See The THING IS I Don't Feel Like I Ever Worked Hard Enough To Have "earned" The Burnout, Which Is.

seeing people downplay markhelly's relationship really grinds my teeth in a way few things do. "they will be caught in five minutes" "she's an eagan, it will never work" IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT NEVER MATTERED. NOT TO THESE CHARACTERS NOR TO THE CORE THEMES OF THIS SHOW. if you can't see the heartwrenching euphoria in mark and helly trying to be together for one more minute, that even if they die at least it will be by each other's sides, that they will have had the agency, the freedom, to live for themselves and each other for even a heartbeat in the palms of their hands, then i'm afraid you never understood this story. not the beating heart of it, not the being human part of it, nothing

My latest embroidery 🪡 “Weavers of Life”, 8” radius, December 2021. A reminder to remember those who weave our clothing. by -Bold-and-Brash-

obsessed with the Helena and Irving parallel and what it says about the aspects of our identity we think are fundamental (but aren't)...

Like Outie Irving assumes his Innie is just as radically anti-Lumon as he is. He assumes his hatred of Lumon is something ingrained in his personality! That's why he stays up at night drinking coffee and making paintings, because he hopes that when his innie dreams about the testing floor, he'll say "okay bet" and start exploring. That's what Outie Irving would do, after all. But he miscalculated! His hatred of Lumon isn't inherent--- his desire for meaning and art and spirituality is inherent. That's what his hatred for Lumon is built on. But in a world where there's no meaning outside of Lumon propaganda, of COURSE his innie would become ridiculously devoted to the company.

And Helena!! She is the corporation, that's her whole identity. She presumably assumed that Helly would be just as pro-Lumon as she is. But she miscalculated too! Her devotion to the company isn't inherent, her headstrong and entitled nature is what's inherent! And in a world where she's denied any agency whatsoever, that manifests as rebellion.

It's the same dynamic flipped on its head. They both sent their innies in there with opposite intentions--- one to take down the company, one feed the company's expansion--- only to realize that rebellion and devotion aren't inherent characteristics. Their innies have become the exact opposite of their outie selves, while still being exactly the same!! Because even though your personality is inherent, the values you hold are determined circumstantially. OUGH IT'S SO GOOD.

Pearlescent Pair

This portrait of a pair of purple glossy starlings (Lamprotornis purpureus) at the Kansas City Zoo in Missouri.

Photograph by Joel Sartore

WELCOME BACK LOGAN ROY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sorcerer

lorne & emile — the GOATs

fishe studies pt 3 reef triggerfish || atlantic pollock || hogfish

helly was never cruel

we’re the circle in the square