#prelude showcase

[peterstamatin]

"Quarantine is a free prelude to the Bachelor’s story, giving you a taste of what’s to come before the full game’s release. It’s sort of like a demo but not quite. Here, we’ll showcase fragments of gameplay mechanics and introduce the main storyline. Plus, we’ll unveil a part of the game’s world you’ve never seen before: for the first time in the series, you’ll get to explore the Capital (home of the Bachelor’s beleaguered laboratory) with your own eyes. (Also, Telman is a rat.)"

[angelhyun]

when in milan - jjh

[a/n]: this is my first ever fic/drabble + first ever post on here so i don't really know what I'm doing, but i hope u enjoy nonetheless :) stay tuned for more (whenever boredom strikes me again)

pairing: jeong jaehyun x afab!reader

[wc]: 1.1k

- cw: fluff, slightly suggestive, sexual themes, 18+

prelude: Travelling alone wasn’t something you often did, but it was late spring and you had just finished a long year of university, so what better way was there for you to unwind than to spend your time in Italy. You, as a lover of fashion, had to add Milan to your itinerary. The city of rich culture and beautiful sights has been calling your name for some time, so finally being here felt like a dream. Little did you know, you'd meet a man who would make you feel the same way this city could.

 ˚₊‧꒰ა 𓂋 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Lounging in a local jazz bar with a booth to yourself was your ideal way of relaxing after walking across a vast chunk of the city. Visiting the Duomo was an unforgettable experience you were grateful for, but choosing walking as your mode of transportation in the kitten heels you just insisted on wearing was nothing less than painful. Sipping your espresso martini, you lean your head back against the plush material of the seat, truly basking in the essence of the incredible day you had. Suddenly, a deep voice that makes you open your eyes in an instant speaks up.  

“Excuse me,” he starts. “I hope you don’t mind if I sit here. I’ll keep my mouth shut, I promise.” he finishes with a cheeky grin, showcasing two adorable dimples. Oh, how you wish he wouldn’t shut that mouth. His calming voice was a juxtaposition against his striking visuals, face sculpted to perfection with an outfit as sharp as his jawline. 

“Please,” you beckon with your hand to the seat across from you. Your attempt at being nonchalant was stifled by the liquid courage you’ve gained from smooth sipping on the aforementioned cocktail. “And there’s no need for silence, I like to chat.” you finish, almost beaming at the man as he sits down, placing his jacket on the space next to him. 

He lets out a soft chuckle at that. “Really? You don’t strike me as a woman of many words. You have an unapproachable energy. I was kind of intimidated to approach you, honestly.” he rambles, shamelessly. You were immediately attracted to the authenticity and confidence he seemed to possess. Deciding to break the ice, you feed into that perception “Oh, I’m actually judging you extremely hard right now. How dare you have the balls to approach me?” you sarcastically muse, feeling at ease when it pulls a laugh out of him.

Over more drinks and shared laughs, you learn the man’s name is Jaehyun. He says he’s here in Milan for business, but you didn’t pester for more information since it seemed like he didn’t want to talk about his career much. He’s 28 and single, which you didn’t even have to ask due to his generous act of offering the information up on his own. You discussed that you were here on vacation and told him about the incredible day you had, grateful you got to share the experience with someone else. 

You weren’t sure if it were the smooth jazz playing in the back, the dimmed lighting, the alcohol running through your bloodstream, or the ethereal man sitting in front of you that made you begin to feel needy. You could tell he was feeling it too judging by how he’d not so subtly scoot closer to you over the course of your conversation, or how his eyes darkened and parted from yours whenever you’d lean over to laugh at his dry yet well-thought out jokes, giving him a nice peak at the lace under your top. Conveniently, as if reading you like his favourite novel, he makes the first move. 

“Hey, did you want to continue chatting back at my suite? I know it’s still pretty early in the evening, but I have an early start tomorrow morning, and I’m sure you will have a packed day with your tourist activities and whatnot.” Jaehyun says smoothly, almost calculated. With a nod of your head and a shared smile, the two of you pay for your drinks—him covering yours, of course—as you make your way across the street to where his hotel was conveniently placed. You guessed that’s where he came from prior to meeting him at the jazz bar. He insisted on holding your bag for you, ever the gentleman, as he draped his jacket over your shoulders with care despite the walk being so short. 

The ride up to his elevator was nothing short of steamy, his hands on your hips as soon as the elegant doors shut. He gently backed you up to the wall, his jacket on your back shielding you from the cool surface as he rasps into your ear. “I really want to kiss you.” he says breathily, licking his lips in anticipation. “Please do.” you reply, almost wrecked for the charming man. Your lips collide rather clumsily out of drunken anticipation, each craving one another’s touch. It’s messy but addicting, leaving you pulling back for air as you hear the elevator ding, staring at the stain your rouge lipstick left on his pouty lips. He takes your hand and gently leads you into the long hallway, fishing for his room card in his jeans pocket with his free hand. 

You can’t help but notice the bulge straining against the denim, immediately salivating upon first glance knowing what’s to come. He catches your shameless staring, letting out a huff of amusement which you found more attractive than you should’ve. Jaehyun places his hand on the small of your back, guiding you into the room. You heard him mention he was staying in a suite, but this was just beautiful. His job must be paying him really well, you thought as you slipped off your shoes, immediately sighing in relief as your bare feet touched the carpeting. 

This goes unnoticed by Jaehyun as he smiles, placing your purse on the bedside table, then gently taking his jacket off your back to hang up in the large walk-in closet. “Need me to carry you to bed, princess?” he teases, but you could pick up on the genuine tone in his question. “I’m sure I could manage, but if you’re offering…” you cheekily muse, giggling once he bends to pick you up bridal style. Turns out those muscles weren’t just for show. He looked down at you and all you saw was a prince looking back, as handsome as ever. An unforgettable smile, perfect hair falling over his forehead, and the clearest skin you’ve ever seen. Is he even real? you thought to yourself, grateful you didn’t accidentally whisper that out loud. 

He gently tosses you onto the king-sized bed, hovering over you. You cup his face in one hand as you gently guide him downwards to your lips, this kiss more gentle than the one you shared in the elevator. His tongue finds its way into your mouth and you let him, french kissing as his hands wander up under your shirt, resting on your side. His big hand continues its journey up, stopping as soon as he feels the material of your bra. “May I do the honours?” he asks. “You’re such a dork!” you joke, as he smiles, dimples on display once more. “Forgive me for being chivalrous. Is that a yes?” he asks once more, truly wanting your consent. You nod eagerly, answering with a cheesy “When in Milan.” to which he furrows his brows in playful confusion. 

“I’m pretty sure it’s Rome.”

[omorithedreamermod]

FEBRUARY DEVLOG - 2

Though it'd be fun to showcase a little bit of my portrait process, even if it's not specific! Anyways, it's time for the fourth DEVLOG...and...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

I got sick. I am still sick. This unfortunately has thrown a wrench in my productivity despite my best efforts. March release will still be possible, it just probably won't be as early as I was originally hoping, sadly. I hope I'll be back to full productivity soon. On the bright side, basically all contributions made by others are complete, so everything left to do is just on me. The list is a lot but I chose to do 85% of the mod, so it is on me to see it through!

That's why, rather than listing progress this week, I'll just list everything that still needs to be done.

THINGS LEFT TO DO:

General writing is complete, I just need to do some more flavor text and a bunch of NPC dialogue to certain locations that got completed later on.

There's a couple bits of sprite art, but barely any. Most of that is completely done.

There is only one more map to be made. A super small one! :D

Three music tracks are still pending. The full OST for the PRELUDE (including the 8 from the DEMO) is 48 tracks! I named them all recently it was very fun. Everyone worked hard!

Cutscene writing is complete up until a certain point. There's only one more section that needs writing. But, a lot of cutscenes still need to be programmed, so I really hope I can get better soon so I can do all of that. There's also other general programming to be done that I need to get around to.

BASIL real world portraits are done. SUNNY's are not. He doesn't need as many as BASIL, though.

I still have a couple NPCS to hand draw. Nothing fancy, though.

Badges all need to be made and then implemented. Wish me luck, there's quite a few!

After that, the playtest will be able to be sent off to people to bugtest while I then continue onto:

Drawing three whole cutscenes. Two on the longer side, one shorter.

(If time allows) A still image of DREAMER holding a thing! (Its a secret)

A certain separate thing needs to be completely written, then have a bunch of things drawn for it.

Credits video!!! Very important!!!!!

After everything above is implemented, I need to draw the additional art for the trailer...

CONCLUSION:

Hoping I can get back on track soon. I'm still sick and I'm frustrated about that. I'm really hoping I get better soon, as it's really set me behind on my intended schedule. Still, the goal is for full PRELUDE release in March, and I believe it's completely possible as long as I recover sooner than later. I know it might seem like a lot, but I did the DEMO all on my own. Trust me! March release is the plan! And the help I did get with sprite art (so many npcs!!!), OST(so many tracks...), some maps, and being able to ask people questions about programming when I'm lost has been absolutely wonderful. I wouldn't have been able to do everything on my own this quickly.

Though, I do hope after PRELUDE and I revamp the signups, I'll get even more help, because the plans for the future are quite hefty haha. I'll scale back if I need to, of course. Either way, I'm really excited, even if I am anxious and want it out ASAP. I'm so excited for everyone to see what THE DREAMER is truly going to be like!

[selinakylesupremacy]

Selina + Jason

Some of my favourite Selina & Jason panels. Because I'm sick of people downplaying their extensive relationship and familial ties.

Detective Comics #526 (1983)

Selina having Jason's back and having his best interests heart.

Detective Comics #560 (1986)

Jason angry and upset towards a thug who called Selina "just a dame". Bonus + Selina and Jason hugging while Selina comforts him and them holding hands.

Batman #16 & #18 (2017)

Bane stringing up Jason, Dick, and Tim. Selina getting revenge by stringing up Bane's henchmen while simultaneously foiling his plans.

New Talent Showcase #1 (2018)

Jason asking for Selina's help with training Duke

Prelude Before The Wedding: Red Hood vs Anarky #1 (2018)

Jason being "honored" Bruce asked him to protect Selina's bachelorette party

Catwoman #57 & #58 (2023)

Selina referring to Jason as "family" and herself as "mama cat"😭. Bonus + Selina being worried about Jason and Selina has taught Jason some helpful skills.

Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War - Scorched Earth #1 (2023)

Selina checking in on Jason after Bruce dosed him with fear toxin

Batman: Black and White #5 (2021)

Proof Selina and Jason are family

Detective Comics #1000 (2019)

Proof Selina and Jason are family 2.0

[mobblespsycho100]

Ivan, The Idea vs. Ivan, The Man

a totally serious Ivan Alien Stage analysis by yours truly, Sash @mobblespsycho100

-

( Quick Disclaimer that I'm mostly going to use the word "love" here in a romantic context, but trust me, I am doing an inherently aromantic/anti amatonormativity analysis/interpretation of Alien Stage by virtue of being an aro doing the essayin. )

-

The whole premise of this analysis is that in my opinion, Ivan, homotron 3000, king yaoi the 3rd, canonically does not recognize his feelings for Till as "love". And no, it's not just because the aliens don't have a concept for it or the way they were raised in Anakt Garden / by their pet owning humans (even though that's partly one of the reasons)– because we see Sua and Mizi sort of recognize that their feelings for one another are something akin to our modern definition of love – even if they don't have the words for it and even if it goes beyond that ('my god my universe')

So, why do I think this? a couple reasons! the main one being the Ivan centric comic we got after round 6, but let's start with the thesis of this analysis:

Ivan thinks his feelings are selfish, and does not consider the alternative that it might not be.

[ exhibit a: "thank you for being the victim of my shallow emotions"

but i wont get into that yet (says guy who is holding back to not talk abt it right away) ]

We're going to the very beginning to psychoanalyze king yaoi the 3rd, a little prelude if you will: ALIEN STAGE (Sweet Dream) & Black Sorrow brief discussion !

Alien stage (the video not . not the name of the series) is basically our introduction to the series and it is a banger. What's really interesting to me is that in the Ivan centric scenes it shows adult Ivan singing in alnst and smiling & staring at till with those homo eyes. The only time he's shown as a kid is in the Anakt garden singing practice group shot.

We can infer that he is a guy who I think cares abt his image or appearance, he looks like a very stereotypical image of an idol. However, his smile never really reaches his eyes. even when hes looking at Till, neither of them are smiling. Ivan only smiles on the stage, as he is performing. The careful and deliberate way he showcases himself is easy to see. He's charming, hes the thumbnail of the prologue! What's interesting to me is that there's really nothing that striking about his character design aside from the fact that his bangs are half covering his other eye (and what I mentioned abt the smile not quite reaching his eyes). There is a distance between him and the audience, the stage persona, not Ivan the man but Ivan the celebrity. Just another handsome face in the game.

Now, that initial character analysis isn't actually going to be all that relevant in this essay unfortunately (though I could definitely go into that! Maybe in an analysis comparing Ivan and Luka), but I really do like how the lyric that shows up on the [Ivantill] frame is "Live in Darkness" because it goes to my next point, Black Sorrow Ivan whos singing about himself and Till (him as the pov character and "you" as till, but I'm stating the obvious here). I'm not going over every lyric because this analysis would be way longer but basically, Black Sorrow is about the grief of never being able to reach someone who you want to be by your side forever so badly. Ivan understands that the ending of this contest is not a kind one, there is no field of flowers waiting for them after they win, only bloodshed.

"To me , you are black sorrow" says by the guy who wears all black and has eyes filled with sorrow. Alright all jokes aside though, I do enjoy the most widespread interpretation of the animation itself, that Ivan compares Till's nature to stars or a meteor shower in particular because of how that image is ingrained in his mind since childhood. I also think that Ivan associates Till with more of a candle always burning up, a star that has fallen to the dirt. A meteorite if you will, rock that made an impact and left a crater in Ivan's heart. He was always fascinated by the light in the dark sky. It represented beauty and hope to him, that maybe theres more to life than getting hurt. That there's light in the ever growing darkness as cliché as that sounds.

Till makes Ivan curious, more than anything. He enjoys aggravating him, making fun of him. Mizi is Ivan's friend , because (and I'm just guessing here mostly. i love their silly friendship shown in comics, its very important to me. ) she's fun to talk to and shes silly in a way that just makes people gravitate towards her, but Till is Ivan's friend because it is funny to piss him off. Till is interesting to Ivan because hes entertaining. Someone so talented and beloved yet easy to target. Someone who stands up for himself. Someone who is so so alive, burning up like a short quick fuse. Someone who can't and would not be kept down despite the collar on his neck. It intrigues Ivan, this guy who sings with enthusiasm and passion, not just going through the motions. Like some comet striking in the darkness. A true artist.

But in his eyes, this isn't Love. Its fascination at best, interest sure, admiration ? perhaps. What Ivan wants isn't Till's happiness, what he wants is to see him react in a funny way. Everything Ivan does is not for Till's sake, it's for his sake. His amusement. Till makes him feel alive, and hes grateful for that, he's grateful to have a companion like Till. (OR SO HE THINKS). In the end though, although he is affectionate, I don't think it registers in Ivan's mind that whatever he feels for Till is love. This is simply their dynamic of push and pull, tug and shove, tease and cry. It's something, and also nothing at all.

But then he tried to save him. He thought he could be the one to save him. And it fails– badly.

(right this is a small tangent but how exactly did he know how to open the collar mechanism? this guy's really fucking smart. did he use a pick? how did he just unclip it so easily??? is he crazy? did he observe the anakt supervisor do that? what the hell Ivan Alien Stage. maybe I'm missing an explanation here . if anyone knows please share .)

Right okay so the whole running away together , escaping the garden hand in hand, this must be when Ivan realizes he truly loves Till, enough to potentially sacrifice his life for him right? WRONG. We all know how this ended. Black sorrow, out of reach, so close and yet so far. Till going back to Anakt Garden, gazing at Ivan, looking back. Conflicted. Till was always a beacon of light. Till was always rebelling against the Anakt. He's the problem child, surely he'll go along with it? Surely he'll run away with Ivan. He's freed him! He's out of his cage now! He can do anything he wants, and they can go anywhere together!

Till went back. He couldn't bear to not see his friends again. He felt wrong for leaving everyone behind. He doesn't want to leave anakt garden, and maybe Mizi is the defining factor, but I think even if it wasn't Mizi who was left there I think he would've gone back. He looks back like Orpheus and Eurydice. He looks at Ivan and his eyes are almost an apology, he runs back. Fire burns around them. Ivan smiles.

And he goes back too.

OKAY now im just writing a whole ass fanfic. back to the damn analysis section.

Ivan's thoughts toward Mizi and Sua are so damn interesting to me, especially how he feels abt Sua. He recognizes what those two have going on as Love. He's kind of jealous of them really, he won't ever understand the feelings he harbors fully. He sees them laughing with each other, truly embracing each other's company joyfully, looking at one another like they're looking at the whole world. Part of why he doesn't think what hes got going on with Till is "love" is because its not the same, Till won't ever look at him like how he looks at Mizi or how Ivan himself looks at Till (in his eyes but lets be real I think Till pining for Mizi woulda been obvious for Ivan so he cant imagine Till enjoying his company the same way as Ivan does Till even if theyre friends but tbf I DON'T THINK IVAN WANTED SOMEONE TO MATCH HIS FREAK i think he wanted to be the only freaky one. but i digress). Right — so this is what establishes Ivan feeling like his feelings for Till are "shallow" and also what makes him laugh at Sua and call her twisted and selfish and "you'll be nothing more than a trauma to Mizi" (wtf btw) when Sua told him (presumably. honestly idk . how did he fuckin know) abt The Plan to sacrifice herself in round 1. Because to Ivan that is selfish, that is imbalanced, something that isn't right because to him Sua is only thinking of her own feelings. He laughed at her, taunted her. He felt vindicated. So yeah, you truly are twisted like I am, I thought we weren't the same, but deep down there is something deeply wrong with you too! (okay . stop that)

To Ivan thats kind of like how he feels about Till, he's not thinking about Till's feelings when he acts. He just Says shit and Does stuff and likes to bother Till because of the love of the game??? (Honestly? I can't tell. His mind is too oopy goopy for my comprehension)

And he ultimately regrets the words he said to Sua right? He said he was relieved that Sua is "also twisted" but all he did was project his own feeling of being a selfish and twisted person to Sua, who had no clue what the hell he was on about. Sua believed that she was going to save Mizi from pain, because death is pain, because she's seen that before and she would not let Mizi die in front of her. And Ivan says "hey but thats stupid , in dying yourself you're going to make her feel pain because she actually *loves* you and would not want you to die.". Which brings me to the whole point of the analysis though, because this isn't a "did Ivan love Till forreal" analysis it is a "Did Ivan realize he was experiencing love or was he fucking stupid" analysis.

and the answer is that its kind of a mix of both, but mostly hes fucking stupid (saying this with love in my heart).

Because until the end he thought he was selfish. Until the end he thought it was shallow emotion (and maybe he was being sardonic towards himself, but lets be real he understands that he was punishing himself for his feelings. He knew he felt strongly, but he didn't think what he felt for Till was love because it did not make Till happy. "I could never love him, I let him go" "I don't love him, I'd rather leave him then see him gone because he would not miss me, Im sure of it.")

Sooo what was the point of all this again? The point is that. Ivan is stupid. im joking okay the point is that maybe round 6 wasn't about the doomed tragic yaoi kiss. Maybe it was abt doomed yaoi but not about Ivan dying knowing that he loved Till. Maybe it wasn't about Ivan getting shot 3 times and dying in such a way it changed the trajectory of my life forever. Maybe it was about Till deserving better than Ivan (which is probably Ivan's thought process but lets be real did he even think abt how this would affect Till. He literally went "nah it won't" but no its not the point once again).

Round 6 was Ivan beginning to realize that maybe he's never going to get what he wants, and thats okay, because there is something selfless about dying for someone. Even if his emotions are "shallow", even if his motive was selfish, even if he looked hot during it (sorry. sorry) (he didn't i just wanted to tack on a joke), maybe in the end this was a little bit of "love" like what it looks like in Mizi and Sua. Maybe even better, because Till does not love him. Till would not feel pain if Ivan died, because he does not feel the same way (OR SO HE THOUGHT). He's only sorry to Till because this will be his last memory of Ivan now, a farewell kiss, and his cold clammy hands closing around his neck.

(Speaking of the kiss, I wonder if it's something he learned from books? or his segyein? because apparently a kiss is not a well known or even established sign of affection in alien society right (idk I'm not in the vivinos patreon i just saw this from somewhere)? and the only other person who knows the significance of a kiss as a gesture of love is Luka.)

Now back to love.

Till never realized it until it's too late. Ivan has not realized it even in the grave. Because dying for someone is a twisted thing, especially when it's someone like him who is already a twisted person doing it for Till, who is his light.

Was it a good show, Ivan? Did he look at you at the very end Ivan? did you see his expression when you fell to the cold stage, Ivan? Was it tears or was it rain that fell down as you lost your balance? Did your vision go dark before you saw that light Ivan? Did it even matter at the very end? Are you glad you made sure of your demise? Did it guarantee Till's safety?

Maybe it did. Even at the very end. You got the reaction you loved so much right? Another one to add in the ever expanding gallery, even if it was in these horrible circumstances.

Anyway, in conclusion? Ivan did not realize that his feelings for Till was love because he thought love had to be some kind of perfect thing between two people and since he was a selfish person then it could only be "shallow emotions" and Till the recipient of his "shallow emotion" could only be a victim. It never crossed his mind to even think otherwise and think about how Till might feel about all this because it's already set in his mind that he's selfish, cruel, and vain and Till deserves better. Gah.

Rest in peace king yaoi the third fly high this has been my ted talk/hot take/analysis that may not be a hot take I just don't actually engage with the fandom takes all that much . Peacing out now this guy is so fucking weird (peace and love) (Ivan stans don't go after me I am aware of his autism swag. I too am also--) 🕊️

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Special thanks to you, the reader, if you managed to read all this :3 another special thanks to my friend group, crossover ✌️ especially E my good friend E. Alrighty idk how to end this

bye 👽🎙️

[museqmeg]

When the animation is accurate to piano proficiency and the score tells a compelling story 🤌

*cracks knuckles*

It's time to put my music degree and 20+ years of performing to fandom use. I'm gonna deep-dive into a music analysis of "Duet" and the care Orange put into animating musicianship.

Let's first look at the animation!

Nai and Vash are both correctly playing the notes heard and in the correct form. Here's an interview with Trigun Stampede's composer, Tatsuya Kato!

Kato:

"For Knives - There are multiple scenes in this anime where Knives is playing the piano. In those piano scenes we had an actual pianist play the piano, and filmed them using multiple cameras to create the motion data. His piece combines his beautiful frailty with his huge ambitions and powers. His touching yet fierce impression is expressed through the duality of the minimal music that uses both orchestral and digital sounds quite boldly. Also, the melody of the plants’ song is based on Knives’ theme motif, which allows it to make the son an epic expression of tragedy and destiny."

-- from the Bernardelli Times Extra of the Trigun Stampede BluRay

Let's look at the score for "Duet."

The piece is composed in a minor, starting with Nai on the treble clef staves. The tone is hopeful in its theme despite the minor key, and we get a prelude to the plant theme.

When Vash joins in on the bass clef staves, the tempo is more than doubled and we hear an "agitation" in Nai's lines. Vash is also a few octaves below Nai, miles away in pitch. Sound like their story?

Looking at Vash's upper staff--while Nai is "on" the beat, Vash is off the beat (see highlighted figure). Their melodic lines are also ascending & descending away from each other in contrary motion. The rhythmic figures &melodic movement is causing the dissonance you hear.

This continues throughout the piece, each of the brother's hands becoming their voices and ideals clashing. That auditory dissonance created in the music showcases their struggle. Nai's part is more frantic and urgent, whereas Vash is holding steady with the bass line chords.

I like to think of Vash's sustained bass line as a motif to the steadfastness of his beliefs and ideals. Being true to himself.

"I'm Vash the Stampede."

As the piece goes on, both right hands of the brothers swap the rhythmic dissonance. Nai now on the off beats and Vash on the beat. Nai's repetitive figure on the subdivided 8th notes holds that tension, while his left hand is having the argument with Vash's right hand.

What's also interesting is that while sitting side-by-side for the duet, the hands closest to each other are the ones having the "conversation." There's a small parallel octave moment where they are as close as can be, physically & musically.

The outside hands are the dissonance.

Something else to note on the swapping of beat placement--the twins are both changing the meter within the meter from common to duple with the figures & subdivision.

It all comes to a head with an accelerando & both brothers playing forte.

(Brahms Symphony No. 1 anyone?)

During the climax of the piece, Nai is reduced down to the triplet moving line. It's frantic and desperate. Like fear and running.

(Check out Shubert's "Erlkönig" to learn more about these types of motifs.)

Meanwhile, Vash is pounding out the bass line and the plant theme.

"Duet" comes to an abrupt end with no tonal resolution; ending on the dominant chord. The sudden ending is also breaking up the phrasing, leaving the listener jarred and expecting more. Unresolved. And that's truly where we're at with Trigun Stampede.

My interpretation of "Duet" is that it's much like a tone poem, telling the story of two brothers. Vash and Nai's story isn't finished, and I'm guessing that "Duet" is an unfinished piece as well.

My personal predictions is that, if Tatsuya Kato is the composer for Trigun Stargaze, we're going to hear "Duet" become a complete musical composition that resolves the story and conflict between two brothers.

If you'd like to learn play "Duet" and analyze the score, here's a pretty good transcription on MuseScore:

[novantinuum]

Pink Onyx AU- An Analysis and Theory Post, Part 1

[Part 1- You are here!] | [Part 2] | [Part 3] | [Part 4] | [Part 5]

~

Howdy! Those of you who have followed me for a while have probably been seeing my reblogs of the @pink-onyx-au comic made by @ceephorsshitshow. Well, today I wanna share with you something a little different than my usual SU meta… because today I’m gonna analyze this really cool fan work with the same level of seriousness as I do canon. (Like. Seriously. This first post alone is really, really long. I put most of it under a cut.)

This particular comic is a very special one for me to watch unfold, because it’s evident that a lot of deep care and attention to detail has been poured into its creation. There’s fascinating bits of expanded character development to chew into here, as well as plenty of mysteries and lingering questions for us readers to muse and theorize over. If you follow me for Steven Universe and haven’t read this AU yet I highly recommend you check it out. The most basic pitch is that it explores what a fusion between Steven and Jasper might look like, and does a LOT of deep-diving into the similarities and differences of both of those characters’ psyches.

Here’s the episode masterpost on tumblr.

And you can find it on Tapas, too! 

(Note: For the purposes of these posts, I was given permission by the comic artist to post screenshots of various pages where relevant in this discussion. For each frame used I will list the episode and page number for easy reference. Additionally, this post and all future ones on the topic will contain full spoilers for the comic thus far.)

Now with all that introductory stuff out of the way, here we go!

__

So, on the final page of the most recent update, we get one hell of a visual plot bomb for Steven as ol’ Onyx unfuses:

(Episode 9: Page 22)

He’s now visually expressing remnants of his corruption, where before he was not.

And it’s this mysterious plot point in particular that got me wanting to analyze this comic more deeply in the first place. This is completely new for him in this story. Thus far, he’s never expressed any of these remnants when he’s just himself- not in the way Jasper does. So it made me wonder… how might this shift in his appearance play into the ultimate trajectory of the plot? How does Steven suddenly showcasing corruption scars integrate into the larger story that is being spun here about him and Jasper and how they relate to each other?

Well, there’s a lot of comic details and story lore we need to unpack first before I can take my best theorizer’s stab at this. Let’s dig right in.

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Prelude: The analyst’s treasure is in the speech bubbles

Anyone who’s been a fan of this comic for a while has probably noticed these fun visual details already, but I’m going to take a moment to break down what I believe each speech bubble style signifies for folks who may not have context. It’ll make some of my analysis later a bit easier, too, ahah.

So. Speech bubbles. What kinds do we have here? 

(Episode 1: Page 6)

Style number one: Solid with black text

This style is standard for non-fused characters, and is also utilized when a fused character is speaking whilst in a state of internal harmony.

Steven is pink and Jasper is orange, of course. Onyx’s speech bubbles are a distinct darker pink, and the main three Crystal Gems get their own colors as well. More minor characters get white bubbles.

(Episode 1: Page 10)

Style number two: Scribbly pink lettering overlaying black text

Whenever you see this type of speech bubble, it’s a sign that there is some level of internal discord going on within Steven or Onyx that is related to their diamond side. It usually shows up when one of the two is in pink mode, but from what I can tell this is not a solid rule.

(Episode 2: Page 12)

Style number three: Pink/orange mixed bubbles

This is how we see Onyx talking for a good portion of the early comic. Their speech bubbles are a clean mix of Steven’s pink and Jasper’s orange. And most vitally, the color on the top and the tail signifies which of them is “fronting” at that moment.

(Episode 3: Page 11)

Style number four: White bubble with solid pink text

So far, this style has only been used to represent dialogue that is being spoken by Steven’s gem half exclusively. Which makes things very interesting, as in Steven’s own remembrances of shattering Jasper on the very first page of the comic, the line “I have been holding back!” is shown in this specific style, instead of the scribbly pink lettering that signifies internal discord.

There is one additional sub-style here- and this is the one moment where we get Onyx’s mixed bubble but WITH the solid pink text. 

(Episode 3: Page 11)

I believe these two styles pretty much mean the same thing… only, the white/pink text is either viewed within memory or a metaphoric fusion mindscape where we the viewer are actually “seeing” Steven’s instability, and thus can “see” his gem half as a separate entity there. While, in reality, this is an argument Onyx is having with the disparate pieces of themself.

(Episode 4: Page 9)

Style number five: Pink/orange tye-dye mixed bubbles

When you see that darker shade of pink start dappling into the standard mixed bubbles, this indicates that there are small whispers of Onyx’s true personality beginning to surface, instead of them constantly being wrested back and forth between Steven and Jasper’s conscious control.

(Episode 4: Page 16)

Style number six: Pink/orange mixed bubbles, but with a darker pink tail

From this page onwards, Onyx’s speech bubbles always have their darker pink shading the tail no matter who is fronting. Sometimes there are little lines of another color etched out of it, and sometimes the tail is solid dark pink. I like to believe that when it’s solid, it means that Onyx is just a little closer to reaching a fully harmonious state than when it’s not.

(Episode 9: Page 6)

Style number seven: Onyx speech/thought bubbles with a hint of pink/orange underlying

This style seems to signify moments where it’s still Onyx fully in control of themself and their actions/words/thoughts, but they’re taking subtle influence from their components or accessing their memory a bit.

These are all of the distinct styles I have caught so far, but quite honestly, it would not surprise me if I am missing something. All of this to say… pay close attention to the speech bubbles. They can tell you a lot about Onyx’s state of mind throughout the story.

Now with all this established, I’d like to finish off this first post with my first big discussion point.

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Question One: What does Jasper actually know about Steven’s “meltdown,” if anything?

The AU author recently solidified this comic’s placement in the SUF timeline in an ask response, saying that the first episode takes place just a week after Steven’s corruption event.

I’m glad this point was clarified, because it was super vital information which deeply influenced the way I analyzed Steven’s actions and responses in my recent re-read… it means this experience is still super raw for him. This is VERY important and we’ll get back to this in more depth later in future posts. But first, let’s explore what Jasper knows of this event.

The full extent of her knowledge is unclear-

(Episode 1: Page 6)

In Episode 1, Steven briefly alludes to his corruption as seen above… referring to it as “[his] meltdown.” Notably, Jasper does not seem to ask any questions about this stray comment. This COULD suggest that she knows what happened to him a week prior via hearsay, but given the context of the rest of the scene and the fact that she’s as isolated as she is out here I genuinely wonder if she thinks Steven’s so-described “meltdown” is his shattering of her.

This idea would make a good deal of sense, as she doesn’t start to make any commentary on the topic of corruption at all until they’re actually fused- with Steven bringing it up first.

(Episode 2: Page 14)

On this page, Steven takes note of Onyx’s very visible spikes (which are Overtly in the same placement as his own when he was corrupted), and initiates the musing upon his own corruption himself.

With the way Jasper phrases her response, the vibe I get is that she somehow gleans a bit of ambient shared knowledge about what happened to him through their fusion.

(Episode 2: Page 15) 

“That human form you wear must have been hiding your markings.” This quote is SUPER vital. We’ll come back to this later on in this post series, too.

(Episode 2: Page 15)

It’s clear that Jasper doesn’t REALLY understand what he went through or what caused it, since she then outright mistakes the casual woes and body pains of organic life as corruption. (As seen above.) 

(Episode 8: Page 4)

But later on, she outright relates to him over their shared experience of past corruption, so she must at least know enough from mere ambient thought-sharing by this point to recognize it happened.  

It’s obvious that she’s barely scratched the surface on fully understanding her fusion partner, though. Neither of them have. It’s gonna take a lot of fusion, comedic mishaps, and genuine conversation to get there. All in good time, I’m sure.

__

Please do join me tomorrow at 7am PST for the next post in this series! This has been a blast to write up and muse upon.

[vulture-venom]

Hello! Hope you’re doing well. Okay, might be much to ask & someone may have asked before. But JPV sounds so cool but pretty underrated. I know of him & some facts but not a lot! I’d be so intrigued to learn more if you’d like to talk about it! 

What comics of his would you recommend?

Your fave things about him (though I’d be hard, I’m sure).

Also I remember him & Leslie Thompkins having a unique + sorta interesting relationship. She was kinda motherly to him (but also a lot. Not to ramble bout her but I think she’s complex & interesting but dc sometimes does portray her off. Adore her)

Hmm, what do you wish people knew about him more? Misconceptions you hate? 

His relationship with the other bats? 

I hope these aren’t too many questions! Thanks 

Hello, Anon! These aren’t too many questions at all, I love talking about JPV 🙏 there’s a part two to this if you check the reblogs.

So for his core reading I recommend:

-Batman: Sword of Azrael. His first appearance and one of my favorite comics ever. It’s a 4 issue mini series, so it’s not incredibly long, but it helps you understand the fundamentals of Jean Paul and Azrael as characters (there is a distinction between the two). It also explains things like “the system” and “the Order of St. Dumas” which are incredibly important to his lore.

-Batman Prelude to Knightfall/Knightfall/Knightquest/Knightsend: The Knightfall saga is absolutely fantastic and holds a great significance in the Batman mythos. It’s the story of Bane “breaking the Bat” and having Jean Paul step in to take over as Batman while he heals. It’s an excellent deconstruction of what Batman is, the failings of antiheroes, how Bruce’s particular mindset allows him to be Batman, and the importance of fathers and legacies (or lack thereof). It is also very important to Dick Grayson and Tim Drake as characters as it marks the start of Tim’s Robin run and leads into Batman Prodigal where Dick becomes Batman.

-Showcase ‘94 #10: Not exactly a required read, but I personally recommend it. It is a short intermittent story about the aftermath of Jean Paul’s tenure as Batman and exactly what happens to him when he leaves the Batcave. Adds some context for Azrael #1 as well.

-Azrael (1995)/Azrael Agent of the Bat: His 100 issue solo series! It starts off as Azrael then later is renamed Azrael Agent of the Bat about halfway through. It can technically be read without the prior knowledge of Knightfall, but I would strongly recommend reading the Knightfall saga first even if it’s long because it is a very big moment for JPV/AZ. His solo explores a lot, it continues to sort of pick apart antiheroes and explore things like redemption and pacifism, nurture vs nature, self identity, the corruption that comes with absolute power, etc. It crosses over into a lot of bigger arcs (Contagion, No Man’s Land, Bruce Wayne Murderer, etc etc) and it wouldn’t hurt to read them in their entirety separate of Azrael but ultimately isn’t really needed. Just adds some context for the things Azrael doesn’t explain. His solo series at times can be a little frustrating and the writing is somewhat inconsistent but if you are interested enough in JPV you sit through it.. it’s slop but it’s our slop. It also has three annuals and two one shots! They aren’t very important other than Azrael annual #1 because it talks about his father but they’re all pretty fun stories. His one shots and annuals are:

-Azrael Year one (very important imo)

-Azrael Annual #2 (very fantastical and campy but there’s definitely some meat to it if you really pick it apart)

-Azrael Annual #3 (silly oneshot mission with him and Catwoman)

-Azrael/Ash (team up)

-Azrael + The Question (team up)

-Azrael #1000000000 (a part of the one million series, no real importance or significance it’s just a kind of silly futuristic story)

After Agent of the Bat he isn’t really relevant until Blackest Night where they bring him back. I won’t lie to you, most of his comics after the big reboot for the New 52 and everything are completely out of character and very disappointing reads. There are some that are pretty good though and are my personal favorite modern JPV/Azrael stories:

-Azrael Dark Knight of the Soul: This sort of sets the standard for all modern Jean Paul stories. It’s short, just a miniseries from Batman Urban Legends but definitely a worthwhile read.

-Arkham City Order of the World: This explores Azrael himself more than Jean Paul, it weaponizes his righteous fury and just sort of points him like a loaded gun. It is a verrryy interesting read even outside of Azrael, the art and the “villains” are so cool.

-Saved by the Belle Reve: An anthology of a few stories but the one with Jean Paul is called “How Angels are Made.” It talks a bit about his more modernized backstory and what shaped him as a child.

-Sword of Azrael (2022): 100% his best post-reboot storyline. It hits just about every mark I’d want from an Azrael storyline and introduces some new lore for the modern origins of Azrael and the Order of St. Dumas. It does slightly twist some of the older 90s lore but it is good enough that I could look past that.. It introduces some really interesting characters and Jean Paul’s newest supporting cast which are very well suited to him. I’d maybe recommend reading Catwoman’s 2021 annual before this, just for a bit more context, but that annual doesn’t touch on Jean Paul himself as much as it explains the connection between him and a new ally and gives some background information for the Order of St. Dumas itself. Sword of Azrael 2022 goes back to themes we’re familiar with, forgiveness and redemption, self identity, but it ultimately ends in acceptance and catharsis which is something very new for Jean Paul and Azrael as characters and was so narratively satisfying.

-He’s briefly in Gotham Nocturne as well, mainly Detective Comics #1076-#1089. Nocturne revisits some of my favorite Jean Paul/Azrael batfamily dynamics and sort of establishes which characters are really fit to succeed Batman (in my totally unbiased opinion….).

Overall, I prefer his 90-early 2000s characterization but once he’s reintroduced in modern comics, anything written by or in association with Dan Watters is very good. I think out of all the writers who have taken a stab at bringing Jean Paul and Azrael back into relevance, he has done it the best. By FAR.

As far as my favorite things about him go… I really love that he is someone who isn’t perfect. Which, every character has flaws, obviously, but there isn’t a single Batfamily member that I think is as deeply lost and struggling with their morality as Jean Paul is. He’s stuck between violence and pacifism, sometimes he relishes in fighting, other times he feels extremely guilty and considers abandoning heroism altogether. He’s a very unique character and brings a lot to the “Batfam” table that I don’t think anyone else really does! He is terrible at his job, he is lame, he is confused, he is difficult to trust but he’s sometimes the most competent and reliable person you know. He has a sort of gentleness as Jean Paul that is so sweet and you can’t help but feel awful for him when you see him go through all these terrible things and struggle to balance being Azrael with being Jean Paul. He is a narrative parallel to Dick Grayson but where Dick excels, Jean Paul falls flat 90% of the time. He’s volatile as Azrael, he’s pitiful as Jean Paul, he’s desperate and lonely and searching for direction. He struggles and suffers in ways that are not pretty. He is someone so very sympathetic while also being so frustrating. He does things, both as Jean Paul and Azrael, that make you want to beat him into the ground, but you can’t help but feel for him and want to see him succeed even though he never will. It’s like betting on a horse who will lose every race just because the horse has a good nature to it. He is very selfish at times and even his acts of good are only done because they somehow appeal to his emotions or he gets something out of it. But other ones he’s so very compassionate and would give you the clothes off his back. He is soo complex and there’s so many layers to him and Azrael.. he has such a unique story and relationships with everyone and it just immediately sucked me in. I literally never had an interest in reading Azrael but once I had read Batman Sword of Azrael I was like.. genuinely enchanted. He is so very compelling while also just being some guy. He is capable of destroying everything around him or being the best hero in Gotham.. but ultimately is very middle of the road because of internal struggles and it is just so.. shaking him around. He’s so compelling. He is very fun to analyze and pick apart. Probably one of the most interesting Gotham vigilantes (⬅️ completely objective and not founded upon my own clear interest in him).

Now his dynamics with other characters.. ohh there’s a lot to say here. Especially touching on Leslie and Bruce but we’ll start with Leslie.

Leslie meets him in the No Man’s Land, which if you’re unfamiliar, is a somewhat post-apocalyptic Gotham suffering from the aftermath of an earthquake which they dubbed the cataclysm. As Jean Paul, he is very eager to help Leslie and she is very caring towards him. There is absolutely a mother-son bond here, she says she loves Jean Paul. Personally, I’ve always viewed her relationship with him as a sort of way to make up for not being able to steer Bruce away from violence. Jean Paul is someone who is a bit distressed by the hurt he causes (less because he had done it and more because he doesn’t feel bad about it but that’s another thing entirely) and she tries to steer him towards pacifism and medicine so that he can help in ways other than fighting. Jean Paul and Azrael are ultimately two sides of the same coin and he can never just.. stop being Azrael, since it is quite literally part of him, but he tries. He tries for Leslie, and Leslie sees Jean Paul in this very caring and understanding light that I don’t think any other character really does. She defends him to Bruce, tells Bruce he is to blame for Jean Paul’s struggles, she tries to steer Jean Paul towards the path to pacifism, she celebrates his “first” birthday with him. She is his rock, probably the most important person to him. She is dependable when no one else is, he trusts her completely. She does have some clear judgements of Jean Paul, more accurately Azrael, but is mostly supportive in her approach to helping and working with him. Especially when you consider the lack of kindness Jean Paul has come to expect from “authority figures,” Leslie is a breath of fresh air which was absolutely needed for Jean Paul.

Leslie and Bruce I’d say are like the Angel and Devil on his shoulder, but ultimately both have this very polarized view on helping people and are more so imposing their ideals onto Jean Paul than trying to help him with his own (100% Bruce is more guilty of this than Leslie, but I digress). They expect him to choose one or the other and don’t exactly understand that he can’t. He wants to, but it just isn’t possible for him. They have these pretty black and white views but Jean Paul is a very grey character so he’s torn between the two.

Batman…now there is a LOT to say about this one. It’s got so many layers to it and it’s founded upon distrust but also compassion, and a sense of necessity. They are almost father and son, but not quite. They are almost equal partners, but not really. He is both terribly important to Bruce, but also someone Bruce feels relatively little guilt about manipulating. They meet at a spectacularly low point for Jean Paul, he had just lost his father (literally died right in front of him. In Jean Paul’s bed), learned that he was brainwashed from childhood to be an assassin, and recently discovered an alter. He is pretty lost and without direction, which Bruce tries to give him. Bruce makes him a security guard at Wayne Enterprises, he has Tim train Jean Paul (Robin and his grown ass student), they give him a new suit. He starts to get Jean Paul “on the right track” but it doesn’t do much to help Jean Paul with all the trauma he’s endured, so he is still not the most mentally sound at the time. When Bruce is paralyzed by Bane, he gives the very lost, clearly unwell Jean Paul the cowl. His reasoning for this is that he can’t give it to Dick because “Nightwing is his own man” but he clearly has no qualms passing it to JPV.. if that tells you anything about his views of the two. Jean Paul revered Bruce as this sort of father figure because he was the one guiding Jean Paul after his own dad’s death. bruce shapes his morality, gives him purpose, and then gives him a sense of identity (Batman) which Jean Paul had previously lost. Being Batman is obviously not good for JPV. He starts gradually slipping and pushing away some of Bruce’s allies (Robin, Gordon, Catwoman) and isolating himself while he tries to fully immerse himself in the identity of Batman. I’d argue that Azbats is more Azrael adjacent, if not his own persona entirely, but that isn’t to say Jean Paul had no agency or is free of guilt. He quite literally starts hallucinating his dead dad referring to Bruce as a “false father” and saying JPV is shaping himself in his image. He cuts his hair to look like Bruce, mimics Bruce’s voice, wears a Bruce’s suit (until he makes his own), lives in the Batcave (and Wayne Manor, by extension), carries on Bruce’s legacy. He is Batman. And it all just festers until eventually he reaches this breaking point. He is nothing if not Batman and Bruce (understandably) attempts to take the mantle away from him once Bruce is healed. This creates a sort of identity crisis for Jean Paul, who had been basing his whole life around being Batman for the past year or so. They fight and their whole battle is such a rich and powerful thing.. you have to see it to really get it all but there’s so much to take from it. Bruce’s perspective on JPV, JPV’s views on fathers and on being Batman, etc. Bruce chooses to spare Jean Paul and let him go after their fight, acknowledging that Jean Paul was lost and needed to see the light. Jean Paul is then homeless for six months and Bruce does absolutely nothing about this. for six months. During his struggles with homelessness and coming down from being Batman, he is once again, at an all time low and given direction again by Batman. Given identity by Batman. Bruce comes back, out of a sense of guilt and responsibility, and gives Jean Paul a reconstructed Azrael suit, some money, and a mission to go find the Order of St. Dumas. After Jean Paul completes this task he continues to go to Bruce for help, Bruce usually says no but still helps in some roundabout way after completely shutting down Jean Paul. He keeps Jean Paul at an emotional distance and they never quite bridge this gap between the two of them. He goes to Bruce out of a need for guidance and approval, Bruce usually doesn’t really give him that. Bruce comes to him and gives him a task that always benefits Bruce, the cycle repeats. He admits to using Jean Paul, and Jean Paul allows himself to be used because he cares for Bruce (and Bruce, in his own special Batman way, does care about him. A lot, strangely).

[bitchy-craft]

Your Future Spouse In A Theme Park | Pick A Pile

Hello and welcome to this Pick A Pile! In here you'll find out how your future spouse will act when going to a theme park with you. I hope you guys enjoy and find this useful. Do make sure to leave comments down below on your experience! I do want to remind you all that this is a General Pick A Pile which means this is for a lot of people; therefore keep what resonates and leave what doesn't.

Note: I wrote this in a different way I normally do to try out (more of a story-telling way), I hope you guys like it. Also my friend helped me use pretty words since my first language isn't english😭💕

Masterlist > Questions > Paid Readings

Pick A Pile!

Pile 1:

Amid the whirlwind of excitement at the theme park, your future spouse would be known to everyone around them as the embodiment of thrill-seeking adventure. Ther eyes will sparkle with a contagious enthusiasm as they’ll gaze at the towering roller coasters and the intimidating drop towers that loomed against the sky, wondering how they’re going to persuade you onto going on all possible rides with them.

With a grin that radiates daring anticipation, they’ll turn to you and suggest, "Let's start with the biggest ride here, what do you say? Roller coasters and drop towers, the works!"

But their adventurous spirit doesn’t stop at just ride choices. As they’ll embark on each adrenaline-pumping attraction, they’ll playfully initiate a challenge, a friendly competition to determine who could weather the scariest rides with the least outward fear; you or them.

Yet, amidst the heart-pounding screams and exhilarating loops, their protective nature will shine through. Your future spouse will make sure to hold your hand tightly during every twist and turn, offering words of reassurance that turn the excitement into a shared experience of joy and laughter.

Ever the planner, they will make sure to get a Fast Pass to optimize their ride count or meticulously charting out the day's ride schedule to ensure they make the most of every minute. And just to add a dash of surprise to the day, they showcase their skills at one of the game booths, winning their partner a stuffed animal that brings an infectious smile to their face.

Pile 2:

Wlking hand in hand through the bustling theme park, your future spouse's demeanor exudes thoughtfulness and a deep care for your experience. They regard the map with a careful consideration, then turn to you with a soft and genuinely curious smile gracing their lips.

"What sort of ride are you in the mood for first?" they ask you, their tone resonating with a desire to make you feel genuinely comfortable.

A characteristic of them on this day would be their unwavering patience. In line for each attraction, they engage with you in conversations that weave the passage of time into a tapestry of easy camaraderie.

During breaks, they will surprise you with a well-prepared picnic, complete with their favorite snacks, as they nestle into a shaded oasis. On the rides, their attentive gaze is focused on all your reactions, ensuring they feel secure and are enjoying every moment of going on this date with you.

And when after a couple of hours it’s made clear you get a bit tired, they’ll suggest escaping the crowds by finding quieter places within the park where they can rest, recharge, and savor the ambiance in tranquil togetherness.

Pile 3:

Laughter and meriment seems to follow your future spouse wherever they go in the theme park. With a twinkle in their eye, they’ll challenge you to a series of games and competitions, transforming even the most mundane activities into uproarious affairs.

Near the entrance, they’ll initiate a lively game of mini-golf, where their spirited laughter echoes in the air. But their playful nature extends beyond games – they transform the queue lines into playful battlegrounds, inventing silly challenges and engaging in spiritef banter that turns the waiting time into an exciting prelude.

As they encounter interactive rides, their eagerness for friendly rivalry is evident. Your future spouse will eagerly suggest rides that pit them against you and them, whether it's a competitive shooter ride or a teamwork-based adventure.

Water rides hold a special appeal to them, and their mischievous grin is infectious as they propose taking on the rapids and splashes. Amidst the giddy screams, they embrace the wetness and turn it into an opportunity for shared amusement.

Throughout the day, their laughter and light-hearted approach ensure that your moments together will be saturated with joy, regardless of the activity. Each experience is painted with a hue of playful competition, adding a layer of vibrant colour to their theme park escapade.

[doffysbirb]

Pas de Deux in Crimson

Summary: In Dressrosa’s grand theater, Doflamingo negotiates a high-stakes Underworld deal with a weapon smuggler, while Valerie captivates the audience with a mesmerizing ballet performance. As tensions rise, the delicate dance of diplomacy takes an unexpected turn, blending elegance with decisive action, showcasing the unbreakable bond between Doflamingo and his queen.

Warnings: Description of killing

Notes: This is actually my first time posting something here, I think? And I'm kinda scared lol. This scenario's been stuck in my head for years now and I really love the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and I'm sorry if it's Doffy x OC (　:ﾟ皿ﾟ)

( ၴႅၴ➡ Masterlist

Dressrosa’s grand theater, a jewel in the island’s crown, stood silent under a velvet night, its opulent interior a stage for clandestine dealings. The auditorium, with its crimson velvet seats and gilded balconies, was empty save for the players of an Underworld bargain, the air heavy with the scent of polished oak and wax, chandeliers casting a soft golden glow. The stage loomed ahead, its heavy curtains drawn, a promise of spectacle, while the orchestra pit lay dark, the silence a taut prelude to the night’s drama.

Doflamingo sat in the theater’s center, sunglasses glinting, his strings an unseen aura, a king of shadows in the Underworld’s game. Beside him, the weapon smuggler—a wiry man named Gavros, with a scar-twisted grin and eyes sharp as his wares—leaned forward, voice low, “Joker, your SAD supply’s tempting, but I need guarantees—distribution routes, no Marine interference.” His henchmen, six burly figures armed with rifles, flanked the rows—two in front, four at the back—their gazes darting, wary of the Warlord’s reputation.

Doflamingo’s grin was a blade, “Gavros, my routes are ironclad. You’ll have your guns flooding the seas, no questions asked.” His voice was velvet, each word a lure, strings twitching faintly, ready to shift the game. The deal danced on a knife’s edge, gold and power the stakes, Dressrosa’s theater a fitting arena.

The stage curtains parted with a whisper, revealing Valerie, poised in a delicate ballet costume, her tutu a cascade of shimmering tulle, tiara catching the spotlight’s gleam. The smuggler’s breath caught, his eyes widening, “By the seas, Joker, who’s this vision?” His voice was a mix of awe and greed, the deal momentarily forgotten as Valerie began Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, her steps a spell woven to the celesta’s ethereal chime.

Valerie floated across the stage, her movements a delicate alchemy—pliés soft as snowfall, arabesques soaring like a bird’s flight, pirouettes spinning dreams. Each gesture was precise, a fairy’s grace, her Vine-Vine Fruit dormant but poised. Gavros leaned forward, captivated, “She’s a masterpiece, Joker. Your partner?” His grin widened, “You’re a lucky man.”

Doflamingo chuckled, “Fufufu, she’s my queen.” His voice held a possessive edge, but he leaned back, strings still, letting Valerie’s dance work its magic, softening Gavros’s edge. “Now, about those routes—exclusive access, triple the shipment. Name your price.”

Gavros’ eyes flicked between Valerie’s spins and Doflamingo, greed flaring, “Double the gold, and we’re close.” His voice was eager, the deal’s end in sight, but his gaze lingered on Valerie, her pas de bourrée a hypnotic lure. As the music swelled, he leaned closer, voice dropping, “Add her to the deal, Joker. I’ll double the gold again—name your price for the dancer.”

Doflamingo’s grin froze, a flicker of fury behind his sunglasses, his silence a gathering storm. He didn’t answer, strings tensing, the smuggler’s audacity a spark to his temper. Gavros smirked, mistaking the pause, “Come on, Joker, everything’s for sale.”

The music halted, Valerie striking a poised pose, arms arched, head tilted, her gaze locking on Doflamingo, awaiting his signal. The silence was a blade, the theater’s air electric. Doflamingo’s head tilted, a subtle nod, his grin returning, cold and lethal. The celesta resumed, and Valerie spun—a whirlwind pirouette, thorns erupting from her Vine-Vine Fruit, sharp as razors, flinging outward in a deadly arc. The henchmen screamed, thorns piercing flesh, bodies crumpling—two in front, four at the back—blood staining the velvet seats, rifles clattering to the floor.

Gavros’ smirk vanished, confusion twisting his face, “What the hell, Joker?! Why’s she killing my men?” His voice rose, panic creeping, hand fumbling for his pistol, eyes darting to Valerie’s relentless spins, thorns still flying.

Doflamingo leaned forward, voice a low growl, “The deal’s off, Gavros.” His strings shimmered, a cage waiting to snap, his grin feral, “You overstepped.” He remained still, unfazed, trusting Valerie’s precision, his gaze fixed on the smuggler, daring him to act.

Gavros’ fury surged, pistol raised, barrel aimed at Doflamingo, “You’ll regret this, Joker!” His voice shook, finger on the trigger, but Doflamingo’s grin didn’t waver, eyes locked, a predator savoring the trap. The music peaked, and Valerie’s spin tightened, a single thorn lancing through Gavros’ wrist, his pistol clattering, blood spraying as he clutched his arm, howling. Without breaking her pirouette, Valerie summoned a final vine, sleek and swift, from her hand. It coiled around Gavros’ throat, thorns piercing deep, his scream cut short as the vine tightened, crushing his windpipe. His body slumped, lifeless, blood pooling beneath his chair, the scar-twisted grin frozen in death.

The celesta faded, silence falling like a curtain. Valerie bowed, graceful and serene, her performance complete, the stage a tableau of elegance amidst carnage. Doflamingo rose, clapping slowly, his applause echoing, “Magnificent, darling.” His voice was warm, pride laced with menace, eyes glinting with approval.

Valerie bowed again, a faint smile curving her lips, her breath steady despite the bloodied floor. Doflamingo ascended the stage, taking her hand, his lips brushing her knuckles in a gallant kiss, “A dance to die for,” he murmured, voice low, a shared spark in their gaze, the smuggler’s fate sealed.

The theater stood silent, bodies strewn, the deal a bloody footnote, Dressrosa’s shadows deeper for their victory. The Queen of Hearts and her king stood united, their bond a flame that burned through betrayal, ready to rule the Underworld’s stage.

[kei-maki]

Ok so because the Cars fandom has dragged me down like Satan one day will with me to fieriest pits of Hell (/j) , I feel the need to hyper analyze this one segment of Finn’s theme song in relation to Leland Turbo’s death in support of why I ship them because I have nothing else to do

Now I’m not that great with music literacy, so this will be analyzed from a more general perspective

But theme songs, as one would expect, are meant to reflect whoever they are tied to. That’s their point. And without context, preceding and after this clip are the more “upbeat” parts of the song- which already makes this part stand out. It’s one of the only points other than the end where the song truly slows down and breathes for a moment. I like to think this reflects Finn’s life as a spy. Lots of action and stress with little time to decompress. This calmer part is meant to showcase a more vulnerable side to Finn. It’s the same motif, but much more somber rather than when it’s repeated before and after this part. Keep a note on that.

WITH context now, it’s Finn’s only time in the opening of Cars 2 (besides being on the boat) where he can stop and process everything properly. And it’s interesting, because this part of the song kicks in RIGHT AS we hear the static come back in response to Finn trying to communicate with Leland. It’s a small hint to what’s happened to him.

It also has to be noted that background tracks like this should reflect the emotions of the scene it’s playing over, to enhance them. This is already seen before and after this part, with the cords as he’s sneaking in being tense and crescendoing as he finally infiltrates the oil rig, as well as the action packed escape scene right after this. And given the audience can infer that Leland is already dead, it invokes the feeling (at least for me) of “it’s already too late.”

This all means that this part of the song is meant to represent Finn’s grief over losing Leland. He might not know it at that very moment, but it feels like the only time we can silently see him consider he might be dead. Especially as he tries to communicate with him again, almost in denial. Not to mention the way the music literally stops the moment he sees Leland’s mutilated corpse, like the world stops.

And because of the context of the scene, and how this is FINN’s theme song it can sort of be interpreted that by preluding the discovery of Leland’s fate, Leland himself is engrained in Finn’s identity. Whether that be just now after seeing what happened to him, or because they were possibly friends beforehand, he will always be apart of him now.

So in short, they’re gay your honor (but they don’t have to be, you can read this platonically too)

I hope this makes sense to people and that I’m not delusional-

[magbongwater]

ULTRAKILL INDULGENCE Development Log (16/04/25)

HELLO!! Sorry it's been a while, I took a break from this project before the update came out and when I came back to work on it I totally forgot I was supposed to be updating stuff here but I'm back now!!! I'll get to the point I've been continuing as I usually have been after I ported everything, steady progress spread across multiple levels but it's been going good. Instead of porting some stuff that broke I've opted to entirely remake a lot of stuff (which hasn't been much of an issue due to me already knowing what I want to do with it) so I-2's city section has been basically rebuilt from the ground up, I've also been giving I-1 another passover to make sure it's up to par with the new visuals in the update which means it got a load of changes since the old level was largely based on the quality of Prelude and Lust at the time.

I've also been continuing on revamping I-2's intro as mentioned in the previous post. I've made a lot of changes to it's style that better matches my original vision (mostly the switch from futuristic feeling to brutalism and I'm super proud of what I've made (my two biggest haters said it was the coolest thing I've ever made so I think I hit the mark somewhere)

Okay that's all I wanna talk about I think, just making sure it isn't radio silence for people outside of the discord (transparency is important!!) I also helped entirely remake the terminals for Purgatorio levels, you can watch the showcase here. They'll be used in Rubicon, Envy, Indulgence and any future released Purgatorio levels when they're ported to the new update.

No release estimate yet but I hope I can have I-1's update, I-2 and maybe I-S out sometime in the summer, still got a lot to do but we're getting there. Lots of plans for future stuff coming together, loads of concept art and stuff,,,,, Maybe you'll see something interesting regarding that next time :3 there are some things I wanna talk about SO badly but I need to wait until the time is right

Image by lilaclav_ on the Purgatorio Discord

[sandplague]

Ice-Pick Lodge's post on Steam:

Hi everyone! We’re finally ready to share a little mischief with you, called Pathologic 3: Quarantine.

Quarantine is a free prelude to Pathologic 3 that you’ll be able to experience before the main game’s release. It’s akin to a demo version, but not quite. Our longtime followers might recall The Marble Nest—a playable teaser released before Pathologic 2. Quarantine follows a similar format but with slightly different goals: unlike The Marble Nest, which was a completely separate story, it will showcase fragments of gameplay mechanics, set the stage for the story, and pull back the curtain a bit for those curious about the game’s world.

This free prologue ties directly into the main game and partially overlaps with its intro, but has several unique scenes as well. For the first time in the series, we will see the Capital — where Bachelor’s poor lab is located. (Telmann is a traitor.)

Stay tuned for more details about Quarantine coming next year! Don’t forget to follow us on social media to grab front-row seats. And please add Quarantine to your wishlists: a small step for you — but it means a lot to indie developers like us.

[catastrophic-crisis]

Quarantine is a free prelude to Pathologic 3 that you’ll be able to experience before the main game’s release. It’s akin to a demo version, but not quite. Our longtime followers might recall The Marble Nest—a playable teaser released before Pathologic 2. Quarantine follows a similar format but with slightly different goals: unlike The Marble Nest, which was a completely separate story, it will showcase fragments of gameplay mechanics, set the stage for the story, and pull back the curtain a bit for those curious about the game’s world.

From Steam news for Pathologic 3, link to Pathologic 3: Quarantine here.

[zeroannat]

Flame of Mora Gained and Lost

(TennoCon community art showcase submission)

[ art tag / bsky / carrd ]

This idea came to me when I was reading item descriptions in Soulframe, and I learned some lore about Igne Mora and Fenn Jotar. Long story short, Fenn stole the sun sword Igne Mora from a master blacksmith, and as punishment was cursed to never feel the warmth of the sun Mora again, so he spent the rest of his life underground. Gained the sun sword, but lost the sun itself. FAFO.

Disclaimer: Lore as of Preludes 9, the game is in pre-alpha and Fenn's backstory keeps changing.

[arimiadev]

The Storyteller's Festival is a Steam festival ran by visual novel developers @twoandahalfstudios to celebrate narrative gaming, including visual novels and story-driven games!

The event runs from February 17 10AM CST - February 24 10AM CST for a full week. There's plenty of games on sale, releasing new demos, and you might just find a new story to fall in love with.

Think of this as a curated prelude to Steam's Visual Novel Fest with a wider range of story-driven games and not just visual novels (though the official VN Fest always has non-VNs).