#the bg colors just happened to line up nice

[oswlld]

AN ODE TO REAL RED (or, i didn’t wake up planning to write an analysis on storytelling through red but here we are)

look, im really out of my depth here. i really am not one to make these lengthy, wordy analysis posts that articulate what color means to me. (if it’s your kind of thing, pls go read everything @dribs-and-drabbles posts! i love it there and look forward to the episodic breakdown each week). and yet, after my first rewatch, it hit me how much the color red spoke volumes. it hits different because it really explored the color in the way traditional storytelling and filmmaking treats color: as a visual dialog; to draw out depth in a scene.

ive told @talays-portkey that i needed to turn off everything i learned in color theory (and production/post-production for that matter) when i go into each episode. why? this show pokes fun (and i LOVE them for it, to an extent) at using the concept of color to saturate the show: tess’ wardrobe, spotlights, set locations, the collective group at the assoc, and script all create this gorgeous, playful style that works into believing it’s a different universe. there’s specifics in the worldbuilding (ex: counting, flowers, the beer) and then there’s the production that makes it fun to guess how each episode will build on the last.

but i think Real Red really shines in bringing us back to their world. to me, it’s the show’s way of telling me, “hey, time to turn that brain on because it’s now a dialog. look at what it’s telling you now.”

it gets reallllly lengthy (literally an a-z on everything on red i found), see ya under the cut

let me preface this by saying that this has no merit beyond my own interpretation of the visual dialog and it consistently fell into two categories: 1) of course, Dang translates to Red (so, Puen) and 2) Red symbolizing STOP.

a. the first real hint at red in the ambulance scene (not pictured, the vehicle itself probably also red); but i find this show a nice set up when the reflection lines up with the red, where the reflection would line up with his chest, like yes bb you are Dang b. and then we know how this scene continues, with the medical gear in the bg; fits the scene, him thrashing about and begging to leave, but everyone is telling him to STOP and pins him down

c. since we flip back to the au, this red is serving the two worlds imo - it’s being playful as a set for the Red episode, while at the same time, it’s a dialog; here, it represents the vehicle that will bring talay to puen (the secret island) but also the tides are preventing talay from crossing; d. he’s wearing the lighter end of the red palette; the boat is turned over, a visual representation of a STOP

e. he’s playing with the red controller… i love a show

f. the overflow of fan support (which, aww! deserved) has a specified cubby in his apartment, in plain sight; it’s not organized in any particular way but still there for him to see (there’s something to be said about his character but this post isn’t about that) g. then we get the bucket hat callback (SOBS) and we have the camera lined up like so - not only showing how much his heart misses talay, but the oncoming divide that the fans will create between them

h. back to the au, where puen’s wish is written in red i. when i say this show has layerssss

j. (SOBS AGAIN) no but really, when i heard his mom’s voice and he just STOPS; i thought to myself, “is2g if she’s wearing red, i will never speak ill of this show ever again" (pending transaction); there’s plenty of other posts about the art in the bg that you can find in the tag

k./l. now we get into the push and pull of getting them reunited; this is when the push and pull comes in the form of green vs red; the universe is both trying to bring them together and keep them apart; nature/set is organically telling them where they will eventually end up (glass house), but the artificial inserts of red also is STOPPING them from letting it happen

m. STOP interviewing!

n. STOP and take a break (au version) o. STOP and take a break (ou version)

p. the green vs red continues (outside edition)

q. red vs green (inside edition), but this is where the visual dialog really stands out; here, the tim horton’s Red is evenly halved with the green wall, representing the turmoil talay is in r. we switch to where puen’s voice is coming from, where the green starts to outweigh the red

s. the close up now positions talay to have the plants in the bg as he hears puen’s speech confirm his true feelings for him t. without saying a word, talay rushes back to the theater and we see him physically abandon red

u. i love a good wardrobe choice; something something when a person embodies a house v. the lamp speaks for itself *shoves mic at it*

w. just wanted to point out that the last time we were in this glass house in the au, puen was sitting in that corner with his apology; intentional or not, i think it’s lovely that the hint of Red is in the same place x. he STOPS (and i CRY)

y. when doubt creeps in and he thinks it’s still tess, i love that red is still peeking through; literally STOPPING him from believing who is in front of him and almost leaves z. “ai DANG” (and then my soul left my body and the shell of user talaypuens writes this post)

bonus: this can be interpreted in two ways - either they are recreating a piece of the au in their own personal space or we treat it as the visual dialog (that it’s both Puen and it’s a warning… to STOP??)

… i’ve expended all my brain power for the weekend, welp

#vice versa #vice versa the series #viceversaedit #sea tawinan #jimmy jitaraphol #asianlgbtqdramas #mine: edits #idk who wants to read this so im tagging a few and see where it goes lol #listen i made this post for me and me alone fjsldk #pdribs #vishingwell #userbillkin #mjtag #usersarawatine #epiphanjins #tuserhidden #tonanons #userjaehwany #userconcrete #and im also making a web weave on top of this??? #‘im in danger’ meme.png

[fricktic]

ur writing essays abt scc's color scheme wheres k_ks . fanny write an post about them being green . we need every member of the polycule . please

if its an essay on k_ks color scheme u want its an essay on k_ks color scheme ur gonna fucking get . hold onto ur antennas boy

well right off the bat i think its relatively safe to say that . green . cant exactly see this being all that controversial of an opinion and as far as ive checked (spent hours scrolling thru the scc tag looking at art) i havent seen anyone interpret them as a color besides green , better yet differed from the canon green at ALL . like everyone agrees yeah this is a good green . and coming from local green enthusiast i can confirm its a good green so this is completely understandable

i will say that something im EXTREMELY INTO is the shade of green on k_ks shop sprite

like look at it . it goes fucking crazy . changed the line art and bg color because with just white and black it doesnt show how truly this shade fucking rocks . i know that its just green a bit hue shifted towards purple but come the hell on this shit rules

i dont care if this is unrelated its still something that came up while looking at k_ks sprites and i want to talk about it anyways . and its still color related so eat my shorts

we all know about normal sprites vs shop sprites being very . yknow . but two things that bother me intently is that

1) her handle goes from black to purple

this one doesnt bother me crazy much bcus it can just be played off as “shop sprites are gonna be more detailed than normal sprites” and yeah fair i guess but . u get where im coming from

and 2) HIS BELT COLOR SWITCHES

this makes me furious this makes my blood boil why does this happen . there is no need for this to happen why did this happen . k_k baby im not mad at u im mad at the person over at deltarune headquarters responsible for this

this is turning into me looking at details of the sprites themselves instead of what this all originated from and that was literally just “what color is k_k” soooooo what if it was purpleeeeee lets see it purple

i will admit that it doesnt look . Crazy Purple . some may argue it looks a lot more blue and while yeah i guesssss it is blue to my brain it registers as purple especially when paired with the green . compared to the purple that sweet and capn are usually associated with tho yeah it isnt the most purple of purples , and in saying this k_k isnt even typically associated with purple anyways . but do u really think i care about that NO i like how they all have a bit of purple one way or another i think it links the three together nicely . theres a lot about their designs that link them together nicely but thats a whole other post

any fucking ways

#this fit extremely sidetracked but i dont care ill use any excuse to talk about scc in greater detail than i should #this isnt an essay and more insane ramblings but thats what u all signed up for #i feel like this belongs on like a sideblog or something but nope not me we dont do sideblogs here its ride or die u #if u press that follow button ur subjected to various horrors and ailments read the fine print #**got not fit for the first tag im not typing all that out again #e.txt

[fandomscombine]

It's the Lease I Can Do

Platonic! Weasley Twins x Reader

BG: The Weasley twins are so close to having their joke shop become a reality. They had found the perfect location but they had hit a minor problem that could cause them everything. You want to help, but how can you when they, the birthday boys themselves had given up?

a/n: I had this idea for a almst a year now and waited til ther twins bday to write it. I hope you enjoy.

WC: 2111

>>>MASTERLIST<<<

Fred and George causing a ruckus in the common room is a daily occurrence that everyone is accustomed to. However ever since the start of Year 7, the amount of commotion these two had caused can be counted in one hand.

At first glance, it could be attributed to NEWTS or in this year's case-to a pink toad acting as High Inquisitor. Still, more and more nights the twins had claimed the back corner of the common room.

~

The last remaining batch of students were making their way through Filch's checkpoint (an added security protection which also serves for Umbridge having a list of names on who comes in and out of Hogwarts). You glanced down at your watch- 2:27pm, they’re late. Weird, the twins never pass a chance to go to Hogsmeade.

You hear the castle door open behind you. Thank Merlin, you thought but instead you were greeted with a disheveled Angelina. “I’m coming! Wait!”

“Have you seen Fred and George?” You called as she ran past you.

“I think I saw them in the common room!” Angelina shouted back.

The common room? “What are they up to now?” You sighed. Stomping heavily up the stairs. “Ditching me….”

~

“Oi Weaslebees! I know you’re in here!” You rounded the corner of their secret spot. “AHa!”

You caught them red handed, midway into shoving papers into their “Weasley & Weasley'' Trunk. Though what they were hiding, you weren't exactly sure.

“Y/N!” Fred greeted, grabbing onto your shoulders, effectively covering George and the table. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”

Narrowing your eyes at him. “Really?” Hands on hips you blatantly say “2:15 am, courtyard?? Ring any bells?” Fred shook his head.

Meanwhile George’s head shot up. “Oh shit, y/n we’re so sorry!”

Fred turned to his brother, still clueless on what the heck George was talking about.

Abandoning the trunk, George gave his twin a classic smack on the head. “Hogsmeade, you idiot! We were supposed to all go together.”

“OHHHH FU--” Fred knew he was screwed. “I’M SO SORRY! WE’RE SORRY.” Seizing the messy trunk, he strategized. “Right, here’s the plan: I’m gonna quickly drop this off back in the dorm while you two make your way to the gate. If you run, I guess you can make it. I’ll catch up with you two then.”

“Fred….. We’re not gonna make it” you argued.

“Not if we don’t try.”

“It’s almost 3, Filch would be closing the gates by now.” You sat down on Fred’s empty seat. “Besides we can go to Hogsmeade next time, we could just hang out here. I miss having my best lads around.”

“Awww…we’ve been upgraded from annoying pricks to best lads!” Gushed George, pulling you into a side hug.

“Yea, I could help in whatever it was you guys were doing before I came. I don’t mind.”

At that, you could feel George tense up, his arm around you dropping. “Uhhh…” He looked to the older twin, silently conversing.

You gaze between the boys, sometimes they get so caught up in their scheming that they don’t notice that to others, especially those who had known them for years that their non verbal communication is not so sly.

In the end, Fred gave his brother a subtle shake. “No, that’s alright. I’ll just put this back and we could play gobstones or something, anything you like.”

As Fred headed up to his dorm room, you noticed a piece of paper under the table. Picking it up, the header caught your eye. RE: Lease Agreement. Were the twins looking for a new home after graduation? You didn’t mean to pry. You were close friends, they would tell you if they were moving right? This is big news….you decided to brush it off until another line caught your attention. The shop premise located at Number 93 Diagon Alley. Shop? They are trying to set up shop? That’s brilliant! The twins would get to showcase their inventions to the world! You could feel your pride swell. Leasing Agreements would not proceed if tenants, Mr. Fred Weasley and Mr. George Weasley, are unable to provide an endorser by the date of 31st of March.

“Where’d you get that?” George standing across from you, gobstones on one hand and another pointing at the document. There’s no backing out now.

“It was under the table.” You explained. “I didn’t know you were this far along with the shop.”

“Yea, well it’s not happening now is it?”

“What?”

“Cmon y/n. I know you read it.”

“I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s alright. We aren’t getting the place anyway.”

“Wait what? Why?”

“No endorsers.” George stated matter of factly but you sense the pain in his voice.

“How about your parents surely-”

George laughed. “As if mum would suddenly have a change of heart. You knew how she disapproves of our inventions, calling it a waste.”

“Arthur then.”

“Mum won’t let him.”

“Anyone then?” George huffed in defeat. “How about me! I could back you up.”

“You have to be an adult with a proven financial stability.” He stated, effectively shutting you down. “Forget it y/n. The hold ends in 3 days. We’ve tried everything. Just don’t let Fred know that you know. He’s devastated. Promise?”

“I promise.”

“And no pity, sad eyes!” He added as footsteps are heard descending the staircase.

“But I suck at poker faces!”

“Then let’s hope that Freddie is distracted even to not notice.”

~

It’s been 4 days since you had sent the letter to your father.

“Dear papa,

I know that this is a huge favour to ask but I believe it would be worth your while.

So remember back in the summer when you caught Fred Weasley, George Weasley and me snooping around with the Extendable Ears but let us go because you were so enamored?

Well turns out the twins and trying to get a shop up and running! How amazing is that?

The only problem is that they need an endorser to back them up in order to proceed with the lease agreements. The are currently on hold for the Shop Number 93 in Diagon Alley until the 31st.

This is where the huge favour comes in. Could you please be their backer? You did say that you’d love to help in some part in their invention, be an investor of sorts. Please papa. I would love to do it myself but I have to wait a couple more months to qualify. Plus it’s their 18th birthday on April 1st. Imagine their surprise if it were to come through.

I’d love to hear from you soon, regardless of your choice.

Your favourite child

y/n.”

The twin’s 18th birthday was spent with absolute love and madness.

Lee had unloaded his stash of butterbeer and firewhiskey, Fred had slipped Angelina with one of their new prank inventions- which changes the person into a sickly color of vomit green, a perfect way to ditch class or events.

Upon learning that the color would last for a few days and would only fade with the ingestion of an antidote, antidote that George said they still had yet to create. Angelina (understandably) threw cake at them. The Gryffindor chaser with perfect aim, hits its mark. However, Fred using his beater skills, instinctively blocks the incoming cake.

Resulting in a wide splat zone. Fred’s arm was covered in frosting, having sprayed everyone around him in whipped cream during the impact. George wasn’t safe too, despite being across from Fred, the rebounce of the cake had made him the new target.

You had just changed into your pajamas when a tapping sound came from your window.

Your family owl, Lanny, was outside carrying a large yellow envelope.

Quickly letting him in, you gave Lanny a gentle pat and brought out some owl treats for the tired bird.

Unscrolling the note tied to his leg, you begin to read.

“My dearest y/n,

My sincere apologies for the late reply, it’s been quite hectic at work.

In regards to your favour, you need not worry. Everything is taken care of. I had met with the landlord of Number 93 Diagon Alley and had all the documents settled. I had also gone and checked to make sure the two lads aren’t being ripped off. Fred and George had picked a nice prime location.

Greet them a happy birthday for me alright? And tell them that I look forward to witnessing them succeed in their endeavors.

They would undoubtedly be bringing a lot of much needed joy into these darkening times. The people would be thankful for them.

I also had Lanny bring the twins’ copy of the Lease Agreement.

I can’t wait to see you all soon.

Much love,

Papa.”

~

Fred was grateful that their friends had retired into the night, leaving him and George to sulk into the dreadful reality.

“We were this close Georgie, this close!” Fred winced, pinching his fingers close without touching.

“I know but there was nothing else we could have done.” consoled George but even he himself was having a hard time. Number 93 was the perfect location for their joke shop. But now it’s gone.They are back to square one, scouting for locations.

“Fred! George! There you are! I have great news!” You yelled, not caring if you could wake up the other students.

“Oi Y/N! Be careful!.” Even in a bad mood, Fred Weasley couldn’t help being protective.

You banged the envelope on the table. “Surprise! Happy Birthday! From papa and I.”

“Another gift?” wondered George.

“So you don’t want it then?” You challenged, crossing your arms. You tried to look intimidating but the pajamas weren’t doing any good. “Cause I bet a hundred galleons that you’d shit your pants if you were to reject it.”

“That confident eh?” Smirked Fred, taking the contents of the envelope out. “ What do you think is so grand that Georgie and I would---BLOODY HELL! Y/N!” Fred kept looking down at the paper and up to you, unbelieving.

“What is it Freddie?” asked George leaning over to read whatever it was that left his brother speechless.

Re: Lease Agreement

Mr. y/l/n has submitted his endorsement to Mr. Fred Weasley and Mr. George Weasley.

The turnover of the leasing property of Shop Number 93 Diagon Alley would begin on April 1st …..

“Oh My- Y/n? Is this real?” George whispered, afraid that if he were any louder this dream would end.

“Yes, absolutely, 100%.” You affirmed. “The shop is yours! Opff-”

George embraced you tight, catching you off guard. You could feel your right shoulder getting wet. “Heyya big guy, don’t cry.” Running a hand up and down his back.

“But how?” Fred with brows creased was still stuck in a trance, you could see the paper shake in his grasp.

“You left the agreement noticed a couple of days ago. I might have accidentally read it. George said to not let you know cause you might get angry-”

“YOu KNEW?!?”

“George only knew I saw the paper. Nothing else.” You defended. “I thought i might try and help, so I called in a favour with papa. You knew how much he was impressed with the Extendable Ear, so I mentioned if he wanted to back you up. I only got his reply just now, said he’d love to and got onto ironing out the paperwork and viola!” Pointing at the document. “Oh and he also said Happy 18th Birthday, looking forward to your success and the people would be thankful for bringing a lot of much needed joy into these darkening times.”

“Thanks Y/n but this is a lot we can’t possibly-”

You cut Fred off before he could say more. “Oh please, you have done countless things for me. And I know what you’re gonna say- but see you would do the same for me. Besides think of this as your first investors. We want to help. We see your potential, we know you two, Fred, George, are gifted with bringing laughter and joy to people with your inventions."

"Thank you, truly y/n and to your dad too." Fred admitted, opening himself up. "No one's really backed us up with our inventions before, we've been always told off for being childish. It really means a lot."

“Hey, it’s the lease I could do.” You replied, causing the twins to chuckle immediately lightening up the mood.

It's great to see them relax again after weeks of stressing over the shop. Times might be changing but at least tonight, you got your best lads back.

~

Everything Taglist : @gruffle1

HP Taglist: @onlyfreds

#fred weasley x reader #george weasley x reader #fred weasley #geroge weasley #fred weasley imagine #george weasley imagine #fred weasley fluff #george weasley fluff #weasley twins #weasley x reader #fred and george weasley #fandomscombine writes #fred weasley angst #george weasley angst

[wiihtigo]

If you're still doing the number thing, pick a random number you haven't answered yet! I'm curious to see which one you would!

Love all of your art btw! Never fails to brighten up my day!

snm ask game here

THANK YOU.....similarly, your comments on my posts always brighten MY day i always smile when i see them >:)

well umm lest seeeeee. yes. will you let me talk for a minute (...) about GAY PEOPLE and why i think sam and maxs relationship is so entertaining to watch..would you be mad. no. ok thank you

10.Favorite ship?

well take a guess. its sam and max....the reason i think sam and max are so charming and like. they just drag people in is because individually theyre great characters but theyre definitely better together, very much a set piece (do not separate) and i feel like in a mainly comedy series that sam and max is its easy to write best friend characters who kind of miss the mark of “these characters are BELIEVEABLE as best friends” like...ok i need to give credit to brain waves where they are due what triggered this line of thought was listening to dear dimwitty (a ducktales podcast hosted by two friends of mine its great btw you should listen to it) and monty (one of the hosts) was talking about how he enjoys it when characters laugh at each other (his examples were a bit in the dt episode they were discussing where dewey i think laughed at a joke louie told in the bg of a scene, and also the crew in star trek....i dont remember which one it was the one with data and geordi i think and he just talked about how its nice to watch because you can really feel like the crew are really friends with eachother through small details in the show like how they have a game night and thigns like that)! like in sitcom series like friends those guys..are not even friends..which is fine the characters dont have to be deep and have fleshed out relationships in a sitcom but just for an example...ive gone on a bit of a tangent but all that talk while i was listening made me go “hey!! thats why i like sam and max!!” (you see? all that talking was related to my point and not just advertising my friends podcast) even though comedy is the main factor in the sam and max series what really ties it all together is the relationship between the two titular characters...and i truly truly believe sam and max wouldnt be nearly as good and funny as it is if sam and max werent written so well as two  individuals who genuinely and whole heartedly care about each other. Theyre best friends and theres no question about it! and its not even written in a way where in chapter one a narrator has to say “this is a story about two best friends” you just have to fuckin LOOK at them for a minute to see, and their office especially which is usually the starting place for each series (its where we first meet sam and max in both the cartoon and games and i BELIEVE the comics...somewhere in the real early ones?) Like they have photos of themselves and eachother plastered all over the walls, they have family photos and pictures of themselves together as children, you see maxs doodles everywhere in the office, he scratched his name into sams desk, its a very LIVED IN if not NASTY space that tells you right away “ok these guys have known eachother for years”, dialogue really helps push this too (now im mostly referencing the games) like sam commenting “i bought this punching bag for max.”, “hey max whered you put this”, “hey max did you feed hubert”, etc etc, when looking at the photos they reminisce, their banter with eachother is just. VERY believable as best friends talking. especially when its sprinkled in with dialogue of them just casually chatting. Most of the time when you talk to max he just says something funny or gives a hint or whatever but sometimes theres dialogue where they just talk to eachother and its like “oh no punchline. they just wanted to chat. ok <3″ and its just very sweet. the “whats your favorite color max?” “orange!” “hey mine too! after all these years theres still so much we dont know about eachother :)” dialogue comes to mind...it made me smile...I think whats also sweet is that sam and max are very OPENLY affectionate with eachother! Sam calls max cute a LOT theyre very touchy feely with eachother, sam is constantly holding onto or touching max, max compliments sam a lot...they tease eachother and max clocks sam to wake him up every morning and sam loves to throw him out the window but well. thats how they show affection <3 also how when sam and max are separated theyre so blatantly miserable and especially sam is super overly worried about max every time something happens to him LOL and i think THESE moments hit all the better because of their well written friendship! its why the rare serious moment in sam and max works and doesnt feel out of place. its because you already know so hard that sam and max love eachother (and like, only each other theyre pretty self centered and dont give much of a fuck about anyone else) so like you as the viewer will be like “oh no! max got kidnapped again! sam is gonna be worried sick!!” and then he is. Because the public already knows how much they care about each other...its not a secret...you cant hide it....i KNOW you care the max

TLDR sams friendship is really well written great job mr purcell youve made some great gay people

#asks #long post #my excuse for writing all this is that i have autism

[sibyl-of-space]

I’m on an adventure learning the basics of Nintendo DS ROM hacking/modding because there is a very stupid, very self-indulgent, very spoilery ROM hack/mod I want to implement for Ghost Trick. It has been a journey and I’m going to be recapping my adventures on here with the tag #leo-tries-modding-ghost-trick so it can be blocked as desired. Anything pertaining to the actual in-game spoilers down the line will be posted under a readmore.

Now.... for “progress” I’ve made so far, if you can call it that. The first thing I need to figure out is whether I can implement a talk sprite-swap. So I set out to try and isolate the talk sprites.

I started by checking out the Ultimate Nintendo DS ROM Hacking Guide, which seemed as good a starting place as any. I also downloaded the big zipped file with all the referenced programs, but as I found out later, some of the programs didn’t zip properly so I had to procure them elsewhere.

At any rate, I tried to open up the Ghost Trick .nds file in CrystalTile2, and that much was a success.... and just about that much only. Ghost Trick doesn’t use the file types referenced in the guide. There are .xml.lz files and .bin files. I didn’t know what to do with these yet, so I decided to just mess around in the tile viewer and see if I could find anything. After some aimless scrolling, I did find something that gave me hope that I was in fact looking at meaningful data:

(don’t mind the windows 7 and pesterchum and malwarebytes this is my old 2011 laptop from undergrad, it just so happens that a lot of tools for NDS hacking work great on windows 7 because shit’s old)

That right there is very unambiguously the Ghost Trick logo. It gave me a glimmer of hope. And CrystalTile lets you highlight a selection of tiles and export them as an image:

rearranged in mspaint to:

My rudimentary knowledge of How This Works tells me that it obviously needs to reference the right palette for the colors to be right, but whatever, this is CLEARLY IMAGE DATA so ALL IS NOT LOST.

...but, for a while, that was about as far as I got. Some googling brought me to this thread, where OP states that allegedly the “cpac_2d.bin” contains all of the sprite data in the game [this is Capcom standard, it seems?], but having trouble actually accessing said data. Viewed as-is it’s a jumbled mess, haven’t been able to make heads or tails of it in CrystalTile although this could certainly be because they’re out of order in a way that’s not obvious. It is really, really difficult to just parse like this.... it’s a massive portion of the ROM, too, so even figuring out what general area of this I should poke around in is quite an undertaking. [looking w/ tile form GBA 4bpp as that is the only tile form that gave me a visible image for the logo above]... although I found some things which look promisingly like visual patterns, and might help me figure out how to re-order these tiles so i can maybe see something approaching an image. I uh... haven’t figured out how to customize the tile ordering in CrystalTile (like column widths) very well, that’s next on my to-do list. This one in particular I may come back to later:

(^Viewed at offset 4AD9E0)

There are plenty of others but this is among the more promising as far as likely actually being uncompressed visual data. There’s so much besides just this one though that I would be here all day posting screenshots; At any rate, there are patterns that may be worth looking into, but the sheer volume of data corresponding to this “.bin” file is going to make that REALLY tedious to try and comb through with any sort of reasonable efficiency. This could also be a fool’s errand, as it could be the data is compressed or out of order somehow and it is necessary to extract the true files hidden within that “.bin” to actually make proper sense of them. I don’t know. If I haven't made it clear, I'm a newbie at this and don't really understand what I'm working with yet.

So I briefly tried another approach. I thought, heck, I have the dev version of DeSmuME on here, let’s boot that baby up.

(oh boy did it chug.)

I learned some neat stuff.

First, I learned that for most of the game, the “main screen” is the bottom screen as opposed to the top screen, which makes complete sense if you’ve played it. Just goes against convention which is interesting. Except for during the title screen, where it is the expected order, for... reasons?

Anyway, I first tried isolating what layer the talk sprites were on on the “main” screen, which was unsuccessful but interesting. This is with every other layer turned off on the bottom screen (tools -> view layers, toggled off all except for “Main BG 0″)...:

It looks like a lot of things are on that same layer. Now we know.

(Worth noting that if you isolate just the “Main BG 3″ layer you get a nice view of the backgrounds!)

My next task was fiddling around in the tile viewer in the *emulator* to see if that got me anywhere. And, well, it did... I think! I don’t know what it means just yet but launching the tile viewer (tools -> view tiles) and selecting “LCD - 0x6850000″, at the 0x140 tile there is a very clear image of the current talk sprite. And this image DOES update when the sprite changes, so whatever this tile is pulling from is where I want to be.

...Unfortunately, I’ve more or less hit a roadblock here and am calling it a night. I have absolutely no idea how to figure out where that tile is getting its information from, and I don’t understand enough about NDS files to know how to parse the information in CrystalTile any better at the moment. I tried using this tool by Luigi Auriemma to dive into the .bin file after exporting it but it spewed out a billion .dat files that are no easier to make heads or tails of than the original.

That's all I got for the time being. If anyone reading this happens to know any directions they can point me toward I am all ears, otherwise I will continue to just poke at this from various angles until it decides to succumb.

#leo tries modding ghost trick #long post

[yoitscro]

First thought: Homestuck^2 should've just been called Beyond Canon, and more people should call it that. 

The 2 was put on for chuckles; HS trending the day it was announced with it being a sequel spoke enough about how such a thing shant be underestimated, and why Homestuck is ABSOLUTELY more than just our small twitter crowd (and the scrap of us still on tumblr). I say that because remembering the Beyond Canon part slightly reassures me about the fact that this is a fanwork that will do some weird shit, and things I don't agree with, but isn't something that I have to subscribe to enjoying all the way with how I engage with Homestuck.

Homestuck 2 is not the canon continuation. Homestuck 2: Beyond Canon, is an OFFICIAL continuation.

Not having it on such an important stool and as the only content we all are only allowed to digest should come from both people who obsessively dislike it, and people who defensively support it. If a character says they kick babies then I can say, hey that's weird, maybe not great writing, but I can pretend they don't in my content, and i dont have to send threats or call people cishet white men for it! and, it's an absolutely great thing that we were all encouraged to create our own ideas without anyone who's influenced us to do so squinting their eyes when we actually go through with it. Glad I don't have to put this story up to the expectations of being a sequel to a 11 year, worldwide IP that's shooketh the internet landscape since it's merely optional, Death of the Author persists, and ideas aren't just dominated and revolved around the perspective of a 1% in this entire fanbase.

That said.

As an OFFICIAL continuation versus a canon one, HS2 is ok. It certainly has that fanfiction vibe, and a story it wants to tell. I can't really tell what that story is since we have like, 10 sub plots rn though. There's not a real a clear indicator on where the focus of main conflict is that connects all these stories together.

I thought that the prose in replacement of Vriska's battle was jarring, but not teeerribly surprising for the format HS2 is going for. It's more so using drawings to compliment text versus Homestuck's usual of panels being side by side with visual importance, or even itself being the one compliment. It sorta feels weird tho that it brought old fans back in with art just for them to get sneered at when they get a bit upset that there won't be main staples of art known to progress the story forward. 

Also people who mock people for “having to read homestuck” knowing there’s language barriers and struggling focus from those who’ve been use to something that was never so dense, are ridiculous.

Personally this could be solved by knowing how old flashes worked, having way more artists on the team, maybe even an art director if not already, and noting that we're not asking for the next Cascade. Rome wasn't built in a day, but Rose Ride sure was, and Homestuck’s animation is absolutely not the same as a 12-24 framed 12 minute cartoon. That, or just snuff the illustrative art as a whole since it's very clear on where the focus is.

I’m sure you’re not here trying to see my opinions on how the outer workings are though, versus plot.

Uuuuh, let's see. Yiffy's still a name I don't care to use until I eventually get tired of any of my art that do not show up in tags. This is fine and not as offensive as people are saying it is. Minors who want to cosplay this character don't have to call themselves this character. Not wanting to be one letter away from accidentally entering a very NSFW space of twitter is fine. Also the lot of people call Tavros, Tavvy.

I hope Kanaya's anger at being cucked is actually seen versus being implied through fan guesses and another character having to say she was.

Roxy needs to be more of an involved character. Where are they during all this?

Jane should have a mention of her relations to HIC being a main/bad influence on her current parallels to Alternian dictatorship.

The PRE-RETCON GROUP should have a fun one-shot update for fans who like them, since they oughta be around if they fell through the ghost hole. Most of them. The sprites that aren't Jasprosesprite should also show up too, since they're around.

Aaaaaand I think we should be extra careful going into the future when it comes to the alien rebellion. It's weird that a lot of the writers are white and toy around with concepts that can be a not so great parallel to racism. Currently not great timing rn! If the characters are going to remain aracial, but with them still doing not much to reference other non-white earth cultures or getting new hair cuts that have different textures (looking at you, Rose), we shant make the species with actual biological benefits a racism commentary. the xeno joke at least had a play on words. If any writer has happened upon this then a, please don't get mad at me again haha, and b, consider having more black writers or directional assistance on your squad. You know who they are.

In the future. I casually want the ghost from the Dream Bubbles to be shown since it's a big elephant in the room to not have a single one of them in the bg despite a load of them appearing from the ghost whole. Don't gotta give them speaking lines, especially the dancestors. I personally don't know if I want that right now.

I also hope in the future that we don't get HS content that is only going to revolve around HS2, if it's optional enough to engage with without being the only option. That's why PQ could ended a bit better for me, and why I hope it's not the main thing that's keeping Hiveswap on the backburner. I don't think it's farfetched to consider that multiple HS content could come from more than just one team; to relieve work load, but to also strengthen the idea that Homestuck can be a various amount of perspectives when it comes to the ideas fans have. The most dedicated fans leading the direction of the story is not just a handful of them. If anything, at least acknowledge the massive ass fan projects going on once in awhile to showcase the different avenues.

"Hey Cro, you sure have bitched about this alot. Do you have anything good to say? Why don't you stop reading if you hate it so much!"

Not every comment needs to be golden, love. Again, some of these decisions I eck at, but ultimately they're just words on a computer that I'm not holding anyone at gun point to do, and I'm curious to see how the story handles itself going forward, since again, it's just a fanwork. Sometimes I wish to not only see where the plot goes, but to see a writer's craft in action.

Good Things:

The Art. Again, please have more artists. It'd help so much, especially since the main one is also double timing for VE. That said, HS2 sticks out to me because of the way the color composition is used. Aside from hair and other tiny things, I haven't seen black used a lot, which makes colors pop. It's really nice to look at. I hope we get more sharper styles of character in the future, since it builds on nostalgia and makes the trolls feel much less like they're from Repiton, but I can deal with it for the most part. I also like that one panel where the omega kids and vriska are talking in the dark room, and based on where they're standing, the text aligns. Tasty as hell.

Meat and Candy still do hold neat logic in the direction the stories go. Candy, while it could be more tasteless in some areas, is chaotic and too much of a good thing. Meat is having something a little more straightforward, though I'm not sure quite yet where it's going. I always found Candy to be the part of the epilogue that actually entertained me the most, from how much of a surreal Robot Chicken skit at 3am it felt. Sometimes the jokes slapped real nice and made me wonder, going in, how is this monkeys paw gonna play out and, hopefully, make people laugh or smirk like they got a good roast at themself?

The slightly episodic feel of each update is what I wanted from the Epilogues, so it's interesting to see that play out when it comes to switching different perspectives.

The bonus updates get points for featuring characters that a lot of us have been wanting to see for ages.

Hopefully this isn't unpopular, but I think the tension of Yiffy's introduction was nicely composed and written (ignoring some of the things I wish for Jane). It leaves you with enough want to see what'll happen next time. You could also say that despite her growling and making a lot of noise, it's not actually bad writing: I see it as the audience being forced to see her in the same perspective that Jane see's her; a dog. Upon no context we're seeing the same thing while knowing things are obviously off, and once we see this character in a new environment where their personality shines, it'll have a bigger impact her own character being humanized. So I like that.

Okay, I think that's all I got. I improv wrote most of this; hopefully I won't be taken out of context since I don’t think that HS2′s writing should ultimately be a judgement of the writers as people, nor treated as if they should hold the same unhealthy work environment that Andrew forced himself to do when writing the og comic. And I'm still like, donating to the patreon and everything, lol.

[runs away]

edit: i was going to put the cw as another positive thing for the comic...but...yeaaaah.

#hs2 #beyond canon #homestuck 2 // #i ran out of room so i posted this here lol.

[bladekindeyewear]

HS^2 bloggin’ mainline 2020-05-19

Figured an upd8 was coming, it’s felt like enough time has passed for one.

Huh, looking at my last post I’d completely forgotten I was supposed to play through Pesterquest sometime... work is busy and stressing me out a bit, I’m not sure when I’ll have the energy on the side to do that.  (Maybe I’ll livetweet it like I did Undertale a while ago, but this time not looking at my twitter replies so I don’t get spoiled by One Guy™?)

Also, including bonus commentary on A Threat Sensed.

Okay, going in completely blind.  I’d guessed from context that we’re hopping over to Meat side to get a chapter there before we can come back to actually see Yiffy?

Yep.  Okay, what is this about exactly?

(Agh, dammit, I’ve been copying and pasting so much at work remoting into Windows lately that now I’m automatically trying to hit control-C instead of command-C to copy.)

> CHAPTER 9. How Goes The Eulogizing, Dear?

CONTENT NOTE: This chapter contains Child Abuse.

Which one???

Wait

JANE: (Where is he?) JANE: (It's a question I've found myself asking many times in recent days.)

Holy SHIT we get two Candy chapters in a row???  So we might see her right away??  No, it’s gotta just be another tiny glimpse.

(Has two Candy chapters in a row happened before?  Future Boots, scroll back up and put this here. FUTURE BOOTS: “I forgot to scroll back up and put that here.” EDIT: Also, not the first time with two in a row, but it IS the first time with THREE in a row, huh.)

So Jane has to be talking about either Tavros or Dave.  --Oh, if this was a Candy Side chapter title, I guess Rose or Jade is eulogizing Dave for John?

> (==>)

JANE: (Where now is our merry savior?) JANE: (Where is the horn that was honking?) JANE: (Where is the cape and the codpiece, and the...) JANE: (The...) JANE: (Oh, fiddlesticks.)

What?  Is she reading a childrens’ book?  --Oh.  She’s eulogizing Gamzee.  So that gives us a third option, where the rebellion crashes the funeral somehow, probably audiovisually rather than in person.  (Which would make sense, given Candy practically began with Gamzee crashing Dirk’s funeral.)

> (==>)

Ah never mind, she’s still writing it.

That sure is a single button drama-remote that’s going to be pressed at some point.  Oh, and who the fuck keeps a spork in a pen cup???  --No no, don’t say it’s one of those pens with a spork at the eraser end, either ready-made or rubber-banded to the side.  That would make sense.  You totally know it isn’t that and is just a spork.

JANE: (Okay, poetry is out.) JANE: (What else?) JANE: (Hrm...) JANE: (I've always been pretty good at crying on cue.) JANE: (Could I try staging an emotional breakdown?) JANE: (That could work; playing to people's humanity.)

Why were you crying in Jake’s arms about his death if you didn’t care that much?  Did you just want him to hold you and kinda make him feel in on things again?  Or did you just cry yourself out about him?

JANE: (Or whatever is the more inclusive term.)

I bet the rest of Earth C figured out a more inclusive term millenia ago FUCK I accidentally added millennia to my dictionary misspelled instead of correcting it hold on--

...There, killed the entry for it.  ...Huh.  Take a look at my Chrome dictionary’s custom-added words over the years, apparently:

Caliborn Eridan Kanaya Matriorb Meenah Tavros alchemiter dichotomic nephilim reblogged uncaptchalogues uncaptchaloguing

That’s fun.

Okay back to reading. Millennia.  Phew!  Where was I.

JANE: (One really good and calculated weep could do it, I think.) JANE: (But then there's the danger that I might get carried away and do it for real.) JANE: (And I can't risk that.)

So still feeling something, just too used to calculating over the past years.

JANE: (What can I say about him that will stir up their emotions?) JANE: (Do I mention the stuff about the milk?) JANE: (Think Crocker, think.)

WHY would you-- how much did Gamzee normalize adult breastfeeding?!

JAKE: Ahoy over there!

Not the best time.

(The thing with the divorce papers from the Epilogue and John implying he was planning with Jake to execute something that sounds like a divorce... is that going to be sprung here?  Did her lawyers send the divorce papers way back when she was in a fit of pique, and he just had them available to sign now at the tactical moment? Or... let me pull the exact text...)

JOHN: now, harry anderson, i know that you and tavros haven't always gotten along. JOHN: but i am going to have to ask you to try and look out for him for the time being. JOHN: your uncle jake and i... well, i'll explain later. JOHN: let's just say that gamzee isn't the only family member jane is losing today.

(So is John going to submit the papers? Or did they already go through a while ago and default custody to John or something who’s going to adopt him too or some nonsense?  And did he plan this out with Jake NOW, or a while ago, and if only a while ago, is Jake going to KNOW whatever John’s about to pull in that respect is about to happen??)

> (==>)

Butte

Janepalme

> (==>)

JAKE: Er... how goes the eulogizing, dear?

Gah.  I completely forgot again that capitalized-first-letter chapter names don’t mean KANAYA is saying them.  That probably makes a lot more sense out of my wondering about the chapter title earlier to those of you who didn’t realize I was making that mistake.

JANE: It turns out that it's mighty difficult to find touching things to say about a person, the relationship with whom was predicated on deep-seated mutual loathing.

Hah!

--A loathing you regarded as largely more important to you than Jake ever was, by the way.  You asshole.

JANE: I imagine this is one of the reasons no funerary tradition was ever established on Alternia, besides the barbarism of their culture. DIRK: Jesus christ. JANE: Not only did a significant proportion of their interpersonality depend on romance in the form of hatred, but it was a society based on cruelty and violence. JANE: What reason could they have had to provide for the dead? JANE: What kind of last rites could they have even imagined?

I wondered for a moment why (bg!)Dirk of all people would react to a single line of her starting to bring up prejudices, but then I realized that (1) Brain Ghost Dirk is a little more Jakey, and (2) Dirk knew that more ranting would follow the first line.

JANE: I can't think of anything good to write about him because deep down, I hated his guts. JANE: But he was and is beloved of the multitude, so I have to think of something regardless. JAKE: Im not sure i understand. JANE: Don't worry your pretty little head about it. JANE: This is politics, Jakey. JANE: Lying through your two front teeth about people you hate is about as good a definition as it's possible to get. JANE: But, by gum, is it tiring work.

Mm.  It’s a position Jane put herself in, but it’s still a legitimate position once you’re there.

JANE: The funeral is tomorrow, after all.

Got it.

DIRK: Dude, the bowl. JAKE: Hm? JAKE: Oh, right. JANE: What is it now, Jake. JAKE: I brought something for our guest as well. JANE: You mean the prisoner. JAKE: Y...es.

Wait, bowl?

Oh god damnit which of you had the idea to feed her with a DOG BOWL.  Either of you could have thought of it, and either of you would be horrible for it.

> (==>)

Huh, that outfit on Yiffy looks familiar, like a reference to something.  And a black tail?  This definitely isn’t quite the look I was expecting from Jade Plus Rose, but I suppose the snazzy tie is a Roseish vibe.  Also reminiscent of Jade’s old Dead Shuffle dress.  Formal wear and soccer cleats??

JANE: She's over in the corner. JANE: Don't worry, she won't bite. JANE: I've seen to that already.

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN.  I don’t see anything over her mouth!  Did she stick something in it, or drug her?  File her fucking teeth???

I mean I did forget the Child Abuse trigger warning to be fair.  Hoping whatever would be on her mouth is just not shown in-panel yet for stylistic reasons.

> (==>)

JAKE: Its only mac and cheese, sorry. JAKE: Its all I know how to make, haha. JAKE: ... JAKE: I um... hope you can safely partake of cheese? JAKE: ... JAKE: Well, JAKE: Bon appetit.

How the fuck did Jake eat on his island then?  --Oh right, preserved food cans that Grandma Jade stored up, I think I remember.  Why would cheese not be a thing for them, if it’s fine for Jade?  I know he’s probably not just worried about lactose intolerance.

Either way, if she’s drugged here, that’ll mean we won’t get a good idea of her for a while, so which is it...

> (==>)

DIRK: Bon appetit. DIRK: Seriously dude? JAKE: (What? Did i pronounce it wrong?) DIRK: Jake. DIRK: You put the food in a fucking dog bowl. JAKE: (It was all there was, ok???) JAKE: (I feel awful enough as it is without you getting on my case about it.)

Ah, missed the bone pun.  AND, yeah, Jake, you’re a fucking idiot, you could have put it in a cup or something.

JAKE: (So far ive yet to see anything come of that brilliant plan of yours.) JAKE: (Are you sure sending that message to the others was enough?)

Okay, so he IS coordinating this slightly.

> (==>)

Horrifying image to contemplate, eh Jane?

Or anger-inducing?

> (==>)

Seems about right!

> (==>)

Oh that’s a GREAT exasperated Jane face.

JANE: I hope you're not expecting dessert, young lady.

I like how Jane didn’t notice, comment on, or care about the bowl.  How can you hate a kid so much??

> (==>)

Oh I know why I felt like I recognized the outfit style, it’s because it’s ANIME AS FUCK.  Feels like some Persona 4 Arena nonsense, and I say that not having played any of those games or even remembering what they looked like.  Also, white hair, black fur’d dog parts?  Nice change of pace.

YIFFY: GRRRRRRRRR... JANE: Oh no you don't.

Red text?  What color exactly... “#D00009”?  Huh.  That’s nowhere near Alt-Callie’s #FF0000, and darker than Dave’s #E00707.  In fact, let me go back and check those spilled color pins the commentary pointed out from an update or two ago...  no, the red pin is #E63225, closer to Dave’s color.  (Also, is Yiffy blocking the doorway out?  That’s a pretty slack chain then.)

Did Jane see to it that she wouldn’t bite with like, a water spray bottle?

(EDIT: Oh my FUCKING GOD, THAT's why it's #D00009...)

> (==>)

FUCK I didn’t notice the shock collar in the Yiffy image!  FUCK YOU, Jane.

> (==>)

Keeping someone in line with collars, especially ones that punish whenever one strays out of line, has always been a decent way for her to mix in some Doomy control of others to show how she’s “grown” to balance her main role and her Tiara-controlled-like inverse for more power.  Doom in part represents boundaries that you can’t cross without getting hurt or punished.

> (==>)

FUCK, those little buck teeth!?  D’:

JANE: That's more like it.

She HAS to have more of a reason for hating her than hating her parents, right?  Like, more than that and general racism applying to partdogfolk?

> (==>)

Hey fuck off with that!

> (==>)

This is a pretty cool ima-- are those piercings on her dog ear?  I didn’t notice that in the first shot, neat.

JANE: You've been a thorn in my side ever since I agreed to enroll you at the academy, little madam. JANE: Back then, I was doing a favor for two old friends who made a disgusting mistake. JANE: I'm no longer going to play nice with you just because of your parents, however. JANE: That truce is over. JANE: Do I make myself understood?

What the fuck?  WHY would you do that?  Why does Jane run "Ms. Paint’s Home for Inconvenient Girls”?  What did Yiffy do to piss her off so much there, how much trouble could she have caused?

I don’t know if she’s referring to the behind-Kanaya’s-back part as disgusting or she’s just being MORE racist.

> (==>)

JANE: We don't want you passing out during the ceremony, do we?

Oh, just showing the hostage off during the clown funeral, huh?  Classy much?

> (==>)

JANE: Now, be a good hostage and get some rest, Yiffany dear. JANE: We've got a big day tomorrow.

For a politician, Jane’s not good at looking at herself in a mirror.

> (==>)

JANE: Night night. JANE: Hoo hoo.

> (Yiffy: Lights out.)

Huh, dream stuff is gonna be relevant out in Candy then? *click*

Okay, dark background all of a sudden.  Properly dramatic?  You even have to highlight the non-link “>” part of the Next link to see it.

> (==>)

-- thespiansGlamor [TG] began pestering adamantGriftress [AG] --

Well, I don’t know WHY it’s happening, but the white-backed pesterlog suddenly on the dark site framing is certainly evocative.  Of like, a mood, or something.

TG: i thought he was pretty quiet down there. TG: we'll make a rebel of him yet! AG: Lol. AG: I think it's more that he can't sleep. AG: I know how he feels. TG: yeah. TG: today was a lot. AG: ... TG: do you wanna talk about it? AG: Ugh, not you as well.

It’s really jarring to transition between Homestuck’s “kids jarringly mentally resistant to freaking out about the end of the world” to HS^2′s more realistic “kids traumatized by their first firefight even though it was an overwhelming victory-escape”.

TG: but seriously, do you? AG: Not really. TG: not even about... you know? TG: her? AG: No. TG: ... are you sure? AG: A8solutely. AG: What are you, my moirail? AG: Just leave it, Harry. TG: ok.

Are they about to have an “I wonder what Yiffy’s like” talk?

> (==>)

Very similar Tav/Vrissy convo to the previous one.

GG: I havent ever shared a bedroom before,,, GG: Not even for a slumber party,,, AG: Tavvy, you are just a8out the saddest person I've ever met.

Well, we have an even better idea how horrible Jane can be with kids, now.  From Nanna to THIS is quite jarring.  I wonder how the double Nannasprites that must still be around here somewhere feel?

> (==>)

TG: nothing about my dad is cute. TG: what are you even saying. AG: Lmao. TG: seriously! TG: i think he has something against that word, even. he gets super weird about it. AG: He's a strange and funny m8n. TG: yeah. TG: ... TG: i think something bad must have happened.

...um.  What?  Why would John have some sort of trauma about the word cute or being called it?

Did John dress up as a hint of his buried June ambitions as a kid and Dad lavish him with “SO CUTE” praise in an epic supportiveness backfire that caused him to shelve the idea of wearing non-masc clothes and being happier on the flipside of gender ever again???  Because if that’s how June gets canonized as promised, it’s a little harsher than the back of my mind was hoping.  I guess it kind of had to be though from the premise of how it was read into his childhood for the original idea, though.  Fuck, I hope this Cute business is about something different from that (like a Terezi reference or such) just to get less John Sads.  (But still June.  Definitely still want to get June.)

> (==>)

Oh, and now Vrissy is doing nothing but talking about what she said she didn’t want to talk about, of course.  (Also I like how JANE’s now being called the Batterwitch.)

AG: And the worst part was they didn't even fight a8out it! AG: That made me madder than 8nything else. AG: It felt like I was the only person who even W8S mad! GG: I dont think thats true,,, AG: What would you know a8out it?! GG: Maybe nothing,,, GG: Sorry,,, GG: Its just,,, GG: To me,,, all the way through the conversation,,, aunt kanaya looked even angrier than you,,, AG: ... AG: Adults are so fucking weird.

Guh, I don’t want to be reminded how hurt a good chunk of the fanbase is by Kanaya getting hurt this badly.

Original Tavros was always SLIGHTLY perceptive of others sometimes, but maybe perceptiveness is being hinted at as a Tavros specialty?  We still don’t know his classpect/hero-title or have any firm guesses based on purely him evidence.  (Also, frightened kids of abusive households tend to learn to get perceptive pretty fucking quickly I hear.)

> (==>)

TG: dad was sitting in the cafeteria with aunt jade and your moms. TG: it looked like they were discussing something important... they were whispering and stuff.

[etc etc] Alright, the what-happened-to-Dave bit.  And I imagine they’re kind of helping John grieve there, since Rose and Jade have talked that out already.

TG: aunt kanaya's was the only face i could see. TG: she was standing next to them, but she wasn't looking at what was going on. TG: almost like she couldn't bear to. AG: I doubt it. Kanaya's got a8out as much Emotivity as a very reclusive stone. TG: ok, i think that is bullshit but whatever. TG: she saw me standing there, but didn't say anything. she just shook her head slightly, and pointed back out into the hallway i came down.

Yep, giving them some space to grieve.  Also-- gosh, shouldn’t Vrissy have the same emotive senses that Aranea implied Vriska shared with her?  Kanaya isn’t that EXPRESSIVE but she’s certainly full of emotion.  Also, I hope part of her not bearing to watch wasn’t lingering anger toward Jade and Rose mixing with that, but there probably was a bit of that too, though Dave being gone is so much harsher than that. --I just realized they might not have broken the news to Karkat yet, either.

AG: I guesadxcxzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz TG: vrissy?

Put to sleep by someone slumping down on your phone keypad, or surprised by something about the other conversation?

Oh shit, “other conversation” reminded me I didn’t look at Tavros’s chumhandle:

glutinousGymnast [GG]

HHHHHhhhhuh.  Hm... huh? hhhh.  huh?  what, but.  Why would.  ?????

I really don’t understand what that chumhandle or any of its entendres should signify in this context.

Also, this means for our new four kids we have TG, GG, AG, and ??.

> (==>)

GG: I think she might have succumbed to sleep quite suddenly,,, GG: It would explain the,,,,,, interesting messages I've been getting for a while,,, TG: hehe. TG: i guess that tracks. TG: she does that from time to time.

That’s... strange.  Homestuck’s taught us to be suspicious of that.

TG: ... TG: tav? GG: Yes,,, harry anderson,,,? TG: what does it feel like to know someone who's died?

Who is Harry referring to? (EDIT: Yes I know Gamzee for Tavros, but I meant Harry talks like he's worried he'll have to feel that way soon?)  Is he just kind of inferring that something bad might have happened to Uncle Dave?  Got that perceptive “parents are about to tell me about a death in the family” vibe?  Or did he overhear more than he let on to Vrissy?

...alright, that’s the last page of this update.  Looks like this chapter is going to continue to have a good bunch of grieving, or talk around it.

---

Now for Bonus Commentary for A Threat, Sensed.  For some reason I have a dim memory of like... reading this myself without commenting on it?  Or skimming it?  But I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that.  Weird.  Must have imagined doing it.

Ah, I think I saw the opening paragraph scrolling Patreon, and my mind kinda filled in the blanks, this is still looking new to me.

Okay, mostly banter and japes in the commentary here.  About Dirk “throwing a huge tantrum in his philosophy cave”.

We’ve had quite a bit of speculation on whether this is “really” Andrew. To that, I think we’d say that it doesn’t “really” matter.

Really?  That was speculated about?  :/

Here we discover that Dirk has not, as some people have speculated, been directly intervening into the Candy timeline, or influencing it in any way. In fact, he has a very hard time seeing anything going on there at all.

Mhmm, and that was a pretty important thing to learn.

A couple of years ago I might have agreed with the take that everything happening in Candy is simply too outlandish to ever happen naturally, without direct, villainous interference, but that was before literally every fucking batshit insane thing that has happened on Real Life Earth started going down, and now I will believe literally anything. 

This is a nice bit of distraction from the idea that at least the opening parts of the Candy story were written/narrated by Original, Alive Calliope over on meat side.  To refresh your memory of what was pointed out to me:

ROXY: back when jade first got all effed up callie saw somethin and it made them freak out ROXY: it took me weeks to convince them that it was safe to come home ROXY: but now we got the opposite problem and they arent leavin the house at all ROXY: they stay home all day with the blinds drawn paintin some weird ass shit on the walls TEREZI: WH4T? ROXY: its not as bad as it sounds i promise ROXY: some of it is like ROXY: weird and violent?? ROXY: like lotsa nasty purple blood and um ROXY: nudity???? TEREZI: >:? ROXY: yeah yikes ROXY: but MOST of it is cute stuff like... various combos of all of us being happy and gettin married and shit ROXY: anyway thats kept callie kinda busy

Which tracks with the initial out-of-character-seemingness of almost everyone at the start of Candy, and how they kind of tried to railroad things back onto the “Happy??” track after Dirk derailed it with his weird self-accumulation suicide, along with some of the flowery-idyllic descriptions of characters seeing each other bathed in a halo of light and such.

Of course, they’re not going to out-and-out STATE that Calliope was at fault for that narration, helping the Candy story not necessarily fall out the way it did “naturally”, until we finally get a glimpse of her on the heroes’ ship in Meat probably still painting the continuing Candy events, inspiring them into the void of the singularity with her latent powers.  Til then, it’s a bit of misdirection whenever the topic is to be brought up.  Along with a mix of Roxy’s late-Candy point to John of more or less “why COULDN’T we have done this naturally? you don’t know”.

He might even think that he has more direct power over the narrative than Hussie does himself. Surprise, motherfucker, you are a fictional character. 

:p

I’ll quote this next part in full:

There’s been talk of whether or not this bonus was written in the two days between its release and the Yiffy reveal chapter. The answer is--no. It was written over a month ago. But I think the things it addresses were not difficult to suss out. Obviously, Dirk is highlighting the issues that the readership are having with Yiffy, in his typical Dirk fashion. If it seems a little defensive, well...I suppose it is. Yiffy is one of the two hard lines drawn in the sand, and all of us love her, and we’re hoping that everyone else will love her too. But more than that, it focuses on the fact that update culture has a rhythm to it--shock, revulsion, acceptance (or not), and then excitement (or not). Will it follow that pattern this time? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out. 

Yeah, given what was going to be dropped on us I expected they would have had exactly this lined up, especially because Andrew specifically mandated Yiffy.  --I wonder why they aren’t mentioning that somewhere in the commentary and only on one of their Twitters?

Also quoting this:

There’s something both incredibly “cringe” and self-indulgent, as well as philosophically intriguing, about the author arguing with his villain, especially since he’s writing both halves of the conversation himself. You are, for all intents and purposes, trying to solve a problem that you have created for yourself. You are looking an aspect of your personality in the eye and asking, hey, what the fuck, man?

But in the end, isn’t that what every story is? Trying to untie knots that you put in the rope yourself?

Since it’s part of the central struggle of this story, and kind of the question Andrew’s tried to imply with every Homestuck work about what right we have to keep these characters trapped in a story, and if they’d be better off escaping it.

I’m really trying to avoid quoting so much of this, since the commentary is paid...  but I think we can make an exception here?  I’ll have only quoted about half of it; just, the really plot-important half.  Plus, I left out a LOOOT of japes.

Dirk has a certain idea of how stories are supposed to go. That’s pretty much what the Epilogues is about. The audience also has a certain expectation of how a story is supposed to go. In a way, the Epilogues were also about that. They were taking a story that had reached the traditionally “acceptable” happily ever after, and saying, wait, no. What happens next? Thinking past happily ever after in any story is a terrifying prospect. Once Cinderella marries the prince, what then? Sure, she got what she wanted, but who knows that it will be everything she dreamt it would? What if she changes her mind, if not today, what about ten years from now? What if the prince dies of malaria? 

And I’m...

Yeah I don’t have anything else to add here, I’m kind of out of brain juice to think about this tonight.  BUSY day I had.  Y’all take care!

#Homestuck #hs2 #Homestuck Liveblog #upd8 #Homestuck^2 #bladekindeyewear #blastyoboots #spoiler #spoilers #Homestuck Commentary

[unofficialkfamtranscripts]

King Falls AM - Episode 9: Jack in the Box Jesus

View on Google Docs

Summary: September 1, 2015 - An alleged sighting of the Lord & Savior at a downtown fast food restaurant has the residents of King Falls ready for deliverance, meanwhile Sammy & Ben try to navigate the flood waters of this revelation.

[podcast intro music]

Mayor Grisham Ladies and gentlemen, I promise you that while it is a terrible inconvenience that our modern electronics are out— this is not the end of the world. It could be a refreshing change of pace! Instead of reading, on your tablet, go down to the King Falls library, and check out the real thing! Instead of texting your BFF, go enjoy some pancake puppies at Rose’s! and have a face-to-face chat. This isn’t as bad as it seems— and it could be a blessing in disguise.

[KFAM intro music]

Sammy Good morning guys and dolls, you’re listening to King Falls AM—

Ben —That’s 660 on the radio dial.

Sammy And this is day 13 of what has been dubbed the King Falls Electrolocaust.

Ben This has easily been the hardest two weeks of my professional career.

Sammy It has been tough, but Ben and I want to thank you, and everyone out there listening, for the continuing support of the show.

Ben We got another doozy of a show for you tonight, King Falls. During hour two, we’ll be interviewing Maria Chandler, manager of the King Falls Apple store, and speaking about the effects the shut down has had on business.

Sammy As well as fielding your calls and talking about whatever’s clever this evening.

Ben I miss computers, Sammy. I miss the schedule. Our automated systems, my alarm clock. I’ve went through three the legal pads in two weeks!

Sammy [sympathetic] I know, buddy.

Ben I would literally watch Channel 13 if given the chance.

Sammy Wow. That’s saying a lot.

Ben [softly] I need my life back.

Sammy King Falls, how are you taking the modern electronic shut down of 2015? Are you refreshed? Reliving the mid-90s? Or— are you falling apart like our dear Ben Arnold?

Ben I’d listen to boy bands, to have a working smartphone. I’d wear, puka shell necklaces and sell my pog collection,[1] if you give me five minutes with my email.

Sammy Look on the bright side, Ben. You’re spending all your free time down at the library, and I haven’t called you out on it!

Ben That’s calling me out on it.

Sammy Eh-Well- and you know it’s nice hearing the birds tweeting instead of @kingfallsam. I’m not saying I don’t miss it but, I’m enjoying this a little bit.

Ben ♫It’s tearing up my heart when I’m with yoouu♫[2]

Sammy The references are not gonna bring back your goods.

Ben [hurt] Dammit Sammy, let’s just take a call from our jury-rigged phone system.

[bg music being provided by Chet’s record player]

Sammy You’re live with Sammy and Ben.

Cynthia Yeeaah, I wanna talk about the outages.

Sammy Cynthia Higgenbaum, ladies and gents. How are you doing during this electronic crisis?

Cynthia [blissful] I feel the warm embrace of the chastity belt that’s been placed on society. I’m relieved, de-stressed, marvelous!

Ben *chuckling* Whoa, heh, that’s- that’s a heck of a change!

Cynthia [suddenly aggressive] What are you trying to say, Ben?

Sammy It’s just you’re usually- you’ve been a little… pessimistic in the past.

Cynthia [mostly calm again] Ohhh, I still have problems; I’m full up with issues. But right now, I don’t have to worry about what websites my husband is perusing, what brain-dead TV my kids are watching— I’m at peace! It’s just me and my harlequin novels. Plus, with Jesus back and all—

Ben [jokingly suggestive] 50 Shades of Cynthia

Cynthia [angrily] Don’t be filthy Ben Arnold! I Know Your Mother!

Sammy I-I’m sorry, Cynthia— did you just say that Jesus is back?

Cynthia [gossipy tone] Have you guys not heard the news?

Ben Is she talking about Jesus Jesus?

Cynthia There’s only one.

Sammy Wellll, I think Mexico would disagree, but please tell us why you think Jesus—

Cynthia [snappy] I don’t think Sammy, I know! [softer] Earlier this evening, he was spotted glowing and speaking in tongues at Jack in the Box.[3]

Ben The one off Main Street or Red Oak Avenue?

Cynthia Ew, nobody does to Red Oak.

Sammy [softly] Jack-in-the-Box-Jesus.

Cynthia Oh, Hell no! I will not participate in that blasphemy. You’re gonna get smited—

Sammy Oh, I- I mean- I wasn’t- I’m sorry, I’m not meaning to, uh—

Cynthia Tell it to Satan! In Hell, Sammy! [hangs up forcefully]

[dial tone]

Ben This is big.

Sammy [slightly reluctant] If you or someone you know has had a sighting of *clears throat, Ben laughs* Jack in the Box Jesus please give us a call. Uh, 424-279-3858

Ben You’re on King Falls AM.

Deputy Troy Now I know what you’re thinking: how could the second coming of God’s only son happen and ol’ Troy here didn’t clue you in.

Ben Not what I was thinking.

Sammy What do you know Troy?

Deputy Troy Well I got a suspicious persons call out at ol’ Yack[sic] in the Box around 9. So, I hit the lights and cruised over to see what the fuss was about. And lo and behold, back by the dumpster with a mess of people looking on— there he was.

Sammy Now, are you really telling us that— [still reluctant] you saw, or, you believe you saw the son of God and the King of Kings bangin around outside the Jack In The Box?

Deputy Troy Well, he was a man. Somebody’s son, no doubt. Bearded. Good lookin’, if-if you’re into that sort of thing. He had a robe on—

Ben [cutting in]We can solve this right now. Was he white or was he black?

Deputy Troy He was more of a greenish color. Like a glow really.

Sammy The man had an aura around him.

Deputy Troy It was shinier than a damn Fukushima foxhound, fellas. Like, I felt a need to put on the old aviators, but I- I didn’t want to be cliché.

Sammy Alright, Troy. So, work with us here; you’re in the back of the Jack in the Box, there’s a uh, a Jesus-type guy—

Deputy Troy Just-a-ramblin’ on.

Ben Speaking in— tongues?

Deputy Troy Speaking in somethin. The last time I heard gibberish like that was comin’ from the back of my Chevy with Shell Snyder’s daughter.

Sammy So what happened next?

Deputy Troy Well a group of looky-loos had descended, as I said, and since it was only me, there was no perimeter set up yet. So I start ta approach this glowing Christ and somebody— Roy Higgins if you gotta know/— hollered out “It’s Jesus!” and the whole parking lot just went bonkers!

Ben Well, di-did you speak to the guy?

Deputy Troy Damn skippy. I told Roy that this was official police biz. And he shouldn’t be squawling around like a little baby.

Ben No, Jack in the Box Jesus.

Deputy Troy Oh, well no. I- I turned around and he was gone. Split right off into the woods, I suspect.

Sammy Did you follow him?

Deputy Troy Sammy. So you’re tellin me that you’d follow a 6-foot-tall and glowing perp into the woods??

Sammy [muttered] Point taken.

Ben So any other sightings?

Deputy Troy Well, not as of yet. But there were so many people they could’a had a revival in that parkin’ lot. So I’m guessin’ that’s how word spread so quickly. And without internet, too? That’s pretty damn impressive.

Sammy Is there an APB out or anything?

Deputy Troy For what, dilly-dallying around with a jumbo jack? He wasn’t doin nothin bad. Just acting a fool— Lord forgive me— where he shouldn’t’a been.

Ben And glowing.

Deputy Troy That’s right.

Sammy Well, please let us know if get any more info on this, Troy. We’d appreciate it.

Deputy Troy You bet. I’ll be sure to keep you boys and the listenin’ public informed. But if you should happen to stumble upon Jesus? Do not approach, bother or pester. You just call up Ol’ Deputy Troy.

[hangs up]

Ben …or your local church. [dial tone]

Sammy Deputy Troy, ladies and gents. Now we’re just going to take a quick break and hear from one of our new sponsors: Carl’s Candy!

Ben Yeah I don- I don’t think we should play this

Sammy What? Ads pay the bills remember?

Ben Folks, as a workaround with all the tech issues, uh, I went out and recorded a few spots of some of our sponsors- uh, new and old. Emphasis on Old, after this one.

Sammy Okay, so the audio is bad.

Ben *sucks in breath* You could say that.

Sammy This company’s paid up! They’re scheduled in one of your many notebooks. Let’s do this. We’ll be right back folks.

[slow, creepy xylophone music]

Carl [voice is soft and creepy, like you expect from a guy who offers kids candy from the back of a van] Do you know why they call it a blow pop? I sure do. And if you come on down to Creepy Carl’s Candy, I’ll fill ya up! I mean in. [whispering] It’ll be our little secret.- A sweet tooth is a terrible thing to waste. Come find a new sugar daddy to butter your fingers at Creepy Carl’s! Come in and grab a sack of Carl’s Boston baked beans while you’re at it. Oops, one fell in my pocket. Free if you can find it! *Ben groaning “oh no”* Every child’s welcome at Creepy Carl’s, big mouths, small mouths, white mouths and brown mouths. We’re equal opportunity! And just cause they shut down the ol’ brick and mortar doe’n’t mean you can’t buy it from my van. Be sure to ask your parents’ permission first, kids. Creepy Carl’s Candy, where the suckers don’t suck themselves. [Police sirens]

Deputy Troy [through megaphone] Carl, turn off your ignition. You are too close to the school zone.

Carl I gotta go! Catch ya later [tires squealing]

Ben [desperate, in bg] The mic!

[sirens fade out]

Sammy … Never again.

Ben I tried to tell you.

Sammy I know. Let’s never speak about this.

Ben [whispering] I need a shower.

Sammy *sigh* …Moving forward, we were just talking about a sighting that happened a few hours ago around the 9 o’clock hour, just off Main Street. It seems quite a few people believe that we may be experiencing a religious phenomenon. Perhaps the second coming of–

Ben [slightly gruff impression] “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years!”[4]

Sammy *chuckles* Right, let’s go to the phone lines.

Ben [happily] That was good though right?

Sammy It was good. Good evening, you’re live on King Falls AM.

Reverend Hawthorne Ask and ye shall receive! King Falls-uh. It is the gooD Reverend Xavier “Right. With. Gaawwd-uh” Hawthorne.

Ben Reverend Hawthorne? Are you back in town?

Reverend Hawthorne [speaking over Ben] The One and Only, and we are turnin’ the wagons arounD as we speaK-uh. And we’re headin’ back to my flocK-uh. How’re y’all feelin’ tonighT, King Falls- I said How are you, Feelin’!

Sammy [softly] We’re feeling alright.

Reverend Hawthorne Praise GoD-uh! Hallelujah! Now a little birdie, uh-just chirp’n on my shoulder, told me there was a SighTing. A Vision. Dare I say it, eyeballs were laid on our Lord and Saviour at a burger joint in our fair city.

Sammy Yeah, about 9 o’clock here.

Reverend Hawthorne Could it Be-uh! that our 5-week-revival worked. Could it Be-uh! that our prayers have been brought forth the lamb of God-uh. Can I get an amen!

Ben Reverend Hawthorne we—

Reverend Hawthorne Amen! This miracle-uh, this sight from our God-uh, perched on a Mountain of Sanctity, says that he is ready to lead-uh, his most Highly Favored, Congregation bacK to the promised land. Gimme some organ, Deacon Reggie [organ music begins playing in bg]

Sammy [aside] Do you think Reggie has to wheel that thing around just in case?

Ben This is getting good.

Reverend Hawthorne Play it dirty, brother. We are going Home-uh. Take us back to Calvary, take us BACK-uh! … Samuel, Benjamin may I ask you gentlemen if you have a relationship-uh with the Author of the E-ternal Sal-vation; [organ goes silent] [softly] are ya saved?

Sammy I’m—

Reverend Hawthorne Then let me tell y’all, [organ starts again] because if you aren’t-uh, I’m coming back to town. One weekend only, the Xavier “Right with GoD-uh” Hawthorne Experience will be wheelin’ bacK into King Falls Fairgrounds this very night-uh. We are hoping to get One- On- One with the Risen Christ and start preparin’ for Kingdom Come. But just like old Xavier, you gotta come on down-uh so we can get you TurnT uP With GoD-uh. [click, dial tone]

Sammy Xavier? Hello?

Ben He’s, gone. Sammy.

Sammy Well, you heard it here first folks. Xavier Hawthorn’s Travelling Roadshow is coming back to town. Will Jack in the Box Jesus make his stage debut?

Ben [muttering] Tch- Jesus.

Sammy Literally.

Ben Do you think we could get an interview? Would it be Mr. Christ? Or-

Sammy Something tells me that there is something more to the story than what we’ve heard so far, Ben.

Ben Tsk. I get that, but this is King Falls, Sammy.

Sammy What a perfect place to make a return: a rinky-dink town with no internet.

Ben Line- [muttered] dammit, there’s only one line. Uh, you’re on with Sammy and Ben.

Archie Good evenin’ fellas!

[small dogs barking in bg]

Sammy Is thi-

Archie It’s Archie Simmons!

Ben He-ey Archie, how’s Princess Von Barktooth?

Archie Well, I do have news concernin’ the princess, and I just want to possibly recant some info from our previous call a few weeks back.

Sammy About the werewolves?

Archie Correct.

Sammy Wow. I mean, you sounded pretty convinced that you saw a werewolf.

Archie And now I’m saying that maybe I was misinformed.

Sammy I think you should probably tell Troy and the Sheriff’s Office, Archie.

Archie *giggles* You silly Sally, Troy’s on his way over now

Ben Why the change of heart, Archie?

Archie Well, new information has come to light boys, I mean with the Divine One making his triumphant, and let’s be honest, dramatic return to King Falls.

Sammy You’re talking about the glowing man at the Jack in the Box?

Archie [softly] Let’s be real here, it’s the J-Man, of course a heavenly carpenter would pick King Falls. So many projects to keep busy with.

Sammy [dryly] Uh-huh.

Archie Plus, with the princess and this new information, we have to believe this.

Ben You keep saying that, what’s going on with the princess Archie?

Archie She’s in a delicate condition.

Sammy Oh, of course. I mean she’s been through a lot.

Archie *giggles* No Sammy, I mean she’s with child. Ch-children. Puppies? There’s a bun in my $2400 oven boys!

Sammy Wait. She’s pregnant? From the werewolf attack?!

Archie [softly again] Well, that’s the thing. While I believed in my heart of hearts that the hillbilly beast from the trailer park had gotten to the princess, I think…

Ben What. What do you think Archie?

Archie I mean it was dark, I know it was a full moon but I was scared and recently awakened, sleep in my eyes etc. and so on.

Sammy You don’t think it was the werewolves.

Archie I’m thinking with this new evidence and the fact that I saw a long-haired, bearded man in a Biblical Act— Yeah I-I- I think- there’s a chance it could have been [whispering] the man upstairs.

Ben [stern] Upstairs from whom?

Archie Mankind! Come on Ben, get with the picture!

Sammy He’s saying that because there’s been a holy sighting tonight- which we should all be a little bit doubtful of- then maybe it wasn’t the werewolves, but the Alpha and the Omega.

Ben No! NO WA- That’s too much, Archie. You saw the werewolf. He looked you in the eye and howled at the moon.

Archie I don’t know what kind of weird things Jesus is into.

Ben No way. This is ludicrous.

Archie You just wait and see Ben! The princess may have lost her Westminster dreams, but it was all part of God’s plan.

Ben We’ve got to go Archie *laughs* you’re crossing a line that we cannot cross at King Falls AM.

Archie Judge Not, lest ye be judged boys. Kardashians[sic] 3:16 or a Psalm or something. I think Troy’s coming around the bend anyways boys, laters!

[click, dial tone]

Sammy You know? When I walk in the door every night I say to myself, “Nothing’s gonna surprise me tonight” And more times than not, I am just Dead Wrong.

Ben Let’s give the phone a rest for a moment, Sammy, the record player is just begging to be used.

Sammy *chuckles* Not a bad idea Ben.

[phone pings]

Ben What? *gasps* My phone! [several pings] OHH it’s back baby!

Sammy Me too! What’s going on?

[pinging continues]

Ben What’s up! Oh my God, I could literally kiss the apparition of Steve Jobs.

Sammy Hey, I’ve got a text here, Unknown Number.

Ben Okay, what does it say?

Sammy “I- I know why this happened. I know how to stop it. We need to talk“

Ben What?

Sammy No, that’s what the text said.

Ben You don’t think this has anything to do with… Thank You, Jesus.

[KFAM outro]

[CREDITS]

References:

[1] Pogs - Pogs, generically called milk caps, is a game that was popular among children during the early-mid 1990s. The name pog originates from POG, a brand of juice made from passionfruit, orange, and guava; the use of POG bottle caps to play the game preceded the game's commercialization.

[2] “It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you” - Lyrics to the song “Tearin’ Up My Heart” by NSYNC, an American boy band from the mid-90s

[3] Jack in the Box - American fast food chain, primarily along the west coast and southern states.

[4] “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years” - lyrics to the song “Mama Said Don’t Knock You Out” by LL COOL J (also came out in the 90s)

#king falls am #king falls #kfam #sammy stevens #ben arnold #kfam transcripts #kfam ep9 #cynthia higgenbaum #mayor grisham #troy krieghauser #archie simmons #jack in the box jesus #reverend hawthorne

[toxicsquad]

There is no better way to get to know someone than through a good question tag. In this case we have decided to make an Indie game dev question tag with the responses of our four developers. We hope that it will reveal many unknowns, but if you are left with any questions, do not hesitate to use our ask.

What part of game development are you responsible for?

Athe: I write and write, I melt in my seat, I correct, I cry and then I program. It’s an endless cycle. Occasionally I laugh like crazy while I eat Pringles.

Sam: I draw and color without leaving the lines (almost always) the sprites, the illustrations and the ravings that usually occur to us past 3 in the morning.

Illy: English translations.

Sher: I draw BGs

What tools do you use (hardware / software)?

Athe: Recently my desktop PC has passed away, so I’ve had to rescue my old PC from the garage. I also have a laptop that saves my life more times than I would like to admit. As for the software, I need, above all, drive documents, video editing programs, image etc (I have an Adobe package) and of course Renpy and Atom.

Sam: My main friend and companion is my tablet, a wacom intuos S (pistachio color, so cute). As programs I mainly use the Paint Tool Sai, because there is nothing in this life like its stabilizer. And less frequently than I would like (for details, texture brushes, effects ...) I also use Clip Studio Paint, which I only know how to use at about 2% of its capacity ... If someday I have time I would love to stop and learn seriously what can be done with it.

Illy: During the school year I live in a residence, so I use an old laptop, and when I return home I use a desktop computer that never has memory space. I translate the chapters in the same Atom where the complete script is and I keep them in google drive files where I share them with our beta reader. I also use editing programs like photoshop when I have to translate comics or procreate for when my artistic skills are required.

Sher: ipad+procreate+some final tweak in photoshop, I don't need much more

What is your favorite part of the job?

Athe: Would it be wrong if I say that is when we released the episode? During the whole production time everything is very stressful, there are times when it’s really uphill, but when we release a new chapter it feels soooo good. It's like saying to yourself, yeah, dammit, I can do it. Look at everything you've climbed by yourself. You're doing it right.

Sam: In general, my favorite parts are when the first scenes start to be programmed, and I can see the sprites with the backgrounds, the texts, and how the illustrations look. Everything always looks so much better when viewed in-game… I also really like being able to check out the script as it is written. And from the artistic part that concerns me, when I see that my hands capture the idea that I had in my head ... Especially in character designs.

Illy: Having to find a way to translate very spanish expressions into English, research vocabulary that I have never had to use and commenting on some translations with our beta reader (which we adore) to make it understandable without losing the original meaning.

Sher: I like to do the lineart when the sketch is complete, if I no longer have to think about anything else and it's just going through it, I find it very fun and relaxing

What is the most difficult part for you?

Athe: Offf, yes, I admit it, sometimes writing is the WORST. Other times I love it, especially when I can expand on the descriptions or stop at a part that is intimate or that I find interesting (for example, Hasiel's conversation from 6.3, small spoiler: P). But, I HATE having to paste scenes, often the protagonist moves between scenes and you always have to add lines to those transitions that really do not interest anyone, but that otherwise the text would be confusing. Anyway... It is a very wide world, with a lot of history, I have to deal with what I need readers to know to understand the facts, although sometimes it gets a bit boring.

Sam: What part does not... Rather who e.e Zihel and Ariel are a thorn in my side. Especially Zihel. I know it has to do with the fact that it has never been my strength to draw boys, and much less if they are more masculine in appearance... That's why I also suffer a lot from drawing muscles. Another thing that brings me a headache is the perspective of the illustrations. Every time I try to get out of the typical shot or poses a little... It doesn't work out.

Illy: Doughy’s  stuttering ¬.¬

Sher: chairs, sofas, tables... anything with four legs is my enemy

Anything to help or encourage you while you are working?

Athe: I need music, no, seriously, I NEED IT. I’m unable to focus without it. If, on top of that, I can get what I hear to act as a sounding board for what I write, the text is a thousand times better... But the muse is a pretty bad person.

Sam: Having a show/movie in the background that entertains me. The longer the better, so I don't have to stop to think what I want to put on next.

Illy: Eating sunflower seeds to trick my brain and not be tempted to do something else that distracts me.

Sher: I try to see other artists to motivate and inspire me before I start drawing, what I find most difficult is that initial push and that is where I need the motivation, then I usually have something in the background but it is not necessary

Something that’s a pet peeve or discouraging?

Athe: Some narrative climax moments. Generally, they are not important plot moments (that is almost entirely decided), they are often small decisions to go from scene A to scene B, but I can spend a LOT of time deciding which is the fastest and best way to tie those two ends. I'm the worst.

Sam: Many times when starting, I can't get the poses to fit the way I want, for example.

Illy: Finding many parts in a row that I find especially difficult to solve and that make me believe that I have forgotten how to English properly. And looking at how many lines I still have left.

Sher: When I don't know how to fill in some area, if I see something very empty but I don't know how to solve it, I can spend days looking at the screen without being able to advance, even if I have other areas that I could do in the meantime

What is required on your table or work surface?

Athe: Notebooks, sticky notes, pens… I’m a person who writes everything down, especially the tasks, but I also order the story by color schemes. The stack of sticky notes have 9 different colors, each one represents a character and I play a lot with them for a lot of nonsense. Besides, even though I have been writing on the computer for many more years than I wrote by hand, I still have a preference for the analogical.

Sam: Coffee, sweets, chocolate, cereals... And cats.

Illy: My phone, the sunflower seeds, a Capital America: Civil War 1L water cup, sticky notes that remind me of tasks.

Sher: I have nothing really lol all my things are for decoration

Your most productive hours?

Athe: Owl. Totally nocturnal. Although I have several crises a month to force myself to work at other times that always end... Wrong.

Sam: Also at night for the most part, although I can no longer stay awake as long as I endured before having a job (the good old days...) However, in the middle of the afternoon, when the zoo that I have at home is still taking a nap, I also manage to go a long way.

Illy: From when I finish eating until 7 or 8 in the afternoon, when I don't have to cook, clean, run errands...

Sher: I take over for Illy apparently, from 7 or 8 is when I start to get into the mood until bedtime

Do working hours make you forget to eat or make you eat twice as much?

Athe: It depends, in the past I ate a lot, now if I have stress I don't eat anything. If I'm in a normal productive phase and I'm not on my nerves, I'm probably eating by inertia.

Sam: They make me eat more, but especially junk food e.e And they make me forget healthy meals, especially dinner at night.

Illy: It depends on my mood, but I usually eat twice as much.

Sher: I'm generally a VERY distracted person so I don't usually get to focus on a task to get to either of those two modes but I guess when I am sooooooo much on the task, I forget. But that happens like a couple of times a year and "forgetting" is "I delay an hour."

What part of your set up would you improve / change (in aesthetics or functionality) if you had no money limit?

Athe: I'm trying to match some of my peripherals with the rest. They are all a damn different color, apparently I'm cursed... Now seriously, I wish I had a better graphic card that would allow me to make video captures, some speakers and a quality printer.

Sam: Actually, I don't think I need anything more complex than what I already have… But if I had to improve something, I'm curious about the most professional tablets, the big ones with the included screen and all that stuff.

Illy: A new laptop that lets me open 4 chrome tabs, Atom and photoshop at the same time without dying.

Sher: A pc screen that will not change the colors I use on the iPad would be nice, really

Which character are you most like? And why?

Athe: Phew I think the easy answer would be to say Akane ... But, Akane is a better person. : P

Sam: This is very difficult... They are all very different, but still I do not think I look much like any of them. If I have to say something, I could identify with Maske's tendency to avoid problems, and his more homey and calm side. And well… Since Akane has been an OC of mine for many years, surely I have something of her too.

Illy: I think I partly have Maske's instinct to stay out of trouble, and on the other hand Joe's shallowness, although tbh I wish I really did look like any of our awesome babies.

Sher: surprised because (unpopular opinion around here) is one of those who I "least care" about really but I would say that Pin because he is a little dumb, happy and probably has a Satanic room and proud of it

Favorite CG/art.

Athe: AT THE MOMENT. Maske chapter 1. It couldn't be more predictable. I know.

Sam: I quite agree with Maske in chapter 1. But I would also put Pin in chapter 5 and Akane in chapter 6.2 on the top.

Illy: Kyeran in Coco's tank ?? Is he even real? Being basic is my brand.

Sher: surprised again and disappointed but I would say that of angel Hasiel because I like pretty dresses, pretty hairs and pretty wings

Favorite BG/scene.

Athe: The Red Light District amazes me. I already liked the life of that place, its history, but the way of expressing it... Uggg Sher took it to another level. The dirt on the street, the night, the constricted buildings...

Sam: I think I’ll say Raziel’s square, I like it a lot from the first day.

Illy: I don't know if I can choose just one T__T but I would say that the Red Light District and Valefar's pub are at the top.

Sher: for not repeating the red light district that I also like very much, I really like the areas of Coco's laboratory, including the “main” area although the perspective is horrible and makes the characters look tiny, but I like how it looks :(

Your favorite chapter to date?

Athe: Ufff... The first and second one I assure you no, hahaha. I will say that the third one, but also for things that are not necessarily from the chapter, but of the production. It was a good moment. I felt that everything was flowing with ease. We all assumed a clear role, they were times that made us feel comfortable and capable of assuming what came next, I think it was a qualitative leap also, both in texts and in art.

Sam: Oh. Well let's see... Chapter 5 is amazing for me, for everything that happens but also because there are many personalized interactions and choices. I can't say I have a definitive favorite, but it could come close… Also from the last ones I really like the 6.2.

Illy: Chapter 5 has so many details, so many things happen, it's hard not to be my favorite. But the last ones with the specific routes are so great that if I stay with the 5 it’s with the  pain of my heart to have to choose one.

Sher: I would say 5 also because in the end when a lot of things happen is when you remember the most

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No hay mejor forma de conocer a alguien que a través de un buen tag de preguntas. En este caso hemos decidido hacer un Indie game dev question tag con las respuestas de las cuatro desarrolladoras. Esperamos que os aclare muchas incógnitas, pero si os quedáis con alguna no dudéis en usar nuestro ask.

¿Qué parte del desarrollo del juego llevas a cabo?

Athe: Escribo, escribo, me derrito sobre mi asiento, corrijo, lloro y después programo. Es un ciclo sin fin. Ocasionalmente me río como una demente mientras como Pringles.

Sam: Dibujo y coloreo sin salirme de las líneas (casi siempre) los sprites, las ilustraciones y los desvaríos que suelen surgir a partir de las 3 de la mañana. 

Illy: Las traducciones a inglés.

Sher: Hago fonditos

¿Qué herramientas utilizas (hardware/software)?

Athe: Recientemente mi PC de sobremesa ha fallecido, así que he tenido que rescatar mi viejo PC del trastero, también tengo un portatil que me salva la vida más veces de las que me gustaría admitir. En cuanto al software, necesito, sobre todo, documentos de drive, programas de edición de video, imagen etc (tengo un paquete de Adobe) y por supuesto Renpy y Atom.

Sam: Mi principal amiga y compañera es mi tableta, una wacom intuos S (color pistacho, muy cuqui.) Como programas uso sobretodo el Paint Tool Sai, porque no hay nada en esta vida como su estabilizador. Y con menos frecuencia de lo que querría (para detalles, pinceles de texturas, efectos…) también utilizo el Clip Studio Paint, el cual sólo se usar como a un 2% de su capacidad… Si algún día tengo tiempo me encantaría pararme a aprender seriamente todo lo que se puede hacer con él. 

Illy: Durante el curso vivo en una residencia, así que uso un portatil del año que reinó carolo, y cuando vuelvo a mi casa un ordenador de sobremesa que nunca tiene espacio en la memoria. Los capítulos los traduzco en el mismo Atom en el que está el guión completo y los guardo en drive donde los comparto con nuestra beta reader. También uso programas de edición como photoshop cuando tengo que traducir viñetas o procreate para cuando mis habilidades artísticas son requeridas.

Sher: ipad+procreate+algún retoquito final en photoshop no necesito mucho más

¿Cuál es tu parte de favorita del trabajo?

Athe: ¿Estaría mal si digo que es cuando sacamos el episodio? Durante toda la producción todo es muy estresante, hay veces, que se hace realmente cuesta arriba, pero cuando liberamos un nuevo capítulo sienta taaaan bien. Es como decirte a ti misma, sí, joder, puedo hacerlo. Mira todo lo que has escalado tú solita. Lo estás haciendo bien.

Sam: En general, mis partes favoritas son cuando se empiezan a programar las primeras escenas, y puedo ver los sprites con los fondos, los textos, y cómo se ven las ilustraciones. Todo queda siempre mucho mejor cuando se ve dentro del juego… También me gusta mucho poder cotillear el guión conforme se va escribiendo. Y de la parte artística que me toca, cuando veo que mis manos plasman la idea que tenía en mi cabeza… Sobretodo en diseños de personajes. 

Illy: Tener que buscar la forma de traducir a inglés expresiones muy nuestras, investigar vocabulario que no he tenido que usar jamás y comentar algunas traducciones con nuestra beta reader (a la que adoramos) para conseguir que se entienda sin perder el significado original.

Sher: me gusta hacer el lineart cuando el sketch está completo, si ya no tengo que pensar nada más y es solo ir repasando me parece muy divertido y relajante

¿Cuál es la parte que más te cuesta?

Athe: Ufff, sí, lo admito, escribir a veces es lo PEOR. Otras me encanta, sobre todo, cuando puedo explayarme con las descripciones o detenerme en una parte íntima o que a mí me parece interesante (por ejemplo, la conversación de Hasiel del 6.3, pequeño spoiler :P). Pero, ODIO tener que empastar escenas, a menudo el protagonista se mueve de escenarios y hay que agregar siempre líneas a esas transiciones que realmente no interesan a nadie, pero que de lo contrario el texto quedaría mal montado. En fin… Es un mundo muy amplio, con mucha historia, tengo que lidiar con lo que necesito que los lectores sepan para entender los hechos, aunque a veces se haga un pelín peñazo.

Sam: Qué parte no… Quiénes, más bien e.e Zihel y Ariel son mi espinita. Especialmente Zihel. Sé que tiene que ver con el hecho de que nunca ha sido mi punto fuerte dibujar chicos, y menos si son de aspecto más masculino… Por eso también sufro mucho dibujando músculos. Otra cosa que me trae de cabeza es la perspectiva de las ilustraciones. Cada vez que intento salirme un poco del típico plano o poses… No sale bien. 

Illy: El tartamudeo de Doughy ¬.¬ 

Sher: sillas, sofás, mesas… cualquier cosa con cuatro patas son mis enemigos

¿Algo que te ayude o anime mientras estás trabajando?

Athe: Necesito música, no, en serio, LA NECESITO. Soy incapaz de concentrarme sin ella. Si ya consigo que lo que escucho haga de caja de resonancia de lo que escribo, el texto es mil veces mejor… Pero la musa es bastante mala gente.

Sam: Tener alguna serie/peli de fondo que me entretenga. Cuanto más larga mejor, así no me toca pararme a ver qué es lo que quiero poner después. 

Illy: Comer pipas para engañar a mi cerebro y no tener la tentación de ponerme a hacer otra cosa que me distraiga.

Sher: intento ver otros artistas para motivarme e inspirarme antes de empezar a dibujar, lo que más me cuesta es ese empujón inicial y es donde necesito la motivación, luego ya suelo tener algo de fondo pero no es necesario

¿Algo que te corte el rollo o te desmotive?

Athe: Los nudos narrativos. Generalmente, no son nudos gordos de la trama (eso está decidido casi en su totalidad), a menudo son decisiones pequeñas para pasar de la escena A a la escena B, pero puedo tirarme MUCHO tiempo decidiendo cuál es la forma más rápida y mejor planteada para atar esos dos cabos. Soy lo peor.

Sam: Muchas veces a la hora de empezar, no conseguir encajar las poses como quiero, por ejemplo. 

Illy: Encontrar muchas partes seguidas que me cueste especialmente resolver y que me hacen creer que no tengo ni idea de hablar inglés. Y mirar cuantas líneas me quedan todavía.

Sher: cuando no se como rellenar alguna zona, si veo algo muy vacío pero no se como solucionarlo puedo tirarme días mirando la pantalla sin ser capaz de avanzar, incluso aunque tenga otras zonas que pudiera ir haciendo mientras

¿Qué no puede faltar en tu mesa o superficie de trabajo?

Athe: Libretas, post-its, bolígrafos… Soy una persona que lo anota todo, sobre todo, las tareas, pero también ordeno la historia por esquemas de colores. La pila de post-its tienen 9 colores diferentes, cada uno representa un personaje y juego mucho con ellos para miles de idioteces. A parte, a pesar de que llevo muchos más años escribiendo a ordenador de los que escribí a mano, sigo teniendo querencia a lo físico.

Sam: Café, chucherías, chocolate, cereales… Y gatos. 

Illy: El móvil, las pipas, un vaso de 1L de agua de Capital America: Civil War, post-its que me recuerdan las tareas.

Sher: no tengo nada realmente lol todas mis cosas son de adorno 

¿Tus horas más productivas?

Athe: Búho. Nocturna totalmente. A pesar de que tengo varias crisis al mes para forzarme a trabajar a otras horas que acaban siempre… Mal.

Sam: También por la noche en su mayoría, aunque ya no aguanto trasnochando tanto como antes de trabajar (qué tiempos aquellos…) Aunque a media tarde cuando el zoo que tengo en casa aún está echando la siesta también consigo dar un buen empujón. 

Illy: Desde que acabo de comer hasta las 7 o las 8 de la tarde, cuando no tengo que cocinar, limpiar, hacer recados...

Sher: le tomo el testigo a Illy aparentemente, a partir de las 7 u 8 es cuando empiezo a entrar en el mood hasta que llega la hora de dormir

¿Las horas de trabajo hacen que te olvides de comer o te hacen comer el doble?

Athe: Depende, antes comía mucho, ahora, si tengo estrés no como nada. Si me encuentro en un rango productivo normal y no estoy de los nervios, probablemente, esté comiendo por inercia.

Sam: Me hacen comer más, pero sobretodo porquerías e.e Y hacen que me olvide de las comidas sanas, sobretodo de cenar por la noche. 

Illy: Depende de mi estado de ánimo, pero normalmente comer el doble.

Sher: en general soy una persona MUY distraída así que no suelo conseguir centrarme en una tarea para llegar a ninguno de esos dos modos pero supongo que cuando estoy muuuuuuy dentro de la tarea, me olvido. Pero eso pasa como un par de veces al año y “olvido” es “lo retraso una hora”.

¿Qué parte de tu set up mejorarías/cambiarías (en estética o funcionalidad) si no tuvieses límite de dinero?

Athe: Estoy tratando de que alguno de mis periféricos peguen con el resto. Todos son de un maldito color diferente, al parecer estoy maldita… Ahora en serio, desearía tener una mejor gráfica que me permitiese hacer videocapturas, unos altavoces y una impresora de calidad.

Sam: En realidad, no creo que necesitara nada más complejo de lo que ya tengo… Pero por mejorar, me llaman la atención las tabletas más profesionales, las grandes con la pantalla incluida y eso. 

Illy: Un portátil nuevo que me deje abrir 4 pestañas de chrome, el Atom y photoshop al mismo tiempo sin quedarse tieso.

Sher: Una pantalla de pc que no me cambiara los colores que uso en el ipad seria bonito la verdad 

¿A qué personaje te pareces más? ¿Y por qué?

Athe: Ufff Creo que la respuesta fácil sería decir Akane… Pero, Akane es mejor persona. :P

Sam: Esto es muy complicado… Son todos muy distintos, pero aún así no creo que me parezca mucho a ninguno. Por decir algo, me podría identificar con la tendencia a evitar problemas de Maske, y su lado más casero y tranquilo. Y bueno… Dado que Akane es OC mío de hace muchos años, seguramente tenga algo de ella también. 

Illy: Creo que en parte tengo el instinto de alejarme de las movidas de Maske, y por otro la superficialidad de Joe, aunque tbh ojalá parecerme realmente a nuestros bebés geniales.

Sher: sorprendida porque (unpopular opinión por aquí) es de los que “menos me importan” realmente pero diría que Pin porque es tontito, feliz y probablemente tenga una habitación satánica y orgulloso de ello

Tu CG/arte favorito.

Athe: DE MOMENTO. Maske capítulo 1. No podría ser más predecible. Lo sé.

Sam: Coincido bastante en la de Maske del capítulo 1. Pero también metería en el top la de Pin del capítulo 5 y la de Akane del capítulo 6.2. 

Illy: ¿¿Kyeran en el tanque de Coco?? ¿Es siquiera real? Ser básica es mi marca.

Sher: sorprendida de nuevo y decepcionada pero diría que la de Hasiel de ángel porque me gustan los vestidos bonitos, los pelos bonitos y las alas bonitas

Tu BG/escenario favorito.

Athe: Me flipa el Barrio Rojo. Me gusta la vida de ese sitio, su historia, pero la forma de plasmarlo… Uggg Sher lo llevó a otro nivel. La suciedad de la calle, la nocturnidad, los edificios constreñidos...

Sam: Creo que me quedo con el de la plaza de Raziel, me gusta mucho desde el primer día. 

Illy: No sé si puedo elegir solo uno T__T pero diría que el Barrio Rojo y el bar de Valefar están en el top.

Sher: por no repetir el barrio rojo que también me gusta mucho, me gustan mucho las zonas del laboratorio de Coco, incluida la zona “principal” aunque la perspectiva sea horrible y haga a los pj parecer diminutos, pero me gusto como quedo :( 

¿Tu capítulo favorito hasta las fecha?

Athe: Ufff… El uno y el dos os aseguro que no, jajaja. Diré que el tres, pero también por cosas que no son necesariamente del capítulo, sino de la producción. Fue un buen momento. Sentí que todo estaba fluyendo con facilidad. Todas asumimos un rol claro, unos tiempos que nos hacían sentir cómodas y capaces de asumir lo que venía después, creo que fue un salto cualitativo también, tanto en los textos, como en el arte.

Sam: Ay. Pues a ver… El capítulo 5 es una pasada para mi, por todo lo que pasa pero también porque hay muchas interacciones personalizadas y elecciones. No puedo decir que tenga un favorito definitivo, pero podría acercarse… También me gusta mucho de los últimos el 6.2. 

Illy: El capítulo 5 tiene tantos detalles, pasan tantas cosas, que es difícil que no sea mi favorito, pero los ultimos de rutas específicas son tan geniales que si me quedo con el 5 es con un poco de dolor de tener que elegir uno.

Sher: Diría el 5 también porque al final cuando pasan muchas cosas es cuando mas se te queda grabado

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#chr 4012 #Chronicles from 4012 #otome #otome game #visual novel #vndev #vn #indie dev #indie game #gamedev #tumblronday

[seasidefallenangel]

hewwo may i request yandere hcs for ichiro, samatoki, and juto? (if youre comfortable!!)

mod ramuda: OH BABEY I LOVE YANDERES *kuusou mesorogiwi plays in bg*

⟢ ichiro, samatoki and jyuto yandere headcanons

ichiro:

○ you were friends prior to him slowly descending into madness

○ he originally fell for you because of how kind you were to his younger brothers

○ you and he were cooking dinner together when saburo made an off-handed comment about how it was like you guys were like a real family, with you and ichiro as the parents

○ this made the gears in ichiro’s head turn as he realized how nice it’d be if you really were his…

○ he can’t kidnap you unfortunately (for him) because his brothers, or at least saburo, would absolutely notice

○ he instead ops for stalking you - and he’s far better at it than you’d think

○ also has become a master of sneaking into your house and being able to take items of yours for his own… personal reasons

○ sometimes he’ll crawl in through your window at night to watch you sleep

○ would never hurt you under any circumstances - you’re his god/goddess and he’d give you the world on a silver platter if he could

○ the same can’t be said for anyone who tries to pursue you however

○ if he one day does confess his feelings and you reject him, he’ll act like it’s totally okay

○ the reality is he’ll go into the secret area he has set up in the basement and have a breakdown surrounded by the mass of photos of you he’s taken and personal items of yours he’s stolen

○ on the other hand he’ll be seeing through rose-colored glasses if you accept his feelings

○ once you realize this means he’s around you 24/7 and you notice your friends slowly start disappearing, you may wish you had rejected him to begin with

samatoki:

○ he always thought he didn’t need anyone else. just him, nemu and his team were always good enough

○ when you had bumped into him on the street and didn’t run away scared - rather you told him how cool you thought his eyes were - that all changed

○ you looked radiant through his eyes, a shining gemstone in his colorless world

○ at first he had his men follow him around and document what you did during the day, but eventually that wasn’t cutting his anymore

○ samatoki has more than enough connections to find a nice secluded area to keep you and that’s exactly what he does

○ he comes off as a violent man, what with being in the yakuza and all, but he also would never lay a hand on you because he’s seen that far too many times growing up and he swore he would never be like his father

○ makes sure you’re living comfortably (but not so comfortable that you can escape him) and would do anything within reason for you

○ loves to kiss all over your body and remind you it will always be you and him, forever

jyuto:

○ met you because you were a witness for a robbery and he ended up questioning you for whatever you knew

○ unlike his group member, he doesn’t fall in love with you at first sight

○ he does however see you in the morning on his coffee run before work, you were in front of him in line ordering a hot chocolate and he offered to pay - you did help him close his case after all

○ this continues to happen until you two slowly develop a friendship and that’s when he realizes just how precious he find you… and how badly he wants to break you

○ he also has many underground connections and uses (read: blackmails) them to find a nice spot where he can seclude you from the outside world

○ he isn’t as nice as the other two and would harm you if circumstances call for it, but wouldn’t just start hitting you for no reason

○ it’s more along the lines of if you try to leave him, he’ll tie you up and leave you crying and begging for him to come back and free you

○ if you keep trying to escape from his love, he’ll end up carving his name into your thigh so you know exactly who you belong to

○ has the most sexual desires out of the three and will make sure you’re very aware - in extreme detail - of what he wants to do to you

○ you’ll always be his little bunny, and he will always be the coyote right behind you

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

#Anonymous #hehehehe #i love yanderes #ichiro yamada #ichiro #samatoki #samatoki aohitsugi #jyuto iruma #jyuto #buster bros #mad trigger crew #headcanons #hypmic imagines #yandere

[chinatea]

Ian/BG, school sweethearts accidentally meet ten years after break-up.

The elevator dings, the doors sliding back open to let another hotel guest scoot inside.

So much for having the roomy cabin to himself, Ian mourns, feeling like being extra petty today. For good reason, too. The last day of his business trip has a been a hectic affair and Ian couldn’t get his privacy back soon enough.

Ian glances discreetly at the intruder leaning against the wall opposite of him - worlds apart from the kind of crowd Ian would expect to stay in this high-end hotel if his simple tote bag and practical workout clothes are any indication. Oblivious to being judged hard, the man has curled onto himself a little, his eyes lidded and earbuds plugged in, lost to his own thoughts perhaps.

Something in his profile tugs on Ian’s attention, drawing him in for a closer look. The realization hits him hard. A whole moment passes as he just stares, gawps, at a loss for words.

Then, he makes a sound, an embarrassing gurgle-like sound. His name is glued to the tip of his tongue, almost there, but not quite. If there is one word that holds power over his emotional state, then it’s that...

“Jiyeon?” he mouths, so quiet, it might be just in his head, but the other’s eyes blink open to stare at him in controlled annoyance. It changes next second. He gasps,

“Yanni-” The pet name dies on his lips. “Ian?”

The last time they saw each other was a decade ago. Ian saw him off at the station before Jiyeon left for the big city. Ian kissed him, despite the crowd, despite the side-looks. Who cared, he was kissing the love of his life goodbye. He hadn’t yet known then it would be their final. That they would break up a few months later. Distant relationship. Didn’t worked out.

And out of all the things to remember, for some reason Ian remembers just that - the sweet taste of Jiyeon’s mouth before their final goodbye.

“Hey,” Jiyeon says carefully, as if stepping on glass. “It’s been a while, huh.”

“Yeah,” Ian says as he takes all of him in, meticulous and clinical, picking him apart inch by inch, the kind of look that would always make Jiyeon hiss and tell him to stop stabbing him with his eyes.

The Jiyeon from now doesn’t tell him to stop, just winds an arm over his sternum as if to shield himself from such debilitating scrutiny. He’s self-conscious. It’s really been awhile.

“You look good,” Ian says to reassure. He wonders if that’s enough. If he should complement him more. “Lovely as always.”

He does look good, but in a way that gives Ian a pause. It’s clear that Jiyeon has made some decisions about his life that would be incomprehensible to the Jiyeon from ten years ago. Like going back to his natural hair color, back to black. They do look healthier though than he remembers, the constant chemical abuse being a thing of the past, from the looks of it.

“Thank you. For sparing my feelings,” Jiyeon says with a smile and it’s tender around the edges. “Regardless of what the brochures say, no one looks good after a six hour yoga workout.”

Ian shoots him a curious look.

“Yeah,” Jiyeon adds, picking up on his unspoken question. He looks somewhere past Ian, though as he continues. “I do...I mean I teach yoga now. We’ve got this two-day event at the hotel - mindfulness in exchange for sore knees and all that tosh. But hey, it’s an all-paid package for the teachers, so...”

“Oh.”

Jiyeon’s smile wavers when he sees Ian’s face and as much as Ian wants to reel it in, there is only so much he can do to stay nonchalant at the big reveal.

It occurs to him then that he hasn’t the slightest idea who this man is now. All he knows is the Jiyeon from ten years ago who swore to take over the world and leave it in awe of his talent. Nothing would stand in his way. Not even Ian.

He wonders also how Jiyeon sees him now. It goes both ways after all. The Rolex on his wrist and the fine fabrics of his suit, his expensive cologne - he’s done good for himself, living the dream - a very lonely dream. What Jiyeon cannot see is the man underneath who would measure every little fling of his by the impossible standards Jiyeon once imposed and invariably find them lacking in every aspect.

In his heart, Jiyeon has stayed unbeaten.

The elevator dings the second time, announcing end of the line for them. The nineteenth floor. They look at each other in surprise.   

“It seems we share a floor, huh?” Jiyeon smiles. He doesn’t really stop smiling, even if he’s probably itching to go. It’s all in the way he doesn’t meet Ian’s eyes for too long, staring longingly down the empty hallway.

Would they ever stumble upon each other again like that? Perhaps, but Ian doesn’t like taking chances. Something in him can’t stand the thought of just letting Jiyeon go. He did it once already - it wasn’t pretty.

“Are you free tonight?” he asks the moment they step out of the elevator. It’s not like he has a plan. He’s still trying to wrap his head around the whole thing, going off on a pure instinct.

Jiyeon looks up at him in surprise. And for a moment there, Ian finds himself lost in the sheer depth of his eyes - lovely, as always.

“I don’t have anything planned,” he replies, then. “I still need to pack, though.”

Ian wonders if he’s being politely dismissed. He presses regardless.

“Would you agree to have dinner with me, if I asked?”

Jiyeon takes time with his answer and Ian half-expects to be turned away now for sure, some bitter thoughts already gooping in his mind.

“Maybe,” Jiyeon says, unsure. Then, adds with a slight cheek to his tone. “Are you asking?”

“I am.”

“Okay,” Jiyeon nods, pulling his phone out. “I need to shower first, though. What’s your room number?”

Ian tells him and after that they part ways, Jiyeon heading for his suite, not looking back even once. Ian watches him go, wondering if it’s time he learns to let go of things.

Three and a half hours later. Somewhere around midnight, although neither of them could tell for certain, Ian presses Jiyeon against the door of his hotel suite, mouthing down his jawline.

Suffice it to say, things have progressed some since that awkward elevator ride. 

The dinner was amicable, if a little stilted at first. A glass of wine helped to unbottle the wild chatterbox that Jiyeon used to be. Yet, the conversation never seemed to dip into their past, circulating around safer topics - like ten most ridiculous names for yoga postures. He laughed a lot, at some point sliding to sit next to Ian, cutting the distance between them - so slick a transition that it caught both of them unawares, but not unpleasantly. Their looks lingered. And back on their floor, things finally snapped, splashing over the edge and into Ian’s room.  

“Stop, hey, please, stop, Yannie,” Jiyeon pleads, out of breath, as Ian pulls back, one fearful thought pulsing through his mind - Jiyeon wants to leave. This is over.

“Can I use your bathroom?” Jiyeon asks. “To take care of things, okay? Before we continue.”

“Oh.” It dawns on Ian then, panic leaving his body. He unclenches his jaw. “You don’t have to, we could just...”

“I want to,” Jiyeon insists, pressing one last firm kiss against his lips. “I won’t be long. Go and fluff up the pillows or something.”

With that, he slips away, leaving Ian with the subtle trail of his perfume. The citrusy notes ring close to the scent Jiyeon carried back then and it drags Ian into the past even if that’s the last thing he wants to do right now.

He was Jiyeon’s first lover. And even if Jiyeon wasn’t his, Ian was far from being experienced. Everything they did together was a revelation. But all he ever learned was how to love Jiyeon, no one else.

Quietly, Jiyeon emerges from the bathroom in a white hotel robe. Ian watches him approach in a trance. As the robe slips off to pool at his feet, Ian draws him close, kissing the skin above his belly button, thumbs hooking over the jut of his hip bones. His build is still on the lanky side, but his body filled in nicely due to exercise and, probably, overall healthier habits compared to ten years ago when Jiyeon, ever the perfectionist, would often neglect his meals in favour of his busy schedule.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Ji,” Ian murmurs between kisses, pulling him onto the bed and settling between his open thighs. Taking a moment to look down on him, marveling at the sight - black hair swept across the white linen and gaze so sinful, dark eyes dilated in want.

Ian strips, eyes never leaving Jiyeon’s. Every sound he makes goes stark in the room. The moment he’s done, he rises back on his knees, cock hard and heavy against his stomach. Ian gives himself a slow stroke, another hand slipping under Jiyeon to prod at his hole, finding it nice and loose for him.

Ian takes a few moments to finger him anyway, dragging the pads of his fingers against the swell of his prostate - Jiyeon’s breath quickens as he struggles not to snap his legs together, shivering in pleasure. His own cock is dripping wet by now. He’s ready and he whimpers to hurry Ian along.

“Is that okay?” Ian pauses to ask once he’s sheathed inside, voice gravelly from the effort of not falling apart. All he wants is to fuck him until there is no room for thought. Being enveloped by Jiyeon’s heat is a slow descent into madness as he’s barely threading the surface.

“Yeah, good,” Jiyeon nods, short of breath. He lets out a nervous giggle which he smothers against Ian’s neck.

His next words come unexpected, in a moment of vulnerability.

“No one fucked me as good as you did, Yannie,” he whispers against Ian’s ear. It’s not dirty talk. It’s a confession. “I was so fucking in love with you. Everything you did was like magic to me.”

The use of past tense hurts, but with Jiyeon, Ian had learned not to take everything he says at face value - they’re in bed together now and Jiyeon is wet for him, seconds from crumbling apart. Ian focuses on that and then, he moves.

“So, when are you going to ask about what happened to me?” Jiyeon’s question comes apropos of nothing now that the easy part - the sex part - is over with.

Ian expected him to leave almost immediately, had already prepared to list million reasons why he can’t, in fact, leave immediately, or ever, but Jiyeon hasn’t shown any intention of leaving so far.

After crawling back into his robe and putting out the night light, he let Ian pull him back in bed, let him spoon him from behind as he watched the skyline from the big panorama window. As mesmerizing as the city view is, Ian has found Jiyeon way more mesmerizing than that - the weight of his body against his, the softness of his skin, the scent.

“I wasn’t sure you wanted to talk about that,” he says then, nuzzling the back of his neck.

Jiyeon rolls onto his back, turning his head to face Ian with a van smile.

“I bet you’re thinking I’m some kind of fuck-up or whatever. That’s what I’d think, honestly. But ironically enough, it’s quite the opposite, you know. I did make it. Got to the top - a 7-digit salary and glass corner office, all to myself, in one of the most prestigious designer companies in Seoul. The day I got that promotion though…”

Jiyeon pauses, closing his eyes, lips pressed tight.

“...was also the day I quit. I don’t think i can explain it in a way that wouldn’t sound utter bollocks to you, but that same day, I just realize how fucking miserable I was all that time. So I locked myself in a bathroom cubicle for the rest of the day and sobbed my eyes out because I felt so fucking cheated - I thought I wanted that, but in reality I had no idea what I wanted. Success sounds good as an idea, but once you actually get there - you know that it’s all smoke and mirrors. There is no happiness at the top - in fact, there is nothing at the top. Just same old you, taken apart into soulless pieces and fucking groundless.”

Ian hears him heave a sigh, inching closer to let Jiyeon lean into him, his eyelashes wet against his skin. For a long moment, Ian just holds him.

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Jiyeon asks.

“No,” Ian says. “I’ve always thought you’re way too smart for your own good, Ji.”

“I was an idiot to let you go, though,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry. After I quit, I had this crazy idea to find you and apologize, at least, only my selfishness got the better of me. I was terrified to find out that you'd settled with someone else. That you were happy with someone else, deservingly so. Just the final nail in my coffin, you know? So I stayed away. Ignorance is bliss.”

Ian wishes he had known sooner, but Jiyeon had cut off all the ties, skillful and with little mercy. Maybe, Ian hasn’t fully forgotten that past Jiyeon and if he was still in the picture, there would be little they even had to say to each other, only this is not the past Jiyeon and Ian just lets himself loose, voicing out the deepest secret of his life.

“There has never been anyone else, Ji.”

“There could have been. There still could be.”

Perhaps, but that’s not what he wants.

“I want us to be together,” Ian says, biting the bullet.

“Oh.” Jiyeon pulls back, untangling himself from Ian as he sits up, fixing the robe around his torso.

“Why not?” Ian says, watching him carefully.

“Yannie,” Jiyeon sighs, eyes trained at his knees. “It’s not that simple. I’m seeing someone. I mean...We’re not exclusive, obviously. An on-and-off kind of thing, really, but sort of complicated and fucking tiresome. So, the last thing I need right now is another complicated thing with you on top of that, okay? So, if this is just, you know, a walk down memory lane for you, I suggest we end it here.”

There are so many things he could say, thoughtful and mature things to put forward so Jiyeon could see how important this is to him. Instead, he feels ready to bust out a major pout because, eh, what now?

“Who is that guy?” he gripes. “I’m gonna punch him into yesterday.”

(So he’ll never ever bothers them again.)

Jiyeon snorts, a subtle roll of his eyes.

“And then I’ll punch him again for being a jackass,” Ian adds, petulant. “Who wouldn’t want to be exclusive with you?”

“Okay, okay,” Jiyeon placates him, smothering a giggle in the sleeve of his robe. “I promise to think about that, okay?”

“Sure, you have plenty of time until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Jiyeon blinks.

“And now we sleep,” Ian cuts him off, tackling him down and muffling all his protests.

Jiyeon sighs in surrender, circling an arm around Ian as he curls into him - if you can’t defeat them, hug them.

“Can’t believe I forgot how pigheaded you can get.”

Another moment passes. Another sigh.

“I missed that, too.”

(Half a year later.)

“So, what do you think?” Jiyeon plops down on their couch, somehow both succeeding in snuggling next to Ian and swinging his legs over Ian’s knees with that bendy yoga magic of his.

Ian takes his time to cast critical eye over their new apartment which used to be just his apartment, a spartan bachelor loft, bordering on bare, all clean lines and restricted color palette. It used to be enough - it’s not like he used the place for anything other than to crash at night.

It wasn’t, however, enough for Jiyeon who agreed to move in under one important condition - he gets to design it to his liking. Probably the easiest condition Ian has ever had the pleasure to agree to.

“Love it,” Ian says, reaching for one of Jiyeon’s socked feet and digging his thumbs into the sole, working his way up from heel to toe in an impromptu massage.

Jiyeon hums and wiggles into a snug position, ready to be spoilt, as he hugs one of the handmade cushions to his chest - it has a frivolous birdy print on it, which, secretly, was a real shocker to Ian when he first saw it chilling on their couch.

Back in school days, Jiyeon was all about chic, not frivolous. He took himself seriously and his designs reflected that in spades. This new playful side to him is a real proof of the inner transformation Jiyeon has gone through - now he’s not afraid of poking fun at himself, not anymore.

And that fact alone brings a genuine child-like smile to Ian’s lips.

“You’re not just saying that to make me happy, are you?” Jiyeon eyes him suspiciously.

Ian holds his gaze, lips parting as if to confess to something terrible. Then, he shrugs.

“Nah.”

A smug grin stretches his lips.

Jiyeon chokes on a laugh as he tosses the cushion at him, pouncing next to dig his fingers into the sensitive area around Ian’s ribs. The attack is short-lived, however, as both of them slide down the couch and onto the plush carpet, making their peace there with Jiyeon’s head resting on Ian’s chest.

“What do you think about rekindling your career in interior design, though?” Ian asks, after a moment.

Jiyeon pick on one of the buttons of Ian’s shirt as he pretends to think about that.

“Nah,” he says, even more obnoxious than Ian’s reply from before.

They share a laugh before quieting down again. Then, Jiyeon lets out a mellow sigh.

“I guess I’m not in a rush to become miserable again. Even if it’s different now and you’re here with me, so I probably won’t end up completely in pieces, but still it’s a real cutthroat industry and I don’t really think I have what it takes to survive there, maybe never had. Too zen for that now, you know.”

“That’s okay with me,” Ian says, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. “Do what makes you happy. I’ll support you regardless.”

“Are you sure?” Jiyeon asks with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You never know, one day you might come home and see our bedroom painted duck egg blue. What would you say then?”

“I’d say bring it on, love,” Ian says, kissing his mouth gentle and weightless. It grows heavy and involved soon enough as Jiyeon busies himself with striping Ian naked. His own clothes following suit before long.

AN: I dunno if it translated well but I wanted to make Ian a bit creep-ish? Cuz why not, eh.

#ian/baby g #personas au #fluffy i/bg agenda

[cinnamonsugarsheith-blog]

Can’t stand the heat

Rating: nsfw/E Pairing: Sheith (BG Allurance) Prompt: Literally just “firefighter AU” which I did in the vaguest of senses.

Lance and Keith might bicker like NOBODYS business, with each other, and the dispatch guy, Hunk, and the head ER doctor, Katie --Pidge, and even the unit chief Kolivan.

But they Do Not Bicker with Allura or Shiro. They both know each other's crushes are miles wide, and when Allura presses an oxygen mask to Lance's nose or Shiro helps Keith wipe the soot off his face... Well. That's a line they don't cross with each other.

Hunk seems to be routing their truck and Ambulance number 1A to the same scenes with increasing frequency. Pidge hums and sticks Keith and Shiro in the same tiny curtained off area after a particularly bad run. The two first responders sit there in the makeshift room. Shiro's entire arm is covered in severe burns. Keith can hardly breath he's inhales so much smoke after putting his own mask on a little girl. He'd passed her to Shiro. His suit was on fire. And dropped to the ground. He wanted to know what happened to her... He had inferred that Shiro's burns were from pulling off his thick jacket Shiro's hand found Keith's in the space between them.

"Kogane...? Right?" "Yeah," he rasps, pulling up the mask just enough so he isn’t so muffled. "We've been going on calls together for what... Three years now?" Keith grunted again, pulling the mask Pidge has fastened around his face up for another moment. "Somethin' like that I think." "Can I buy you a drink?" Keith barked harsh laugher that dissolved into coughing. "Yeah. Yeah you can." "Im Takashi Shirogane, but everyone calls me Shiro." "Keith." Pidge bustled in with a breathing treatment for Keith and a sleeve of blue goo for Shiro. "Goes on your arm. You're gonna be off duty for a minute. Can't take this shit off," she warned, adjusting some settings on the band that kept it in place just below his bicep. "You two good?" They both nodded. "Cool. Soon as beds open up you're being admitted, but I suggest getting comfy. The morons upstairs have no hurry in them." She furiously riffled through a stack of papers. Keith flopped onto his side on the hospital bed. "Tell Lance to feed Red?" "You room together, I'm sure he will feed your needy cat." She didn't look up from the charts. "Shiro, I'm gonna start you in antibiotics, sit tight." She didn't bother with anything more than a vaguely dismissive wave as she left. "You mind?" Keith shook his head, yawning widely as Shiro settled behind him Keith felt him fidgeting awkwardly as he succumbed to the colorful dreams that too much oxygen gave him. He reached back and tugged gently at the silicone and gel sleeved arm and pulled it around him. "We saved her. That's what matters." He whispered.

-o-

A drink was set in front of Keith and the bartender nodded towards the end of the bar. "Gentleman sends his compliments." Oh. At the end of the bar sat Shiro. He waved and gave Keith a friendly smile before getting up and coming around to stand next to his seat. "Thanks!" Keith shouted over the music in the noisy club. "I did ask if I could when we were at the hospital last month." Shiro leaned in close so he didn't have to yell. "Didn't think I'd see you here. You don't seem like the type." Keith snorted and jerked his thumb towards the dance floor. "Lance and Hunk. And I could say the same to you." "Allura's idea, but they can be fun. Do you want to want to get out of here?" Keith held up his drink and grinned lopsidedly. "Gotta finish this first. Cute guy bought it for me." "Really?" "Yeah, I was actually hoping he'd come ask me to dance..." Keith hid his grin behind the drink. Shiro laughed at that and casually draped an arm around his waist. "I'd love to dance."

-o-

Keith had had his fair of one night stands but watching Shiro sleep, his arms curled tightly around his waist and his hair adorably mussed on the pillow, he really hoped Shiro wasn't going to be one of them. They'd danced at the bar, and he wished now he'd drank more so he didn't have to remember the way he'd moved his hips brazenly against Shiro's. Shiro had ran searing kisses from his mouth to his chest and he'd threatened to pick up the larger man and carry him out if he didn't take him home soon. He remembered Shiro telling him there was no way he could pick him up, but pulled him out of the bar. When they stumbled into the apartment Keith had taken Shiro up on the dare and pinned him against the wall, bringing his legs around his waist and holding him off the floor while they kissed. Shiro was quick to tell him how hot that was. To which Keith had made an embarrassingly bad joke about being a firefighter. He groaned and turned his face into the pillow. He hated drunk Keith. Drunk Keith was such a slut. Why couldn't he be like drunk Lance and order his sober self really nice face creams or something? "Morning Baby..." Shiro mumbled and a kiss was pressed to his hair "Hey." He slowly looked up. "So that was a pretty great night..." Keith blushed, all his bravado gone with the alcohol. Shiro nestled him closer, fingers trailing lightly up and down his back. "Unless you didn't think so. Then we can just forget it happened and I can take you out on a date first next time...?" "No, I uh..." "That bad?" Shiro looked completely guilty. "Oh fuck. No. No, I meant I don't want to forget. It was really great..." Keith could feel his face burning. Shiro looked at him, clearly confused. Probably trying to reconcile the straightforward work Keith with slutty drunk Keith with shy naked Keith. God he was such a loser.

Shiro kissed him instead of actually responding, pulling Keith under him and pinning him solidly between Shiro's larger body and the mattress. Shiro rocked his hips against Keith’s. Keith eased his legs apart, giving Shiro the permission he was asking. He broke the kiss, leaning down to Keith's ear. "I'm so glad I didn't fuck that up as thought I did... But I do really still want to take you on a date... If that's all right." He rolled his hips as he spoke, and Keith tipped his head back in a relaxed groan of appreciation. So not a one night fling. And Shiro though HE had been the one to mess up last night. This stupid precious boy was going to wreck him. Preferably sooner rather than later.

#the alt title is cant stand the heat get in the keith #because i am THE WORST #sheith #sheith au #sheith parade #voltron fic #voltron au

[lullabyashes]

Where do you think the line between inspiration and copying is when creating a OC?

Hmmm, That can get rather complicated.

First, I’d like to add a disclaimer that everyone has their own opinion on what is considered copying and what is not. Even though there is a myriad of various traits to pick from, There are always going to be characters that look similar to other characters. (I cannot tell you how many black-haired, average-build characters there are in anime alone) Is this copying? Whos to say. It could be, or maybe it’s just coincidence. Bottom line, in order for someone to copy a design, they need to be aware of claim-to-have-been-copied character in question. If person A and person B both make an OC independently, and they have never seen each other’s designs, and A and B’s OCs look nearly identical, is it considered copying? No of course not! How could you copy something that you have never experienced? This goes for professionally published characters all the way to middle school OCs. aka, it goes for everyone. Know the situation before you go hatin’ on artists. (or you know just don’t be mean)

Now, let’s talk about inspiration. For humanoid designs, inspiration is cut into 4 big groups: appearance, color palette, personality, and bg/origin. Things start to get dangerous if someone has an OC that was inspired by having more than 2 traits of a pre-existing character. Big question! Was it the person’s intention to make a copy of the character? Sometimes the answer is yes. “yeah I wanted to make my own version of X” or “yeah I pretty much designed them to be X but with ____ trait” as long as the change isn’t rude, mean, or harmful to real people, (harm can equal financial compromise, negative representation, etc) There honestly isn’t a whole lot wrong with copying except when a person claims that the copied design is the original design. That’s is is just dishonesty, and like I said, IMO, if there’s no harm involved, there’s no harm in admitting that a character is a copy. Why would someone deny it then? Pride? Embarrassment? Maybe they just don’t see it as copying. (once again, people have different opinions on what is and isn’t copying) or maybe they have never seen the thing people are claiming that they are copying! (see above) It happens.

Something remains an inspiration and not a copy when the character(=B) and inspiration(=A) can be put side by side and compared and you have to sit and look for similarities. maybe OC B was inspired by A to have similar colors and some of the same personality. (like they’re both grumpy and blond) maybe sometimes A is grumpy all the time but B is cheerful around certain people. to add, A and B have different body builds or gender. Copying is more like if you look at A and B side by side and they both look like a rendition of the other. Things have to line up just a little too much for it to be copying. I usually just have a feeling that says they’re too similar.

So, If you think someone has a copy character, you can ask them nicely if they know of the thing you think they’re copying. if they have genuinely never heard or seen it, then you have your answer. If they have mentioned a character is a copy, then you have your answer. Before you go freaking out, ask yourself if it’s a harmful situation. If it isn’t, then chill out before continuing. Don’t be rude. Don’t ask someone to change their design just because you think it’s too similar to someone else’s. Maybe that person is just learning. And artists!! if someone asks you or accuses you of copying try to stay calm. try not to immediately get defensive.  Pause and think for a second. Did you push the inspiration line a little too far? Are you a fan of the character that someone thinks you’re copying? Have you heard of them? You also have to remember to be chill. Study your design to see if it is a bit too similar, then make artistic decisions from there.

Be calm, be collective, and be creative.

#nev talks #copying #long post #character design #original character #character inspiration #hope i explained this well #it's a popular subject #sorry it's so long #i actually didn't talk about everything i could have

[unproduciblesmackdown]

there was an ask list but instead of reblogging it im just doing the thing where i answer it all and put it here under a readmore

what mythical creature do you wish actually existed? idk i like griffins but i feel like thats boring b/c they dont like have any Powers...

soundcloud or vinyls? i dont rly use either lol

what book does everyone right now need to read? whatever they want i have no huge recs. i like the ashbury high / brookfield series & thats kinda unknown but thats it

do you like wearing other people’s shirts/jackets? its not much of a thrill...i guess im neutral but it has to fit me for starters

what was the best thing that happened to you this month? i donno. watched some stuff, had ppl compliment me

what’s a promise you’ve recently made to yourself? i periodically tell myself to care less about various shit

would you rather be the sky, the ocean or the forests? i guess the sky....clouds are nice. the ocean is full of heinous shit and the abyss. the forest can be kinda iffy too and also cut down

would you kiss the last person you kissed again? i havent kissed anybody romantically* so its not really an issue for me

do you plan your outfits? rarely

how do you feel right now? eh theres the usual undercurrents of misery and frustration but that’s just bg noise most of the time. im alright i suppose

what’s the last dream you remember having? well i was having trouble driving, which is a frequent dream, because it was a bus, which is an unusual detail. i think we were trying to take a roadtrip to a beach in another country, which is a thing that happens in my dreams lately. but then i suddenly found out i was in a play that was in like rehearsal/performance stages already, which is also common. my role was to act like i was real gay for some other guy character. i was like lol no prob

what are you craving right now? im usually a bit hungry i guess

turn ons/offs? i like people who can go along with a joke i suppose and who seem interested in other people and what they have to say. too many things repel me from other ppl to list

when was the last time you cried? why? i’ll cry super easily if im just imagining some sad concept

did the one person who hurt you most in your life apologize? there’s some contenders there smh...but no

do you bite or lick your ice cream? lick....

favorite movie ever? i dont have one

do you like yourself? yeah im alright enough

have you ever met or seen in person a celebrity? not like an a-lister no

how many countries have you visited? just the one ive always been in

have you ever been in a castle? no

what’s the craziest/bravest thing you’ve done? i dont think anything too special. got in front of a car w someone but it was moving slow. proceeded w my stage entrance anyways even when a curtain cue got effed up & led the Improvisation of working around it, but that was dance so nobody had any lines to change

what’s on your mind right now? hoping it tstorms really dramatically later

what’s your zodiac sign? gay

name 5 facts about yourself. my eyes are blue, my pupils dont dilate evenly coz one is a bit less dilatable, im horribly nearsighted, i can cross one eye, i have sort of a unibrow

do you believe in karma? i dont believe in not karma

ever been in love? not romantically*

whom do you admire and why? a lot of activists, im interested in activism and volunteering but have rarely been able to actually be involved in things

what was your favorite bedtime story as a child? man i dont remember having bedtime stories, i dont think i did that much after learning to read myself. i read “pat the bunny” a lot for my little brother, that one was his fave

did you make someone laugh today? i dont think so

do you believe in ghosts? ive always liked hearing about ghost shit, i am not inclined to think that everyone who says theyve had Ghost Encounters is lying, i know ppl personally who have stories who i dont think are lying and it would be presumptuous to say like “well but they probably didnt REALLY x y or z,” and yet still i am always skeptical abt the whole thing. i am agnostic abt everything ever re afterlife stuff, but again—if we’re in a horror movie haunted house situation and shits going down, im going to assume ghosts and everything ive heard about them is true and act accordingly until we’re out of there, Greg The Adamant Disbeliever can have fun dying. and catch me not messing around w ouija boards or any of that shit either...im good.

if you could go back in time which time period would you visit? visit....damn i dunno.

would you want to live forever? why/why not? i mean if other ppl are doing it to then it might be fine. but like me specifically as things are now living forever, im not much interested. someone else can have my immortality

what makes you sad? shit like, life man

was today typical? why/why not? yeah i didnt do anything interesting

who do you trust the most? i dont particularly distrust anyone but i dont really have anything i’d need to trust anyone over

what did you have for breakfast today? i didnt

do you have any regrets looking back in your life? not really

what’s your favorite fictional universe? i dont have one

favorite tv show? i dont have one

share a favorite quote. i have some but i’ll never be able to think of one on the spot

what does your ideal day look like? ahh idk. doing something fun while being around other people

do you have any hobbies? i guess drawing / writing count. theres other things but i dont do them regularly / recently

share a small random book passage that means something to you. dont have one

what’s something you always wanted to do but were too scared? theres not really anything like that

do you usually date people your age or older/younger? neither

who means the world to you? why? any cat ive ever met b/c theyre angels

best books you’ve ever read? i guess i can plug the ashbury/brookfield books again

who is your favorite cartoon character? i gotta say lars dont i

coffee or tea? tea

would you rather be extremely rich or extremely loved? loved but like by multiple ppl right? gimme that magnitude in Widely rather than Intensely

are you a dog or a cat person? i feel like only dog ppl consider this to be a real Binary

what is your biggest addiction? biting my lip endlessly lol

do you ever think about the galaxy? sure

what’s your favorite color? blue

do you have a good relationship with your parents and siblings? why/why not? nah...my sibs and i are like friendly acquaintances i guess. thatll be an abusive household i guess

are you a morning or a night person? night

have you ever dealt with a mental illness? I Guess

how would your friends describe you? uhhhh people say im funny sometimes

do you consider yourself and extrovert or an introvert? bit of both

what’s something you love watching/reading but you are too embarrassed to admit you do? i dont think i have any secrets there

describe yourself in 3 words. extremes, thoughtful, Gay

best memory as a child? idk i always liked swimming and going to pools / waterparks

what is your eye and hair color? blue / brown, respectively.

do you like crystals? theyre cool

if you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? imperialism banned

what’s your hogwarts house? idk slytherin hufflepuff or smthing

biggest pet peeve? theres many..

would you rather go to a cocktail party with your best friends or stay home and read a book/watch a movie with your pet? well first i need the mythical best friend group but also can we be doing something more fun than a cocktail party

share a secret. I’ve Pooped Outside

would you rather live longer or happier? this might only be a difficult choice if it was live shorter or happier

who’s story is your biggest inspiration in life? why? nobody coz idk

do you wear glasses? yes

forest or river? forest

do you like exercise? its alright i dont like just straightup running though

do you like poetry? it depends on who the poet is. cishet white dudes shouldnt be allowed, for starters

any special talent that you have? i’m good at telling if lines are parallel lol

#i dont pretend to be interesting

[insertdisc5]

YO I've seen your animations lately and I love them. You got a ramble on how you make them? Thanks and keep it up ❤✌🎶

THANKS, and I DO, ACTUALLY!

✨✨✨WELCOME TO INSERTDISC5′S “”HOW I DO ANIMATIONS AND THERE’S PROBABLY FASTER WAYS BUT THATS HOW I DO IT” FEAT: PHOTOSHOP” EXTRAVAGANZA (with gifs)✨✨✨

I’m gonna do this shot from this tazanimated animation!!!

Its probably gonna be stuff you know already but who cares!!!! because!!!! hopefully!!!! you will learn something new anyway!!!!!

ok so START!!!!!

at this point I have the audio, and the size (1920x1080) and the frame rate (24 frames per second) because the tazanimated people gave those to me. My photoshop animation setup looks like this

nice

first order of business is to PUT THE SOUND IN!!!!

i just click there. tadaaaa

then i MAKE A QUICK N DIRTY N ROUGH ANIMATION!!!!

THAT LOOKS LIKE SHIT!!!!

tru

WHY DID U DO THAT!!!

this step is pretty much the “getting beats figured out and poses kinda sorta figured out”!!! It doesn’t need to be pretty it’s just me figuring out what the hecke im gonna do

HOW DO U DO THAT!!!!

I draw each pose on a different layer! Each new layer you add ends up in the timeline! So it’s just a matter of drawing stuff on different layers and putting it all in the order you want it to be in inside the timeline

The way I know how long each beat is supposed to stay on for is because I can hear the audio when I click play! I just eyeball it tbh

COOL WHAT NEXT!!!!

I make it look less like shit!!!

THAT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING!!!

yea we’re getting somewhere!!! Uuuuh I just drew stuff. what do I say about this step.

OH YEAH for this step animation is on more than one layer!!! 

each color is one video layer, so that way since his body doesnt move i don’t have to redraw it over and over again

VIDEO LAYER????

if you drag a layer into another layer in the timeline the two layers FUSE and become a SUPER LAYER called a video layer!!!

like so! i usually group the same body parts together, like the hands with the hands and the mouths with the mouths. makes it less of a mess (ITS STILL A MESS)

HOW DO U DO THE TALKING

im a fraud and do lipsync by ear as I draw. DONT BE LIKE ME WRITE DOWN WHAT SOUNDS HAPPEN AT WHAT FRAME BEFORE YOU START

also i was mostly lazy and did the Bababa technique (name by me) where it’s just two frames, mouth open and mouth closed, but honestly griffin talks so fast it probably works better than doing Elaborate Mouth Shapes

NEXT STEP?

lines and inbetweens, my dude

NICE

thank

ANY ADVICE

not… really… i just line that shit 

oh uh. see how i dont have a frame between that pose and that pose

thats a secret animator technique… skip that middle hand… makes the movement…. SNAPPIER

OK

ok. um. next step is GOSHDANG COLORS (longest step probably)

HOW DID COLOR BETWEEN THE LINES ARE YOU SOME KINDA WIZARD

YEAH I WISH i did the secret technique… that i will teach you now

do that for the parts u gotta color… lock the layer…. color outside the lines? don’t know her

WHAT NEXT!!!!

a super fast BG and some shadows and overlays

SHADOWS????

I added a multiply layer, then made a shape, went to layer>blur>gaussian blur, and made that layer an overlay, and TADA it looks like nice shadows

to make those layers happen for the whole shot, i put the whole shot in a folder, and made the shadow+overlay layer a clipping mask!

ARE YOU DONE YET

ALMOST WE NEED ONE LAST THING

the very final overlay to bring it all together ✨✨✨

…

…

um sooo here are all the layers i used for this frame alone

that’s it uh. hope you learned stuff????

#themxnsterghxst #reference #animation #this made MY head hurt i cant imagine you guys #DID THAT HELP IDK #so many gifs. will they all load

[suzanneshannon]

Animated Matryoshka Dolls in CSS

Here’s a fun one. How might we create a set of those cool Matryoshka dolls where they nest inside one another... but in CSS?

I toyed with this idea in my head for a little while. Then, I saw a tweet from CSS-Tricks and the article image had the dolls. I took that as a sign! It was time to put fingers to the keyboard.

Our goal here is to make these fun and interactive, where we can click on a doll to open it up and reveal another, smaller doll. Oh, and stick with just CSS for the functionality. And while we’re at it, let’s replace the dolls with our own character, say a CodePen bear. Something like this:

We won't dwell on making things pretty to start. Let's get some markup on the page and thrash out the mechanics first.

We can’t have an infinite amount of dolls. When we reach the innermost doll, it'd be nice to be able to reset the dolls without having to do a page refresh. A neat trick for this is to wrap our scene in an HTML form. That way we can use an input and set the type attribute to reset to avoid using any JavaScript.

<form> <input type="reset" id="reset"/> <label for="reset" title="Reset">Reset</label> </form>

Next, we need some dolls. Or bears. Or something to start with. The key here will be to use the classic checkbox hack and any associated form labels. As a note, I’m going to use Pug to handle the markup because it supports loops, making things a little easier. But, you can certainly write the HTML by hand. Here’s the start with form fields and labels that set up the checkbox hack.

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Try clicking some of the inputs and hitting the Reset input. They all become unchecked. Nice, we’ll use that.

We have some interactivity but nothing is really happening yet. Here’s the plan:

We’ll only show one checkbox at a time

Checking a checkbox should reveal the label for the next checkbox.

When we get to the last checkbox, there our only option should be to reset the form.

The trick will be to make use of the CSS adjacent sibling combinator (+).

input:checked + label + input + label {   display: block; }

When a checkbox is checked, we need to show the label for the next doll, which will be three siblings along in the DOM. How do we make the first label visible? Give it an explicit display: block via inline styles in our markup. Putting this together, we have something along these lines:

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Clicking each label reveals the next. Hold on, the last label isn’t shown! That’s correct. And that’s because the last label doesn’t have a checkbox. We need to add a rule that caters to that last label.

input:checked + label + input + label, input:checked + label + label { display: block; }

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Cool. We're getting somewhere. That's the basic mechanics. Now things are going to get a little trickier. 

Basic styling

So, you might be thinking, “Why aren’t we hiding the checked label?” Good question! But, if we hide it straight away, we won’t have any transition between the current doll and the next. Before we start animating our dolls, let’s create basic boxes that will represent a doll. We can style them up so they mimic the doll outline without the detail.

.doll { color: #fff; cursor: pointer; height: 200px; font-size: 2rem; left: 50%; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); width: 100px; } .doll:nth-of-type(even) { background: #00f; } .doll:nth-of-type(odd) { background: #f00; }

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Clicking one doll instantly reveals the next one and, when we’ve reached the last doll, we can reset the form to start again. That’s what we want here.

The mechanics

We are going to animate the dolls based on a center point. Our animation will consist of many steps:

Slide the current doll out to the left.

Open the doll to reveal the next one.

Move the next doll where the current one started.

Make the current doll fade out.

Assign the next doll as the current doll.

Let’s start by sliding the current doll out to the left. We apply an animation when we click a label. Using the :checked pseudo-selector we can target the current doll. At this point, it’s worth noting that we are going to use CSS variables to control animation speed and behavior. This will make it easier to chain animations on the labels.

:root { --speed: 0.25; --base-slide: 100; --slide-distance: 60; } input:checked + label { animation: slideLeft calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; } @keyframes slideLeft { to { transform: translate(calc((var(--base-slide) * -1px) + var(--slide-distance) * -1%), 0); } }

That looks great. But there’s an issue. As soon as we click a label, we could click it again and reset the animation. We don't want that to happen.

How can we get around this? We can remove pointer events from a label once it’s been clicked.

input:checked + label { animation: slideLeft calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; pointer-events: none; }

Great! Now once we have started, we can’t stop the animation chain from happening.

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Next up, we need to crack open the doll to reveal the next one. This is where things get tricky because we are going to need some extra elements, not only to create the effect that the doll is opening up, but also to reveal the next doll inside of it. That's right: we need to duplicate the inner doll. The trick here is to reveal a "fake" doll that we swap for the real one once we've animated it. This also means delaying the reveal of the next label.

Now our markup updates labels so that they contains span elements.

<label class="doll" for="doll--1"> <span class="doll doll--dummy"></span> <span class="doll__half doll__half--top">Top</span> <span class="doll__half doll__half--bottom">Bottom</span> </label>

These will act as the “dummy” doll as well as the lid and base for the current doll.

.doll { color: #fff; cursor: pointer; height: 200px; font-size: 2rem; position: absolute; text-align: center; width: 100px; } .doll:nth-of-type(even) { --bg: #00f; --dummy-bg: #f00; } .doll:nth-of-type(odd) { --bg: #f00; --dummy-bg: #00f; } .doll__half { background: var(--bg); position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 50%; left: 0; } .doll__half--top { top: 0; } .doll__half--bottom { bottom: 0; } .doll__dummy { background: var(--dummy-bg); height: 100%; width: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; }

The lid requires three translations to create the opening effect: one to pop it up, one to move it left and then one to pop it down.

@keyframes open { 0% { transform: translate(0, 0); } 33.333333333333336% { transform: translate(0, -100%); } 66.66666666666667% { transform: translate(-100%, -100%); } 100% { transform: translate(-100%, 100%); } }

Next is where we can use CSS custom properties to handle changing values. Once the doll has slid over to the left, we can open it. But how do we know how long to delay it from opening until that happens? We can use the --speed custom property we defined earlier to calculate the correct delay.

It looks a little quick if we use the --speed value as it is, so let’s multiply it by two seconds:

input:checked + .doll { animation: slideLeft calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; pointer-events: none; } input:checked + .doll .doll__half--top { animation: open calc(var(--speed) * 2s) calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; // highlight }

Much better:

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Now we need to move the inner “dummy” doll to the new position. This animation is like the open animation in that it consists of three stages. Again, that’s one to move up, one to move right, and one to set down. It's like the slide animation, too. We are going to use CSS custom properties to determine the distance that the doll moves.

:root { // Introduce a new variable that defines how high the dummy doll should pop out. --pop-height: 60; } @keyframes move { 0% { transform: translate(0, 0) translate(0, 0); } 33.333333333333336% { transform: translate(0, calc(var(--pop-height) * -1%)) translate(0, 0); } 66.66666666666667% { transform: translate(0, calc(var(--pop-height) * -1%)) translate(calc((var(--base-slide) * 1px) + var(--slide-distance) * 1%), 0); } 100% { transform: translate(0, calc(var(--pop-height) * -1%)) translate(calc((var(--base-slide) * 1px) + var(--slide-distance) * 1%), calc(var(--pop-height) * 1%)); } }

Almost there! 

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The only thing is that the next doll is available as soon as we click a doll. that means we can spam click our way through the set.

Technically, the next doll shouldn’t show until the “fake” one has moved into place. It’s only once the “fake” doll is in place that we can hide it and reveal the real one. That means we going to use zero-second scale animations! That's right. We can play pretend by delaying two zero-second animations and using animation-fill-mode.

@keyframes appear { from { transform: scale(0); } }

We actually only need one set of @keyframes. because we can re-use what we have to create the opposite movement with animation-direction: reverse. With that in mind, all our animations get applied something like this:

// The next doll input:checked + .doll + input + .doll, // The last doll (doesn't have an input) input:checked + .doll + .doll { animation: appear 0s calc(var(--speed) * 5s) both; display: block; } // The current doll input:checked + .doll, // The current doll that isn't the first. Specificity prevails input:checked + .doll + input:checked + .doll { animation: slideLeft calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; pointer-events: none; } input:checked + .doll .doll__half--top, input:checked + .doll + input:checked + .doll .doll__half--top { animation: open calc(var(--speed) * 2s) calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards; } input:checked + .doll .doll__dummy, input:checked + .doll + input:checked + .doll .doll__dummy { animation: move calc(var(--speed) * 2s) calc(var(--speed) * 3s) forwards, appear 0s calc(var(--speed) * 5s) reverse forwards; }

Note how important the variables are, especially where we are chaining animations. That gets us almost where we need to be.

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I can hear it now: "They're all the same size!" Yep. That's the missing piece. They need to scale down. The trick here is to adjust the markup again and make use of CSS custom properties yet again.

<input id="doll--0" type="checkbox"/> <label class="doll" for="doll--0" style="display: block; --doll-index: 0;"> <span class="doll__dummy-container"> <span class="doll__dummy"></span> </span> //highlight <span class="doll__container"> <span class="doll__half doll__half--top"></span> <span class="doll__half doll__half--bottom"></span> </span> </label>

We just introduced a CSS custom property inline that tells us the index of the doll. We can use this to generate a scale of each half as well as the fake inner doll. The halves will have to scale to match the actual doll size, but the fake inner doll scale will need to match that of the next doll. Tricky!

We can apply these scales inside the containers so that our animations are not affected.

:root { --scale-step: 0.05; } .doll__container, .doll__dummy-container { height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%; } .doll__container { transform: scale(calc(1 - ((var(--doll-index)) * var(--scale-step)))); transform-origin: bottom; } .doll__dummy { height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; transform: scale(calc(1 - ((var(--doll-index) + 1) * var(--scale-step)))); transform-origin: bottom center; width: 100%; }

Note how the .doll__dummy class uses var(--doll-index) + 1) to calculate the scale so that it matches the next doll.  👍

Lastly, we re-assign the animation to the .doll__dummy-container class instead of the .doll__dummy class.

input:checked + .doll .doll__dummy-container, input:checked + .doll + input:checked + .doll .doll__dummy-container { animation: move calc(var(--speed) * 2s) calc(var(--speed) * 3s) forwards, appear 0s calc(var(--speed) * 5s) reverse forwards; }

Here's a demo where the containers have been given a background color to see what’s happening.

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We can see that, although the content size changes, they remain the same size. This makes for consistent animation behavior and makes the code easier to maintain.

Finishing touches

Wow, things are looking pretty slick! All we need are some finishing touches and we are done!

The scene starts to look cluttered because we’re stacking the “old” dolls off to the side when a new one is introduced. So let's slide a doll out of view when the next one is revealed to clean that mess up.

@keyframes slideOut { from { transform: translate(calc((var(--base-slide) * -1px) + var(--slide-distance) * -1%), 0); } to { opacity: 0; transform: translate(calc((var(--base-slide) * -1px) + var(--slide-distance) * -2%), 0); } } input:checked + .doll, input:checked + .doll + input:checked + .doll { animation: slideLeft calc(var(--speed) * 1s) forwards, slideOut calc(var(--speed) * 1s) calc(var(--speed) * 6s) forwards; pointer-events: none; }

The new slideOut animation fades the doll out while it translates to the left. Perfect.  👍

That’s it for the CSS trickery we need to make this effect work. All that’s left style the dolls and the scene.

We have many options to style the dolls. We could use a background image, CSS illustration, SVG, or what have you. We could even throw together some emoji dolls that use random inline hues!

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Let’s go with inline SVG.

I’m basically using the same underlying mechanics we’ve already covered. The difference is that I’m also generating inline variables for hue and lightness so the bears sport different shirt colors.

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There we have it! Stacking dolls — err, bears — with nothing but HTML and CSS! All the code for all the steps is available in this CodePen collection. Questions or suggestions? Feel free to reach out to me here in the comments.

The post Animated Matryoshka Dolls in CSS appeared first on CSS-Tricks.

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