#defiant-tutorials

[defying-sims-4]

Fixed-Open Door Tutorial: Sims 4

Ever needed a door held open for a posed screenshot? Ever wanted a door in your build to stay perpetually open, only to be frustrated in this universe where everybody constantly slams shut their damn doors? Do I have the solution for you…

[lavendarr00]

🤍 My Dragon Age: The Veilguard Modlist 🤍

I'll update this list as I find more mods I enjoy in my game!

DATV Mod Installation Tutorial

Immersion/Quality of Life

Add Rook to the Grocery List World State Codex Overhaul Lighthouse Fast Travel - Front Yard Manfred Hangs out With Assan Muted Conversation Wheel Companions Hang Out in the Library

Character Creator

Names and Icons from Tattoos Scars and Paints More Natural Looking Sclera Mythal Vallaslin Edit

Rook & Faction Recolors/Retextures

Lav's Shadow Dragon Recolors (Mine! 😊) Slightly Darker Shadow Dragons Shadow Dragons Monochrome Makeover Defiant Plate Recolor

Muted Mourn Watch GreyScale Mourn Watch Nevarran Footsoldier's Armaments Recolor Vestments of the Dead Recolors

Grey Wardens Armory Garb of Kinship Edit

Murder of Crows - Crow Recolor Illario's Darker Armor Fledgling Jacobus

Jumper's Deft Leathers

Jules' Outfit Edits Kaya's various Recolors for Rook Outfit Edits and Recolors Black Underwear Crushed Velvet Fashionable Leathers Recolors Ardent Blossom - Flower Crown

Companion Recolors/Retextures

Companion's Deluxe Closet

Lucanis in Black Dark Covert Leathers Darker Corvid Cloak Darker Wings of Antiva Darker Crow's Poise Lucanis Legendary Feathers Begone The Lucanis Bundle - Monochrome Makeover Darker Casual Clothes for Lucanis Lucanis Chest & Arm Hair Lucanis Crow's Poise Edit

Teal Black Neve Neve Armor Recolors

Davrin Outfit Edits

Professorial Fashion Emmrich in Lilac Emmrich in Black Armor

Custom Swap Library

SR Inquisitor Armor Swap Viago Found His Curling Iron Brown Eyes For Illario Illario Has A Beard

Ardent Assassin Mash-Up Sophisticated Sage Mash-Up

Miscellaneous

Nevarra De-Greened Higher Civilian Outfit LODs DATV Third Party Free Cam:��Otis Camera Tools

How to make your own custom swap mod library

Remember to read mod descriptions & to download all mod requirements!! 🤍

[friendlylifecherry]

If there's ever an AA7, I would want the tutorial case to be Kristoph Gavin's first case, defending a teenage Apollo Justice on a murder accusation. This is before Gavin went for the forged evidence route, but he's still clearly ruthless and very much pissed that he's stuck defending this dumbass teenager in the middle of an edgy phase as his first client.

In the first part of the case, Apollo is incredibly cagey about where he was and what he was doing during the murder, so Kristoph has to drag it out of him. Turns out, he was trying to get an illegal tattoo (the mark of the Defiant Dragons, actually), with a faked ID and everything, but only got the outline done when everything went down and the artist tossed him out of the shop, since they didn't want to get done in for tattooing a minor. It's why Apollo's all hunched over like a scowling delinquent since the tattoo is on his back, and since getting arrested, he hasn't been able to care for it properly, so it hurts like hell.

Somehow, it ends up being a key part of the case and helps find the true culprit. Apollo swears to Kristoph that he'll clean up his act after being acquitted. And cut to the official start of AA7 cutscene, Apollo's putting back on his shirt, a fully done in Defiant Dragons mark with playing card and Khura'inese design motifs all around it on his back

[aceofwhump]

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog!

I decided to make a new pinned post with all the information that is available on my desktop site but that will be more accessible for mobile users. Plus a few extras 😉

So an introduction.

I'm Ace. I started this blog back in February 2018 after seeing a post that referenced the whump community. I had no idea there was such a large community here on tumblr! As soon as I saw that making a whump blog was an option I immediately made one. And I haven't regretted it since. I love this blog, I love this community, and I'm thrilled to be here three years later! 

Here on this blog you'll see lots of gifsets both reblogged from wonderful creators and gifs made by yours truly. I also write fanfics on occasion. You can check out my work on AO3 under the name "aceofwhump" or you can look under my tag "ace writes stuff". That tag will have some stuff not on AO3 too. I also do whump lists for certain characters, trope lists, video clips of good whump, and fanfic recs.

Click on the read more for even more information and important links to things like gifmaking tutorials, my trope tag list, my show/movie tag list, my fanfic masterlist, and more!!!

My favorite tropes are:

Emotional: panic attacks, nightmares, insecurities, feeling inadequate, fear, grief, flashbacks, flinching, emotional breakdowns full of sobbing, emotional outbursts, scar reveals, anxiety, self hatred

Environmental: accidents, natural disasters like earthquakes or storms, hit by a car, collapsed building, falling through ice, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, falls, burns, infected wounds from lack of medical equipment, sickness, being unable to breathe, drowning

Small moments: limping, feeling weak and seeking support, breathing through the pain, moving wrong in a way that aggravates the pain, and the sudden seizing of his body, shaking hands, pressing the heel of his hand against his temple because of a headache, taking a moment to close his eyes because he’s light headed/exhausted/has such a bad headache

Sci-fi: space illness, oxygen deprivation, isolation, being locked in the brig, hull of the ship getting damaged, alien attacks

Injuries: broken bones, gunshot wounds, hidden injuries, bruises, beaten, concussions, collapsed lung, slings, casts, crutches, knocked unconscious, blood loss

Torture/Captivity: Being strung up by their wrists from the ceiling, drugged, chained up, caged, tied to a chair, handcuffed to a pole, interrogated

Comfort/Caretaking: hugging, “Are you okay?”, “You’re safe now”, “I’ve got you”, hand holding, helping to walk, ice packs, covering someone with a blanket, a cool cloth on their forehead to help with a fever, a fever check, touching their face to offer comfort

Magic: magical healing that causes pain, draining of powers, powers that are painful to use, curses

Stoic or defiant whumpees

Team whump

---------------------------------------

Long detailed look at how I make my gifs

Gifmaking tutorials:

Gifmaking for Begginers: my ginormous all you need to know tutorial

Another look at how I make a gif

Tips for beginners

Tips on brightening dark scenes

How to get into gifmaking

Photoset dimensions

How to make a layout gifset

Gif speeds

---------------------------------------

Links from my desktop blog for mobile users:

My gifs

My whump videos

Ace writes stuff

My Writing Masterlist

Trope tag list

Show list

My Whumptober Masterlists

Fanfic Rec Lists

Blog Archive

---------------------------------------

Introducing…

ACEOFWHUMP’S FANFIC MASTERLIST!!

This has been a massive, ongoing project of mine for a while now in which I am endeavoring to catalog and categorize every fanfiction I’ve ever bookmarked. I fear this project will never be complete as I'm always reading and bookmarking new fics but I’m going to share it anyway.

Inside, you will find links and summaries to the fanfictions I’ve read over the years on both AO3 and FF.net. Each fic is sorted by the specific whumpee that they center on. So there’s a page for Danny Williams, for Mike Warren, for Lucifer Morningstar, and many many more. The fics are 90% whump with a touch of fluffy ones thrown in too. This list is based on the fics I’ve read and bookmarked so it leans heavily on my favorite whumpees and my favorite tropes. 

I’ve been working on categorizing every fic by its tropes (so theoretically you could search for say seizure fics or sick fics) but that’s taking me a loooong time because I have to reread every fic in order to determine what kind of categories to make and to look for the specific tropes. So for now you’ll have to make do with the fic summaries and using the search function. When it’s done, each whumpee will have their specific trope categories so you won’t necessarily find the same tropes in each category but it should help narrow down the fics better once I’m done. This is an ongoing project for me.

The list gets updated all the time so check back in every now and then. There might be something new.

I do take suggestions of fics to add to this masterlist but please keep in mind that it may not end up on the list. It's nothing personal I promise. I just can't add every single fic in the world.

Here's the link (note that it opens best on desktop browser because it is large):

[nightshademyn]

Ok I'm still going insane about the wisdom saga specifically god games so I'm gonna start yapping under the cut because I have A LOT to say

First off, as I said in a previous post, Apollo's verse really does feel like the first/tutorial boss. There's nothing really personal (?) about why he doesn't want Odysseus to be set free, and I'm pretty sure that's intentional with how much this saga took from video games. Also I love his voice because it's fucking Brandon McInnis and as someone who's in the middle of her first FE Engage run w/ male Alear, it was a fucking shock lmao (did not expect to see male alear's va here)

I have no real in depth thoughts when it comes to Hephaestus's verse other than it just scratches my brain the right way. Something about Mike Rivera's voice is just sooo good and there's something so sweet about Jorge getting both his parents as vocalists in his passion project. It makes me smile every time.

OK OK HERE'S WHERE I START GOING INSANE. APHRODITE AND ARES. First off I swear you can hear the danger motif in the instrumentation WHICH MAKES SENSE because Aphrodite isn't going to be easily swayed and that poses a danger to everything Athena is trying to accomplish! It would also foreshadow that Ares is going to come in if Athena pushes Aphrodite to release him. SECOND! This is the longest segment and I wanna argue was the one that took the most effort out of Athena, and I'd like to think it's because of their history with the Trojan War. I'd like to think that Ares and Aphrodite are still holding a grudge from when Athena helped Diomedes almost kill them both during the Trojan War lmao. (Also Athena referring to Telemachus as her friend and Ares' insult towards Telemachus being what causes Athena to lock in is so sweet)

I love Hera's verse and I love how amicable she is towards Athena?? It makes sense to me that she's not quite as hostile as Aphrodite and Ares despite being the final "boss" before Zeus because to my knowledge in mythology Hera held no longs standing animosity towards Athena, probably because she's the child of Zeus and his first wife Metis and not the result of an affair. They were actually on the same side of the Trojan war. So it makes more sense to me that she's less antagonistic and more testing Athena. And I love that her verse starts with "So many heroes/So many tales" because Athena is the goddess that helps out most greek heroes. Off the top of my head outside of Odysseus there was also Perseus and Diomedes that she aided. Hera is testing Athena and asking her what makes Odysseus so special out of all the heroes Athena has mentored

AND FINALLY ZEUS!!!! THE OTHER BIT THAT MAKES ME INSANE! I wanna double back to make a comparison because in the beginning of God Games, it almost sounds to me like Athena is trying to find her rhythm, like she's choosing her words carefully to appeal to Zeus and get him to agree with her. And then once she's convinced the other gods, she returns to zeus with confidence and pride ("I've played your game and won/ Release him") DEMANDING THAT HE RELEASE ODYSSEUS! AND HOW? HOW DOES ZEUS RESPOND???? WITH THE SONG ABOUT PRIDE CRUMBLING AT HIS HANDS!! I firmly believe that's why Zeus struck Athena the second time she approached him. In his eyes, she was prideful and defiant and needed to be taught a lesson (and if the line "to make me feel shame" is any indicator, he probably did not like being called out for his propensity for affairs during Hera's verse). Also I might be going insane but the line "thunder, bring her through the wringer" IS SUNG IN THE FUCKING DANGER MOTIF SIGNALING THE DANGER ATHENA IS IN

The warrior of the mind motif returning first with a soft piano and then with a triumphant brass section (trumpets probably?) was also so good and what a way to end that song

I think that's all I had for now but I will probably come back with more to say because this musical is doing things to me

[darcytaylor]

It’s hard because after all the shenanigans with yesterday, today, the pap walk, etc. there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. Her posting a makeup tutorial is fine - no one cares but her fans. Her posting it with that song was definitely on purpose. Pap walk smirk, photos in the same place on their accounts - like why???? Just come out and confirm it so people stop beating a dead horse. I hope his decisions and ego don’t hurt his career any further but all this seems petty, indulgent, and comes off as egotistical and defiant. His celebrity status is just not that big yet. I hope he gets there. I think he has talent but never bite the hand that feeds you. We teach in crisis comms that you should stick to the truth as much as possible. It’s like rule one. Clearly the train derailed.

The train derailed as soon as it took off. I think they are at the point where they know they screwed up at the very beginning and there is no turning back now, or getting the general mass to think kindly of Antonia.

Antonia gives off "mean girl" energy (even if she isn't, because I don't know her) and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

Luke give off "fuck boy" energy (even if he isn't, because I don't know him) and I can't see that changing anytime soon.

I said this in my deep dive - Luke and Antonia’s foundation to the public is/was non-existent. The foundation literally exploded and they kept on laying bombs.

All of the drama surrounding his relationship has the potential to hurt his career unfortunately. It will effect what people want to work with him, and some will definitely pass. Antonia's online presence and how she interacts with fans will also effect Luke's work. People don't want drama, and that relationship causes drama currently.

But I can see thinks smoothing over eventually. I don't think this is something that will hurt anybody's career permanently

[teddypoi-qd]

{ID - two Runescape screenshots 1 - A character designed to look like Harry Du Bois from Disco Elysium, on Tutorial Island.

2 - The Harry player stands next to a character designed to look like Kim Kitsuragi. They are standing behind a tavern, in a small copse of trees. In the middle of the trees is a gallows, with an empty noose.

In the chat, the two characters converse:

escientist3: You emerge into the courtyard, blinking against the bright morning light.

escientist3: Logic: [Trivial - Success* This is the place that Garte said the body should be.

escientist3: The noose stands empty - defiant. No body is present.

escientist3: Authority: [Medium - Success* Someone's *interfered* with our crime scene.

Kim Kitsurag: Where's the body, Harrier?

END ID}

loving disco elysium so far

[joy-doth-overflow]

📖 "The Sacred Ordinary"

A Book for Quiet Strength, Healing, and Simple Living By Someone Who Understands You

🌿 Chapter 1: It’s Going to Be Okay (Even When It Feels Like It’s Not)

You don’t need to do a grand thing today.

You don’t need to reinvent yourself, become rich, start a side hustle, or smile at everyone. You can just breathe, just exist, and that would still be enough.

Because the truth is — even when you are tired, quiet, and ordinary... you are still sacred.

It’s okay if your teenager doesn’t talk to you today. It’s okay if you didn’t go anywhere but the kitchen and back.

You’re still here. You got up. You made it. And that is enough.

🕯 Chapter 2: The Prayer That Fits in a Teaspoon

Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy. God is not counting your words — only your heartbeats.

Here is a prayer you can whisper while stirring coffee:

“Lord, I’m tired, but I’m still Yours. If all I do today is be gentle — let it be enough. And if I forget You — please don’t forget me.”

Say it once. Or not at all. Even the desire to pray is prayer.

He sees your hands doing laundry. That’s prayer. He sees your quiet sigh when you fold towels. That’s prayer. He sees your weariness — and He calls it holy.

🧺 Chapter 3: Housework is Not Failure

When you’re living simply, frugally, and without fanfare, it’s easy to feel like life has passed you by.

But sweeping the floor? That’s creating peace for yourself. That’s you saying, “I’m still tending to life.”

Clean dishes are an altar. Made beds are a poem. Grocery lists are proof that you are still loving someone — even if it's just yourself.

You are not “just doing chores.” You are crafting a life of care in a world that only honors the loud.

🛏 Chapter 4: Rest is a Weapon

Sometimes the most defiant thing you can do is rest.

This world says: “Work! Achieve! Prove your worth!” But you — you lay down. You close your eyes. You say, “I’m already worthy.”

Take naps. Sit in a sunbeam. Drink tea slowly and without multitasking. Wrap yourself in a blanket without guilt.

You are not lazy. You are healing. And healing isn’t loud — it’s soft and slow.

🙏 Chapter 5: When You’re Frugal, But It Still Hurts

Living with less can feel like you’re being left behind.

But listen: there is a richness in simplicity that no bank account can match. Your peace is worth more than polished countertops or weekend getaways.

Frugality isn’t failure. It’s intentional quiet.

But even so — yes, it’s hard. It’s okay to cry because you wanted a little extra something and had to say no. It’s okay to feel isolated when everyone else is buying and going and doing.

Just don’t believe for one second that your life is smaller. It is deeper. And you are wiser. And what you are becoming in this simplicity… is glorious.

Would you like a new chapter each day? 📘 Or should I keep writing the rest now and put it into a full downloadable book just for you?

I’ll follow your pace, love. This is your book. Your healing. And I’m honored to write it with you.

🍃 Chapter 6: Free and Simple are Not Shameful

There’s a strange lie the world keeps whispering:

“If it didn’t cost anything, it must not be worth much.”

But you know better.

Some of the best things are free. Not because they’re worthless — but because they’re sacred.

A long walk without your phone.

A song you hum while sweeping.

Laughing at your husband’s same old joke for the tenth time.

Watching the way the light hits the wall at 3pm.

Breathing deeply with no need to be more than human.

You don’t have to be a productivity queen. You don’t have to spend to feel alive.

You can just be — still, rooted, soft. That is doing something.

💻 Chapter 7: Log Off, Tune In

YouTube tells you to start a business. Instagram says you’re behind. Pinterest says your house isn’t good enough. TikTok tells you your skin needs ten more serums.

And it’s exhausting.

You don’t need another tutorial. You don’t need to monetize your joy. You don’t need to become a 6-figure brand.

You already are a connoisseur of your life. You already know what brings you peace. You don’t need permission to just live — slow, private, and whole.

So go ahead and stop scrolling. Go bake that humble dinner. Water a plant. Kiss your man goodnight.

Let the world be busy. You? You’re already home.

🌤 Chapter 8: How Not to Be Depressed When the World Tries to Make You Feel Like You’re Failing

Let’s be honest.

Sometimes the world doesn’t say it outright — but it implies it:

“You should have more.” “You should be further.” “You should be someone else.”

But here’s a better truth:

✨ You’re exactly where you’re meant to be for your soul’s journey. ✨ Your worth has never been tied to achievement. ✨ There is nothing wrong with you for wanting a simple, gentle life.

Even if your kitchen is quiet. Even if your kids are figuring it out. Even if your best outfit is a cozy house sweater. Even if your only “big plan” is to sit outside and watch the birds.

You are not behind. You are living. You are holy in the mundane.

🍲 Chapter 9: What Matters Most

It’s not the car. It’s not the square footage. It’s not whether your daughter goes to a top university.

It’s whether:

You kissed your husband on the forehead today.

You cooked the rice with love, even if it was simple.

You smiled at your child, even if they were moody.

You prayed — even once, even tired.

You kept your heart tender.

That’s what matters. That’s what changes a house into a sanctuary.

Your family may not be perfect. But your kindness will outlive all of this. And your love — in small, daily doses — is powerful enough to be felt forever.

🌙 Chapter 10: It’s Okay If You Don’t Have It All Together

It’s okay if you’re still figuring it out. It’s okay if the budget fell apart. It’s okay if your teenager isn’t sure what’s next.

They’re still here. You’re still here.

You’re not raising perfect humans — you’re raising humans. And you’re doing it with grace, warmth, and resilience. The fact that your kids made it through at all? That’s a victory.

Not every path is paved by 18. Sometimes we need slow years. Rest years. Discovery years. And that includes you, too.

You are not too late. You are not too old. You are not too lost.

You are someone’s home. You are someone’s safe place. You are someone’s reason to breathe softer.

🕊 Final Chapter: A Blessing for You, Just As You Are

May your hands be blessed — As they fold towels, scrub pans, and hold faces gently.

May your heart be softened — By every unnoticed moment that still holds meaning.

May your quiet days be honored — Not as wasted time, but as holy space.

May you remember: You are not forgotten. You are not failing. You are blooming — slowly, quietly, beautifully.

And when you lay your head down at night… May you know, without question:

💗 You are enough. You are loved. And you are doing beautifully. 💗

[copperbora]

Rest in Peace, Don Perro - Canadian Animation Legend

I just learned that my animation teacher from Capilano University, Don Perro, has passed away. He was a kind, soft spoken man who liked to talk about his champion agility sheltie & his time working on shows like Ren & Stimpy and The Raccoons. Don was the beating heart of Cap U's animation program. I wasn't a great student of Don's; my then-undiagnosed social anxiety & neurodivergencies kept me from ever entering the Vancouver animation industry after I graduated in 2010. Instead of creating a final film for Grad Show, I published a damned book - a literary book, not even an illustrated one.

Despite this, he still watched my career; we were friends on Facebook. He was a good dude, & I'm really sorry that I was often so nervous around him (I was afraid of him due to my social anxiety,) not to mention kind of defiant as I once rebelliously wrote a lengthy tutorial about how animals move - particularly why wrist/fetlock joints are still important with quadruped characters - on his whiteboard for his 1st year students when I was a 2nd year.

I'll always remember how in my 1st year he spent about an hour getting us all settled & working one day, only for a 2nd Year to come charging in exclaiming that there was free leftover food in the conference room down the hallway; my entire class bolted for that food like a pack of starving feral dogs! (This is probably one of my favourite recollections of Don, and my 1st year of animation school in general.) The man had had to have had some serious patience to tolerate spending every day with a bunch of intensely nerdy, hyperactive, sleep-deprived, extremely food motivated students every day.

My heart goes out to Don's family, friends, & the rest of the Canadian animation community for his loss. 💔

[defying-sims-4]

How to make ANYTHING into a prop: Sims 4

[themomsandthecity]

As a Parent of Gen Alpha Kids, I Promise: They Are Not the Worst in History

Dennis the Menace terrorized adults in the early 1960s. The kids on "Saved by the Bell" made life for Principal Belding total hell circa 1990. And the Plastics had no respect for authority when "Mean Girls" first came out in 2004. And yet, Gen Alpha - the kids of millennials, born between 2010 and 2025 - is being labeled as the most "defiant, disrespectful, and rude" kids in history. TikTok creator and teacher Teresa Kaye Newman certainly isn't alone in sharing her opinion that today's youth are "entitled" and "lazy." As she said in a viral post that is meant to serve as a PSA for parents, "Your children are missing the mark on discipline, they're missing the mark on education standards, they're missing the mark on literacy, they're missing the mark on socialization." I know this TikToker wasn't addressing me directly - but actually, she kind of was. I'm a mom of four Gen Alpha kids, and I'd argue that they deserve far more grace than is being afforded to them. Here's the reality: today's children aren't that bad. If my Dennis the Menace callout wasn't enough to convince you, consider that since the beginning of time, kids have been testing limits. That's what kids do. And, news flash, kids make mistakes (so do adults, but we'll get to that in a moment). First, I want to point out the biggest difference between Gen Alpha and previous generations: nowadays, if a child is rude or misbehaves, we can always rely on someone to shame them or their parents on social media. Kids need compassion, not condemnation. We can also thank social media for pressuring our kids to live up to impossible standards of perfection that don't even exist. I mean, I'd implode too if my whole social standing revolved around whether I had a Stanley water bottle at the age of 10. Can we really blame kids for feeling overwhelmed by all the lofty trends they feel they need to adopt just to fit in? From endless makeup tutorials to body ideals that aren't attainable for 99 percent of young people, to shoes and clothes and accessories you'd need Kardashian money to afford, Gen Alpha is just trying to keep its head above water (a recent warning about the impact of social media from the US Attorney General confirms that). Kids need compassion, not condemnation. I'm sad to think that anyone who had the luxury of growing up pre-pandemic, and before school shootings were monthly occurrences, would turn on today's kids. The stress and lack of stability these kids deal with on a daily basis is unimaginable for those of us who remember life before cell phones and, gasp, the days when you couldn't skip commercials. Speaking of parents, we're facing unique pressures as well. Aside from our own unhealthy relationship with social content, raising a family has never been so expensive. My husband and I pay more now for our home, heating, electricity, food, cars, and healthcare than ever before. Like many Americans, we are a two-income household, and having to work long hours can mean less time to spend with kids doing homework or eating dinner as a family. But like generations of parents before us, we are trying our best day in and day out. Many of us strive to raise our kids to be respectful and hardworking, and I assure critics out there that I know a lot of truly amazing young people at my kids' school, on their sports teams, and out and about in our community. A final word on the topic: I also feel for teachers. Like today's kids and parents, they are dealing with their own set of unique pressures. From attempting to get students' attention in a world saturated with viral content, to overcoming learning loss from the pandemic, to coping with their own fears about school violence, you have to admire the many dedicated educators doing their part to help raise responsible, kind, caring, and ambitious citizens of the future. The takeaway here is that these kids do exist - we just need to look a little deeper at each individual and the… https://www.popsugar.com/family/gen-alpha-criticism-opinion-49330518?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[vuldak-juneau]

What a stupid answer. She half-snorted, half-chuckled at the response that he offered her, but it sounded more like a death rattle than anything else. It was an inhuman, bitter-sounding dismissal of what she found to be a ludicrous answer. “Surely. Nothing says thriving like communal shit-holes in the ground in an overpopulated encampment,” she commented on his prediction, her voice as cynical as it was bitter about the cards fate had dealt them. However, she didn’t want to take the time to engage him in a full-blown argument. 

Something about the aura of the man made her feel she was always under a very particular type of scrutiny. As a small child, old women had told her they had eyes in the back of their heads, and she never believed such ridiculous tales. If he had, though, she might believe him. With a small amount of concentration, she lightened her step, though it did very little good with the thick crust of snow all around. At times, she almost felt lucky not to find herself stuck thigh-deep in a snow bank as she skulked around the nightly campsites. When he didn’t look back at her, because it was so easy to hear that she was following, she made a game of stepping in the tracks he made where he walked in front of her. It was easy to fit her booted foot into the footfalls he left, but matching his stride was a game of balance. Her private point system depended on how convincing she could make it seem that there was only one person treading this path by how exactly she could match his gait. 

Juneau’s fun was abruptly ended as a pair of refugees more dutiful than she passed off the axes they had been using. She paused just adjacent to Alder’s shoulder–it would be impossible to say she was standing next to him, but she was clearly with him–and glowered at the other two with a sour expression until they made themselves scarce. The moment they were out of earshot, she tilted her head back to look at the man and press him: “Why didn’t you give those two a hard time about why they weren’t sleeping?” She was being antagonistic, intentionally. She knew why–because they were working, not looking for an opportunity to run amock or ruin someone’s mood. 

He could look at her as sternly as he wanted, that was fine by Juneau. His authoritative glance at her was met with a defiant indifference, but she lifted her hands to take the ax nonetheless. She gripped it a few inches below the sharpened, iron blade and toward the bottom of the handle and did her best to look bemused. “Do I look like I spend my days chopping wood?” she asked, answering his question with another question. A demonstration might provide an opportunity for more than learning some new, rote skill she had little to no intention of picking up.

Juneau rested the ax he had given her on her shoulder and waited for him to turn around. Easy, she soothed herself, not too quickly. Let him ease into it, let him focus on what he’s doing, and when the time is right…. She waited, biding her time and grunting when it felt appropriate to mirror when someone actively listening might indicate their understanding. Slowly, inch by inch, she lifted her elbows up, pausing a meaningful amount of time before shifting them just slightly, bit by bit until she held the ax up, ready to strike.

“I heard what you said at the camp,” she cut in suddenly, speaking over whatever instruction or advice he was attempting to impart upon his young lumberjack student. “When you’ve lived for as long as I did–seen as much as I did… Did! Not have! Don’t try to tell me that’s not what I heard either,” she threatened him. “I know what I heard–and you should be too grateful that I waited until we were away from the others to say anything and I didn’t make some sort of scene right there and then.” She truly thought she had something over him. “What in the Abyss are you?” she demanded. 

Perhaps, if she had actually been listening to his tutorial, the form with which she held the ax might have a slim chance of being perceived as a threat when he would turn toward her to see it. Sure, she held the weapon in a striking position, but the sharpened blade of the axe was cocked strangely in a position where even if she could land an accurate swing, she wouldn’t even manage to strike him with the cutting edge. If hit by a successful swing of the ax, he’d suffer a bruise at worse. The chances of any swing actually landing on him, regardless of the position of the blade, were slim to none. The way she held the weapon was cockeyed and it would likely only result in her tilting off balance and missing much of any target as the rounded end of the handle was angled far too high up and the blade dipped too far below her shoulder. Not to mention, his experience as a blade master and enhanced abilities likely would have permitted him to catch the handle midswing and disarm her with minimal effort or reflexive skill. It was an honest effort at intimidation, but a poor one all the same.

The phrase she'd worded turned into deep thinking 'and then what?'. He'd been holding on to the hope of finishing this journey and delivering the refugees to safety but he never really stopped to think of what was next - no, he didn't want to think about that, because thinking would lead to concerns he didn't want to have now, willing to leave them to the future. "And then we'll figure it out." He replied firmly, although he wasn't certain himself, another exemple of him bullshitting it. "I believe in our people. We'll thrive wherever."

Alder just smiled at her when she accused him once again of being a bullshiter as he would not deny it, he didn't feel the need to, it was true, but he would never confirm it either, the possibility would be there and he'd just allow it to exist and let her find out if what she was saying was true or not. It was that next expression of hers, that grinless grin full of trickery, the smile of someone who'd been found out, that made him certain she wouldn't be trusting him or trustworthy for a while.

He watched her not with his eyes, but with his other enhanced senses, but she followed him out of the encampment without further questioning, almost if she'd listened to him this time, like the last time they met, and that gave him hope. Hope that she might be head-strong and petty but not foolishly. The phrase he'd uttered back at Lor the last time came back to him together with a discreet smile that he'd cover up with a cough of his on the way out - at least she listens. He then borrowed a couple of axes from some people passing by, promissing to give them back once they returned.

As they got farther away, into the woods, he found a good spot to finally turn back to her, calm expressions upon his features but a stern look. "Here, take it." He offered one of the axes to her, confident enough in his own skills to trust her with the sharp blade. "Do you need me to teach you how to use it?"

[valiant-portabella-pirkko]

“Never underestimate an eye in the sky.”

“Nothing’s deadlier than the sniper that sees you first.”

[twilightofthesandwiches]

One of the things I see people often forget about Undertale’s Pacifist Route is that it’s... inherently Defiant. In a way, more so than the Kill Everything Route. 

Flowey is the only person who will gloat about it so explicitly but... a lot of people in the world of Undertale kinda believe this is a kill-or-be-killed world, or at least that this is a world where some problems have to be solved with violence. Pacifist Frisk is basically the only person to say “No! There has to be another way!!” and then goes ahead and proves it.

I know a lot of people are inspired to do their Pacifist Run by Toriel, and I think that this is very heartwarming - but it’s important to remember that she didn’t believe that a Pacifist Run was truly possible herself. She doesn’t like that idea, she thinks it’s a horrible thing, but she still believes this is the truth about the world.

That’s why she’s so overprotective, after all. In her mind, a battle can only end with a monster killing Frisk or with Frisk forced to kill the monster. Both equally undesirable outcomes. Her only solution is to stay by Frisk’s side as much as she can and scare away monsters with the threat of physical violence.

That’s why the combat tutorial is a bit obtuse when it comes to giving out MERCY. Toriel never explicitly explains how the Sparing mechanic works because she doesn’t really believe that it’s a good idea. A Froggit has to sort-of explain it instead. The player needs to kinda figure it out themselves to show that they are really committed to giving out MERCY and capable of thinking a bit out of the box for it. 

And the whole Boss Battle with her... Sparing her is basically about proving to her that non-violence IS worthwhile. She can only see two outcomes; either her showy-but-mostly-harmless fire attacks will scare Frisk back into safety - or Frisk IS strong enough to kill her thus proving they can FIGHT in the many battles there are to come. If you deliver the fatal blow to her, she is at peace with her death, because she feels that it’s an indication that Frisk might be able to survive what comes their way. Because “being able to kill” is the indicator for strength and survival in her mind. 

When you succeed at Sparing her, you prove to her that this is not the only form of strength. That your own Determination and conviction for non-violence is stronger than her desire to keep you in. You prove to HER that there is another way out of this fight outside of killing her. So there might be a way out of the Underground without killing anyone too. And it works, although Toriel is still clearly worried that this little nonviolent child is still doomed.

And the whole thing with Asgore’s plan (which also includes Undyne’s motivations, and every monster who aides with it by attacking Frisk) is that it relies on the idea that killing humans is the only way the Monsters could ever go free, the only way the Underground could ever have hope, the only way any of their loved ones could every be happy. And the same kinda goes the other way around. People who actually know about the Barrier works, know that the only way Frisk could ever get free themself is by killing Asgore. Either Asgore kills Frisk to let the Monsters go free, or Frisk kills Asgore and lets themself be free. Monster or human, freedom can only be won via violence. It’s kill or be killed.

Meanwhile, Mettaton wants to stop Asgore’s plan, and again, can only see it stopped in a violent struggle. Frisk isn’t a good enough fighter to stop it, and so they should die to give their SOUL up to Mettaton, who will become strong enough to kill Asgore so that he won’t kill the humans. Heck, Asgore’s and Frisk’s deaths are also part of Mettaton’s plan to become a famous Star.

(Not to mention, Asgore doesn’t see himself as deserving of Mercy. He sees death as the only suitable punishment for what he has done. So again, violence as the only solution anyone sees.)

Really the only major characters who do not see violence and killing as an answer to their problems in some way are Sans, Alphys and Papyrus.

With Sans, really the only reason why he doesn’t see violence as a solution to his problems is because he doesn’t see ANY solutions to his problems anymore. He’s not a pacifist, he’s just totally passive and lazy. And of course, the one time he DOES actually get up and does something proactive, it’s when he FIGHT in the Genocide Route. Believing that even if he can’t actually kill the Human messing around with the timeline, he can at least use violence to annoy and frustrate them into submission. (And ironically enough, knowledge of Sans’ super-powerful boss fight probably motivated more people into the Kill-Em-All Route rather than stopped them).

Alphys uses lies and deception instead of violence. Again, she still believes any encounter between Asgore and Frisk will end with one of them killing each other. And the only way she found to avoid it is to create an elaborate web of lies in the vain hopes that it could convince Frisk to not get into contact with Asgore. Her non-violent approach is very conflict-averse. The only way she finds to resolve the issue of Asgore and Frisk both forced to kill the others for their goals is to simply prevent any sort of meeting between them at all.

Papyrus is really the only not-Frisk Pacifist in the cast. But a lot of it is due to characters leave him ignorant of some of the killing-related ultimatums in the game (he doesn’t know capturing Frisk means killing them and he doesn’t know Frisk needs more than a Human SOUL to pass the Barrier). He’s a sweetheart and I love him to death, but he’s an example of Pacifism that’s really dependant on naivete. Unlike Frisk, who knows what kind of no-win situations they get into and sticks by their (empty) guns regardless. Also, despite his goals being as humble as just wanting more friends - he can only see the prestige of the Royal Guard as the way to get there. That is, in a way, a value given to Violence. (See also: his inability to understand he’s not accepted into the Royal Guard DUE to his kind and nonviolent personality, rather than a lack of power).

The world of the Underground IS fun and whimsical and full of quirky and fun people. But many of these people also believe that violence and\or killing are necessary to achieve their current goals. Most of them don’t like that idea, most of them HATE this idea - but that is still what they believe. This is the kind of world Frisk falls into. And it’s purely a result of their own personal conviction and ideals that they manage to prove them all wrong. Prove that they are determined and clever enough to figure out a way out of every “kill or be kill” scenario the Monsters around them see as inevitable.  Prove that they can find a way to fulfil the Monsters’ goal without them having to kill Frisk or anyone else. Even if it means defying time and space and facing down a God of Hyperdeath to do so.

That is what it meant to be a Pacifist in Undertale, it’s not apathy, it’s not conflict-aversion, it’s not naivete, it’s defiance.

[whumpkinz]

Experienced Whumper A is teaching Inexperienced Whumper B with their newest defiant Whumpee.

Alternatively Whumper A makes whump tutorial videos for the dark web with Whumpee as their test subject.

[the-bloody-sadist]

Worms of the day: I don't know about you, but there's something about that moment when a defiant whumpee just completely submits, when they finally reached their limit for good. That breaking point? Effervescent. And perhaps a bit more specific, perhaps when that whumpee is about to be killed by the whumper and they just sort of accept it. The threshold of brokenness is just a favorite thing. And i'm low-key obsessing about how it can really only happen once per whumpee in a story, and how if I could find a way to loop that over and over boy howdy I would.

On a completely unrelated note, may I ask how you approach drawing faces? Personally, my tortured faces end up looking surprised and my mid-sex faces look kind of constipated... 🐳

Hey Lil Whale!! This took a bit to answer because I wanted to make a sketch tutorial to show you the most important bit of drawing faces. I wish I could've fleshed it out a little more but most of it just comes naturally? So it's very hard for me to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes them good, just that I work on it until I think it does. 😂 First of all, love the wormies of the day, and I totally agree. Also there's definitely a way to loop that over and over. Like a Fate series thing (Idk I've never watched the anime but I hear he dies over and over lmao) but anyways! On to the face notes.

So I've made a chart of the eyes - the most important feature of displaying pain other than the mouth. I feel like people get the eyes wrong a lot when they're trying to display pain or pleasure or whatever on characters, and it drives me nuts.

With eyes, the most important part is the eyelid line, actually. See the picture below.

I changed only what is listed beside it in each picture (minus the little brow line in the last one), and see how much more pitiful it looks! This can fix it nearly all the time, at least with what I've learned in my own art. Surprise, with the eyelid line changed, turns into distress very easily.

Those are small notes, but I hope it helps hehe. The second most important is the mouth. I would experiment with some mouth expressions if your boys are lookin constipated during sex 😂. And feel free to send in any art for critique, I could probably help you out a little better if I saw exactly what's messing it up!

Thanks for writing in!