similar but different to Armand in Dubai, but you can really see how losing Louis and turning Daniel has destabilized his sense of self, or maybe rather how much of a performance Dubai was.

Louis at the start of the first season of iwtv is also really different, more empty and off putting then he is as we progress into the season and season 2.

Armand in Dubai is very performative imo. He’s trying to intimidate Daniel once he stops pretending to be Rashid. Compared to Paris he’s pretty different, a version of him that’s helpless and looks so pitiful despite how much power he has over you.

In tvl we see him a lot more vacant and empty (probably the more true version of him). I think partially it’s cause he lost Louis (who he could cling to as the center of his status quo so now is a bit lost), but also just because thats truly who Armand is. He’s like a sad, limping dog who follows you around hoping for your affection… And that fulfills him, for a while. Until it loses its effect too, he’s empty again and without a thought bites through your neck as you sleep and sadly limps to his next potential owner. I don’t really think he feels a strong sense of self without someone else in that role (because of his own trauma with Marius, etc).

And Louis definitely had some development. Idk if you mean New Orleans s1 Louis or Dubai s1 Louis but i’ll assume the latter. He wears a lot of black, muted clothes. Speaks very rehearsed and matter of factly. Sort of…dead inside? Haha. We’ve definitely seen him flourish since Armand, though obviously still struggling with grief. He gets to emote now (yay) and wear color. I think its mostly cause 1) he got closure/was finally able to confront his memories of Claudia now with the whole truth and 2) Coming out of two very bad relationships he gets to focus on what he wants to do, who he wants to be, without anyone keeping him. “His love is a small box he keeps you in” and now he’s finally out of the box. “Where’s your coffin? You’re standing in it” and he’s finally climbed out of the trial coffin.

[idkplp]

I want Louis's wardrobe bad but I don't have Louis wardrobe money :(

[idkplp]

Hi! Here are some random observations of you wanted to comment:

Perhaps it is impossible to truly disconnect completely from humanity because vampires come from humans, and it is therefore necessary for a vampire to sympathize with humans (or rather a human) in some way (i.e., to make a fledgling)

Human blood being their main source of food (apparently animal and bagged blood does not satisfy) also adds to this burden, making it almost impossible to separate from human society

Vampire society does not exist in isolation, and carries all the prejudices, ideals and biases of the human society from which the vampires that make it up come from. Lestat and Gabriella’s (French and Italian) nationalism (might be way too strong of a word here tho) for instance. Despite the first vampire being from ancient Egypt, vampires do not seem to favour this culture

The dangers of assimilation and the potential imposition of a hegemonic culture within vampiric covens were major themes in iwtv s2

Sure! Fledglings do really mirror the sort of parental/raising someone up role that humans have. Not 1 to 1 for sure. But is also a pretty good example of something of a vampire's being both very human and also (because of how its distorted from societal conventions) extremely inhuman.

The blood stuff is interesting because bagged/animal blood dont "satisfy" but also can keep the body alive. So if you impose human morals that restrict yourself to it, you can still live but be lacking what your body requires. And sort of make yourself miserable in the process. Plus, gotta be relatively near humans to feed on them like you said. Humans don't really have to live with cows to enjoy milk or chickens to eat chicken so it is a little more odd for vampire society. Kinda living amongst food, but they can comprehend you and empathize. I think a lotta vampires must have to just put themselves in a class above humans, as a superior to mentally navigate that odd reality of theirs. Maybe why a lot of vampires have egos lol.

ALSO THIS!!! "Vampire society does not exist in isolation, and carries all the prejudices, ideals and biases of the human society from which the vampires that make it up come from." TOTALLY. A HUNDRED PERCENT. I would even say that some vampires who act totally separate to humans actually just feel disconnected to the current state of people and culture. They think they are witnessing this huuuge distance between themselves adjusting to becoming a vampire and humans who are slowly being viewed as the other. But its not a mental shift as they're coming into their own--they're just being made an outsider the more time passes. In reality, these vampires actually reflect A LOT of their human time and beliefs. Tons of human-isms shaped by their mortal life, just they stand out as "inhuman" now as humanity shifts. The book talked a lot about vampires growing out of their time periods and just ending it cause they no longer had an anchor to this world. So maybe when you no longer have that anchor, you could just attribute your outdated human traits to your inhuman nature and act above other humans no longer possessing it.

A lot of these beliefs too tend to be super white-centric and protecting more "sacred" peoples. Some of those covens too, but Armands as we see in s2 is its own story. They are also clinging onto the past, the old rituals, but who knows if these Vampires have lived old enough to have witnessed those rituals themselves. There its more about clinging to tradition imposed by a group than their own personal history. And none of those vampires were really fufilled by it compared to the life Lestat promised for them and eventually the theatre. The coven was just their anchor, giving their monstrous life purpose.

[idkplp]

Would Louis have stayed with Armand if he had only directed the play (but still saved him) ? What if he had not directed the play but chose only to save Louis when he could have saved both of them ? Did Louis have a sneaking suspicion he chose not to save Claudia but stayed anyway because he believed he had saved him at the trial ?

Don't think Louis was mostly hung up about the saving vs not saving him thing so no I don't think he would have stayed with Armand if Louis learned he'd been deceiving him to continuously go off to direct a play that planned and resulted in the death of his daughter

The second one is basically what Lestat did (didn't direct the play, had the choice to save Louis or Claudia and chose Louis) but if Lestat could have maybe saved them both. Uhhh I mean if he couldve saved Claudia and chose not to that sucks. And while Louis probably wouldnt forgive him its a far cry to planning someones murder. I mean if Armand could only save one of them, it sort of does loop around to Lestat and Louis forgave him for that (though Lestat was grieving Claudia too). So depends on the circumstances ig, but that's not what happened so its just pure speculation

I don't think Louis knew ANY of the extent. I don't even think he felt gratitude to Armand for saving him, he already wanted to die at that point. He probably would have preferred to die. So I don't think he stayed with Armand knowing he killed Claudia, and I'd go so far as to say he wouldn't let himself even entertain it after a while. Because the idea of him being with Armand who could be Claudia's killer is horrible (and also parallels how he had doubts about Lestat being Paul's killer but never allowed himself to seriously dwell on it). Was he suspicious of Armand for lying about stuff overtime, yeah probably. The whole trial thing was suspicious and I'm sure he doubted a lot of Armand's story (just that sort of bad feeling you get), but if he was suspicious of Armand, it probably wasnt for full fledged murder. Especially not the director of it. Worst he'd let himself stew on is that Armand just didn't try hard enough to save her or that Armand was unaffected by Claudia being gone, maybe even relieved. And that's not really fair resentment if Armand really did try, plus its sad to think that if Armand really had tried a TINY bit more Claudia would still be alive. Just my opinion though.

[idkplp]

My take on TVL is that I think the modern language like “bottom twink” and “uwu japanime” is genuinely awful and makes it really feel like old people trying to be “cool” and “in touch with the youth” or whatever. It does not make the show sound more real, it will just make it feel dated super fast :(

100%%%% agree. A lot of the references feel dated even before the episode's aired like talking about labubus or random pop culture stuff thats only really around for like a few weeks. It's only really funny so far as "wow lestat knows about *insert modern thing*???" like siri pause in season 2. But they're leaning into it HARD so its like "yeah ok lestat. memes weird. cell phone bad. stan twitter funny i guess. yeah we get it already"

Bottom twink and uwu japanime just make me cringe OTL Like what are you talking about. Feels like writers are just in a bunch of fandom spaces and think its funny to be self-referential about how its fans speak about the show, without realizing its making the narration worse. So obnoxious in dialogue too

Also personally I think they're trying so so hard to make lestat camp. And you cant really MAKE camp you just are. Like the costumes and having him say he was serving cunt just seems so tryhard....trying so hard to be cool that it leans so far the opposite for me. Sometimes his look is a serve and sometimes its a shein top lets be fr.

[idkplp]

It is impossible for a happy vampire to be completely inhuman.

Also, vampires mistakenly associate ‘humanity’ with ‘good’

This one was really interesting to think about. Starting with the second one I definitely agree. The guilt of being a vampire, of committing acts that would previously be shamed if committed by a human causes a huge burden in their conscience (as we see in many characters, namely louis). I think it's because being a vampire hasn't been their entire history so they have to draw comparisons to their humanity (especially early in their turning). And a lot of the comparisons really don't favor vampirism. So humanity is idealized as its best, frozen in time, simple. Meanwhile vampirism is hardship, it means getting your hands dirty, being dead to the world and watching it pass you by. It means change.

But that doesn't really mean humanity is any more "good" than vampires. And trying to be a human when you're not just makes you a miserable vampire, and more frustrated for not reaching this high ideal of goodness. I think either existence is neutral, it's just about how you use it.

Circling back to "It is impossible for a happy vampire to be completely inhuman", this......I can't really say either way. Because a lot of what makes a vampire fulfilled is so so similar to humans. For example, companions--seeking connection is such a human concept, but here it is baked so intrinsically into vampire society and specifically in fighting the vampire loneliness. Is this then a human desire or vampire desire?

What about the desire to eat food/blood? To not cause yourself undue harm? To pursue passions in your spare time.

I think I will agree that a happy vampire finds fulfillment in needs that are parallel to humans. But it's sort of these needs that make them so inhuman. Blood is from humans, so the act of eating like any other human would is the thing that alienates them. But then again, there are ways to source blood that don't really require killing. Is this human-centric morality thus the basis of vampire's virtue?

Probably? I can't really say for certain that killing humans weighs on a vampire's mind any more than a human killing animals would (I mean...that's not great for humans either, but a lot of hunters aren't less happy for it. Unless you mean they're closed off from a potential connection with animals that could theoretically make them more happy). But since vampires often coexist among humans I suppose it would have its own satisfaction to not inflict so much death while satisfying your need for blood. But then again, plenty of vampires are fine separating themselves from human suffering. Maybe its if you used that same human-morality but just applied it to your own kind? No harming others that don't harm you, but it's sorta complicated with the wider vampire society....

So yeah, back in forth. I think overall Claudia and Gabrielle specifically are vampires who truly love being vampires without burdening themselves about being human. And for Gabrielle its how inhumanity means she can be anything, whereas humanity chained her down. But it also is very human to want to escape the roles that confine you, and like Claudia, to find a community and a history of your kind.

Is it or isn't it becomes really philosophical apparently haha. If anyone has any thoughts of their own, we're in this together pfff

[idkplp]

(Show) Lestat avoided Nicki out of guilt after turning him, hoping the issue would resolve itself without actually actively doing anything to prevent his breakdown, further isolating him and worsening his symptoms

I..... agree! We know he kept the music box out of guilt after everything. I think his turning makes perfect sense and not wanting to be confronted with the consequences of it (especially with how Lestat himself was turned, it feels dirty). Nikki was already struggling before then so the isolation (felt as abandonment) probably had an extreme adverse effect on him. And his music being used for their vampire charade too just made it lose its purpose.

I don't think Lestat really "gives up on people", but he is much more avoidant with people than he probably wants to believe. Especially compared to like Louis or Gabrielle/a who would block him out while he desperately tries to reach them. He does tend to go off when things get vulnerable or make him hurt/emotional. And normally just circles back around when it's easier and things have blown over. But nothing has actually changed to solve it.

Like going out hunting as an excuse, or Antoinette, but avoiding Nikki just made him deteriorate more once he returned. It wouldn't go away on his own, so he's just responsible for leaving it to fester. The guilt just snowballed.

[idkplp]

Give me your hottest IWTV or TVL takes and I'll tell you what I think as someone who apparently cant stop yapping about it online

Replies or anon asks are cool. Also don't be racist (duh)

[idkplp]

I am not a wife. I am not a woman. (TVL spoilers)

Shhh I knowww I said I would leave the Gabriella stuff alone because it's just kinda….uh not good. So while there's merit to analyzing thoughtfulness even if I think it kinda missed the mark, when she’s so uh……a caricature there's no point in keeping a long list of dings a la cinema-sins.

THAT BEING SAID. It is so interesting that to AMC's The Vampire Lestat, Gabriella no longer being “a woman” means the same as no longer being “a human”. The shows refusal to discuss gender politics despite every single title that she was subjected to “mother, wife”, etc are all gendered roles. And she ends it with no longer being a woman. But what does that actually entail? Well, they show us. It means no longer acting human, killing ruthlessly, etc. Nothing about her role as “a woman” is fundamentally altered as we see it. She is still perceived as such and her only alterations on it are strictly nonhuman. Being violent, killing, drinking blood, looking ghostly, etc.

It would be the same exact speech for her character if she had said “i am no longer a mother, a wife, no longer a human.” Because what she is really rejecting in this scene is her own humanity. The show uses gendered language but does not really investigate why her gender is relevant to transition from being human to inhuman. Her short hair becomes an accessory to stay lore accurate and create a modern look, a hand wave away, instead of important to how she perceives her own gender. Her sexuality which was stolen from her by her husband is a prop to shorthand her as manipulative and cruel to the other male characters and promote our sympathy WITH THEM.

Gender is an obstruct for their idea of Gabriella as an evil seductress they can puppeteer. They don't want to dwell on her gender, regardless of how many times it's relevant to her story, because it would mean pointing a big red arrow at the show's blind spot. Gabriella is not a character, but she can ONLY be played by a woman as they've written her. And yet never be allowed to discuss what the significance of that gender even means. What an anomaly.

[idkplp]

im prepared

[idkplp]

I WAS TOO LOCKED IN TO MARK EVERYTHING (might have missed some stuff which is what the pink ones are, dont remember exactly) Aka Daniel and Louis not being bromantic this episode killed my bingo

Also yes yaoi. Yes cocaine. No "yaoi cocaine yuri heroin" mention sadly. We did get, and I quote, "UWU Japanime eyes" uhhhhhhhhh I get the vision but not the racist microaggression to the only asian main character

FINAL CONCLUSION: LESTAT SHOWERED YET SURELY STILL SMELLS. GET HIM SOME SHAMPOO AND BODY WASH SOMEONE

[idkplp]

I've been playing so much deltarune.... (spoilers/my thoughts)

I like a LOT of this chapter. Little bits, ideas they introduced (like Ralsei being jealous of Flowery's independence), the noelle susie stuff, and the ending with susie etc. But I do think the overall narrative was kinda weaker than the other chapters. Not just in an "oooo secrets, the loreeee" way. For example:

Ch1 - susie learns that violence doesnt always solve her problems, grew closer to kris and made new friends. learned to rely on other people and ralsei learned to trust her

Ch2 - susie enjoys the dark worlds (implied she feels more safe/happy there on these adventures than in the lightworld), Ralsei has some little moments, but mostly noelle we learn about her and also parallel her relationship to her mom with queen. (and learn more about berdly ig). Plus spamton paralleling how kris is being controlled

Ch3 - Learning more about kris' allegiances, also tenna being important for kris' childhood. Susie knowing what it feels like to be abandoned so she doesnt want to abandon tenna. Also her talking about how she doesnt like being lied to/kept in the dark. And ralsei projecting his "we dont matter we're not real" thing onto tenna despite clearly wanting to be a real friend to susie and kris.

Ch4 - Susie has an arc about learning to trust her abilities more even if shes not great at first (healing, piano, etc). Ralsei is overwhelmed by the prophecy, but also just doesnt feel like a person thus why he tries to do everything for susie and kris. he feels like he exists just to help them. but also tries to keep a lot secret from them

Ch5 - Ralsei is still worried about the prophecy, but that's pretty expected. Not much to really say for it. He was jealous of flowery i suppose and hated him but that seemed like it was treated as a funny "sunshine character is angry" joke most of the time it happened. And no one really asked about it most we got was susie saying "ignore that guy hes a jerk" before the flowery fight. Also susie (because of the parallels from chapter 1) was sort of made to confront how she acted in ch1. super super interesting idea. But it never fully reached a conclusion with that. Susie said she changed and it never really lingered on it past then. The light world stuff with susie was great and the end chapter too, but thats like 10% of the runtime if even.

Even ignoring all the dess/soul/knight/titan/fountain/depths stuff, i feel like each chapter the characters either grew a little or we learned more about them. Though I think a lot of time here was spent on the flowers that, while sometimes charming sometimes very annoying, dont really matter to a large narrative and are a little too shallow to dig deep into (or even parallel one of our main characters). besides flowery obviously, though even he is sort of just there. making bits. I wasn't expecting anything crazy besides some flowey parallels going into it so it made it more neutral than anything. okay👍

[idkplp]

im prepared