#narrativecontrol

It seems increasingly likely that, somewhere in the depths of Tumblr, you have already come across - or soon will - extensive analyses of how a man referred to as SH spent his 2025 holidays in Cork, Ireland.

All of it presented as compelling evidence of a brand-new love story.

Love, love, love.

So let’s pause for a moment and recall a certain quote ⤵️⤵️⤵️

Do you remember who said it and when?

. . . The interview itself, supposedly about new motherhood, really deserves its own deep dive (to read the article, click the link). After all, it opens with the remarkably apt observation: “Caitríona Balfe doesn’t look like a new mum.” But that’s for another post.

For now, I want to highlight one thing only: the narrative built around a tall brunette and her eight-year-old daughter living in Cork was designed as an alibi from the very beginning.

AKA: Daniel is not “just the interviewer” anymore, he’s the battleground.

Okay. I’ve been sitting with the vibe of this show for two seasons and I’m convinced Season 3 is going to do something extremely specific with Daniel: it’s going to take the one character whose superpower is narrative control (journalism, receipts, memory, documentation) and throw him into a world where narrative control is weaponized (Talamasca edits, vampire memory manipulation, staged evidence, “photos don’t lie but they don’t tell the story,” etc.).

So Daniel’s trajectory is basically:

He becomes the living argument over what reality even is.

And yes, that is going to drive him insane…therefore an entry for Marius.

The core thesis

Daniel’s Season 3 arc likely won’t be “be a vampire now :)”

It’s:

How do you stay yourself when everyone wants to use your mind as a crime scene?

Season 3 will still be Lestat-forward, sure. But Daniel is going to be the human-world funnel through which the show explores the fallout of:

the book,

Talamasca’s manipulation of the book,

Armand’s possession/claim,

Louis’s guilt,

and the very loud fact that Daniel is now a fledgling with a target on his back.

Daniel is basically a walking combination of:

evidence

liability

bait

weapon

and snack (sorry, it’s true…Armand’s gonna want his human plushie back).

Part I: The Three Leashes Problem

Daniel is now pulled by three forces that all claim they’re “helping”:

1) Talamasca leash: “You’re an asset.”

Talamasca wants access. Information. Vampire networks. Movement. Weaknesses. Names.

If they edited Daniel’s book without his consent (and Daniel confirms he didn’t even write half of it), then Daniel has already learned the scariest lesson:

The Talamasca doesn’t need your permission to narrate you.

So their Season 3 play is probably:

“cooperation” that is actually compliance,

“protection” that is actually monitoring,

and “we’re on your side” while they actively use him as a wedge into vampire society.

2) Armand leash: “I’m protecting you.”

Armand’s leash is velvet. It’s “care” coded. It’s:

“I preserve your happiness…”

“stay close, it’s safer”

“you don’t understand what’s out there”

blood/comfort/tenderness as conditioning

But Armand’s protection isn’t neutral. It’s possessive. It’s proprietary. It’s:

“If you’re going to be controlled, it will be by me.”

Armand doesn’t “rescue.” Armand claims.

3) Daniel leash: “I need the truth to be free.”

Daniel’s leash is his own compulsion:

he can’t stop poking,

can’t stop cross-checking,

can’t stop making a story out of danger because that’s how he survives.

Daniel’s leash is: receipts.

And Season 3 will punish him for it and reward him for it at the same time.

Part II: Why Daniel’s Apartment Matters (It’s a Set, It’s a Signal)

The warm, antique, huge Manhattan apartment is not just “Daniel has taste.”

It reads like:

a golden cage (comfort + exposure)

a curated museum (objects as memory anchors)

a space designed for observation (huge windows, no shades, open concept, staged warmth)

It’s “rest,” but it’s also “you can be reached.”

And if only the mailman or landlord can access the mailbox and the tapes still show up? Then the show is telling us:

Daniel’s life is permeable. His boundaries are theater flats.

Also: the sky-painted ceiling reads like the same theme the show keeps returning to with Armand:

manufactured serenity.

Part III: Daniel’s Survival Strategy (Redundancy or Death)

Here’s what I think Daniel does as soon as Season 3 starts:

Daniel starts duplicating himself.

Because in a world with:

edited books,

missing time,

manipulated narratives,

potential identity theft/body-theft-adjacent threats,

and vampires who can literally alter memories…

…the only way to stay sane is:

external anchors + redundancy.

So Daniel’s “most Daniel” move is:

multiple encrypted backups

dead drops

time-stamped voice notes

code phrases with trusted people

a continuity ritual (something he does every day to prove “I was me at this time”)

Because Daniel has realized something crucial:

You can’t win against mind games with vibes. You win with receipts you can’t be talked out of.

This is why he will seem paranoid, and why he’s actually being rational.

Part IV: The Season 3 Arc (Episode-shaped Predictions)

I’m going to lay this out like a trajectory rather than exact plot.

Phase 1: “Newborn vampire / old habits”

Daniel tries to do fledglinghood on his terms.

He’s still sarcastic.

Still poking.

Still pretending he’s the one conducting the interview even though he is now the interview subject.

But he starts noticing that:

his cravings aren’t just hunger, they’re buttons other people can press.

his emotions are louder.

his “sharp mind” can be destabilized by stress + blood + manipulation.

Phase 2: “Handler war”

Talamasca starts making moves.

“We can keep you safe.”

“We can explain rules.”

“We can help you hide.”

And Armand will hate that because Talamasca involvement is basically hands on Daniel’s narrative.

So Armand starts counter-programming:

offers comfort

offers clarity

offers “you can trust me”

offers a leash that feels like warmth

This is where the “dickmatize” idea comes in, but make it broader: Armand uses blood + tenderness + intermittent reward to create attachment.

Not constant force. Not obvious coercion. Something worse:

“I’m not making you. You’re choosing.” Which is not wrong, canonically Daniel conscientiously CHOSE Armand fully aware of the BS. Armand just didn’t know how to love him in a healthy manner which is what their romantic struggle will be. Daniel has done the work to learn how to love people, failed in trying, but he knows. Armand’s struggle is that he’s not had many if any healthy partnerships outside of Daniel; and I feel for half of it Daniel was too young to know better. Now that he’s older Daniel won’t really be able to work with Armand’s frantic way of stifling a lover.

Phase 3: “Memory-trigger escalation”

Daniel begins experiencing:

bodily familiarity without cognitive context

emotional reactions that feel older than the moment

sensory cues that make him tense before he knows why

And this is where Season 3 gets horror-adjacent:

Daniel begins to suspect that what he thinks is “his life” might have been… handled. Which is what Armand wants, he wants Daniel to find the pieces, but he wants Daniel to fully succumb to him which is where Armand’s getting blind. Armand CAN get Daniel to commit and cooperate but not by figuratively chaining him. Daniel’s tendency to somehow always find danger is what will crank up Armand’s anxious attachment and make him want to lock up Daniel so he doesn’t get hurt.

That’s when Daniel starts digging not for story, but for identity continuity. So he will allow the flirtations, the tension, part because he likes it but also instinct. We want to see the romantic but we might not like what it entails…and neither will he. He’s too smart now.

Phase 4: “Lestat detonates the room”

Lestat’s season = spectacle + narrative war.

Which means Daniel becomes the perfect mirror/opponent:

Lestat wants to tell his version.

Daniel is built to fact-check and expose.

So Daniel either:

becomes the reluctant chronicler of Lestat’s campaign, or

becomes a liability because he can’t stop investigating what Lestat’s showmanship hides.

Phase 5: “The ‘protection’ reveal”

Armand will “protect” Daniel at least once (I’m betting).

But the protection will cost something:

freedom,

privacy,

access to others,

the ability to say “no”

access to his personhood. Armand's…horny. So is Daniel. Daniel’s resistance is a turn on for him. We’ve seen it. Intimacy with someone you genuinely like is its own drug. Armand will try to get into Daniel’s pants with fervor as he tends to escape his pains in sex. Daniel will play hard to get but who are we kidding the man’s gonna break as Armand’s gorgeous.

This is where Daniel has to admit:

“Protection” and “possession” look identical from inside the cage.

Phase 6: “Counter-leash”

Daniel stops trying to win by being brave and starts trying to win by being distributed.

This is the moment Daniel becomes terrifying, because the only thing scarier than an inquisitive journalist is an inquisitive journalist who has built a failsafe system.

Part V: Why I Think Daniel Will Suffer

Writers don’t kill characters like Daniel quickly because he’s too valuable structurally:

he bridges worlds,

he delivers exposition,

he provides humor relief and horror contrast, his character is both sweet and somehow heartbroken/bitter. It also helps that he’s pretty so he just comes across as an overgrown toddler with a potty mouth who inspires cute aggression. I don’t blame Armand one bit.

he can call bullshit,

he triggers conflict by asking the forbidden question.

Season 3 will do something meaner:

It keeps him alive long enough to make him doubt reality, then makes him fight to rebuild it.

That’s the true Daniel Molloy hell.

Part VI: The Final Shape of It

If I had to summarize Daniel’s Season 3 endgame in one sentence:

Daniel becomes the war over the story—Talamasca wants to weaponize him, Armand wants to own him, Lestat wants to outshine him, and Daniel wants to remain himself. Lestat WILL try to be passive aggressive towards Daniel at any and every opportunity he gets I think. I think it’s gonna sting Daniel a bit which is where Armand’s gonna come in to remedy that. How Armand loves is a little better than how Armand was taught to love and has loved before but it’s something they’re gonna struggle with…because Armand will want to shield Daniel all for himself especially now that in many ways he’s also more vulnerable as a fledgling. Armand will take the cute aggression and nearly snuff Daniel out. Daniel without freedom isn’t himself. Armand will have at least one meltdown trying to reprogram. Religion is gonna be the other issue that will invoke a meltdown as it’s entwined to how he loves too.

And in the middle of all that?

He’s still Daniel. Still sharp. Still impossible. Still saucy.

For any Sixth Gun, the word "family" wasn't just a slogan; it was the foundation of our connection with the GazettE. We were sold the idea of an unbreakable brotherhood that would last "forever." However, nothing in human mortal life is "forever"—or at least, not physically. For me, March 10, 2026, that illusion didn't just end because of a member's departure, but because of the way the humanity behind the music was handled.

1. The Omen: The Mirror Test on Radio Jack

Sometimes, the truth leaks out in the most unexpected moments. In late 2024, during episode 181 of Radio Jack, Uruha and Aoi performed a personality test based on choosing mirrors. Aoi’s result was staggeringly accurate:

"The round mirror represents a full circle of fulfilled lives, both physically and mentally. No matter what do you, you always put the very best. You always put the best in relationships, truly loved your loved ones, and enjoy the life to the fullest. But sometimes you're under pressure of being in a centre of situations, but please don't be afraid to reach the end goal and fulfil your lives."

The most revealing part wasn't the test itself, but the reaction. Aoi admitted that it described him perfectly. And that was where we saw the last spark of genuine support, Uruha responded with a:

"well, don't be afraid to stand up for yourself, okay?"

Looking back, that moment wasn't just a simple test; it was the silent cry of someone who could no longer handle the mental burden, and a bandmate who, perhaps, already saw the collapse coming.

2. Prioritizing Health: An Act of Treason?

Since 2024, following the devastating loss of Reita, Aoi’s behavior on social media and on Rajigaze changed. He spoke of exhaustion, of pressure, and of a darkness that wouldn't let go. When he finally decided to prioritize his mental health, the response he received (and that we received) was not one of compassion.

While Aoi tried to heal, the narrative from the band and the company began to shift toward the corporate. His silence began to be judged as a "lack of commitment." This is where the illusion of brotherhood shattered for many: Since when did human exhaustion become an "unforgivable act"?

3. The Contrast of the Farewells

If we want to know who maintained emotional maturity until the end, we only need to read the farewell messages:

Aoi: The one who accepts and gives thanks (Peace). He said goodbye with gratitude, naming each of his bandmates and remembering that his connection with us wasn't about business, but about being five humans chasing a dream. He closed his cycle with elegance and peace.

The Band (Ruki/Kai): Those who punish and point fingers (Attack/Ego). They opted for punitive language. They used words like "dishonesty" and "we are innocent," throwing darts at someone who stood by their side for 23 years.

Uruha: The one who resigns and remains silent (Duty/Sorrow). Unlike the others, Uruha does not hurl accusations of "immorality." His discourse takes refuge in duty and mission. It feels like the message of someone who is marching by inertia because "he promised," but who has lost his soul in the process. His tone is not one of attack, but of a double mourning: for Reita and for the unity he could not save.

Each of us as Sixth Guns established a connection with the band where we forged ideals. When the expectation of that "brotherhood" clashes with cold corporate reality, the illusion breaks.

For me, the image of friends and brothers is broken. What remains is the feeling that Aoi and Uruha were the only ones to respect the loyalty to the humanity of the band.

Aoi did not need to attack anyone to say goodbye with dignity.

Uruha did not need to attack Aoi to explain the situation.

To this day, like Uruha, I maintain my follow to Aoi because I know that in every story there are three truths: your truth, my truth, and the truth.

Those who believe Aoi spoke ill of any member should re-read his tweets, his statements, and carefully read the March interview. Furthermore, it would be worth re-watching all the concerts, backstages, and re-reading Aoi's interviews spanning more than 23 years; he was always sincere with his opinions and, even in the face of conflict, he did not speak ill of anyone.

If your peace of mind requires having a villain and you need Aoi to occupy that place in the story, that’s fine. But fair is fair: the treatment Aoi received from the company and his bandmates, after more than 23 years of dedication, leaves much to be desired and speaks more about them than about Aoi.

Whoever controls the narrative decides who is the hero and who is the monster.

There will be Sixth Guns who will never care about the truth; they only need to feel righteous and pure (潔白 - Keppaku) like Ruki. They need a story where they are the "good guys," even if it isn't true.

If there isn't a clear villain, they manufacture one: they distort, they exaggerate, and they end up omitting or changing parts of the story until that narrative grants them peace. Because accepting reality implies questioning oneself, and that is something not everyone is willing to do.

If you are in a similar situation with your family, friends, or coworkers, remember that even if you do everything right, they are going to point fingers at you anyway.

In real life:

The one who sets boundaries is labeled selfish.

The one who leaves is called a traitor.

Honored to earn my ONC badge this year. It’s a beautiful reminder that staying true to your own voice pays off — even in a landscape where echoes are loud and originality is rare. 🔥

I’ve been telling stories for a long time. Long enough to recognize my fingerprints when I see them.🖤

Banksy’s rise from a clandestine graffiti artist to a global figure was far from accidental—it was the product of strategic intelligence and a preternatural understanding of human behavior. He recognized that true influence lies not in mere visibility but in the cultivation of mystique and narrative control.

His journey from Bristol to London is a masterclass in cultural orchestration, where each intervention was meticulously calculated to elicit maximum social and intellectual engagement. The streets became his atelier, and the public became co-curators, their reactions part of the work’s unfolding narrative.

This is a blueprint for any artist or visionary seeking to shape perception, command attention, and cultivate enduring prestige on a worldwide scale. It is the paradox of a master of “strategic subversion” who uses tactics that mirror elite branding and rare luxury markets. The real art isn't just on the wall; it’s the architecture of the narrative around it.

When You Lose the Message, You Lose the War

🧠 The Left mastered the story. The Right lost the script. That’s how every election turns into a moral trial. The answer? Stop reacting. Start attacking—with truth, clarity, and conviction.

🎧 READ & LISTEN NOW: https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/why-republicans-and-conservatives

The first edition of a yearly zine full of musings between the infamous @shanebugbee and myself. Though, the link to The Infernal Church is long dead, unfortunately.

The Soliloquys dissect modern culture, politics, and Satanic ideology, challenging readers to embrace skepticism over consensus. Topics include the crucial distinction between the Black Sheep, the Outsider, and the Scapegoat; who truly controls History and Truth; the merits of free-flowing information vs. controlled narratives; and a provocative debate on Global Justice versus domestic focus, sparked by the Palestine/Israel conflict and acts of Martyrdom.

A vital, witty, and uncompromising read for the self-defined outsider.

Reality Check: When ‘Offensive’ Just Means ‘I Can’t Argue Against That’

We’ve all seen it. You drop an undeniable fact, backed by logic, stats, and common f*cking sense, and instead of a rational counterargument, you get hit with:

"That’s offensive!"

Translation:

“I have no actual rebuttal.”

“This makes me uncomfortable, so it must be wrong.”

“I can’t handle reality, so I’m going to throw a tantrum instead.”

The “offensive” card is a weak-ass debate tactic designed to silence people who are telling the truth. And the bigger the truth, the faster they reach for it.

Let’s take a real-world example:

🔥 The 2016 Election: A Reality Slap to Feminist & Gynocentric Narratives

The election of Donald Trump wasn’t just about politics—it was a giant middle finger to the feminist bullsh*t that claimed men were "oppressors" and women were "the future."

📊 Hard Numbers They Can’t Ignore:

Electoral College Landslide: Trump 306 – Clinton 232 🔥

Women Didn’t All Vote for Hillary: 41% of women voted for Trump. So much for the "sisterhood." 💀

White Voters? Overwhelmingly Trump: 57% backed him. 🔥

Minorities? Not as ‘Anti-Trump’ as You Were Told: 8% of Black voters & 28% of Hispanic voters voted for him. 🤔

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

It means that a sh*tload of Americans—men, women, minorities—weren’t buying the feminist fairy tale. They were done with:

Men being demonized for existing.

Women being told they’re "oppressed" while running Fortune 500 companies.

The media shoving feminist propaganda down their throats.

And when people dared to point this out? “That’s offensive!”

No. That’s reality. And reality doesn’t give a f*ck about your feelings.

🚨 Handy Self-Awareness Checklist: Are You Just Mad at Reality?

Before you scream "Misogynist! Racist! Offensive!", take a moment to self-reflect:

✅ The “Am I Just Butthurt?” Checklist

Did I actually disprove anything, or did I just get mad? 🤔

Am I offended because it’s false, or because it’s true and I don’t like that? 😬

Do I rely on name-calling because I don’t have a real argument? 🤡

Am I part of the group that got exposed and now I’m taking it personally? 💀

If someone said the same thing about men, would I even care? 🧐

Am I upset because I’ve never actually questioned my own beliefs? 😵‍💫

Do I think censorship is okay as long as it protects my feelings? 🚩

Am I pretending this is about “justice” when really, I just don’t like dissent? 🤷‍♂️

Do I confuse emotional reactions with logical arguments? 🚨

Am I actually arguing for the truth, or just what makes me feel comfortable? 🛑

If you answered YES to more than three, congrats: You’re not debating. You’re deflecting.

Being uncomfortable doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means you weren’t ready for the truth.

The Male Feminist Problem: Weak Men Love Weak Logic

No real man calls himself a "male feminist." Why? Because no real man needs to pander to women for approval.

Why “Male Feminists” Exist:

✔️ They think it gets them laid. (It doesn’t.) ✔️ They believe agreeing with women makes them “allies.” (It makes them doormats.) ✔️ They need female validation because they have no spine, no purpose, no balls. ✔️ They hate masculine men because masculine men expose them for the frauds they are.

What Women Secretly Think of Male Feminists:

“He’s weak.”

“He’s probably a creep.”

“He only agrees with me because he wants something.”

“Ew.”

And when you call them out? Guess what they say?

👉 “That’s offensive!”

Final Truth Bomb: ‘Offensive’ is Just a Shield for People Who Can’t Handle Facts

The 2016 election proved that America wasn’t as woke, feminist, or gynocentric as the media claimed. But instead of facing that reality, feminists and their pet simps had a meltdown.

Because when people can’t argue with facts, they try to silence them instead.

So the next time someone tells you something is ‘offensive,’ ask yourself: Did they actually disprove it, or did they just want me to shut up?

🔥 Like what you see? Don’t just hoard it—Reblog it. Spread the gospel. Amplify the chaos.

📌 Follow for more—I drop this kind of gold daily. Don’t be the last one to catch on.