You’ve Yee’d Your Last Haw

I know there’s a lot going on in the world, but you probably haven’t heard about what’s happening in Australia.

we’re on fire.

approximately ¼ of australia’s population is in catastrophic fire danger. A catastrophic fire level means your only chance of surviving is leaving before it’s too late.

it’s Spring in Australia, and rainforests aren’t meant to be dry enough to burn, yet at the time of writing this (11/11/19) there are 71 active fires in NSW (43 out of control), and 51 active fires in Queensland - not including those that have already burned before now, and there are more in other states. Sydney is already rated “catastrophic”, the first time this rating has ever been used there since its creation in 2009. That’s right, we had to add yet another level of destructiveness, because “high”, “very high”, “severe”, and “extreme” were no longer adequate. To quote the Fire Danger Ratings, “for your survival, leaving early is the only option”. conditions tomorrow will be the worst they have been, and people are evacuating as we speak. the fire fighters are preparing as best they can.

This isn’t just about people losing their homes; people have died and will die, countless animals have already lost their lives and many more will still perish. our land, our lives, and our hope is up in flames and will soon be nothing but ash. the annual fire season has not even begun yet. this is only the beginning. my native land is burning, and there is nothing i can do to stop it.

the government refuses to acknowledge that we are in a climate crisis. the fires have never been this bad. we have been in severe drought for more than a year which has only contributed to the force of these fires. the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has done nothing but send his “thoughts and prayers”. He will not accept aid from other countries because he is too egotistical to admit that we need it. All the while the people of this land are suffering. Climate change needs radical human change to be combated. we are already seeing the results of years of indifference, and this is barely the beginning of something that will only get worse the longer government’s and big companies refuse to act to counteract climate change.

Our government has also cut funding to Fire and Rescue NSW by 35.4%, the Rural Fire Service by 75.2%, and QLD Rural Fire Service by 26.42%, resulting in closures of services; they don’t have the resources to cope. We are fighting a losing battle against the results of climate change.  and this is only the beginning.

At least 6 million people today are prepared for evacuating. There are strong winds, low humidity, and high temperatures which will only exacerbate and encourage the fires. Authorities have warned that there aren’t enough fire trucks to help everyone, so unless you are prepared to the maximum, you need to leave. 600 schools and TAFE’s across NSW have been closed due to the fires, with others in Queensland closing due to air quality being virtually unbreathable due to smoke. Rural Fire Service Deputy Commisioner Rob Rogers said the state was as prepared as it could be, with military aircraft on standby to rescue people from fires if needed.

As Queensland and New South Wales deal with these unprecedented bushfires, there is a lot of talk about how to stop, or at least reduce them. David Bowman is a professor of environmental change biology at the University of Tasmania and he says the short answer is that climate change is making a bad situation worse.

But it’s also much more complex than that. Much of Australia’s natural biodiversity has evolved to withstand and even stop bushfires due to a multitude of species being in one area. Eucalyptus trees encourage fires as they help spread seeds, but other species are naturally flame retardant and help to curb the fires. The issue is that so much of the native bush has been cut down for farming and agriculture that the natural fire defence has virtually been destroyed. Australia is the leading country in mammal extinction, as well as one of the worst 7 for biodiversity loss.

There have already been significant harmful impacts to wildlife, with entire ecosystems up in smoke and individual species affected, including around 350 Koalas presumed dead – all before the fires have reached their peak.

my heart goes out to the victims of the current fires, which we know have been exacerbated by the decline of native biodiversity. Australian conservation efforts need a radical overhaul. Mitigating the intensity of these fires, mostly set by humans and their activities, can be achieved by restoring our native ecosystem engineers, such as bandicoots, bettongs and potoroos.

These species help to maintain healthy forests by continually turning over and breaking down forest leaf litter, thereby drastically reducing fuel load. In their absence, fires are more intense, often reaching the treetops, which can affect populations of species already on the brink, like the Koala.

Slow growing and ancient Australian East coast temperate forests are of global significance, as these forests have some of the highest carbon storage on the planet. Fires of this intensity threaten their very existence but managing wildlife to reduce fire intensity and protect forests is under-appreciated for its importance in reducing the release of carbon into the atmosphere.

If you wish to donate to the NSW Rural Fire Service, follow this link. I’m not sure if it works for countries outside Australia, but if you can spare some money, please try

Or you can donate to the Red Cross who have set up many shelters and are providing first aid, and are trying to fund small kits to provide families with basic necessities

Area comparison for aid in understanding the sheer size:

Here is everything I like to have on me at all rehearsals and ESPECIALLY  tech week. I Because I’ve only done local theatre, I don’t have a very extravagant kit and supplies. I use the North Face Borealis Backpack for all my tech jobs. I really like this bag because all the different pockets and I can carry stuff in my hands while having it on my back and v easy for travel. Here we go!

Script     

Run sheets and call list, written down rehearsal schedule, basically any paper work needed atm, in a binder

Notebook with on going notes either to myself or the cast

Planner

Pens, Pencils, Sharpies, Orange and Green Highlighters(show up best under dim/no light)

Organizer tabs

Scissors, Box cutter  

Mic, Spike, Gaff, Duct, Painter’s, and Frog tape(this isn’t really necessary until tech, but i like to always have it on for emergencies.)

Batteries

Small Sewing Kit  

Bandaids and small emergency kit

Hair ties, Bobby pins, Saftey pins

Protein Bars, Trail Mix, any snacks

Nalgene Water bottle

V8 Energy drinks (if you haven’t tried these, they are the BEST thing to drink on the go. they are little 8-ounce cans with green tea energy and tastes like juice. I love these bc its a great alternative to coffee and not as hard core as caffeine pills)

Flannel/ Jacket

Tape Measure

Laptop

Chargers

Meds     

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

HAMILTON: In the eye of a hurricane, there is quiet. I wouldn’t know firsthand, as I’ve never been in the eye, just on the ever destructive outside. But they all say, you can Google it, that for just a moment, there’s silence and a yellow sky. The silence is suffocating, whether the hurricane is metaphorical or not. You know, when I was seventeen, a hurricane destroyed where I lived. And somehow, impossibly, I didn’t drown. I couldn’t quite seem to die, as odd as it sounds. I couldn’t stay any longer, so I wrote. A rather descriptive account of what happened in that horrid storm, a letter to my father, really. Eliza keeps it with her to read when she misses me. I remember all the horror and destruction I attempted to describe. It seemed as if a total dissolution of nature was taking place. The roaring of the sea and wind, fiery meteors hurtling in the air, the prodigious glare of lightning, the crash of the falling houses, and the ear-piercing shrieks of the distressed, were all sufficient to strike astonishment into Angels and fear into the hearts of the fearless. That’s almost a direct quote from the letter, for I can’t forget exactly how I got here. I just wrote all of it down, as much as I could bear, and when I looked up from papers and ink-stained fingers, the whole town had their eyes on me. They passed plates around, raising funds so I could leave. Their kindness is still astonishing to to this day– a group of total strangers who decided to help me because I wrote so eloquently. They raised enough for me to book passage on a ship that was heading to New York. I wrote my way out of a hell I thought I would have to live in for the rest of my life. I wrote my way to revolution, to being Washington’s aide de camp. I was louder than the crack in that goddamned bell. I got out of everything by using those passionate words that spilled out onto the page as though I’d tipped a jar of ink. I wrote Eliza love letters until she fell for me, wrote her pages upon pages of how she was constantly appearing in my dreams. I wrote about the Constitution that Burr refused to help with, fifty one essays of good defense. And in the face of straight up ignorance, I went to Eliza, and said, we’re going to have a financial system. And the next morning, after a night of writing, I gave Washington the plan for the banks. And when my prayers to God were unanswered, I picked up another damn pen, and I wrote my own deliverance!

HAMILTON: Sir, I don’t know what you heard, but whatever it is, Jefferson started it. HAMILTON: There’s a million things I haven’t done, but just you wait. HAMILTON: You’re an orphan. Of course! I’m an orphan! HAMILTON: Sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth. HAMILTON: Hey, best of wives and best of women. HAMILTON: Would you like to join us, or you could go back to doing whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello? HAMILTON: My dearest, Angelica. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day. Certainly you understand my reference to another Scottish tragedy aside from myself, so I don’t have to name it? Well, I must admit, they do think me Macbeth, because we share the flaw of ambition, and I’m apparently a pain in the ass for Jefferson, or should I said Macduff. HAMILTON: Angelica, tell my wife John Adams doesn’t have a real job anyways. HAMILTON: Well, hate the sin, love the sinner, right? HAMILTON: If it takes fighting a war for us to meet, it will have been worth it. HAMILTON: I am not throwing away my shot! HAMILTON: If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?

AARON BURR

BURR: Love doesn’t pick its victims personally. It just consumes you whole, but we love anyways. And if there’s a reason I’m by her side while so many have tried and failed to make this work, I am willing to wait for it. I always wait for it. My grandfather was a fire and a brimstone preacher, but my thoughts don’t line up with his. There are so many things you can learn that all those hymns and homilies don’t teach you. My family…my mother was a genius, a composer of many manuscripts. My father commanded respect. He helped found Princeton University and was the first significant president of the college. When they died… they didn’t leave any instructions, or a how-to, or a guide to life. They just left a legacy behind that I need to protect. And just like love, death affects all. But we keep living, we rise, and we fall, and we make mistakes.(begins to get more agitated/upset) If there is any reason why I’m still alive when everyone who loves me has died, then I am waiting for that reason. I can control that. I am the one thing in life I can actively control. I’m inimitable, an original… and no one gets that I am not behind in anything, I am never late. I’m running this race at the pace I want to go at. I’m not at any kind of standstill, I am lying in wait. But Hamilton… Alexander Hamilton.I know I always say ‘talk less’ and ‘smile more’, but I am beyond done with Hamilton.Here he is, facing this endless uphill climb, going so quickly like he has nothing to lose. And I don’t think he does. His pace is relentless. He doesn’t waste any time. Just like always, Alexander Hamilton is rushing past me with all these opportunities. It takes so much strength to tell myself to wait for it. My time will come soon. I can’t help but wonder… what is it like in his shoes?

BURR: And me? I’m the damn fool that shot him. BURR: Talk less, smile more. BURR: Hey, geniuses, lower your voices. Keep out of trouble and you’ll get even more opportunities. BURR: I’m a trust fund, baby, you can trust me. BURR: Now Lafayette, though we have our disagreements, you must admit we all do have one thing in common? We’re reliable with the ladies. BURR: Here’s the pièce de résistance: no one else was in the room where it happened. No one else saw how the dirty deal was done. Think about it. You never really know how the game is played. You just assume that it happens, but you’re never in the room where it does. BURR: Alexander Hamilton… what did they say to you to get you to sell New York City down the river? What, did Washington know about the deal? There was a presidential pressure to get it through? BURR: The Schuyler sisters! You know, there is nothing like spending summers on the internet, but why aren’t you out in the city? Your clothing is impeccable, you clearly have money. So why slum it and make videos instead of coming out in the real world? Are you searching for the internet equivalent of a street rat to give you ideals? BURR: How do you write like you’re running out of time? Are you running out of time?

KING GEORGE

KING GEORGE: Now, all you Americans say that the cost of my love is too high, and you aren’t willing to pay the price. But still, you lot cry into your tea when you watch me go by, you bunch of Anglophiles. By the way, it was totally rude when you chucked it into the ocean. Sure, you were upset, but that was uncalled for. But still, why so upset? Don’t you remember the arrangement we made when you went away? Now you’re making me mad! Please, remember despite our distance, I’m your guy. You’ll be back eventually. You’ll see soon enough that you still belong to me. You’ll remember how well I served you! We’ve stuck together throughout everything. And when push comes to shove, I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love for you! (hums a bit of the da da da’s from the song) You know it’s bullshit, right? You whine and cry about how our love is draining and you simply can’t go forwards! I promise you, you’ll be the one complaining when I am gone. But don’t you dare change the subject, cause you’re truly my favourite subject. You’re sweet, submissive… my favourite, loyal, little peasants, with me forever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever… and you can’t deny that you’ll come crawling back to me, just like last time. I’ll fight the fight and win the war… for your love and praise, of course, what else? I’ll love you until I die! And when you’re gone, I’ll go mad. So pretty please with a cherry on top don’t just throw away this thing between us. And once again… when, not if, push comes to shove, I will slaughter your friends and family in cold blood to remind you of how much I love you! (begins to hum/lowkey sing the da, da, da’s from you’ll be back)Everyone’s with me now… or at least, you will be! (starts to hum again)

ELIZA SCHUYLER HAMILTON

ELIZA: Hi, I, uh, don’t really know how to work this thing. Could I sound anymore cliche?. I mean, it is Angelica’s after all, and I really shouldn’t  be touching it. But it doesn’t matter, for now at least. She’s not here, she’s out somewhere with Thomas Jefferson trying to convince him to include women in the sequel, still have no clue what that means… and was I supposed to say that?  I don’t really think I should be recklessly announcing her plans, but she’ll probably have a new one next week so I guess no harm, no foul. Nothing against Ang, she’s my sister and I love her with every last piece of me, but sometimes, sometimes I feel like she’s always striving for something new, like nothing is ever enough and it never will be. While I, on the other hand, have finally found my enough. Well, I shouldn’t get too ahead of myself, it’s the person who I think can someday, somehow, somewhere could possibly be my enough. And that’s what, more like who, this video is about. Alexander Hamilton. Now, I know what you’re thinking, that he’s just some poor little orphan boy, trying to fight his way through the war just to make a name for himself. Well, though that isn’t entirely wrong, he’s also so much more. More than I could even explain. Just, well, the next time you have the chance to see him, look into his eyes, it’ll answer everything. They’re so deep, filled to the brim with endless dreams, you could drown in them, get lost in them, build an entirely new world in them. To him it seems that not even the sky’s the limit, because there isn’t anything he wouldn’t, or should I say, couldn’t do. And god, when I’m around him I can’t help but feel, well, helpless. But in a good way, well as good as helpless can get. My knees turn to jelly, acrobats take over my stomach and my heart races. I’ve only met him once and though Angelica doesn’t seem to believe in love at first sight and Peggy sticks to flirting even though she’s far too young to, I really think he could be the one. That night, it was like a page out of a fairy tale book. The Winter’s Ball, or what Angelica like to call it, a revel with a few too many rebels.

ELIZA: No. No more excuses, Alexander. For once in your life, can you just look around and put everyone and everything else out of your mind? Can you just realize how lucky we are? To be alive. To be in love. To be having a child, a son, our son. Shouldn’t that be enough? ELIZA: Angelica, tell this man John Adams spends the summer with his family. ELIZA: That was amazing, Angelica. I would say screw the revolution also, but, history is happening now. Just look at what you’re doing, look around at what’s happening in Manhattan! We’re so lucky to be alive right now, and I’m so glad I was alive to hear you tell him off. ELIZA: Why do you write like you’re running out of time? Come back to bed, Alexander. That would be enough. ELIZA: You and your words. You were always so obsessed with your legacy to the point where you weren’t making sense anymore. Paranoid in every paragraph on how the public percieved you, because that’s all you ever cared about. ELIZA: Just for you to let me in. For real this time. We’re about to start a family and I need to know that you’re leaving more than just a chapter for me in the narrative we know they’ll write about you someday. I just want to finally have an idea of what’s really going on in your mind. That’d be enough for me.

ANGELICA SCHUYLER CHURCH

ANGELICA: (notebook and pen in hand) There has to be something here. (flips through, before pauses on a page), Well not this, (flips page pausing again) or that. Too cheesy, too dry, what was I even thinking? (continues to flip) Too funny, not funny enough, not funny at all, no, no and no (flips to a new page). Looks like I’m starting from scratch, again (begins to write). To the groom, to the bride. From, me, who has absolutely no clue on how to write a wedding toast. (tears out page crumpling it and throwing it) Wow. Angelica Schuyler has no clue how to do something, that’s a first. (looks up) And even better she’s recording this monumental moment, while talking in third person.It’s not that I can’t write. I write a lot and well, not like Alexander, but if I’m being serious, no one’s anywhere near Alexander’s level, much less pace when it come to words. I mean these drafts aren’t even that horrible, they’re just, not perfect. Which the toast needs to be and I will make sure of it, because this,  this needs to be the perfect toast for the perfect couple, who will have the perfect wedding and the perfect love story. One to go down in history. Because, if you haven’t heard, Alexander and Eliza are getting married a week, a week from well, now. Which leaves me with exactly 168 hours to put together that perfect wedding speech, because I, Angelica Schuyler, am the maid of honour. And Alexander, boy, he already left utterly large shoes to fill after proposing in the most  perfect way. How he manages to step up in every aspect of his life, I don’t understand, he’s even moved from one Schuyler sister to another, in a single night.. I know Eliza’s already accidently told the whole world about our night at the winter’s ball, but like we all know there are two sides to every story, and if she ever were to hear mine - she can’t, that’s all. And she won’t.

ANGELICA: I’m just saying, if you really loved me you would share him. ANGELICA: In a letter I received from you two weeks ago, I noticed a comma in the middle of a phrase. It changed the meaning. Did you intend this? God, one stroke and you’ve consumed all my waking hours. ANGELICA: Three reasons. Number one: it would look super suspicious to Dad if all three of us were clustered in one room. Number two: aesthetic. Number three: I don’t want you in my room. ANGELICA: Yes, but there are so many new ideas in the air! We can make this country greater than it’s ever been before. We can have equality for everyone! Just look around at what’s happening! Look around for these people that can change the world!

GEORGE WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON: Alexander, there’s a genuine reason I haven’t given you a command yet. It’s not because I enjoy playing cat and mouse with you and constantly finding you writing endless rants about the people I chose instead. It’s not that you aren’t smart enough, not capable of doing so, or that I don’t believe in you. I put all of my faith in you when I first hired you,  Alexander, and I know that you know that, it’s just coming from fear. The only way to put it is that you remind me a lot of me when I was just younger. I wasn’t lying when I said I felt the same way as you did when you first came knocking on my door. My head was always filled with fantasies of dying like a martyr, like yours is. But I also wasn’t lying when I said dying is far easier than living. I thought you would figure that out with time, but it was rather foolish of me to believe that. The point of this, Alexander, is that I was only a bit younger than you when I was given my first command. May 24th, years ago, was when I lead my men straight into a massacre. We attacked a party of French soldiers. Killed ten. Though only now I realize how small that number is. They weren’t the only ones killed, some of my men died on the same soil they did, and it was all because of me. I was so blinded by the fact that I was finally being put into command, that in the meantime I made every mistake. I learned I had no control in who lives, who died, and who tells your story. With every mistake I made, the shame began to rise in me, the excitement replaced with fear and regret, because in that moment in time I realized history had it eyes on me. It was ready to trace every step, every decision, and every right and wrong that was ahead of me. It was ready to put my name down in the textbooks and have children dissect everything I did from that day on. That was when I realized that there was no turning back. I was far past the point of no return and had to either choose a position of power or forever be remembered as the one who wasted away. On that day I thought I was ready for battle, but I wasn’t. I had finally realised it was time for me to rise up and take the lead. I had to let my walls down and put the country and it’s people in front of me. I couldn’t make decisions for me but for them, because I had hundreds of people relying on me, a scared man with the blood of angry soldiers on his hands, who laid awake at night planning his days and regretting the past ones. That’s why I shielded you, Alexander, because I didn’t want you to become that man. I can’t protect you anymore, because then you’ll never be ready. The only way to truly learn is from experience. The troops are waiting in the field for you, Alexander, and if you choose to accept, from this day onward, history will have its eyes on you. It will be by your side everyday, analyzing your every move and mistake. But for now the pen is in your hand and you are writing your own history. For now you are writing your own story to be left on this very earth for as long as it lives. Remember, from here on in, the world is watching you and every single thing you do.

WASHINGTON: Frankly, it’s a little unnerving that you would let your ideals blind to you reality. Hamilton, if you could please start drafting a statement?WASHINGTON: I want to warn against partisan fighting… come on, pick up a pen, write it all down. WASHINGTON: The people are asking me to lead. I’m doing the best I can to get everyone I need onboard, but I need to ask you— will you be my right hand man again? I know it’s a lot to ask to leave behind the world you’ve always known.

THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE

LAFAYETTE: The unrest in France will lead to onarchy. Onarchy? How you say? How’s ou say, anarchy! LAFAYETTE: Et il dit qu'il est pas l'ami qui est comme une mère. LAFAYETTE: What you’re missing is that the, in your terms, “shitty dude” was a minion of King George III, and he said that King George would come for you. LAFAYETTE: Femme la bouche, and watch it. LAFAYETTE: As the kids say, let’s be real. No one bounces back as quickly or is such a practical and brilliant strategist as Hamilton, oui? LAFAYETTE: Well, Alexander, don’t you think everyone deserves their five minutes of fame? LAFAYETTE: I’m Lafayette, America’s favourite fighting frenchman, here with your favourite bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a scotsman… and a turtle lover. LAFAYETTE: What happened to honesty being valued? LAFAYETTE: Why is Burr here, again? LAFAYETTE: You are the worst, Burr.

JOHN LAURENS

LAURENS: But we’ll never be truly free until those in bondage are equal to us! It’s do or die, just wait until I come over leading the first black battalion! LAURENS: Look, when you’re living on your knees you rise up. It’s all you can do. So tell your brother that he’s gotta rise up, and tell your sister that she’s gotta rise up. When are these colonies gonna rise up? LAURENS: I’m not your mom. If anything, Hercules is the mom friend. LAURENS: Did you actually fall asleep at your computer though? Again? LAURENS: Yeah. Last time, he had drafted a letter to me telling me he was going to buy me a turtle to proclaim his love, and when he fell asleep, his head hit the send button. And then, his friend Ned told me about the time he sent Congress twenty seven emails within an hour about the financial system of America, and the last one was a bunch of jumbled letters from when his head fell on the keyboard. LAURENS: Raise a glass to freedom, cause they won’t ever take that away! LAURENS: What can I say, man, I like turtles. LAURENS: Well, if it ain’t the prodigy of Princeton College! LAURENS: The revolution’s imminent, Burr, what do you stall for?

HERCULES MULLIGAN

‪Cover Illustration inspired by Sanders Sides episode 26, “EMBARRASSING PHASES: the Nightmare Instead of Christmas!”‬

Pride fanart of @danielhowell ~

legit cried for hours yesterday (during and after watching the vid), i’m just so insanely proud of this beautiful man for having the courage to share this with us! plus for spreading such an amazing message of positivity and hope, he’s seriously such an inspiration for real

This took hours to be honest

the lineart was done by the lovely and amazing @altruistic-skittles

Taglist:

I drew @thejoanglebook !! Joan is an incredibly talented creator who has a lot of important things to say as well as a great sense of humor. They always inspire and entertain me 💕

So then in book7, Tom Riddle via the Ministry both bans muggleborn students from attending, and makes Hogwarts attendance mandatory for everyone else. No more sending your kids abroad for school, and no more homeschooling.

Now I want the scene, September first, 1997, of the Welcoming Feast as all the firsties are walked in for the Sorting and the chatter swells because the line seems a lot longer than normal, and don’t you think some of those kids are a bit taller than usual, and I could swear that’s my weird neighbor-

Like, imagine getting pulled from your Beauxbatons or your one-on-one tutoring or your hella competent parents teaching you everything and you’ve gotta go to “Can’t keep a Defense teacher for more than a year” Hogwarts, “hired Gilderoy Lockheart” Hogwarts, “basilisks petrifying students at random for half a year” Hogwarts and you’re in fifth year learning charms you learned in second year and there’s these rancid assholes running around making little kids torture each other …

A new Sanders Sides video you say? One that was especially difficult for poor Virgil? But one where Logan helped him out a lot??? 

What a perfect time to upload this convenient full-color piece of Virgil feeling safe and comfortable while Logan reads to him! (◡‿◡✿)

This was my zine piece for @spookyson-zine! You can check out the full zine here!

 And, potentially, some unpopular opinions. Reminder that everybody is entitled to their own thoughts and feelings. These are just mine!

And the main point of it is this: it’s really not about the shock factor at all.

A friend asked me after I’d seen the video what my favorite part was. It is still hard for me to choose just one, but one of them is certainly the reveal that Virgil used to be a Dark Side. I’ve seen some people who were completely surprised. Others celebrating that they’d “called it” or commenting “we been knew”. Depending on how long you’ve been following me, you know that I’ve played with the idea as well in both theories and fic. I didn’t find the facts of the reveal particularly surprising.

But the delivery of that moment is what made it hit so hard and land so significantly for me. My personal opinion is this: Virgil’s reveal matters less for the shock value and infinitely more for the writing and delivery of the scene. 

The moments directly preceding that reveal are tight with tension and emotion. This is an emotionally intimate moment: and you can see that almost immediately. One of these clues is that Thomas and Virgil are alone together. There’s no “audience” in-canon; whatever is going to be shared, is going to be between the two of them. That gives the conversation this specific kind of intimacy. 

On top of that, Virgil is distinctly Not Great. And when Thomas asks him about it, Virgil admits to it:

T: Virgil? You okay, buddy?

V: Huh? Oh, uh. Yeah, I just. I’m a little… disappointed in myself. I thought that I would be able to… protect you from them. 

It’s hard to convey in text, but if you go back and watch that moment, Virgil speaks pretty haltingly. Like he’s trying to figure out how best to phrase something. It conveys the insecurity he’s shrouded in–especially as it pertains to his ability (or perceived inability) to protect Thomas. That kind of speech continues throughout the rest of the conversation too, and under it is music that builds and builds as the clear inner-tension Virgil is experiencing comes to a crashing halt (please go back and watch the conversation and listen to what the music does to the scene because it amplifies and compliments what is happening so, so well):

T: The Dark Sides?

V: The Others. I thought…. I thought I knew how to handle them.

T: Oh. I think we’re all trying to figure them out for now. It’ll take some time to figure everything out.

V: Yeah, but I should know better.

T: Isn’t that kind of unfair? Why should you be held to a different standard than any other Side?

V: Because I was one of them. 

The moment at the end of this conversation is decisive. It’s paramount, and not because of whether or not you suspected Virgil was a Dark Side, but because Virgil is intentionally choosing to share that detail with Thomas. It is not an accident. He doesn’t blurt it out in the heat of a moment; there is a pause, and a noted decision to say it: “Because I was one of them.”

It is a moment of willing vulnerability that is so deeply saturated in fear–and you can see that in Virgil’s expression.

Virgil looks close to tears. He looks like he’s steeled himself for whatever reaction Thomas might give him, but he has actively chosen to share this detail of who he is anyway. And I think he’s…. expecting some level of negative reaction. I think he’s resigned himself to it. Because when Thomas doesn’t respond immediately, Virgil does this:

He looks like he’s trying to keep it together to avoid completely falling apart. And he leaves basically as soon as he can, so that he doesn’t have to deal with the aftermath. Some part of him felt safe enough–or like it was important enough–to stop hiding that part of who he was, or had been. But it’s still painful, still scary, still earth-shattering. 

It’s emotionally gutting, because it’s such a stark moment of sheer emotional vulnerability from Virgil on a level that–I would argue–we’ve never seen from him before. 

{Previously: [Credits roll]}

[Open on LOGAN and EMILE in the Captain’s office, looking out its window into the bullpen. EMILE is holding a notepad and pen.]

LOGAN: Introduce me to the detectives, Sergeant. I’d like to get an insider’s feel of the precinct.

[EMILE starts, surprised. LOGAN raises an eyebrow.]

EMILE: Everyone, sir? Even–

LOGAN [interrupting him]: Yes. It will be beneficial for me.

[EMILE shrugs.]

EMILE: Well okay, then. 

[He points to a pair sitting at their desks. The woman is scribbling something, while the man seems to be fiddling with a small, blue, stuffed creature on his desk.]

EMILE: First, we have Dot and Larry. Not the two best detectives, but Dot is great with organizing things — mainly office betting pools — and Larry puts on some really good impromptu flash mobs. 

[EMILE motions to a man in a dark leather jacket and yellow suspenders, who’s adjusting the snake decoration hanging from his taser with a disconcerting grin.]

EMILE: Next, we’ve got DC Diaz. He’s… a bit of a Mad Hatter, that one, or maybe a Cheshire Cat — doesn’t always tell the truth, can be a bit misleading, but he’s a smart worker and good with people, and his heart’s in the right place. For some reason, he doesn’t like being called by his first name, so sticking to calling him Detective Diaz or DC is probably your best bet when addressing him. 

[EMILE taps on the glass in the direction of a man slouching at his desk, toying absentmindedly with the hoodie under his jacket as he scowls at the report he’s typing up.]

EMILE: Next up, Virgil Santiago. He’s the Amethyst of the bunch — tough, sarcastic, but real sweet and a bit insecure once you get to know him. He’s good at keeping everyone safe during arrests. 

LOGAN: Sorry, was that a… Steven Universe reference?

EMILE [clearly delighted]: It was! Anyways, he and Roman have an ongoing competition on who can get more arrests that’s been upping both their arrest rates pretty dramatically, so that’s somethin’ to know. 

[EMILE points to a cheerful, bespectacled detective chatting with his partner as he adds something to a report. The Sergeant squares his shoulders, looking straight ahead.]

EMILE: Next up, we’ve got Patton Boyle. Almost the very definition of a Hufflepuff; while he might not always be the quickest to spot the obvious, he’s good at thinking outside the box and seeing angles people don’t normally think of, and he’s determined enough that you can always count on him to see his work through. 

[EMILE glances at LOGAN just in time to see a hint of a smile flit across his face before he schools it back into careful neutrality.]

LOGAN: Very well. And finally?

[EMILE smiles, and points to the young man beside PATTON, who’s staging a sword fight with one of the many figurines lining his desk using a spare pen — or is it an eyeliner pencil?]

EMILE [fondly]: And finally, we have Roman Peralta. Whatever you say about the kid, you can’t deny that he’s a real good detective. While a little zany and a bit all over the place, Roman has the heart of one of the Pines family and really puts his all into everything he cares about. Unfortunately, like Mabel, he isn’t always as dedicated to the… less action packed parts of his job. He’s one of those people who might grow old, but I’m not sure if he’s ever gonna grow up. 

[A beat. LOGAN looks at EMILE, impressed.]

LOGAN: That was… rather eloquent.

EMILE: Aw shucks! Well, I’ve had to describe these guys a few times for my therapy sessions, so I’ve had some time to think about ‘em. 

[LOGAN blinks, then glances at the Sergeant.]

LOGAN: Therapy?

EMILE: Oh! My partner and I adopted twins recently, and I’ve just been… having a rough go of it since then. There was a bit of an incident at a stuffed animal factory and I’ve been off duty ever since.

LOGAN: Ah, that’s reasonable. [He takes a deep breath, then faces EMILE.] Well, we certainly have our work cut out for us, don’t we, Sergeant?

EMILE [confused]: Work? What do you mean?

LOGAN: This precinct is decent. I intend on making it great.

EMILE [nodding]: Well, you can count on my help, sir. Where do we start?

[LOGAN looks through the window and focuses on ROMAN, still goofing off. He motions towards the young detective.]

LOGAN: We start with him.

********

GUESS.

WHO’S.

BAAAAAAACKKKKKKKKKK???????

it us

yep, prim and i are back at it again and prim’s art is more gorgeous than ever – and i’ve really gotta start getting working on part 6 of the script soon, because otherwise my procrastinating ass isn’t gonna have much more script stocked up for prim to illustrate lmao

anyways, let us know what you think so far! love it? hate it? catch any of the hidden easter eggs? tell us! we long for approval!

anyways, hope y’all enjoy

-sats

Funny way to find out which plant you might like to buy.

”spoiler alert i’m not straight”

homophobia affects how children grow up and how they view themselves and anyone who says “they’re too young to talk about seXuaLity” regarding healthy gay representation in the media or “the world isn’t fair deal with it” regarding homophobia is an asshole

using “gay” as an insult creates a negative connotation that is detrimental to an entire community of people and establishes a sense of inferiority. don’t do it.

stand up for people. please. dan talked about how awful his childhood was because he had no friends and everyone was too scared to stand up for him and how his life changed when he met phil because just having one person on his side was so important. even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, please give people support

“emo is one of the best things that happened to pop culture in the past 20 years”

bisexuality is valid and is not just a trendy label or an excuse for being sexually confused

what you say on the internet lasts forever and someone will find it, for better or for worse

dan asking god to “make him straight” because he was tired of being abused for his sexuality because it’s 2019 and people still don’t realize that sexuality is not a choice and no amount of praying or sexual conversions or whatever will change that, it’ll only make people feel more hopeless and telling someone to “pray the gay away” or that homosexuality is a sin is an awful thing

dan speaking on his attempted suicide. if you’re reading this or if you’ve seen his video, know you are not alone. youtubers and celebrities tend to get idolized and people don’t realize that they are people too and they have struggled too and being in a dark spot doesn’t make you any less of a person. if you’re having problems with suicidal thoughts, know that you have support and call the suicide hotline if you need someone to talk to 1-800-273-8255

time heals. even if you feel like your world is ending now, you have a life ahead of you, and that time will give you perspective

dan calling phil his soulmate and not just because oMg!1! PhaN!1 but because it’s so important to find someone you feel comfortable around and you love and feel loved back i’m so happy for both of them

on that note, dan calling everyone out for being obsessed with his sexuality and about his relationships because yes, it’s fun to see a connection between two people and seeing people happy together makes people happy but that’s no excuse to be creepy and aggressive and try to force people into addressing things they don’t want to share

also dan alluding to all the bottom jokes which actually kinda made me laugh but also points out how weird that is like stop

don’t force people to disclose their sexuality. don’t out people. just don’t. you don’t know their life story and doing so could threaten their safety. preaching openness and being comfortable with who you are doesn’t work when you’re making someone uncomfortable by pressuring them to say something they don’t want to say yet. and if they’re not gay, it’s just harassment and unhealthy stereotyping. 

never react to someone’s coming out with “wE bEen knEw” or something because obviously it’s taking them a lot to share this information with you don’t be a prick

“focus on making the world a welcoming place and people will come out when they are ready”

using your platform to let people know they don’t have to deal with their experiences alone

“every time someone speaks openly about sexuality, it saves lives”

representation is so important

we all have different experiences in life. don’t judge other people or invalidate their experiences or act like something is or isn’t a problem

if you stay silent, you are contributing to the problem

society has an unhealthy obsession with labels and human conceptions of particular words varies as the world changes but at the same time, some people derive pride, happiness, and validation with finding a label they identify with so respect that

“if you want to use language to express your honest feelings and identity, that’s great and other people should respect what you say. likewise, if you hate labels and you just want to be a formless blob that’s fine too, no one should force you. the only thing that isn’t cool is telling people what they should or should not identify as because that ain’t your problem or your business”

“i think it’s unlikely [that god exists] in the same way i know i like DICK but i’m not going to pretend to have a definite answer here” mood.

“one thing’s for sure, whatever heterosexual is, i ain’t it”

dan appreciating the word “queer”. even though there is some bad history behind it given that it’s a slur, it’s a good umbrella term that avoids having to put yourself into a specific label and is inclusive to everyone. that being said, if you don’t feel comfortable with it, that’s understandable

saying you’re gay doesn’t make you spontaneously combust!!!!

“i’m here, i’m queer, and don’t worry, i’m still filled with existential fear”

dan emailing his family to come out because you should be able to come out anyway you feel comfortable with and also #relatable when you’re both gay AND awkward

dan’s mf christian grandmother saying “I hope that now you will feel free to live your life as you want with no pretence” because having an accepting family is so important and my heart goes out to everyone who does not come from an accepting family but it’s just so nice to hear. and also, being old and conservative and christian is not an excuse to be a bigot. you should value the happiness of the people you love over your opposing views

dan pointing out the problems in the pride community right now because gender roles, biphobia, transphobia, acephobia, and racism are still huge problems that should be dealt with and we should focus on loving and accepting each other and welcome anyone to the community because everyone is valid

climate change plug

the fight against homophobia is not over

queer people exist. choosing not to accept them is not an option.