Heart to Heart
A little thing I wrote where Code:E and Dream have a heart to heart about emotions. Enjoy!
~~~
Code:E and Dream sit in the anti-void, Code:E with his knees tucked neatly under himself while Dream sits across from him, legs crossed, tending to his bow. All was still and quiet between the two when suddenly, Code:E's hesitant monotone drawl reverberates throughout the all encompassing white.
"Dream..?"
A bit surprised, Dream immediately perks up, his eye lights sparkling just a bit. As it was not often during these little hang outs of theirs that his glitched friend spoke. Smiling, Dream replied "Yes Code:E?" With a curious tilt of his head.
It was quiet for a moment as Code:E gathered his thoughts. His eye lights wandered downward to his lap, then to Dream's face. "What do you do when your friend starts leaking magic?"
A bit thrown off by the question, Dream fixes Code:E with a perplexed expression.
"Leaking?! From where??"
"Eye sockets."
Dream perked up at that. "Oh! Do you mean crying?"
"Perhaps. Why did they cry? I am having a hard time understanding the purpose of using their magic in such a way. It seems unproductive."
This time, it's Dream's turn to hesitate, unsure how to explain complex emotions to whom (to his knowledge) thinks like an AI.
"Well.." Dream takes his weapon and moves it to the side, leaning forward to get his thoughts straight. "We cry for a lot of things. Mainly, Humans (some Monsters too) do it to protect their eyes or to wash out irritants"
Curious, Code:E cock's his head sideways. "But my friend is not human nor a Monster with the need to wash out irritants. And yet, one day I found him leaking. What use does it serve him to do so?"
Dream raises his pointer finger "As I said before, that's not the only reason to cry. Many Monsters and Humans alike cry because of our emotions! We cry when we feel sad, happy, overwhelmed, relieved, excited, the list goes on!"
"If you can cry from any emotion, what was my friend feeling? How am I able to discern the variance?"
"Well, what did he look like when you saw him then? Usually when people are having emotional moments you can tell how they are feeling by the expressions they make, or how their body is positioned."
Code:E hummed as he recalled the memories of his friend from that day. "Brows scrunched, eye lights shrunken, hands gripping his humerus and spine slightly hunched over." Code:E paused, his eye lights seeming to gain an extra glint they didn't have before. "And he wasn't smiling."
Dreams' sockets widen before softening, a melancholy expression slipping on his face. "He was sad.."
Code:E perked up at the new information, his spine curving straighter. "Sad?"
Dream nodded, "Yes.. It's an emotion people often feel when something bad has happened, to them or the people around them. And when they get really sad they cry to get it out to not be sad."
"How do I prevent them from being sad and make them un-sad?"
Dream takes a second to sweat drop at Code:E's grammar before shaking his head. "Firstly, the opposite of sad, or sadness is happy, or happiness. A feeling that makes people smile, laugh, and generally feel good. Secondly, for everyone it's different." Using his magic, Dream waves his hands to create a few clouds of sparkling mist to provide a visual aid. The mist morphing into two skeletal figures, one looking sad and desaturated, the other being brighter.
"For instance, some people prefer something physical, things like hugs, small touches here and there."
The brighter one, notices the dull one and engulfs it in a big hug before the visual shifts to three sets of skeletons. In each set the duller one is being pet by the brighter one in different places, the skull, upper spike and hands respectively
"..Some prefer objects, such as teddy bears or blankets to help ground them or provide comfort."
Again, the visage morphs. This time into the duller one seeking comfort in the objects described.
"Others however, may have reluctance to touch, and prefer to talk out their feelings instead. As having someone there to just listen makes them feel.. well, heard. Like their thoughts matter. Some talk to professionals, called therapists, while others confide in people close to them, people they know and trust, ie: their friends!"
The visual then shifts to the duller one laying down with speech bubbles surrounding their head while the brighter one nods along. With a smile Dream waves off the visual and clasps his hands together. "There! Now you know why people cry and how to deal with it! Any questions?"
Code:E shakes his head "no… I believe I understand."
Dream positively glows, happy that he managed to explain it coherently. It was quite the challenge to explain something so convoluted as emotions but he definitely managed. Oh! Maybe he could create a more in depth lecture!-
Suddenly, Dream was splashed in the face with a inky substance. Not expecting it, he jumps and sputters, quickly wiping off the offending liquid before turning his skull to the call of his name. Oh! It was Ink! Dream should've known! "Oh hello Ink! What brings you to this part of the void?"
Ink smiles but it looks a little strained,"Ah, sorry to interrupt you and.." he glances at Code:E, "..your company- but it's Nightmare." Instantly, Dream is on his feet. "Shit! What is it now?!" Ink grabs broomie as Dream gathers his arrows and such from the floor. "A horrortale surface timeline, the gang is causing a bit of havoc in Ebott city. I've already contacted Blue, so if we hurry we can help prevent any collateral." With a large swipe, Ink paints the ground with his name sake, creating a portal to the universe and motions for dream to hop in. Dream takes a step forward, however he stalls and looks back at Code:E. With a smile he kneels down to face him.
"I'm sorry to leave so soon friend, but duty calls." Dream goes to place his hand on Code:E's shoulder but it just fazes through. He tried again, this time only hovering it just above to give the illusion of touch. "Remember what we talked about, and if you have any more questions about anything you can always come to me." Code:E nods. "Affirmative."
From behind them Ink coughs. Dream's eyes widened, jumping to his feet. "R-Right! Sorry!" He runs over while Ink rolls his eyes and hops in. Dream follows, however as he falls through he turns around and waves to Code:E "Bye Code:E! Good luck with your friend!!"
As Dream's voice fades and the ink puddle evaporates, Code:E looks to his lap. Placing a hand on the shoulder Dream tried touching, his wide blank eyes softening a smidge.
"Thank you.."
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okay so i was just watching an episode of tawog and had a thought. considering that penny's canon human design is black-coded (95% most likely black though!) and thought about that "The Shell" episode.
now, my memories of that episode - and the show in general - are a little blurry since i haven't watched a full episode of tawog since fucking forever. though i somewhat remember "The Shell" - even as someone that was young, i appreciated the episode. it was kinda deep to me - nothing that serious, but serious enough to appreciate this episode existing. and i just couldn't help but to look up the episode (on the wiki, though) again.
but i just can't get enough of how that episode hits differently, when knowing Penny's human version is black. the existence of her shell could easily connect to the way some black people force themselves to hide - they try to stay away from being seen as "the other black ppl" to just live normally, they may not embrace their culture (and/or facial traits associated with their race) in general from internalized racism. they repress their emotions, especially negative ones, to not be reduced into something hollow.
when her shell cracks, her insecurities slip in - she thinks that gumball's thinking that she's ugly. and the fact that her father gets on her ass about her being a "monster"? she's been conditioned to adapt into a society that won't accept her if she embrace her culture - a society that will see you as nothing more but an entertainer, aggressor or terrible being. a society who rewards you if you look or act similar to the default. her father has conditioned her this way so she couldn't get hurt - he's afraid of the risks that she'll get for not adapting into a certain look or attitude... he associate his true culture with the bad and wild representation of that culture.
// note: the fact that she's transforms into random ass creatures while expressing her emotions??? this is something i looked a little "too" deep into i admit, but the fact that her transforming into a creature could represent the way people reduce black people into a single trait when they express their emotions (especially negative ones), while in the process - those same people view less of black people as well, people?? this note just ties into the rest of my post.
andddd that's fucking it. i appreciated its existence back then and still fucking do. such a memorable episode honestly. i somewhat related to this back then, but now this episode just gave me a slice of literal relatability. mainly about her repressing her emotions
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camp rock songs i think could be neat to see in season 3 in hsmtmts
as a note, i don’t think we’ll get 99% of this. i think camp rock is going to lend maybe like- 1 or 2 songs. a medley like in 2.01 if we’re lucky. but yeah these are entirely just songs i like from the movies and think could fit the vibes of the show. also particularly given a lot of these are... from the second movie, it makes odds lower probably. but i just really like ballads, sue me.
let’s go! (feel free to let me know your own favorites / wishlist items!)
this is our song.
my number one request truly. and ngl it’s my only actual request i care about for season 3. let ricky get out his guitar at the end of the season and have them all sing around the campfire. it’s summer camp, if there’s not some form of campfire singing i will riot. i’m begging- give us this number. i’ll take it for the credits even just give it to me.
this is me / gotta find you & gotta find you.
i’ll put these together bc i really do just enjoy gotta find you... and it’s a ballad type song that fits the tone of hsmtmts but also this is me / gotta find you is this absolutely iconic number. and i’d love to see something done with it.
too cool or 2 stars.
these are just- ridiculously fun numbers. if they’re giving lily screentime / a plotline they could give her one of these at the outset of / before her redemption arc. i love too cool, i did it on my karaoke machine twelve thousand times when i was little, but- 2 stars could be cool too, maybe especially so if they lean into family? but it can be used outside this context too. only problem with too cool is that contextually lily- isn’t popular. even at north. she fully admits to ricky that people just don’t like her. which... fair- but still. i guess at the end of the season she says she turned things around but- yeah idk
our time is here.
this is the only other song from the first movie that i think i could potentially want to see. and i don’t even necessarily want this one that much. i just- a lot of the music in these movies doesn’t fit the tone of the series, so i’m trying to kinda pick out the ones that do? bc obviously the musical theater / pop esque vibes of hsmtmts are NOT the same as the “rock” adjacent camp rock sound. that said... i like the whole ‘claiming our power’ aspect of this song, like “don’t be afraid we’ll do it together” and the title “our time is here”, is very wholesome and fits the series for sure. that said- it says “gone are the days of summer” and similar things... so it feels like an end of season thing. and i’d MUCH rather see this is our song for the end.
different summers.
is a couple facing tension? are they wanting / experiencing different things, feeling unsure about one another in this place they stand, even if not their own heart? welcome to this brilliant chance to express that sentiment. or even a more personal discovery type conflict depending. but yeah. i can think of a lot of potential applications for this one. gina obviously would make a lot of sense for the first suggestion. they could use it for ashlyn if she and big red have problems / if that jett and ashlyn flirting very small implication in that audition is real...
or i mean it could be used in terms of if there’s a potential self discovery in terms of queer identity going on for anyone... looking at someone (read love interest) in a different light / themselves in a different light. “tossing your heart to see where it lands” is... a strong sentiment to be sure. taking risks and such.
it’s not too late.
this song would be a great choice for lily. like i’ve seen people want her to sing monster, which i quite like, and if she doesn’t, this could be a good song to accomplish something similar with her potential redemption arc. or anyone else who they need to do a ‘i’ve messed up but i can fix it i have to’ thing for, but- lbr that’s probably lily. i actually quite enjoy this song so i thought i’d put it’s hat in the ring. idk... i just- would like to hear olivia rose keegan get to sing again- particularly if the song doesn’t get relegated to the soundtrack this time. i HIGHLY recommend giving this one a listen or even just giving the lyrics a read.
can’t back down.
i don’t love this one necessarily in it’s own right, but it’s an iconic number, and it gives off the same like- homemade sound effects thing as work this out from hsm2 which adds to the vibes. it could be a lot of fun to watch as a full blown big group number. like i think i saw someone talking about val leading them in something like this before a long time ago, but regardless, i’d be very on board for that. like hey maybe the camp’s as risk of shutting down so they have to make this a huge success and the kids are discouraged and val’s like “not on my watch, let’s do this”. could be accomplished with similar vibes using work this out as well, though work this out has lyrics that are probably less fitting to the setting / circumstances. they could also do it’s on for their big build back power moment, but i think can’t back down is better for hsmtmts.
wouldn’t change a thing.
a lot of ships are interested in getting this song and i can’t blame them. it’s a super intense, beautiful ballad duet moment and it’s got all this fun imagery and i just- it’s great. truly a fan of this song. i will not attempt any kind of predicting or anything on this song just bc- the only real requirements are a) a ship (or tbh just a very strong duo). and b) a conflict that is resolvable because love.
it’s probably going to be a bigger couple, if this is presented in terms of narrative. we don’t have a ton of duets as of now, and the ones we do have are either a) performances / rehearsing, or b) a rini duet. there is ONE exception to this- and that’s red means love, a song played over the credits that’s seen as a semi-canonical event. i fit around you into the first category bc- it is a somewhat performance situation given it’s their talent show routine. {lowkey the fact that the only “couples” to have sung duets on this show in general are rini, miss jenn/zack, and redlyn is kinda crazy. i’d reckon portwell may join the list this season, regardless of their status at the end of the season.}
introducing me.
i had to put it down. i just had to. this one’s iconic in its own right, and i think its dumb cutesy vibes are perfect for this series. it’s a guitar song too, fairly simple energy musically, which again- fits this show. i know people would like ricky to sing this- i think they’d probably be less inclined if they came to the very real conclusion that the only person it makes sense for ricky to sing it to is lily. i wouldn’t mind getting to hear ricky sing it anyway though. that said- i could very much potentially see someone like jet singing this song. he doesn’t know the wildcats, and could very easily do something like this with someone and have it make sense in context. they could surprise me- but that’s my take.
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I guess I should preface my ramblings on Anya and Erin with how I view the passage of time during that period of Chapter 10-14, since it's rather unclear.
Now I do fully use Venam's three month time frame she gives after being brought back from her stone age. Obviously she's not the most reliable source on how much times past due to not exactly having access to a clock and sense of time during that probably being a bit warped, but also it's literally the only direct reference of time (besides stated time skips, and also neither Melia or the MC dispute the time frame Venam gives) that exists before Chapter 15 starting in November and ending a couple days into December.
Chapter 10-11 I give about 2 weeks total. Chapter 10 is justa couple days for the train ride and the day running around the area during the chapter. 11 is where I give the bulk of that time to, personally I give a few days between most of the major events that happen during the chapter (besides the beginning part exploring the city and getting the accomodations from Rhodea, the stuff with the cafe/Valarie and Lavender/Huey happening in one day, and Venam's being turned to stone arc and nightmare city sequence also being within a day/night)
Chapter 12 is weird because there's a lot of time hopping and alternate timeline shenanigans. Obviously for the MC and Melia they spend about a week in the alternate timeline but come back to the same time they left at. How I'm doing this is that the first visit to the Rose Theater is immediately after the Nightmare City as it usually is, but a few days happens before they get Melia from the hospital, they all spend more time then specified in past Sheridan (just like 2-3 days more then is specified in game) with the biggest time jump being between helping Aelita with her Rift and the beginning of Chapter 13. Don't have really much specifics other than that though, again due to how weird the chapter is. MC and Melia have an extra week on top of the time that passes in the present (as a whole, Chapter 12 is where the majority of those 3-ish months between Venam's stone moment and beginning of 15)
Chapter 13 probably happens about a week or so. You do move back and forth in time a little bit (literally, but also figuratively as you switch between Ren/MC's misadventures and Melia's time with Erin that takes place the day the MC goes to Sashila, and by the time you switch to playing as Melia, the MC already is in the next day). Still not a solid number, but not nearly as bad as Chapter 12.
Of course, Chapter 14 is the shortest in time frame, most of it one day with a couple days time skip after the bulk of it is over.
Obviously I'm probably not correct bit this is how I view the time frames during these chapters as the period of 10-14 is very weird with it's several time hopping shenanigans, swapped perspectives, and the fact that the plot itself moves very fast and doesn't have the same amount of opportunities for explicit time skips as the story does earlier in the game. It's not the best sourced or best supported timeline I have here, but it's what I'm running with
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