#AUGH IT MAKES ME ASCEND /silly

[cemetary-shifts]

so i finally watched the devil's chord and i. AUGH!!!! UEUHGH!!!!!!! i watched space babies a couple days ago and it was good ofc but i felt like it was missing something but devil's chord was literally fucking PERFECT. it was scary and emotional and silly and weird all at the same time and i almost cried and i got so many goosebumps and i just AAHH!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE EP UNDER THE CUT. GIANT RANT. I AM AUTISM.

i already have a giant bias towards the episode cuz one of my longest interests has been music and instruments but oh my fucking GOD the way they talked about music and hearing classical songs that i knew almost sent me to tears IM NOT JOKING. ruby playing the piano was so awesome and hearing saint saen's danse macabre made me feel like i was going to ascend into the heavens. putting doctor who and classical music, two of my biggest interests, together, was the best thing imaginable. I LITERALLY CANT DESCRIBE HOW HAPPY THIS EPISODE MAKES ME.

SECONDLY, I LOVED MAESTRO. like the toymaker (who i also adore so SO incredibly much), they have this silly evilness to them that makes them so INTERESTING!!! and then finding out maestro is the child of the toymaker was EVERYTHING. BECAUSE IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. jinkx monsoon, the person that plays maestro, says some stuff about them that explains why i love them so much. "When human rules don't apply to you, you get to do whatever you want. You don't have to worry about whether your emotions make sense to people because you don't have to answer to them." and "What I love about Maestro is that, while objectively evil, they are an artist, they have a mission statement. " THESE ARE THE EXACT REASONS I LOVE THE TOYMAKER AND MAESTRO SO MUCH. both of them are other-worldly beings. they're gods of their own realms. they're dramatic and passionate and so dead-set on getting what they want. but its not just about getting what they want, its about having fun with it and turning it into a show. because what's the point in going out if you cant go out with a BANG?

something else i loved was the doctor in this episode. ncuti gatwa's doctor, like david tennant's, is so extremely emotional and passionate and it makes me want to SOB. the doctor mentioning his granddaughter? TEARS IN MY EYES. "i can only smile like this because ive lost so much" SOBBING ON THE FLOOR. the 15th doctor has already been so emotional and i know im gonna cry so so much while he's around. BUT THATS SOMETHING I LOVE ABOUT DOCTOR WHO. because it can be so silly and weird and funny and then it can turn around and be spine-chilling and emotional ALL IN THE SAME EPISODE. because when you think about it, the story of the doctor is HEARTBREAKING. and when that side of him comes out you HAVE to expect the waterworks.

AND THEN RUBY THE ENTIRE EPISODE ???? i know theres something up with her and i just OH MY GOD!!! BECAUSE THE SNOW??? THIS EPISODE AND LAST EPISODE? AND THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS?????? im gnawing on the bars of my enclosure I NEED TO KNOW. shes so interesting I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT because its like who's her mom?? whys she able to do the snow thing?? how did she have a song in her ????? AND MAESTRO SAYING THINGS LIKE "no he couldnt be there" "the old one couldn't've been there" WHO IS THAT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN.

IM GOING INSANE. IM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT I COULD EXPLODE INTO A MILLION PIECES.

[robbieshomestuckliveblog]

Day Nineteen

02/28/25

Vriska: Get back to adventurin'. to End of Act 5 Act 1

( page 2516 to page 2625 )

Favorite Panel: Page 2592

Favorite Pesterlog: Page 2575

Favorite Flash (if applicable): Page 2577

Takeaways:

I have always been curious to how Terezi go in touch with her god tier powers.

Once again, Terezi one-ups Vriska. They are both God Tier in a sense. Vriska dies at the hand of Aradia, who was justified in her beating, then pressured Tavros while on her deathbed, who she knew wasn't mentally strong enough, to take her out of misery, bleeding out from the beating. Vriska’s ascension to GodTeir in my recollection, was messy and was not through much action of her own. Terezi through taking her time through the game, through her own will power and efforts ascends all the same as Vriska, despite lacking the flashy wings or GodTier PJ’S. Vriska gets ahead by though brute force, cheap tactics and manipulation, while Terzi gets ahead through her justice and hardwork, and this is why she will always have the upper hand.

It’s cute how Terzei and Rose have the same exile/commander! Both receive the WQ, because they are Seer’s alike! I love the connections Hussie makes through their GodTeirs, it gives us insight on Classpects aswell as the kids themselves.

They are such dorks I actually need them dead. ( /With love. )

Karkat’s use of time travel is coming in full force now! If you thought his backwards chats with John were infuriating you’ll need a new adjective to describe how frustratingly stupid it gets ( or got? Past tense, non linear story time travel bluh blah blah! ) His intent for linearity and simplicity is overruled by his self hatred, going back to berate himself in the past, in a public memo no less. I really grew fond of Karkat when he went off the handle memo wise, they're just a joy to read.

I love this memo, SO much. Nobody takes Karkat’s memo seriously so they just try to bother him for his patented Vantas quadrant advice which he can’t help but support them.

They bait him so perfectly just to keep going on more and more rants.

It’s okay guys he can reclaim it.

I wonder why Kanaya’s land glitched???? Um?? I can’t think of anything she did wrong getting into the game wise?

Okay so my guesstimation of a week for how long it took them to finish Sgrub given how many people were involved was a little silly in retrospect, it was confirmed to be 25 days! ( 600 hours )

“FCG: SO I'M KEEPING MY PRONGS CROSSED.”

I love when the trolls refer to themselves as having the animalistic traits of their Lussi, it’s just plain cute.

“FCG: IT WILL BE LIKE FUCKING 12TH PERIGEE'S EVE UP IN HERE.” Davekat parallel :3.

Karkat is genuinely so cute at the best of times. He has my favorite emoticons, they're just so silly and you can barely process them? His horns being WAY to close together along with being upside down, it's just totes adorable. c:B

Did they hook up in one way or another while playing together?? Ugh i would do anything for some good Karezi flashback filler slop. Opens AO3 I GUESS!

Terezi gets it man, he’s genuinely just SOO cute.

I wonder why after this moment Terezi gives herself the note ( via John retcon powers ) “You don't need him.” Which always kind of confused me? I never got the sense that Terezi relied on Karkat deeply or even at all, so I just don’t understand why this is a sentiment she would realistically feel the need to express. Justice for Karkat man he didn't do anything wrong.

My favorite Pesterlog!

They’re just so cute man.

I made that last note you read right before finishing the memo, and my point still stands, how is Terezi sharing hearts and telling Karkat he’s doing a good job in some fashion depending on him?? Augh i’ve just never gotten this point, this moment is so cute and i'm not gonna let Retcon shit ruin my enjoyment of it anyways, that shit barely counts as canon in my book I DON”T CARREE-UHH.

They make me sick in the best way possible. So sweet it’s rotting my brain, teeth rotting fluff.

My Favorite Panel!

[S] Make her pay.

My favorite Homestuck flash. Beautiful artsyle, aswell as great music, it drags on but in a way that makes sense, Vriska staggering to get the upper hand while bleeding out, music is intense yet sputters in pacing, idk I don’t know anything about music theory the song is just very good and fits perfectly okay. My half hearted relaying of the events won't do this flash justice, go rewatching for yourself! ( has spoilers so maybe don't just watch it for the first time out of context LOL ) The tweening is such a nice touch to the movement needed for this moment, slow yet unwavering. The drops of blood are so satisfying along with the dramatic lightning it's just perfect. The background is very detailed, painted even, they are gorgeous renditions. This most prominently is directed at the Shots of Terezi’s mom, she just looks so cool in all of her dragon glory. Terezi’s descend into the blinding rays of Alterina’s Moonlight. Her waking animation is so creative, resembles Dave’s steps in Dave: Ascend to the highest point in the building, a bit, just looks really cool. Flashforward cut to Terezi And Karkat fighting off underlings together!! Karkat’s land looks SO badass, they’re so cool :D. Cut to Gamzee just doing some juggling tricks at his underlings, what a chill guy. I enjoy the visuals of Sollux’s land aswell as their running movement being really smooth but my question is why did Feferi just freeze up and scream at the underlings? Does she not fight and was beckoning Sollux here?? Um?? Funny nonetheless. Cut to Nepeta glomping the actual shit out of Equius!! Cut to my favorite panel of Tavros ever, we can see the little indentation of his nose, his big smile and eyes omg he’s precious, man. Cut to Kanaya, not in her best dress but hey they can’t all be winners. Cut to Eridan and Sollux in a petty immature nerd battle!!!! Now we cut back to Vriska and Tavros in LOMAT, the music stops in pace, amping up. All of Vriska’s flying animation aswell as sprite animation looks really cool here. AradiaBot’s illustration in this is BREATHTAKING. She looks alien for lack of a better word, cold and inhumane, like a bug of sorts. She also has her time traveling machine that follows the motif of those in her aspect, being Music related! All Vriska wanted out of Aradia was a reaction. She pestered and bugged and fussed just to get Aradia to react to get angry, and boy did she get angry. The music reeling back as she sees a mystified Tavros, she relents her beating and disappears once again.

AradiaBot responding to Diamonds Droog by manipulating Vriska’s blood to form letters is so fucking cool man.

My favorite Panel!

MY SHAAYYLAAASSS. Is this a dumb pick for my FAVORITE panel? Objectively yes but also I don’t care.

Another great example of Hussie’s cool as shit geometric sharp artstyle.

Aradia’s dramatic storytelling of this moment must have been so hype back in the day. Imagine being the creators of [S] Rex Duodecim Angelus, having to piece this story cohesively to the song, imagine being the song writers, assigning each character a sound motif, deciding what characters to pair up in battle, this moment is just so special to me. The trolls are a bunch of champs for one putting up with ALternia and being better than it surpassing the shitty expectations set up for them aswell as everyone doing their part to beat the game, everyone fighting using their best efforts.

Karkat’s fucked up to hell posture, his tiny mouth and his soon to be classic bug eyes. ( Also bg Vriska ans Terezi look ADORABLE ) He’s the cutest character in all of Homestuck! fight me. >:]

Such a pretty and complex panel.

The bots are so cool man, are you kidding me? Look at her, unborthered nonchalant ass queen.

Lol gif compression made Sollux’s shirt peach. Also I wonder why Hussie made every image a gif? I have a bunch of theories but I don't wanna dive head first into nerdy art program shit so..

One of my favorite Homestuck panels ever. It’s so simple yet so strong.

Do the blue curtains set the stage for John? Hmmm!

[sharkylass]

GOING ABSOLUTELY INSANE AUGH!!!!!!!!

PIPPO I LOVE YOUR ART SO MUCH, THE WAY YOU DRAW ISA ALWAYS MAKES ME GO CRAZY AND AND AND YOU DREW- YOU DREW MY STUPID SILLY GUY- IM INSANE!!!!!!

YOU DREW IT SO PERFECTLY AND PRETTY,,,,,, I AM ASCENDING.

A schmol request for all isat monsterish design havers may you. May you lend me some. I wanna draw monsterish isat designs but I cannot choose at the moment please help a thing in need......

if you have any other looperts (like... Isabeau loop version and such) please share I love these designs too thank you so much muac muac/platonic

ALSO HAVE IN MIND I MAY NOT. DRAW ALL OF THEM SORRY IN ADV ANCE.

[jflashandclash]

Traitors of Olympus: Blood of a Mayan

Twenty Six: Ajax

So… It is too Awkward for Us to get Ice Cream after This..? It’s Not, Right?

 Pax may have had a minor lapse in judgment. Okay, maybe a major lapse in judgment. But judgment was lapsy for him. Especially in situations where your brother drops some of his Mist mask in front of your almost-girlfriend and makes some unfriendly advances towards her.

Pax could envision the defense now, “Don’t worry. It’s just like we’re giving you a major concussion. You won’t remember a thing.”

Yea, that was going to be added to the list of Things That Don’t Scream “Date Me:”

1.       Battling Rodents

2.       Crazed Brothers with Forget-Me-Lots rags

3.       Restraining Orders

Anyway, Pax had screwed up. He could see that now—well, he couldn’t actually see it, as he was rather blind at the moment, but the general sentiment was there.

Drugging their friends with delicious Kool-Aid? He’d rather look at it like he’d eased them into a well earned nap, with complimentary sleeping bags and weasel snuggles.

And Axel wasn’t supposed to give Leo an exaggerated bear hug in the original plan… or break both of his wrists… or choke him. They were supposed to toast with the same Sleepy Time Kool-Aid over a blacksmith’s job well done and some delicious tofu burgers. But Kronos also wasn’t supposed to have some weird, residual essence in Backbiter that called out of Axel’s b’alam side. Funny how the Fates worked that right? One moment you’re going to have a delightful midnight picnic with a handsome Latino blacksmith and the next you’re telling your brother that psycho behavior might not be the best way to keep friends.

Pax would have to send the Fates a very friendly Christmas card this year.

Although everything was still blurry, Pax put one hand up towards Axel and one hand backwards to push against Kally like a referee calling, STOP! Hammer time.

Pax just hoped Kally didn’t start to run, since he knew Axel’s predator instinct might kick in and he really didn’t want a slapstick chase scene that ended in an uncomfortable letter to Apollo of, Please resurrect your daughter. I really like her and my brother and I may have goofed up a bit.

“Axel, let’s tone it down on the whole maniacal behavior thing. I think Phobetor would give you a standing ovation on the fear factor and execution, but—”

Axel sighed in annoyance, a gesture that made Pax want to mimic the motion in relief. It meant this was still dominantly his brother and not the Leonis Caput. “We’ve done this dozens of times little hero,” Axel said.

That was true. There was even this one time with a Roman senator and his elephant—well, that didn’t matter now.

“But not to a friend!” The anger in Pax’s shout surprised him. Maybe he’d been holding in a little more resentment than he realized or maybe he just felt that tonight was a good night for vocal projection. “This isn’t a discussion—we’re not messing with Kally’s head like this. Maybe other ways, but not like this.”

There was no way to know how much someone might forget with the River Lethe. Yea, they could give someone a brief press with a diluted dose to estimate a few weeks to a few months memory loss but… Kally might not even remember she was demigod if they did that. She also would forget that Pax was a scumbag, made bad life choices, and that she owed him nine drachma and ten Reese’s.

“Leo won’t remember making the sword. No one else knows and Kally can’t exactly go around shouting it to the world with her River Styx pact,” Pax said. The spots in his eyes were fading. He might be able to see Axel’s disappointment in full in a few seconds.

Axel’s shoulders relaxed and he tilted his head. Those eyes looked more sad than angry. “Do you really think she’ll ever love you after this?”  

Pax squirmed. All he ever wanted was to meet a good person and have a happily ever after with a happy, functional family. Mattias and Jack had always teased him for falling in love fast and hard and planning things way too far into the future—he’d have Baller and Hunnie wear a tuxedo and dress for his and Kally’s supposed wedding. But Axel and Pax had done a lot of awful things under Kronos’s order. Pax wasn’t a good person. Maybe he didn’t deserve a Disney ending where he got to walk off singing and trip over forest critters that wouldn’t get out of the way (cue Hunnie and Baller again in their tiny suit and dress).

Although he could feel a loved section of scumbag die on his inside, Pax choked out, “That doesn’t matter.” Augh, that hurt. Punched right in the morals. What is this feeling of righteousness? “This is wrong. This is something Flynn would do.”

“THIS is wrong?” Axel growled skeptically. Pax was really happy Axel didn’t enlist all their deviousness to prove a point for all those in the audience who hadn’t been paying attention. Instead, his golden eyes shifted past Pax, to Kally. “There’s no shame in forgetfulness, Kalypso Kassand. No one can hold you accountable if you don’t remember.” His voice was slipping; Axel was losing control. “Just know, if you break your vows of silence and I lose Backbiter before I can slay Santiago…” His tongue flicked out to lick his lips. “I will find you and add you to my collection of souls.”

Pax thought his metaphor could have been better. Plant you in my garden of flowery death. Use you as flour for my cookies of destruction. Bookmark you in my library of chaos.[1]

“Axel… what’s wrong with you?” Kally asked quietly. Under the hand he had protectively behind him, he could feel her shaking like she’d taken the ice bucket challenge. Pax understood the sentiment; it would be cold to do the ice bucket challenge in the middle of November.

But Axel had just gone a few miles too far. Erasing some of the memory of some random hero that apparently saved the universe? Eh. Threatening Kally so he could slay their dad…

“This isn’t you talking,” Pax said. “It’s the Leonis Caput—”

“WE’RE THE SAME PERSON!” the frustrated scream came with the lovely harmony of Axel’s baritone paired with the Leonis Caput’s gravely bass.

“Wow—yea, that. Axel would never have such a silly slip of his anger management. That is Kronos’s monster. You are my brother born of the primordial awesome and I am NOT afraid of annoying you back into acting like yourself—now step off of that stupid sword!”  

The forest was eerily quiet for a second. Pax could hear the sizzling of dirt as the last batches of superheated earth cooled. Other than that and the torches quietly flickering in the night, he couldn’t hear anything except his own heartbeat. The thump was inconveniently loud, like Apollo had picked his skull as a new drum.

Axel grunted and staggered forward, off the blade. Pax could tell he was trying to count internally, to regain control. This had always happened as their helmets’ magic waned, a little more of the memories seeping through, of Axel massacring Romans in the Labyrinth as sacrifices to Kronos. Normally they weren’t this bad, but normally Kronos’s essence didn’t crash the party. Rude.

Axel clutched his head and made a low whining noise. Still manly, Pax would assure if he ever told the tale later. This time when Axel collapsed to his knees, Pax could tell that was actually his brother. Axel immediately started rubbing his Mist mask on, smearing away the teeth, crazy eye color, and other nice Halloween rave gear.  

Disaster averted! Pax relaxed. He often woke up and thanked the gods his brother hadn’t gone on a murderous rampage. Pax was a person of habit; he really hadn’t wanted to change that morning routine.

Someone giggled by one of the work benches.

Kally and he jumped. Axel probably would have if he wasn’t acting all tragic and angsty.

A girl sat on one of the work benches. She looked about Pax’s age, maybe a little younger at fifteen or so. She had short, jagged black hair, streaked with various shades of red, purple, and white. Her eyes glistened a bloody red, wide with glee, a lot like how Pax’s mothers did in human form. Dirt smeared her face, arms, and neck, making it hard to tell how tan she actually was. She wore a black, torn up shirt that read I Solemnly Swear that I am Up to No Good and some weird black mesh of shorts. She would have been beautiful, like a brightly colored viper, except Pax knew they were a little too closely related for that.

“Atë,” Pax greeted the Goddess of Mischief and Ruin.

“Have you ever watched a monster turn?” she asked, tilting her head as she examined Axel’s struggle. “They don’t talk about that part in the myths, how a human loses its humanity. It’s like how they montage training sequences in action movies. You never get to really appreciate the gradual attrition of character and decay of moral.”

“That was really uplifting. Thanks for dropping by,” Pax said.

She flashed Pax a psychotic smile. “I haven’t seen you since the day before the Battle of Mount Othrys. Oh Ajax!” He cringed at the memory and her use of his first name. “I still haven’t decided with you. Will you be more gullible or reckless or trusting?” She giggled again. “Mom said to check up on you and the sword. You father will ascend tomorrow morning if he’s not stopped. Are you as excited as I am for the ensuing chaos?”

Axel made a pained grunt, but didn’t lift his head from his hands.

The pieces started to fall into place and make about as much a sense as a Salvador Dali painting. The little acts of mischief, the fighting amongst the Olympians, and the silly errands they’d been sent out to do. Pax might have been mighty proud if he didn’t feel like his mom and sister had dressed him up as a pretty doe for deer hunting season. “You and Mom have been having some good bring-your-daughter-to-work days, huh? Weren’t you, uh, thrown off Olympus though? How’re you uh—” Pax wasn’t sure how she referred to her hobbies. “—working with the gods?”

“I was tossed down. Now I can spend more time with demigods and mortals. I dote on your kind far more than the rest of the family.” Atë leaned forward to give Kally a small wave, one that only entailed curling her fingers like she was catching elusive dandelions, or plucking out someone’s tendons. With Atë’s general demeanor, he assumed the latter to be more accurate to her tortured, artistic soul.

Kally stiffened.

You know that awkward, slightly racist, incredibly conservative uncle that you don’t want to introduce to your friends for fear of him saying all gypsies are Satan spawn? Atë was that relative if that relative had just been bailed out of jail for burning down orphanages for handicapped children. Pax preferred to keep an all inclusive mentality about his family, but he had a friend or two from handicapped orphanages and liked them less on the crispy side.

“Kally, that’s Atë, my half-sister on the godly side,” Pax muttered.[2] “Atë, this is Kally, my… uh, well she was my almost-girlfriend of about ten minutes ago.” Now Pax could probably add Kally to the list of people who would like to see him in a ditch with a sign that read, pour steaming coffee here, over his head.

Kally cleared her throat. “Friend,” she corrected quietly. Which was way better than someone who wanted to pour steaming coffee over his head. “Are you the one who set Athena and Poseidon against each other?”

Atë giggled again like a broken Ferbee. “Again, I can’t mess with the Olympians. But heroes… Heroes can go anywhere.” In a swirl of smoke, Atë disappeared off the bench and reappeared inches from Pax’s face. He could smell the reek of iron and see flecks of dried blood crusting her shirt. Ways to encourage a midnight appetite.

“Are you going to be Mom’s champion?” she asked, stroking a finger under his chin.

When Hunnie woke up, he decided he’d need to sit his furry friends down and find out if getting pets under the chin felt this demeaning and creepy for the weasels. If so, he’d make sure they got appropriate weasel therapy and carnivore friendly lollipops as an apology gift.

Pax didn’t want to be anyone’s champion. He wanted to make sure Dad didn’t hurt people. He wanted to make sure Axel was safe and sane, and not a whimpering mess. He wanted to go back to Camp Half-Blood and spend the rest of his life helping the Stoll brothers make Chiron miserable and doting on Kally with homemade shirts and cookies. But he was sure, if he said that, Atë would just counter, “Yea, and I want Apollo to reinvent the Black Plague, and wipe out half of humanity. We can’t all have what we want.”

When Pax hesitated, Atë pinched his cheek. “The fate of Camp Half-Blood might boil down to whichever side you choose, chaos or peace. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll make the wrong choice.”  

Smoke burst in front of him and she was gone, leaving Pax to wonder if he and Axel may have screwed up way more than he had thought.

Thanks for reading :D

[1] Pax has a full list of these, but Jack had to burn the list so this chapter didn’t go on for too long.

[2] I know you’re either a Wiki search away from who Pax’s mom is or—for those of you more into mythology or My Little Pony—you’ve already figured it out. But this author is stubbornly not going to write her name down until she introduces herself to the cast.