#but not much about from the perspective of developers

[crustyfloor]

On Till’s (general emotional journey), his place in the karmic cycle occurring in Alien Stage’s ending, how he subverts the cruelty of self-punishment into a journey of personal growth, self-reflection, and gentle closure

And the reconciliation with Ivan that he never got to have

——

(Pretty long post )

All Panels from the "Remember everything" comic are a fan translation by @/ka_akeakamai

All panels from the "Scars" comic are a fan translation by @/manipuIatedstar

Ivan and Till's relationship has miscommunication and misunderstanding threaded into every aspect of their story. It eventually becomes tragic and pitiful when you realize they would've been so different if only they were more honest and understood each other better, especially with the examples that will be shown in this post

This foundation set for their relationship then planted the seeds for the actions that will induce a consequence (for Till's karma), as is the principle applied to the karmic cycle that says every action will come with a consequence [ a search for atonement]

The meteor shower was the seed, the "catalyst" for Ivan and Till's earliest development and dynamic shift, one of the "causes"-- when Till turned back and ran to the garden without a word Ivan didn't notice his hesitance, to put it into Ivan's perspective, he internalized this moment by assuming the situation would be better off if he no longer imposed his feelings on Till like before [Ivan's emotional expression has always been shown in the way he provoked Till or stuck by his side constantly,] If Till really preferred going back to the garden where he would continue to suffer just to be with Mizi-- to Ivan it proved that he wasn't truly wanted, he didn't mean as much to Till as he might've hoped for. (In short, Ivan took it as a rejection of his feelings as a whole.)

In the aftermath, Ivan didn't dissapear, didn't stop loving Till, but he did change the way he approached him, he began creating emotional distance from Till in certain, calculated ways [Back to the way Ivan shows his affection, the way he started subtly withdrawing, stopping Till from fighting with him and starting to show concern in secret and looking out for Till when he wouldn't notice was Ivan closing himself off from Till and shutting him out, especially as they got older, Ivan learned to become more evasive, like a shield.] So he started repressing his emotions, and voluntarily accepted staying in Till's shadow ("just enough to stay without being greedy")

Till wasn't being intentionally cruel; he was also just scared, scared of abandoning Mizi to escape and face the unknown outside of his comfort zone. We never do see Till confronting Ivan during or after the meteor shower because what Ivan and Till do when they fall out is not communicate, they just barely float around each other for a moment until they come back together. In this case, because Ivan wouldn't bring it up, Till didn't bring it up either. Till's emotional response to what he can't understand or cannot reconcile with almost always circles back to avoidance and denial [for instance, the gist of Mi Vida Loca is Till's avoidance and fears, and denial of the reality, all because he cannot find himself letting go in the face of rejection or fear, but all he wants to do is keep loving and chasing regardless]

Till isn't adept at handling social situations, certainly not feelings. He's especially careless about his interpersonal relationships, even though he cherishes them deeply, but his mind is always somewhere else, or he's too absorbed in his music to really see it, and he always finds himself too afraid to make the first move, always waiting or yearning or keeping to himself

Really, he's kind of simple-minded -> Till resolves the situation by not confronting/handling it because of the shame he had [for years, I imagine he grew to suppress these memories and avoid them until the present day]. Hell, maybe he didn't even have the words to explain it without a proper understanding of himself or Ivan or emotional maturity.

At the end of the day, neither he nor Ivan said a word about it; they didn't stop being together all the time, but something about their previous dynamic changed. And it didn't fix a thing

For years, Ivan and Till functioned like that, close but always circling around each other, avoidance, suppression, ignorance, but with Till, I wonder if there was an implicit trust that they would always be together anyway (it really just reminds me that he didn't anticipate going up against Ivan, and even post-cure, Ivan is always meant to return to him)

Years later, once the consequence is played out through Ivan's death, Till is once again grappling with denial and avoidance as he is alone to process all of this at once. The guilt and the suppressed feelings come back to him. During round 6, Till wanted to escape this exact scenario; he was fully ready to forfeit his life to Ivan to avoid living with all the failure and sorrow in his life, but [Till's "karma"] is being forced to acknowledge the reality, face it for the first time anyway without his defenses, even the loss he couldn't handle

This karma of his was innately set up to be a cycle of self-blame and self-destruction out of grief and trauma. If he chose to keep running and avoiding confrontation. His guilt would always be there, tormenting him, and so Ivan would never disappear. Till would end up staying stuck, walking in circles because of the past, and finding relief in causing wounds to keep things at bay. Worst case scenario, he would've destroyed himself to death

But here's the part where I believe he subverts "expectations" or breaks the typical flow of this cycle before it has the chance to break him

A rebellion member is killed on a mission, and the stray bullet injures Till. Of course, Till would feel upset for the life of another, especially since he couldn't do anything for them, but I'm almost certain that this scene was meant to play out as a reflection of Till's guilt and fears. It's to convey that Till is still haunted by these scenarios where he's helpless to the situation, people die all around him, and there's nothing he can even do about it. His guilt and self-loathing are endlessly eating at him, mocking him (Just the same way his hallucination of Ivan would say, "look at you, you're nothing but a burden." [Till hates feeling useless, pitifully weak]

Till breaks down to Isaac, it's implied more directly that Till's guilt over that incident is tied back to how tormented he is by the past. Till would continue to crush his own heart over his guilt, if Till doesn't move on and forgive himself, he's just going to continue to suffer and hate himself for the rest of his life over and over again, he'll continue to be reminded, that's just the cycle of trauma, [and that is how self-hatred plays out in these little ways, repetitively. Because of the person's perceived wrongdoings]

It could've been entirely unlikely that Till would've escaped this on his own if not for Isaac's advice-- he's told he should let go of the past and move forward, but Till knows in his heart that he doesn't want to let go, even though he wants to be freed, he doesn't want to forget it, it's all he's ever known for the majority of his life. That's why Ivan stays. If Till meant what he said by wanting Ivan to leave ages ago, Ivan would have been gone, but there's something within Till that is keeping him here. (Something unsaid, that he and 'Ivan' both know. Questions that have come back to the surface, being suppressed again and again out of fear, linger after all this time. I believe that's what pushes Till to really "confront" Ivan)

As I explained in another post, Till gets agitated when "Ivan" is casually checking on him and making the situation seem more mundane and casual than it actually is, just like he would do in the Garden.

Rewinding back to their days in Anakt Garden, after the meteor shower, it is my speculation that Till had many instances where he felt confused and irritated with Ivan for his behavior. Ivan was not good at calculating how Till would actually take these actions, even if they were small and "mellowed out." And Till, for his part, grew accustomed to ignoring Ivan and easily biting back what he actually felt behind bitter curses

When Till is reminded of this exact scenario in the present, he's sincerely upset and wonders why Ivan would never just ask if he was alright, ever. What does the hallucination of Ivan do...he deflects the question just like Ivan would have in the garden

Beneath this, in Till's words, there is a want, there is the deep-seated feeling of waiting for the people around him to ask about his feelings, to reach out first because he was a lonely child, he craved understanding and people, but was too scared to ask for it. But when Ivan always stuck around him and bothered him but didn't ask him about anything, he was left wondering why Ivan didn't care about him more, he was left questioning if Ivan ever did, and there it is, the core misunderstanding of each other

[Just like the behavior Till's hallucination of Ivan exhibits by avoiding elaboration and deflecting, this is the reason why Ivan and Till never properly connected with each other.]

Ivan and Till don't talk; Ivan is stubbornly resolute in his mindset, and Till remains stuck in place with apprehension and simple ignorance [A simple-minded guy at the time]. If they're left to their devices, they ultimately come to misguided conclusions about each other. Like Ivan not caring, Till not caring, then they never ask each other

How is Till simple-minded? pt.2 -> Well, he's not dumb, but he's naive. Always distracted, especially in the past with Mizi, without looking deeper into it and only absorbing how Ivan treated him in comparison to how he desired to be treated by people he cared about, back then they were immature children after all, when Till was spending day to day just trying to get by and feeling mostly confused by Ivan, it was easiest to assume things about Ivan that weren't true, especially in the instances where it'd seem like Ivan didn't even consider Till a friend, yet Till always cared about him

Till wonders why Ivan never asked him if he was okay, but in these scenarios where you're left asking why, maybe it is just that the other person was waiting for you to ask, too. It is just that Ivan wouldn't have known Till wanted him to care deep down if he thought Till disliked him so much, just as much as it would've been near impossible for Till to decipher Ivan's feelings if Ivan was always running and hiding. They both needed each other, but were actively denying themselves that because they were too scared of initiation, too scared to ask and get hurt, the Till of the present is understanding enough to realize that, fairly quickly, when he starts thinking back.

So when it comes to Ivan and Till's mutual misunderstanding, that's why Till was so stunned to realize something like Ivan actually caring about what he did, when otherwise, Till was too embarrassed to show him, and didn't think about whether Ivan would like it or not, if he could never read Ivan's feelings clearly. In Scars, we see him once again dismissing the thought and suppressing that revelation and the feelings that come with it, because of fear. Till was still avoiding and tiptoeing around the past.

However, this time it occurs to Till just how much time has passed-- Till has always had Ivan by his side, never imagined anything but-- now he's simply growing up without him. Till realizes he's been free, he's been doing things on his own, learning to ride a motorcycle, drawing, but he's been alone. (even though his vision of freedom would've always been alongside his friends, over being alone like this.) He's not used to being alone; most of all, he doesn't want it. So he doesn't let go of Ivan, yet again lacking the initiative to confront the situation, it never fixed anything when Till first woke up in the rebellion. It torments him; he's alone. But loneliness... that's why Ivan is here too [that's why he's always been there.]

Rather than a figure shrouded in darkness or a corpse coming back to haunt Till, it's just a child. There's a gentleness to the way Till sees Ivan now in contrast to Scars when he's coming to confront his grief and regrets directly. He had lost something irreplaceably precious to him before he could realize what it really even meant, before it was too late .

He remembers it was always Ivan desperately finding ways to get excuses to be with him by any means, good attention or not. Till didn't notice that it was because they were so alike. Lonely and needed someone

Back then, he could've never imagined that Ivan was so timid

Till just didn't understand it at the time, and so couldn't find the words to elaborate on the subject of Ivan, but it was always Ivan in his peripheral vision, no matter what. If only they both knew the word "family" = [how to confront each other], they could've prevented their suffering

[it’s a pitiful circumstance], but what Till feels isn’t pity, nor sympathy, but rather Till is understanding. He’s finally understood why Ivan always followed him around and did the strange things he did in the past, which held him back from truly connecting with Ivan, because they both came to constant clashes because of their fundamental differences

That's the thing that makes Till's path different to me, it's that he could've easily spiraled further into guilt for not realizing it sooner,

Instead of continuing to be angry, resentful, afraid, remorseful--instead of falling further into self-hatred, etc. He acknowledges and understands Ivan. Till's compassion and care effortlessly reaches out to him, he accepts Ivan, knowing they were both going through similar things and that Ivan was also afraid, even though it will never be the same as coming to understand the real Ivan, the point of Till's breakdown is his realization that this is all coming to him way too late. If only they had the time and the knowledge, they could've fixed this. He's regretful, but through this, he's making amends.

I'd like to believe there is forgiveness in there, too. For both of them, effortlessly loving, unconditionally, is in Till's nature (and it seems like as he's grown post-cure, he has become a more understanding person). This is rightful reassurance for two characters who didn't know how much they truly meant to each other, and couldn't have a better relationship. For Till, who couldn't shake the regret of overlooking Ivan for so long that he believes he caused this-- he gets to finally understand himself and Ivan by seeing his own pains reflected in him, and then he comes to come to truly know Ivan after all this time

For Ivan to be acknowledged and accepted [and loved] just like he's always wanted, is in its own way, closure for them both. Even despite its tragedy. ["to love is to be seen"] <- in a way, you know, they both desired to be seen and healed. Now Till's own love and care for Ivan is shown more clearly in his actions as he finally allows himself to come to peace with what he's been avoiding for decades of their relationship

Really... Till is so filled with love, only love can do what he did for Ivan

This moment gives Till a freeing sense of peace, metaphorically and literally. After that day, years have passed, and Ivan still hasn't come back to him. Till is devoted to living alongside the suffering he knows and the memories, not leaving them behind or treating them like a disposable part of himself, since Ivan will always be someone he cherished and cared about.

-

Till's character being able to make it out of this in a gentle way, therefore reaffirming his nature, is what I value most. I say he subverts the outline slightly because, for Luka and Mizi, specifically Mizi, for instance, who also needs closure, she's stuck in a loop of self-atonement and loneliness for things she can't take back, she's been living in her own personal hell for ages, she can't forgive herself and she must still believe she deserves it. It's uncertain if she'll really be able to grow and continue living despite it, like Till did, or if it is certainly her fate to never be able to escape herself. The one thing she has to fight for is to understand and forgive herself first. But I believe they all have it in them to make it, I believe they're all meant to at some point

Till was just narrowly close to losing himself to grief and sorrow. But he's always had a knack for coming back from the brink, and with a newfound sense of bravery and growth and understanding, most importantly, love-- he does what he couldn't do before. He decided to confront Ivan and the suppressed feelings. He decides to search for Mizi because what they need together is family and closure. By doing this, he would be cherishing Ivan's memory, by repurposing the suffering and the love into something even more profound (you know 🫩)

[dindjarindiaries]

Reviewing Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel

I'm so honored to share that I had the absolute privilege to read Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel in advance! Not just once, either. I just wrapped up my third re-read, and I'm gearing up for a fourth.

I won't get into any spoilers, obviously, because I want you all to experience this incredible story for yourselves the way it's meant to be experienced, but I will provide some non-spoiler specifics about this amazing book that have stood out to me through each and every re-read.

This book reads like an episode of The Bad Batch show, if not an entire arc. I could clearly hear each line of dialogue in the characters' voices, and the new characters added to this story were so intriguing, charming, and three-dimensional that they truly felt real. I'm convinced this story had to be a book because none of us would survive the real thing on-screen.

The tone of this book, however, is much more mature than the show, and it's fitting. There's a lot we learn about Clone Force 99 that truly enhances their story in the past, present, and future. I won't lie; this book will make "Plan 99" unwatchable if it isn't already purely because of the depth it adds to this family's dynamic and Tech himself, but that's a good thing, trust me.

Here are some of my highlights for all the characters we know are a part of this story:

If you follow me here, you know how I feel about Hunter. He's my favorite character right up there with Din Djarin. Somehow, though, this book made me love him more. Being inside his mind, and truly seeing how he thinks about everyone and everything, is just absolutely incredible. The arc he takes in this book is also beautifully significant for his character.

Omega gets some very important backstory and other character development that proves why she's truly just the most incredible being in the entire galaxy. This book does such a wonderful job of balancing the fact that she's still a child with the fact that she's also an incredibly intelligent, empathetic, strong, and capable individual who can already hold her own.

I was overjoyed for how Wrecker was depicted in this book as well. While he maintains the joyful and silly characteristics we've always loved in his character, he also gains a depth that I've found missing from the show in many ways. It's truly amended here.

Seeing Tech in his final days without him knowing they're his final days is nothing short of heartbreaking, but at the same time, it's everything and more. No one, and I mean no one, will ever be able to deny what he had with Phee anymore after this book. Tech is truly such an anchor within this family, and seeing how his mind works is so precious.

Phee proves in this book why it's a crime that she didn't appear more in The Bad Batch season 3. She's such a natural addition to the family dynamic amongst Clone Force 99, and even on her own, she's just such a wonderful character that I sincerely hope we get to see more from in the future.

Crosshair and Echo aren't with the Bad Batch in this part of the timeline (between S2E13 and S2E14), but their impact on the characters and their story ought not to be underestimated. They are a constant presence, with some potential surprises along the way...

There is so much more I could say, and likely will say, over the course of the next two weeks until Sanctuary arrives, but what's for certain is that this is a book I'm going to read over and over and over again (as I already have). It's so true to every single character, and there are so many moments that haven't left my mind ever since I read them for the first time.

Prepare for your perspective to be changed on the Bad Batch as a group and as a story forever in the best way possible. You won't watch The Clone Wars season 7 or The Bad Batch the same way ever again with this context.

I mean nothing but the best when I say that I was audibly asking myself, "Is this a fanfic?" multiple times as I read it, solely because Lamar Giles just gets it. There are so many things that feel so personal to us, fandom-wide headcanons that come into true being in a way that proves he really did create the best kind of love letter this fandom could have ever asked for.

All in all, here's my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel hits shelves August 5th! Secure your copy now, because you're going to want to have it and indulge in it. Trust me.

[drdemonprince]

Hi devon I hope youre doing well! Well I wanted to ask you if you know any books/essays/videos on trasmasculinity from more transfeminist points of view, If it makes sense. Asking this makes me sound super self centered i know (and that's what im being really) but also it's that i am 15 and really struggling with my identity and i dont know anyone who is trans or who would be accepting of trans people and online the transmasculine focused communities are often talking about (trans) misandry, which doesn't really exists and i wouldnt want to spread this idea and being on more of the transfem side of communities can be cool but i am not one of them so it can also make me dysphoric and i dont always relate to their experiences nor do i want to invade their spaces.

It's been hard to find any perspective on what i could do as a lonely may-be trans person, and i dont even know if i want to be told what to do, because usually the thing people say is to diy hrt and im not really able to financially. I would really appreciate any other resource or kind word you have to offer to a 15 year old questioning person who doesnt know if there's something i must do in order to be a man or transmasc aside from transitioning or what to do at all. I hope my venting wasn't too personal or incoherent if it was feel free to not respond to it directly or at all just being able to type this can make me feel slightly better. Thank you so much for whatever answer you may give me

Honestlly, Jude Doyle has a book coming out soon called DILF: Did I Leave Feminism?, and while I have taken issue with how he writes about transmasculinity in the past, I think he really put the effort in, interviewed the right people, and nailed it. His perspective is really different from yours because he transitioned in his middle adulthood, but I think part of the task for you will be finding ways to translate other people's experiences into their relevance to your own. There won't be a book that speaks perfectly to you, but I think a lot of writing by transfeminine people is still relevant to you too.

Kate Bornstein's My New Gender Workbook is a really great starting place for any questioning trans person, but I think especially someone in your shoes. Gender Outlaws edited by Bornstein and S Bear Bergman was also a really great starting place for me too, because it has so many pieces by so many different people. Essay collections from lots of trans authors are a great place to see the full variety of experiences and see what connects with you.

I can't talk up Julia Serano's books enough, from Whipping Girl to Sexed Up. Fiction is also really useful -- you might enjoy Davey Davis' Casanova 2.0, which I am currently reading and getting a lot of, and it centers on a young trans masculine protagonist. Detransition Baby might be fiction but it also quietly teaches the reader a lot about transfeminine experiences in a way that personally I could relate to a lot. Some people *love* Lou Sullivan's writings, which I feel personally iffy on because he was not great to trans women, but I think if you're a trans gay boy it might have value. Stone Butch Blues doesn't directly speak to my experience because I was never butch or lesbian adjacent and could never hold down the kinds of jobs Leslie Feinberg had, but there's really wisdom in it that is kind of universal to trans experiences even if you're from a different walk of life.

Some of these are books that you've probably had recommended to you before, but they're all such a great foundation I wanted to throw them out. Part of coming into yourself as a trans person is figuring out what you really believing and coming to see just how diverse we are as a community, and developing your own opinions and ability to take what is valuable from others and set aside what doesn't quite connect with you. Reading even just a handful of these recommendations and journalling on them will make you a really resilient, wise person with your own views and knowledge and the ability to *participate* in the community as your own voice, not just join it or follow in anybody else's footsteps. I know that is intimidating, but that is what I ultimately want for you, and what you will find in time -- your transness will be yours, and it will mean something different from anybody else's. We can find one another and relate a ton, but we also discover and create so much of the answers for ourselves.

[l-1-z-a]

Did the modding community impact the development of the game in any way? - Matt Brown’s Answer from the r/Sims3 AMA (May 11, 2025)

Oh definitely. The modding community had a significant impact on the way we thought about a lot of features. I can think of several examples where the consideration of the health of the modern community and all of that were significant factors in the design.

For example some of the communally viral ways that people played sims 2, like legacy challenges and similar "long play" challenges were always front of mind during Sims 3 development, as both from a technical perspective and a design perspective, we needed to make sure that everything stayed as stable as possible when played that way. We wanted the game to keep running as well as possible when you've played for 20 generations, and we also needed the game systems and simulation to continue to function that far down the line. When things simulate and systems run for long timelines, they often accumulate small (rounding)errors, imbalances, multiplicative compounding (see Sim genetics :)), etc.

In many cases in and out of The Sims, designs don't have to deal with those issues and can be much simpler for it. Often that's due to most systems having natural "reset points" like levels, rounds, runs, matches, etc. that prevent most systems from accumulating state. Thanks to legacy challenges, we didn't have that luxury :).

Another example might be the extensive customization of objects... materials, prints, colors and all of that. That was a something I was very passionate about (since early Sims 2). I wanted the capability as a service/present to custom content creators, as they clearly love that sort of customization, and this felt like a crazy enabler for them. But on the other hand, I had a real concern that this could gut the modding/custom content community. So much custom content, at least superficially, was retextures and recolors, and making it trivial might devalue that content to the point that no one bother to share it. That simpler custom content creation also served sort of as an "on ramp" for creators to more sophisticated custom content, and building it all into the base game could potentially remove the motivation to step into that broader custom content world.

In the end we decided that it was important enough and sort of transformative enough for the franchise that we were willing to take that risk with the hope being that the community would step up or step into other types of customization. And they clearly did. :)

And I'd also consider the use of C# as the scripting language in Sims 3 (used for all of the systems, objects, etc.) to be heavily influenced by the modding community. The primary reason for using it was to enable modders to do much much more than they could in previous games and to make it actually "professional" and properly supported. Imagining what crazy things future Sims 3 modders would want to do (based on the Sims 2 mods at the time) was key to designing the whole environment.

In the end, we weren't able to ship it to players (reasons and longer discussion elsewhere in this thread), but the crazy depth and breadth of content in Sims 3 is a direct result of using C# for scripting and the flexibility that gave us... and that was motivated by the modders (even if they never got to unwrap their present).

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sims3/s/cNDyFTXyZd

[noir-renard]

Hey just wanted to say I really appreciate how you write Duke and how much of a role Duke has in the Batburger AU. Because he's SUCH a cool character and just as crazy as the rest of the bats (plus powers!), but he never gets that light in the fandom. because, well, you know, you know. Thank you so much for your excellent writing and work!

ahhh thank you!!! Duke is fr one of my favorite characters, he's so fun and interesting and I wish more people knew how amazing he is as a character. I think his lack of focus in fandom is, in part, one of those self-perpetuating things, where people don't write about him in fanfic, so people don't read about him and don't gain an interest in his comics, so they don't write or read about or talk about him, and yeah...thus the cycle continues.

But I knew I wanted to include him in the Batburger AU in a major way, not just because one of his skills is called 'ghost sense' but because he's important to me as a character. I was reading a lot of his comics when I was developing the plot for IYGABAB, particularly the Karma storyline. I think it's pretty clear the effect that comic run had on the batburger au lol.

Anyway, Duke is funny, he's smart, he's clever, he takes no shit, and sometimes he does things like jump out of a moving car into a river (to escape from crooked cops, but still), so I wanted to highlight that no, he isn't the "only sane/stable bat-themed vigilante", he's a complex, fascinating character who does what he thinks is right in his own way. His perspective is one of my favorite ones to write from; I always have fun when it's Duke's turn with the POV. A lot of the next chapter (ch 16) will feature him, I'm excited to share it! Once I get it all edited, which is taking a while, but we'll get there!

Thank you for reading! I'm thrilled you're enjoying the story, and I can't wait to share the rest with you ^w^

[dehydratedecologist]

To give some support for this from pro-environmental-regulation perspective: when I worked for the California state EPA, one of our big irritations was that CEQA made it very difficult to create regulations and policies which would benefit the environment. This is because every time we wanted to create or meaningfully modify a significant permanent regulation, we would have to get an environmental impact report created for that policy. And the table stakes cost for an EIR for a pretty basic regulation (nothing complicated, no major impacts, in a small area, not doing many different things at once) was upwards of a million dollars and multiple years of work. This just wasn't in the budget a lot of the time, that money would get spent on the really big regulations that we needed to pass to prevent very big problems across the state, and the result was that we had much less ability to create small, finely tuned and low-impact regulations addressing problems in one specific area.

And while in some ways new government regulations are much closer to the original case for CEQA (they are government projects, after all), the projects I'm talking about were not developing new infrastructure, they were not building anything, and they were not broad policies which might hurt the environment by dramatically changing human behavior in response to the regulation (like CEQA, ironically!). They were things like "require a minimum amount of water to remain flowing in this one stream system so the fish in it don't die", which were pretty unlikely to have *any* adverse environmental impacts and which we were very confident would be a net benefit to the environment. The process of coming up with an environmental regulation includes a lot of thinking about whether it would be good for the environment!

Of course, these sorts of policies could have negative impacts on *people*, I don't want to deny that people might have personal reasons to prefer an environmental regulation not be put in place, and considering second order effects, economic impacts, and undue regulatory burdens are things that the policymaking process should account for. But CEQA wasn't actually a good way to make any of that happen, either. It just required going down a long checklist of every conceivable sort of environmental impact, so that when someone inevitably sued us so that they could keep draining a river dry to irrigate a field of alfalfa to feed to cattle, we'd be able to say we checked all the boxes. CEQA was just a blanket barrier against doing anything, whether it would be harmful, minimally impactful, or beneficial to the environment, unless we could justify the cost of satisfying CEQA's requirements (and then defending against a lawsuit). So if you care about the environment, and would like environmental agencies to be able to make good regulations to benefit the environment, CEQA is not a very good way to regulate regulation.

Can someone @eightyonekilograms @centrally-unplanned @no-sharks-on-the-sun explain YIMBYism to me in more detail. What are the main YIMBY bugbears, besides zoning laws? I am all in favor of fewer zoning laws, more mixed-use neighborhoods, etc. on purely humanistic grounds (I think such places are much better to live in). But what's the rest of it? I gather people are also mad about environmental regulation, but that (if done well) serves a purpose that I do think is worthwhile. Unless there is large-scale misapplication of environmental regulation, such that it's not actually helping the environment, I can't see getting behind significant cuts in this area.

What else? What are the other major policy points?

[blushkurasakunyan]

WBK Detail - Togame’s favorite season

To my knowledge, Togame’s favorite season is the only one that changed during the series run. It’s a nice detail of character development!

The official windbreaker twitter was started in 2021 when the manga started and has been consistently posting updates, announcements, occasional question and answers from fans/Nii-sensei, sometimes even manga doodles. In 3/2023, the windbreaker anime animated by clover works was announced for a 4/2024 air date.

Around the time of the anime announcement, the official twitter was already ramping up posts and announcements, including this particular tweet (after all, Togame will definitely show up in the first season)

Q: What’s (Togame’s) favorite season? A/Togame: Summer, there’s a lot of fun festivals.

Usually when there’s an official twitter posting these things, it’s usually approved by the media teams, PR teams, Nii-sensei etc. So we can treat Togame’s answer as canon - he’s a very summer coded character, he likes festivals, that makes sense.

But INTERESTINGLY, in the official guidebook released 5/2024, Togame’s favorite season is no longer Summer, but Spring.

Spring?

Not only that, the person he looks up to is Sakura.

-

Fun fact, Togame’s first manga appearance was in late 2021, shortly after the series started, and his second appearance was around 8/2023 in Chapter 115.

That means, that it is true that originally his favorite season is summer (the first official tweet in 3/2023) however after his fight with Sakura, he was indeed deeply affected by Sakura’s ideals/convictions/expressions (thanks Wanijima) and developed a deep respect for him as he tried his best to reform Shishitoren to be a better team. By the time they meet again in Ch 115, about 2 months after their fight (8/2023), Togame’s changed a lot. He’s now much more calm, relaxed, and much happier because after a lot of hard work, Shishitoren finally changed for the better too.

As the WINHERO game is also supervised and approved by Nii-sensei, I’ll also treat that as canon - in those 2 months, Togame and Choji had a lot of ups and downs trying to change Shishitoren. Plenty of members left - even Sako tried to leave - they were under attack by other teams who knew this was them at their weakest, but in the end, Shishitoren came back a stronger, more unified team than before.

The thing is, the old Shishitoren wouldn’t have been able to do this. They just let things fester and get worse and worse, but after the fights with Sakura and Ume, they now found their own reason for finally changing Shishitoren for the better, a team that is “fun for all as they seek to be the best they can be” (I believe a very wonderful fellow Tumblr user spends a lot of time and effort into summarizing these, please let me know who you are so i can credit you!! ^^;)

So when the official fanbook came out in 5/2024, it no longer reflects early Togame, but rather the current Togame. The Togame that finally opened his eyes on to how he should have been more proactive in stopping Choji, to be more assertive in voicing out what he thinks is right, in standing up and confronting others instead of just letting things get worse and worse and pretending it was all OK…

After all, early spring was when he met Sakura and had their conversational fist fight. It really meant something when the sky was cloudy/spring showers were going on (his clouded mind and tears), but when he “lost” his fight, he realized the error of his ways, and finally found the conviction to change and stand up for what’s right + Choji also realizing the same, the sky literally cleared and after a long time, the sun finally came out (beautiful subtle transition by Cloverworks)

More symbolism from a seasonal perspective: it is unclear of when Choji became the leader - maybe a year? Year and a half? In any case, recent seasons were fall and winter, meaning darker, colder skies, and based off manga doodles, seems that it snows in this area they live in. So imagine how especially for the past few months it was a super bleak, cold, dreary winter, things were getting worse and worse for Shishitoren - even Togame was at at a loss on what to do, because nothing was getting better, just worse/the same - suddenly this loudmouth 1st year punk comes out of nowhere, calls him and the team he leads trash, not understanding a thing of what he went through, majorly pissing him off to the point he’s ready to teach that brat a lesson - but HE’s the one that learned a lesson instead.

Literally the moment their fight ended after their fist to fist conversation, Togame got the light back in his eyes, the clouds parted, the sun is shining after months of being hidden behind clouds - and after Ume’s fight Choji’s smile returned too - really, neither one could have expected that SAKURA of all people could have contributed to such change.

Even more symbolism: in Ch 181 Togame says that while "Ume" may be the one who helps people in Winter (Ume/Choji), "Sakura" is the one who carries the torch and also helps people in the next season Spring (Sakura/Togame). ;w;

2 months later, we see Shishitoren again in Ch 116, and wow they look so much more relaxed, all smiles, all laughing, they feel like a really good team now. :)

And as Togame says - it’s because of Sakura :))

One more thing -Nii sensei created Togame with a “turtle” motif - Almost forgot that Turtles *hibernate* in the fall/winter, and emerge in the spring and enjoy summer; thus another layer of symbolism where Togame wasn’t at his best in the dark, cold fall/winter era of his life at the start of the series, but when Sakura (Spring) came, things really brightened and looked up for the better, so when Summer came around this year, he was able to see Shishitoren and Furin connect and all have a really great time :D!

[instigatorjosten]

need a fic that’s like the sitcom Friends but its AFTG

Andrew and Kevin living together, Andrew has Chandlers energy but does stupid shit like Joey, tho he does it on purpose to annoy Kevin. Kevin is Chandler, between the sarcasm and him being the only one with a stable job out the two of them (tho he has some Ross in him with the whole History buff thing, i see Kevin working in a museum)

Across the hall is Nicky, my Rachael diva that will not shut up and loves shopping, and Neil, my Monica that is deeply competitive and needs everything to be Just Right. These two are simultaneously best friends and always fighting.

A floor down Aaron lives alone under the pretext he can’t stand to be so close to all of them but he still chose to live in the building bc secretly he feels safe close to Andrew. His apartment is called the bachelor pad and is so stereotypically a teenager boy’s place. Through the fic when he meets Katelyn we get to see that change. Aaron to me woukd fit a Joey to Ross transformation. Joey as in the casanova way but not like he’s stupid, and then slowly he turns into Ross in the he’s obsessed w his degree and nobody cares about it, and also he calls himself a doctor evem before he has the official title.

Across the street, Matt and Dan live together and often see a lot of weird shit going on in Neil and Nicky’s apartment. Would love a chapter/episode that is just Matt and Dan sat at the window trying to guess what is going on like it’s a movie. Like it’s told purely from their perspective, the reader also doesn’t know what is going on, and then at the end it’s revealed and when you reread it a second time you see everything differently.

Renee is Phoebe and literally nobody knows where she lives. She also switches jobs all the time like Pheebs, and will randomly drop her gang days lore and scare everyone else. I want a chapter of Kevin trying to get her a job at the museum at some point.

Allison comes on like a special guest, maybe one of Nicky’s friends bc Allison is also SO Rachael. I could see her getting a special episode were she had a fight w her parents and comes to stay w Nicky and Neil. The whole time Neil wants to kill her bjt slowly they become friends and then they both bond about Nicky’s annoying habits.

Also want a whole episode where Kevin is frustrated he’s been working too much and is oh so single, Andrew is telling him he needs to get laid. Meanwhile Aaron tries to hook up w Allison w his whole manchild act he has going on the first seasons, Allison laughs like it’s insane she ever would, then somehow ends up in bed w Kevin. Kevin, still naked in bed w her, in his head is like, finally, and she’s gorgeous and smart and rich and- Allison starts laughing maniacally bc “I got him back” and Kevin is confused and Allison explains she has a bf but they’re on a break and Seth is out there fucking someone else so she fucked Kevin, and Kevin just sits there thinking “oh she’s toxic and insane”

the betting pot needs a whole episode on its own. make it one were crucial shit happens (andreil having its first kiss, aaron asking a girl (katelyn) out on a second date which he never does, etc), and in the background of each new development it’s just them handing each other money back and forth

[missmurpl]

Theories about the third season of "Helluva Boss"

It's time to build crazy theories about the third season of "Helluva Boss."

Why now? Because the waning moon is in the sign of Gemini, and I want to entertain you a little while you wait for the second short film.

Knowing that Vivienne really loves to do self-repeats of her own episodes, I decided to take episodes from the first and second seasons, compare them, calculate some common points between them, and based on the results, make predictions about what we can expect in the upcoming season.

And so, let's get started!

Season 1 Episode 1 "Murder Family"

Season 2 Episode 1 "The Circus"

What do we have in common in these episodes:

Innocent children.

The fact of infidelity is present.

There is a person who is extremely hostile towards this fact.

And then there's the cake.

I have two versions of development that stem from what I have:

First.

A party for Millie and Moxxie's unborn baby.

Second. We will finally see this story from Stella's perspective. Starting from her childhood and ending with the preparations for Octavia's birthday (I have a feeling there will be a cake).

Based on what Stolas says in "The Circus":

We can conclude that she is seventeen, at least a few months.

There are about five or six months between the events of "Circus" and "Sinsmas". That means there's not much time left before her eighteenth birthday.

And so, one would assume that her birthday would be shown in the first episode, but... this girl is too fond of appearing in episodes in which the number two is present (2, 12). Two must be her lucky number.

Season 1 Episode 2 "Loo Loo Land"

Season 2 Episode 2 "Seeing Stars"

Well, it's simple:

Octavia!

And as I mentioned earlier, I'm betting that this episode will be dedicated to her birthday.

Season 1 Episode 3 "Spring Broken"

Season 2 Episode 3 "Exes and Oohs"

In both seasons, the third episode is dedicated to exes. In the first, we are introduced to Verosika, Blitzø's ex-girlfriend, and in the second, to Chaz, Moxxie and Millie's shared ex.

And here I have two scenarios: Either we'll get a more detailed look at Millie's relationship with Chaz, or we'll see the return of the "BTB" guy.

There's still a possibility that it's Loona's ex, but that seems like the weakest theory. In any case, the third episode is always dedicated to exes, no matter who they are.

Season 1 Episode 4 "C.H.E.R.U.B."

Season 2 Episode 4 "Western Energy"

It took me a long time to find a link between these series.

I eventually came to the conclusion that in the fourth episode, we will be introduced to a new antagonist.

Season 1 Episode 5 "The Harvest Moon Festival"

Season 2 Episode 5 "Unhappy Campers"

Episodes introducing the family of the main characters. In the first season, we are introduced to Millie's family, and in the second season, to Barbie Wire, Blitz's sister.

Since we met Moxxie's father earlier in the third episode. It would be logical to assume that the fifth episode will finally focus on the Loona and its past. Who was her family? Why did she end up in an orphanage?

True, we still have the unrevealed character of Stolas' mother, but I think it will still be a Loona episode, and we will probably hear her song at last.

Season 1 Episode 6 "Truth Seekers"

Season 2 Episode 6 "Oops"

A kidnapping. Or rather, a double kidnapping.

I once read a theory that the agents would be able to summon Stolas and kidnap him, and Blitz and the team would have to rescue him. However, at least two people would be kidnapped. Most likely, those who needed a heart-to-heart conversation the most to improve their relationships.

Season 1 Episode 7 "Ozzie's"

Season 2 Episode 7 "Mammon's Magnificent Musical Mid-Season Special (ft Fizzarolli)"

It's simple again:

Sins!

The first season introduces us to Asmodeus, and the second season introduces us to Mammon. So, in the third season, we can expect a broader exploration of Leviathan or Belphegor.

At the Fizzarolli company.

Season 1 Episode 8 "Queen Bee"

Season 2 Episode 8 "The Full Moon"

I didn't find anything common or plot-relevant in the eighth episodes. This may be due to the fact that the eighth episode in the first season was originally intended to be a filler episode.

Maybe someone will throw up.

And since the first season ends with the eighth episode, and there's nothing left to compare, I'll wrap it up.

I will only add that I have a feeling that in the eleventh episode of the third season, there may be a legal appeal for Stolas involving Vassago.

Thank you for your attention, and I hope I was able to entertain you a little.

[useless-lesbian-weiss]

Thank you.

A lot of people don't know what maturity (and good vs. bad upbringing) looks like.

I think Monty may have made this whole thing intentional, because he wanted to set up a starting point for Weiss to develop as a character. I myself, DID NOT like (nor identify) with Weiss when the show had just started releasing- and was watching volume 1-2 (aged the same as Weiss)- and that's because: she was being deliberately horrible to people, putting them down to feel better about herself- (which I always tried to avoid doing, no matter how horrible I was being treated IRL / online) and I only had my general life- as well as my home life (etc.) get bad enough to make me "snap" and become meaner and more distant (like her) later in life... when trauma, grief, depression + other mental health issues were starting to catch up to me (up to age 23), from fked up things that happened in my childhood and teenagehood.

Your environment growing up can significantly influence you (usually negatively) and change you in ways you cannot really predict. I had to undo a lot of messed up things people (including my parents) had imprinted on me. I feel like this doesn't get talked about enough in RWBY. The show, up to volume 6, with Weiss developing as a person and emancipating herself, has helped me understand myself better and heal from a lot of trauma... more so than many of the therapists I saw during my teenagehood...

... All of this to say that Weiss was not a good person, who, by behaving the way she did, was in a way giving out her own cry for help. She felt isolated, mistrustful of others, constantly pushed to compete and prove her worth... All while she was worthy from the start, but did not have supportive parents to show her that, who were either neglectful / not present / acting like children themselves, indirectly parentifying her, or pushing her to the limit with narcissistic expectations and abuse.

Honestly, she got really lucky by finding her own family in a group of friends (team RWBY). Healing on your own and making so many mistakes in the process, is deeply devastating. I still struggle to form bonds with people and trust others. I didn't get to have a Ruby Rose to show me unconditional love and patience, always believing in me (though I briefly had my Italian gran resembling her to a T in that, character wise- hence why I ship Ruby and Weiss together so badly...? She was exactly what Weiss needed). I also didn't get to have a wise, witty and emotionally attuned Blake, who could see things from such a different perspective- and make me question my own beliefs and moral standing... or a Yang, to teach me the importance of setting differences aside- stand up for myself when being disrespected / abused- and be confident in the things I am good at.

I had to be my own (remainder of) team R_BY, and I won't lie: it has sucked. Terribly so.

Thanks to RWBY, I was able to make the right decisions to take control of (and take back) my life:

- My narcissistic, deranged and abusive father is not in the picture anymore (went NC).

- My neglectful mother is hanging on the fringes of my life (by choice. She's been just as awful as Willow in ways, if not worse).

I undid very bad imprinting- and put up healthy boundaries, by distancing myself from both, eradicating the possibility that I might accidentally fall into the trap of re-enacting or being on the receiving end of their abusive / neglectful dynamic with someone else (it doesn't sound like much on paper, but this has essentially saved me from abusive relationships).

... As for the rest of my so called "family", I don't really have a relationship to "Winter" (moved away, leaving family behind) or "Whitley" anymore, despite having spent a significant part of my childhood around them. I tried to maintain the friendship and kinship I used to have with "Winter", but some of the family trauma she experienced was so bad it just drove her away for good. And when it comes to "Whitley", I never really had much of a good relationship to him, to begin with. We were mostly forced to co-exist around each other.

I still hear from "Klein" and I worry about him. He really needs to start paying attention to his health and what he eats. He landed himself in hospital lately, due to fatty buildup in his coronary artery.

As for me... FML. I don't really know what the hell I'm doing now that I've found inner peace and am experiencing my own physical health issues (with my mental health finally being in a good place). Not sure what I am trying to do by partaking in an entrepreneurship programme and trying to start a business in this economy. Guess it's my way of screaming "I don't wanna die in a soul-sucking retail job". Idk.

I won't forget the important lessons I've learned from the strange parallels the universe has handed me, between my life and this show. RWBY has been a beacon (no pun intended) of hope when, many times, I thought all hope was lost. V1 - V6 have a special place in my heart. Always will.

Maybe I won't get to experience a found family- or a deep partnership, such as the bond Ruby and Weiss had up until V6... or love, for the matter, which I 100% believe would have blossomed between them, had the show been left in the hands of better (and more openly LGBT supportive) writers / producers, following Monty's passing... but despite all of that, it still gives me something to hang onto.

It's a light that keeps on giving, despite how some people I used to know having cast darkness on it, by making things weird and / or twisted on numerous occasions (no, I'm not naming any names- but the people I'm talking about would know exactly who they are if they were to read this).

Last but not least (to wrap up this novel-sized post), RWBY reignited my love for writing as of late... and I want to leave behind a small hoard of fanfics I never got to work on, finish and publish in the past 7 years where I have loved the show and shipped Whiterose.

People think Weiss is the more mature one between her and Ruby in Volume 1 because she's mean and a lot of people think nice=childish-and-stupid.

Like, the sheer NUMBER of people who think Ruby believes the world to be like a fairy tale is BAFFLING when you remember Ruby herself acknowledges that the world is a cruel and unfair place in episode 3.

Yeah! Exactly! Weiss is in fact being a snippy catty mean girl for no reason other than that she can and it's emotionally gratifying to lash out at others. Which is kind of a terrible attitude for someone who wants to fight nightmare fear monsters that are attracted to negative emotions.

But Ruby's constant willingness to extend an olive branch, say "let's put the past behind us and start over (because we have to be able to work together and get along)" is in fact way more mature than Weiss holding a grudge because Ruby bumped into her.

(And also for causing an explosion, but like...I maintain that that was equally Weiss's fault for not noticing her highly volatile ammo was leaking everywhere and instead continuing to wave it around.)

Ruby is a really patient, kind, and well-intentioned young lady...but because she's socially awkward and optimistic where Weiss is arrogant and cynical, everyone acts like Weiss is the mature one.

Let's not forget that Weiss is the one who overslept, yet the fandom acts like she's the Team Mom dragging everyone out of bed to class on time.

[lone-sk]

So I'm taking a game prototyping class, and the teacher is forcing us to use various shitty metaverse WebGL SDKs and they're all just like. So bad. At even basic functionality.

This SDK has been out for over a year, and ladders are an "experimental feature."

LADDERS.

[akanemnon]

It was super effective

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[lloydfrontera]

i can't get over how cute javier is when he introduces himself to ppodong. he's so serious about it that lloyd thinks he's about to question his cover story for how ppodong was summoned but no. he was just thinking really hard about how he should call him or if he had a name. and then when lloyd gives him the go ahead to call ppodong however he wants he just. calls him sir ppodong and fucking shakes hands with him. he introduces himself and shakes hands with the hamster like c'mon that's so fucking cute i cannot stop thinking about it just look at him

it's adorable.

and it's also one of the first times in the novel that you get the sense that 'oh. that's a kid.' it's subtle and lowkey but you can kinda feel that javier is actually excited about ppodong, he's curious about him and really gentle when he meets him. like. he's just a kid. a kid that probably never had a pet before and is now in close proximity with a cute and fluffy little hamster and just. wants to know his name.

it's just. it's very cute.

[threewaywithdelusion]

Continuing my list of AFTG fics I love:

First and foremost, re-recommending this fic because it’s wonderful and nobody has commented on it in like a year, which is criminal (do NOT comment asking for an update please):

as my hopes have flown before by ynnon

A Raven!Neil fic with a marvelously unique take on the Nest and beautiful writing. Neil stays in the Nest past Christmas. Part 1 is Neil’s pov of that Christmas and Part 2 is the Foxes’s reaction to finding out Neil has become a Raven.

Truths Come Out by fullyvisible

This fic tackles two of my favorite topics in this fandom: 1) Nicky’s assault of Neil; and 2) consent and what it means to Andrew, specifically regarding his underage hookups with a much-older Roland

It’s Just You and Me, Just Us, and Y(our) Friend Kevin by Justthislazy

This fic is absolutely brilliant! It mostly explores Neil’s and Kevin’s growing friendship, but from Andrew’s outsider pov. Featuring fun topics like: Neil’s scars, Kevin’s backbone, Andrew’s jealousy, the fallout of Andrew strangling Kevin, the fallout of Andrew drugging Neil, and more!

The Curse of Caring by roxal04

A pre-canon Nicky pov of Andrew getting on his medication. Brilliant writing that shows Nicky slowly starting to see Andrew as more than a monster and him growing into his role as a guardian. Also a super interesting take on Andrew’s medication and a very in-character depiction of Andrew.

But Cass, she could’ve been by This_Witch_Writes

An AU fix-it where Cass finds out about Drake when he assaults another foster kid. She shows up at Andrew’s doorstep in Columbia to confirm her worst fears and apologize. Cass is a very well-rounded character here (very flawed and fallible, but it’s clear why Andrew loved her). She also has to deal with Aaron’s suspicion and resentment (how can Andrew kill Aaron’s mom and then welcome his own into their home?) and trying to be a responsible adult for the boys while not intruding on Nicky’s guardianship.

Dream clouds, ghost ground (I’ve been looking at the sky to show me where I went wrong) by Ateiluj

This is the other Cass fic and on the other end of the spectrum. We have a Cass who’s grieving and in denial and probably way closer to canon Cass. It’s beautifully written and absolutely infuriating because you actually feel for Cass even as she gaslights herself and doesn’t do right by Andrew. I haven’t read this one in a while cause it’s heavy, but if you’re in the right headspace for it, it’s an excellent read

Hope Was a Dangerous, Disquieting Thing by bisexualchaosdemon

This is a truly spectacular canon rewrite featuring trans!Neil as a young father. It sticks fairly close to the books, but the addition of Neil's daughter Ana and the fact of Neil being trans change several key moments and affect how his relationships develop in really interesting ways. There are several scenes I keep returning to, over and over again. It's the best aftg kid-fic I've read and its sequel (about Jean) is currently being posted.

The Trojans

i don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you by kirakrs

I've truly read this one like ten times. It's been retconned by The Golden Raven, but it's still spectacular. Featuring: Neil, Kevin, and Andrew visiting the Trojans for Jean's interview. It's dual pov, Jeremy and Jean, as Jeremy, Cat, and Laila get introduced to the danger of the Foxes. It's a fascinating perspective on what is not normal outside of the Foxes (like stabbing people) and has Andrew at his most Andrew, Neil being chaotic and terrifying, and Jean trying to figure out his relationships, both friendly and romantic. Also a wonderful scene where Andrew, in front of Jean, finds out Neil's been waterboarded

Wild Sage Growing by herojourney

This fic (also pre Golden Raven) addresses a really interesting question I hadn't considered: what was it like for Jean, waiting for Grayson to die? It also features Jean telling Jeremy, Cat, and Laila about the hit on Grayson and a bit of his past

I wrote a really negative rant post about All For the Game fanfic, so I want to write a positive one. I really do love this fandom, and it’s fanfics, and I want to share the love as well.

By category, here are some fics I love.

Time Travel

Once More by AkemiAsh I just call this The All For The Game Time Travel Fic in my head. It has a really interesting take on Neil and Andrew going back in time all the way to high school. It will probably never be finished, but I still love rereading it.

One More Time (With Feeling) by elesary All of elesary's fics are wonderful and there are several on this list. Many are unfinished, and though the author tends to update a new chapter every week, they rotate between fics. So if you don't like unfinished fics, this is not the one for you. However, if you want a time travel fic with Neil and Andrew going back to their first year at Palmetto, with really interesting characterization and relationship dynamics, this is the fic for you.

Amnesia

Back To The Start by fuzzballsheltiepants There's a lot of fuzzballsheltiepants on this list because they're an absolutely brilliant writer. You can't go wrong with any of their fics. Please note that they are locked though, so you will need an AO3 account to view them.

Muscle Memory by elesary Andrew wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the past few years. It's incredibly in-character and wonderful.

Presque Vue by elesary Neil wakes up in the hospital with no memory of anything since Andrew drugged him at Eden's. Really interesting start! Unfinished so far.

Raven!Neil

Black As the Raven Is, He’ll Get a Partner by nekojita I think this counts as a fandom classic, but it's my favorite Raven!Neil fic so I had to mention it anyway. The Ravens find Neil after he turns down the Foxes' offer to play at Palmetto and he is a Raven from the beginning of his college career. Featuring Neil & Jean friendship and really, really slow-burn Andreil. Mind the warnings for graphic violence and rape (I think it's slightly worse than canon)

Ever More Raven Neil (series) by ynnon this is a recent series where Neil goes to Evermore for Christmas and never leaves. It has two complete installments thus far but the series is technically unfinished. It is one of the most original takes on Raven!Neil I have ever seen and the writing is spectacular. I can't recommend it enough.

Neil’s Asexuality

Swinging Along the Z Axis by SpangleBangle Neil and Andrew discuss what attraction is like for Neil.

Sliding Doors by Moth2Flame Neil and Andrew never kiss during their time at Palmetto. Neil and Robin figure out their asexuality together, and Neil and Andrew get together years later.

The Test & All The Little Lights by fuzzballsheltiepants The first fic really focuses on Andrew, the second on Neil. I call this the "Willing vs. Want To" fic in my head and think it's a really interesting exploration of asexuality (particularly in the second installment).

Random Andreil

Not Nothing by TheRainbowElectric Possibly the most brilliant AFTG fic in existence. I cannot hype it up enough. Seriously, just go read it.

Except When It’s No by TheRainbowElectric The one where they try handcuffs and it goes badly. Based off Nora’s extra content.

Out of the Ashes by puddlejumper99 Neil and Andrew meet pre-canon when, after his mother’s death, Neil starts attending high school in Columbia instead of Millport.

A Mewment Like This by fuzzballsheltiepants I'm usually not the biggest fan of AUs, but this one is wonderful. Andrew and Neil meet at the vet because they both have cats with stupid names. It might sound fluffy, and it is clever and funny, but it also explores some of the darker themes and character development that happen in the books.

if every time we touch, you get this kind of rush by Talls This fic has Andrew and Matt kissing (still with Andreil and Matt/Dan as the main ships) and it sounds absolutely insane but just trust me, you have to read it. This is also possibly the best-written makeout scene I have ever read in my life.

[momentomori24]

This is the most devastating thing they could've pulled here. These aren't flashbacks. Maria was killed before she ever got to see the earth that she loved so much from afar. They never got to explore the world together the way they always wanted to.

These are fantasies. Dreams that never got fulfilled. Glimpses of everything that could've been but never was. Shadow isn't reminiscing on his past-- he's getting lost in flashes of that happy, content future him and Maria never got to have. What if I just cried.

[sunny-knight]

FORGETTABLE AU PAGES - LIVE REACTION

@forgettable-au Go. Read. It. 🫵

….oh my god.

ok y’know what, i’m not even gonna do my usual summarizing thoughts before going through the pages beat for beat- we’re diving STRAIGHT in.

strictly formatting these is overrated anyway

THE FIRST PAGE!!!

First of all awwwwww I hope we get to see Riverperson again… Flowey resting his head on top of Papyrus’ in the raft melts my heart as well.

For the first bit of dialogue here with Floweys internal monologue- OUGH I LOVE IT! I will NEVER get sick of getting into his head, he’s like us! a theorist! his thought process here is so me.… “ive never thought of the possibility that Papyrus might have been involved as well…” Welllllllll… You’re half right.

Im also looking forward to seeing the part of Wingdings’ story that explains Papyrus’ conveyor belt related trauma- cause cmon man whats wrong with conveyer belts 😭

Papyrus basically having a conversation with himself while Flowey just goes and does his own thing is SO REAL ALSO I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

ALSO LMAO THE BACKPACK IS ACTUALLY THERE- THAT WAS A THING I POINTED OUT AS A JOKE IN THIS POST- funny to know that was just a mistake, BUT IM ONTO YOUR LITTLE TRICKS!!! I KNOW ITS LORE RELATED SOMEWHERE!!!!

PAGE 2

PAPYRUS’ REACTION HERE HAS ME SCREAMING IN AGONY, I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD GET WORSE- BUT spoilers. it gets so much worse. I mean I- kind of- spoiled it with the drawing at the very beginning….BUT- YOU SHOULD HAVE READ THE COMICS BEFORE READING THIS!!!

GOOGLY EYES PAPYRUS SPOTTED!!!! OHHH I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER and speaking of facial expressions I hate (love) Floweys smug ass in these panels 😭

THE 2ND TO LAST PANEL- OH THIS SHOT BEHIND AND BELOW PAPYRUS IS JUST GORGEOUS HIS SKULL AND JAW AND NECK- ITS ALL SO WELL DRAWN

PAGE 3

Talking about the actual dialogue for a second- trying not to get too carried away only focusing on the visuals.

Im very concerned we’re going to have a moment with the power going out, Papyrus and Flowey being stuck without the elevator just like Alphys and Wingdings were. Some chicanery is gonna happen comparing and contrasting how they handle that compared to the 2 scientists. Ofc thats a lot of speculation- But I cant help but feel like the talk about “the energy hopfully lasting long enough” is leading up to something….not fun.

Maybe what they do down here is a weird time mumbo jumbo that is important to make what happens in the past- happen. Maybe thats why Gaster is watching them…

“You should talk to my brother more!!!” …..I want to disagree- but also I want them to be friends and think they COULD get along

PAGE 4

“That would be weird!!” reference to when you call Papyrus in Alphys’ room….i see what you did there….

Also Floweys logic here about having hisss permission just made me giggle so much LMAO I absolutely love the repeated “Papyrus is hesitant” followed up by “Flowey presenting a sorta??? convincing argument” and Papyrus just being like “…ALRIGHT!”. Very fun and in character for him

PAGE. 5.

When I tell you- this K I L L E D. M E. GOD THIS IS SO WELL DRAWN???!?!?!?! I CAN FEEL THE SINKING DREAD- OOOUUUUGGHHHH THE DETAIL IN HIS EYE SOCKETS!!!!!!!!

This incredibly depicts feeling of sound filling your head- just AAAA IT HITS SO HARD AND IT HURTS SO GOOD.

PAGE 6

“Are you- uh..feeling anything?” Subtle Flowey. Very subtle. Though I love Papyrus’ complete misread of what he’s asking HEHDHE. Yknow, Its a belief among ghost hunters that “cold spots” mean theres a ghost lurking around. HM.

Also wtf are you talking about- Papyrus?? you “sometimes” have nerve endings 😭?? That line is incredibly in character answer for him, but also what?? maybe im missing something obvious. Ough the detail on the hand bone…

PAGE 7

WINGDINGS!!!!!!!! MY GOAT!!!! AND ALSO SANS!!!!! MY SLIGHTLY LESSER GOAT WHOM I STILL LOVE!!!!!!!!!!

God I wonder where this conversation is going to go- wheres Wingdings going with this? is he gonna tell him about the tape?? why did he LIE ABOUT THE CREVICE IN THE FIRST PLACE???? IM STILL HUNG UP ON THAT!

Its clear Wingdings plans on researching timelines because of the tape things, ofc, im just surprised he’s informing Sans about it since he’s proven to want to keep at least some of it a secret. At the very least he seems to really enjoy- controlling information.

Im calling it now, Wingdings is a pathological liar. (bold ass claim especially because he only lied once so far BUT IM CALLING IT!!!)

Also the talking and writing in wingdings here is gonna make me immediately rule out Alphys being involved in this conversation.

IN CONCLUSION!

I am. LOSING. MY MIND. OUUUGHH THE ART JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER, THE PLOT AND THE TENSION!!! IT JUST GETS THICKER AND THICKER. I can promise you, the pages are ALWAYS worth the wait…as a wise man once said…

(the real quote, if you dont know is by Shigeru Miyamoto and replate ‘comic’ with ‘game’)