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yellowocaballero · 11 months

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Miguel is Fine, Actually (Being Spider-Man's Just Toxic As Hell)

Before I watched ATSV I said that I would defend my man Miguel O'Hara's actions no matter what, because he's always valid and I support women's wrongs. I was joking, and I did not actually expect to start defending him on Tumblr.edu. But I'm seeing a lot of commentary that's super reductive, so I do want to bring up another perspective on his character.

Miguel wasn't acting against the spirit of Spider-Man, or what being Spider-Man means. Miguel isn't meant to represent the antithesis of Spider-Man. Miles is the antithesis of Spider-Man. Miguel represents Spider-Man taken to its extreme.

Think about Miguel's actions from his perspective. If you were a hero who genuinely, legitimately, 100%, no doubt about it, believed that somebody is going to make a selfish decision that will destroy an entire universe and put the entire multiverse at severe risk - if you had an over-burdened sense of responsibility and believed in doing the right thing no matter what - you would also chase down the kid and put him in baby jail to try and prevent it. He believed that he was saving the multiverse, and that Miles was putting it in danger for selfish reasons. Which is completely unforgivable to him, because selfishness is what he hates the most. And then he goes completely out of pocket and starts beefing with a 15yo lmfaooo he's such a dick.

But why did Miguel believe that? Why did he believe that Miles choosing himself and his own happiness over the well-being of others was the worst possible thing? Why did he believe that tragedy was inevitable in their lives, and that without tragedy Spider-Man can't exist?

Because he's Spider-Man.

Peter Parker was once a fifteen year old who chose his own happiness over protecting others. It was the greatest regret of his life and he never forgave himself. Peter's ethos means that he will put himself last every time, and that he will sacrifice anything and everything in his life - his relationships, his health, his future - to protecting and helping others. Peter dropped out of college because it interfered with Spider-Man. He destroyed his own future for Spider-Man. He ruins friendships and romantic relationships because Spider-Man was more important. If Peter ever tries to protect himself and his own happiness, then he's a bad person.

That is intrinsic to Peter. Peter would not be Peter without it. A story that is not defined by Peter's unhappiness is not a Spider-Man story. If Peter doesn't make himself miserable, then he's just not Peter.

That is a Spider-Man story: that not only is tragedy inevitable, that if you don't allow yourself to be defined by your tragedy then you're a bad person. If you don't suffer, then you're a bad person. If you ever put anything above Spider-Man, then you're killing Uncle Ben all over again. Miguel isn't the only one that believes this - as we saw, every Spider-Man buys into what he's saying. There's no Spider-Man without these beliefs.

Miguel attempted to find his own happiness, and he was punished in the most extreme way. He got Uncle Ben'd x10000. He tried to be happy, and it literally destroyed his entire universe. It's the Spider-narrative taken to the extreme. Of course Miguel believes all of this. Of course he believes this so firmly. He's Spider-Man. That's his story. And the one time Miguel tried to fight against that story, he was punished. And like any Spider-Man, he'll slavishly obey that narrative no matter the evil it creates and perpetuates. Because if he doesn't, the narrative will punish him. The narrative will always punish him. It's a Spider-Man story.

I don't think the universal constant between Spider-Mans, the thing that makes them Spider-Man, is tragedy. I think it's the fact that they never forgive themselves. And Miguel is what that viewpoint creates. He doesn't believe this things because he's an awful, mean person. He believes them because he's a hero. He's a good person who hates himself.

Across the Spider-verse isn't really a Spider-Man story. It's a story about Spider-Man stories. Miguel's right: if this was a Spider-Man story, then Miles acting selfishly really would destroy the universe. But Miles' story isn't interested in punishing him. It pushes back against Peter's narrative that unhappiness is inevitable and that you have to suffer to be a good person. It says that sometimes we do the right thing from love and not fear, and that Peter's way of thinking is ultimately super toxic and unhappy. ITSV was about Miles deciding that he didn't need to be Peter Parker, that all he needed to be was Miles, and ATSV is about how being Peter Parker isn't such a good thing. Miguel shows that. Whatever toxic and unhealthy beliefs he holds - they're the exact same beliefs that any Spider-Man holds. He's a dick, but I don't think he's any more awful a person than Peter is.

TL;DR: Miguel isn't a bad person, he just has Spider-Man brainrot.

#across the spider-verse #atsv #atsv spoilers #across the spider-verse spoilers #across the spiderverse #across the spider verse #miguel o'hara #atsv meta #source: i recognized an embarassing amount of those cameos #im also seeing a lot of ppl make a lot of assumptions about what miguel was injecting and why #we dunno guys! im not gonna suppose anything #I just think that Miguel and Miles are great foils #and that what makes them interesting as foils #is the fact that they're both good people who want to do the right thing #miguel shows how that gets twisted #to the point where you beef with a 15yo sometimes which is still so funny #im a big spidey 2099 fan #which I love bc it is NOTHING like spiderman and yet it's such a good spiderman story #but talking about comics migs is useless bc he has 0 in common with atsv migs #but there is a lot of VERY cool stuff to say about how #the sm2099 comic has nothing to do with spiderman at all whatsoever extremely pointedly #but its still a wonderful spiderman story that finds its own way #tbh it was kind of a breath of fresh air to read a spider-man story that wasn't about spider-man for once #and that was just about miguel #anyway stan women's wrongs #miguel o hara #miguel ohara #my writing

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justanotherfanfolks · 6 months

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Detective Time! Book 2 keeping the ball rolling with mystery, lore, Grilled Cheeseburglers, and wild Malleus appearances.

#twisted wonderland #twst #memes #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #jack howl #twst grim #twst yuu #ace trappola #deuce spade #cater diamond #riddle rosehearts #shout out to that one pomefiore student that was so eager to throw down the gauntlet loved him #this book also reaffirms why Ruggie is my favorite Savanaclaw boy he was great #the Ruggie fan experience in Book 2: ah look at our funky little kleptomaniac Leona LEONA NO NO NOOOOO LEONA NO!#the novel said: we can make it worse #also TWST making us go: what the heck sir?! and then immediately: oh my gosh Im so sorry king #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge

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skyward-floored · 5 months

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wait WAIT I'VE GOT IT

THEY SHOULD DO THE ZELDA MOVIE LIKE THE PRINCESS BRIDE WHERE IT'S A GRANDPA TELLING THE STORY TO HIS GRANDKID

#legend of zelda #zelda movie #loz movie #rambles from the floor #any inconsistencies can be chalked up to the grnadpa being dramatic or 'making it a better story'#the kid is like 'were those octopus bad guys that shot rocks really called octorocks' and the grandpa is just like 'yes stop interrupting'#plot twist the grandpa is like Link or looks vaguely like him #no no wait he can look like Link's uncle/Talon/Tarin YES #actually yknow what the whole movie should just be sort of like the princess bride #goofy and heartfelt!!!!#they should put me in charge of this movie i have great ideas

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rogueddie · 6 months

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he/she Steve who's always known that he's not cis bc the guys in basketball would tease each other a lot and calling Steve a girl or she as their joking go to insult stuck but Steve loved it and it made him feel so comfortable and safe especially with how normalized it became

#stranger things #steve harrington #plot twist hes more uncomfortable about being masc bc he feels like he has to be one or the other and his image of masculinity is so warped #that it never feels right or like him but then he meets robin whos so accepting and openly talks about enjoying being a little masc #and its what makes steve finally start to explore the parts of masculinity he does enjoy and realize 'oh hey this is great too'

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quietwingsinthesky · 1 month

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it’s that no one ever believed him that gets to me the most. this is a society of telepaths. and yet when the doctor finds out that the drums are real, he’s surprised. the master is surprised, elated, by the confirmation that he’s hearing something that’s really there, that this thing that’s been following him and hurting him for so long is real.

after a certain point, given that the master is Really Fucking Good at mind control and such, you have to imagine that no one could just pick up on the noise in his head with a little general telepathy. he had to choose to let the doctor in to share it. and. and okay. we need to put aside him striving to be The Best At Controlling People’s Minds in the context of him having his mind violated as a child because if i think about these two things in relation to each other i’ll throw up.

but there has to have been a point before he was so accomplished that he couldn’t have defended his own mind as easily. that he couldn’t keep someone, anyone, from delving into his head and hearing the drums. which means i must conclude, because we find out who put them in his head at all and it’s the most powerful guy on gallifrey, that when he was younger, the people around him did know. they could hear the drums. they could figure out what was done to him. but they did nothing, they said nothing, they told him he was hearing things. because if the lord president wanted to use a child for his own ends, who was going to stand up and stop him? easier to sweep it under the rug. and the master lived with that for so long that finally having just one other person hear the drums was a shock to him.

#very fun that this twist is. first of all great for end of time. but also can be used to recontextualize other bits of the master’s behavio #not even explain away but give extra meaning to. you know?#he hypnotizes people because if he can control them it’d damn well his right to do so and if they didn’t want to be mindfucked they should #have had better defenses. he’s the master and he came to conquer. and such.#but it’s also. this is now inextricable from the fact that his own mind was opened up and used against him as a child. when he couldn’t #possibly have defended himself. this past and his actions cannot be separated.#a man can have more than one motivation he can be both a little bastard who wants to rule a world because its his due since no one could #stop him. and also. it can be because there is no way to undo what was forced on him as a kid. but he can at least make sure nothing and no #one will ever control him again. he’s the master and you will obey *him*. never again the other way around.#the master #simm!master #doctor who

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viperwhispered · 20 days

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Too Hard

Woop part 2 of the trip inside Jamil's head. Part 1 here.

The next time Jamil caught sight of you on campus, his first instinct was to turn around on his heel.

What a stupid thought to have because of you.

Besides, that would only make him more conspicuous, not less.

So, when your eyes met his, Jamil gave you a short nod in greeting. He would’ve left it at that and kept on his way, had you not walked up to him.

“Hi Jamil! How’s it going?” you said with that impossibly disarming smile of yours.

Why was it so difficult to look at you like he normally would? You had no right to make him feel so stiff, so unnatural.

On autopilot, Jamil exchanged a few pleasantries with you - those lessons from his parents had been instilled too deep in him for him to falter too badly in a simple exchange such as this. Still, Jamil quickly excused himself by telling you he still had to find Kalim before his next class.

Jamil didn’t miss the way your smile faltered. Had you hoped to get something out of him?

“Oh, okay. I’ll see you two later, then.”

Something about that irked him, though Jamil did not allow himself to dwell on it further.

His heart really had no business still racing as it did when he walked away, unaware of the frown on his face.

Just act normal. That’s all he needed to do.

After all, he had no time for dwelling in silly fancies.

If Jamil had been acutely aware of you before, it only seemed to worsen now that he was making a conscious effort to not act any differently with you. In fact, the harder he tried to keep you out, the more you invaded his thoughts, unsettling him.

The most innocuous words from you looped in his mind, and even the simplest actions caught his eye. For goodness's sake, he’d found himself staring at you while you were queueing up in the cafeteria the other day, not even doing anything other than standing around and looking bored!

For once, Jamil found himself grateful for all his duties. At least they provided him with something else to occupy himself with.

After all, if he was busy enough, it was difficult to think about those bright eyes of yours, your sweet laugh, or the way you bit your lip while thinking.

Still, sometimes it felt like no matter which way he turned, you were there, ready to throw him off-kilter. Not like it was his fault that often the most convenient route to class intersected with your daily routines. Or that your face seemed to jump out from any crowd, catching his attention.

Which certainly did not help his basketball performance. Jamil certainly did not recall you having such an interest in sports before, yet suddenly you were always there, distracting him. What had changed?

Could you possibly-

Jamil scoffed to himself, forcing his thoughts back on track for the nth time that day.

He picked up the tray of food and started taking it to Kalim. After dinner, he’d need to help Kalim with his homework, there were some housewarden tasks that would need dealing with, not to mention the preparations for the next-

Jamil froze in his tracks.

The voice he heard was quiet, but it was unmistakably you.

Really, it should not have come as such a surprise to him. You had become a rather frequent visitor to Scarabia, and Kalim often invited you to stay for meals. In fact, Jamil had started planning the dorm’s meal prep with your tastes and dietary restrictions in mind, just in case.

Jamil rounded the corner with strange exhilaration, his heart fluttering needlessly.

Yet, his mood evaporated when he saw you.

Why did you stop talking and look so guilty as soon as you caught sight of Jamil?

Jamil knew that look you gave to Kalim, had used it himself a thousand times. The one telling Kalim to keep quiet about something.

What could there possibly be that you would be comfortable sharing with Kalim, but not with him? That would give Kalim reason to sit so close to you, a comforting hand on your shoulder?

Jamil's mind raced with possibilities, yet could not settle for any single explanation.

He’d have to ask Kalim about it later.

Jamil gave you a short, polite greeting, his eyes lingering on you in an attempt to read what you were hiding.

“If I’d known you were coming over, I would’ve prepared something for you to eat as well,” Jamil said, already thinking about which parts of the dorm’s dinner to spruce up for you.

“Oh, no need, just figured I’d pop by. I’ll get out of your hair soon enough,” you said, something sheepish about your expression.

As expected, Kalim asked you to stay and dine with them, and with just a bit more persuasion you agreed - though not before telling Jamil that he should join you too and have himself a breather.

And since Kalim agreed with you, Jamil soon found himself sharing a meal with you and Kalim. Yet, even as he sat down with the food, his mind raced.

Had you been getting particularly close to Kalim lately? But surely Jamil would’ve noticed such a thing. Maybe someone from the dorm had been giving you trouble? But if that was the case, then surely you could let Jamil know about it, too. Unless for some reason you did not want to? But if it was something that concerned Kalim, then sooner or later it was bound to concern Jamil, too.

All the while, Kalim was talking to you about this and that, the latest topic being the animals kept on the Asim estate.

“I’ve got some pictures, let me show you!” Kalim said with an excited grin.

Only, a thorough patting of his pockets and a look around confirmed that Kalim’s phone was nowhere to be seen.

Jamil pinched the bridge of his nose. Where had Kalim left it this time?

Before Jamil even had the chance to say that he would handle it, Kalim sprinted off. Jamil hesitated for a moment, automatically halfway up from his seat, before he decided that leaving a guest unattended would be a worse offense than not helping out his master.

Jamil slumped back down with a sigh, mentally tracing the path Kalim took today, trying to recall the last time he saw Kalim handle his phone.

“Breathe. He’ll manage,” you said. There was the faintest of smiles on your lips, and Jamil could not decide if it was knowing or amused. Perhaps both.

Somehow, despite his frustration, Jamil’s own lips wanted to curl up too.

“Hmm. Maybe he will.”

Sure, Jamil could’ve called Kalim’s phone, to make it easier to find, but it was not that urgent, was it?

Jamil took another bite of his food, keeping an eye on you from the corner of his eye.

How was his mind so empty and so buzzing at the same time?

“You know-”

“So-”

You looked at each other, both just as surprised that the other had spoken up at the same time.

Even your surprised look was so-

“You first,” Jamil said. The way you bit your lip... Jamil had to raise a cup to his lips, slowly sipping his drink.

“Just… Feels like it’s been quite a while since I’ve seen you be still, you know. Or exchanged more than two words with you,” you said. You were attempting a light, joking tone, yet it was quite clear there was more to it.

“You say that like it would be unusual for me to be busy.”

He was not prepared for the way your soft sigh tugged at his heartstrings.

“No. It is not.”

You were both quiet after, poking at your meals. Normally, Jamil would’ve cherished such a moment of peace, yet this particular silence between you two was decidedly awkward.

Where was your usual chatter? Why weren’t you looking at him like you usually did?

“If you’re worried about me, don’t. I’m fine,” Jamil said, some softness creeping into his tone despite his best intentions.

“That's what Kalim said too,” you said. Yet the way you looked at Jamil made it clear you were still skeptical.

Wait.

Had you clammed up earlier because it had been Jamil you had been talking about with Kalim? That Kalim had comforted you about?

The thought twisted his stomach into knots.

Hasdhfsdf the way I fought with that last scene I swear. I don't even want to know how many versions I went through, trying to figure out how to say what I wanted without rubbing it into your face or making it too veiled. The joys of trying to convey things through a limited pov. Hopefully it came out reasonably balanced in the end. Rip to all those sentences that were lovely on their own but didn’t work for the whole. Hopefully I can rehome y’all one day. I do have thoughts for part 3 and part x (might be some chapters between those two as well, who knows at this point), so maybe we'll see those at some point, too. Tag list: @colliope @crystallizsch @diodellet @jamilsimpno69 @jamilvapologist @twstgo If you'd like to be tagged for future works, let me know! (Just be aware that sometimes I do also write nsfw, though you can certainly ask to be tagged only for particular kinds of works.)

#twisted wonderland #jamil viper #twisted wonderland x reader #jamil viper x reader #ner writes #jamil definitely knows how to deal with his feels #also writing this is making me wonder how aware jamil is of his inner versus outer life #like he’s very aware of how he comes across because that’s what he’s been told to watch out for #but how well has he truly learned to understand himself and his own feelings wants etc?#(I mean as you can tell I’m assuming not very well)#originally this went to more of a “jamil hears just the wrong part of the conversation” route but #a) I kinda hate that trope especially when it’s dragged on beyond belief and #b) Kalim maybe doesn’t want to spill anyone’s secrets but he really is such an open book especially with Jamil so #also it’s not like jamil needs the extra help to catastrophize he already does that well enough on his own 🙃#tho then I went a little too far in the other direction and had to pull back #but let's just hope I didn't edit this to death by now #also also: since I seem to have a bit of a naming theme going on for this series #if I were to be the sort to go for the angst route what part would definitely be titled Too Late or something along those lines #also x3 but loved folks commenting on that part about reader being inoffensive in the first part #I certainly had fun writing that line #(and in general extra love to everyone who leaves comments on tags replies wherever always great to read those)#(and in general chat with y'all)

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the-secret-keeper · 1 year

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This just sort of came to me. Enjoy, I guess.

gn!reader x Barbatos

obey me x twisted wonderland

It sucks but it's here. Enjoy!

TW:

Talk of malnutrition, extortion, major leg injury (though not described graphically), angry demon boyfriend

(Reader is referred to as mc)

"You're going to be late, and if you're late you can't buy me more tuna!" Grimm whined.

I laughed lightly, before glancing back down at my phone. I gently smiled at the picture, before shaking my head and putting it away. Quickly getting up and stuffing everything I needed into my bag, I raced down the stairs.

"Finally." Grimm rolled his eyes in frustration.

"Good luck at your meeting!" The ghosts called from their various positions in the house.

"And don't forget-"

"The tuna, I know."

I nodded at my own words, beginning to take a step forward when I was overcome with a strange sensation. A sensation I had not felt since I came to this place. It was so sudden and extreme that I stepped on the wrong board, causing my left leg to go through it.

The scream that almost erupted from me got caught in my throat, but that didn't stop the stinging tears forming in my eyes. The reason for them, I wasn't sure. The pain from my injury, or hope from this new feeling.

I didn't register what was happening around me, unable to process everything going on. But I gathered what happened before I was lifted out of my trap.

Grimm panicked, knowing the ghosts couldn't help, and he couldn't do much. So, he went off to find someone else. It didn't take long, I don't think, as it isn't unusual for the first years to hang around my dorm even when I'm not there.

It was Jack and Sebek who hoisted me out of the hole. Ace and Deuce were arguing over the best thing to do.

"-here." I mumbled, finally deciding they were tears of happiness, just as they began to leak down my cheeks.

"What?" Jack asked. I stood up, ignoring the fact that I shouldn't be moving my leg, and without the adrenaline I wouldn't be able to.

"What do you think you're-" I didn't let Sebek finish his loud, scolding rant.

"He's here!"

Running out the door and through the mirror, I didn't even realize I had forgotten my bag. Filled with all the documents Crowley had so graciously asked me to do. It didn't matter though.

Because he was here.

And that meant that I would be ok no matter what. He would make sure of that.

There was blood trailing behind me as I sprint-limped through the halls. I was out of breath, and no doubt making my already severe injury worse. I didn't even wait to let them take the splinters and possible nails out.

Although, I must commend the other students. They could tell I was on a mission, and stayed out of my way. Whether that be because they didn't want blood on their uniform, or they were scared of what I would do, I'm not sure. I don't care.

The door flung open before I could register that it was me who had opened it. My eyes frantically scanned the room, wanting, hoping, that he would be here.

My eyes landed on him.

"Barbs," I softly spoke, leaning on the door for support, "you're here!"

"My love." He rose from his seat, also in shock.

"I," I stepped forward, using my good leg. "I was so scared!" I finally let the dam break as I collapsed, knowing he'd catch me before I hit the ground. "I was so scared, Barbs! I didn't know where I was or how to get back." I sobbed into his chest.

"Hush, my love, it will all be alright now." I clutched onto his shirt for dear life, as he ran his gloved fingers through my hair.

More than anything, I remember my cries echoing, as if it was just the two of us. I couldn't expect anything less. Barbatos is the only one I have ever trusted to allow my facade to break in front of. Though we have an audience now, it changes nothing.

I have never felt more safe than when in his arms.

"MC, please remove yourself from our guest and compose yourself."

"I hate you!" I screamed, causing Crowley to shut up, and everyone to look at me in shock. Well, more shock than before. "I can't take it anymore! Living in that building, dealing with Overblots, doing your job for you! I haven't eaten in three days because you cut my food budget for being unable to complete an impossible task!"

Though not directed at me, I could feel the death stare of my lover. His hold on me tightened, though it remained reassuring, and he never stopped toying with my hair. He was angry. But his main focus was me.

"Come, come now MC. I've been tru-truly generous. Letting you stay on campus. For, for free!"

"Are you saying their accusations are false?" I heard Diavolo ask. "That they're lying?"

"Well, n-no."

"Then you're agreeing that what you've been doing is inhumane?" Lucifer prodded.

"That's not at all what I meant!"

"I agree with our guests." Riddle spoke up. "Dire Crowley, this has gone on for far too long. Abusing your position to extort a student. Into doing your work no less when they have nowhere else to go."

"I agree. Though I had no idea it was to this extent, MC has done nothing but amazing feats for your school. The only reason this place isn't overrun by Overblots and is still functioning is because of them." Azul piped in.

"Show me their living quarters." I heard Mammon demand quietly.

And then I knew that shit was about to go down. My boyfriend is protective, and should he see fit, he would act without permission but it's rare. Mammon? Mammon doesn't want or need permission from anyone. The only way to stop Mammon at this point in time from tearing Crowley limb from limb is to have Diavolo or Lucifer intervene. But I doubt that would happen.

"I beg your pardon?" Crowley stammered.

"Perhaps you misheard me, Bird Brain. Show me where they've been living since they've come here."

"What will that prove?" He tried to distract. "Surely you'd rather have the announcement of your arrival commence first. Let's tell the students!"

"I'll show you." I had calmed, moving slightly back from Barbatos's chest. "I'll show you everything." I promised, a bitter and malicious glint in my eye that caused everyone from NRC to flinch. "But I must be carried. I have been, injured."

"Oh, allow me to take care of,"

"Dire Crowley." I said sternly, glaring at him. He froze, practically shaking in his old man shoes. "If you touch me I will command Satan and Belphegor to go berserk on you. No. Command isn't the right word. I will allow them."

"You, don't,"

"Have the gall? Or is authority the word you were looking for." Barbatos helped me to my feet. "I think you misunderstand your current position, Crowley. I have no reason to fear you anymore. Because anything you will try to do to me from this moment forward? Will only result in your death."

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moodyseal · 4 months

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Wait so if Python ruling over Delphi = Python being able to interfere with the future and the Fates' design, then Apollo being back in control of Delphi = Apollo being able to interfere with the future and the Fates' design??? 😳

#trials of apollo #toa #apollo #bro's so powerful it's not even funny at this point #he controls prophecy and healing and sickness and truth and civilisation and the literal orb in the sky #apparently the future itself??? what #and he still acts like your neighbour. a simple guy. who does it like him #anyway #is that an already established plot point or did the spirit of delphi just decide to somehow outclass the fates #because if it's a recent development ohohoh boy does this make a great setup for a revolution plot #(as literally anything in this series does)#plot twist the guy calling meg a communist was actually an emissary of delphi foretelling a socialist revolution /j #lonely thoughts

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heartscrypt · 1 year

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meet the world's worst girlboy, cyrus de seirene! he's twisted from the mermaids in peter pan, as well as ursula's vanessa form in the little mermaid

pspspsp come ask me about her pspspsps

MORE INFO UNDER CUT

NICKNAMES:

Koi Fish / Nishikigoi-chan [Floyd]

MISC:

Monsieur Sea Starlet / Monsieur Étoile de Mer [Rook]

He was once bound to his job at the Mostro Lounge through a contract, but after Azul's overblot, he has continued to perform out of his own free will... though it tends to be based on whether he feels like it that day, which is deeply upsetting to Azul (who would much prefer Cyrus to at least show up on a consistent schedule). However, Cyrus literally does not care. He lives on his own time. Much like he does with Floyd, Azul just has to deal with it.

Cyrus is Azul's voice trainer. This is a leftover aspect of the contract, from when Azul needed to plausibly sound like Cyrus for Swim With Us to activate. Post contract-destruction, however, he still serves as Azul's voice trainer "because Inky soooo needs it. Where would he even be without me? Don't ever say I'm not as generous as the Sea Witch."

The contract she made with Azul was in her sophomore year (Azul's freshman year, when he started the Mostro Lounge). It dictated that in exchange for continual updates on the life of Cyrus's ex (super messy, we do NOT have the time for that), Cyrus would attract customers to the newly opened cafe using any means necessary for as long as Cyrus attended NRC. For the deal's collateral, Cyrus gave up Swim With Us.

However, Azul was rarely allowed full use of Swim With Us because 1) Cyrus needed it to continually perform duties at the Mostro Lounge, since the contract's terms lasted for as long as he was at NRC and 2) Cyrus pointed out that Azul would have a hard time completely taking Cyrus's voice for himself, considering everyone at NRC likely had heard Cyrus sing or speak at one point. They settled on imbuing Swim With Us into a cheap Coral Sea souvenir shell-shaped pendant that Cyrus would wear around his neck and which Azul had the right to take off of him and wear whenever he needed it.

In the heyday of Cyrus's contract with Azul, Cyrus didn't only use Swim With Me to lure students into the cafe. She'd also use her magic to subliminally message customers into staying longer, buying more and more items off the menu, and tipping generously. Definitely unscrupulous business practice, but hell if Cyrus cares. It's not any worse than targeted advertising. Post-contract destruction, she's toned down on using Swim With Me to influence customers. Mostly only because the spell drains a lot of energy that she could be using to.... I dunno. File her nails and scroll through Magicam while Azul glares at her because she's still technically on the clock even if she's not singing.

Although Floyd refers to her as Koi Fish / Nishikigoi-chan, Cyrus's merform actually more closely resembles a clearfin lionfish.

FULL SPRITE:

In her human form, she bears a striking resemblance to Prince Rielle-- from afar, they look incredibly similar, save for hair shade, hair style, and eye color. She sometimes leverages this similarity to her advantage, but generally dislikes the comparison. Her merform is much more distinct in appearance so she pretty much only gets this comparison when she's on land.

#twst #twisted wonderland #twst oc #twisted wonderland oc #cyrus de seirene #heartscribbles #heartscreations #the twst sprite style os so hard to copy 😭😭#fun cyrus fact: to make his birthday i asked my friends what the most atrocious sun/moon/rising zodiac combo would look like #i got leo sun scorpio moon gemini rising #then i reverse engineered that combo on online astrology birth charts to give cyrus a birthday #that would ensure that she was that combo of signs #sorry to all the leo sun scorpio moon gemini risings that may see this #im sure youre great

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