#also i don't think sam is using ponk (doesn't seem like sam to consciously manipulate ponk...)

[ceykore]

could you help me figure something out? How does Sam feel about Ponk?

If he is willing to sadistically torture Ponk for a useless keycard than he obviously doesn't care about him, right? Then why did he throw himself off a fridge when Ponk said Foolish was attractive??? Does he care about Ponk as a person, is he using for some end goal?? He confuses me

/rp

how does sam feel about ponk? it's definitely complicated and i think the best way to answer that is to explain my thinking process in phases: before keycard conflict, after keycard conflict (but before the fridge incident), and after the fridge incident.

before the keycard conflict, ponk and sam had a steady relationship! featuring the infamous woo station, love was definitely alive and well. there were a few pranks here and there that made the relationship complicated and unsteady at times, but i wouldn't categorize those situations as bond-breaking. sam had very fond feelings for ponk at this time and vice versa!

after the keycard conflict, ponk had lost a canon life and been brutally tortured all by sam. sam did this for the safety of the prison and to ensure that there was no chance that dream would leave the prison through ponk's petty thievery. the keycard conflict solidifies one thing perfectly: sam cares more about the prison and keeping dream in there than anything and anyone else. even ponk. but here's the interesting thing, i think ponk and sam view this situation very differently (not in the way that sam believes that he did no wrong and ponk believes that he was wronged). ponk obviously left this situation hurt and mentally battered, feeling like he had lost a close confidant to a prison (like i get that pandora's vault is a baddie, but u didn't have to steal sam like that smh....), but i think sam viewed the conflict as another road bump in their relationship. to sam, he was simply doing his job to ensure that dream wouldn't have a chance at escaping, and did this job using any means necessary (or unnecessary). i don't know the correct word to describe it, but it almost feels like sam was disappointed by what ponk did... this is just to say that sam was hurt by ponk's actions, but not in the same way that ponk was hurt by sam's actions. after the keycard conflict, sam still tries to flirt with ponk and ponk gives in at times, still throwing shade and alluding to the whole situation... sam's feelings after the keycard conflict are still relatively positive towards ponk i think. definitely not the same way as it was before, but because sam doesn't see that he's done anything wrong, he's able to move on with ease and doesn't take into consideration what this might've done to their dynamic.... (i'm really conflicted about how to say this part so pardon if i sound a bit convoluted rn...)

after the fridge conflict, after ponk says that foolish is attractive, i think sam felt hurt by this comment judging based off of his reaction. i think sam still believed that he and ponk were on decent enough terms that they could flirt and chill like they used to but upon hearing that ponk thinks foolish is attractive,,,, this must've felt a bit heartbreaking. it's hard to judge this situation because it's, unfortunately, never brought up again :/ it almost feels like sam is desperate for affection... he's not getting any positive vibes from anyone around him so i think he's trying to seek it out from a source he knows to be reliable, ponk. so ponk saying that he prefers other people than sam, it hurts y'know... as for where we are currently in the story, it feels like sam is acting how he used to with ponk and gets a bit defensive (using this word lienently) whenever ponk brings up the keycard conflict. sam's feelings for ponk at this point are complicated but i think they're still relatively positive...

does sam still care about ponk? i think sam cares more about keeping dream in prison than anything. we've seen the extents that sam is willing to go to to make sure dream stays in prison, even if that means inflicting pain onto loved ones like ponk. sam still seems willing to help out ponk if needed, but if the prison is involved, sam would choose the prison 1000x over ponk. it's kinda like tunnel vision, only focusing on one thing and ignoring the bigger picture...

here are some notes i took while trying to answer this !

#c!sam be like: keeping dream in prison >>>>> #also i don't think sam is using ponk (doesn't seem like sam to consciously manipulate ponk...) #even after sitting on this for a day or so i'm still conflicted on the question.... #it's not really an exact answer for me :/ #like all things it is definitely complicated! #but use these points as you will !! #also hmu if you wanna check out some of my notes for this ! i took a lot down and didn't really use all of my points... #might make my notes into a separate post actually #anyways... #thanks for the ask! #spacecowboysstuff <3 #<- bro your asks are always top tier ✨ #this was a fun one to answer because i never really thought as critically for sam as i do ponk #but i do adore sam's character writing wise #long post #dsmp analysis #<- i think this is analysis #tw torture mention #tw death mention #dream smp #dropsbyponk #awesamdude #im just ceying ✨