There’s No Good Reason Not To Do Good.

I seem to mostly post about The Umbrella Academy and UK politics. One of these things is significantly better than the other.

[rebel-by-default]

Rebel's Fic Masterpost

Welcome to my tiny internet niche. I currently write fics for The Umbrella Academy (and post about many other strange things.)

My Fics

Series: A Beast of a Burden: An AU series, where Five's time travelling shenanigans have a physical effect. One little change leads to a very different adventure in Dallas.

This is a Gift, it Comes With a Price - Five dashes across Dallas, desperate to get all his siblings together before nuclear war hits, or before his body gives up on him, whichever comes first.

An Old Man is Twice a Child - The Hargreeves have already got enough to deal with, but now they have CPS knocking on the door, asking about the mysterious appearance of a certain teenager.

Unnamed Sequel - TBC!

Standalone: A Relative to Truth: When the Hargreeves emerge from the elevator, Sloane isn't the only one who is missing. Meanwhile, a hundred miles to the north, Five is definitely losing his mind. Every day he fights his delusions. Until one day, he finds one of them sat on his bed, ready to bring him home.

Series: Rebel's Whumptober Fics: A selection of whumptober prompts, which can all be read standalone.

Bad Trip, Good Brother - Five gets kidnapped, Diego's not quite sure how it happened, but he soon gets some (slightly amusing) answers

Stay Awake With Me (You Know I Can't Just Let You Be) - Five and Diego are trapped under a collapsed building, and it's getting damn cold. Now he needs to keep Five awake, or all could be lost.

Half a Spear and a Closet Full of Trauma - Everyone is surprised when Five volunteers to keep an eye on Claire. Unsurprisingly, things get a little dangerous

We've Lost Our Chance - When Klaus, Diego and Five are trapped in the City Archives, they come to a horrifying realization. One of them is going to die.

Making Choices - Lila doesn't want to help Five. He killed her parents, it's fair enough. But Five is clearly hurting and he's only down the hall.

Like The Ceiling Can't Hold Us - When an intruder breaks into Viktor and Five's apartment, Five does what is necessary to keep them both safe, but it has some unintended consequences.

Smells Like (Homeless) Teen Spirit  - Luther knows he is naïve. He knows there's a lot of the world he hasn't seen, but when Klaus drags home a starving, grimy looking Five, he realizes there is so much he doesn't see, just because he isn't looking.

Life is Just This (It's Living) - Everything's over and people are moving on, except Five. He's not doing great.

Shiny Happy (Bloodsoaked) People - Allison decides to do some research for a role, and pisses off an entire cartel using experimental drugs. It goes about as well as expected

It's Only When I Hit the Ground (It Causes so Much Grief) - Allison's acting career is taking off, what better than a helicopter ride to celebrate? Five disagrees.

My Tags

Interested in TUA? Click here

You can also find my fic tag here

And I post about UK Politics here

[castielstiel]

[confessionsdiaz]

*through gritted teeth* the world is GOOD. people are kind. Humans are NOT inheritly selfish. you will make it through this year. recovery is possible. people you don't know yet will love you. You are going to do things you can't even imagine right now. You are going to read a rlly good book. You are going to eat some rlly good food. You are going to experience joy again. Things can get better. Situations can change. You can choose to be kinder. The world can change for the better.

[lennyjamin]

spoke deeply to me.

[mulderscully]

DANA SCULLY | 5.10

[hydro-homies]

[waxworm-moved]

[sepulchretide]

[rethmyc]

[behindnightmaresanddreams]

[splodey-goat]

[scp-threats-is-back]

[usernameichoseonawhim]

I love how tumblr users play with Jorge I mean jpegs not Jorge who the fuck is Jorge

[scp-threats-is-back]

[slaughterednsfw-wav]

Spiders jpg

[fawkesheart12]

Woah dude

[bludraws094]

[unyieldingsilence]

‎

[clefaiiiry]

If I made a series that was an explicit critique of capitalism but then it got given two unnecessary extra seasons, a bunch of global spinoffs greenlit, a marketing tie-in with Doritos, and a fucking Fortnite collab, I think I’d also give it a miserable ass ending out of spite.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

Possible unpopular opinion: treating having a special interest as equivalent to being an expert on the topic is another form of the savant stereotype.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

For example: I am writing a dissertation on my special interest. Before that, I read everything there was publicly available to read about it.

Since doing professional research with academic training, I've realized that what I thought I knew was dependent on biased, outdated, and generally wrong historiography. Those books I read are incorrect in multiple ways, and I didn't know how badly until I was doing the research myself.

The point is: having a special interest may (and doesn't have to) make you read everything there is about something. But that might lead you to read old things or outdated things or things that are debated without necessarily having the ability to parse what is and isn't good information because you're just glad that it's about Your Thing. It does not make you an expert or even necessarily a discerning reader because the good feelings while reading a Wiki or an old book can make you less critical.

And it's ok that it doesn't! Sometimes the point is to make yourself happy, not to make yourself the most correct person in the room on a given topic.

[rebel-by-default]

I have an obsession with arthurian legend, but I regularly return to things I already know as a comfort and then I forget a lot of the things i learn (only to learn them again later!) It's a special I terest but by God I am not an expert.

[rockinlibrarian]

My two specialest interests, see username, are both relatively mainstream things. I honestly feel overwhelmed at how NOT AN EXPERT I am on books and music history when I'm on the internet surrounded by actual experts! So thanks for posting this!

Also hi, @rebel-by-default , I feel like I haven't seen you in awhile!

[rebel-by-default]

You're right I haven't been on tumblr for like a good year now (life just kept happening) so hello! 👋

[depsidase]

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

Possible unpopular opinion: treating having a special interest as equivalent to being an expert on the topic is another form of the savant stereotype.

[kaiserin-erzsebet]

For example: I am writing a dissertation on my special interest. Before that, I read everything there was publicly available to read about it.

Since doing professional research with academic training, I've realized that what I thought I knew was dependent on biased, outdated, and generally wrong historiography. Those books I read are incorrect in multiple ways, and I didn't know how badly until I was doing the research myself.

The point is: having a special interest may (and doesn't have to) make you read everything there is about something. But that might lead you to read old things or outdated things or things that are debated without necessarily having the ability to parse what is and isn't good information because you're just glad that it's about Your Thing. It does not make you an expert or even necessarily a discerning reader because the good feelings while reading a Wiki or an old book can make you less critical.

And it's ok that it doesn't! Sometimes the point is to make yourself happy, not to make yourself the most correct person in the room on a given topic.

[rebel-by-default]

I have an obsession with arthurian legend, but I regularly return to things I already know as a comfort and then I forget a lot of the things i learn (only to learn them again later!) It's a special I terest but by God I am not an expert.

[woodlouseandbird]

my therapist suggested i imagine my intrusive thoughts in the voice of donald trump bc i do not possess an ounce of respect for him or trust in his competence. going thru it today so i made this. hope this helps

[ill-crawl-home-to-her]

no this is genius actually

[moved-to-the-somberlaiin]

[dollopole]

There’s something so sweet about this scene. Not only Arthur is surrounded by his knights, his friends, he still can’t seem to forget there’s someone missing.

And the way he approaches Merlin is nothing funny or sarcastic: it’s pure concern, it’s love, it’s respect.

Merlin admits he’s scared, without thinking about it twice, because yes, this is Arthur, the same man who makes fun of me on a daily, but he’s also my best friend, the man I love, and who I could lose, but I can’t tell him, but, oh God, if he needs to know I don’t want him to die. I’m the most powerful warlock on earth, yet I’m scared of Morgana, because she wants to kill Arthur, and I’m weak when it comes to him, I’m scared I won’t be able to protect him as I should (especially since Merlin has heard the prophecy that spoke of Arthur’s bane).

I like Arthur’s stunned face. Merlin is referring to his life. “You don’t care you could die?” And not only Arthur is shocked by it, because he thought Merlin knew his reasonings by now, knew that Arthur would never risk losing his knights, losing Merlin. But Arthur doesn’t care as long as his men are safe, as long as Merlin’s safe (because, let’s be honest, this conversation is nothing but a way for them to tell each other how they feel towards one another, without exposing themselves to the danger of this revelation). And Arthur needs to make something clear:

“Only about you.” Because Arthur brings Merlin everywhere like he’s a solider, a warrior, someone who knows how to fight with a sword, who’s an asset to Camelot and the kingdom itself, so he considers him an equal, someone he can sit with on a lower step and chat with about his fears, because he can be vulnerable with Merlin. Arthur knows he’s safe with him.

Arthur includes Merlin in his speech, and this is something that could mean, “Oh, so Merlin isn’t a friend, isn’t a brother, he’s so much more.” This scene is so impactful, because it’s one of those rare moments where Arthur shows how deeply he can love, how much risk he’s willing to take to bring peace to his kingdom and to his people: to the ones he loves.

And he knows his knights, he knows Merlin won’t abandon him, because he has never done it, and Arthur truly believes Merlin has no reason to do it now, even if he’s scared. It’s as if Arthur is asking, just to make sure, just to have the confirmation that they think the same of it.

And they do:

I wish I didn’t understand how much I’m willing to risk, and have already risked for you. Because this is why I’m here: for you and only for you.

The self deprecating smile, because Merlin can’t back down, he never will. He’s so frightened, yet not even the prospect of battling against Morgana and her army will make him run.

He has Arthur to protect.

The way he smiles, it’s as if he’s saying, “Why didn’t I understand this sooner? Arthur’s just like me.” But it’s the fact that they told each other this, they know now, after ten years, that they’re willing to do anything and more for the other to stay safe, to be alive, even if one of them isn’t.

Merlin tells Arthur. He watches him intensely, because Arthur needs to understand. He’s honest.

Arthur gets it, and he’s finally happy. He’s relieved that Merlin won’t abandon him, that he will stay by his side, like he always is, protecting him, fighting with him, and helping him.

Arthur smiles at Merlin like he’s seeing him for the first time, and he falls in love with him just that tad bit more.

[zalia]

Happy 'Gleefully burn an effigy of a man who comitted high treason while eating delicious food and watching fireworks' day to UK folks (and y'know, if the US decides it wants to join in, I fully support this! Y'all deserve to do a little effigy burning after this election cycle and the one in 2016). Also happy 'Destiel Becomes canon' Day to those who celebrate.

[stil-lindigo]

John Oliver platforms Palestinian voices as he advocates for voting for Harris.

If you live in a swing state, please properly consider your role in this election. Remember to distrust the polls, the projections - the presidential election will be infuriatingly close. Nothing is set in stone.

Please think about your queer friends and family, your community that includes people of colour, disabled people, poor people, immigrants. Evaluate the true historical value of what a protest vote does - compare it to the two candidates, one of which will be the president at the end of this final stretch.

Your vote matters. Please, treat it like it does.

[montygreen]

[blythe-ly]

I miss Jason

[ahallister]

Honestly, that scale actually makes perfect sense, especially for a sixty person dance crew. You want people who are really good at what they do, but not who will attempt to stand out and affect the cohesion of the group. Too fresh and not fresh enough are both negative qualities. And Jason is just saying that an 8 represents the ideal amount. That’s actually pretty deep, and suggests a collectivist instinct in him.

And yes, that means that Jason is effectively saying that Michael is too smart for his own good, to his detriment.

[speakingofdoorknobs]

I saw this and went “oh, so it works like the pH scale”… then realized that means that he’s calling Michael basic.

[leia-connor-vas-serenity]

He’s also inadvertently practicing Virtue Ethics.  The theory of virtue ethics states that every virtue, like generosity, exists on a spectrum somewhere between two vices, like stinginess and being so generous you harm yourself. 

[madenthusiasms]

Not really inadvertently - The Good Place was essentially a grad-level virtue ethics class disguised as a sitcom.

[taraljc]

Manny Jacinto is a goddam gift

[pumpkin-memories]

Billy getting into his car and DRIVING AWAY in full superhero regalia with the entire Westview neighborhood watching is the funniest fucking thing I've ever seen.

[anxietyproblem]

[anxietyproblem]

3 months*

[muffmellow]

goddddddd stopppppppp

[jd-205]

The years 2020-2024 honestly feel like it happened in the course of... like... 2 months max... I can't comprehend the fact we'll just be in 2025 less than 3 months