lucidwindz

[lucidwindz]

Httyd 3 ramblings

Recently rewatched the 3 movies as is my tradition apparently and will probably be rewatching the entirety of the tv series as well (for like the 4th time as of now), and I'd wondered why I didn't much engage with the fandom on tumblr before till I browsed through the httyd 3 tags lmao. People really don't like that movie, and though I can understand and agree with some criticisms (the woobification of toothless, the design of the light fury, some questionnable side characters decisions), I feel a lot of the ire comes from a reluctance to part with the story rather than engaging with it...

Perhaps I'm just nihilistic, but to me, httyd has always been about nature and animal rights as well, and the ending acknowledging that humans don't always do good things just...made sense I guess.

Confined to a small island like Berk, Hiccup's philosophy of coexistence is applicable and realizable, that almost fantastical and hopeful angle works very well. The initial curiosity, the care, the wonder of connecting with nature, it fits the story perfectly despite its other darker undertones.

Then, all the tv series and httyd2 take us into a wider world, where there are people hunting dragons for profit, and others dominating them for wars, it is not longer a story about that initial discovery and love, it is clearly taking a more different path, which is why to me it is confusing when so many people say httyd 3 is a betrayal of the message of the franchise.

Across the entire series, Hiccup deals with the reluctance of people on Berk itself, then deals with outside forces who are ignorant of what Berk has learned, then deals with outside forces who know what they're doing but still do bad things (which you could also make a case aren't fully bad; a dragon hunter would be a hero to any small village that doesn't know how to deal with them). We get seasons upon seasons of escalation, of a big bad that becomes harder and harder to convert to his side. All of it leads to httyd 2, Hiccup still has the overwhelming optimism and belief that he can change minds, hell even Viggo did in the end, this makes sense. Hiccup is so utterly kind and accepting, but that's just not viable with some people.

He has to challenge his own belief of the malleability of the world.

In httyd2, the lesson Hiccup learns is to be a good chief, to care for his people, and the same for Toothless. But Toothless' role doesn't yet get addressed in that movie; it gets addressed in the third. What does his being the alpha mean? He has to take care of the other dragons too; they both have duties and responsibilities, to their people and each other. So in httyd3, Hiccup knows Grimmel is of the type to be unchangeable, and beyond just Grimmel, there are war lords eyeing Berk's dragons for entirely different reasons, for conquering, for destruction. Berk itself has been put on the map as a prime target, and Hiccup owes to his people a safe space to live. Their moving off the map makes sense, and with the end of the movie practically wiping any opponent who knows of their new location, it is safe. But it won't stay that way. And after entire seasons and movies where bad people just endlessly spawn and take the place of the last, he makes the decision to let go, just like Toothless does. Not because he forsook his ideals, not because he doesn't care about Toothless, but because real love means being able to let go. They both love each other enough to know where the other belongs; guiding their people. A lot of people say 'then all of this was for nothing' and I can only say if the value of something hinges on its eternity nothing is going to be worth anything. Hiccup and Toothless are who they are because of each other, and Berk will forever be a bastion of love for dragons. That *is* something.

Human greed doesn't end. The ending of httyd feels appropriate because to this day, I cannot say we deserve to have dragons. Realistically, how could they continue fighting? I can't imagine it because I know anything in that vein will feel more like an empty dream. What httyd3 offers is the hope that one day we'll be worthy, not an empty platitude that things will work out just because we love, but if we are willing to work for it, then it'll mean something. I don't think httyd 3 betrays the message of the franchise at all, I think it's just willing to assume the full breadth of the responsibility that comes with protecting and loving nature.

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All that being said, I have my own gripes with the ending still LMAO, for exemple I'd really have loved a more consistent continuity with the shows, and romance plots are just not my thing so the whole light fury business is so eh to me. Astrid and Hiccup earned their ending but I've got a lil beef with the light fury smh

Fun fact too, I once got insane enough to think I'd make a comic or write a sequel to the httyd franchise, where a reincarnation of hiccup would come to Berk after an accident, losing his leg. He'd move from the city to this very isolated and rustic island from where his parents are from, and he'd encounter tales and myths of dragons that even the locals don't all fully believe in, but still worship and adore. Then, dragons would start appearing again due to the ocean pollution destroying the Hidden World's ecosystem and forcing them out. I did not have much of a plan but I envisioned a rather dark tone due to our modern world. I'd imagine a mass hunting using modern weaponry, people opening up dragon trades or sticking them in zoos idk. It wasn't a positive idea but it is the most realistic way it'd go down. I don't have a good opinion on humanity tbh. I did research man it was crazy, I rewatched everything and I do mean everything, while actively taking notes for the worldbuilding, so any fact about dragons or cultures went straight into a google doc. Maybe I should work on it again, I miss httyd man

[lucidwindz]

billford ramblings

I’m seeing a lot of delightful fics of Bill being sent back to GF as a human and truly adore the premise.

throwing my own hat into the ring; I love some complex psychological horror and or unhealthy yet compelling dynamics, therefore in the AU that only exists in my head (for now), Bill broke out of Theraprism by himself, lands back onto earth and possesses the body of just some guy who was about to die, therefore an empty vessel yknow. His powers would be diminished, or he’d need to keep them under wraps so as not to catch the eye of any supernatural police. The Stan twins have been travelling across the globe to catch any residual weirdness, and Bill’s little fall to earth had pinged off on their radar, so they go to the anomaly place and just find Some Guy.

Bill has to do his best to convince the twins that he’s just Some Guy, and that the reason he’s giving Weird Vibes is bc he came into contact with the anomaly and it left his arms charred, and being able to do some magical tricks. He decides the best place to hide is wherever everyone least expects him, so he joins the twins on their adventures as resident Strange Guy But Kinda Smart and Useful so sure, tag along.

Now here’s the thing. Bill and Stanford get along really well, they’re both intellectuals and they bond over creating strange inventions, much to the despair of poor Stanley who has to make sure they don’t go too crazy and make Weirdmaggedon 2 electric bugaloo. But sometimes he participates yknow, dude learned some advanced shit in the 30 years fixing the portal. Either way, they rly end up bonding.

All the while, however, Bill realizes how much he missed being with Stanford, and becomes increasingly worried about the cat coming out of the bag and ruining this second chance. He’s careful that his demeanours are never too similar to how he used to act, he’s desperate not to shatter the illusion. One way or another, this entire thing teaches him to slow down and cherish something. Still, he cannot fully contain his chaotic nature, it’s a non stop push and pull between his godhood and his growing care for humanity. How does a cosmic, unfathomable being such as himself change? Can they even? Or would that very change tear himself asunder?

On Stanford’s side, he cannot help but find this stranger familiar, can’t help the incessant déjà-vu, anytime he and the man stay up late into the night discussing the mysteries of the universe. But he thinks it’s unfair to pile his trauma onto this random guy, so he restrains himself. Still, it is a quiet scream in the back of his head he can’t shut out. He also realizes slowly that the other man seems to always be repressing himself, and he wants his friend to break out of his shell and be truthful, but another part of him dreads it to his bones.

Still, both of them can’t help falling for each other. Stanford feels like someone finally sees him completely, and this time they’re on equal footing; it is not a believer on his knees for a god, it is a slow waltz as they hold hands. A comforting, soft partnership.

(at the core of billford, I think, is we never truly know if they loved each other. Perhaps they only loved the idea of each other; stanford’s love for Bill is that of a believer, a worshipper. He saw Bill as this clairvoyant eye to finally bathe him with the acknowledgment he always craved, the hole in his heart left by Stanley, to fill with achievements and noises. If a God can acknowledge me, then I must be doing things right, I must be good, I must be enough. Yet when that shatters, and Bill is revealed to be a demon, what says that about Stanford, who reveled in his gaze? As for Bill, he fully saw Stanford as a pawn till he lost him. Is it truly love and regret? Or is it a child losing its favourite toy? Is it mere disbelief that anything can slip through his, a god, a king’s fingers? Even a pawn that he liked a little more than the others, that he expected would remain on his board but vanishes and he can’t help but linger on its empty square? Does he mourn his loss of control or does he mourn just a little bit, the company of someone who understands him, his incessant need for escapism, from his broken home, his oddness, his ‘defect’?)

Eventually, everything comes to a head when Bill has to use his full powers to save Stanley during a mission gone wrong. Sirens blare across the universe and Bill knows he will be found out and sent back to the hell of infinite therapy. But for that moment, all Bill cared about was Stanford’s happiness and wellbeing, because he knew that losing his brother would break him fully. He had to care for Ford, despite his fear of losing him forever. Despite the fact that this would be the end of the road for him.

As for the ending, idk what would be most appropriate. I’d love a happy ending but I think though Stanford will try to save Bill from his fate in theraprism to repay his debt, he would be too hurt to fully forgive the demon. Maybe they part ways, and Bill places a kiss on Stanford’s scarred knuckles and accepts that to love is to lose, and he has to accept that if you truly love another, it means letting them be happy even if that happiness is without you.

I think some of my love for the Jedi’s philosophy leaked in all that yapping but anyways. Might draw or write a lil something for this AU down the line. I like unclean resolutions, they’re both forever stained with the other’s handprint, but would they trace it softly on their skin or cover it up with a high collar. Who knows? It makes no damn sense, compels me though!

[lucidwindz]

more drifting stars au, i whisper to the dark of my room…more…

short hair Mabel was prompted by seeing the wonderful art by @/ahkylous!! Plz take a gander at all the delicious food they cooked up for this AU 🫶

more sketchy sketches under the read more teehee

I’m very happy to see people liking my last post! It’s so good to see we ain’t so alone in brainrotting abt this lil AU Yippee!!

more to come most likely bc they are my comfort duo rn… expect angst and star wars references for some reason

[lucidwindz]

tbh i straight up lost it yesterday night and drew the last drifting stars post right after puking these Billford sketches help

hiding some body horror under the keep reading oh yeaaa

[lucidwindz]

My ultimate weakness is depressed old man adopts feral daughter so drifting stars au straight up broke into my house and ate my salad bc jfc i need more of it.

Anyone who shares my brainrot: yo the song Space Song by Beach House is literally so drifting stars core am i going insane or what

[lucidwindz]

🌼

[lucidwindz]

whu wha happened-

⚠️Only use “TartaLi” when tagging our Tartaglia x Zhongli work, don't tag it as “Zho//ng//Chi” or “Zho//ng//ChiLi". Respect our hard work, thanks.⚠️

(context below)

referencing this nahida hack i saw on twitter hhh :

[lucidwindz]

Omg I forgot I had Tumblr

[lucidwindz]

Still my skrunklies

[lucidwindz]

may TartaLi wanters become TartaLi havers.

⚠️Only use “TartaLi” when tagging our Tartaglia x Zhongli work, don't tag it as “Zho//ng//Chi” or “Zho//ng//ChiLi". Respect our hard work, thanks.⚠️

[lucidwindz]

🌙 domestic tartali

[lucidwindz]

Nothing but a dream.

[lucidwindz]

The biggest misfortune is that you are tired of civic life :(

[lucidwindz]

under the dying sun, under the extinguished stars

[lucidwindz]

Long time no howard propaganda

If ur a fellow lastman fan i am begging on mine knees for u to join our lil cult i mean club. U will not regret it!!

I finally made a permalink, twas a lot easier than I thought, so here it is!! https://discord.gg/avjV3krpkP

[lucidwindz]

Cristos from the Vault (tm)

Cmon lastman fans pspspsppsps join our server if u want more content i swear we dont bite: https://discord.gg/gWPdv6uW

[lucidwindz]