#i know it's pretty bad when you can't let the story speak for itself but i'm just still self-conscious.

[jorvikwildhorse]

My Horse’s Dragon: a Star Stable Online fan comic – Chapter 3: Vetting

[<<FIRST | < PREVIOUS | NEXT> ]

Sorry this took so long, I had a lot of set-backs and self-doubt while working on this chapter. I apologize that it's another "talky" chapter as well, but hopefully the next one will have a little bit more action. Thank you for reading!

#star stable online #sso fancomic #my horse's dragon #my art #also i hope i'm not coming off as praising my own character too much. i just wanted to get across how much lakshmi means to honey. #i know it's pretty bad when you can't let the story speak for itself but i'm just still self-conscious. #just another thing to practice i suppose

[maxphilippa]

i'm genuinely just saying that the ii fandom should try to not put their ships on basic dynamics because when you watch the media itself you realize that they're wayyyy more complex than that, and that the content that gets made off it feels one dimensional and like people don't really get why their dynamic/friendship works at all, or simplify their attributes completely disregarding the other relationships the characters in said ship have.

nickloon works because of suitcase mattering so much to both of them. now this is something that most of the fandom doesn't get because they don't get nickel's character at all and often portray him as an gay asshole, but i've made a lot of analysis on his behaviour, so you can check my posts on him if you're interesed to learn why suitcase is so important to him too. however they're so much more than just "a weird gay thing", they're an story of growth and realizing that you were wrong, how much love they have and how you can learn and change for the better, as someone who went through that same thing and now i have a best friend thanks to that, seeing how people only put them on one dynamic disregarding completely the reason as to WHY they're like that is pretty boring. they work because had so many issues at hand and needed communication in order to work through it. their care towards one person (suitcase) is what made them be so angry at eachother and what ultimately made them become friends as well, but the way they genuinely ended up wanting to be friends and caring so deeply for eachother is what speaks the most. sure, nickel cared about baseball and all, but balloon was ultimately the reason as to why he lets go of the rough attitude, and decides that he does want to fix what he has done, that he wants to become a better person and friend.

lightbrush works as an POST canon ship, not as one that happens on s2, nor should people ignore the fact that paintbrush was often angered/stressed by lightbulb's behaviour for most of the show. it works because ultimately they're both struggling to come to terms with themselves, and lightbulb gets to finally understand why she was messing up so much and genuinely showed care for paintbrush, who was ultimately struggling with themselves, you know, coming out and all that. what people don't get by making their relationship just an "silly random fella x hot headed person" is that they're both so much more than that. lightbulb has depression and her terrible copying mechanisms are what made her suck so much as a team captain, and paintbrush wanted stability and for someone to actually listen to them for once. lightbulb gets to learn that life is much more complicated and that she has to be there for people if she wants genuine connections with others, and she helped paintbrush on such a complicated moment, showing that they can work on an actual friendship post show, and that they do care about eachotther after all.

fantube is so much more complicated and emotional from what the fandom usually portrays. downgrading them to just an "girlboss x malewife" feels like they're not getting their characters at all and also like it's missing the point of their arcs being entwined by still making them act like their s2 pre-ep 14 selfs. both fan and test tube had severe issues with social interaction and grasping on what's real and what not, emotional communication often being their biggest struggle, and constantly got on arguments with others thanks to the fact that they couldn't "fit in". test tube shows to generally struggle understanding people and their feelings, meanwhile fan is more so aware of those, he still struggles with understanding that the game is very real and that he can't keep running away from the fact that change IS very real. they both made eachother grow because fan made test tube aware of feelings, and test tube made fan aware of growing and learning. they're both pretty equal on their own terms and they had bad copying mechanisms through s2 as a whole, except for their elimination of course, where they make amends and start over. they trust eachother and are pretty much partners, whether romantic or not, they are a team. a duo. they're just trying their best after all, and still struggle a lot with feelings at times. but that's why they work it through talking: the thing that they couldn't do at all before.

i really like/enjoy these ships on their own and i kinda hope that the fandom starts to actually get the characters and understand them properly, i would've also talked about silvercandle, but that is a whole can of worms and after iii 18, i have an overall more negative/neutral stance on the fandom perception of them.

this is just a recollection of thoughts, too.

#inanimate insanity #ii #inanimate insanity invitational #ii 2 #ii 3 #inanimate insanity balloon #inanimate insanity nickel #inanimate insanity suitcase #inanimate insanity lightbulb #inanimate insanity paintbrush #inanimate insanity test tube #inanimate insanity fan #ii nickloon #ii fantube #ii lightbrush #max does analysis #object show community #osc

[fallloverfic]

TGCF donghua Season 2, Episode 6 thoughts

I'm always screaming about TGCF so yes I'm screaming some more. Very good ep. Spoilers for the show and the book below.

The Fang Xin flashback was really lovely (Xie Lian looks so pretty in the costume, like his hair style is really nice and he just looks good). Xie Lian being a teacher and explaining, "this technique is bad because the intervening person gets hurt/dies so you can't learn it cause [you're a human and the prince and your job is to continue your duties, not die]" also neglecting to point out the fact that... Xie Lian can do it cause he can't die and we're not gonna go into how he was injured because of that incident and he just goes through all the physical pain for other people without bothering anyone, nope T-T But baby Lang Qianqiu loves him so much T-T

When Shi Qingxuan says that Xie Lian took a blow from E-Ming on behalf of Lang Qianqiu and it flashes to a cut of Mu Qing and Feng Xin looking shocked, I aldkjaldaj Ahhhh... Worry about Xie Lian? Thinking about how Xie Lian confronted Hua Cheng now for the sake of someone else even while he's under the influence of two cursed shackles while Mu Qing and Feng Xin abandoned him when both Mu Qing and Feng Xin chose not to confront Hua Cheng way back when Hua Cheng challenged all those heavenly officials who confronted Xie Lian on the mountain?

The angst this episode is delicious. There's just so much stuff happening around all of this, it's lovely.

Shi Qingxuan standing up for his friendddd T-T His friendship with Xie Lian just ends me.

Xie Lian asking to be banished again like THIS MAN HE JUST T-T Xie Liannnnnn

Lang Qianqiu being shocked that Xie Lian would beg to be banished again and being like, "No, you don't have to do that! I just want to fight to the death!"

Meanwhile Xie Lian being like, point blank, "If we did, you'd lose." See, Xie Lian is modest a lot of the time in the sense that he doesn't brag. He just doesn't talk about things, generally: he keeps to himself (unless he's trying to share funny/interesting things he thinks other people might be interested in, which no one is, poor guy). I love stories with this: characters who don't outright lie, but get out of "telling" the truth because they're just quiet and let the silence speak for itself/let others come to their own conclusions, which is usually bad. It's such juicy angst. But he's also honest (about certain things) and at moments like this, he is being honest about his own capabilities. Because he is very capable. And I just love that about him. He is, truly, capable. And he knows it. One reason his banishments were so hard is because despite all his capability, he couldn't overcome that to help the people he wanted to help. His skills weren't what was needed.

Pei Ming's character model is really pretty. I just like watching him walk around. Even if he's a jealous asshole who is protective of his descendant. He's a fun jealous asshole. And a pretty one. I have a weakness for men with long hair who wear gloves okay, it's a problem I have no intention to recover from.

In terms of animation, there were a lot of really pretty shots of character models and character expressions, particularly as Xie Lian is being taken away. There's a nice shot of Mu Qing just standing and facing the camera in the background. This continues to just overall be a pretty looking show (there was some sort of weirdness during the fight sequence between FengQing, but that was it, really).

Xie Lian pining for Hua Cheng T-T Babyyyyy

OMG THEY MADE THE PINING GAYER (at least than the official English translation idk if it's gayer in the original Chinese). In the Seven Seas translation it's this:

“I wonder how much is left of San Lang’s Paradise Manor. If I get banished again, who knows how much junk I’ll have to sell or how long it’ll take to pay him back…decades, centuries; if anything, I’ll pay him the rest of my life.” (Volume 2, Chapter 19)

In the donghua, at least at this moment, the English subs say: "San Lang. I wonder how he's doing. [Sigh] After being banished to the mortal realm, I have to give up everything, even my beloved the Paradise manor(?). For decades, centuries, I'd give it all up for him, even a lifetime."

Even with the bad translation, that last line tho T-T Also Xie Lian's sad pining just ahhhhh

Mu Qing showing up and assuming Xie Lian's surprise is because he expected Feng Xin and TOTALLY not because Xie Lian doesn't expect anyone to visit him, particularly Mu Qing (because he thinks no one other than maybe Shi Qingxuan likes him, and Shi Qingxuan is busy anyway). Mu Qing still Himself about well everything. Mu Qing wanting to visit... maybe gloat... but also idk hoping Xie Lian would be happy to see him cause they're hanging out again <.< (kind of, cause Mu Qing thinks he's good at pretending and Xie Lian totally didn't guess from like the very start or anything that the "junior official" was just him in disguise aldkjaldja).

XIE LIAN'S LITTLE SMILE AT MU QING EXPLAINING WHY HE'S THERE BECAUSE HE'S HAPPY MU QING CAME TO VISIT HIM/WANTED TO SEE HIM MAYBE and Mu Qing being like -hmph- aldkjaldaj And giving Xie Lian MEDICINE TO HEAL HIMSELF T-T Still caring for Xie Lian even after Everything TM and how Mu Qing doesn't think Xie Lian cares for him.

Because I focus in on weird details I will admit I was a tad distracted from the lovely FengQing fight over who's more in love with Xie Lian by Mu Qing's collar. I'm pretty sure everyone else has already long since pointed out The Collar TM but well here I am now, again, pointing it out.

This helps because last episode I was distracted by the cute little thing (his crown?) that's wrapped around Feng Xin's hair bun and I kept glancing at it this ep too alkdjalj His hair bun is a flower :3

The chibi fight was so funny aldkjaldja (and angsty :3 Please yes fight over which of you abandoned Xie Lian first and how you're both totally not mad at yourselves and each other about it :3). Xie Lian being like OMG GUYS STOP PLEASE!! But not trying to be too overbearing T-T

"You'd be happy if something bad happened to him, wouldn't you?" Feng Xinnnnn T-T

Both of them shocked Xie Lian is not being attacked and also alarmed he is just TOUCHING THINGS THAT IS DANGEROUS XIE LIAN DON'T YOU KNOW WHO THAT BELONGS TO????

Xie Lian: It's so cute tho :3 -nuzzles butterfly-

aldkajlkdjaj Hua Cheng GROPING XIE LIAN WAIST like I don't blame him. Get it, Sir. Xie Lian like, "yeh this is fine :3" They're so married already I love them.

Hua Cheng holding Xie Lian's sleeeveee T-T I cryyyy

Mu Qing: Xie Lian escaped!

Feng Xin: STOP BEING A DICK, HE WAS KIDNAPPED!

Hua Cheng: Have you missed me? I haven't missed any of you one bit.

aldkjaldkjaldja HUA CHENG IS SO FULL OF IT I LOVE HIM SO MUCH alkdjaldja Xie Lian shaking his head with a smile alkdjlajda He loves his husband yes, he does alkdjalj HUA CHENG HELD HIS HAND WHILE THEY WERE IN THE ARRAY TO PIGGYBACK THAT WAY I SCREAM (also Xie Lian's little smile over it, he's so chill with Hua Cheng's antics I love them)

Listen. Listen. If a dude who looks like Hua Cheng and sounds like that while smiling when he says, "Come with me," to you appears and does that... WHY WOULD YOU NOT???? Obviously Xie Lian has no choice in the matter!!! OBVIOUSLY!!!

Xie Lian is so sad about how he hurt Hua Cheng T-T

Hua Cheng is so upset he hurt his Xie Lian T-T

"Why can you still smile and apologize to me?" HE LOOKS SO SAD

STOP THE PRESSES E-MING IS DOING SAD SQUEAKING

The subtitles are pretty bad again, and some of the mistakes still lead me to believe it's possible this is an edited version of machine translation (getting pronouns wrong is a common mistake in machine translation), which is not a good sign. I'm really hoping they go back and fix this, especially if they sell this as a physical release like they did season 1. Also I hope they just fucking stop doing it this way and if we ever get any more seasons I hope they do not do this in future.

BUT OVERALL IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EPISODE AHHHHHH

Other episode thoughts for season 2 (didn't start till episode 3):

S02E03

S02E04

S02E05

S02E06 (you are here)

S02E07

S02E08

S02E09

S02E10

S02E11

S02E12

#Heaven Official's Blessing #HOB #TGCF #Hua Cheng #Xie Lian #E-Ming #Hualian #Hua Cheng/Xie Lian #Hua Cheng x Xie Lian #Shi Qingxuan #Lang Qianqiu #spoilers #Mu Qing #Feng Xin #good fucking food #fallfthoughts

[carterlnb]

The prompt of the third day of Starbula Week is jealousy. Well, I can't write fiction. But I can provide material, from the film itself.

Regarding the Nebula and Peter relationship line, the director actually put in almost all the basic elements of a love story. Including jealousy - an interesting plot point.

Jealousy, of course, came from Peter, because he loves Nebula so much, but he doesn't know it himself. He must be made to understand his feelings.

Okay, who is the one of his jealousy? Drax? Excluded. Rocket? Rule out. Groot? Possibly. Because when Groot asked Nebula, "Did that look cool?" Nebula replied, "that looked cool." She was praising him. Who does Nebula praise? She was always mad at everyone. Now she's praising Groot to his face! Oh yeah, and she once said, "The choice is him or a tree." Does she like Groot ?

Okay, joke's over. (I actually think he might.)

Who to be jealous of

The one of his jealousy...of course, is someone related to Nebula. Who could that be?

After the hallway battle, Nebula goes to pilot the ship. She speaks to Kraglin over Rocket's comm, "Kraglin, I'll pilot from this side." Kraglin replies, "Kragula, back in action."

Please note, "KRAGULA".

Note that "BACK in action."

Note that ,Peter is on the same line.

Annoyed Peter

The next scene, not in the main movie, is a deleted scene. In this scene, Peter looks annoyed.

Here is the entire dialog.

Peter: Goddamn it.

Phlektik: yeah. You know , you just gotta change it from yellow to purple.

Peter: Yes, I know.

Phlektik: Yeah, you know, once  it's purple, you could just go right through.

Peter: Do I look like was born in Yirbek colony?

Phlektik: Uh, no, sir. You don't. you actually look very nice. You know, Yirbeks, uh, they may get a bad rap, but they're actually not as stupid-

Peter: Are you always this irritating?

Phlektik: Uh, yes, I think. I think so. Am I, guys?

This deleted scene is called: " Annoyed Peter".

Whoa, whoa, Peter, what are you annoyed about? Are you doubting your intelligence and beauty? Who are you trying to say is irritating?

What if Peter heard more than just "KRAGULA"?

In Karen Gillan's bts video, we were lucky enough to hear the entirety of Kraglin's conversation with Nebula.

Kraglin: Kragula, back in action. That's our couple name.

Nebula: What?!

Kraglin: It's our couple name, Kragula. Do you prefer Nebulin ?

Nebula: Yeah, I think my name should be first.

Kraglin: Does that mean that we're engaged? I've been married lots of times, believe me , it's great.

Nebula: How many times?

Kraglin: like 14?

Nebula: What?!

Kraglin: Yeah, yeah , but it's great , believe me , we should …We should think about this. I'll get…I'll let you take some time to mold it over, it's pretty good.

Nebula: Okay....

Imagine the look on Peter's face.

Now we know who is irritating to him.

I don't think it's a coincidence that this clip appeared in Karen's personal video, it was meant to do exactly that, allowing us to piece together the complete story of Nebula and Peter. Also showing up in the video is a rehearsal scene for Nebula and Peter's hallway battle. Both of these plots are revealing to us more details about Nebula and Peter's story.

I'd say that the fact that the director didn't forget to set Starbula up for even such a thing as jealousy, is proof enough that Nebula and Peter's relationship was carefully planned and crafted in the movie. This relationship is very important.

#nebula x quill #quebula #nebula x peter #peter x nebula #starbula #starbula week 2023

[nevereverthem]

Imagine Bonnie never left Kai in the prison world. Instead, she goes to stab him, but changes her mind. What should have happened after?

TVD Imagine :

Ok, maybe I'm a little weird, but when people send me questions I end up writing a short imagine instead of answering.... So, here we go....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonnie and Kai in 1903, searching for the ascendant.

_ No. They didn't hide the ascendant in a random pile of leaves....

He ponders a second.

_ We're not here to find the ascendant, are we ?

He hears Bonnie chuckle slightly behind his back.

_ Despite being a sociopathic murderer, I've always known you were pretty clever.

Kai turns around, now facing her. She's just pulled a knife out of her coat, staring at him with what he knows are murderous eyes. He watches her carefully, up and down, saving the image in his memory. Then, he extends his arms, confident.

_ Do it.

Bonnie gives him an incredulous look.

_ You're not gonna defend yourself ? Make up excuses about becoming a better man ? Find the ascendant and leave on your own ?

Kai lowers his arms, exhaling loudly.

_ Look, I know you hate me for stabbing you and leaving you for dead in 1994. But I thought maybe saving you from killing yourself would have earned me some points on the good side.

The revelation takes her by suprise.

_ Wait. What do you mean 'saving' me ?

Her murderous expression has been replaced with blatant confusion.

_ What part don't you understand ? You think that garage door just opened by itself ?

Bonnie's wide-eyed.

_ How do you....

She's too stunned to finish her sentence. How does he know ?

There's silence for a moment. Kai doesn't talk for once, he's waiting for her to realise.... After a while, Bonnie huffs to herself, disbelieving.

_ You're telling me that you opened that door ?

_ Well, technically, Jeremy did. But I was the one doing the spell so he could push that switch.

Bonnie's completely baffled. Her friends hadn't mentioned any of it. But that's Kai telling the story. That could be another one of his manipulation.

_ Let's say I believe you. Explain it to me, what happened.

Kai claps his hands, enthusiastic.

_ Ok, story time. Feels like these YouTube videos.

He slightly grins, though when he notices the look on Bonnie's face his smile quickly fades.

_ Damon and Elsa told me...

_ Elena.

He frowns a second, then remembers.

_ Oh. So, Damon and...her, they told me it was your birthday. I felt bad, so I decided to help them, and Jeremy, send you a message. You were about to drink that bottle of bourbon, but I lost connection. It required too much magic to handle four people on my own. Then I tried to send only Jeremy back. That's when it got messy.

_ What do you mean ?

_ You see, when I merged with Luke and he died, Liv was really upset about it. She came to kill me while I was doing the spell. We got in a little bit of a fight. I couldn't get myself to kill her. I was almost there but something just....

_ Kai.

He looks at her. She wears that "get to the point" expression on her face. Kai pauses a second.

_ Right.... Anyway, fight ends. I'm bleeding, like crazy. Jeremy still wants me to send him back. I'm basically dying at that point, but I'm feeling generous so I send us back to you. He follows you to the garage. Of course I follow him. After your "I'm too strong to let myself die" speech, the guy manages some ghosty shit to push the door switch and bam ! Bonster lives !

She's basically speechless. Still unsure of the truthfulness of his words, but that tale seemed too genuine to be a lie.

_ I almost died on a kitchen floor. I had Damon's blood in my mouth !

Kai makes a disgusted face.

_ I mean thanks bro, but not again-

_ What did I say ?

_ Huh ?

Kai's stopped in his rambling.

_ If all you say is true. What did I say in that video ?

_ Which part ? The one about 'going weeks without speaking' ? Or when you talk about missing restaurants ?

Bonnie can't believe it. He's saying the truth. He did come for her. And he nearly died doing so. There's no denying it....

_ I get your point about restaurant. Food tastes different when you're not the one making it. Although I like to cook.... Am I digressing again ?

In her amazement, she manages to roll her eyes at him.

_ Anyway, I did help saving you.

He wants to come closer but the knife in her hand holds him back. She finally speaks again.

_ It doesn't change what you did to me.

Kai stares at the ground, defeated, before looking back at her.

_ I know, and I'm sorry for all of that. I said I've changed. I cannot erase what I've done in the past.

They both stay silent for a while until Bonnie lets out a breath she's been holding for god knows how long. She pulls the knife back in her pocket.

_ So, you're giving me another chance ?

_ No. All you get is a pass. I let you live. When we get back home, you get the hell out of my life. For good.

He doesn't answer.

_ We gotta find the ascendant.

Bonnie walk past him, heading to the true location of the object.

Kai just nods, following her. She's not forgiving him. She's not giving him a chance. But she's changed her mind about ending his life. It means there's hope. That's the reason a smile grows on his face while he walks on the snow, following in her steps....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thoughts ? 🩷💀

So.... Maybe I should try to answer for real.

After that "I give you a pass" moment, I guess we get to the Salvatore mummy.

When they're all back home, Bonnie explains to Damon why she didn't ditch Kai there. Damon doesn't really care. He got what he wanted out of it anyway.

Kai sort of leaves them after, while still being close enough, his Bonnie obsession still in mind. He doesn't go to Portland. Not now. He can go on his conven slaughter plan later. I see him just enjoy little things. Going to the movies pretty much every day. Catching up on 2000's music he's missed.

On the other side, Lillian manages to get her bunch of Heretics back. I don't know how, don't ask, just accept it happens.

Then, I suspect it all goes wild as it did in season 7. Except they realise they could use some help (aka Kai). They can't admit it. Don't search for him. But I absolutely picture Kai showing up on his own at a doorstep one day with a proper "Miss me ?". He's aware of the shit that's been happening and decided to 'help'. Obviously it's not free. He wants another chance from Bonnie or whatever.

Anyway, he somehow becomes part of the gang. Like a guy you don't want around but know he's useful so you bear with his presence. Bonnie is absolutely not pleased by that but acknowledges his usefulness and later efforts in helping them.

Then the Heretics stuff, the Armory, Rayna Cruz....

Bonkai happens ? (And not Bonenzo, sad but we make a choice here). I don't know how but Kai must really get on her good side. Since she truly got traumatised by what happened in the prison world. Some important event has to occur for her to properly 'forgive' him. Saving people she loves. Saving her again. Just, sassy sociopath who merged with empathetic and loving Luke, now doing good ? And just Bonnie and Kai's magic working together with an upper connection would be Oh My GOD !!

Jo lives so does her twins. And Caroline has another story than being pregnant with another woman's magical babies. Alaric is happy with his wife and children. And maybe this will prevent him from doing some fucked up shit in Legacies (I didn't watch it but I've read some stuff).

Gemini coven ? They can't kill Kai otherwise they will all die themselves. There's a sort of truce ? You don't hurt us, we don't hurt you ? And hum, even Kai doesn't technically want Jo or Liv dead anymore, nor does the Luke part in him. Kai abandoned his desire to murder them all ?

Meaning we still got Liv and Tyler. I want them to be happy together. Liv is free from the merge. Tyler did not have to trigger the malediction by suffocating his girlfriend. They get the hell out of town and have a life of their own.

Maybe there'll be a little story line about ending the Gemini coven thing. They'll try to break the merge tradition shit in some sort of way. If Kai ever happens to have children he would never want them to go through what he did.

Btw, I want to see Kai with his siphon niece. He would be so good !

....

I don't know if it's a proper answer, but that's mine. So bear with it. 🙃😅

Also, spent all night writing this instead of sleeping.... It's 6:40 now....

Hey ! Anonymous person ! I hope it was alright, you enjoyed the short story and the answer I gave. 🤞💜

✨💀🙄❤️🙄💀✨

#the vampire diaries #tvdu #kai parker #bonnie bennett #bonkai #gemini coven #prison world #tvd imagines #writing

[pjunicornart]

Okay, so, uh... For some reason my ask isn't showing up on any Tumblr feed, so. I'm just gonna make a post. I got the notif that it was answered, but I can't see the post. I dunno, I think Tumblr is shitting itself.

ANYWAY. Yes, @xskywalker21, I do have a gift for you! It's actually a Meet the Robinsons AU of mine. I'll refer to it as "Compass" for now, but you can change it if you want.

Essentially, this is an AU where Cornelius lived in a cozy cottage in the woods with his pet duck Achilles. He's a field journalist who loves nature and the quiet air of the forest. Venturing outside of the forest was a small town square situated on a pier overlooking the ocean. It was here where Cornelius met Franny.

Franny lived in her parent's bakery after a very ugly divorce with Wilbur's birth father. Wilbur was five years old when Neil first met him. Neil would always visit her family's bakery because he loved the chocolate almond bread... One could say he was a liiiiiiiiittle bit addicted. Anyway, Franny's family (her brothers, mother, and grandmother) knew Neil was a good man, and could sense she was becoming infatuated with him.

One thing led to another, and two years later they're married. They all live in the cottage together now, and Wilbur seems to love it! (Especially Achilles.) I left the story off with Franny announcing to Neil they were having a baby.

That's the basic story, but here's some other stuff I thought you should know: - Achilles got his name because of what happens when you tap the back of his heel. He belly flops. - The whole AU was inspired by Cottagecore aesthetics, and the idea of cozy cottage living. Specifically this one playlist I came across really inspired it, which I can find and link if you want. - Franny's ex was a bad person. I haven't fleshed that guy out, but just know that Wilbur calls Neil "daddy", and not him. - Neil does have his family, they just live out of state. They visit occasionally, and of course they were there for the wedding! They all thought he was too wrapped up in his plants to find love. - Speaking of, instead of having a special interest and knowledge in machinery, this AU Neil is knowledgeable of fauna and flora from across the globe! - Franny can play guitar, flute, and cello. - Neil started frequenting the bakery before Franny got divorced, probably about a year before. When she saw him, it was basically love at first sight. - Their dating life wasn't something I had super fleshed out, but one thing I did have down was Neil's proposal to Franny. He proposed to her overlooking his favorite lake. The water was so clean, the moon and stars glistened in its reflection. - Both Neil and Franny know how to sing. Franny because she's just that kind of person, but Neil knows because he took choir in high school. It was a filler class.

The rest is up to you! I'm giving this AU to you because... Well I dunno. I just thought you'd like it. There's a one shot for it on my AO3 (it's in the Songtober fic, it's the "Lullaby" chapter), but that's pretty much it. That was my attempt to spark interest in it again, but meh... It didn't take. So instead of letting it die, I'm gifting this AU to you!

#rosey rambles #fanfic #meet the robinsons #meet the robinsons au #gift

[nyctodromist]

Hello, average person here! What do you love most about Cultist Simulator/the Mansus/Glory/Nowhere/Hours-From-Light, Stone, Blood, Flesh, Nowhere/Names/Long/Know/Occultists/Locations?

(What's a Suppression Bureau aha dw pls speak freely and at length we are all I am seated and listening)

hi! oh boy, that is a lot to talk about.

i'm sure i don't know what you mean by a "suppression bureau" either, so let's just take it from the top, shall we?

my favorite things about cultist simulator are easily the writing and the lore. the way this game is written is like nothing else i've ever seen and it is so magical to me. i don't have much to say coherently, i just love the writing style this game has. and the lore! the fucking LORE! this universe is so fucking wild! story and lore are pretty much always the most important thing to me when i'm getting into new media, and cultsim's grabbed me as soon as i started looking into it. it's so interesting!! there's so much to chew on!! i am rolling it around in my brain at all times!! studying the secret histories is not enough i need them injected into my veins

for one thing, i absolutely love the mansus in general. Fucked Up Houses are one of my favorite things in fiction, and i think the mansus definitely qualifies as a Fucked Up House, though it might be more subtle in that status than other ones that come to mind (but still associated with the color blue, huh?). in terms of actual locations, i'm particularly fond of the orchard of lights, the malleary, and the wood! the malleary has one of my favorite quotes in the game:

my favorite door is the spider's door. no particular reason, just vibes

oh, and while not part of the mansus, i'm really interested in the house of the moon! like what the fuck is even going on with that. why is there a mirror realm to the mansus? why is the fucking wheel there? also i love the meniscate forever and ever she is so lovely

(also, what's the meniscate's relationship with the wheel? i was always confused about why the meniscate was the hour who favored you if you balanced heart and moth in dancer since she didn't seem to have anything to do with those principles, until i remembered that the wheel still turns in the house of the moon and the wheel's aspect was probably heart/moth combined, so if you balanced them, in a way you would have the wheel's principle, but the ascension itself doesn't seem to have anything to do with him, so how does the meniscate actually factor into that? but i digress.)

the glory? yes. yesyesyesyesyes! hi. did you know i'm moth-aligned? did you know i'm literally a moth therian? holy shit. yes. please.

base instincts aside, i love all corrupting horrors, but blinding light is definitely up there in my favorite kinds of corrupting horrors. also, gameplay benefits aside (i do not know how to live without a position at the institute), this is why physician is my favorite legacy:

i think this specific description of the glory is what really captivated me and made me fall in love with it. there is so much warmth in these words

i have nothing intelligent to say about nowhere. There's Fucking Worms. i like worms. perhaps not these worms. i imagine them learning to work people from the inside is like what happened to jane prentiss in the magnus archives, except a lot less fun for the person involved, because these worms do not love you. while we're on the topic, though, here's something i've been thinking about:

the applebright has a library!! i want to see her library!! and yes, i understand that doing so is probably an objectively bad idea given that she is a god-from-nowhere, but i want to see her library nonetheless. this seems like the type of thing that could go very wrong very quickly, and i can't wait to see what kind of wrong it is

hours i love, in no particular order: the moth, the mother of ants, the lionsmith, the meniscate, the flowermaker, the forge of days, of course the sun-in-splendor, and most recently the sun-in-rags. i don't know if there's anything about him specifically, i've just been rotating him in my brain lately. say what you will about poppy lascelles, but i think the sun deserves nice things every once in a while, he's been going through it

do the followers fall under the "occultists" category? neville and enid are so so precious to me, i love knock, i love them, i am holding them so gently in my hands. valciane is also one of my favorites and do i honestly have to explain why. look at her. LOOK AT HER. FUCK! and also ysabet because she's moth and she's aro and non-monogamous to me. this woman is never going to have any kind of conventional relationship nor has she ever wanted one. ysabet does whatever ysabet wants. i feel so much solidarity with her. literally me too

my favorite locations in the wake are the ecdysis club and morland's shop (and by extension, rooms behind a bookshop, which is my favorite headquarters). ecdysis was my discord handle for several months just because of the club and i was so mad when the username change hit and someone else got it before me lmao. i don't think i have strong opinions on any of the vaults other than the obligatory Fuck The Boat. port noon is chill but i could never i am so invested in the hours

#bernie talks #asks #cultist simulator #I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO ANSWER THIS #THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTIONS THOUGH!!

[fierce-little-miana]

What's the deal with Kaoru?

Welcome to the “I should be working on my fic but instead I think about Kaoru” of the day!

I do not hide it, Kaoru is my poor little mew mew, my pathetic wet gremlin. He makes everyone’s life harder in Hakuouki (when allowed) and it would be the understatement of the century to say that there is something wrong with him. But, this is not what I want to discuss, or at least I don't want to discuss what's wrong with his mind. No, I want to discuss what is wrong with Kaoru as a oni. Kaoru is a pure blood oni in Hakuouki, and yet no one in the story seems to acknowledge this fact and the worldbuilding itself seems to ignore it.

So what's the deal with Kaoru? (there might be a following post later, once I have finished my playthrough of Hakuouki: Fleeting blossom of the dawn, for now I am basing this mainly on the movies and the anime)

Let's start with the basics of what we know. Kaoru is Chizuru's older twin (and seeing how much they look alike I really doubt they are the third secret kind of twins that can have different parents).

(I mean look at this: Souji is demonstrating it for us)

This means that Kaoru is a pure blood oni as much as she is. Yet, in both anime and movies we never seen him turn into his oni form before drinking the Ochimizu. It could be that he never had any good reason to do so. Indeed, other pure blood onis do not turn often and Chizuru herself does not turn at all (not even a beginning of transformation) in the anime. Besides, we see him use oni powers: healing abilities, supernatural speed (or mild teleportation?), wind control?, etc. Yet, you get this feeling that contrary to Kazama who is naturally superior/on even field with the best/most motivated of the rasetsu in his oni form, Kaoru needs to take the Ochimizu to catch back to both Kazama and the best rasetsus. The only time we see him transform in a "oni" form in the movies is after he drank it and he has characteristics of both oni (horns) and rasetsu (red eyes).

Furthermore, Nagumo Kaoru was born Yukimura Kaoru and yet no one seems to recognize him as the heir to the Yukimura legacy despite him being Chizuru's older twin brother. No one ever calls him Yukimura Kaoru! And to this I must add that apparently Chizuru's blood is necessary for Kodo's little rasetsu kingdom, yet he has Kaoru's active support (or are they partners? I personally headcanon that Kaoru thinks of each other as partners without really trusting Kodo and Kodo is manipulating Kaoru). True, fraternal twins are not closer genetically than any other siblings (and generally speaking brother-sister twins are fraternal except if they are the fourth kind of secret twins) so Kaoru might not just have what it takes, but still it is odd to see this three things together.

So, to go back on our original question let’s propose some hypothesis on what's the deal with Kaoru. These hypothesis are that, hypothesis, and they are not mutually exclusive. Also do not hesitate to tell me your thoughts on the matter:

The Yukimura clan is matriarcal (I don't know if Toki no Kizuna: Sekigahara Kitan gave extra info on this?), meaning that Kaoru is not considered the heir because he was never the heir. It is not impossible but seeing how Kazama treats Chizuru in the original anime I going to make a not so wild guess and say that not all demon clans are matriarcal.

Kaoru was officially adopted by the Nagumos and he can't just be a Yukimura again. Besides, after killing apparently everyone/most people (☺️) in the Nagumo clan, he became its new official head so maybe the oni world does not accept plurality of offices.

Not all pure blood onis are equal in their gifts and powers. Kaoru is just naturally weaker than some (one the headcanons I am following in my fic).

Oni powers must be trained to develop properly (an other headcanon I am following in my fic) and no one bothered to teach Kaoru or he was purposely sabotaged by the Nagumos.

The Nagumos clan did something pretty bad (understatement of the century) to him that eventually made him weaker. I am thinking experiments here.

Here are the potential answer I have found for what's the deal with Kaoru. What do you think of them? Do you have other hypothesis?

#hakuouki #hakuoki #nagumo kaoru #yukimura chizuru #kaoru posting #because he is my awful baby

[lightlunas]

My thoughts on Metroid Dread after finishing it for the first time

(Spoilers, obviously)

-Gameplaywise a good, solid Metroid. Fleshed out the ideas of Samus Returns, although I'm still not the biggest fan of the counter itself. Turning it into QTEs in some boss fights... worked, I guess? It broke up the flow of the boss fights and wasn't too common, so I can't really complain about it. I liked the slide. Upgrades were cool, the classics, some fun new ones. One thing I would criticize is that Samus almost felt... too fast, as weird as that sounds. Like when I would get chased by an E.M.M.I. I often had to pause and look at the map to consider which way to take because I could barely react to how fast I was going in the unfamiliar territory I was discovering as I was running through. Speaking of, aside from what I mentioned above, which ruined the flow of the chase sequences a bit, the E.M.M.I. sequences were fun and interesting. I would've wished for and was kind of expecting more gameplay upgrades to center around that; in the end, only the Phantom Cloak really mattered for them. I was about to write here that you couldn't even freeze them like the SA-X, but upon consideration I don't think I ever tried that? Guess I should've, but you probably couldn't, right? Still affirms that only the Phantom Cloak mattered though.

-Kinda linear, although it tried really hard not to make you notice that. I guess you could also say that it made any backtracking flow more naturally rather than make it tedious, but the point is that you rarely really had to think about where to go. It tried really hard not to let you get lost, which isn't bad I guess, because the map was pretty big and confusing. I actually found it way more confusing than any other Metroid and it took quite a while until I got used to it... somewhat. All the added detail was appreciated when you were looking for something on the map but it really didn't make it easy to read. It should've at least had some more options like turning certain icons off. Or highlighting them without having to find one first.

-Clearly put more focus on the bosses, and they had some pretty nice boss fights to show for it. They were so proud of them that they made a boss rush mode after all.

-Music, pretty disappointing. Nothing really stuck out to me.

-The final twist in the story did manage to surprise me, and it surprised me almost as much that I haven't gotten spoiled about it, even after all this time??? Or if I did, I successfully forgot it. I'm not quite sure how much I liked it, but like it I did. Much of it felt like a natural conclusion to the story threads it picked up. Maybe I would know better how to feel about it if I wasn't so confused by the very end!? Why did a X decide to save Samus?? Because of Quiet Robe's... uh... mystic powers? Or something? I don't know if speedrunning the game unlocks any bonus content that explains it, because 100% item collection sure didn't.

-I'm not the biggest fan of the suit design, particularly the visible wiring (which I thought were meant to represent her vulnerability and feeling exposed in the base suit, but they are still present in the Gravity Suit) and how the shoulder protrusions look in the Gravity Suit, like it's deformed, exposing the wiring underneath again. Also I REALLY didn't like the green light lines of the chest part going down to the stomach in the Gravity Suit. Looked silly. Like a competitive swimsuit design. Metroid Prime design still reigns supreme.

-Overall, I liked it! Cool Metroid game.

#light posts #metroid #metroid dread

[shinygemstone]

This is my toh trailer analysis. I am making this WITHOUT watching for the future. Please don't post spoilers under this.

So, first of all- Luz's palisman. It doesn't show up in this specific trailer, but I want to cover it very briefly. It's gonna be a snake. Judging by the color of the egg, it'll be somewhere between green and blue.

ANYWAYS, the trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZIurNjdV-X0&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

The trailer starts with The Collector asking King to read them a bedtime story from a very tall book. It seems that King knocks it over and just starts reading.

It then cuts to a Lilith with short, curly hair, worrying about Hooty.

This does not paint a pretty picture. The moon sigil between Hooty's eyes implies that it is The Collector who did this to him, and his body looks like one of those puppets you'd put your hand through. Lilith lets a tear fall on him- I hope Hooty isn't dead, but it implies that for the time being, he functionally is.

Cut to the coven heads seeming to attack Eda. Eda also has short hair now, fun. King is just... watching. He's probably unable to help. But he has Hooty, which isn't very reassuring considering he's already been got.

At first glance, they look normal. Then you look a bit closer, realize that the sun on the healing coven head's, uh, horns, is a sun, that all of their jaws look strangely puppetlike, and realize that clearly the collector did something to them. Also the collector has no sense of style, just look at Eberwolf and Raine's hair 💀

The glowing eyes, at this point, to me, seem to symbolize that The Collector is actively using his puppets. There's clearly a puppet/doll motif here, which makes sense. The coven heads then proceed to raise spell circles against Eda, showing that even as puppets, they can still use their magic.

Enter Bump, who is actively casting a spell when he gets got. The other hexside teachers are around him, and the expected colorful magic moon, flicked by The Collector, his him. He gets turned into a cutesy puppet, too. Rest in peace, Bump. You're the greatest principal ever.

But yeah, there's a definite puppet/doll motif. Bump just stands there, implying that he is unable to move. This kinda contrasts the last clip, where Raine's movements seem very in character for them.

It's also very interesting that this clip corresponds with the line "seal them up, so that they never fade."

Perhaps that's an insight to the Collector's motivations?

The next clip is one I couldn't get a good screenshot of, but there's graffiti on the Owl House. Camila is (rightfully) worried, and the Owl House is empty.

It's followed up by Amity being surprised, and likely horrified by what's happening, and Belos triggering a glyph. Fun. It opens a secret door.

Hunter pulls Willow out of the way of an explosion, Luz and Amity are using their respective magic against something, and then there's this.

Good news- Scara, Barcus and Matthomule are okay!! We don't know what they're showing our protagonists, but judging from the smug look on Matt's face, it's something good. Perhaps the hideout of the people the Collector hasn't gotten yet?

There's more of Amity chosing violence, and then a surprised look on the faces of Luz and Matt. Maybe this is the point where the Collector finds the hideout?

They look scared. Also, I have a bad feeling about the spider behind Matt. Glowy, ominous, in the middle of the screen? And it might have the Collector's moon symbol on it. Not good. I don't like that spider.

Then there's this. I'll let it speak for itself.

King and the Collector look somewhere between surprised and angry. The puppets around them look scared. I don't really have any major theories on this one, maybe they found out about the hideaway?

There's another clip I can't catch of Camila throwing the baseball bat. Good on Camila. Nail that fucker.

And in this unhinged clip, the Collector says "You look fun. Want to play?"

I think he's talking to the viewer. Yes. Yes I do want to play. I want to play Minecraft. C'mon iPad kid, let's get you a less destructive hobby.

Except it's immediately followed by a clip of Harpy Eda with the Owl Beast taking control and hissing. Oh, Owl Beast is pissed. It lunges for the Collector. Get them. He needs an ego check.

So, yeah. I think that the main cast will only reunite with Eda at the end of the episode, if she isn't a puppet. I think Camila will be having regrets. I suspect that the Collector either keeps all of their puppets close to them or he just makes sure they're inanimate when he's not around/when he doesn't want them "on".

This is a freaky fucking turn of events and I love it.

#king clawthorne #the collecter toh #for the future #not spoilers #thanks to them spoilers #technically #but no for the future spoilers #theories #trailer analysis #toh speculation #toh thoughts

[bananasfosterparent]

Efenity Kelmorn's Theme Songs

For my own reference/index, but wanted to share.

Here are all the songs that I would consider main theme songs for my evil Tav, Efenity Kelmorn! If your Tav/Durge is a similar type of person or has similar beliefs/views, perhaps some of these songs you can add to your own Tav/Durge playlists!

ABOUT MY TAV: Efenity Kelmorn is a half high-elf, Storm Sorcerer (lightning/thunder), and criminal (specializes in heists and transport of goods). Neutral Evil, ESTP. She is (happily) paired with Ascended Astarion. More about her here.

There's 10 songs in total here, under the "read more" cut.

I also included some personal notes as to how that song relates to her, if you care lol

~~~~~

🌩️ Do Bad Well (ft Nevve) - KSHMR

Oh, my daddy taught me well There's some devils in heaven and some angels in hell So promise me child, when they pull your card You'll know, you'll know which one you are (Yeah) Ooh, oh ooh Yeah, my daddy taught me well (Hey) Ooh, oh ooh If you can't do good, better do bad well

This song speaks to her criminal father raising her. He sucked as a dad, but he still cared for/about her and did the best he could with who he was. But one thing he certainly taught her was that what's "good" and "bad" are subjective. Things aren't so black and white, and you should look out for yourself, no matter what that means. And you better do it the best you can. From both of their perspectives, everyone (even a "hero") is the villain in someone else's story anyway.

~~~~~

🌩️Glamorous Life - Eden's Crush

She wants to lead the glamorous life She don't need a man's touch She wants to lead the glamorous life Without love it ain't much, it ain't much

This song is about a woman who's goal is to live in the lap of luxury and she will fake it til she makes it on her own. But the one thing missing from her life is true love... and when she meets a guy (who happens to be rich), real love scares her, but she gives in and is able to have what she wants (love and riches). That's... literally Efenity's story...sorta lol Her biggest goal was to complete a huge heist she had planned for a year and buy a big house, take over a criminal ring for herself, use the revenue to continue to pay for the house, throw lavish parties and live alone in peace. But she ended up getting that, and something so much better.

~~~~~

🌩️Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage

I'm only happy when it rains You wanna hear about my new obsession? I'm riding high upon a deep depression I'm only happy when it rains

Pretty straightforward. Efenity's used to living a life of negatives and unfortunate happenings and at this point, she's learned to revel in it and find joy within it.

~~~~~

🌩️ Catch My Breath (Cutmore Remix) - Kelly Clarkson

Catching my breath, letting it go Turning my cheek for the sake of this show Now that you know, this is my life I won't be told what's supposed to be right

Efenity refuses to give into the influence of others for what decisions need to be made. Especially when it comes to Astarion.

~~~~~ 🌩️ Ultraluminary - Phillipa Soo

I'm the light every night in your world, hey You revel in the glory of my beauty You ready to watch me be legendary? 'Cause I'm ultraluminary

This song is kinda random but it feels so Efenity-coded for me lmao Her ego is only rivaled by Astarion's (and maybe Lorroakan's and the Aboslute lmao). But for Efe, her arrogance is also grounded in gaining the confidence she did not have for most of her life. But by end-game she knows the magnitude of her power and influence. She went from sleeping in an abandoned building she made into a home, to sleeping in a triple king-sized bed of a grand palace. So I'd say she ain't doing too bad.

🌩️ Unstable - SVRCINA

I tried to play to every angle Tried to keep up, but I’m just not able Nobody wants to feel like they’re too fragile Turns out that I might just be unstable

Kinda speaks for itself, her struggle for most of her life.

~~~~~

🌩️ Good To Be Bad - CRMNL

I’m a straight up killer And imma eat you for dinner Ice in my veins like winter And I like it like that (like that) It feels so good to be bad

Also self-explanatory lol Efenity is not a nice person. She doesn't try to be. She doesn't care. She is going to do whatever she can to preserve her quality of life and get what she wants.

~~~~~

🌩️Royalty (ft Neoni) - Egzod & Maestro Chives

Best to give me your loyalty 'Cause I'm taking the world you'll see They'll be calling me, calling me They'll be calling me royalty

Never lose sight of your life goals, kids uwu

~~~~~

🌩️ Into Dark - Kate Havnevik

Now or never I can choose Misadventure Turn it loose Be whoever And I'll fade into dark

Efenity actively choosing to be the villain and focus on the needs of herself and Astarion over the needs of anyone else. But for her, from her own perspective, that's a "growth".

~~~~~

🌩️ Either Or - Kata & Philip LeForce

You can choose to win or lose, I give you the choice The world is black or white, either or You either like me or you don't I don't care, no, not at all (Oh, oh, oh) Don't like me now? You never will If you do you'll get a thrill (Oh, oh, oh)

A random song I found years ago, but it felt so relevant to Efenity and her outlook on life and toward the world.

#efenity #Alright my last playlist for a while #until I flesh out Silkina more #ascended astarion #tav x astarion #astarion x tav #bg3 #bg3 tav #character playlist #oc playlist

[grazer-razor]

i was thinking, and have come to a conclusion.

FNAF isn't as great as you think. i just woke up, so i'll keep things relatively quick and simplified.

if i recall correctly, scott cawthon entered a phase where he was making smaller games(i checked geeks under grace's interview with him, and didn't hear it, so i must've heard this somewhere else). even if i didn't hear that correctly, FNAF falls in this category, because it's literally just "survive all 5 nights at increasing difficulty" with a few spooky easter eggs. compare this to things like TDH and chipper sons and lumber, which were bigger than FNAF. scott only showed part of his gamedev power and that was the only time he went viral.

but wait there's more.

all that this small game has going for it is basically the horror aspect(and maybe the easter eggs like foxy's pirate song and those crying faces on the wall, which are still pretty small considering how small FNAF 1 is as a game). for a while, i thought that the spookiness itself was fine-ish(because it's possible to provide a thrilling "man VS. wild" experience without adding traumatic themes or imagery. think hiding from the SA-X in metroid fusion, which has a similar atmosphere to FNAF), but recently, god showed to me that FNAF was really not a good game. when i asked him to explain in a way that i could identify, he told me this piece of literal art...

"five nights at freddy's is a crappy game. horror and jumpscares are this game's fame. horror and jumpscares are this game's name. five nights at freddy's is a crappy game." - Yeshua Hamashiac himself (i actually asked god to explain in a way that i could identify a second time, and he said he already did. so i think this was him)

the worst part is that this is the perfect trap for becoming assimilated into the world. while looking at geeks under grace's interview, i saw this-

that last part is full of wisdom. not just making bad games, but PLAYING them is a sign you need to get your heart right with god. i have multiple friends in church who play games like call of duty, bayonetta, and metal gear rising, and while i don't know a lot about COD(it could just be action movie shooter with blood splashes in it), i know enough about bayonetta and MGR to know that they're really not great of games(plot of MGR involves a cyborg ninja being led to believe that he's a killer and ends up ripping a senator's heart out, bayonetta is literally a naked witch communing with demons, yadda yadda). i say this because scott saying this SHOWS that he has some grasp of the truth!

yet, scott ended up making stories like into the flesh and breaking wheel. and even if he co-partnered with writers, the fact that he still let these stories into FNAF canon speaks volumes about what's going on RN.

speaking of that poem/rap/whatever from god, i also asked him about the desolate hope. and he said that it was "an awesome game with beautiful graphics", and that i was "being too hard on scott".

this leads us to the most important part. while scott slipped up a bit making FNAF, he is still a talented man with jesus's love in his heart. even if he's made stuff like the 5th paradox(which we will not talk about aside from linking to a post regarding it), he still has a good enough head on his shoulders to know that you can't just make or play bad video games without having a heart issue.

he has a good enough head on his shoulders to stick firm to his beliefs when pressured by the FNAF fandom(AFTER the majority of FNAF's works were published, mind you!), and explain that he was a christian who was pro-life, republican, ETC.

so what if scott isn't perfect? WHO EVEN IS PERFECT, IN THE FIRST PLACE?

grazer, out!

#grazer essay

[freshairforrabbits]

any anti-problematic community/"problematic" community itself

i think only in cat pictures srry

Oh my god, I love all your cat pictures ❤️😂 and shit, yeah, to be fair they can totally both look like the cats on the left, I have witnessed some things in my wonky wobbly time on the Internet. But the people simply enjoying art and enjoying their friends art without shaming them for what they read, create, or find creative satisfaction in are truly the best ❤️ the right picture is how human creation should be; not a competition, not a moral grandstanding, but like coming around a table to share and indulge in each other's cooking, loving brewed teas, and passing big bowls and plates of food around-- deciding if something is to their taste and if not, they happily pass it over to someone who would enjoy it far more rather than decide it shouldn't be enjoyed by anyone at all because cranberry sauce is too bitter and icky for them.

We were meant to share and support each other, not walk on eggshells and virtue signal to our so-called friends that Look! Look! We're the Good Ones. People are going to hate you for pretty much anything you do, someone out there will hate you for the smallest, innocuous thing, they'll think you're horrible and awful and undeserving for just existing, so the best you can do is prop up your friends, even their artistic interests you don't understand, even the ways in which you can't figure out how they can stomach certain storylines. It's not productive to try and understand everything and everyone. It's not productive to train yourself to have knee jerk reactions to certain words, to be hyper vigilant of every miniscule detail, of trying to weed out Us from Them when the lines blur so fucking much. When I know for a fact people who condemn works like mine are the very ones to read them, to read my fiction and claim it's somehow a cut above the rest, that it does it all "right"-- which it doesn't, it's not, it's ugly and raw and it feels slimy and unproductive to know people hold stories like pretty boy snuff film up against others.

And in the same breath it's not productive to allow your triggers or discomforts to dictate the decisions of others (insert all of groupthink throughout history and today here).

I hope for people to one day be able to have the image on the right and that they move away from friends who would stab them in the back given half the chance. I hope that the people who read my fics and enjoy them and discuss them with their friends, who have to be so, so careful about what they say and feel as if they're being watched, stalked, and made to curb their most honest reactions and feelings– I hope they too find people who will let them speak openly and without fear of unfounded retaliation.

I hope for everyone to be able to share themselves wholly and completely, their darkest works and their thoughts included; how else are we gonna learn to grow and shape ourselves, y'know? How else can we learn to relate with others without being honest with ourselves.

Get freaky with it. And find people who support your work for you, not for the act of doing it all good or right, but for doing it bad and not giving a fuck. For fucking up grammar, for fucking up spelling, for getting gross and weird and wrong and complicated. For feeling safe and secure in your ability to create and your ability to share as you were meant to.

There are people out there; you don't gotta stick with assholes who'd sell you for a corn chip and some Purity Points. Keep looking and keep making ❤️

#answered asks #sorry this turned into a whole thing 😭 #i love when you send you silly cat memes ❤️ #i just have been thinking too much lately and seeing some things that had me going hmmmm... #thank you for your asks as always ❤️

[extremelyputridfishbreath]

Club Penguin Sponsored Parties (aka Takeovers) Ranked

i'm bored, i don't really know what to draw lately, and after returning to the fandom since 2017, in a tragic twist of fate i developed an opinion that maybe, just maybe...some takeovers were actually GOOD!? or at least have the potential to be!? buckle up, and hold onto your tail feathers...this is gonna be a ride

we'll be going not in chronological order (although if you're curious, the only sponsored parties i've personally experienced were marvel 2012, make your mark ultimate jam, and the temple of fruit) but from best to worst. that being said...

DISHONORABLE MENTION:

The Good Dinosaur (2016)

the only sponsored anything for a disney movie that is so irrelevant it doesn't even have a true party, and was limited to penguin style and a club penguin times issue announcing them. all the good dinosaur got was a few costumes and a pin- and while it may not have been as intrusive as other takeovers, it's pretty boring...not unlike the movie it's based on. with that being said, let's go on to the rankings for the actual parties! starting with...

Adventure Party: Temple of Fruit 0/10

i don't like this party, and since it's for actual, genuine reasons rather than pettiness on my part or not caring about what it's an advertisement for, it's going up first. while "oh no the angry tiki god is ANGRY" is a dreadfully common anti indigenous trope...i'm not going to give my childhood favorite game (or anything else for that matter) a pass for it! even with it having an original story unlike the takeovers who just stuff in movie characters/items and call it a day, i can't say it's good. because it's rooted in the trope, and the items are stereotypical, and it's just bad man. smoothie smash is an alright game, but there's a reason i disregard everything besides that minigame when it comes to this party.

Descendants Party 0/10

boring rooms, no actual story. at least you can ignore it for the most part (though rip to anyone who wanted to roleplay as wolves like the good old days in the forest).

Zootopia Party 0/10

i don't care for zootopia and i don't care for this party. ignoring the fact that they completely missed an opportunity for a joke by acknowledging judy and nick would not know what penguins are (because there are zero birds or reptiles present in the movie), the rooms are boring and in the case of the town? completely ugly in my opinion. blackout aside, we've had a snowed in town before during christmas 2008 for example (x) so why not lean into that instead of well...what we ended up with? the cityscapes aren't really visually interesting like the marvel parties, we've seen jungle done WAY more fun before in the adventure parties, and let's just face it: nick and judy look VERY uncanny in the style. judy moreso, i think it's because they're the only characters to be depicted with pupils like That compared to the usual style? either way i don't like them or their party, and unlike some of the other takeovers it's not divorce-able from the brand it's tying in with either. bleh

Frozen Takeover 2015/2016 0/10

i think this speaks for itself. i know that plenty of older parties were reruns, and sometimes the only changes would be new content building off the stuff from the year before- but considering how much of a cashcow frozen is, this is just lazy to me. shame on not the staff, but DISNEY! SHAAAME!!!!!!!

Finding Dory Party 6/10

boring. bland. i literally almost forgot to add this party.

BUT.

i like the rooms! i think this could've been fun as a sort've 'modern' underwater party if there were more decorated rooms- maybe even lean into the whale pool at the dock and add more enclosures for roleplay opportunities? it gets a 6 for both the potential and also because i find it pretty to look at

Frozen Party 5/10

i don't like frozen. i think its boring, i think hans is a poor twist villain since it's so out of nowhere, but most of all i think this party is WASTED potential. look at this.

there was a heatwave coming, and herbert, who's KNOWN for desiring a warm life was never relevant to this party?

HUH?!

herbert has kidnapped penguins before- ice powers or no ice powers it would be so easy to write a story around this. it's warm on the island for once, and herbert's enjoying himself...until elsa arrives and makes everything cold. angered by having but a taste of the warmth he relished in during his reign on the island during operation: blackout ripped away from him, he kidnaps elsa in hopes of finding some way to stop her ice powers from ruining his summer- and it's up to the epf to stop him!

...but nope, herbert's irrelevant to this party. i will admit i do like some of the rooms despite disliking the source material, and i DO think it has potential if you lean into herbert being involved in some way, so i'll give it a five...far more charitable than it's spinoff parties, thats for sure

Star Wars Rebels Takeover 4/10

i've never been "into" star wars. sure my mom used to play it all the time growing up, and i liked the clone wars cartoon when it came out to watch it sometimes...but i did not, and still don't consider myself a fan. the rooms don't really interest me, and i still have a petty grudge against darth herbert saying he enjoyed meat when herbert mentions hes vegetarian every chance he gets, buuuut. it's probably one of those things where you get more mileage out of it if you like the brand...but at the same time, i like some takeovers i have zero interest in branding wise soooo. hm. i'll give it a 4, because at least it gives you tasks to do, and even if i'm not super into the rooms, they're not super tacky like zootopia's

Star Wars Takeover 0/10...?

technically competent in that they tried making a story and clearly had fun with it but it's getting a zero for making herbert eat meat. just because i rag on dear polar boy and make him more evil since i like the idea of him escalating post-blackout doesn't mean i will let him be SLANDERED....herbert would NEVER. if i'm not needlessly picky about his characterization then who will be? sorreeee

...without pettiness i'd give it a 5, if only because they clearly had fun making this and even if i'm not a fan of star wars, i do think the rooms are more visually interesting than it's sequel takeover

Monsters University Takeover 6/10

at first i was indifferent to this party an didn't really see it as anything besides an ad, but thinking on it...i actually LOVE the idea of like, little penguin sororities and fraternities. i think the idea, independant of monsters university would make for a very fun party. all you'd have to do is make up new things unrelated from the scare minigame for players to do! but as it goes, it's not half bad. i've played the scare minigame on flashpoint before and while it's pretty simple, it's an alright game. i'm not like, crazy about the rooms but they're fine. i need the penguins to go to college and live a life we cannot have without loans

Muppets World Tour 5/10

i actually like the muppets, but i don't engage with it enough to consider myself a full fan. that being said, i think seperated from the muppets this could also be a fun party; particularly if it took notes from the earth day parties and taught players about animals from other countries, especially penguins. please, please give me a time machine to convince disney to let club penguin stylize chinstraps like this

anyways the rooms are nice to look at, the potential is there, and if nothing else the sentence "i just met kermit the frog on club penguin" is hilarious so 5 out of 10

Make Your Mark: Ultimate Jam 10/10

i'm not gonna lie, i ALWAYS forget this one was technically a sponsored party what with rocky and cece from shake it up being mascots for it. that being said i fucking LOVED music jam as a kid, still do, and i remember this particular one being fun so i'm gonna put it as a 10. VERY cool new rooms were added for this one, my favorite being Backstage!

Music Jam 2014 10/10

this is also barely a sponsored party since the only sponsored aspect of it were the irl musicians- remove them and it's just a fun spin on the music jam by making it a cruise. i like the rooms, can't complain. 10 outta 10

Teen Beach Movie Summer Jam 10/10

i was never into teen beach movie as a kid (though i watched both), but this is a nice party. if you removed the mascots, change the name of big momma's, and maybe a few other things this would just be a very fun summer party.

Inside Out Party 10/10

i had a passionate hyperfixiation on inside out when it first came out, and even ignoring that i still love the movie and find it relatable. soft spot for it asides, i think the inside out party is both good and actually pretty easy to file the serial numbers off of- after all inside out wasn't the first movie to personify emotions! other than axing rainbow unicorn and bing bong (rest in power king), and changing up a few things like the dream studios there's not a lot you need to change if you didn't want to make inside out canon to your fanon.

Marvel Takeover 2013 10/10

much like it's predecessor, this takeover is basically just a superhero party with marvel costumes stapled on. it's a very fun party that (again, like the prior party) even went through the effort of making two versions of each club penguin times issue released during it- one for super heroes and one for villains. no repeating the same party with minor changes like the frozen fevers- they even had different rooms between the parties alongside a new story! plus it's always fun seeing protobot. a great time!

Marvel Super Hero Takeover 2012 10/10

when i say i used to hate this party, i mean i HATED it. i didn't have membership, so i didn't even have the luxury of getting to be trapped in a burning building like my peers!

that being said, looking back i appreciate the marvel takeover. it was the first one, they did a unique story rather than just copying one of the movies (which makes it easy to turn into a non-branded party in fics), the rooms are pleasing to the eye, you could meet aunt arctic, and most of all they gave protobot big fucking chair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#club penguin

[changethecircumstances]

HoA vs. TDIM: Antagonists

I've been trying to figure out why I don't like The Devil In Me as much as House of Ashes, especially when I like both main casts pretty equally and I actually like the set up of The Devil In Me more. What I believe it comes down to is the antagonists of each game and the fact that The Devil In Me gives us WAY too much information

What I mean by that is House of Ashes doesn't explain who the ancient alien race were. It doesn't go deep into their culture or where they came from or if they created the parasite, were using it, or had just recently discovered it. The game simply gives you enough information to understand that the 'vampires' you're fighting used to be intelligent beings capable of space travel. They had a language. Created art. They were light years ahead of humanity before the parasite destroyed them and led to the ship crashing (and did the parasite just destroy that ship or did the parasite destroy their whole culture?)

Again, you don't know. You're given just enough information to get your brain working, to get questions flowing, but the discovery of the alien race doesn't over shadow the main plot and neither is so much information thrown at you that it starts contradicting itself and fuddles everything up

The Devil In Me has the opposite problem. It's trying to make Hector Munday the new Norman Bates, Michael Myers, Hannibal Lecter, John Kramer, and even throws in some Hot Fuzz hints while they're at it. He comes from a broken home and has a twisted relationship with his mother. He can't let the past rest. At the same time, he's a genius in murder devices like Jigsaw, but technically worse as none of the traps are winnable or meant to make the people in them learn anything. He's also Michael Myers though. The boogeyman who can't be killed. Who never speaks. Who never has to run. Who technically doesn't abide by our rules. But he's also Hannibal Lecter. A man spurred to create 'art'. Or he might not even be Hector Munday. Or just Hector Munday. Maybe he's a group rather than a singular person "No luck catching them killers then"

Because all this information is thrown at the players though, you don't know how to feel about Munday. He goes from scary to just confusing to you never knowing what rules he's technically abiding by when it comes to horror slashers. It weighs down an overall solid story and rather than making the endings (both good and bad) satisfying, it just leaves you with too many unanswered questions

I liked the buildup to realizing Hector Munday is the killer. That he was a cop from a broken home, abused by his mother, put under stressful situations without proper care. It was set up well and realistic and the realization that Sherman wasn't the main killer but Munday's catalyst was really interesting. However, by being unable to decide if they wanted more of a supernatural killer or an artistic killer or a broken, every day man kind of killer, it kept the story from becoming great like it could have been

I don't even mind that he didn't die at the end! I wouldn't have minded a Michael Myers boogeyman style slasher villain. But they just don't commit too that and are trying to put too many things into the one character

The aliens and parasite in House of Ashes don't overstay their welcome. They are kept vague enough that they don't overshadow the story already established and don't give us so many facts and ideas that they start contradicting others. Unfortunately, Hector Munday suffers from all those issues

#thoughts #the dark pictures anthology #the dark pictures #the devil in me #house of ashes #hector munday #granthem du'met

[pb-dot]

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

I liked Across The Spider-Verse a lot, but even now, a scant 40 minutes after walking out of the theatre, I find myself wishing I liked it more. I have a mostly coherent idea of why, but I figure it's going to take some doing to explain it, and there might be spoilers. A more or less concise thoughts about this absolute thunderstorm of a movie below.

There are many notable things about the first Spider-Verse film. How many disparate spiderpeople, or perhaps spidersapients is more apt at this point, they managed to make compelling at once, the wild attention to detail in animation and visual design, not to mention the marvelous "What's Up Danger" sequence that contains what I consider to be the very best single shot in any superhero film ever made. All of these are fair, but through Across, the bit that came back to me the most was when recently dimension-hopped struggle-spider Peter B. Parker tells protagonist Miles "Don't watch the mouth, watch the hands" before pulling a fast one on him. The reason, I'm starting to realize, why this quote came to mind, was because Across The Spider-Verse seemed insistent that I keep watching the mouth because the mouth is the money-maker don'tchaknow while inexpertly trying to snag the last biscuit I'd been saving for later.

Ok, this is already a bit freeform, so let's jump back a few steps. There is much to recommend about Across The Spiderverse. The budding relationship between Gwen and Miles is awkward and sweet in a way love between 15-year-olds doesn't always get to be in genre stuff, and the conflicts with Miles' parents are way better than the usual "parents just don't get it" business by a country mile. Speaking of love and conflict, boy howdy are the action scenes in this movie an absolute triumph of animation. Every single one of them is like watching entire "best of" reels on acid, and somehow they manage to escalate and innovate throughout. I'm no animation expert, but I'm pretty sure entire Marvel phases have come and gone without even seeing a fraction of the love every pulse-pounding minute of this film's incredible action scenes is just dripping with.

All of this, especially the latter part, comes with a cost. I, for one, can't help but feel like the story was what suffered the most for this perfect storm of animation excellence. Oh, the movie has a story, yes, but for how much of the intended takeaway could be read as "blind adherence to fixed points in storytelling is actually pretty dehumanizing," the story does feel paradoxically by the numbers. It's not bad at its job of moving our heroes, antiheroes, and figures of more ambiguous arachnid morality from jaw-dropping moment to jaw-dropping moment, and it does a good job of propelling our protagonists along on their emotional journies. The problem? That's all the story does. It moves Miles, Gwen, and the rest along, but it doesn't actually challenge or thrill in any mentionable way by itself. It's not a climb, it's not a rollercoaster, it is a monorail between points of interest, and you're not really supposed to pay all that much attention to it.

How do I know this? Look no further than what I would, in an act of structure-orthodox lumping, call Act 3. So, after outsmarting edgy antihero/resident Dracula Erzats Miguel and his considerable posse of spiderpeople, Miles pulls off a narrow escape to what he believes to be his home dimension, and Miguel and his gang give chase. Now, the only problem is that this is not Miles' dimension, and if you pay what I consider to be a normal amount of attention, it's blindingly obvious. For one, the needlessly creepy DNA-scanning interdimensional spider-porter flashes his destination dimension multiple times, and the fact that the spider that bit Miles and changed his DNA wasn't from his reality has been hammered into the audience at this point. Now, Miles not getting this? Yeah, sure, that's reasonable. He's had a long and very difficult day with increasingly wide and far-reaching understandings of the phrase "difficult day." Miguel not getting it? Sure, he's mad with rage and potentially also regular madness. Gwen, Peter B, the competent pregnant Spider-Woman, and that whole gang? Now we're getting it into pushing it-territory, but the part that gets to me is how far the movie expects the audience not to get it.

Fair is fair. I am an occasionally terrible person to watch movies with because I notice things and I know a lot about how stories work and read cinematic language very well so I pick up twists with uncanny accuracy. It's the kind of long-lasting damage that a lifetime of loving movies and two years in film school will have on a person. This is all to say that I'm not mad at the movie for letting me suss out the twist ahead of time, that kind of stuff happens all the time. I'm used to picking up on things a bit before the actual reveal and find my fun in watching the twist in progress with some pre-hindsight in mind. That said, I don't think I've seen a mainstream movie that rewarded me less for picking up the (to me) very obvious twist from the word go. It goes on for too long, it doesn't really change how you view the characters or what they chose or what they do, and, perhaps most damning of all, it doesn't really reveal in a satisfying manner. There's no elegance to the prestige and it doesn't really recontextualize what has happened, either from a practical or emotional standpoint, we're just told "wrong dimension who dis?" and off we go to the To Be Continued's.

The To Be Continued is also a bit of a sore spot for me if I am going to be entirely honest. I had no idea going in the movie that this was going to do the Infinity War thing, and I would perhaps not have reacted so strongly to the plot if I didn't feel like I had been sent home with a wave and a "see you in 2024 sucker." Like I get that the film is telling a bigger story than what it can fit in a movie, and without knowing exactly what they're doing with part 2, but from my perspective, it should be entirely possible to exert some discipline and get this one done in one. This could mind you, be the soulless executive producer that lives in the dark recesses of my mind speaking.

That's honestly the hardest part about this movie for me. There's so much honest, genuine love poured into animating this absolute mayhem, and the character writing does some really cool stuff that I'd love to get into at a later date, but it just didn't land as a story for me. If endings aren't as important to you as they are to me, you may be able to love Across The Spider-Verse as much as I think it deserves. Frankly, I hope you can.

#across the spiderverse #spider man #miles morales #gwen stacy #peebs thinks #long reads #spiderverse spoilers