#but some frames ‘earn’ their right to be prime?

[hazbin-but-good]

another hazbin hotel rewrite/redesign?

yup! and i'm so serious about it that i made a whole blog for it. i'm a white queer ex-cath tran doing this as an art and writing exercise, so feedback from other creatives + jewish and/or racialized folks is especially welcome.

i'm putting this post and only this post in the main tags for visibility. also, not gonna link my main, but i do make my own original stuff, and i encourage fans and haters alike to do the same.

anyway, here's a mostly good-faith 1.7k-word essay on the original. i think it's pretty funny and brings up some less talked-about points. correct me on the facts, disagree with my opinions, and ask clarifying questions, but don't come at me with any piss-poor reading comprehension.

the hellaverse is garbage, and here's why

cw: strong language, stronger opinions, intersectional feminist critical discourse analysis

1. vivienne medrano, the person

medrano was born as a well-off white-passing latina (salvadoran-american) in bougieass frederick, maryland. while attending new york's top art school, she got popular on deviantart-tumblr-twitter by being a prolific multifandom fujoshi furry who's more into ornamental character design than storytelling. upon graduation, she leveraged her fanbase and industry connections to make the hazbin and helluva boss pilots, get helluva made for youtube, and get hazbin made for amazon prime.

like every woman online, she gets harassed for no good reason, and as a certified autist, i will defend her right to be dumb, weird, annoying, and bad with words. however, there are legit reasons to criticize her:

racism, misogyny, homophobia, fatphobia, some antisemitism, past transphobia, past ableism

shitty boss, bad friend

cowardly, vindictive, manipulative, thoughtless behavior

skeevy friends

sucks at taking criticism

in short, i think she desperately needs a PR person and someone to clean up her digital footprint.

2. medrano's art

incurious

inauthentic

noncommittal

creatively stagnant

overindulgent, and the indulgence isn't even fun

shallow and childish framed as complex and mature

bland and boring framed as shocking and subversive

to be clear, i'm at peace with the existence of suckass art like this; i just think the money, attention, and praise it gets are unearned and should go to more interesting works, of which there are infinite.

medrano's had the time, money, and social cache to grow as an artist, learn from the best, and take creative risks, but she hasn't. if she truly has nothing more to offer, she should let her collaborators take the wheel, but she doesn't do that either. instead, she keeps getting more and more resources to make the same baby bullshit, and that pisses me off. she could be the nicest person ever, and this fundamental arrogance would still make her art blow.

stop with the pointless guilt: liking medrano's work does not make you stupid or evil. however, if you stay in the kiddie pool of culture, if you refuse to engage with a diversity of art, if the hellaverse is your point of reference for anything media-related, you can't expect to have your opinions on art, media, or culture taken seriously. you have not earned a seat at the table. you gotta hit the books first.

i cannot emphasize enough how much incredible stuff is out there if you're willing to look further than what social media and streaming services put right in front of you. if you come away from this blog having learned about just one new artist or piece of art, i'll be a happy camper.

3. the hellaverse

a. empty and confused

hazbin and helluva's content and marketing has no clear target audience. the subjects are inappropiate for teens, but the execution is too childish for adults, and lemme tell you what i don't mean by that, first.

not inherently inappropriate for teens:

sex and sexuality

violence, including when it intersects with the above

politics and religion

not inherently childish:

animation (any style)

comedy

episodic writing and/or loose continuity

young characters

fun, happiness, optimism, the power of friendship, cuteness, tenderness, sincerity, etc.

what i mean is that these shows are literally about adult characters who fuck, smoke, drink, do drugs, go clubbing, work full-time, manage their own finances, and deal with stuff like bureaucracy, sexual violence, domestic abuse, marriage, divorce, late adoption, and family estrangement.

however, none of these "adult" things are given enough specificity to create drama or comedy. it's all too stock, vague, flat, weirdly sanitized, and thus utterly banal—pure aesthetics on top of bad saturday morning cartoons. it's exactly what i'd expect from a sheltered disney kid who needs to log off and get into their local gay scene ASAP so their only contact with things like poverty, policing, addiction, and sex work stops being facile movies and TV.

if the shows were aware of this and played with it, that could be amazing, but they're not. they give you the mickey mouse version of the world with a straight face and then play looney tunes sound effects to try to make you laugh and sad_violin.mp3 to try to make you cry. now that's funny.

b. old and tired

let's make like americans and pretend that the rest of the world doesn't exist. even within the confines of the USA, home of the hays code, the red scare, and reaganite propaganda, this neopuritan fascist state ruled by 1000 megachurches in a trenchcoat, the indie/underground animation scene has been doing crazier shit for decades. anti-war films in the 60's, bakshi movies in the 70's, the simpsons shorts and r-rated movies in the 80's, adult swim and MTV in the 90's, flash/newgrounds/youtube in the 00's, streaming in the 2010's—so what are we doing in the 2020's with this wet white rice drowned in expired ketchup? i feel crazy making this point because it's obvious if you've watched these things, but if you haven't, you're gonna be like "well, there's gotta be something new here". no! there isn't! in the words of jimmy "the scot" jordan, nothing, nothing, NOTHING!

c. ideological purgatory

actually, there is one thing in these shows i've never seen before: the presbysterianism. shout out some interesting or at least intentional presbysterian art in the comments, because the way these ideas are presented here is not compelling. it just makes the rainbow neoliberalism even more confusing and contradictory.

i guess the big presbysterian things are protestanism, calvinism, and, uh, big church government? presbysterians, get your shit together. get your brand down. catholics have BDSM and vampires, evangelicals have TV and corporatism; what do you have? celtic crosses? no wonder medrano has such uninspired ideas on divinity.

d. queer deficiency

when i look at a piece of art, i ask myself: "what does this give me that i can't get from the hunchback of notre dame (1996)?" if the answer is as limp as "uhh, gay people, i guess", i can probably look for my gay shit elsewhere and rewatch the hunchback of notre dame (1996) in the meantime.

but let's say that you have no standards. you've been waiting for ages for a show about gays by the gays for the gays, and by god you're gonna get it. this is it! here we go! time for some

generic twink obliteration

male sexuality as aggression and dominance displays

WLW (sex and chemistry not included)

a couple straight femdoms

and the stalest sex jokes known to man

...yeah, it's not very queer. and by "queer", i mean "questioning or subverting gender norms (including sexual roles) within a given cultural context regardless of creator identity and intent". i'm not a queer studies scholar so LMK if there's a more specific term for this, but whatever you call it, it's not in the hellaverse much.

there's not even any transness, literal or metaphorical, just ancient drag jokes. i guess the writers thought we would've been too controversial. so much for an indie animation studio that prides itself in the diversity of its staff both above and below the line, bakshi-style. i wonder how medrano, a bisexual woman, would've felt if told that a lesbian main couple in hazbin would be "too controversial".

4. spindlehorse and the vivziepop brand

spindlehorse toons underpays its overworked staff and keeps outsourcing more and more labor to even more overworked freelancers overseas to cut costs. a rainbow sweatshop is still a sweatshop, and just because these practices may be "industry standard" doesn't make them any more ethical.

the studio has also been repeatedly accused by current and former employees and contractors of creating a hostile and abusive workplace. AFAIK, it still has no dedicated HR person, and victims are too afraid of retaliation like blacklisting and online harassment to speak out.

this is exactly the stuff that unions exist to prevent. as i'm writing this, the IATSE (the parent union of TAG, which is the parent union of all US animation unions) is negotiating with entertainment industry executives for better working conditions, and if the execs fuck around like last year, it's strike time again. so watch this space, voice your support, and don't cross any picket lines.

i hope spindlehorse unionizes, but until then and for these reasons, i don't think you should give money to the company.

first of all, all content on amazon-owned platforms is ok to pirate, and all youtube ads are ok to block. everyone involved in making the episodes has (or should have) been paid upfront, so you're not taking the bread out of anyone's mouth.

next, let's look at the succulent offerings of the official vivziepop merch shop:

$10 pins and keychains

$15 sticker packs

$20 mugs and acrylic cutouts

$25 shirts

$30 metal cards (not even tarot)

$40 lounge pants

$50 mini backpacks

random $80 skateboard deck

forgive my latin americanness, but this is all stuff you can get made by a local metalsmith, print/sublimation shop, or just crafty people in your life. it's cheaper, customizable, and better for the environment to skip all the shipping and packaging. also, not painting your own skateboard is poser shit.

the hazbin website also has $15 pins, one $20 keychain, and $6 trading card packs. people are weird about trading cards, so if for some reason you wanna gamble for a mass-produced bit of cardboard, plastic, and tinfoil, at least bulk-order for all the vivziepoppers in your area so it's less of a huge waste. better yet, trace the designs and make infinite bootlegs.

at the end of the day, buying merch is not activism. your bulk order of trading cards will not save any wage slaves from getting evicted from their overpriced studio apartments. however, the shop links you to all the credited artists/designers, and more of your bucks will actually reach them if you buy their designs directly, then turn them into body pillows or life-sized bronze statues or whatever the fuck.

go through the credits of any episode of helluva or hazbin, and you'll find even more creatives you might wanna support. get jinkx monsoon's albums on CD. subscribe to actually good artist, animator, and composer gooseworx. lots of voice actors now have patreon, cameo, or self-hosted pages where you can write better lines for their characters and have them read it. these things may not look as shiny as Official Merch™, but we all need less plastic shit and more culture anyway.

#spindlehorse #vivziepop #hellaverse #hazbin hotel #helluva boss #spindlehorse critical #vivziepop critical #hazbin hotel critical #helluva boss critical #hazbin hotel rewrite #hazbin hotel redesign #helluva boss redesign #communism #degrowth

[in1-nutshell]

Hello! I want to know how do you update so fast?! Like— you update once a day at the very LEAST! What is your secret and how can I be as productive as you?

And anyways, other than that, do you mind doing a TFP bot buddy who got a very sickly and frail frame, and who had once been a Decepticon without choice (like maybe they were raised as a sparkling by the Decepticons or something), but recently they had joined the Autobots because they knew the Autobots were doing the right things. And it had been a pretty smooth ride since, cause Buddy hadn’t been able to been on the battlefields much due to their sickness, only working in the background tech, so they luckily didn’t have much conflicts with any members in particular.

However, due to being often neglected, and even humiliated, back when Buddy was with the Decepticon for their illness, Buddy had developed a habit of hiding off their illness, and Buddy promised themself that they would never let the Autobots find out about their physical state, in the fear of slowing the Autobots down and facing the same humiliation again. And Buddy just genuinely don’t believe their illness was important enough for any concerns and attentions, anyways, expecially in the face of a war, after the years of being neglected. So they just kind of pretends to be invisible, retreat into a corner, and hope to be forgotten whenever they were sick again.

However, they couldn’t hide the sickness forever since it would just get worse. And, the Autobots, as well as the human children, would soon teach Buddy that they were safe to ask for help here, and the ages of neglection and mistreatment was behind them now.

To be honest, I don't have much advice on how to create a writing schedule. You need to experiment with something that might work for you depending on your schedule. If anything, try and have little goals to reach.

Frail Buddy needs some love from everyone.

Hope you enjoy!

Bot Buddy the Ex-con who is sickly ill with Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead

SFW, Bit of Angst but it gets better, mentions of illness and collapse, nothing graphic or detailed, Platonic, Familial, Cybertronain reader

TFP

It had always been a hard life for Buddy.

With their illness that always left them drained of energy as well as being bit frail framed. They sent many mechs into a spiral into laughter whenever they told them that they were once a Decepticon.

Of course, it wasn’t a personal choice.

Their entire family unit had been a part of the Decepticon unit for years. They were the true definition of ruthless Con’s, but they had a soft spot for Buddy.

“Hey twig move it. Your frames taking up space.”—random Con

Roughly shoves Buddy into a wall.

Their family unit within a 10-mile radius suddenly filled with a sudden urge to hurt someone.

They cared about Buddy truly, but Buddy was they only one who had enough common sense to realize that the original goal was long buried. Now the cause wanted power, not equality.

They made their daring escape after hearing that all of their family had been offlined in a freak accident with Starscream. There were never any accidents when someone went offlined on Starscream’s watch. Buddy never found out why their unit was offlined, and part of them wanted it to stay that way.

When the Autobots first saw Buddy stumble on their base they thought Buddy was some Neutral that had come to join. Definitely not some dirty Decepticon.

It took a while for the team to get used to Buddy.

But after time and the usefulness of their communication and decoding skills, they earned their spot-on Team Prime when the group had departed to Earth.

Buddy never told the team the true extent of their illness. All the team knew was Buddy was framed differently and just naturally got tired.

Ratchet was extremely amid to Buddy to have a full checkup, but Buddy had been dodging the medics for years. They were a pro at this point.

“All right Buddy it’s your turn.”--Ratchet

“Are you sure? I mean Bulkhead is looking a bit—”--Buddy

“No, I’ve already checked on him and you’re the last one on the list.”--Ratchet

“Well—”--Buddy

The alarm goes off.

“Guess we’ll have to put a pin in this for a bit. See you later Ratchet!”--Buddy

“Buddy—Never mind I’ll get to you in a bit...”--Ratchet

Buddy always went last and always placed a modified version of their results in the system.

But Ratchet was starting to pick up on this trail.

Buddy had made friends with Bumblebee and Bulkhead in their early years on Team Prime.

Buddy was a bit hesitant to even be in the same room as the Wrecker.

Not because they hated him or anything.

It was that he was so clumsy, and they were a bit fearful that one day he was going to swipe at them by accident then they would be staring at the Well of the Allspark.

But gradually through some force company, the two turned out to have a rather nice friendship. Mainly on good heart teasing and time spent together on the comms.

Bulkhead could never have imagined that he would be friends with someone that looked like they would go down with a sneeze.

“Hey, Buddy you okay?”--Bulkhead

“Yeah? Why you ask?”--Buddy

“Well, you usually look like you can be taken down by my wrecking ball with one swing. Not today though.”--Bulkhead

“Bulk most mechs that end up behind your wrecking ball end up on the ground, I’m no different.”--Buddy

“Yeah, but today you look like you can go down with me applying a bit of pressure on your helm.”--Bulkhead

“Bulk no offense you don’t exactly don’t know how much strength to apply on certain things.”--Buddy

“Like what?”--Bulkhead

Buddy holding a mangled tool.

“Did I make my point?”--Buddy

“I guess… Can you at least see Ratchet?”--Bulkhead

“I’m perfectly fine Bulky. Don’t worry that helm of yours over me.”--Buddy

“Okay…”--Bulkhead

He wouldn’t question it, besides medicine wasn’t his fortitude.

Bumblebee and Buddy got along like a housefire.

It stemmed from Bumblebee being one of the few mechs wanting to get to know Buddy when they first came.

Buddy naturally latched on to the only kindness they had been shown in years.

Their friendship went on from there.

Bumblebee and Buddy have been scolded multiple times for having weird conversations on the comlines and forgetting sometimes to use their private lines.

“What do you think about the ending of the series?”--Buddy

“Beep bep bopbop bop (It was pretty decent, kind of wished there was more to it.)”--Bumblebee

“Yeah, it did feel anticlimactic. I wonder if there’s going to be another season?”--Buddy

“If you two don’t mind, everyone can hear you.”--Ratchet

He also worried a bit for Buddy’s frame at least, it looked… frail?

Buddy would always brush it off and even point to the stats.

Inner work being perfectly normal.

Bumblebee was still skeptical over it but… if the stats are correct then it shouldn’t be a problem.

Buddy was soon faced with another challenge, the humans.

Not that they were a problem, Buddy loved their new little organic friends. But sometimes they would get a little too close to the truth Buddy had been trying to hide.

Especially after June and Agent Fowler had been temporally kidnapped by Buddy’s former doctor and nurse: Knockout and Breakdown.

Now Buddy had no problems with either doctor or nurse.

In fact, they were one of the only two Con’s Buddy could respect.

Of course, they knew about Buddy’s illness.

There was only so much you could do to hide it from two mechs that always reviewed their patients, especially when it came to framework.

“Hmm… you have new denting on your sides today.”--Knockout

“Oh yeah, don’t worry about it.”--Buddy

“No, I want to know who tarnished my work.”--Knockout

“Is someone messing with you Buddy? Cause if they are—”--Breakdown

“It’s fine! Really guys it nothing! I feel fine!”--Buddy

“Look Breakdown in the optics and repeat what you said.”--Knockout

“… It was the new recruit… he shoved me into the cavern wall with a mining cart.”--Buddy

“…Good to hear, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a word with someone.”--Breakdown

“That mech is not going to be able to walk for a week.”--Buddy

“A month with a limp.”--Knockout

“Knockout.”--Buddy

“Fine! Two weeks with a limp.”—Knockout

Knockout had captured Fowler and June and had been talking to Breakdown when Breakdown asked him out loud to ask how Buddy was holding up with everything.

The two humans perked up hearing this.

They both had a rundown about Buddy being a con for a bit but nothing else.

“Hey Fleshy! The nurse one! You’ve heard of our ex-comrade, Buddy, right?”--Knockout

“And if we have?”—June

“June—”—Agent Fowler

“… From one medic to another, how are they holding up?”--Knockout

“What?”--June

“Oh, don’t you act all surprised. Buddy must have told you about their framework and inner works by now. I’m asking if they are all right.”--Knockout

“…”—June

“… They haven’t told you?”--Knockout

“…”--June

“Fine be like that. I didn’t care anyways.”--Knockout

“…They look like a gust of wind could bring them down lately…”--June

“June!”--Fowler

“…Thank you… June. Breakdown!”—Knockout

“Yeah?”--Breakdown

“Its not looking too good.”--Knockout

“How bad?”--Breakdown

“A measle gust of wind apparently then their going down to the Well.”--Knockout

“… Tell the humans thank you for me.”--Breakdown

“They can hear you, loud and clear.”--Knockout

Something clicked in June’s head.

Buddy had always been a bit different from the others, especially on some days that they worked stiffly and refused often to go out of the base.

When the pair had gotten rescued, they both compared their thoughts about Buddy.

They both had come to similar conclusions.

Buddy was sick, and they didn’t know.

Or

Buddy was sick and knew they were.

That second one made June feel sick herself.

June suddenly started coming by the base a bit more often and started spending a bit more time with Buddy.

Buddy just seeing this as one of their friends wanting to know a bit about themselves didn’t think too much about it.

“So how was today’s work?”--June

“Nothing too special June. And you how was work.”--Buddy

“Nothing special today. Why don’t you take a seat for a bit?”--June

“Oh, okay.”--Buddy

CREAK!

“… Sometimes the joints will act up a bit.”--Buddy

“Okay…”—June

June was secretly making notes about these interactions and how Buddy would position themselves and any noise they made.

Now all she needed was a second opinion about her thoughts.

She managed to get Ratchet to go out with her for a drive to talk about Buddy.

Ratchet felt his spark fall a little hearing the symptoms and little things June had managed to get.

It sounded like a familiar illness that had broken out a couple years before the war.

He figured that it had gone.

He feels like he should have known better.

That’s when he gets a call from Bulkhead.

“Bulkhead? What—”--Ratchet

“It’s Buddy! They just—they just—”--Bulkhead

“Bulkhead calm down what happened to Buddy?”--Ratchet

“They just… just collapsed! I don’t see any wounds or anything! The kids said they just dropped!”--Bulkhead

“Bulkhead stay with Buddy and activate the groundbridge.”--Ratchet

“You got it Doc!”--Bulkhead

Ratchet later apologized to June about nearly giving her whiplash when he turned around and sped to the groundbridge.

Buddy had collapsed while on the line with Bumblebee while he was scouting some old mining deposits. Bulkhead had gone to the other room to get something.

Bulkhead was already coming back to the main room when he heard the loud thud, he just came faster when he heard the kids screaming.

He found Buddy lying on the ground still and a frantic beeping sound from the comm center.

Quickly checked Buddy if they were injured, finding nothing just worried him more.

Physical injuries he could kind of get.

Energon leaking, try and stop it leaking.

No injury then it’s something inside.

While he was coming in Ratchet, he directed Raf to get to the comms and alert Bee what happened and try and help if he could.

Ratchet came in speeding.

June quickly got out so Ratchet could get to Buddy quicker.

“Bulkhead, grab Buddy and get them to the med bay.”--Ratchet

“Okay!”--Bulkhead

“Gently!”--Ratchet

“Okay…”--Bulkhead

“Are they okay?”--June

“I am not sure yet. The scans will at least give me some clue on what is going on. Rafael, I need you to pull up Buddy’s stats from my screen.”—Ratchet

“You got it!”--Raf

Ratchet felt his energon go cold seeing the results.

How could Buddy’s levels be so low?!

They were lower than his for crying out loud!

How could a perfectly healthy bot get levels so low without an injury?

To be honest he was surprised to see Buddy even alive with these levels. But he wasn’t going to say that out loud.

Right now Ratchet set to work to get Buddy stable.

Bulkhead hated having to tell Bee that Buddy was… he didn’t even know what was happening just that ratchet was trying to get them stable.

“Bee?”--Bulkhead

“BEEP?! Bepp boop bop beep! (Bulkhead! What happened? What happened to Buddy?!)”--Bumblebee

“I’m… I’m not sure Bee. All I know is that Ratchet is trying to stabilize them right now.”--Bulkhead

“…Bep beep. (Send me a brigde)”--Bumblebee

“Coming up… but you’re not going to like what you see.”--Bulkhead

Bumblebee had never zoomed into a groundbrigde than he did at that moment.

His spark skipped a beat when he heard the loud thud and screaming. He thought that the base had been attacked and that the kids were in trouble.

He was beyond relief when he heard Raf’s voice, until he heard that Buddy had collapsed, and they weren’t waking up.

Zipping into the groundbridge all he could do was wait for Ratchet to be done with Buddy.

When Buddy woke up, they were attacked with mini hugs from their human friends.

“Buddy!”--Kids

“Hey… You guys looked like someone died.”--Buddy

“You almost did! Don’t do that again!”--Miko

“Hehe… no promises.”--Buddy

“You better!”--Raf

“I’ll do my best then.”--Buddy

“Do better please.”--Jack

Buddy turned to see Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee watching them.

And Buddy’s true stats on Ratchet’s arm.

The secret was out.

Buddy, after a bit of hesitation, told them about their illness, it wasn’t contagious, it happened to 1 in a million.

They just so happened to be lucky million.

Ratchet gave them a little lecture about the importance of not hiding stuff like this from him.

Bumblebee further went on to say that they weren’t a burden to the team for having the illness, it was a part of them that they would accept.

Bulkhead told them that he and the team would help them with more activities that would be friendlier to their frame than the rougher things.

Buddy could feel themselves choking up on the emotions and just nodded.

“I know that was a lot to take in at once, we will be talking about this again.”--Ratchet

“Oh man…”--Buddy

“But, for now you need your rest.”--ratchet

“What about the comms?”--Buddy

“Beep? Boop bop boop (The Comms? I think we can handle the comms until up get a bit better.)”--Bumblebee

“Bee’s right. Just get some rest. You still have to tell the others.”--Bulkhead

“…Great…”--Buddy

“Yip! Yip! Enough, get some rest Buddy.”--Ratchet

“…Thank you. Everyone, thanks for everything.”--Buddy

“Your family Buddy, family looks after one another.”--Bulkhead

“Thanks…”--Buddy

For the first time in a while, Buddy slipped into a blissful recharge without any pain.

#transformers #transformers x reader #maccadam #bot buddy #tfp #tfp x reader #tfp ratchet #tfp bumblebee x platonic reader #tfp bulkhead

[my-writings-and-musings]

hello! i loved the recent earthspark bee story so much, can i request something similar but with earthspark megatron? anything involving robot babies works honestly, such a cute concept

(i apologize if this is too vague, thank you regardless!)

I was totally hoping to get asks for more yes EXCELLENT I have been so utterly swamped I needed something self indulgent to keep my writing going!

Here's the original with Bee for those curious!!

Please enjoy some Megatron being a brand new dad and having some feelings about it.

"Shouldn't you be getting something for yourself?"

Megatron was stopped in his tracks by the almost startling sound of another's voice, having been in such a fog he'd walked right by Optimus and hadn't even realized it. Turning to find his old friend standing beside the base of the Dugout stairs, he noticed a cube of energon in his outstretched servo, and though he couldn't deny being a tad bit hungry he didn't feel ready to take the time to refuel. 

"Later, perhaps." he declined politely, looking down at the human sized tray of food cupped in his palm. Between his massive size and the elaborate spread of steaming food across the tiny surface, he didn't dare make any sudden movements, lest his mate be left without nourishment even a minute longer than necessary. With all you'd been through, he didn't feel right delaying as long as he already had. Ignoring his desire for the cube, he turned to head off for the medical bay. "Y/N needs food far more than I do."

"Is there some kind of rule that new creators can't eat at the same time?" Optimus replied with a touch of playful sass as he walked in step with his friend. Megatron would have rolled his optics at the quip and shot one back, but with his lack of fuel and sleep combined with the jubilant celebration of the past few hours, he couldn't manage anything more than an amused sigh. There was simply too much to celebrate to bother being cross, no matter how hungry or exhausted he may have become with the increasingly late hour. Optimus followed him to the medical bay, stepping as quietly as their massive frames allowed so as not to wake the Terrans sleeping in their respective rooms.

"You need to take care of yourself if you want to take care of others, old friend." the Prime advised as they left the main area, smiling all the while. Megatron sighed again, this time because he couldn't think of a rebuttal to the wisdom his friend had to offer. 

"Fair enough..." he sighed as he secured the tray in one servo and used the other to take the cube. He'd thank his friend in time, but for now there was just too much to be done, enough that he completely forgot he'd need a second limb to open the door until he realized both were now occupied.

Thankfully Optimus showed him mercy, helpfully stepping in to enter the code and command the doors to open. "Here, allow me to get the door." he offered before doing so and stepping aside. Megatron smiled himself at the gesture, grateful to have such reliable friends when he needed them most. Nodding in acknowledgement, he entered the medical bay and allowed his optics to adjust to the dimmer light as the doors sealed shut behind him, finding that little had changed in his brief absence. You were still comfortably seated on the nest of blankets he'd arranged on the padded berth in the corner of the room, your tiny form looking exhausted but not quite ready to sleep as you raised your head in response to his entrance. He caught a hint of a smile through the darkness.

"Are they sleeping?" he asked quietly as he approached, unable to completely subdue the sounds of his footsteps despite all of his efforts. 

"Sort of, he keeps slipping in and out of consciousness." you answered as you adjusted the swaddled bitlet in your arms, earning a tiny coo in the process. Megatron swiftly deposited his cube on a nearby table when you weren't looking, intending to eat later but wanting his full attention on you for the moment. Granted, his attention hadn't really left you at all in the past few hours, but that seemed fitting for a new sire performing his many duties. You caught the tray in his servo when he came to the edge of the bed, and perked up at the smell of something delicious. "Is that for me?"

"Alex insisted on preparing something fresh once I mentioned you were hungry. I'm not sure what he made, but I believe it's to your specifications." Megatron explained, trying not to chuckle at how Dorothy's husband had jumped into action the second he'd requested nourishment on your behalf. It had taken some time to prepare, but he'd trusted the Maltos to have a much better idea of what a human needed to recover from labor, even if he'd assured them you'd only asked for a snack so no one had to trouble themself. Alex hadn't even been bothered by the fact that it was the dead of night, and judging by your reaction, his cooking skills hadn't been at all diminished by a lack of sleep.

"Oh wow, he really went all out." you marveled as you beheld the impressive spread, uncertain how you'd finish it all. The sparkling in your arms reacted to the scent of food with a sleepy but curious trill, scarlet optics cracking open as he yawned and nommed on the edge of his blankets without a care in the world. Hunger and affection stirred within your stomach and heart, leaving you briefly unsure of how to proceed.

"I can bring over the bassinet, to free up your hands." Megatron offered quickly, setting the tray down a short distance from you before he turned to search for the human sized infant carrier that Dorothy had gifted the both of you. Before he could spot it amongst the piles of supplies, you shifted in your nest and spoke up to get his attention.

"Actually, do you want to hold him?"

The question, innocent as it may have been, dropped an icy chunk of fear into his stomach. Words briefly failed him as he got a hold of himself before turning around. 

"Should I?" he asked with open hesitation, looking to the sparkling and feeling a fresh burst of terror at the prospect. Though he'd been there when your little one was born, allowing you to hold his servo as he cradled you from behind and coached you through it, he hadn't yet had any more physical contact with the newborn than a brush of his digits against their tiny frame. Even that had felt wrong, as if he'd taken an unacceptable risk for his own selfish gain.

You smiled and carefully sat up, angling the bitlet so his sire had a better view. Megatron calmed a little at the confidence in your voice, the affection he had for both of you building as you reminded him of a simple fact. "I think so, he's your son, after all."

His son. That certainly was going to take a while to get used to, along with the explosive mix of emotions his newfound parenthood was stirring up every time he confronted his new reality. Returning to the berth, he pulled up a chair and sat down, looking down at the sparkling in your arms and feeling a fresh lurch of fear. His long and storied history aside, the little one was simply miniscule compared to him, and despite his natural dexterity and ease handling your own fragile form, he was worried that taking them into his grasp could be dangerous. "That is true, but are you... sure it's safe?"

"He'll be safer with you than anywhere else. Here, let me show you." you offered, encouraging him to hold out his cupped servos. As hungry as you were, you didn't rush him when he did as you asked with considerable hesitation. A brief flinch of discomfort across your face compelled him to move more confidently for your sake, his servos moving close enough to save you from any additional discomfort as you lifted the sparkling to hand him over. The bitlet cooed in confusion as he was laid down in his sire's servos, and though the sound and the weight of the tiny being sent a wave of emotion over Megatron he remained still as a statue for your instructions. "Just keep him here, like this. What's most important is supporting his helm."

Megatron nodded, but was otherwise motionless as you sat back against your pillows, the edges of his vision fading as everything beyond the sparkling briefly slipped away. The little one didn't seem at all perturbed by the move, merely curious as he blinked upwards at the massive figure looking down on him before yawning and deciding he was too sleepy to care. Bringing tiny servos to his chubby cheeks, they rubbed their bleary optics before settling back down to snooze, swaddled blankets rising and falling from their peaceful ventilations. The sight nearly sent his spark into a supernova, and he brought the tiny being to his chassis to keep them warm and protected. Pure adoration was tinted by guilt as he looked between the resting sparkling and you contentedly enjoying your meal.

After all the horrors he'd brought to Earth, all the harm he'd caused this world, it had given him you, and by extension, this little being the two of you had made together. It was an honor he could never deserve, and yet, here he was. Perhaps fate had thought fit to offer him a chance to add something to the world for a change.

He brought the little one closer to his helm, his optics stinging with tears he refused to shed as he took his first real look at his son. As hard as it was to believe he'd grow into a properly sized Cybertronian, the new sire had no trouble identifying his own features, from the crimson optics that were currently closed in rest to the shiny silver of his soft mesh. Your own features were mixed in as well, their Cybertronian equivalents expressing themselves beautifully. 

"I'll eat as fast I can, then I can take him back." you said suddenly, breaking him out of the stupor. 

"Take your time, love." he requested gently, smiling down just as the newborn worked a thumb into his mouth to suckle. All hunger and exhaustion completely forgotten, Megatron settled more comfortably in his chair, basking in the moment and forgetting all about the world beyond. His words were soft yet certain when he spoke next. "I have him, and I have you."

#transformers #maccadam #earthspark #transformers earthspark #tf earthspark #transformers: earthspark #megatron #tf #megatron x reader #transformers x reader #x reader #human/bot babies #human reader #self insert #self indulgent #sparkling #transformers sparklings #tfe #tfes

[mychlapci]

… I like to think Sentinel would manage to condition himself completely by accident. Most of it could have been avoided by just not trying to optimize his studying time by taking his supplements at the same time. He probably started off like you said, trying to hold still as his /medical device/ expanded in his valve to connect with his gestation tank. Maybe even felt a little uncomfortable with how wet he got, feeling it pump the nutrients into him until his belly was swollen with more than just his bitlet. And of course he wouldn’t just overload himself afterwards to get rid of the charge, it’s not like he’s INTO this! That would be ridiculous. Him, a Prime and an Elite Guard, getting charged up over carrying of all things… Sentinel growing increasingly horny until just prepping the applicator has his sensitive pussy drooling, day by day subconsciously anticipating his lessons more and more as the mental link between being horny and being a good mommy strengthens. But then throw housekeeping into the mix—Sentinel Prime would never stoop so low as to be dirty, but he IS a bachelor, after all.

Maybe he sits up one day and feels a little broody, a little like nesting. Well, he’s already taking his supplements while he does his parenting classes. He might as well look up some tips on keeping things clean. Getting up from his desk afterwards, tingling with charge that he keeps denying exists as he sets about tidying up the kitchen. He needs to sanitize it after cleaning the applicator after all. Subconsciously setting his hand on his belly as he straightens up from scrubbing the floor and deciding he’s earned a reward with all this hard work. Rushes back to his berth to wring out a weak, dry overload from his limp spike, just enough to sate the urge but not to clear the charge—belly swollen with a bitlet, his valve and node are his frame’s higher priority. And maybe he adds his little rewards to the schedule, right after completing his lessons and preparing his hab for a bitlet! A hardworking Prime like Sentinel deserves a little tlc after all.

But after a few weeks, he finds himself rocking on the applicator. Grinding in his chair as his calipers cycle down and clutch at what is basically a false spike anyway… a little moan sneaking free as his last video ends with a “you’re doing a great job, carrier!” or perhaps a “you’ll be such a good mommy!” Well, it’s just more efficient to get his overload NOW rather than wait, right? A good Prime shouldn’t waste time when he could be working on other things. So he moves his daily overload to lesson time, feeling guilty and a little embarrassed… at least until his next vid brings up how an increase in libido and sensitivity are perfectly normal for carriers. Of course there’s nothing wrong with Sentinel, nothing odd here. He’s just a perfect, textbook case of a carrying mech. In fact, the neediness might even be a sign that he needs MORE supplements a day than he’s been getting. Might be time to talk to a medic.

And of course, months down the line when he’s so swollen that he can’t even SEE his array let alone play with it, he might even realize what he’s done. Well, the apron made sense when he scratched his handsome paint one too many times while cleaning the hab, but did it need to be so pretty? Did his valve need to clench when his vids praised him? Did his panels need to heat up when he cooked or cleaned or set the pump up for his poor, leaky titties? But it’s too late to turn back, too hard to untrain his reactions (especially when he can’t bring himself to want to, too used to multiple overloads daily). Too much effort when no one needs to know.

And then the bitlet finally arrives, and all Sentinel can think is that his last vid kept saying how beneficial it is for a youngling to grow up with a sibling or two… and what a perfect little mommy he is, for only doing what’s best for his little one. Well, the office hasn’t burned to the ground without him yet, now has it? Maybe he could do some paperwork from home. At least until the bitlets wean. That’s awfully young, though… maybe when they start at school.

of course it’s Sentinel’s own fault. He’s so stupid. If he hadn’t tried to optimize his study hours and transfluid implants, then he wouldn’t have ended up discovering getting this damned pregnancy fetish.

i love to imagine Sentinel realizing, despite himself, that he’s conditioned himself into associating his pregnancy with overloading and having to face the fact that he doesn’t have it in him to change it… if he even tries to clean, or watch a video or read a book about carrying he gets so unbearably horny and it’s too hard to resist. He can always reason that his frame is simply… demanding the nutrients for the bitlets, nothing more, just a basic reaction. He’s doing fine. Getting incredibly wet just while cleaning is… a side-effect he’s willing to push through. No one needs to know.

oOoh Sentinel getting himself knocked up again… that’s just exquisite. I mean, back then, it was just an accident, but this time… no, of course it was an accident. He just accidentally wrapped his legs around the designated mech and made him overload inside, he wouldn’t have done that if he’d known he was gonna end up knocked up again, surely. But it’s alright, a youngling should have a sibling. 

i am so glad that my fantasy, regarding any mech at all times, is now applicable to Sentinel. I need him visibly pregnant, swollen with his second baby, with his first one latched onto his chest as he feeds it<33

#valveplug #hjgsjagjsjjj.... god #mommy sentinel #pregnancy mention #texty

[witchofthesouls]

I rarely see any TFP Soundwave love here, let’s fix that shall we?

TFP Soundwave developing an obsession for the Autobots new human, a girl with hacking abilities so good she has best Soundwave at his own game of my than one occasion, is unable to read her mind despite him being telepathic, and has saved and cared from Laserbeak due to outside forces without the Autobots knowing.

*Soundwave, tilting his head to the side with a question mark popping up on his visor: “Query: (Y/N); prime mommy material?”

Cause let’s me honest, you’d get the hots too if a chick smaller and daintier than you kicked your ass on more than one occasion and cared for your kid despite being enemies.

(In total agreement. I love me some TFP!SW and this is most likely a slight crossover with Elsewhere University or a Magic!AU since you earned a boon to shield yourself from mental abilities.)

You’re difficult to locate and it’s galling. 

Unlike the other Autobot pets, taken and secluded away by their guards and shielded base, you actually have a life outside of them, and it seems that you have no set ‘bot for some meager protection.

Instead of an easy target to snatch away -so eye-catching with that ridiculously bright-green hoodie with flopping audials- Soundwave digs and digs and digs for your whereabouts…

And you’re not there. The most he could find was your birth records, a few newspaper scans of the sparkling-equivalent of basic education, and then you drop from the face of the planet after high school. You reappear after five years and hop across the world with no rhyme or rhythm and at an impossible speed with the current technology on Earth.

Annoyance turns into begrudging respect for your efficient work. You have a talent for finding even the most inconsequential recordings of their presence and you cleanly wipe away the evidence.

If anything you do break the monotony of his work, especially with the little notes of “Better luck next time, Slenderman” or sad cat memes replacing the conspiracy posts of Cybertronian presence on Earth…

And then, Laserbeak completely disappears for a week without a hint of her status. No activity. No locator. Not even a life signal.

Soundwave searched everywhere. Remaining at the consoles, letting the massive amount of data flow into his systems, and refining his queries. When that amounted to nothing, he locked his hydraulics and set himself into the Nemesis itself, supplying his frame from the ship’s flow, overriding his own filtration because needed its power. He has to know. There must be absolute proof. He cannot stare into the ceiling of an empty room and do nothing but scramble after hope-

When Laserbeak suddenly reappeared, Soundwave disconnected from the warship and checked himself into Knock Out’s care, dismissing the accumulated complaints because he still had done all the necessary work and more during his locked state.

He weighed the necessary systems flush for the accumulated slag and joint stress as an acceptable tradeoff.

“Aren’t you a lucky girl? Count your stars that I do actually have standards, pretty bird.” In the memory loop, he feels the ghost of your touch, gentle and searching as you repair the damaged circuitry and clamp the sparking wires. A gloved hand resting upon the still wing and he can feel the phantom of your own biochemistry. Unique in its chaotic not-patterns and near-repetitive beats that clash and reform and clash again.

And you were right. Laserbeak was truly lucky that the shot didn’t stray to the left and the compromised seams. Otherwise, she would be gone as well. Laserbeak pings her active status over the bond as if she’s not currently docked on him.

“Sorry, birdy, you gotta stay like this.” Beneath the tease, there are apologetic notes as you keep Laserbeak immobilized by unknown means. In an off-placed mirror, he sees the outline of dark goggles and a facemask underneath that absurd hoodie, the screens of monitors, a toolbox, and, of all the things, Energon crystals.

“And tell your master that there’s no point coming here. I’ll be long gone and elsewhere.” 

Something in your tone spoke of a private inside joke.

And true to your word, the suburban dwelling used to treat her is completely empty. It stands empty and unoccupied and without a trace of your once presence. Not even the security cameras, both public and private, could find one hint of a person living there. Only the vehicle with darkly-tinted windows drove and entered the garage, the doors closed without anyone stepping out.

And you purposely leave that hint.

That car -the very one used to transport Laserbeak -was found abandoned and hollowed out by fire, erasing physical evidence of yourself and her.

:: ‘Tor. I like that one. :: Laserbeak hums with a pulse of warmth. Not quite affection, but close enough.

His lips twitch to a near smile beneath the visor as it traces the digital records of the license plate. It leads to a second-hand purchase by a dead human. 

He’s starting to like you, too.

#ask #transformers #transformers prime #tfp #soundwave #reader insert #magic #cybertronian biology #laserbeak #maccadam #my writing #arson falls under Decepticon appreciation and love language #Or more like Soundwave's #You wear a GIR hoodie all the time #that thing has powerful protection #injury

[hanakihan]

to follow @i-bring-crack, here i present you all

Sung Jin-Woo / Woo Jin-Chil Weird AU WIPs Bingo (because my fantasy runs wild)

Fatal Frame AU: Jin-Chul disappears on assignement to investigate disappearance of people near small village. Jin-Woo, worried, plagued by nightmares and paranoid over moving shadows in their shared apartment, goes to find Jin-Chul himself. He had no idea that he’s Abyss’ creation that helped It to find and seek back what belongs to It. Jin-Chul was the only survivor in sacrificial night because his mother helped him to escape and ritual failed, entire village consumed in eternal darkness that froze this place in time. Jin-Woo, fighting with his nature as Abyss’ creation, arrives at sacrificial altar, where remaining piece awaits, clad in white and reds. The question is, will he succumb to shadows and finish ritual that failed or will defy his fate.

Houseki no Kuni AU: Clinohumite (Jin-Woo) is a right hand for Gray Diamond (Go Gun-Hee), not the hardest yet not the most fragile of gemstones. Being the one to keep track of all gemstones and their schedules, it falls on him to find always sneaking Alexandrite (Jin-Woo) and finally assign him a proper task. Game of hide and seek results in first proper meeting, the best fighter among them all that catches Clinohumite from falling and breaking, while shining purple eyes laugh at him. Since Clinohumite won by finding him, Alexadrite arrives next day at meeting in clear blue glory, under different light he changes his color and slightly personality. Clinohumite once was on Moon and returned from it barely whole but has no memories of it, because Alexandrite was his initial partner on patrol duty until he failed to save Clinohumite from abduction and that’s why he avoids him, ashamed of his previous weakness.  Clinohumite’s abduction resulted in appearance of other self in Alexandrite (basically pre Monarch awakening Jin-Woo as blue hue Alexandrite at day and Shadow Monarch Jin-Woo as purple hue Alexandrite at night).

Idol AU: Jin-Chul wanted to be a normal office clerk, not to work as an idol manager. He lacks enthusiasm but he gets the job done, but even then he decides that he’ll quit after his final assignment. Final assignment happened to be the most popular Idol in South Korea - Sung Jin-Woo, who, compared to other Idols, is actually nice and easy to manage. Poor Jin-Chul has no idea what a disaster Jin-Woo is, especially after Jin-Chul caught his eyes.  ‘After our contract ends i’m going to retire’ ‘Oh great i plan to graduate from idol industry and take a vacation with you’ ‘Congratulatio-- WAIT WHAT’ And Jin-Woo’s graduation alnum was full of love songs that broke top charts in less than a day.

Absolute Being Incarnation AU: No matter what, Shadow Monarch seeks his God, while God seeks familiar presence. They both awakened through pain and suffering, but in the end they’re together after lifetimes of separation. They’re Origin and Finality of everything, but most of all, they’re two pieces that perfectly match. 

Gacha AU: Jin-Woo was a prime example of pop-culture illiterate. And then apparently Jin-Ah drags him into gacha hell where in addition to his Shadow Monarch title he earns The Supreme Whale title and he absolutely doesn’t regret speding money on 2D husbando when in theory he can have 3D one. Two pining dorks whaling the hell out of game for each other’s content because they’re afraid to speak about their feelings in real life.

Childhood sweethearts AU: Jin-Chul was a white crow that other kids avoided. That is until a really cute boy approached him and asked if he wants to play. Jin-Chul had a thought to be rude so other boy will leave him alone but honestly it won’t hurt to play with a child who’s younger by some years? After that they were playmates for some time because Jin-Chul’s orphanage took kids out to play in park, and one day this boy gifted Jin-Chul really cute but clearly child made plushies of himself and that boy, and Jin-Chul almost cried because no one gifted something directly to him and for him. And boy had courage to propose to him despite being at least head shorter and younger, and Jin-Chul told him to grow up first. That was their last meeting, but Jin-Chul still held those plushie dolls dear to his heart, caring and repairing them when time came. Jin-Woo never forgotten that lonely but pretty boy from childhood to whom he promised to marry once he grows up, and deducted it was Jin-Chul after seeing those old plushies that are clearly taken good care of.  ‘If that boy from years ago to propose to you again, will you accept?’ And Jin-Chul silently drops plushies he was holding, seeing a fine man that still look at him with same admiration and affection just like that pure boy on playground.

Howl’s Moving Castle AU: Jin-Chul is a workaholic who rarely rests, but he still finds time to be kind to people. After unknowingly helping a Shadow Monarch in disguise, he gets cursed by other Monarchs for contacting with exiled one. Now it’s up to Shadow Monarch to return a kindness favor to human who got caught in this mess and fall in love with warmth and brightness of his soul despite his eldery appearance. Also there’s definitely a scene of Jin-Woo lovingly stroking Jin-Chul’s golden locks as man becomes youthful in his sleep again wrapped in blankets near fireplace.

Hades and Persephone AU: Under request of Gun-Hee (Demeter), Jin-Chul (Persephone) visits Underworld to welcome and help new God - Jin-Woo (Hades), since Jin-Chul knew previous Shadow Monarch and helped him from time to time to run things in Underworld. Because Jin-Woo had no idea, he accidentially fed Jin-Chul food from Underworld. Jin-Chul found a solution, thus creating seasonal cycle. Jin-Woo feels bad about his mistake and doesn’t notice how he fell in love with god of spring and nature.

Frog Prince AU: Jin-Woo is a soon to be heir to a kingdom, and he needs a spouse. Unfortunately, he’s not interested in getting married when whole country is open for explaration. In the end, his parents make him to shot an arrow - where it lands, there will be his spouse. Jin-Woo finds his arrow in swamps and near his arrow is an ordinary looking frog. Ashamed to lie to his parents, he brings frog back to palace, where he becomes an object of laughter. Heir’s spouse shall go through trials to show their skills, but seeing that heir brought a frog with him, no one took it seriously. But surprisingly, each morning Jin-Woo found each required item made with utmost care. Jin-Woo goes to bed ready to be a laughterstock next evening because there will be a ball to congratulate him on his engagement on swamp frog, but before falling asleep he feels someone stroking his head and whispering to wait for him at ball night. At that same night instead of a frog a beautiful man enters the room, a shining brilliance that adresses Jin-Woo as his future husband who took a good care of him while he was small and weak. Jin-Woo later finds and burns frog skin making things worse, because Jin-Chul was a cursed missing adopted prince that king Gun-Hee tried to find for years. Now it’s up to Jin-Woo to lift the curse and fix his mistakes.

Palace intrigue AU (Heavily inspired by Kusuriya no Hitorigoto and Cinderella): Jin-Chul’s parents were high ranked prostitutes in red light district that raised him in brothel. By sheer luck and because brothel owner knew General Go Gun-Hee by old friendship, he ended up in his care as a right hand man. By no mans Jin-Chul was a best educated man, but he knew basics enough to preform taks given to him. Who would’ve known that during his visit to palace with Gun-Hee he’ll manage to save princess Jin-Ah from being poisoned? Apparently brothel knowledge comes in handy when someone tries to assassinate someone. And just like that a faceless soldier with no name behind him and no education gains a favor of the Emperor, whom almost no one saw. And on top of that some palace minister, who happens to be Gun-Hee’s friend, has a tendency to drag Jin-Chul into problems while Gun-Hee laughs on background because while Emperor Jin-Woo is in disguise to escape his obligations as a ruler of a nation, it’s still hilarious to see that sparkle in Emperor’s eyes when your adopted son scolds the Emperor for doing something dumb.

IB-inspired AU: Jin-Chul is a busy salaryman, but when given free tickets to attend an art gallery dedicated to famous missing painter Sung Jin-Woo who had a very distinct style focusing on blues and purples, he attended. Too caught up in admiring art pieces, Jin-Chul doesn’t notice changes in gallery and accidentially falls into one of paintings. Ending up in reverse gallery with nothing but a vibrant yet dead looking yellow rose he wanders around and tries to avoid hostile Shadow series paintings that came to life. In the end Jin-Chul finds missing painter - albeit he has some memory issues. But then also he finds that Jin-Woo made a themed self portrait for Shadow Series before his disappearance titled ‘Shadow Monarch’. Now Jin-Chul questions who’s real and who’s impostor while questioning if the person he bonded with is the real Sung Jin-Woo or a pretending Shadow Monarch.

Genderswap AU: Jin-Chul never understood what Hunter Sung found in her - he got the looks, the power, everything he can desire at this point, he’s surrounded by best looking hunters out there, yet despite it all he follows her around, a workaholic, constantly tired and not best looking person out there. She’s tall and too sharp for a dream girl, no curves and softness, only sharp angles and muscle, no skirts and heels, only suits and occasional loafers. She even gets confused for a man most of the times so yes, what Hunter Sung potenially could’ve found in her is a complete mystery for her.  On side note if both are women, Jin-Woo domineering the fuck out of men but chosing bae over hoes because she has her lesbian priorities okay and because chairman’s right hand lady is so fun to tease

Nier AU: After fall of humanity, two Androids - B1 (Jin-Woo) and A8 (Jin-Chul) - continue to wander on Earth trying to fulfill their mission despite no need. B1, who in reality happened to be E1 type Android and A8 - an old model - locate and destroy Monarchs - signle A.I. units that stop Earth from self regenerating. They succeed, but in the end, nothing is left on them, empty falling apart shells that want to meet their end together, because maybe they found humanity while it ceased to exist? /whoever gets why there’s numbers 1 and 8 ilu

Titanic (kinda?) AU: a rich class young master and an ordinary overworked coal covered engineer meet on luxurious cruise ship even though they were never supposed to. What can go wrong on nighttime when both of them meet and talk without social boundaries surrounded by lull of waves? As a part of engineering team Jin-Chul stays on sinking ship and after securing his family Jin-Woo having none of this self sacrificial shit because Jin-Chul has people he cares about too.

Gambler/Organized crime AU: Investigator Jin-Chul having a cold case on his hands - and potentially, the Shadow Monarch, one of Monarchs that rule underground criminal world in Korea, has needed leads to finally solve it, so killing spree can be ended. Once a month his syndicate organizes gambling night - a type of gambling battle royale between participants and Shadow Generals for winning and having a chance to have an audience with unreacheable Shadow Monarch. Jin-Chul, desperate to find a lead, signs in as a participant and slowly climbs him way towards victory, avoiding death along the way. Surprisingly, he gets small aid from ‘benefactor’ who seems benevolent enough. Jin-Chul survives the night and has a meeting with a mysterious Shadow Monarch, who’s curious what a government dog (heh--) is doing in such place and why going to such lenghts. Jin-Chul saw Monarch’s face and learned his name over a cup of herbal tea and didn’t even thought how he’ll walk out of here alive after that. It was written all over his face and Jin-Woo had best laugh in years because of that and after drugs kicked in and exhausted Jin-Chul fell asleep, Jin-Woo spared him, curious of what Mister Investigator will do and will his actions shake Monarchs balance in underground world. 

Benelovent God AU (Crane's Return of a Favor inspired): Jin-Chul led a simple life as a peasant - there was food on his table and his adopted father was well, and that was enough for him. One night he got lost and stumbled upon a butterfly field, pleace clad in darkness yet luminated by flapping wings of blue butterflies. In middle of it grew an old majestic tree and right under it was almost destroyed altar. Jin-Chul, feeling tired after field work, tidied place a little and prayed to unknown god, asking for forgiveness and a chance to sleep near tree. Next day he wakes up covered by expensive looking robe and with butterflies sitting on him, but instead of taking anything, he draps it over altar and even leves small offering from remaining food he had. Jin-Chul continues to visit that altar and take care of it, eventually sharing how his day went or his troubles while doing work here, and when that happened, one of butterflies always ended up following him back home only to disappear later. With time his household started to flourish and life in village became so much better, and Jin-Chul one day asked if unknown god wants something in return for shown kindness and unknown god finally manifests, replying that Jin-Chul showed kindness first even though he had no idea to whom he prayed. It was kindness of a stray human that awakened a sleeping god that fell in love.

Fashion industry AU: Who would’ve thought that an average looking manager will catch worldwide known fashion designer’s eye? Jin-Woo was having a slump of ideas, none of best models inspired him, he had no one to model for his recently released collection photoshot. Enter Jin-Chul who was just accompanying one of models to end up dressed up and groomed for a photoshot under careful eye of essentric fashiom designer Jin-Woo. And then he gets an offer to be Jin-Woo’s personal model for next collection? Cue sexual tension during a simple measurements taking scene--

Blind and Mute AU: Jin-Chul was born blind. Jin-Woo became mute because of trauma. Two of them meet in a park, awkwardly sitting on a bench. Jin-Woo helps Jin-Chul to navigate around new places while Jin-Chul talks with Jin-Woo without demanding answering back. They grow comfortable around each other and their communication method is touch, two become function as one, comfortble and complete.

Villain/Hero AU: Jin-Chul was absolutely unfortunate enough to be selected as a Hero that will go and slay Shadow Monarch. Turns out Shadow Monarch is a bored shut-in who didn’t even leave his lands and has no idea that someone does crimes under his name. Entire misunderstanding gets resolved with a good cup of tea and Shadow Monarch decides it is time to socialize after being a shut-in for 1000 years. Jin-Chul thinks it was a bad idea. Jin-Woo says that hero now can rest since Shadow Monarch was slayed - his heart now belongs to a tired man who unceremoniously entered his palace to slay him.

Soulmates AU: with appearance of Gates and Mana, in rare cases hunters can become Soulmates - those who have a connection through which their mana reaches other. Jin-Woo was weak, but he felt much stronger mana trying to keep him somewhat safe, while Jin-Chul felt a weak flicker of someone’s mana shyly touching his own. The stronger Jin-Woo becomes, the more Jin-Chul knows and feels it, and eventually Jin-Woo’s mana starts to terrify and hurt him. Jin-Woo has no idea that Jin-Chul is his soulmate since his own mana started to eat other’s. Weak warm touch of other’s mana is what reminds Jin-Woo of who he is and that he mustn’t lose himself in his own power.

Omegaverse AU: Jin-Woo is a weakest hunter but also a completely ordinary beta. Then he gets hit with Ashborn’s yassification and changes to alpha that demands to domineer to claim to own. And then there’s Jin-Chul who’s also a normal beta and has no idea that Jin-Woo is an alpha because betas literally cannot smell others or feel. Despite Jin-chul being a beta, Jin-Woo still finds his smell rather nice and soothing, not annoying like alpha’s or sickeningly sweet like omegas. Cue alpha’s courting that an ordinary beta completely doesn’t understand. Alpha in Jin-Woo is completely overjoyed when Jin-Chul allows him to mark his neck with a bite even though it does nothing to beta and it’s a literal pain in neck but oh well, he can survive this (he has no idea it will become worse once it’s rut period someone save him).

That’s some weird ass AUs okay but those are at least fun sounding (i hope) because i have additional 30 in my safe but G O D they need brushing because they’re an overall idea mess WHEEEEEEEEEEZE)

#solo leveling #sung jin woo #woo jin chul #my friends let's make it a thread #yall share your AUs too #the more the merrier #i had to brorse and filter through 52 AUs i had in my folder because 2/3 of them are spur of moment #jinwoo and jinchul are fun archetypes to work with ngl #stories and ideas write themselves

[thebwarch]

Finished up totally all the episodes in Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, that animated netflix show that contains a ton of Ubisoft IP in a cyberpunk setting. Show is better than it has any right to be, it's great even for my opinion. I loved this show and these characters.

It is of course enormously adult but everything feels Earned imo in some way. (Be aware, sex, blood, death, you know how this goes) Nothing feels like it was done Just because we're in an adult show and we can do whatever we want now. Plotlines are just cool and great. Every character is just nicely realized.

The animation is incredible and they have a lot of gags of switching up the animation from the main 2D style. The show will go into pixel art, into anime, into FMV sequences for gags and stretches of the show. The movement and look is just, good. I loved how this show was drawn a lot, I want to see more from this studio like this now.

I was personally never really annoyed by almost anything and laughed at a good amount of the jokes, but at least smiling most of the runtime.

It's six episodes long, average 25mins per. Short show, you can crack it out in a day. This show has the best pixel art in a show I've seen so far, I think they got legit pixel artists on this. Puts Sonic Prime to shame.

Okay so like, this is neither a positive or a negative, but they have a couple real life wrestlers show up, like Kenny Omega, and their cameos are kinda ??? Like very short and not particularly impactful or entertaining. I just feel like they coulda used these boys a bit more if they were gonna get them at all.

It's a cyberpunk show and, I think it gets that more than most other cyberpunk media right about now. There are incredibly fucked up fascist things that this show contains and that The Overlords do to citizens. It felt like the writer(s) weren't just saying "Oooo cool glowy city", they had a legit idea about the kind of opression that rampant capitalism and facism would cause and what they wanted to criticize.

Minus maybe oooone franchise, I think all the Ubisoft IP is used really well. I dug what they did with Rayman in this show, and if you've only seem him snorting coke, like, that happens. But there's more to Rayman's story and arc and character in this than just pure shock value. If someone is a fan of multiple Ubisoft IP there's surprising references and characters that show up, it is a show that very much loves Ubisoft's IP. (Ubisoft being a french gamedev and this show being done by a french animation studio.)

Soundtrack was just okay. Functional. Especially comparing it to Cyberpunk Edgerunners, there were A LOT of jams in Edgerunners that I could throw on my spotify playlist. I wouldn't throw a single Captain Laserhawk song on my spotify.

Show is gay. It shows male to male gay explicitly and without hiding it or implying it, a few of these boys are GAY. The main CHARACTER, the PROTAG, is GAY. But it doesn't have any other LGBT letters.

I could feel the Budget at times. Sometimes there would be a freeze frame of animation to end a sequence. But I could mostly just respect what they DID do with what they had.

#bwarch oc #Rayman #Captain Laserhawk #Gay rep #Netflix #Cyberpunk #Adult Animation #Animated show #Animation

[typingdyslexiaisathing]

You Make A Good Pillow (Obey Me! fic)

summary: Retha and Beelzebub are watching a movie. With Beel acting as the cushion for Retha to snuggle against.

characters: OC (who is NOT the MC just a 3rd exchange student), Beelzebub, Belphegor, MC

content: casual moment, fluff, romance

The night was prime for a movie marathon at the House of Lamentation. With the two exchange students sitting with Belphegor and Beelzebub. All four laying on a spare mattress with fuzzy blankets and various pillows. Snacks surrounding the side of the mattress that Beelzebub is on. Belphegor on the other side to have his arm around his favorite human exchange student. While Retha was next to them to also be snuggled against Beelzebub. Not minding if Beel gets crumbs in her hair as Belphie keeps his pact human propped up in his one arm.

The group gets through at least three movies before Belphegor falls asleep. His snuggle buddy also dozing off to roll into Belphie and hug him close. So Retha and Beelzebub watch another full movie as their best friends sleep in peace. Only pausing when Retha gets a text from Solomon to have her text back a reply right away. Beelzebub feeding Retha a potato chip as she pockets her phone.

By the time the movie is over, Retha is fighting the urge to fall asleep. Her head soon falling to rest on Beelzebub's chest for Beelzebub to stop eating. His gaze going down to Retha as she yawns and grumbles. "Drat. I was hoping to get to that one kung-fu movie before we called it a night." Beel just chuckles to smile down and place his one hand to Retha's back. Her dragon wings absent for once after all her efforts at keeping a human visage. Something Beelzebub and the other brothers had been helping Retha with since her arrival in the Devildom. His words a rumbled warmth as he closed his eyes. "You could stay over the weekend and not just tonight. Means we add a chair to the dinner table. But Asmodeus was hinting at a party to celebrate you mastering your new forms."

Retha gave a hum of thought to turn and hug Beelzebub. The only signs of her change from human to hybrid being her eyes, long tail, and talon feet. The dragon scales and horns missing from her frame. The mix of Demon, Angel, Vampire, and Sorceress a challenge to really gain mastery of despite the months of living in the Devildom. Which Retha was still having trouble accepting as she grumps openly. "Still can't look all the way human. I don't like that Solomon and Barbatos theorized it might take me a couple years to really wrap my head around changing at will. I may see the logic. But I still don't like it."

Beelzebub hugged Retha closer to sigh. "You already have done a ton, Retha. Give yourself a break. I think you have earned a party. If only so we can make more good memories with you and have fun. But we should get some sleep now. I know we tend to tire you out." Retha smiles to rub her head to Beel's chest as he nudges the few snacks he hasn't touched away from the mattress. His arms soon going around Retha to hug her better. A blush dusting his cheeks as he asks her, "Is it okay to keep you like this? I want... To hold you..." Retha hums a happy note before she answers. "Yeah. I want you to. Since..."

Beelzebub frowns to wait as Retha turns her head to look up at him. A blush over her own face as those dragon scales returned for her violet eyes to find his own gaze. "Beel. You make a good pillow. So please?" Beelzebub blinks a few times to then get that warm and happy smile. His hands reaching up to hug Retha tight and give her a kiss to the forehead. "Good. Good night."

#obey me! #obey me shall we date #obey me: one master to rule them all #shall we date obey me #Obey Me! Beelzebub #Obey Me! Belphegor #fanfiction #obey me! shall we date? #fanfic #obey me! fanfiction #Obey Me! fanfic #You Make A Good Pillow

[cephalonserotonin]

Devstream 171 Notes

These are somewhat scrappy as I had a work meeting so I had to watch the stream late, apologies!

Pablo appears to be wearing a Leon Kennedy (from Resident Evil I think?) shirt under duress... Pablo if you need help blink plz Next update is sort of an Echoes update for duviri but because it's a lot more than just quality of life, it won't be called Echoes. Considering the Echoes title schema is relatively new I'm kind of bemused that it's already being disregarded Rebb needs sleep! The next update: The 7 Crimes of Kullervo

major follow up to Duviri Coming in June New Warframe Kullervo! Kullervo associated with Duviri Themes of betrayal, sacrifice his daggers shoot out of his body and it looks fucking cool... and like Dio tbh Melee frame, lots of mobility Heavy blade signature weapon skin Earn him in Duviri at a lost "dungeon" island available in 3 of the islands On launch, there will be a two-week event miniquest called Kullervo's Hold that takes you right to his encounter irrespective of the current mood spiral Kullervo's prison island has lots of secrets to discover... to me it looks a lot like the Chateau d’If (the actual fortress off the coast by Marseilles, France where the prison part of the count of monte cristo was set). New character who is the prison warden; gives you the assignment to fight Kullervo as a mini-boss Some of Kullervo's boss moves are unique to the encounter; some are his actual Warframe abilities Origami-themed orizu drifter set (of course it's a Liger concept) 5 corrupted decrees, and another 10 for a total of 15 new decrees Duviri somachord fragments! and other secrets added elsewhere! 🎉 ...and a lore quiz! More like an easter egg, per Pablo Plants! which I forgot about somehow? They grow in the duviri cave, and can be harvested once a day Static undercroft portals with guaranteed arcane rewards (same ones as the circuit) Undercroft/Circuit Exterminate has a new visitor whose identity is being unspoiled. she said something about monologues so I am guessing Vor 🙊 Gauss deluxe ("tech hermes") The accompanying acceltra deluxe is so very dakka! that the screen shakes and the team is distracted QOL incoming in update 33.5: Intrinsic to preview duviri random options on starchart Full customizable key bindings for the drifter (thank FUCK) Buff to mawfishing. Interestingly Pablo tested it previously by playing one-handed (petting his cat with the other!), so he was surprised it was still too hard. we all knew Pablo is God Tier though so I'm not that surprised Wisp prime coming later in the summer Prime motes are super cute:

Fulmin prime, gunsen prime, syandana Also comes with a very sorcerery drifter suit

Warframe 10-year anniversary concept art book planned for tennocon 👀

#warframe #devstream 171 #sera's devstream notes #kullervo #wisp prime #the 7 crimes of kullervo

[rarepears]

Mafia-YQY: I got you guys. We just need to change the timeline ever so slightly:

YQY is on the streets, but not a slave, when he finds Xiao Jiu. So YQY and SQQ start out as just normal street children/beggars. A common target for the crime element to target and employ for petty crime stuff, and may even try and enforce protection money from

While they're still street kids, SQQ gets sick. YQY goes to the criminal groups in the city because he doesn't have any other options, who agree to pay for medicine if YQY works to pay it off

From there, YQY probably has to do a couple of jobs after SQQ has been healed... and that puts him in a pretty prime position for them to make other offers for, some of which are tempting enough that he might agree on and off

Then SQQ gets snatched up by slavers without YQY also getting caught, who sell him to the Qius in short order. Maybe the young master Qiu likes trying to break them in himself

YQY then jumps neck deep into his criminal associations so that he can get information to find SQQ. It still takes a few months, so YQY's probably in too deep by now

YQY breaks into the Qiu mansion, but SQQ's leg is broken and YQY is forced to leave without SQQ. So instead he promises to come back for him

And then YQY commits himself to rising through the ranks of crime so that he's got enough authority that he can actually put pressure on the Qius, who are a rich family that his boss won't mess with for the meager kid he is right now. YQY throws himself into the crime organisation with all the commitment he used to become head disciple within a few scant years, and climbs the ranks quickly, but he probably needs to move cities to work with some of the other criminal cells as a part of that, which is why people don't know of him as a street beggar anymore

And then when he finally makes it back to his original city, with his own men in tow ready to Wreck Some Shit UP, he finds he was still too late and the Qiu's mansion was burnt to the ground just a few scant weeks before

BUT! People whisper and gossip about some of the servants and slaves surviving, and the young lady keeps insisting that some slave for A-Jiu murdered her brother. So now YQY just needs to keep amassing more and more power, so he can find the lost Xiao Jiu, while also stomping out anyone who'd try to call his lost friend a murderer.

YES THANK YOU FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS. THIS FINALLY 100% WORKS IN MY HEAD AND MY BRAIN CAN STOP FIXATING ON THE TIMELINE ISSUE. 🙌 🙌 🙌 

To add more angst, Shen Jiu gets kidnapped by slavers and sold to the Qiu's while Yue Qi is busy running another errand for the crime boss.

In fact, it was the criminal gang who arranged for Shen Jiu to get kidnapped and sold since Yue Qi was close to finish paying off his debts. This whole ploy was to make sure that Yue Qi sinks so deep into crime that he can't get back out without getting killed (aka Yue Qi can't confess to police/government about the criminal activities without also implicating himself with crimes so severe that would warrant an execution as punishment.)

Criminals that are motivated by spite, revenge, and dark emotions make the best criminals after all. Plus Shen Jiu is such a good looking kid that the gang earned a pretty penny for the referral.

It wasn't the gang's intentions to push Yue Qi so far that he overthrows the big boss and becomes the new boss himself. A lot of heads roll once Yue Qi discovers that his own actions (of going to a crime gang for help and then indicating that he wanted to wash his hands of the gang as soon as he finished paying his debts) caused Shen Jiu so much suffering.

All he can tell Shen Jiu is "sorry" because he doesn't want Shen Jiu to know just how far he's fallen in his (failed) attempt to rescue Shen Jiu. Of all the murders he's planned and executed, of all the civilians he's tricked into death and despair, of all the innocent people he's framed for heinous crimes because they stood in the way of the gang's goals... Yue Qi isn't proud of what he's done, but he would do them all again if it would help Shen Jiu in any manner.

Shen Jiu still holds a lot of resentment towards Yue Qi in this AU just like in canon. BUT without a Cang Qiong head disciple!Yue Qingyuan to put in a good word for him, Shen Jiu does not become a Cang Qiong disciple. Shen Jiu is a demonic cultivator who relies on blood and death... which pairs well with what Yue Qi does anyways.

I have this image of Yue Qi offering beautiful gold bowls of fresh blood - the blood of his enemies - to a haughty Shen Jiu who needs blood for some demonic cultivation ritual.

#svsss #svsss ideas #svsss au #scumbag self saving system #yue qingyuan #shen jiu #yue qingyuan is a mob boss au

[lynxmuse]

I am a longtime fan of Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers. During the Disney Afternoon era I saw each episode dozens upon dozens of times (since they repeated every 3 months or so). When I discovered them on the French station, I was most excited as it was like watching them anew. I collected the comics and wrote in to the letters page.* Various figurines and plush still grace my shelves. And no question, getting a photo with them in their RR garb made me giddy with delight.

So into that comes the new CDRR movie released on D+. When the first trailers for it dropped, I certainly had my reservations: If they wanted to make Roger Rabbit 2, why don’t they just do that? Will the world building be poor? Aren’t the washed up actors and estranged pals tropes already heavily mined? And haven’t we already passed both peak meta and peak nostalgia pandering? Not to mention this was being made by Walt Disney Pictures, the branch of Disney that has spent the past years producing nothing but retreads, remakes, or retellings of some sort of previous IP that have often ended up being soulless, uninteresting, or even disastrous takes on them.**

That said, I also could see that if the relationship between C&D and their interactions were well handled, it could make for something compelling and powerful. If they could tap into facets of the original series with a spirit that rings true, it could be a great new take with real rescuing and ranger-ing. There could be a path forward. Maybe!

Perhaps strangely… in the end all of the above came to pass. (Potential spoilers ahead!)

I’ve watched the movie twice before writing this, to be sure I was getting the full sense of it. And where I’m left somewhat torn.

To start, there is plenty of potential here, in no small part because they (correctly) realized that it is Chip & Dale’s relationship that lies at the core of all their stories. Right from when they made their first appearance in the Donald Duck cartoons, that best friend / frenemy dynamic is what makes them endearing and such a delight. And it is what drives many of their narratives, including in the TV series. Fortunately, the writers did recognize this and made it central to the story here. There’s a lot of good compelling stuff that could come out of it.

The themes that are broached also hold great potential: notions of fame, of living in the past and/or trying to recapture former glory, insecurities, and the ongoing commodification of art. And while the “washed up actor(s)” bit feels like it’s been already used a bunch of late, it’s still an interesting framing vehicle and is used well here, with Chip and Dale each dealing with the end of the show and their subsequent breakup in a different way, with Chip withdrawn and trying to ignore/forget it while Dale overcompensates and is being maniacally gregarious.

And dovetailing (Ducktailing?) off all those is the ur-theme of the commodification of not just art but the actors themselves, and what happens to them and, even more importantly, how we treat them when they are no longer in the limelight or have gotten stale, lived past their prime, or even pushed out

Throughout Chip & Dale are mostly on-model in terms of their personality and traits and ways of being, and there are interactions throughout between Chip and Dale that ring true.

So, a great starting point with some great material to work with and dive into. Plenty of promise!

However… alas… much of the execution doesn’t live up to that promise. Things are not followed through. The movie comes off in a very rote and paint-by-numbers fashion, with few of the themes truly engaged with in any way, whether to explore them, comment on them, learn from them, make them part of the plot, or whatever. They’re on the periphery like window dressing, but with little to add to the meat and meaningfulness of the story.

Worse, the storytelling is weak and ham-handed enough such that in the end little feels truly earned. All too often the movie relies on the characters describing something rather than doing the work to have it be an integral (and palpable) part of the world/narrative. This is doubly unfortunate when it comes to the characters themselves, with them stating things rather than simply being it (such that we can see their actions and track things without them needing to tell us about it). So many of moments in the movie come off as “they are saying this now because this is the part of the movie where this has to happen”*** rather than it organically coming forth into crowning moments of heartwarming or awesome. All in all, the story and storytelling doesn’t end up having the emotional resonance it could have had.

Which leads to my other prediction/concern that came to pass: There is a constant and relentless attempt at gags that I really think hurt the story. This relentless pursuit often leaves them desperately reaching such that many of the attempted gags feel shallow or threadbare. Often gags don’t land or, at best, elicit a minor chuckle. And then thre’s how they often fixate on a particular gag for Way. Too. Long.

Worse, though, is that many of the gags are isolated and not related to the plot or to the story or to the themes. They come off as gags for the sake of gags, because that’s what they are. And thus they feel hollow and meaningless. But the ultimate nail is how often they feel the need to have the characters directly set up, call attention to, and yes worst of all, explain the gag or joke. That’s… not good. (A clear example of this is the silly putty joke. Yes, we see it. We get it. It’s quite amusing and fits in well with the world! Great! But now you’re explicitly calling attention to it, explaining it and… just why?)

Gags I would totally expect and would even totally want in a movie like this. That’s a core of the “brand”! But the movie goes overboard to a level that detracts from and takes focus away from the actual story being told. Greater development of the narrative and storytelling while relegating many of the gags to the background would create a better balance (while also eliminating the need to reach for those threadbare gags) would have allowed the themes, the characters, and their relationships to be featured, developed, and to fully resonate.

Unfortunately, the caper at the heart of the plot is also lacking. As Rescue Ranger story the caper ought to be… well, OK, to be fair the ones in the TV show were often quite a bit nonsensical. But that was the TV show, which is now a TV show inside of the movie, which means this movie is in the “real world”, and it’s also longer than a TV show… what I’m trying to say is that just as Zootopia’s caper is central to its plot, and just how Zootopia’s caper is the vehicle for all of its amazing philosophical and storytelling goodness, the caper this CDRR movie needed to be equally as solid. But! There are some noticeable holes in it: 1) the toons are preyed upon after falling behind on debts but 2) nothing really about their kidnapping seems to rely on them being in debt? Any ol’ washed up toon would seem ripe for it, even without being in dept. 3) While the bootleg thing is amusing, 4) the fact that Pete is running this operation because he got old is weird both 5) because it doesn’t appear that toon old age is much of a thing for everyone else? And 6) if he has a super machine that can perform cosmetic surgery of all kinds then 7) couldn’t he have just made himself look young again or 8) taken on a new svelte identity and started anew as the boy symbol he wants to be? 9) And, as an aside, if literal erasers are able to remove the mouths of toons then 10) shouldn’t redrawing of said toons also be a thing?

(Also, there’s an aspect to the caper that is unsettling, namely the real-world (as in the real-real-world not the in-movie-real-world – this gets confusing) history of what happened with Peter Pan’s actor, Bobby Driscoll. The short of it is that Bobby, hired at 10, was the darling of the Disney system and appeared in a number of movies plus voice acting roles. But eventually he was unceremoniously dropped by Disney and, reportedly, even banned from re-entering the studio. Things did not go well for him, and he died alone on a park bench at age 31. To make light of this and/or to mine this to create a villain to be defeated is very questionable.)

Lastly, the cameos. As expected for its premise, this movie is rife with them…. and let me say I am genuinely AMAZED and I marvel (pun semi-intended) at just how many cross-IP characters there are, not only from within Disney but from oodles of outside studios. It’s most impressive! My Little Pony! Old Coke commercials! Batman! Lego! Dragon Ball! Voltron! Loony Toons (minorly)! Those other chipmunks… (though, amusingly, Disney kinda owns them now through Fox). And even cameos from Dreamworks, which, if you know the history of Dreamworks & Disney, is an astounding thing indeed. Kudos to the team (and their lawyers) for the effort it took to get all of those. Much like Roger Rabbit (and in a slightly different vein, Wreck It Ralph), it makes for a more believable world/world building where toons are “real” to have this wide swath of characters.

And to that, most of the cameos could be background things and be totally fine. And most are, and it is mostly fine! Except where they turn the cameo into a gag… which often inherits all of the issues I noted above. That said, it would have been nicer to have a few of the cameos try to tie into a theme and/or be something specific about that character. There was an opportunity with Ugly Sonic, where it could have been great to rope in the theme ridicule and when actors/etc are unceremoniously cast out (especially since that’s the supposed theme for the main villain as well) but… no, they instead reached for a gag about his teeth and then fixate on it on not just once, but repeat the same gag a second time, and then use the idea yet a third time because that horse isn’t yet dead enough.

On the whole, the worldbuilding was not bad. The furgonomics and furchitecture aren’t as complete as Zootopia’s (but then again, what is?) but there was still an attempt to make at least some things appropriate for toons of all sizes to live in and among the humans. Yet, oddly, much was also not. Monty’s appt building is a fun and well-done example, but while Chip’s house is small it’s also appears to be on a regular human-sized lot in a human-sized area? So it isn’t complete. But I’m still glad they did put in some effort to make toons and their size difference feel like a real part of the “real” world.

The bits between Chip and his dog Milli are pawsitively adorable!

The animation of C&D is mostly good, and I like the difference in their styles!

It’s really great when C&D are doing chipmunk-y things, like when they casually climb down the outside of Monty’s apartment building.

It’s interesting that half the CDRR episodes they reference are real/released ones, and half were not. Was it done to pad out how long the show had been running in the movie, or were they doing it for self-convenience so they could invent episodes to fit their plot points rather than doing the work to find the elements they needed in the real cartoons?

For all I noted above of what didn’t work when it comes to gags, there are some killer gags that do work exquisitely, mainly because they (properly) remain in the background: the sign that reads “Wrong Side” on the edge of the train tracks, battering rams, the firework joke, “And I regretted it instantly!” (which also fits into Dale’s character), and oh wow, Lego Miserables is totally a movie I would love to see them make.

Though that Wrong Side gag is good, narratively and world-building-ly it’s a bit weird, because C&D go to the wrong side of the tracks and start down this shady bit before emerging onto… a shining happy main street full of people who seem oblivious to the underbelly. If it’s that shiny and popular, wouldn’t it have a more direct and less sketchy access?

There’s a fun cameo of two of Fat Cat’s accomplices hiding blurred in the background on Main St.

For whatever reason, I really loved Lumiere’s performance in this.

It was great that Tress MacNeille got to reprise the voice for both Gadget as well as high-pitched Chip (as she did Chip’s voice in the TV series). Ditto for Corey Burton and Dale, and C&D arguing in their old Donald Duck cartoon style was fun.

Interestingly, Tress’ voice for Gadget here was not exactly the same; I’m not sure if that was intentional (Gadget’s “real” voice vs her TV voice, same as C&D) or if she couldn’t quite get it again.

Also, never forget, that Jim Cummings is a treasure.

Captain Putty’s fight with Ellie is very creative and fun, making good use of his malleable body. Also, the slight twitchiness of his animation to match the stop-motion aesthetic is good.

I really wonder why they call the fake movies bootlegs – that’s not the term I’ve heard associated with it. Mockbusters is generally the term used for the knockoff movies used to hoodwink people at checkout lines. So… why bootleg?

I don’t remember anything in the CDRR cartoon ever being as toony as the cartoon bird trick. One of the neat things about the TV show was that they mostly played it straight, so why deviate from that here? Again, just like inventing new episodes it feels like lazy writing and lack of understanding or respect for the original material.

And to that end I’m surprised that in general there are not more allusions to the TV show. Or maybe I embarrassingly missed them, in which case I’ll need to turn in my RR cred…

While seeing the Ranger Plane was neat, I really wish they’d used the Ranger Wing instead. For no reason other than I think it’s a 100x cooler aircraft.

I am not a fan of the continued BS trope that police can’t do their job because of rules, and if they could just do whatever they want they could solve all the cases. We’ve seen very much real-world examples of just how much police often already run roughshod over rules, people, and communities.

I’ve noted it above, but I have to say it again… The amount of spoken exposition in this movie is downright astounding to me. It is shocking just how the writers seem to feel some odd, contestant, need to have some character or other explain every single plot point that is happening, or explain every single character development, or explain every single damn joke or gag. I’m flummoxed. “Show, don’t tell,” as the adage goes. And absolutely, as with all adages it can be taken too far, but there’s a reason why it exists as an adage.

And as for the jokes… if you need to spend minutes setting up the joke, and/or need to explain the joke, then perhaps you should find a better joke.

The ending credit sequence is pretty cool! And the remix song ain’t all that bad either.

I’m mixed about it all. As a longtime fan who would love to see an actual reboot or continuation, I think the movie’s concept is fine**** and could see some cool stuff coming out of it (including leading to said continuation of a CDRR series). There were plenty of bits and aspects that I enjoyed and seeing the team in action again was a joy. And in those moments where things truly come together, and when the movie remembers where to apply its focus, it can be great and the magic of C&D’s relationship is there.

But those moments are just moments, surrounded by a morass of lessor execution and without a strong throughline that could make them transcendent. It didn’t follow through or fulfill on its promise, and it left me wanting.

And therein lies the rub. While I didn’t mind watching it a second time I don’t foresee myself watching it a third (or more). There’s not enough there to make it worthwhile, and I can savour in my memory the good bits without subjecting myself to the greater amount of lacking bits.

----------

* …and those letters shall forever be an… interesting and visible part of my history.

** As opposed to, and it’s important to emphasize again, Walt Disney Animation, which has produced some amazingly new and fresh and well told work.

*** Not that direct heart-to-heart talks are bad per se, but better storytelling has a mix of showing as well as the H2H talks, and you can see that things are leading to those H2H talks so that when they happen they feel genuine and are impactful.

**** Especially given that C&D’s as the stars of the TV show was already a reinvention of sorts.

#rescue rangers #chip & dale #CDRR #disney #movies #disney afternoon #chip n dale rescue rangers

[dsneybuf91]

D. Lee Inosanto’s The Sensei Review

For Women’s History Month 2021, I decided to take a deeper look at part-Filipina-American martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto. Her pedigree includes some legends, including her father, Dan Inosanto, and her godfather, Bruce Lee. While writing my review for her performance in The Mandalorian Chapter 13, I decided to eventually share some more reasons to admire her in her own right.

Some of the most intriguing tidbits I’ve learned about Inosanto involve her efforts to demonstrate talents beyond martial arts. In 2007, she wrote, directed, helped produce, and co-starred in her own movie: The Sensei. It seems pretty obscure nowadays; I couldn’t find it on iTunes or Netflix. Despite this, a Hapa Mag article about Inosanto credits the trailer for convincing Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni to cast her as the magistrate Morgan Elsbeth. Fortunately for me, one of my local public libraries put the movie up through their hoopla streaming app. YouTube and Amazon Prime also have it for free, though the former’s official upload – which I’ve embedded at the bottom of this page – lacks proper captions. Inosanto’s pedigree and hoopla’s plot description both made it sound deserving of a watch.

After punks at school hand him multiple savage beatings, gay teen McClain Evans (Michael O'Laskey, Inosanto's adopted son), discreetly begins martial arts training with Karen O'Neil (D. Lee Inosanto), a mysterious woman who had her own cross to bear with the prejudiced and bigoted small town community. As McClain learns to defend himself from hatred and bigotry, the student and his teacher expose several raw nerves in their rural Colorado community.

The Sensei

Premiere: May 4, 2008

Director: D. Lee Inosanto

Writer: D. Lee Inosanto

Inosanto, and the rest of the skilled cast, deliver her anti-homophobia and anti-sexism lessons in a rather overt manner.  Since these feel like very important lessons, I don't fault her for ensuring that they clearly come across.  The framing device of an older, tougher McClain sharing Karen's lessons with Pastor James (Keith David) helps justify the distinct lines between good and evil, by reminding the viewer - at least one who doesn't waste time wondering how McClain can tell Pastor James about events he wasn't around for - to view this story from the oppressed's intimidated perspective. (Additionally, the older I've gotten, the more naive I find it to apply the belief "No one is purely evil" to bigots.) Conservatives of 2000s Colorado wouldn't always cooperate with Inosanto and her film crew, but her insistence to continue filming her movie there, rather than attempt to pose a more socially-tolerant location as Colorado, went a long way towards ensuring the low-budget production's authentic tone.  The set pieces boast a raw and suspenseful energy, with cuts that usually last long enough for the viewer to appreciate the action and emotion.

While Inosanto doesn't fall on the LGBT+ spectrum, being a mixed-race teenager in the 1980s still subjected her to the tragedy of losing someone close to AIDS, while her parents endured conservatives condemning their love.  Her approach to writing and directing a gay main character emphasizes his status as an underdog, to make his struggles relatable to multiple demographics.  While McClain lacks the qualities of a degrading gay stereotype, the movie's explorations of the AIDS epidemic - and the rise in homophobia it sparked - personally affecting him and Karen ensure that his sexuality doesn't feel incidental at all.  As a character, McClain holds the viewer's interest through his resistance to conformity, standing up for his behavioral differences rather than reversing them.  He also earns the audience's admiration by befriending victims of other unfair forms of discrimination.

With Inosanto credited as the writer and director as well as a co-star, some viewers might wonder if she portrays Karen as a perfect mentor.  Expectedly, she proves kind and brave by taking on McClain as a student, even while the other karate instructors in her family fear having a gay student would ruin their school's business.  However, when McClain's mother (Gina Scalzi) first asks Karen to teach her son self-defense, Karen demonstrates some humanity by taking a while to agree.  When Karen and a trained McClain take on a lynch mob about halfway through the movie, the two end up having to defend each other as well as themselves, rather than one lasting the fight without a scratch.  Additionally, her subplots about opposing sexism and racism, and coming to terms with her own mortality, indicate that her life doesn't revolve entirely around solving a male white teen's problems.

I hope viewers can stand the cheese behind some of the dialogue, such as Karen's brother Peter (Bryan Frank) referring to her as the Good Samaritan.  I'd call such monologues hokey - even for 2008 - but their lessons of social tolerance feel too necessary to groan at.  Despite its flaws, Diana Lee Inosanto's The Sensei proves a compelling, thrilling, and morally-sound watch.

Plugs

Violence towards Asian-American women reached alarming levels by the time I finished writing this review.  I've started donating to charities dedicated to eliminating hate crimes towards AAPI people, and would like my readers to do the same, even if I personally take no share of the funds:

The AAPI Community Fund

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta

#diana lee inosanto #movie review #lgbtq #martial arts #stop asian hate #directed by women #Youtube #my posts

[wisdomrays]

A MAJOR SIN: GHULUL (defrauding): Part 1

It is not conceivable that a Prophet defrauds; and whoever defrauds (by stealing from public property or war-gains) will come with what he gained by his fraud on the Day of Resurrection. Then, every soul shall be repaid in full what it has earned (while in the world), and they will not be wronged. (Al Imran 3:161).

Question: The verse mentions ghulul (defrauding, misappropriation), which is considered among the major sins. Could you explain what ghulul is? Will you tell about the general frame of ghulul and what is the message to be drawn from the verse by contemporary believers?

Answer: In its general meaning, ghulul means taking something unlawful for a person, benefiting from it, and breaching the trust. In a more specific context, it refers to stealing something from war-gains before they are distributed, and to take secretly from what belongs to the public and abusing what belongs to the state.

The matchless hero of purity

The indefinite article before the word “Prophet” in the verse shows that all Prophets are included in the meaning. This fact conveys two important points:

Firstly, ethical purity is not peculiar to the Final Prophet but all of the Prophets, peace be upon them; Prophets Adam, Noah, Hud, Salih, Moses, Jesus or any other Prophet did not take anything to their person from what belongs to the people. They only took from what they believed to be one hundred per cent lawful given to them.

Secondly, as none of the Prophets committed such an act, it is obviously impossible for Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who is the most illustrious fruit of this blessed tree, to do such a thing. If we compare the line of the Prophets to a set of Prayer beads, then the Pride of Humanity is the prime one among them. The set of beads became a string of prayer beads in the real sense and the circle became complete with him. With respect to the Divine purpose of creation, he is the seed and most perfected fruit of the universe. Frames of concepts became clear with him. Meanings of phenomena that exist and take place around us found their explanation thanks to him. They were interpreted correctly, and by benefiting from them in terms of knowledge of God, truthful meanings were drawn from them. As the Pride of Humanity is the Paragon of Virtue who represents every good character in its peak, he also takes the lead in innocence and uprightness.

There are different reports about the reason for the revelation of the verse. One of these reports relates the verse to the Battle of Uhud. Accordingly, a group of immature people, most of whom were the Hypocrites of Medina, made baseless claims about the noble Prophet—may God forbid such an idea—that he would allocate some of the war-gains for himself.[3] The verse clearly reveals that defrauding is out of the question for that great figure who led a perfectly upright life from the beginning. Even one case suffices to show his staggering innocence: When the noble Prophet gave his last breath, his shield was held by a Jewish pawnbroker.[4] As he led his personal life in immense and profound heedfulness, he also showed perfect sensitivity against anything that could raise the smallest doubt about his upright life.

Lawful seeming guises to unlawful gains

The verse continues as “…whoever defrauds will come with what he gained by his fraud on the Day of Resurrection.” As ghulul means taking secretly from war-gains, anything a person takes without a lawful right falls into the category of ghulul. For example, imagine that a man comes to certain position and makes personal gain by some speculations, misappropriates funds, and tries to justify his acts with claims as “I am exerting myself here. This much money could not be collected if it weren’t for me!” All such things fall within the category of ghulul. We can even say that a person who steps forth for governing the people without being eligible for it violates the people’s rights. According to this verse, which makes a specific address but conveys a general message, the followers of the Prophets should not commit it also. Regarding this issue, they should always be resolved to keep on the righteous path. Otherwise, they will be brought before God with what they took. Therefore, we can say that the verse warns all followers of the noble Prophet in the person of the Prophets. In fact, God’s Messenger told his Companions one day about ghulul—this hadith could be considered as an interpretation of the relevant verse—and expressed what a great sin ghulul was and said: “I do not want any one of you to come on the Day of Resurrection with a groaning camel on his neck, saying,’ O Muhammad!’ and I will say: ‘I cannot do anything for you, I conveyed the message.’” Then the noble Prophet voiced the same fact about other animals of this kind and different types of gains.[5]

The verse ends as follows: “Then, every soul shall be repaid in full what it has earned (this can be goodness or evil depending on the deeds of the person), and they will not be wronged.” May God save all of us from going to the next world with such ugliness as ghulul and laying our hands on anything we do not lawfully deserve. If we consider cases of embezzlement from state banks, wasting people’s money, and pushing people to poverty by burdening the state with loans, it will be better understood how grave a sin ghulul is.

#allah #god #quran #ayat #islam #muslim #revert #convert #religion #reminder #hadith #sunnah #prophet #Muhammad #pray #prayer #salah #muslimah #dua #help #hijab #revert help #convert help #islam help #muslim help #welcome to islam #how to convert to islam #new muslim #new convert #new revert

[probablynotnothing]

Just 3 Things

Just choose 3 goals. (Inspired from reading Erin Falconer's How To Get Shit Done).

Three things that are substantial enough to spend at least 6 months focusing on.

Three things that are like Headlines for the rest of your micro goals and objectives and inspirations to fall under the banner of.

Three things that help you weed out whether you should say yes or no, prioritize this or that. Three things that help you understand more of who you really are at this point in time, what you need the most, what you currently are best primed to work on.

Three things that prevent distracted chasing of moving goal posts.

Of course, the tactics and approaches to these goals may change - especially when you commit just to 3 goals and realize the other rearranging that may need to happen to support these 3 goals.

Only take on new things which directly contribute to these 3 things. Only spend time learning or doing things if you can describe how it contributes to these 3 goals.

Erin Falconer suggests choosing 1 goal in each category of life:

Career, Personal, Relationships

I've chosen my 3 goals to be

1. Finish earning my Bachelor

2. Improve my physical and mental wellbeing

3. Each day practice creative expression that helps me connect meaningfully with people

In How To Get Shit Done, Falconer mentions a study led by Wilhelm Hofmann at the University of Chicago. This study found that people who practice pre-determined, goal-oriented self-control experience happiness as a result of exercising self-control, and also because of the end results of using self-control.

Self-control is a touchy subject because the term often has connotations of struggle and is related to topics like shame, addiction, and scarcity. I know for myself I've especially struggled in the past with using tactics of beratement or self-harm to try to force myself to be "controlled" and acting as I believed was acceptable or "the right way".

In this context, I'm thinking of self-control in an empowered, not judgmental, way. Maybe self-control isn't the right term- because willpower is a finite resource, and sometimes what some people may call self-control really isn't...sometimes choosing behavior in line with our goals is just going to come more naturally based on the priming of our lives, mindset, health and so on. When I am in touch with my goals, my suffering, and my beliefs regarding how to experience less suffering, then it becomes easy to exercise "self-control" because I realize logically that this is a tiny bump in the road to opt out of the momentary habitual inclination in favor of the end result.

I prefer a term like "self-direction", "in flow", "invigorated", "inspired", "aligned" and such instead of "self-control". I think it's more honest to acknowledge some things aren't within the realm of self-control unless other stress-reducing factors or resources like health, emotional support, etc are present. Or at the very least side-step the framing of chasing our dreams as if it's a bitter tug-of-war that requires force.

But in the end, I like that the study found that when people "...refrain from acting on impulse and instead [make] choices that line up with previously made decisions,...people [are] happier not only about their lives but in their lives".

Emphasis on "previously made decisions"!

Just gotta make sure the previously made decisions, or goals, are reasonable, open to adjustments and pivoting in approaches, and served with ginormous daily doses of compassion, normalizing instead of demonizing the essences of being human, and listening to what it is that truly makes you as an individual feel at peace, soothed, grateful to be living, and empowered - according to your own individual advantages and disadvantages.

I'm excited to make choices I'm well set up for, and feel nurturing and rewarding for who I am in this phase of my life, in pursuit of who I am growing into during the next phases. I'm grateful that I have access to positive voices through the internet and books, encouraging me to plan and articulate goals which will help me declutter my mental life and use my precious time more intentionally.

This way, I may enjoy life greatly, but also I can prevent my future suffering while I still have the opportunity to prevent it and widen my future options.

Adding joy, gratitude, and creative joy are things I'm just in the past few weeks beginning to really learn about. After a year of listening to positive affirmations designed for anxiety sufferers, I have realized how powerful these positive framings and assertions are to my wellbeing.

Lessening suffering is important, and is the objective at the heart of any goal. But another way to frame "lessening suffering" is "increasing happiness". And this is the crucial part I've been learning the past year, and am continuing to learn about.

Happiness is a whole other topic. But I'm just realizing lately a glimpse into that window- that everything contained in that word, "happiness", must be interwoven into the pursuit of goals. Pursuit and creation of happiness must be used to keep up the spirits so that consistency and long-term patience with goal progression can be nurtured.

#goals #ease #compassion #happiness

[crazyblondelife]

All the Best Black Friday Sales + A Few of My Favorites

Good Morning! I hope you all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was a little chaotic at our house but so much fun and I loved every minute of it! I know everyone is shopping today and I wanted to share some of the best sales out there and the discount codes to make things a little easier! Happy Shopping!

BEST BLACK FRIDAY SALES

NORDSTROM – Offering up to 60% off until Nov. 27, there are thousands of clothes and accessories

MACY’S – Save on clothes and gifts for men, women, kids, and babies during Macy’s Black Friday sale, along with deep discounts ( up to 80% off) on apparel for the whole family.

AMAZON –  Amazon Prime members can find endless deals on clothing, accessories, and shoes for women, men, and kids.

ANTHROPOLOGIE – Styles are already selling quickly, thanks to Anthropologie’s Black Friday sale. With 30% off sitewide (with some exclusions), plus an extra 40% off sale items, you’ll find incredible deals on everything!

SAK’S FIFTH AVENUE – Spend Only $150 and earn a $75 Gift Card. Use Code HELLOBFSF

HILL HOUSE HOME – Hill House Home is spreading cheer during its annual sale with 30% off sitewide with the code EVERYTHING30.

SHOPBOP – 25% off with Code: HOLIDAY

ALO – Alo’s athleisure and workout wear are up to 70% off with gym essentials like sports bras and leggings and warm layers like sweatshirts and jackets. Men’s apparel is on sale, too!

EILEEN FISHER – Cozy knits, everyday loungewear, and understated closet staples are up to 30% off.

EDDIE BAUER – The outdoors brand is offering 50% off tons of men’s apparel, including adventure-ready outerwear, flannels, and more.

EVERLANE - Take up to 50% off quality basics, winter-ready outerwear, denim, and much more.

J. CREW – Everything you need for a wardrobe refresh up to 50% off.

NAADAM – Cashmere styles right now at Naadam and take 40% off sitewide.

TOMMY JOHN – Offering 30% off sitewide with the code BF30 and free shipping on orders of $75+.

UGG – Ugg’s biggest sale of the year is on. With women’s, men’s, and kids’ shoes, up to 76%.

SPANX – Offering 20% off everything sitewide.

QUINCE – Deals up to 60% off.

AURATE – High-quality jewelry for less: you can score an exclusive 35% off sitewide with code CNN35.

COZY EARTH – From breathable bamboo sheets to cute pajamas to cozy quilts, Cozy Earth offers everything you need for a luxurious night’s sleep, no matter the season. Score 35% off your order with code CNNSALE.

ETSY – Shoppers can find one-of-a-kind gifts at discounted prices, all while supporting small businesses.

WALMART – Shop deals on everything from vacuums to kids’ toys and more.

DYSON – Dyson’s Black Friday sale features the best-ever deals on cordless vacuums, hair care, air purifiers, and more.

BROOKLINEN – Enjoy 25% off sitewide now.

PARACHUTE – Take 20% off mattresses, bed frames, furniture, sheets, robes and more.

ARHAUS – Select furniture and home accessories are on sale right now at Arhaus.

CB2 – Find select bestsellers up to 60% off across categories from furniture and bedding to lighting and accessories.

CRATE & BARREL – Score up to 60% off furniture and home decor during the brand’s first Black Friday Warehouse.

LULU AND GEORGE – Save 25% on modern, minimalist furniture and home decor during this sitewide sale.

SOCIETY 6 – Get up to 50% off sitewide, including wall art, stickers, towels, clocks, and more.

THE CONTAINER STORE – Up to 50% off home essentials at The Container Store, now through Nov. 26.

SUR LA TABLE – All your favorite cookware brands — including Le Creuset, Breville, and All-Clad — are up to 60% off.

DICK’S SPORTING GOODS – Take up to 50% off sports apparel, gear and more.

AWAY LUGGAGE – 20% off for the first time.

[dramatisperscnae]

Headcanon - Clive

Age and Appearance

Clive’s age is very much verse-dependent; it may range from 15 up to 33 or beyond. In his current main verse Clive is 28 years old.

He stands around 6’ tall, with short but shaggy black hair and dark blue eyes

His most distinguishing feature is the tattoo on his left cheek marking him as a Bearer; little more than a slave as far as most people are concerned.

His body is broad-shouldered and toned, very much a fighter's build; Clive has been actively training and fighting since his youth, there is very little spare fat on his frame even considering the kind of meals Bearers get...or don’t, as the case may be.

As a Bearer he doesn’t really get much say in what he wears; he tends to simply keep to his military uniform because it’s easier. Given his own preferences, though, he’d lean towards deep reds, dark greys, and blacks, much as his father did.

Though not much for jewelry, Clive still wears a single earring in his left ear: a close-fitted band of black and silver that was a match for the one his brother Joshua once worse

Clive has his fair share - arguably more than his fair share - of scars thanks to his time in the Imperial army. Some are better than others, depending on the quality of medical care he was given and how quickly it was given to him.

Personality

Clive has never been a man of many words, even in his younger days. His time in the Imperial army has only tempered that; Bearers who speak when unbidden learn very quickly not to. Quite a lot of his internal monologue remains that way, entirely unspoken.

That said, when he speaks he speaks his mind. Blunt and to the point, without beating around the bush.

He still very much has a rebellious streak; no amount of mistreatment could fully break his spirit, not as focused as he’s been on surviving to take his revenge on the one who murdered his brother.

Clive would like to think he has a solid handle on his emotions; that they’re buried so deeply they can’t affect him at all. Unfortunately for him it is very much the opposite: he has always been an emotional sort, for all he’s become very good at hiding it, and his actions are often governed just as much by his heart as his head. He is incapable of not caring, especially when it comes to others.

As a boy, Clive was very much a bright-eyed, idealistic, kind child. Open and honest – almost to a fault – the respect he carried from others even at a young age was very much earned. After the Night of Flames and thirteen years as a Bearer in the Imperial army, however, that boy has been largely buried under intense anger and bitterness. Still, if one catches him at the right moment elements may yet be seen of the young Lord Marquess and the man he might have grown to be, had life offered another path.

Much of Clive’s bitterness is turned on himself, especially after Ifrit’s second awakening and his realization that he was the one who murdered Joshua. Thirteen years being used as a tool of death, plus the weight of his brother’s murder, has left Clive with precious little desire to keep living. But, as Cid put it so eloquently, as long as he’s breathing he might as well make himself useful.

Abilities

Blessing of the Phoenix: Clive has access to a small part of the Phoenix’s fire thanks to his brother Joshua. While he cannot heal with it – or at least not well or speedily – it is more than enough to defend himself or others in a fight, as well as a few other tricks such as calling an orb of light as a guide in dark places.

Dominant of Ifrit: However impossible it might seem, Clive is the second Dominant of Fire. Ifrit’s flames are nowhere near so gentle as the Phoenix’s; a source of pure destruction rather than growth and rebirth. Where the Blessing’s flames are beautiful, a warm and gentle red occasionally tinged with soft purples and golds, Ifrit’s are harsh, unforgiving, and orange, shading to yellow and sometimes even to white. As yet, Clive cannot prime Ifrit at will; a part of him doesn’t even want to prime Ifrit at all, given what the beast did to his brother and to Phoenix Gate, but he has little choice but to accept its presence within him.

Essence of Garuda: Though Clive has no idea how or why, he absorbed at least a portion of Garuda’s power during his battle with Benedikta. This has given him the ability to control the wind as she once did, albeit in a far lesser form; he seems limited to creating ‘talons’ of wind with which to slash at his enemies, and perhaps the occasional tiny tornado.

Miscellaneous

Clive has developed a habit of tracing his fingers over the tattoo on his cheek, usually when upset. That tattoo represents quite a lot, for him and for others, and none of it is good.

He’s always had a love of history and tales; this started when he was a boy and has not fully faded even now. Clive seldom has time or chance to actually read, but he’ll sit and listen to storytellers when he has a free moment to spare. It brings back memories of better days.

Clive cannot lie. He’s terrible at it. It doesn’t stop him trying on occasion, but he’s never been any good at it no matter what he does.

Clive is ambidextrous, especially when fighting. He can wield a blade or his magic with either hand as needed, but he is strongest with a sword in his right and magic in his left.

He cannot cry. At least, he doesn’t think he can; thirteen years without any trace of hope and the only thing guiding him being the desire for revenge has burned any ability to truly cry out of him. Beyond a few tears in moments of severe emotional distress, Clive simply does not cry at all.

Neither does he smile. Not anymore. Not the way he used to. Clive’s smile’s these days are faint things, often little more than a lifting of one corner of his mouth or a softening and warming of his eyes, and they never last very long. But at least they’re there...perhaps they’ll grow as time goes on.

#clivecanon