#but heres 4 for simplicitys sake <3 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

luvieshifts · 1 year

Text

the maze runner maze diversity ideas directly inspired by this @petrichor-idyllic post!!

ive literally been thinking about it nonstop since omg okay BASICALLY its confirmed in the scorch trials movie that there are a bunch of other mazes aside from the glade and group b. since these other mazes are never touched on there are one million and one ways people could go with them in fanfiction in terms of layout, weather conditions, etc. so i wanted to share some!

petri had tons of great ideas (go follow them right NEOW) and im just here to expand on them. 4 the sake of simplicity im gonna call the “gladers” subjects/mazers since we dont really know what theyd call themselves, and im gonna call the “glade” the centre. i am gonna keep calling new kids greenies bc i think its a funny little name + DISCLAIMER i have not read the books and i also do not have the time or energy to rewatch the movies so if any information is off my bad fr

NOT PROOFREAD

MONSTER IDEAS

a maze with birdbox style monsters so they have to navigate the maze blindfolded

a maze where the monsters are deathly afraid of some sort of metal that wicked wont send them enough of to make clothes or armor (at least not enough to keep every mazer safe) so all the people are heavily pierced. greenies come up piercingless and have to sit in the piercing hut (where they keep the metal) for however long it takes them to let the maze piercers do their job because absolutely no shot are they letting any dumbass teenager go anywhere with their rare life saving metal without it being fused to their bodies. the maze record for time a greenie has spent in the piercing hut is 3 full days and the less time you spend in there when you first arrive the more street cred you get

^ the piercer would probably be the maze leader, im picturing someone who at the beginning was the only person that could talk greenies into getting the piercing over n done with and as more came up the maze just filled with people that would only listen to the one person they trusted enough to pierce them straight out of the box.

a maze with underground monsters. you drop something heavy enough and something shoots out of the ground, jaws wide open. they have treestyle type houses, floating bridges connecting buildings. they dont have runner equivalents bc theyre working on building bridges through the maze and its like a no brainer that they cant go anywhere without a bridge. instead of “someone should try surviving the maze at night” its “we should climb the walls” and everyone thinks hes just as nuts

^theyd have a box but wouldnt it be fucking funny if their greenies just fell out of the sky?? they have a little platform right underneath where the greenies and supplies land (they call it ground zero) picturing wicked somehow forgetting to cushion the platform at first and patient zero falls out of the sky and dies on impact

a maze where the monsters arent giant teen eating beasts but deadly insects. one bite of that one and youll vomit up your internal organs, breathe in gas from that one and your entire body will be paralyzed. accidentally step on that one and your foot will swell to the size of a bowling ball and fucking explode. experiment with how your mazers cope with this - maybe everyone wears layers and layers of bee keeping style clothes outside and all the buildings are netted. do they have disinfecting rooms? do they have some sort of poison that takes the insects out? how to they distribute this poison since they cant just pierce it on like the metal maze?

a maze with the hunger games mutt type monster-mutations made out of fallen mazers

a maze where the monsters arent monsters or a threat at all but contain clues or keys thatll help the mazers get out and are notoriously impossible to catch

MAZE IDEAS

on the wiki page for group b it says their maze went vertical at one point - a maze that is completely vertical, their centre (creatively named The Hole) being like a tube just walled in by heaven high maze structures. you look up and at some point the walls give way to an abyss. most of the mazers have given up hope of getting out because it looks endless - or does it? nobody really entertains the idea that the top of The Wall is closer than they think, that the creators have put in a fake ceiling to fuck with them, but the people theyve sent up dont come back down and when the hole is quiet enough they can hear something alive up there and nobody can say for sure that their little village is any worse than what theyll find if they try to leave

hunger games quarter quell type maze where different sections of it have different monsters or obstacles. the sections with the easiest to bypass obstacles have the most complicated puzzle, the sections that are the easiest to navigate have obstacles 10x as deadly

PEOPLE IDEAS

a maze where 2 people come up in the box at a time (inspired by this thomas fic). theyd have names like box-mate or smth for whoever you come up in the box with (i.e thats jeff, he’s clints box-mate) and everyone is really close with their box-mate, platonically or otherwise. i feel like theres alot of cute potential for this idea, like an alby-equivalent talking to aggressive mazers like why dont you go find your box-mate and chill out. go cuddle or something. greenies often feeling weird about their connection w their box-mate (bc who wouldnt??) and long time mazers teasing them about it “oooooh somebodys making eyes at their booox-maaate muah muah muah”

unisex maze (although all these ideas can be unisex) where the number of boys and girls is slightly or very uneven at any given time. people have bets going around that time of the month every month about whether theyre getting a boy or a girl w things like chores and food being traded like currency. the bonfires on greenie day are just celebrations for the winning party

got this idea from petri but someone alone in a maze!!! just completely isolated for however long, not being expected to survive but making it out somehow. have you guys ever read an article or paper on the long term psychological effects of solitary confinement in prisons? of course itd be different but isolation is literally used as a torture method in some places. humans are not supposed to be so alone!! a lone mazer that sleeps by the thinnest part of the walls at night so they can hear the monsters, have some sort of connection to another living thing. a lone mazer that only survives their maze because they know their monsters like the back of their hand after spending endless nights well hidden in the maze just OBSERVING the creatures because it becomes a comfort to them, seeing something outside of themself move by its own free will. a lone mazer that never stops talking once theyre out of the maze because long silence makes them feel like theyre all alone again, a lone mazer that doesnt talk at all once theyre out of the maze because they cant stand the sound of their own voice anymore.

^ petri had the idea of an animal companion and i think that is a wonderful idea!! they have this fic where the reader had a dog and theyre really cute together. go full on disney princess & give your character a bird or a chameleon or a tiger if youre a jasmine guy. a dog or any predatory animal can conceivably help your character escape the maze - give your character a sloth or a koala or just a really lazy cat. give me a lone mazer whos animal companion is dead weight but they dont have the heart to leave them, who keeps their fat cat strapped to their chest like a baby as they fight for their life.

person alone in a maze with a baby. ik this sounds so random but wicked wanting to see the effects of growing up in the maze so they send in a carer, someone that looks after the mazers before theyre sent in. the carer raises the kid angry at whoever has trapped their now adopted child in this torture chamber come to find out they used to be one of them

maze where the subjects are supposed to get injured in some way to force them to rely on one another. a subject being deafened by a banshee type monster, a subject getting a limb amputated by medjack equivalents after getting suddenly and suspisciously sick. they dont spend so much time mapping the maze as figuring out how to get all of them through to the very end because they quite literally cannot make it without every single mazer

a maze where the subjects keep their memories but theyve all been altered. some remember wicked as saviours providing shelter for them as orphaned children, others remember being restrained, poked and prodded, a vague feeling of grief and betrayal that they cant explain. others dont remember wicked at all and insist that the maze is a paradise compared to desert wastelands filled with zombie people and viral disease.

your mazers can react to this in any way shape or form. maybe factions/cliques of people with similar memories form. nobody wants a leader from a different group in charge of the entire maze so they dont have one, there not being any rules that apply to every group in the maze because nobody will listen to eachother. everyone thinks the ones that dont remember wicked are crazy and the anti-wicked group have the most reason to become violent, have been the most violent in the past so everyone thinks theyre psychos. it takes them longer than other groups to get out despite having memory because they all take over different parts of the maze and refuse to share information.

mazers that have access to technology. they can make things like recordings and audios but no way of connecting to the outside world and no information aside from what they put in themselves. they learn to program things and make robots/drones to navigate the maze for them, make intro videos for greenies so they dont have to deal with them. instead of track hoes and medjacks they have groups of people that work on different kinds of technology because theyve learnt to automate most of the stuff the gladers do by hand. some work on exploring the maze, some make weapons, some study the monster corpses theyve managed to get, etc etc.

CULTURE/TRADITION IDEAS

the different ways people commemorate dead mazers!! in the glade they cross out their names on the maze walls and in group Bs maze they like sculpt their faces into the ice. give me a maze that tattoos the names of their fallen, whos oldest mazers have the most ink so it kind of goes without saying that the more tattoos you have the more authority you have. greenies being able to tell clearly whos been around longer based on which names they have tattooed. give me a maze that mounts the weapons of the dead on a wall, a maze with a regular graveyard that the mazers visit on slow days

greenie events!!! give me greenie celebrations like the bonfire we see in the glade, parties or games, feasts to welcome newcomers. give me a maze where the arrival of a greenie is grim, one more mouth to feed, one more lost soul trapped. a maze where everything dims down around that time of the month because another person means another month theyve failed to get out. give me mazes that test their greenies to see if theyre of any use to the group because those that arent are dead weight. a maze that holds Greenie Trials, where you have to complete an obstacle course or survive a night in the maze or complete some obscure challenge and if you cant youre tossed to the monsters.

^bonus points for a gally-equivalent getting to say ominous shit like The Last One Didn’t Make It

TATTOO SUBGENRE

because i dont know what else to do with these

maze where wicked programmed the monsters to respond to some basic specific kind of symbol and the people have it tattooed in very visible places, painted on every hut and wall

maze where the monsters are deathly allergic to some sort of liquid so the subjects tattoo themselves with it

maze where you have to be incredibly light on your feet when navigating the maze so people tattoo maps on themselves.

GROUP B

i know im supposed to be talking about maze ideas not mentioned in canon but group b has so much potential their wiki says that group b doesnt have runners, they literally all just go out into the maze in a giant group, AND that their monsters are out day and night PLUS their maze is a frozen wasteland. i imagine any girls that arent strong enough to withstand everything are like pretty quickly weeded out and only the hardasses that adapted quickly enough were left omg the cultural norms that would form?? theyre all absolutely jacked and if a greenie dies nobody bats an eye cause tough shit. no introduction no transition period you come into the maze with us and dodge airborne monsters or you stay here and freeze to death. the creators do send them medical supplies but over time they start to notice the way the group interacts w eachother so they start sending less to see if they can push it even farther, make the girls have to ration their medical supplies. it works tenfold oh you broke your arm and you want a sling, aris?? rachel got her arm CHEWED OFF by a FLYING MUTANT PTERADACTDOL and didnt ask me for so much as a BANDAID

this is like evidenced on the wiki too multiple girls suggesting they just leave aris to freeze to death or get eaten by monsters in the maze because theyre SUSPISCIOUS of him?? like absolutely unprovoked too thomas had a stung glader accusing him of being at fault for the maze an unconscious girl who came at the wrong time who is apparently going to be the last greenie they ever recieve feverishly gasping his name just so much ammo for the gladers to toss him out and it takes the death of like half the glade and an insane gally to get him where aris was upon arrival. they literally punch aris square in the face immediately after they decide not to kill him bc “its the fastest way to remember your name” like how did you guys realise that??? "fastest way” so you admit there are other ways??? why are you giving all your greenies concussions

GEN

because i dont know where to put these

explore the concept of failed mazes. a desert maze where the subjects couldnt survive on the monthly supplies because they couldnt farm any food on their own because, well, desert. a maze where wicked did something like the memory altering maze, purposefully dividing them but they went too far and the mazers killed eachother off hunger games style

test mazes! have you ever wondered why the mazes operate the way they do? why do they send people up once a month? why are the mazers of all different ages? why not make the centre already stocked with food and buildings so the subjects can spend more time cracking the maze instead of learning how to grow crops?

a maze where they sent all the people up at once and without guidance from more experienced subjects they pretty quickly killed themselves off. a maze where the subjects were too young and werent organising themselves or mapping the maze fast enough, a maze where the subjects were too old and lost hope faster and easier. a maze where the mazers had everything they needed upon arrival and nobody wanted to leave.

AND MANY MORE!!!

IN conclusion make ur own mazes people!!!!! get creative w it there are so many different directions you can take it in!! pls feel free to use any ideas thats what theyre here for i dont need credit but PLEASE tag me id love to see anything that comes from this nonsense!!! nd lmk if anybody wants a pt2 because i had a million half baked ideas that didnt make the cut i am filled to the brim with Thoughts

151 notes · View notes

temtamtom · 7 months

Note

I’d love to hear if you have any headcanons around rome and his boys <3

Ouhh,,, I'm so normal about this family bro I swear,,,

I tend to flip-flop between making Rome their father or their grandfather. I usually go with the father route, but I do have AUs and storylines where he's their Nonno :)

(In addition to the point above, a plus-side of Rome being their dad is Romano gets to call him "Babbo". I also like calling him "Babbo Roma")

Romano looks the most like Rome. It's more apparent when you compare him to Rome's younger self when he didn't have as much muscle or stubble. I like to think they have a bust of his head in their shared apartment and, upon first glance, other nations often mistake it for a statue of Romano.

I mentioned this in a previous post but Romano and Rome share the same name. For the sake of simplicity, however, people usually call him Romulus.

Rome is 165 cm, Romano is also 165 cm, Feliciano is 170 cm, and Seborga is 178 cm. Romulus is very impressed with Sebby's height, and always compliments him on it. One of his favorite compliments is telling him he would make a great centurion with the right training (at which point the twins have to cut in and say no their baby brother will NOT be a soldier of any kind, thank you)

Rome is definitely very protective over his boys, which I'm sure is something their partners enjoy dealing with. I have fun imagining what his reaction would be to various partners/ships.

In the case of GerIta/ItaGer, I wouldn't be surprised if Romulus demanded Feliciano break up with Ludwig as soon as he found out he was German (as if Feliciano would listen) kdhfkj

I talked about this headcanon on my main blog (in Italian, though), but I'll bring it up here too. Rome usually spoke to his boys in some form of Latin, but he began learning Italian when Seborga joined the family. The kid was probably around 3-4 years old when Rome first met him and obviously didn't speak a lick of Latin.

Now onto some more serious stuff:

Rome lived past 476 AD. The last time Romano and Feliciano saw him was around 546, when Romulus sent them out of the city at the tail-end of a devastating siege on Rome during the Gothic Wars. They were separated to increase the chance of one child surviving- one heading north and the other heading south to their respective territories. Whether he survived past that is unclear to many nations. Some claim they spotted him in various places throughout Europe, a husk of the man he once was. Others believe he lived in hiding in the Byzantine Empire. No one is certain about what happened to him, and his ghost has a difficult time remembering what happened after the Gothic Wars.

This is deserving of its own more analytical/detailed post, but here are my two cents on what their relationship/dynamic looks like (in my mind). Though Rome loved his boys deeply, and the brothers loved him in return, life was not always peachy. There were certainly a lot of expectations put on their shoulders from a very young age. Rome had spent his entire life building an empire and a legacy, something he wanted to live on through his descendants, namely Romano. The firstborn, the fighter, and the one who commanded attention easily. The one who looked and acted the most like Rome did in his own youth. Under the right guidance, he could be shaped into a leader. However, this meant the boy was often scrutinized heavily by those around him and judged more harshly than his twin. He wasn't respected as his own person and was merely seen as an extension of his father/grandfather. Feliciano, on the other hand, was on the "weaker" and "softer" side. Rome adored him and coddled him, treated him more gently than Romano, but he didn't really respect him, if that makes any sense? So Feliciano felt the need to compete and one-up his brother to prove his own worth, even if it caused the brothers to start fighting (physical altercations were not uncommon). Romulus didn't seem to notice these issues. How could he when he was often away from home? In his eyes, his family was doing just fine. They seemed like two happy kids whenever he was around, and any fight that broke out between the twins was often chalked up to "brothers will be brothers"/"boys will be boys". These familial issues went completely unchecked for most of the boys' lives, and it wasn't until more modern times that they started to reflect on their childhood and its impact. Not all was doom and gloom in their childhoods ofc, but there were certainly quite a few issues. Like I said, this probably needs its own post kjfdgk

#hws romano #hws veneziano #hws Italy #hws rome #hws seborga #hetalia headcanons #gerita #mentioned briefly but I'll tag it anyways #temmie thoughts #telegram for tem #I hope this all made sense it's 1 AM and I'm eepy kjghfk

57 notes · View notes

td-tbbg-official · 3 months

Text

Welcome to the official blog of the unofficial tenth season of Total Drama Island, Total Drama: The Bridge Between Generations!

This master post will hopefully give you a bit of orientation on the page as to not make you freak out when approaching our beautiful series.

If you wish to support the blog, reblogs help more than likes. Please reblog posts rather than just like them.

PUBLISHED CHAPTERS

Chapter 1: Somewhat Happy Campers - Part 1

What is TD:TBBG?

TD:TBBG is an upcoming Gen 1 x Gen 4 All-Stars fanfiction. It features 24 contestants divided into 3 teams and takes place across 26 official episodes (chapters). It is canon compliant, as it happens after the two Total Drama Revived seasons, and contains many references to canon. The fanfic will be posted to the AO3 account canonically47 this year.

What to expect from this account?

Teasers, snippets, sneak peeks. By following the official TD:TBBG blog, you will get exclusive access to teasers of upcoming chapters of TD:TBBG starting with its release. Funny quotes, witty remarks, long descriptions, we’ve got them all!

Ask Friday. Previously, Fridays were used for answering asks, but now, we answer them any day of the week. We just kept the tag for simplicity’s sake! (And because our interns couldn’t be bothered to change it.)

Short stories. It’s a broad term, as I will also include full songs that the singers would write or scripts Courtney might get, but you can also expect to see some of the daily lives of our contestants, either old or new.

Check these out!

introduction post

gen 1 contestants

gen 4 contestants

the teams

Additional information:

I cannot stress enough how important reblogs are. Please, if you like my posts and want to support me, REBLOG!!! Tumblr is an app based around reblogs. Likes only help you; I need reblogs for reach.

Asks are always open to pretty much everything. More information on that here.

coming soon to an AO3 near you.

questions, concerns, suggestions to be deposited in the ask box.

TD: TBBG is written by @canonically47. the blog is entirely run by the writer.

!!! reblogs > likes !!!

33 notes · View notes

a-classic-undertale-idiot · 1 year

Text

Hey Guys

So we know that Sans lost to Cecil on this year's Tumblr Sexyman Rematch. So to make up for it, to the Undertale fans, I give you... Drumroll please!

..Very funny, Classic. Anyway, I give you..

Tumblr Sexyman Rematch: Sans AU Edition!

Here's how it works: Every day at 3 PM on my Tumblr, until the final round, there will be a poll for two Sanses that will last a day each. Most votes wins the round!

However, for simplicity's sake, I only chose 16 Sanses, because there are way too many to put in one list.

Edit: And for the Sanses that didn't show up, they may show up if I decide to do this next year.

Round 1 Matchups

(1/31): Classic vs Epic (Closed)

(2/1): Swapfell Red vs Killer (Closed)

(2/2): Nightmare vs Shattered Dream (Closed)

(2/3): Fatal Error vs Dream (Closed)

(2/4): Fell vs Geno (Closed)

(2/5): Ccino vs Dust (Closed)

(2/6): Horror vs Swapfell Gold (Closed

(2/7): Reaper vs Swap

212 notes · View notes

leo-fie · 2 months

Text

Anybody want to test a quilt block pattern?

So, this is a Stomachion:

It's a puzzle that goes back to Archimedes. Not to be confused with the Tangram, a similar puzzle. The joke with the Stomachion is that there's hundreds of possibilities to put the 14 pieces into a square.

I thought that would make an interesting quilt block, or several hundred.

So I made a pattern here. 6mm (1/4") seam allowance, finished block should come out 36 cm (14,2"). The pattern has 12 pieces, including 3 that are double, marked in my photos above. The original Stomachion has 14 pieces, but some of those are always together, so I fused them for simplicity's sake.

Anybody wanna try it? I'd be very interested if it actually works, but I also have a lot of stuff going on right now. Also I'm not good enough at quilting yet.

Edit: I did it! New pattern here

#quilt block #quilting #textile arts #sewing #sewing pattern #quilt block pattern #quilt pattern #free pattern

24 notes · View notes

partnersincrimesuau · 9 months

Text

PARTNERS IN CRIME - Stevinel SU Fan Comic Chapter 2: Rogues Like Me Page No. 46

Ch.1 Start Ch.2 Start Previous Next

Our first close up view of 83!!! I was so excited to finally draw this gal, since like Condor, she’s gonna be a very important reoccurring character in this comic!!! <333 (Her gem is obscured in this shot of her, but it’s actually in her left upper shoulder ^^)

And we also get some more 83 & Armoury lore… apparently there used to be four other bismuths working there, who have all moved on since the beginning of Era 3. Two went to Homeworld, and two others went to an unknown planet. (And NO, it’s not Earth – let’s just say, any blue/green planet I draw in this comic that DOESN’T have Australia on it, ISN’T Earth. That makes it easier to recognise! XD). I had a lot of fun designing the five bismuth sisters, and later on I’ll definitely be posting full versions of them. They all have names, personalities and backstories as well!!! (In fact, two of the bismuths were originally created for one of my earliest fics… they even predate Partners In Crime itself!!! They were added to the story during the script development for Chapters 2 and 3 ^^)

And lastly, we get another look at the outside of the Armoury. Originally the final panel was going to be a distant x-ray like view of the Armoury with the elevator leading down to the Workshop underneath, but I decided not to for simplicity’s sake. That would have taken FAR too long and would have been difficult in terms of perspective. So instead, we’re briefly returning the blue/pink palette, and showing Gingersnap and Snickerdoodle again!!! XD

(You don’t wanna know how long it took me to draw Homeworld. I really hope it was worth it. ALSO NO, THOSE THREE PLANETS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THAT CLOSE TOGETHER!!! I only drew them like that to show where the bismuths live now XD)

(Also tell me in the comments which bismuth design you like best – 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5???)

Info and FAQ about PIC here. Join the official PIC discord server!

(Made in FireAlpaca) Steven Universe is owned by Rebecca Sugar

#partners in crime #steven universe comic #spinel steven universe #steven universe #pic condor agate #condor agate #pic eighty three #eighty three #partners in crime chapter 2 #bismuth

75 notes · View notes

birindale · 1 month

Note

Hi I just wanted to double check something I am pretty sure I read on this blog. Is the origin of C'yra of D'riluth iii from the original cannon or was it a later addition? Also what does "of D'riluth iii" actually mean? I remember there being some vagueness to what it means

Okay there's a long version and a short version of this story.

Short version: It was a later addition. In 2008 Mattel launched a toy line called Masters of the Universe Classics, which could only be ordered through their website and was aimed at the collector market. One of the things they did was include "character bios" in a sort of homage to the G.I. Joe toys of the 80s, which featured 'personnel files' that gave specializations and a brief character history, including their real names (e.g. Duke was actually named Conrad S. Hauser).

Catra's figure was released in 2011 for about $65 USD. Her bio (which I've lifted from a Poe Ghostal review) is as follows:

We (I, and my friends whom I've pestered for opinions) are pretty sure D'Riluth III is the name of her planet, even though another planet in the same solar system (from the New Adventures of He-Man in the 90s) has the Arabic numeral 7, so including Roman numerals is a strange choice.

Long version: There was a fellow working for Mattel at the time named Scott "Toyguru" Neitlich, and he was (and remains to this day) exceptionally bad at things like 'writing' and 'creativity'. He was never very interested in She-Ra, though he loves to tell the story of stealing his sister's doll one year, so to him Catra is simply an agent of the Horde... which, in order to adhere to the 2002-2003 tv show, was now 5,000 years old. This bio directly contradicts the Filmation canon of Catra's mask having belonged to the Magicat queen, for instance, and introduces a number of confusing details.

One of the least popular was Adora being Hordak's "step-daughter" instead of his "adopted daughter", which was already kind of a gray area since he didn't exactly raise her. Scott digging in his heels on the matter was actually how I learned he'd written the thing in the first place:

Now you may be wondering, jeez, it's pretty confusing and the writing isn't great but aren't you being kind of harsh? Surely the push-back from the He-Fans was bad enough. Well give me a minute, dang. This is the long version!

I reached out to him about a year and half ago to ask 1. How it's pronounced, 2. If he could confirm that D'Riluth III is the planet, and 3. If he remembered how he came up with it. He told me the following:

Some backstory here--Scott runs a bit of a one-man content farm, in an effort to avoid paying hosting fees for advertisements or actually engaging in SEO. He is a marketing consultant.

He used to upload a 5-10 minute video every day, but shortly after I contacted him that dropped to only five a week, and his weekly "Director's Commentary" videos about MOTUC figures that he worked on (largely just explaining who the character even is in an unedited stream of consciousness, as his videos became slideshows of google images) moved to bi-weekly.

I was like, okay, he left Mattel in 2014 right? So surely once he's through that year he'll get to this new series.

Nope! He's doing 2015 too! So I reached out again in January, just to like. See if he was still intending to cover the 'real names', which imo should have been part of his commentary to begin with, but...

He had forgotten <3 I explained no, I was asking about these specific questions that I had outlined in my first email (I had replied to his last message in the chain for simplicity's sake), and he just said he'd be doing it soon. So I was like oh, cool, do you know if you'll be doing one a week still? since that would put a Catra video about 4 years out as he does them in release order, and he then promised he'd get to it soon and didn't answer the question.

Annoying, certainly, but whatever. Unless one of us dies horribly I can wait it out, right?

WRONG.

Scott, being an idiot, has not credited a single one of the images he lifted from google over his four years of mostly-daily slideshows. And recently, somebody fucking noticed!

So this guy--Ethan Wilson, a very talented toy photographer and reviewer--was informed that Scott (in his capacity as Spector Creative, the name of his YouTube channel/consulting business) had been using his pictures in videos. Actually, let me use Ethan's own words here:

I decided to dig a little deeper into Spector’s channel, and found 81 instances of my photos being used in 68 of the channels videos. None of these featured credit to me for use of the photos, and 48 of the 81 instances removed or obstructed my watermarks.

-About This Spector Creative Thing

I very strongly encourage you to read through this linked post, as it gets worse! Somehow!!

Scott, not noticing these as they came in over the course of 10 days, logged in to discover his channel had been taken down. He emailed Ethan in something of a panic to ask that Ethan reverse the claims as a 'professional favor', as Scott got all his clients through his channel's "advertising".

Now you're never gonna believe this... but when he and Ethan came to an understanding, suddenly Scott didn't give a shit.

He released a libelous video claiming Ethan had no rights to the images (he does) and that Scott could use them all he wanted because of Fair Use (he can't) and emailed Ethan the following.

First of all: this is bullshit. Copyright is automatic in the US, trademark wouldn't apply regardless, and as Scott should fucking know by now Ethan doesn't have a 'channel', he has a blog.

Second, he shot himself in the foot with the Fair Use defense by outright stating that his channel is his exclusive advertisement for his business and that he depends on his content to make a living. He said in his first video that it was "educational" 🙄

So Ethan realized Scott was a Fucking Liar and decided he should just copyright claim the rest of Scott's shit, in order to protect his images and rights thereto. YouTube can't take the channel down again unless Ethan is willing to pursue legal action--which he isn't, because he has a full time job and two kids and even though he'd probably win, it's a lot of time and energy.

I and a few others were trying to convince him that it would be worth it anyway, and looking into identifying and contacting the other artists Scott's stolen from over the years, when... Scott released a book. His first-ever graphic novel [looks into the camera like i'm on the office]

drawn entirely by AI.

So we have a frankenstein's monster of copyright infringement masquerading as illustrations (with all the uncanny valley that implies), Scott's technically and practically terrible writing, and the plot is Greek mythology. There are four and a half typos just in the free sample, and that's not including the words in images like his map or logo. He claims the title is a registered trademark but it certainly isn't registered in his state, or federally, and it's already in use by several other brands, so I wouldn't believe him even if he hadn't demonstrated a lack of understanding of copyright & trademark as recently as last week.

So I'm kinda fucking done waiting for answers! I can't trust a thing out of this guy's mouth! And he's pretty stupid, so do I even care what he thinks? I have decided that no. No I do not. I'll check back in 2028 and if he's survived + actually followed through then maybe I'll give his video a watch but until then it is simply pissing me off to remember this guy exists.

Sorry this turned into a rant I'm just really starting to loathe the guy. It's been an infuriating week or two. But uh... No, it's only canon to this one action figure line that ran for a little over a decade. We're certainly not beholden to it, it's more of a fun little in-joke for the fandom these days. You see someone use C'yra and you're like haha I know her! It's fun :3 Regardless of Scott's bullshit I enjoy seeing it around, and it's not like he owns or benefits from it in any way when maybe 1% of the people using it know where it comes from (and the people who know it was him specifically may be limited to the followers that have watched me complain about it).

Thank you for asking, I really do love asks even if the answer isn't what I want it to be lol. I'm happy to verify or explain anything I can!

#answers #gluttonforgay #catra #motu #motuc #c'yra of d'riluth iii

19 notes · View notes

aromanticannibal · 10 months

Text

Aizawa's found family except there's way too many people

So stage 1 is Aizawa and Mic. They're in a QPR, Aizawa is aroace and Mic fucks around on the side but they're married and live together and had a wedding. They don't kiss tho cuz Aizawa doesn't like kissing AT ALL.

Stage 2 is Eri. She's legally Aizawa's daughter and she starts calling him Dad so Aizawa just goes with it. Alright this is my child now got it.

Mic is like... Her weird uncle. That's how she sees him anyways. She calls him Mic because that's what everyone calls him.

Then Midoriya and Togata are Eri's brothers. Like they just are. And god knows Aizawa has a soft spot for these dangerous sunshines of teenagers (literally where is the Dadzawa content for Togata. Aizawa comforted him when Sir Nighteye died please people SEE)

So Midoriya and Togata are like part time Aizawa's sons. Part time because Togata has a dad and Midoriya has his mom and All Might is already his father figure (not that he can't have two but All Might was here first).

Stage 3. Shinsou Hitoshi. Mic saw this child and felt in his bones that one year from now he would be finding him asleep in the cupboards. He just knew.

Shinsou has a bad home life so he hangs out at Aizawa's house a lot and eventually just gets a room there. Like he just does. The house is big Aizawa said, it's okay, while Mic is laughing his ass off and Shinsou is trying not to cry.

Eri IMMEDIATELY latches on Shinsou. Why? He's a cat. Simple.

By the way, they have seven cats. Yes seven.

They're named Takoyaki, Window, Blanket, Butter, Phoebe (short for Febreze), Yuki and Hizashi. Yes, Hizashi is loud.

They also acquire Sushi when Midnight dies (minus one on the number of family members, she was the wine aunt. Rest in peace legend)

So Shinsou. Thing is, Shinsou is polyamorous and somehow half of the world is in love with him (he doesn't understand). So Monoma, Kaminari, Bakugou and Ojirou are added to the family as son in laws of Aizawa. None of them are dating each other they're just dating Shinsou and cohabiting.

Stage 4 is The Entire Todoroki Family. Somehow. Well no, not all of them actually, Endeavor is out there doing whatever it is he does.

The first to get adopted into the found family is Shouto. Similar to Shinsou, he ends up hanging out at Aizawa and Mic's house, at first for Midoriya, Shinsou and Eri, then for Togata and Shinsou's boyfriends, the cats, and eventually he's just There. All the time.

Evidently, Fuyumi, Natsuo and Rei want to know about their tiniest family member's found family. They accidentally also get added to the family.

Dabi is the hardest to include, you know because of the murder. But rehab and all. Since Aizawa, Shouto and Rei are the ones most capable of stopping Dabi from going apeshit, he gets thrown there too. He gets a room as well. It's basically all of the Todorokis' room when they visit, to his absolute horror.

Aizawa considers Dabi to be his 9th cat. Mic considers Dabi to be his nephew. Shinsou and Eri unconsciously think of him as their brother (well, it's more conscious for Eri given she just straight up calls Dabi her older brother).

Then, stage 5, there's Kurogiri/Oboro. Renamed Kurokumo for simplicity's sake (legally his name is Shirakumo Oboro but y'know). Kurokumo goes back to being mostly Shirakumo, but Kurogiri is still kinda here and Kurokumo wants that to be acknowledged.

He's one of the few who officially live in the Aizawa-Yamada household (reminder, the ones who legally live here are Aizawa and Mic, Shinsou, Eri, Dabi and Kurokumo + the 8 cats. The others visit and sometimes sleep over).

Stage 6, surprisingly, is caused by Mic hooking up with everyone in Japan. Mic and Aizawa call each other their partner or their husband sometimes, but they're again, not involved romantically or sexually. Mic has a shitton of romantic and sexual partners, and the regular ones eventually get a boyfriend/girlfriend status and are somewhat added to the fam.

Mainly, Mic's partners are : Hawks (to Dabi's horror again and also to Aizawa's... Horror also), Ms. Joke (Aizawa hates his husband's taste) and Best Jeanist (because of course). I'll let you decide which are romantic which are sexual which are both.

(Tangent : Mic made a move on Kurokumo once, because they flirted a lot in high school and everyone assumed they would eventually date. Kurokumo shut him down after a bit because it felt too weird, as being Kurogiri kinda took away all his sexual attraction and he feels like Mic is Way Older Than Him even though they're technically the same age. Mic apologized and they had a long long long talk with Aizawa about how Kurokumo felt about them and himself and everything is okay now they're best friends)

The final stage happens after 1-A graduates : mainly, all the students really love their teachers and always check on them even after they stop seeing them basically everyday, leading to them being brought into the family partially.

So to sum it up : Aizawa and Mic, husbands and platonic partners, are the somewhat parents of Shinsou, Eri and Dabi, with added bonus of Dabi's siblings and mom, Shinsou's boyfriends, Eri's brothers, plus Mic's boyfriends + girlfriend, and Kurokumo co-parents. Somewhat. And they have 8 cats. And their old students visit them and bring them food and flowers.

Final count of family members for Aizawa : 17 + 14 + 8 = 40

#aizawa shouta #dadzawa #found family #mha #bnha #yamada hizashi #shinsou hitoshi #kurogiri #au #not tagging everyone rip #midoriya izuku #eri aizawa

67 notes · View notes

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

Text

The Suitor to Suit Her

We didn’t get to see all of the boys attempt a proposal 😂 so here’s some quick dialogues I came up with, written in the style of a play script for the sake of simplicity; it’s sort of a “what if” each of the remaining guys, including the four in the final rescue squad, had a chance to woo the Ghost Bride.

I was able to make each proposal a little longer than the proposals shown to us in-game! It was really fun to write these, especially the side banter.

Please note: I do include Ortho in this, but he is NOT proposing. In Ortho’s scenario, he is volunteering to be the ring bearer or a flower boy so he can at sneak over and inform Idia of the plan and/or so Ortho can swap the ring out for the magical one to banish ghosts.

Another exception to the proposal prompt is Malleus. Since he can’t propose to some random ghost due to his own status as crown prince, his scenario is framed as something different.

Operation Propose, START!

Riddle: HOLD IT!!

Eliza, the Ghosts, and the “guests”: !!

Eliza: What’s this?! A fresh new squadron of suitors?

Ace: You’ve got that right!! If you think you’re gettin’ hitched, you’ve got another thing coming!

Ortho: That’s right! Hands off of Nii-san!

Idia: O-Ortho! You brought all the other normies...!

Eliza: Oh, there seems to be no end to you!

Ghost: Of course! You’re the most desirable bachelorette there is, princess!!

Eliza: Tee hee! Oh, you’re flattering me!

Eliza, to the group: Very well. Let’s start with you, the one in the smart crimson suit that matches your hair.

Riddle, with a polite smile: Ah-HEM! Good evening, princess. I do hope I’m not intruding on your time. I’m thankful that I’ve been granted this audience with you.

(Cater: Look, there it is! Riddle-kun’s surprisingly suave side!

Leona: Well, what do you know? It looks like the red young master’s able to hold his own.

Deuce: E-Eh, Rosehearts-senpai is doing so much better than I did… How cool!

Ace: HAH? Who’s a ‘refined gentleman’, ‘surprisingly suave’, and ‘cool’?! I don’t remember Riddle-ryocho ever being this nice to us! Definitely not to me!

Trey: Ahahahah… Well, Riddle did have manners drilled into him from a young age. It’s not surprising that he’s caught the ghost’s attention.

Ace: You have GOT to be kidding me!)

Riddle, bowing to the Ghost Bride: I am Riddle Rosehearts, dorm leader of Heartslabyul–and I would be honored if you would permit me to court you.

Eliza: Refined as you are, the prince that I seek is at least 180 cm tall! I’m afraid that you are a far cry from that.

Riddle, face tensing: Grrk…!

(Everyone: !!

Idia: Y-Yikes, Riddle-shi looks like he’s about to go berserk mode!!)

Riddle, sighing and relaxing: ………………

(Cater: Nice save! He came in clutch and managed to calm himself down!)

Riddle: I assure you that what I lack in height, I make up for with my talents and abilities. You may test me however you like. I am certain that I can provide the perfect response to any question.

(Ace: … Huh? Is it just me, or is he treating this like it’s a written exam with a short answer section?

Trey: Er, I think that’s exactly what he’s doing.)

Eliza: Very well, then tell me this: how do you plan to sweep me off my feet without that princely height I long for?

Riddle, smirking as he crosses his arms: Simple.

Riddle, a hand on his hip: We’ll have afternoon tea beginning at 3 o’clock on the dot and concluding at 4. No sooner and no later than that. After that light luncheon, we’ll take a 30 minute stroll in a rose garden to let the tea and finger foods digest.

Riddle, waving a hand: From 4:30 pm to 7 pm, we will exchange colloquial conversation so we are able to learn of one another. Dinner will be at 7, and I will return you safely to your place of residence at 9 pm.

Eliza: …………………….

Riddle: ... Well? Have you reached your decision? I’m in a hurry here. There is an important deadline that I must meet—

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Riddle: ?!

Eliza: You don’t have any sense for romance! Plans? Schedules? Routines? Love isn’t something so rigidly defined!!

Riddle: What?! Just how do you intend to get anything done if you don't...

Eliza: Surprise candlelit dinners! Spontaneous serenades by the moonlight! Getting so lost in my prince’s eyes that I lose track of time! These are the hallmarks of the ideal romance, and they’re all lost on you!!

Riddle, face turning red: YEEEARGH!!! You seriously expect to marry a man you’ve just met to go along with all of that nonsense?! Have you lost your mind?!

Eliza: I’ll not hear another word from you! Bring me the next suitor!

Eliza: Next up is you with the heart.

Ace: You called?

Ace, smiling: Heh, I see you looking at me from across the way. I know I’m hot stuff! You don’t need to be modest!

Eliza: Eh?!

Ace, winking: Hey. Don’t even bother looking at any other guys, cuz I’m your man—and that’s that!

(Jack, Floyd, Vil: …

Vil, offended: … And just who does Potato #1 think he is, waltzing in with such swagger?

Riddle: That overwhelming cocksureness of his is rubbing me the wrong way.

Cater: Eeeh, it seems to be working though, doesn’t it? Ghostie’s got her eyes glued on Ace-chan!

Deuce: This somehow feels… wrong to watch.

Trey: I don’t know whether that says more about the groom or more about the bride.

Idia: H-How can you people watch this without cringing so hard you reincarnate into another world?!)

Ace, smirking: How about it? Have I captured your heart with my wicked charm yet?

Eliza: You’re so bold! So forward! Tell me, how did you temper that confidence?

Ace: Oh, you know! I’ve got tricks up my sleeves.

Ace, looking smug: Unlike those guys, I’m not forever alone. This isn’t my first rodeo, either! I actually know how to talk to girls AND I’ve got mad game!

Ace: You’d be crazy NOT to choose me!

(Everyone: ………………..

Riddle, looking disappointed but not surprised: Fool.)

Ace: Huh? Why’s everyone glaring at me? Don’t get mad just cuz I’m spitting cold, hard facts!

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Ace: OW OW OW OW OWWWW!!

Ace: What was THAT for?!

Eliza: Shame on you! How dare you talk about other women in front of me!! The last I want to hear about is your EX!

Eliza: If you’re still lingering on her, then how can I expect you to be faithful to me?!

Ace: HAH?! I didn’t even SAY anything about my ex!!

Eliza: THERE! You just did!

Ace, wincing: Gack…!

(Deuce, sighing: … Should’ve known something like this would happen. When Ace runs his mouth for too long, trouble’s gonna brew.

Riddle, looking smug: Hmph. It serves him right!

Trey: Riddle, you’re looking a little too pleased there...)

Eliza: Next! You, with the big ears and the lopsided smile.

Ruggie, mumbling to himself, ears flattened: Sheesh, I can’t believe I got called away from making bacon to make goo-goo eyes at a ghost… Oh well, whatever’s gonna net me that bonus for saving Leona-san’s keister.

Ruggie: Hey, I’m Ruggie! Ruggie Bucchi.

Eliza: Hmm? Did you say something before that?

Ruggie, grinning with his hands behind his head: Nah, don’t sweat it! ‘S nothing.

Eliza: What a winsome smile you have! It’s a little rough around the edges, but it conveys a lot of heart.

Ruggie: Nishishishishi! Thanks. You’ve got a good smile on yourself too!

Eliza, blushing as she cradles her cheeks: Oh my! Such a flatterer!

Ruggie: And your voice makes me want to break out into laughter! It just puts me in the mood to sing, like the sun lighting up the whole savanna.

Eliza: Oh, you…!!

(Jack: Hoo, boy… Ruggie-senpai’s really laying it on thick.

Leona: Hmph. He’s just got a real knack for kissing up to people. Reminds me of a certain octopunk, actually.

Azul, with a passive-aggressive smile: Ah-hem, I can hear you loud and clear, Leona-san.

Leona, smirking: Oh, don’t worry. I know you can.

Idia: My life’s on the line here and you’re just going to sit around and make sarcastic quips?! This isn’t a high school anime romcom!!

Floyd and Jade: Hehehe/Fufufu…)

Eliza: Wait, what’s that sticking out of your pockets?

Ruggie: Huh? Oh, you mean these?

Ruggie, pulling out a bunch of dandelions: There’s tons of these things all over campus.

Eliza: To think that you’d go out of your way to prepare such a thoughtful gift for me… Yes, yes! I’ll happily accept this bouquet!

Ruggie, looking mildly annoyed: Huh? Bouquet?

(Leona: Argh, here we go again…

Jack: ?

Rook: Ah, could it be?!)

Ruggie, getting defensive: You’ve got it all wrong. This ain’t a bouquet, and this ain’t yours. This is MY dinner.

Eliza: It’s…your dinner?

Ruggie: Yeah. Dandelions are basically free food, so I pick’m and cook’m tons of different ways.

Ruggie: I was working my tail off all afternoon hunting these down. If you want your own, that’s on you. No way am I sharing MY food.

Ruggie: *MUNCHMUNCH*

(Jack: Ruggie-senpai just chowed down on all those dandelions!

Leona: *Sigh* His appetite knows no bounds.

Rook: Ahhh, Monsieur Dent-de-Lion consumes his meals with such fervor and gusto! Why, it looks as though he is savoring every last morsel of his supper!)

Ruggie, rubbing his belly: Phew! That sure hit the spo–

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Ruggie: BLEGH?!

Eliza: Unbelievable! I’ve never seen such selfishness!! What kind of prince not only denies his princess of a present, but then proceeds to take that present for himself!? Reflect on your overindulgence!

Ruggie: Aw, man… I was doing so well, too.

Ruggie: I should’ve stuck with ‘every hyena for himself’!

Eliza: Next—

Kalim, bursting into the venue on a massive elephant (plus all the bells and whistles, a la Prince Ali style): SORRY I’M LATE!!

(Everyone: ?!

Idia: Kalim-shi?!

Jamil, off to the side and looking disappointed but not surprised: ………………)

Kalim, descending on the magic carpet and hopping off: I didn’t miss anything important, did I?

Eliza: Who’s this sunny fellow in the gold earrings?

Kalim, smiling: I’m Kalim! Nice to meet’cha!

Eliza: YOU’RE LATE! It’s simply unacceptable to be running late for a meeting with your one true love! If you cannot be on time, how can I be certain that our love is true? Do you realize how many misunderstandings have occurred because of tardiness?!

Eliza: YOU’RE O–

Kalim: I’m sorry! You’re upset with me. It’s totally my bad.

(Everyone: !!)

Eliza: !!

Kalim, smiling: Meeting your special someone’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So I spent a long time getting ready… and I got so busy with that that I didn’t realize I was going to be late!!

Kalim: But I wanted to see you. I wanted to see you with all my heart, so I came as fast as I could!

Eliza: Oh my!

*Step, step*

Kalim, circling Eliza: I haven’t seen many ghosts before! It’s so cool that you can fly all on your own! I’m pretty much grounded without my magic carpet!

(Jade: Fufufu. Kalim-san’s sincerity shines through each and every one of his words.

Jamil: … We’re doomed. Absolutely, positively doomed.)

Eliza, following Kalim with her eyes as he circles her: …

Eliza, looking serious: *Spin, spin* Kalim, smiling: *Spin, spin* Eliza, starting to smile too: *Spin, spin*

(Jamil and Idia: ?!

Jamil: I don’t believe it, Kalim’s redeemed himself–and he’s…

Epel: … dancing with the ghost bride?!

Lilia: Kufufu, that’s Kalim for you: charming in the most unpredictable of ways.

Cater: Go, Kalim, go! Slay that dance floor!

Ruggie: He could’ve gotten her attention WAY after if he just showed off his fat wallet instead of his dance moves!!)

Kalim: You’re a great dancer! So light on your feet, it’s like we’re floating!

Kalim: We don’t have to worry about stepping on each other’s toes! Come to think of it, do ghosts even have feet to begin with?

Kalim, smiling: Gahahah! You could have two left feet and I’d never know!

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Kalim: EEEEEH?!

Eliza: How rude!! My prince would never make such inconsiderate comments! He should be always cordial and sensitive to his princess’s feelings!! You sit there and repent for your careless words!

Kalim, surprised: Huh, did I say something wrong just now?!

{Jamil: The fact that you have no clue you said something wrong says it all!)

Jamil, stepping up: Please excuse Kalim.

Jamil, under his breath: ... He’s an idiot.

(Kalim, eyes sparkling: Jamil!! You’re coming to save everyone?)

Eliza: And just who are you with the intricate hair?

Jamil, with a small smile: I believe you’re referring to me? Jamil Viper, your majesty. I’m pleased to meet your acquaintance.

Jamil: I do not claim to possess nearly the same level of charm and talent that my peers do–but if you will have me, I would be happy to call you my own.

Jamil: If it appeals to you, I am quite skilled in matters of domestic work. Cooking, cleaning, and any kind of housework.

Jamil: I’m also a professionally trained bodyguard and I have extensive knowledge of first aid. I will be able to look after you and protect you well into your… golden years.

(Azul: My, it’s rare to see Jamil-san ‘let his hair down’ and be himself, as it were.

Idia: I-Is that really a good thing, I wonder...

Leona, scoffing: Real humble servant you got there, Kalim.

Kalim: Gahahah! Jamil’s just a modest kind of guy!

Floyd: Eeeeh, Sea Lion-senpai was totally just being sarcastic there.)

Eliza: What will you do to prove your love for me?

Jamil: Pardon?

Eliza: I said, ‘What will you do to prove your love for me?’ Would you scale a tower? Slay a mighty dragon? How far does your drive go?

Jamil: I will do whatever is asked of me.

Jamil, to himself: ... even if I don’t particularly care to.

Jamil, crossing his arms: If you request for me to scale a tower, then I will. If you say to slay a dragon, then I have no choice but to do so. My drive only ends where yours does.

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Jamil, wide-eyed and annoyed-looking: What did I do wrong?! I was certain that I’d gain the ghost’s favor if I went along with everything she asked of me!!

Eliza: Your devotion is extremely shallow!! Where is the emotion in your voice?! The enthusiasm?! Your eyes are deader than a ghost’s!! If you’re going to profess your love, DO IT WITH MORE CONVICTION!!

Eliza: How can you expect to win a princess’s heart with a deadpan expression like that and little meaning behind your words?! I can see right through your deception!!

(Kalim: Aww, you were really close, Jamil! If it makes you feel any better, I thought you looked really cool saying all that stuff!

Azul, smirking: Indeed! I very much enjoyed your heartfelt performance, Jamil-san.)

Jamil: You’re the LAST people I want to hear from!!

Rook: Bonjour, des fantômes!

Eliza and Ghosts: ?!

Eliza: Dear me, the one in the bob cut speaks in a tongue I have never heard before. What language might that be?

Rook, smiling: But of course, it is the language of…

Rook: LOVE!

*insert explosion of sparkles here*

Rook: I, le Chasseur d’Amour, have been searching far and wide for the one to call my own, my beloved. I have chanced a perilous journey through blistering cold and scorching deserts, risking life and limb to find my other other half.

Rook: And now! Now, I have discovered you at long last! Oh, be still, my pounding heart!!

(Leona: Tch. You Pomefiore lot are all shine and no substance.

Vil: Ex-CUSE you? Take that back this instant, Leona. I won’t have you insulting me or my dorm when yours could use a good polish.

Leona: Fat chance.

Jack: … Is now really the time to be arguing about this?)

Rook, dropping to one knee and looking at Eliza tenderly: Mon amour, mon trésor. From the time I first laid my eyes on you… you’ve captured this huntsman’s heart!

Rook: Skin and lips the color of sapphire, supple lips pleading for a kiss, eyes that light up the night sky… You’re truly a vision in your white gown, a beauty to all that behold you!

Rook: For this life, and for every lifetime and every afterlifetime that comes, you shall always hold a ghostly grip over my heart! I will be eternally devoted to you, were you to embrace me as your groom.

Eliza: Ah…!! How romantic!

(Deuce: HUNT-SENPAI IS HAMMING IT UP!!?

Trey: Yup, I’m not surprised. That’s pretty much how he always is.

Deuce: H-Hunt-senpai’s power level is seriously amazing…

Idia: IT’S SERIOUSLY GONNA MAKE ME HURL FROM HOW AMAZINGLY CRINGE IT IS.)

Rook, to Deuce: Ohlala~ Monsieur Spade, your compliment has set my heart aflutter! Such surprise, delivered with such earnest… Oui, your naivete carries your unique brand of charm!

Rook, to Idia: Roi de Ta Chambre. Your intense emotion moves me! Quiet as you typically are, when you call out... oui, the mountains tremble! The world shifts in accordance with your cries. The fear that coats your melancholy voice... it is as though a God of Death has appeared before me, eager to stake a claim upon my soul.

(Deuce: Uh, thanks…? I think.

Idia: A-Are you NUTS?! You’ve seriously gotta be!!)

Eliza: ……………….

Rook: Mon amour, what is distressing you?

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Rook: !!

Eliza: How cruel can you be?! Letting your eyes wander, and when I’m RIGHT in front of you?! And even flirting with my own groom... I’ll bet that you spout those sweet words to everyone you meet!

Eliza: You’re not a prince! You’re nothing more than a cad, a conman, a playboy!! Get out of my sight! I won’t have you playing with my feelings!!

Rook: Fufu. It appears that I’ve been dealt a swift and harsh rejection!

(Vil, looking annoyed: And yet you’re still smiling without a care in the world...)

Eliza: You with the cute face and large doe eyes! You’re next.

Epel: … Nngh!

Epel, to himself: Calm, Epel. CALM. Don’t lose yer cool o’er the first thing! Ya gotta woo this chick and show Vil just how cool ‘n strong ya really are!!

Epel, smiling and with a hand to his mouth: Eheh. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Epel Felmier. I hope I can… have the chance to be your prince.

Eliza: Appled cheeks, with a blush like apple blossoms and a sweet complexion… You are befitting of your name!

Epel, looking disgusted: *Cringes*

(Deuce: Epel’s soul looks like its left his body…

Ruggie: Where’d he even learn this kinda stuff from?

Vil, glaring: …………………….

Rook, looking proud: Fufu. Monsieur Crab Apple has come a long way.)

Epel, forcing a smile: Thank you, princess. Your kind words humble me.

Epel, to himself: So far, so good…

Eliza: Winsome looks and a polite demeanor… I shall be gracious and overlook your petite stature.

Epel, awkwardly smiling but obviously mad deep down: …………………….

Eliza: But how would you protect me if some dastardly villain were to kidnap me? You appear to be smaller and more fragile than even I.

Epel: !!

Epel: HOLD UP, DID YA JUS’ CALL ME WEAK?!

(Idia, groaning: Aaaaaand there goes any shot at victory.)

Epel, angry: Heh. Ya’d all be eassy pickins!! Ah’ll beat the crap outta ya ‘n show ya what for!! Ain’t no way ya’d stand a chance against ME!!

Epel: I’ll take ya AND yer whole ghost army on!!

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Epel: CONSARN ITTTT!!

Eliza: A prince would never speak in such an unrefined tone!! Your words blend together, and I can’t understand a lick of what you’re saying!!

Eliza: My prince must be able to clearly communicate his undying love and passion to me!

Eliza: And not only that! No prince would lose his temper at his princess! A prince is cool and mild-mannered at all times!!

Epel: Yer off yee rocker if ya think fancy talk ‘n temper got anythin’ ta do with it!!!

Eliza: Silence! You are no more than a petulant child playing pretend.

Epel: NOT LIKE AH WANNA BE YER APPLE PICKIN’ PRINCE ANYWAYS!

(Vil: Goodness. I held my tongue knowing that chatter from the peanut gallery would throw Epel’s concentration off—but here you are, having lost your composure all on your own.

Vil, glaring: What were you thinking, challenging the bride and the entire army behind her?

Rook: Ohoh! It was an honest effort from Epel-kun! Beauté! 100 points!!)

Epel: DANGNABBIT!!! So close and yet so far…

Ortho: Excuse me, Ghost Bride-san!!

(Idia, shocked: ORTHO?!)

Eliza: What is it now? Haven’t I already seen enough fake princes for 5 lifetimes over?

Eliza: Hmm? Oh, you… You look like my dear Idia-sama!

Ortho: Hehe. It’s only natural, since I’m Nii-san’s little brother!

Eliza: Little brother?! Idia-sama mentioned nothing of the sort to me!

(Trey: Er, that would probably be because he was too busy cowering in fear to bring it up.

Idia: Bingo...)

Eliza: But… you share too many features with my prince for it to just be mere coincidence. The luminous skin, the lustrous hair, the charming smile. Yes, I suppose you must be Idia-sama’s relative after all!

Ortho: Affirmative.

Eliza: So? What is it that you need?

Ortho: Requesting to participate in the wedding festivities!

(Idia: HUUUUUUH?!

Idia: O-Ortho, what’s with this insubordination, going to aid the enemy?! Th-This moment would for sure make its way up into a top 10 anime betrayals list!!

Ace: Ah, shuddap! We’ll explain everything to you later!!)

Eliza, giggling: You wish to join in the ceremony? As Idia-sama’s bride-to-be, I will allow it. It wouldn’t do to leave my dearest bridegroom’s little brother out of our matrimonial celebration.

(Everyone: She accepted it so easily?!

Vil: I’m… feeling faint.

Sebek: IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD A CHILD SUCCEED WHERE LILIA-SAMA’S CUTENESS COULD NOT?! THIS IS A TRAVESTY! A TRAVESTY, I TELL YOU!!

Lilia: Kufufu. Perhaps we should have sent in young Ortho from the getgo.)

Eliza: I think you’ll make for a very cute flower boy.

Ortho: !!

Ortho, with a sly, smug expression: I’d actually like to be the ringbearer. That way, I can hand off a very important item to my big brother.

Eliza: You already know what you want to be when you grow up! You’re a proactive little one.

Ortho: All I want is for Nii-san to be safe and happy.

Eliza: Awww! I’ll see to it that you have a proper place in the wedding.

Ghost: Princess, it might be a tight squeeze to make a last minute alteration…

Ortho: I can immediately run the necessary calculations to determine the most efficient way to incorporate an unanticipated guest into the logistics of this event. All I need to do is scan the venue and account for the wedding elements in my algorithms.

Eliza: What? I don’t understand anything that you’re saying.

Ortho: Hehe. You don’t need to! Nii-san says it’s a kind of ‘magic’ only I’m capable of. He’s amazing, right? He built this cool body of mine all by himself!

(Idia: Ortho...)

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Ortho: Uwah!!

(Everyone: ?!

Cater: Bride-chan’s not holding back!?

Trey: Such a quick change of heart too?!

Jade, sighing: Oya, how terribly cruel.

Floyd: Ehhhhh, Ghostie herself’s recoiling from hitting metal.

Idia: Ortho!! A-Are you okay?!)

Ortho: !!

Ortho: My circuits are locking up!! My commands to execute movement aren’t going through!

(Epel: So robots are affected by her touch?

Idia: Why’s this ghost so OP?)

Eliza: After 500 years of waiting... Today is meant to be MY special day! Mine and Idia-sama’s…!!

Eliza: I don’t want to compete with a relative for the spotlight, nor for Idia-sama’s love and attention!

(Idia: YOU NEVER HAD IT TO BEGIN WITH.)

Eliza, to Ortho: You’ll sit with the rest of them as our guests! I won’t have you anywhere near the altar!!

Ortho: No way… Mission failed?!

(Idia: N-Not even Ortho could stop this crazy woman... I-I’m doomed!! DOOMED, I TELL YOU!!)

*BAM!* (Doors to the wedding venue fly open on their own, and all the lights are snuffed out, then reignited with green flames.)

(Lilia and Sebek: !!

Idia: What? What’s this feeling? Why do I feel like there should be final boss music here?

Lilia: This magic is…

Sebek: OOOOOH! HE’S COME!

Sebek, to the others: DROP TO YOUR KNEES AND PROSTRATE YOURSELF BEFORE HIS GREATNESS!!

Leona, angrily: In your dreams and over MY dead body.

Ace, to Sebek: We couldn’t kneel even if we wanted to!)

Malleus, appearing in a flash of yellow-green lights (Silver is close behind): Well now, quite a glittering assemblage we have here.

Malleus, looking at the other failed grooms: Royalty, nobility, the gentry… how quaint. Even the rabble.

(Everyone except Lilia and Sebek: Grrr…

Lilia: Malleus, whatever are you doing here?)

Malleus: You could say I was ‘in the neighborhood’. Passing by, as it were. It occurred to me that I should make a stop to grant Shroud and his bride-to-be my blessing as his peer.

Silver: My apologies, Fa… Lilia-sama. I tried to stop him, but…

(Lilia: Kufufu. No apologies needed. This is shaping up to be quite the spectacle.)

Eliza: I don’t believe this! Yet another wave of intruders seeking my hand?

Malleus: What strange ideas you have. I had no such intentions.

Silver, putting out an arm to stop his prince from stepping up: Please leave this to me, Malleus-sama.

(Lilia: Ohoh, so it all comes down to this.

Sebek: GO GET THAT GHOST, SILVER! YOU MUST AVENGE LILIA-SAMA!!

Kalim: Oooh, are we cheering Silver on? Lemme help out!

Jamil: By the Seven, PLEASE don’t.

Azul, smiling: Kalim-san’s enthusiasm is something to behold!)

Malleus: … Very well. I entrust you to act on my behalf, Silver.

Silver, sighing: …

Eliza: I don’t have time to keep entertaining any more of these preposterous proposals! Please vacate the premises at once, or I will have no choice but to…

Silver: Please wait. I don’t want to fight you any more than you do. All I ask is that you remain open to peaceful negotiations.

Eliza: !!

Eliza: You have mesmerizing eyes. They’re like an aurora borealis!

Silver: My eyes…?

Bird on his shoulder: *Chirp, chirp*

Silver, to the bird: I’m sorry, not now. This is important.

Eliza: … Speak, then. What makes you think you have anything worth offering when all the others before you have failed? They’ve only proved that Idia-sama is the only one in this world for me!

Silver, to Eliza: If it is a groom you seek, then I volunteer as tribute.

Silver: Truthfully, I don’t know whether I meet your standards, or how I compare to Idia-senpai, but… I know in my heart of hearts that I must do whatever it takes to defend to protect those who are not able to protect themselves.

Eliza: !!

Silver: If you must fight, I will be your sword. If you are in danger, I will run to you and be your shield.

Silver: If you were to choose me, I would ensure that you remain safe. I swear it on my life, and on my honor as a knight.

Silver: You have my word.

(Jade: My, Silver-san is honest to a fault.

Sebek, smugly: Of course he is!! Silver can charm the pants off of a snake!!

Lilia: That’s my boy~

Epel: Th-The ghost bride looks entranced… Is she seriously rethinking her decision?!)

Silver: …

Eliza: …

Silver: … Zzz…

(Lilia: Oh dear. What inopportune timing.

Jack: Oi, oi… This isn’t the time to be falling asleep!!

Floyd: I’m way more surprised that he’s able to sleep so soundly standing.

Idia: I’M ABOUT TO DIE, AND YOU’RE JUST GONNA SNOOZE?! Do any of you people have your priorities straight?!)

Eliza: ………………..

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Silver, snapping wide awake: ?!

His bird: *Nervous tweet as it flies away*

(Everyone: ?!)

Eliza: Never in my life… have I seen someone more princess-like than me!!

Eliza: Beauty, grace, and a noble heart… and even cute animal companions to boot!! You’re the dictionary definition of a fairy tale princess!! So much so that it hurts!!

Eliza: It hurts even more to watch you sleep!! You SLEEP prettier than me!!

(Everyone: HUUUUUH?!

Ace: What kind of a reason is THAT?!

Trey: She was so close to getting the point… before veering off to the completely wrong conclusion.)

Eliza: A sleeping prince and an alert princess… It’s all wrong!!

Eliza: It should be the prince that kisses the princess awake from her cursed slumber, not the other way around!! I won’t accept this kind of a role reversal!

(Riddle: In other words, she’s jealous.

Vil, sighing: Set to a certain script, it seems.)

Silver, to Diasomnia: I apologize for failing you, Malleus-sama. Lilia-sama. Sebek.

(Sebek: HOW?! How could a single ghost have bested us?! We’ve failed the young master...!!

Lilia: It’s quite alright. You tried your best, Silver, Sebek. We all did.)

Eliza: ENOUGH!! I’ve had enough of this charade. This nonsense of entertaining proposals ends here.

Eliza, giggling: Tonight, I’m going to be married to my one true love with you, my captive audience, as our witnesses!!

Ghosts: Idia-sama is almost ready to walk down the aisle with you, princess! Just a little longer until your fated happily ever after.

Eliza: Ooh, this is so exciting!!

Malleus: That is enough.

Ghost Bride: !!

Ghost Bride: This daunting, overwhelming presence… Just who are you, horned one?

Malleus, laughing a little: Oh dear, what an awkward situation. You must forgive me. I’m still feeling quite distressed at having not received an invitation to this momentous occasion.

Malleus: And quite miffed that you would so swiftly take out my retainers.

Malleus, raising a hand: Malleus Draconia. Crown prince to the Briar Valley. Charmed, I’m sure.

(Leona, annoyed: Oh, great. JUST what we needed, the lizard.

Sebek: QUIET, YOU CUR! You have no right to speak to Malleus-sama that way! You’re nothing more than a kitten paralyzed in fear before his magnanimous aura!!)

Malleus, to Sebek: Sebek.

(Sebek: YESSIR!)

Malleus: I believe I’ve already had this discussion with you on multiple occasions.

Malleus, smirking: See to it that you treat the… dignitaries of other countries with proper respect. Do not make me repeat myself again.

(Leona: Grrrr…

Sebek, looking crestfallen and conflicted, to Malleus: A-As you wish, young master…!!

Ace: Whoa, your lameness is so off the charts now…)

Eliza: !!

Eliza: My!! This is how a real prince SHOULD be!

(Everyone, including Malleus: ?!)

Eliza: Over 180 cm! An air of nonchalance! Luminous skin! Lidded eyes! A charming smile! Long lustrous hair! Lips that long for a kiss! Grace and poise beyond compare! Mindful and diplomatic, with a mysterious air about him!

Eliza: A real, genuine blue blood!

(Ace: Is it just me, or did she tack on MORE items to her list just now?!

Jade: It seems our Ghost Bride’s feelings may be just as fickle as yours, Floyd.

Floyd: Ehhhh, don’t compare me to her. It feels gross.)

Eliza, dramatically, with a hand to her head: A tall, dark, and handsome stranger disrupting the holy matrimony of my fated prince and I...

(Idia: D-Did that do it? Did Malleus-shi manage to win her over with the power of ‘the mysterious prince’ archetype?!)

Eliza: Oh, the sorrow of being ensnared by love on both sides! My beloved Idia-sama, faced with a sudden love rival! This is… THE FABLED “LOVE TRIANGLE”!!

Eliza: Oooh, having two suitors engage in combat for the right to a princess’s hand in marriage...!! It’s so romantic!

*Swoons*

(Everyone: WHAAAAAAT?!

Idia: S-Somehow the situation got even WORSE?!

Ortho: This is a scene straight out of one of Nii-san’s shoujo manga!!

Ortho: … But!! I have no doubt that he can overpower Malleus Draconia-san and claim victory!

Idia: P-Please! I’ve already been through enough today, I don’t need to be getting involved in any fights on top of that!!

Sebek: YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU SPEAK OF!! THE YOUNG MASTER COULD EASILY FLATTEN ANY FOE LIKE THE INSIGNIFICANT WORM THAT THEY ARE!

Jack: I don’t think the identity of the winner is the issue...)

Malleus, confused: … I beg your pardon?

Malleus: You are mistaken. I never came with the intention of proposing to a phantom.

Malleus, sarcastically: I would appreciate it if you did not assign arbitrary labels to me. I have only come to witness what I am sure will be the happiest of unions. I’m no home wrecker.

Malleus: In any case, did I hear correctly that you are a princess?

Eliza: …

(Deuce, wincing: Here it comes…! Please watch out, Draconia-senpai!

Idia: It’s the blue screen of death for me...)

Eliza: … Yes. I am a princess.

(Everyone: ?!)

Eliza: 500 years ago, my nation was attacked by a hostile neighbor. In my attempt to flee, I was…

Malleus: … I see. Yours is a story that ends in tragedy.

Eliza: I was never able to meet my one true love before passing. You understand as fellow nobility, don’t you? Isn’t that sad? Don’t I… Don’t I deserve happiness?

Malleus: ……………………… No, I disagree.

Eliza: !!

Malleus: The world does not owe anyone a happily ever after. Not you, nor I.

Malleus: Cruel as it is, it is the way of the world.

Malleus: And moreover… you are the sovereign of your country. It goes without saying that nobility must place the needs of the many over the wants and the feelings of one.

Malleus: Your duty is to your people and to your country, not to your heart.

Malleus, glancing around at the ghosts: A number of your attendants are with you. Have you given a thought as to how they may feel? What they may think?

Ghosts: Th-That’s not true! We... We just want our princess to be happy.

Ghosts: All this time, she smiled at us and told us “it’s fine”, when she was suffering deep down. Our lonely, tragic princess...

(Ace: AH GEEZ, HOW ENTITLED CAN YOU GET?!

Everyone: !!

Deuce: Oi, Ace! Are you looking for more trouble?!

Ace: What, you’re just gonna sit around and do nothing? Your mouths still work, don’t they? How about you actually DO something with them?

Ace: Listen up, lady! The perfect prince? He doesn’t exist!! And if you think he is, you’re only deluding yourself!!)

Eliza: !!

Malleus, to himself: Ohoh. That Trappola... Fufufu, quite the mouth on him.

Malleus, laughing: I came seeking a happy ceremony. Instead, I find shadows of the past, clinging on to desperate hopes and unfulfilled dreams.

Malleus, smirking: And a princess so vain as to put her own desires above those of her people, her guests, and even her bridegroom.

Malleus: Galivanting about, so blindly in pursuit of love that they cannot stop to think of how they are inconveniencing those around her.

Malleus: A sham wedding such as this is not worthy of receiving my blessing.

Eliza, looking sad: …

(Silver: Malleus-sama…

Sebek: Young master…!!

Lilia: Malleus…

Lilia, to himself: … You’re speaking from your own heart, hmm?)

Puffy Ghost: That’s enough!! You… How dare you barge in and begin lecturing the princess like this!

Puffy Ghost: You could never understand a maiden’s heart! You could never understand her!

*SMACK*

Puffy Ghost: !!

(Everyone: !!

Sebek: She… She just… slapped the young master…

Sebek: REJECTING LILIA-SAMA, SILVER, AND THEN MALLEUS-SAMA?! THIS ILL-TEMPERED BRIDE HAS TRASH TASTE IN MEN!

Leona: Oi, quit your shouting!! You’re going to blow out my ears!!

Vil: I hate to say this, but I agree with Leona.

Lilia, to himself: Malleus could have easily avoided that blow, but...)

*BOOM!* (Outside, lightning strikes.)

Malleus: ………………………………………..

Malleus, calm but cold: … Did that do anything to fill the hole in your heart?

Eliza: …

Eliza, to her attendants: Please take him away and seat him among the other guests--Idia-sama and I will proceed with the ceremony as planned!

Ghosts: Yes, princess!! (The Ghosts rush off for final preparations)

Malleus: To think that this is how I would be invited to an event... Hmph. How rude.

Eliza: I’ll show you…! I’ll show you the happiest of endings!!

Puffy Ghost, looking sad: …………………………………..

Eliza, to Idia: Idia-sama! Please don’t be shy! There’s no need for you to keep dodging my kisses. Let’s prove our love to all of these fake princes!

Eliza: Midnight and our happily ever after... they’re just a single peck away!

(Idia, looking defeated: ... Womp womp womp. Looks like it’s game over for me, no resets or extra lives or save scumming. Good-bye, cruel world. I leave my anime merch and manga collection to Ortho.

Ortho, distressed: Nooo, Nii-san!!

Ace, to the Ghosts: Hey, are you guys seriously gonna just move forward with this? You’re...

Ace: ...

Ace: ...?

Ace: Huh? I can move again? When did that happen...?

Malleus, quietly, as the ghosts cart him past Ace: ... I’ll entrust the course of this story to you, Trappola. Show me the truest of happy endings.

Ace: !!

Lilia, off to the side and to himself: ... My, so a youngster from Heartslabyul has been “blessed”.

Ace, grabbing his bouquet from the ground and smirking: Heh, looks like you’ve made a good choice~ I won’t let you down.

[From here, just picture Ace confronting Eliza again, Puffy buffing up, and basically the rest of the event playing out the same as it did in canon (maybe with some extra dialogue from the additional students, and Riddle/Epel/Rook still being frozen instead of mobile).]

***BONUS***

Grim: Step aside, ya chumps! The great Grim-sama’s here to woo the lady ghost!

(Everyone: ?!

Idia: Grim-shi?!)

Eliza: Who’s this… sassy lost tanuki?

Grim: I’M NOT A TANUKI!

Grim: I’m the great Grim-sama! Remember that name, cuz I’m gonna be the strongest magician in the world someday!! I’m gonna go down in the annals of magic history!

Grim: Check THIS out! *FWOOSH* (Grim breathes a plume of fire, just narrowly missing Ace and Deuce’s heads)

(Ace, angry: OI, WATCH IT!! I almost got roasted!

Deuce, sighing: I saw my life flash before my eyes for a second…)

Grim, crossing his arms: How’s that? Pretty impressive, huh?

Eliza: Be that as it may, I can’t marry a tanuki! My prince must be a human–or at the very least, something resembling a human!

Grim: What?! I’m WAY better than those saps! And how do ya know that I won’t turn into a handsome human when ya kiss me at the altar, huh?!

(Idia: E-Eh? But cats are just objectively better creatures overall than humans of any kind...)

Eliza: No chance, no way! I’d rather kiss a mucus-covered frog than a furry beast!

Grim, angry: Lady, you don’t know what you’re missing out on! The great Grim has more charisma in ONE paw than these sorry excuses for ‘princes’ have in their entire bodies!

Eliza: YOU’RE OUT.

*SMACK*

Grim: FNGHNYA!? THAT SLAP SMARTS!!

Eliza: A tanuki that talks back to its princess has no place being a prince! At best, you can be a cute talking animal companion or sidekick! I would invite you to come back when Idia-sama and I are seeking a pet, but we’re more of dog people than cat people!

(Idia: Th-That’s a lie!! Cats are obviously superior!!

Idia: ... Though she hasn’t been listening to a thing I’ve been saying all night anyway...)

Grim: YOU’VE GOTTA BE JOKING!!

(Ace: BAHAHAHAH! She got you good, Grim! Serves you right for almost boiling us alive.

Deuce: Oof, I guess the more, the merrier…)

589 notes · View notes

stoopid-turtle · 6 months

Text

made-up thoughts about dd's gender presentation

Okay, the gender post! Honestly, dd's gender presentation is something I think about a lot (ok, I just think about everything dd-related a lot), so here's a post about it. A couple disclaimers on the way down though.

Gender is weird

Um, so gender is complicated and deep. I'm not gonna delve into that too much. Just know I'm not saying much about dd's gender identity, because that's too speculative for me and I don't tend to analyze how people might feel their gender inside.

So this is all about gender expression or performance. The way he presents himself to the world. This includes stuff like clothing, ways of talking, makeup, mannerisms, etc. Anything we can see when we watch him.

For those more into the advanced gender convo, yes yes, gender is a social construct and there's nothing inherent about, say, a tuxedo that makes it a "man's" outfit. Fully onboard with that. But for simplicity's sake, let's shortcut to acting as if we buy into how society genders random stuff so as to recognize that a tux is "male-coded" by just about every society in the present day. Everybody swims in these waters, and they perform their gender with the understanding of how their society assigns these arbitrary gender assignments, so let's just deal with that for this convo. /obligatory gender theorist disclaimer

East vs West

I'm in the US, and I fully recognize that there are different norms for gender in Eastern cultures. A lot of the things that read as "feminine" to Western eyes is more neutral in the East, such as long hair or makeup. (I've read a fantastic tumblr post that went into this in-depth but, alas, I can't find it now. You will notice throughout this post that I am extraordinarily bad at refinding things)

On top of that, idols, in specific, often have quite feminine stylings to Western standards. In the East, the vibe I get is that idols are seen as more androgynous (though still threatening to some forms of masculinity).

I can only speak from my own very westernized perspective, so take it with as much salt as you want. I reserve the right to change my mind about everything later, anyway.

Basically, I have 3 main points here, starting with:

1. DD's early styling was more femme than he would ordinarily gravitate to

There's a moment I think about a lot. This one, specifically, set a month and a half after UNIQ's debut. The band is on a Chinese talk show and the host enthuses about them.

(also, baby DD rapping Love the Way You Lie is just....well, it's a thing that happened) (some US context: Love The Way You Lie was an Issue Song pointedly about domestic violence with Rihanna - an artist who had been a victim of a highly publicized dv assault - as the chorus singer and Eminem - a rapper with a history of misogynist lyrics (with a song about murdering his ex-gf) - doing the rap. It had a weirdly sexy music video with that lotr guy and was also a thing that happened)

DD is 17 years old here--a baby--and he's, frankly, adorable. He notes that he's been training for 4 years (I'm so curious about what idol training looks like, tbh), which wows the host.

But the part that I think about a lot is when the host expounds at length about how beautiful and like a girl dd is. DD has a girl's hairstyle (i've had that exact hairstyle at multiple points in my life), and the host says at various points that he's "more beautiful than girls", that girls will envy him, that he is very very pretty, that if she were a man, she would fall in love with him. The basic upshot here is that much is made of his feminine looks, and I get the vibe that his styling is more femme than typical, even for an idol.

At the same time, I think about this moment of dd in a dance competition in 2011, before his debut. DD's main passion has always been dancing, and he went into hiphop dancing, as shown here. He also attempted breakdancing while younger, though an early injury apparently kept him from going that route (I swear I've heard this somewhere, but can't find where. Link me if you know).

DD was interested in the more macho-types of street dances. Hiphop isn't as dominated by men as breaking is, but it's still has more of a masculine culture than jazz or, you know, waacking.

I think a lot about a kid who wanted to spend his life dancing, who went through idol training to debut as the femme maknae of a group. It was a weird fit for him, and I think his movement away from that initial look reflects that.

At the same time, I want to go back to something I find significant about his talk show appearance.

When asked who is most popular among girls, everybody (dd included) points to dd. (A bandmate also jokes that dd is most popular among men). A 17-year-old kid who just debuted a little over a month ago with a femme style is already getting fawned over by fans and older female hosts. However weird it could be, it's gotta be a huge ego-boost at a formative time to get the positive feedback to that look.

I think (and putting on my speculation hat here) that this is important for dd's performance of gender as he gets older.

Which brings me to the next main point:

2. DD enjoyed his more feminine idol look bc he knew it made him attractive

I suspect dd came to some acceptance of the more femme styling (once he moved away from the white peony look) primarily because it got him so much fawning.

I imagine idol training goes into how to create a public persona for oneself, especially given how much idols are supposed to reveal of themselves. Letting fans feel that they're getting an intimate look at the real person, while still maintaining the privacy of their actual personal life, is a skill, and I expect it's second-nature to dd at this point given how long he's been in the industry.

This isn't to say that dd's fake or that the dd we see publicly isn't "really" him. But it is a carefully presented version of him that intentionally keeps his private life private.

There's really 2 periods where we probably see the most authentic, unfiltered dd: the early UNIQ days, when he was still getting the hang of the ent industry (though that's complicated in that he was also young and under pressure to perform a certain way and had not developed the skills/experience/cache to set limits, hence him doing a lot more cutesy stuff that he refuses to do as he gets older); and the bts footage for CQL, as he did not expect those to be so widely seen. Even the unscripted stuff like DDU and SDC allows for some intentional presentation of himself in a way the more candid bts moments did not.

That's a bit of a digression, actually, but it's important because I think this public persona, especially the idol persona, is more femme than dd would normally style himself (as in, how he would style himself if he weren't an entertainer). The result of this is that we see some contexts, such as the CQL fanmeetings where dd wears women's outfits, where that idol style is intentionally deployed. Part of the point of fanmeetings is fanservice, and dd's feminine presentation, linked as it is to his idol image, is wholly about pleasing the fans.

There's reason to believe that dd was never too much into those stylings because he intrinsically enjoyed them. He's said multiple times in interviews that he prefers going without makeup. This isn't too telling because, hey, makeup can be uncomfortable to wear. Especially stage makeup.

But there's an interesting compilation of interview clips where dd reveals his complete lack of even any interest in makeup, referring curious interviewers to talk to his makeup artist and explicitly associating makeup with women (I have looked everywhere for this. I swear I saw this compilation on YouTube but now I can't find it. This is unfortunate bc this particular video really made me think about dd's gender presentation). And of course, his attempt to do someone else's makeup was...adorable. This is not a guy who wears makeup for the joy of it. He wears it because it's part of his job.

This isn't to say that dd looks down on it. Not at all. We only have to look at his defensiveness of the idol look to gg during the bts to see this. I don't think he's at all bothered by makeup. He just accepts it as part of his career.

(I have a completely made-up story in my head about how gg's preference for no-makeup dd was a major romantic thing bc it's gg liking the real dd, not the idol persona that everybody else fawns over. And how, once dd realized that gg was paying him a compliment, it gave him big feels. This story is definitely not real)

This all is gonna lead me to my last main point:

3. DD's probably okay taking on a more masculine style now bc it fits more how he would naturally dress himself

Like millions of other people, I really dig the idol look. When I was doing my initial dive into turtledom and read about some of the Chinese censorship of idols in recent years, I was initially put out because...idol!dd!

(Ok, as a queer person, I also have big solidarity feels and stuff, but that's a whole digression)

But then I began obsessively watching browsing dd stuff on YouTube and I came around to thinking that while I love and miss idol!dd, I don't know that dd is too shook up over it.

In my view, dd sees that type of styling as a role to put on for certain performances. Now that it's out of style, so to say, he switches to something else. It goes along with some other career transitions he's making, such as focusing more on film. I think this may just let him go with a more "natural" styling (basically, how he would style himself if he weren't a celebrity).

(I do think he likes dyeing his hair fashion colors, but that's not necessarily gendered. He's had plenty of dyed hair looks that are still masc)

When I think of things like that...well, I still personally miss idol!dd because that look really works for me. But I'm not bothered on his behalf because I don't know that he feels particularly constrained by the idol crackdown (at least with regards to no longer being able to present with an idol style; there are other aspects of the politics that may feel constraining, but that's a whole other digression). If anything, it provides a good reason for him to move away from idol-dom in his career (which he'd have to do at some point as he ages).

To wrap this up, I've felt horrendously guilty that the first photo on this tumblr wasn't even of dd or gg, so i'm gonna end this with a photo of idol!dd. I'm not gonna say it's my favorite look, because it's just cruel to make me pick a single favorite. But this is one I think is pretty.

#bjyx #yizhan #i am once again wordy af #lemme tell you dd's thoughts on gender #maybe #okay i'm just guessing #only dd (and gg) really know #his tiny fake ponytail just works for me

29 notes · View notes