An absolutely inconcievable blog

I see many people do this, so I guess a welcome post calls!

Stuff to know:

My main fandom is Carmen Sandiego but I like other shows including Gravity Falls, the Owl House… I can’t think of any other ones right now

I’m a gamer! I enjoy Zelda especially!

I like Disney, History, Comedy (The Princess Bride) and Animated Movies

As you can probably tell, I love history (for any CS fans, I guess you could say I’m a Jules)

I’d like to stay anonymous so you can call me anything.

Hate me all you want but I like to write fanfic. I gotta get my creative juices flowing somehow. Especially for Carmen Sandiego

[Controversial] Pineapple on Pizza is amazing!

Did you know that humans are the only species on this planet to have chins?

Also more importantly, no hate speech or anything too political.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Stay dazzling - HA!

(Oh wait that’s taken… hang on)

So since Philippine Independence Day is this month on the 12th I might as well share my thoughts on the movie A WHILE after the trailer released.

Side note: For context, my mum is Filipino and my dad is British. I lived in the Philippines before moving to the UK which is my current residence.

First and foremost… ABOUT TIME! I personally feel like the Philippines sort of gets a little overlooked in Western media. The most I could see is some characters being confirmed to be Filipino outside of the show or it being a little niche. For example, a book from Britain called “Tall Story” is based on a brother and sister from the Philippines and the UK respectively and it doesn’t really get talked about that much in the UK compared to the Philippines (or at least in my old school).

Secondly… I didn’t realise it was set in the Philippines until someone mentioned it - even if I lived there for 12 years. Trust me, I felt like an idiot when I found out. But knowing that, I noticed so many things that reminded me of the Philippines like the jeepney and the messy electric poles that you see in small towns (seriously, I would be surprised if they weren’t a health hazard). Watching the movie as well, there are subtleties that make it a little more Pinoy coded:

The friendship bracelet has so many references to music. Believe me when I say Filipinos are all about music. Not even joking, a running gag for Filipino creators is that they point out that Filipinos are somewhat bound to have one or all talents: Singing, dancing and playing an instrument. For me… I can play the guitar and can kinda sing.

The friendship bracelet also has a reference to Mananangal (I think) which is a creature in Filipino folklore… it’s a little creepy so I’m not going into any details.

One of the characters going to US for university is also quite common for families that can afford it. I know a family that had a daughter that went to the US.

Additionally, the detail of the character being told to do so by her parents is quite important because in the Philippines there’s something called Utang na Loob. It basically means that you are forever in debt to your parents. On one hand it reminds kids to respect their parents but on the other, it makes kids feel pressured to please their parents by doing exactly as they say. It’s sorta engrained into the culture to the point where I remember that when I visited after living in the UK for a while, my mum explained to me that my aunt still has that mentality. Therefore when we were visiting relatives that we didn’t really feel like visiting, it was more to do with my aunt pleasing them and my grandfather by letting them see us. So, when my mum raised me, she reminded me that I have my own choices and she’ll support me no matter what. She also reminds me that I’m in no debt to her and I can go out and be on my own - trying to break the cycle.

Thirdly, when I was talking about this movie with my mum, she pointed out how fitting the movie title is. This is because she feels like the Filipino language is slowly dying because less young people are learning and using it in favour of English. The culture is also slowly getting less recognised in favour of American culture. Me and my mum sorta notice that Philippines is slowly getting more American. Additionally, I feel like the title is also fitting in the context of pre-colonial history almost being forgotten as well. This is mainly because I remember that a large portion of History I learned in Filipino elementary was about how Spain colonised the Philippines for 300 years. There is also the fact that well known aspects of Filipino culture are influenced by Spain e.g. Tagalog language, Cariñosa, architecture.

Fourthly, I feel like this movie gives Turning Red vibes. Mainly because you have a coming of age story with its design being influenced by the creator’s background. I loved Turning Red but I understand that its audience is a little niche mainly because of the topics being explored and the period controversy (not gonna lie, it shouldn’t be a controversy. Like GUYS, ITS A NATURAL PROCESS!). But I feel like Forgotten Island might have a slightly wider audience because of the possible themes of friendship, moving apart and the fact it was created by the same people on Puss in Boots the Last Wish.

So... Happy Pride Month! Might as well do some HCs related to Carmen Sandiego (oh how original! - jk not really)

Carmen is likely bisexual. But I think she's also demiromantic and demisexual. Considering her job and how she was raised, I feel like it might make some sense. Either way, she's just naturally really flirty

Zack is an ally... and terrible at flirting.

Ivy is probably a lesbian. I think when she was with ACME she started having feelings for Julia and they may have started dating.

Player... hard to say. I've seen lots of people say trans or non-binary. For me personally, would be interesting if he was aroace.

Shadowsan is 100% an ally but he's probably the most difficult to say.

Julia Argent is probably lesbian... you can sorta tell that she really likes Carmen. But I think it would be funny and cute if she was dating Ivy.

Bonus!

I love Jeantonnio. They deserve food truck!

Hunger Games: Why is he so drunk and apathetic?... Okay he helped Katniss - I'll let it pass

Catching Fire: Okay... his guts were spilling out in his Games - kinda understandable that he's drunk.

Mockingjay: Oh cool he tried to go sober.

Sunrise on the Reaping: Why is he not drunk enough?

Hey guys, it's been a while since I did a movie review... so let's change that.

[I'll try to keep spoiler free and I'm not a professional film critic]

Positives

Well... I'm not fashionable but the outfits were mostly stunning in the movie - I mean, it's Devil Wears Prada, what do you expect.

I like how the movie actually considers the character's development from the first one. This is important because the film actually takes place 20 years after the original in universe (which I feel is what most movie sequels I've heard of not really doing as often. Usually the sequel that released 10 years after the original usually has a 1 year time skip since the original in universe) For example, Andy is now more experienced in the workplace and she hasn't forgotten what she has learned in the previous movie. Therefore her pep talks with Nigel are about different things and she is somewhat self-aware about her flaws in the last movie.

I've also heard that in the previous movie, not many people were happy with her boyfriend in the last movie... I haven't seen the last one in a while but the fact he doesn't appear in this one might be a positive for some people. I don't really mind.

Speaking of the time jump, I'm glad they made it contemporary in terms of how the digital age had changed how media is consumed (no more physical magazines) and how corporations now dominate most of it which impacts how the media is presented and produced. There is even one line about how AI could take over the fashion industry. I feel like this one's a little personal to any people part of the creative and journalism industry.

And about social media, I feel like film handled it decently without making it feel too cringe. It doesn't just take social media as something that's for kids and younger Gen Z with Tik Toks or reels, it actually considered how it can spread gossip so much faster with much bigger impact. It also impacts how journalists like Andy have to write in order to get enough clicks to be relevant. It doesn't matter if it's the best thing you've written, if it doesn't catch attention... well to quote Miranda in the first film:

"[It trickles} on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin."

I also liked how this movie made the cast a little more diverse in terms of body shapes and ethnicity. Not gonna give all the credit because I feel they could’ve done a little more and there might be some slight controversy if a lot of credit is given.

Some parts that made me go ehh

This film’s structure is too similar to the first movie. Throughout the movie, I could lay the original side by side in my head and it would almost align. For example, some kind of event is put in for shock value and changes the course of the movie feels around the same time for both films. Although different events, the placement and vibe feels the same as the original. It just makes it feel a little boring not gonna lie.

Even if I liked the commentary on the media industry, I feel like it didn’t lean into it as much as I feel it should.

Although Miranda is still pretty fun - she’s missing some of her venom that the original gave her. Although the film makes fun of how she can’t really do it due to HR complaints in film - it sort of makes her more toned down than in the original. I can think of 1 time towards the end where her original venom shines but that’s it.

Andy’s romance with her new boyfriend isn’t as central compared to the original. There isn’t really much development between them.

Also, I feel that you have to watch the original film to make sure you understand this one - mainly due to the references and lack of a recap. Like the film relies a lot on what the audience knows from the previous movie which might limit newcomers. But that’s just me.

Verdict

I thought it was a fun watch. If you just want more Devil Wears Prada, watch it.

But if you’re waiting for it on streaming- I don’t blame you.

I just finished reading Mockingjay... somehow I almost cried at Katniss breaking down in front of Prim's cat. But something else also made me take a step back... the fact that she's still legally a child.

Although Jennifer Lawrence did a good job portraying Katniss in the movies (that elevator scene in catching fire), the fact that I know she is/she looks like an adult made me forget the fact that Katniss is around 16-17 in the main part of the series. It wasn't until I read the books did the realisation sink in. I feel like the way she's written with her inner monologues reminds me of how teenagers would probably act - e.g. being insulted by Haymitch calling her a dead slug, her and Finnick scaring Peeta in Catching Fire, her being conflicted of romantic feelings for Peeta or Gale.

Reading the trilogy really reminded me that one of the tragedies of this franchise would be Katniss having to do all of these adult things despite being a teenager herself - and some adults around her tend to forget that. Or use her as cannon fodder. Especially in Mockingjay when she says "I think it's been a long time since I've been considered a child in this war".

And it doesn't just apply to her, literally all the other tributes in the 74th Hunger Games and kids in the series in general sort of share a similar fate to her. Grow up faster. Not really much room for childhood.

So I got into the Hunger Games and I’m currently reading Mockingjay. Here’s what I got so far… it’s mostly stupid and what I can remember.

“You have as much charm as a dead slug” (Hunger Games book)

“And that is how a rebellion dies” (Mockingjay)

“You are a strangely dislikable person… but you do have your virtues” (Catching Fire Film)

“Embrace the probability of your imminent death and know in your heart that there is nothing I can do for you” (Hunger Games movie)

————- Haymitch: He wants as many victors as possible for the cameras to follow in the Capitol. Thinks it makes for better television.

Katniss: Are you and Beetee going?

Haymitch: As many young and attractive victors as possible. So, no. We'll be here.

(Mockingjay book)

——-

I know people are gonna riot if I don’t put this:

Idk why I like these two together I’m sorry!

Whenever Lee gets stressed out when he’s at HQ in a non threatening sense, Carmen tends to notice that he runs his hand through his hair as a form of fidgeting. So she then tried to do gentle scratches at the back of his head, at first he was a little caught off guard… but it does actually help.

Prompt: Give it time @flashfictionfridayofficial

Fandom: Carmen Sandiego 2019 (Lee Jr OC included)

Word count: 960

Notes: Happens after Season 4 2 year timeskip, mentions of brainwashing and injuries.

2 weeks

That was how long she was going to be trapped in HQ for.

It’s not like her injuries were that bad - just a couple of scratches and bruised ribs (one that she was able to get over in a week last time).

“Guys, I’m fine.” Carmen asserted, arms crossed as she was sitting on the couch.

Ivy was not looking up from her upgrading project as she reminded her “That’s what you said when you just got outta that blood scramble… and the hundred plus times before that.”

“C’mon Carm, you’re clearly pooped. Take it easy!” Zack declared - a little too loudly she feels.

“I’m not gonna sit here and let V.I.L.E. take over the world in that time. I. Can. Go.” Carmen shot as she had her gaze at Ivy especially.

“They’re right, Red. The fact you’re getting loud is really not helping your case” Player quipped from her phone.

Crud, she forgot she kept the stupid thing on.

“Let’s not forget who managed to pull 2 capers in a week after they sprained their ankle, Player” She exasperated, very much not liking the side her favourite hacker always took.

All she heard from the other side of the line was him mumbling “And let’s not forget who couldn’t walk straight the week after…”

Player’s voice then got more audible “Listen Red, we have Lee and Shadowsan on our side, remember? They can handle things while you recover. You’ve done a lot for them actually.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” The red thief asked, tone expectant with her eyebrows furrowed as if it would sell the message on the other end.

Silence was what she got on the other end until the hacker defended “Well, I can’t tell you yet…”

“Exactly” She asserted before hanging up.

“Besides, they don’t have a brainwashed sized sin to redeem” Carmen thought to herself, stomach reeling at the thought. Frankly, she knows that doing any more capers in pain is what she deserves after doing all that. Even a few years after that time frame in her life that felt like an eternity.

And with that, she decided her plans for tonight.

…

The moonlight went though the windows, Carmen was careful not to cast shadows as she passed. Footsteps steady to the point of being inaudible to Zack and Ivy’s hearing. Phone definitely on mute but not off.

Her backpack was hooked onto her shoulders, everything she could need was in there. Except maybe less first aid than required.

She then halted at the door. Her head turned to look over her shoulder for a final check. No floor creaks, no heavy breathing and no strands of hair sticking out. Clear.

Her hand grasped the handle, turned it then pulled open.

Her eyes widened. Heart spiked. A shadow. She threw a punch.

Nothing made contact. Carmen’s stance returned. The shadow’s lowered head then got illuminated by the moonlight - black baseball cap, brown eyes and a scar on the left eye.

The red thief let out a sigh of relief at the sight of Lee. Her shoulders started to relax and her hands released her fists. The pumping in her chest definitely slowed down.

Lee certainly looked relieved too with the way he had his hands on his knees with deep breaths. He started to straighten up, ending with him saying “At least you know I protect the face, Carmen.”

If there was one thing she can admit she can’t do, it was not to smirk along with Lee. The thief gave a tired chuckle as she got another look of his face - definitely still familiar… but… battered. Bruised where his scar is.

“What happened to you?”  Lee asked, his smirk slowly vanished changing to furrowed eyebrows and jaw slowly tensing. His head tilted, eyes particularly focused on the new scratch on her brow.

Guilt started to rise up inside Carmen, but she made sure to keep eye contact with him “Just a run in with Tigress, you know how it goes. Just some scratches - it’s fine”

She got back a skeptical nod “Right… and they’re not that deep?”

Her grit in defending herself didn’t particularly give out easily but at this stage, with her being faced with Lee’s injuries, it was starting to go off. Although she knew Lee was more reckless, she couldn’t help feeling that Lee’s battered presence acted as a reflection on what could possibly happen… again.

VRMMM! VRMM!

Carmen was lucky to have her phone on mute but it didn’t stop making her flinch a little. She pulled the device out of her pocket to find Player’s contact.

“Sup, Red? So… you know how I couldn’t tell you how much you helped Mr Scarface?” The hacker didn’t catch a moment for a greeting.

Off the beat, Carmen replied “You came to tell me we should nickname Lee to that?”

“Uh. Maybe?” He hesitated for a moment before cutting to his point “Well thanks to your meddling, Lee was able to use it and drill V.I.L.E. underground for a while.”

“Your point?” She asked.

“You have the month off… so take it easy. No funny ideas or sneaking out again.” Player declared before hanging up.

“Hm.” She couldn’t really believe that.

The woman looked at the blank screen on her phone, showing her reflection - admittedly she started to notice her battered features as well. On one hand, she realised that there was no excuse for her to leave and come back from a fight. On the other hand… at least it gave Lee a chance to breathe

Zack: (sighs) I understand. (Suddenly points the other direction) Hey, look! Carmen in a bikini! Ivy: (Turns around, distracted) Really? At night? Zack: Sorry, Ivy! (Drives away)

Note: Features OC Lee Jordan Jr who is Filipino-British

So in my opinion, Carmen and Shadowsan both like Japanese tea. But they never let Zack and Ivy make it - for preserving their sanity.

Lee sometimes has tea or coffee and is used to British tea. Needless to say, Carmen, Lee and Shadowsan had something to bond over when introducing each other's delicacies.

So when Lee made the mistake of asking Zack to make tea when he was already injured and in pain, it went a little something like this:

[Lee is sitting on the sofa to not hurt his broken ribs any more]

Zack: Any drinks?

Lee: Uh, tea please?

Zack: 'kay.

[Zack then pours water into a mug, puts said mug into the microwave for a minute.]

Lee: ... What you doing?

Zack: Making tea.

[He then takes the tea out of the microwave, puts a tea bag in it and adds milk.]

[Lee then gets off the sofa and strides to Zack. Clearly his bruised ribs were being numbed by... the crime against tea]

Zack: Wha- hey! Your ribs are bruised! Sit back down!

Lee: Well, you're the one who needs to be sat down due to your standards of making tea.

Zack: It's hot leaf juice with milk!

Lee: Seriously... we have a kettle for god's sake - and you've seen Carmen and Shadowsan make tea!

[Carmen then walks in on this exchange. She looks at the teaspoon in Zack's hands, Lee's concerned expression and the "tea" in the mug.]

Carmen: Zack, what did we say about making tea?

Zack [pointing to Lee]: He asked for it!

Lee: Because I thought you learned from her. [He indicates to Carmen]

Title: Mermaid or Siren

Prompt: Siren Song (thanks @flashfictionfridayofficial)

Fandom: Carmen Sandiego 2019

Notes: Mention of Lee Jordan OC at the end - sorry

Words: 650

“So… a siren is not a mermaid. And a mermaid is not a siren?” Black Sheep tilted her head making sure that the confirmation sank in.

Professor Maelstrom nodded with a breathy “Yes indeed Black Sheep. Two very different things. One is Greek and the other is Danish.”

The girl followed her teacher’s nod to make sure he didn’t completely lose it - again. She held her chin before her eyes lit up “What am I then?”

Well, she wasn’t an expert, she’s only 10 and a half. At least in ancient mythology. Clearly both were cool yet terrifying - one could fly and sing while the other could go under the sea. Or was it both that can sing?

The man closed his eyes and rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression across his face. His voice was very solemn as he started to list the possibilities - with his smile getting a little bigger every time.

“Hm… well you can swim without anyone spotting you…”

“You can certainly tempt people into doing what we want…”

“And you could even go from heights when we tell you so…”

The girl’s brain cogs tried to turn at her teacher’s statements, with each getting a little more uneasy than the last. It almost sounded like…

“You could be either.” The man asserted. 

Black Sheep shrugged, she did get her answer. In that case, she felt like a mermaid today. She didn’t feel like tempting anyone (whatever that means) and she was definitely looking forward to looking for rock pools - something related to the ocean.

“Okay! Thanks” the girl bid farewell as she got herself off her bed and ran to the door.

…

That was Black Sheep on that day.

But for Carmen now… she just didn’t know.

Well, both mythical creatures had some form of tragedy.

From the way Maelstrom told her, the mermaid would sacrifice her voice and endure pain for love she will never receive, with the reward being that she would turn into sea foam. In a way it did fit how she walks her path. Sometimes she would come close to losing her autonomy - pretty much her voice - and sometimes it would feel like she was walking on knives just to make sure V.I.L.E. never hurt anyone again - a wish she may never have. 

From what she could remember herself, the sirens would sing and lead sailors to their deaths. In her case, she sometimes felt like a siren. Gray did choose to go back to V.I.L.E. but changed his mind for her… and she rewarded him with near murder. Shadowsan did bring her to V.I.L.E. but betrayed them for her… and she rewarded him with a broken leg and near murder too.

That’s not even mentioning all the other people she may have broken. The archeologist, Jules, Zack and Ivy, Player… everyone she met and cared for was broken because of the life she lives.

So she thinks, perhaps, that trying to keep them out of range of her siren serenade would help them heal. Even if it costs her connections.

However, 2 years after V.I.L.E’S last collapse, everyone around her decided to stick or come around again. In spite of her attempts to hide, Zack and Ivy kept within her serenade range - though they barely dodged the possible tragedies that were usually brought in.

And Lee…

Even if sailors have had an unlucky streak with sirens, his swashbuckling family tree somehow granted him a treasure of fortune. In small doses, his own tragedies got revealed but her siren song drawing him in apparently didn’t add another to his play.

Hey! So this might be a history related HC - so forgive my nerdiness. Also, I'm not Irish myself so I'm sorry for any inaccuracies. [In fact I'm British so I'm extra sorry. On behalf of all my ancestors]

I think Zack and Ivy might have Irish ancestry.

I'd like to pose some evidence:

Both are red heads. The country with the most people with natural red hair is Ireland and Scotland.

Massachusetts' most common ancestry is Irish. In combination with the red hair evidence, it's pretty clear where their family members could be from.

Zack's name has religious links = Ireland is historically very religious (Catholic) [This one might be pushing it because the name doesn't have Gaelic origins]

BUT

Ivy's name has English origin which means that there could be English ancestry. But I'm guessing that it could be due to the fact that during the 1840s there was mass migration from Ireland to Scotland and England due to the Irish Potato Famine at the time.

Maybe the case could be that both sides of the family emigrated away from Ireland during the famine with one going to England and the other going to America.

And in that case, Zack and Ivy could be named after members of their family. Zack's name could be derived from the religiosity whilst Ivy's name could be derived from the side that immigrated to England.

So if that's the case, maybe they might have Gaelic/Irish rooted surnames. Idk like McCarthy (rooted from "loving" in Irish) or something