#Not surprising. Just like it's not surprising that I can't stop thinking about ISAT... and Sif...

[lynnetendo]

TRIED DRAWING SIFFRIN FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! FINDING MY STYLE FOR FUTURE ISAT FANART BLAH BLAH!!! NEED TO PRACTISE DRAWING SIF. SIF IS INEVITABLE

[trans-siffrin]

The @askoverkill Director isn't just a Siffrin, they're specifically Loop

(Before starting, I recommend reading starry-voidss's post here, as I will be bringing up much of aer list again. I do not claim ownership of this theory— this post here is basically a compilation of everything I could think, or have heard of.

Obviously, this has art and spoilers from askoverkill and In Stars and Time!)

(Also, this is presented in a bullet list for organisation— hope that's okay!)

1. The Design

If the head shape being the same (-> spiky, white) isn't good enough on its own, there is a couple of things to compare aside from that!

They both have upturned eyes, starry skin/theming, and a star/star shaped symbol in the center of their chest.

(And maybe the fact the ref sheet for the Director says xir mouth "makes no sense", which is understandable considering Loop had none.)

Add to this the resemblance between the Director and Siffrin (eye shape, right eye being [missing/bleeding], and boots with heels).

The Director has red eyes, something Loop also has during their fight during the twohats fight. Her eyes are also described as spirals, which:

Some of the Director's talksprites, namely in this post, have sparkles coming from him.

2. Persona

Same introduction joke. (The same one which made sense for Loop to say because you learn later that they are you/Siffrin.)

The theater themes are also obvious, it's everywhere with the Director; and as we know, it's a huge thing for Siffrin and Loop specifically. But the thing that's especially relevant here is this:

Here, in the first one, Loop refers to Siffrin as a director; but if you've played SASASAP, you'll know that much of these lines are VERY relevant to them also (everything minus the "restarting from the top" still tracks; and well, they are literally using a talksprite literally called "fake1" before getting interrupted).

In the second line, they are directly talking about themself.

Loop basically only refers to the party by their roles (Housemaiden, Fighter, Researcher and Kid) except in specific instances (post-Kingquest end, when they're blaming Siffrin for not protecting Bonnie from the King, and twohats fight, when they're talking about how the party did not recognize them), which is also something that the Director does, as seen for example when they are introducing the cast.

(Also, fun fact: the Director's usage of "the Fighter" vs Isabeau's actual title in ISAT being "the Defender". You know when exactly Isabeau stopped using "the Fighter"?)

(Pictured left: Start Again, pictured right: ISAT)

(You know who else still uses it?)

Also as seen in the cast introduction post, the Director seems very familiar with the party, acting as though she's seen them before (perhaps multiple times), while being surprised at these specific Overkill versions ("I've never seen him so gruff", "You look extra studious today", "you all fit your roles to the T!"). In this post, he appears familiar with the House, recognising the trap and naming the Death Corridor.

Xe absolutely hates Siffrin: skipping them as a party member when introducing the cast, calling him a Tragedy, and stating they aren't even a person. They have repeatedly killed multiple Siffrin, acts hostile towards even Lupus the moment she notices them, and saying they can't wait to kill Dawn as well (namely, by strangling him).

The Director knows about and is connected to Wish Craft, with it being able to modify physical aspects of him.

The Director specifically brings up Siffrin's single Silver Coin when talking about them, implying they at the very least know of its importance to them. (Specifically, when talking about eating him. Close enough, welcome back ISAT cannibalism themes.)

Director states that food tastes rotten or "like nothing" to them, which is as relevant to Siffrin as it is to Loop.

3. Misc.

This spoilered text from the Director's ref sheet very clearly says "a bad wish". You know who else made two (!!) wishes that ended up going badly for them— one that trapped them in a timeloop, and one that took their body away?

The Director uses "blinding" and "stars" as swears.

So have you seen that image of the Director holding Mirabelle's face and telling her she's their favorite actor? I have, and it reminded me of a very specific image—

(Pictured on the right, SASASAP Siffrin, also known as Loop)

The Director is ace. "Just like Siffrin!" Just like Loop too!

The Director is described as having "Flowey vibes". Flowey, a character who 1) lost their body (as Asriel) and soul, 2) was in a timeloop (albeit self caused) for a very long time before someone else with stronger Determination arrived, 3) despises the protagonist until they don't (-> Pacifist ending)… VS Loop, a character which 1) lost their body (as Siffrin) and family, 2) was in a timeloop (unknowingly caused by their own wish) for a very long time before they made their second wish, got turned into Loop and was replaced by another Siffrin, 3) has a kind of hot and cold relationship to Siffrin until they don't

The Director names Overkill as "The Encore of Vaugarde", which seems to imply there was already a play of Vaugarde before this. Now this could simply be that they know the name of the blog/story, but again, they do seem to have already seen (versions of) the party previously...

The Theater Curse is described as "Those who touch a piece of the sky will become a puppet of the Director, playing out an endless play". An endless play, you say?

4. Problems

Loop has been stated to appear. If we have three+ Siffrin (Dawn, Dusk and Lupus and every other one that died in the House), can we have two Loop? Or is the Loop mentioned in that post potentially only a guide in the way they were, while not being Loop themself? Shrug ig

Loop uses they/them and the Director uses every pronoun. (Which is a problem, until you consider that Loop has already changed pronouns in the past, going from he/they as Siffrin to they/them as Loop, so them changing again isn't all that far out the question I don't think...??)

Although Loop fights Siffrin, they are ultimately unable to kill him. What changed here to make the Director not only capable of doing so, but actively doing it multiple times in cruel ways?

Depending on how you interpret this line, the Director potentially knows about the King killing Bonnie; which is something that only happened in ISAT, not SASASAP.

There are also these two lines below, (first one from SASASAP, second is the unused ISAT (Ask...) question), comparing the King to a deity. If Overkill is essentially canon ISAT but stretched to the point of it being "overkill", would these lines imply the King has become a deity...?

(Even if you consider these lines non-canon due to their origins, it is pretty clear that the King at least considers himself a deity— with the whole possesses immense power -> being very tall -> "protecting" Vaugarde by freezing it in time despite everyone's wishes it -> breaking Change God statues, etc...)

(Also, if the Director is indeed Loop, where would the King be?)

—

Feel free to tell me if I've forgotten anything 👍

[livesworthlivingau]

Behind the Vale Chapter 18

ISAT/Two Hats Spoilers as always! CW: Homoerotic fight scene What? Who said that?

"Hmmmm…" [You ponder deeply, looking over the collection of daggers on display at the town's blacksmith.]

"What's up? None speaking to you?" [Nille chimes in, noticing the look on your face. Does having a mouth again really make us that easy to read?]

"No, they aren't… I'm not sure a dagger feels right anymore."

"Oh? Well what else would you get? I can't exactly see your scrawny butt using a big hammer." [She teased with a smirk. You rolled your eyes some.]

"Riiight, and who destroyed that sadness standing over you when we first met~?"

"I had that under control! I was just making it think it had me!" [You both laugh, even she couldn't pretend that was true.]

"But to answer your question, I'm not quite sure, something agile still but…"

"How about a rapier?"

"NO! No no no! The Housemaiden uses one of those."

"… And?"

"… Just… I'd rather not… Have that constant reminder." [She rolls her eyes but drops it. It seemed the only thing preventing another talk was the fact you were in public.]

"Okay, uhhh... Oh! What about one of those?" [She asked, spotting a rack with several whips hanging off of them.]

"Oh… Oh yes, that actually sounds nice~." [You say as you walk over to it, glancing about at them all hanging, finding a lovely looking one with lightless and darkless diamond patterning across its whole length.]

"I think this will do perfectly~."

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

[The sound of 3 booming CRACKs sound out in a row as you try to snap your new whip across the practice targets setup. You manage to split the first in half, but your swings go wide on the follow ups, missing the other two.]

"Hey! Not bad! You're a natural at this!"

"Not bad?! I only hit one blinding target!"

"... Vale, have you ever used a whip before?"

"Not that I can recall, no."

"Uh huh, and you just expected to be great at it first thing?"

"I mean, I used paper craft pretty well first thing~."

"Well yeah, that was instincts. If you're a paper type now, that's gonna come a lot more naturally. Stress of combat and all, you don't think you just act."

"Hmmm... You make a good point... Maybe there's some more sadness nearby we could try and track down?"

"You wanna go hunting sadness' now?!"

"Well how else am I going to get better at this?" [Nille smacks her own face gently in a facepalm before sighing out.]

"Alright, alright, if you're set on this..." [She begins, placing a hand on your shoulder.]

"Now think fast!" [She shouts before using her other arm to scoop under your leg, suddenly lifting you over her head and tossing you over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

"WH-HEY?!" [You cry out, tumbling across the grass and sliding to a stop. You look up at Nille, her hammer now out, playful grin on her face.]

"If you're so set on a fight, I'll give you one pretty Vay~!"

"N-Nille?! Y-You can't just toss me like that!!"

"Actually I can, pretty easily in fact!" [She beams with a bright laugh, your face burns in a fluster as you grumble, readying your new whip, holding your other hand in a paper sign.]

"F-Fine! But you asked for it!"

"Don't hold back for me now Vale, I won't for you!" [She remarked with a wink, then suddenly rushing towards you.]

[You step back in surprise, not expecting her to actually approach with such intent. She raises her hammer, preparing to swing. You finally snap out of it and bring your hand forward, summoning a shield like before. Nille's hammer swings right through it, dampening the blow but still sending it slamming into your side, knocking you over and tumbling a bit again.]

"Ack! H-Hey!!"

"Oh come on, you're paper type now, you barely felt that!"

"Y-Yes but STILL!!" [You shout, more so protesting about getting tossed around than anything else. She pays no mind to your pleas as she begins to rush at you again. You wonder how she's so blinding fast with that massive hammer.]

"Gonna have to go on the offensive soon~!" [She taunts at you. Alright, we can figure this out, there's got to be some way we can slow her down somehow... Wait, didn't Odile have a craft like that? Yes! We've seen it countless times! You take a breath for a moment, trying to replicate the ritual she performed when using it, sending a lethargic wave towards Nille to help weigh her down some.]

"Oooh, got some other tricks up your sleeve?" [She calls in surprise, though it doesn't seem to affect her as much as Odile's ability did. It would have to do for now, taking a defensive stance and flourishing your new whip. She swings high as you duck below, swapping her momentum to slam down before you barely manage to jump back out of the way.]

"C'mon! Go on the offensive Valey!" [She encourages, you snap your whip forward, coiling it around the neck of her hammer. With a heavy tug and pulling paper gesture, you manage to yank it free from her grip, tossing it upwards and spinning off behind you as you watch it fly overhead.]

"Hah! What are you gonna do no-ACK!!" [You begin to tease, turning back to Nille who was suddenly moments away, tackling into you and sending you both sliding across the ground, skidding to a stop. You stare up at her in stunned silence. She chuckles some, seeing your face.]

"HAHA! Here's a tip, Vay. Never let your guard down." [She teased... then perked up some, noticing your face with her own darkening, quickly getting up off of you... Our face feels hot. Are we blushing?...]

"Heh, uhh... Sorry about that, got a little carried away there." [She mumbled some, holding out a hand to help you up, taking it and easily getting lifted off the ground.]

"But good hustle! Seems like you got a few new moves to work with!" [Her face is still dark, she's trying to change the subject, you recognize this tactic... Why is our face burning?! You try to shake the sensation away.]

"R-Right~! Guess we won't have to worry much next time a sadness comes around~!" [You remark, desperately trying to slip the mask back on. You both stand in awkward silence for a moment.]

"... W-We should probably get back to the Inn."

"O-Oh yes! I'll uhh... meet you there, I wanted to stop by the local tailor first~."

"Oooof course you do."

Get ready for some new official outfit designs next Vale chapter~

[flickersofart]

2024 art summary !! template is by Papakkapao

2023 art summary, for comparison

For the masterpiece of the year, I never actually posted it (and don't intend to at the moment) but it was my best work of the year by a long shot. The amount of time and detail I put into really stands out for me personally.

The rest of them will be named, talked about and linked under the cut :)

January - Evil art style challenge - I honestly did not draw much at all that month so that is pretty much all I had for January! It is still a work I like, especially for having been on one layer.

February - personal project concept work - Another one I spent a lot of time and detail on and is one of my favourites personally!! I think it was after this though that I made the decision to stop posting these ones (the personal project work, anyway - that's art for me!)

March - Mailcat Ibex Mast fanart - DUDE I REMEMBER THIS ONE. I was struck with such a vivid vision I had to do this and it remains my best work of that month, even with all the iterator drawings I did. Like I love those pieces yes but they do Not match up to this one.

April - Far Shore and Moss Fields - This was another slow month for me in terms of art, and this isn't my favorite piece ever, but I learned some things from it still... so we good with it.

May - Phoenix Iterator drawing - Art that didn't get posted for a while but one of my favorites out of that bunch of drawings. It probably was a debate between the Chasing Wind art and the Phoenix piece but idk I started working on the art summary a while ago and I can't remember lol

June - Pearlcat Ibex fanart - surprise ! An Ibexcord exclusive piece! There was a moment in Ibex's video where he did a jump over a cyan lizard and idk I was taken over by a vision (how does this keep happening)

July - Eden mass attack - This took the most stress out of every piece on here surely. Mostly due to tech issues. But yeah I was fighting for my life trying to get this piece done and posted because of said tech issues. Like I don't think I said it at the time but I had only minutes to get this one off of a permanently dying laptop or else I would have lost the file. ENOUGH ABOUT TECH ISSUES THO what about the actual art. Okay I LOVED HOW THIS TURNED OUT ACTUALLY. The scale and the detail and getting to include so many characters aaaa it's just. probably the best of my mass attacks for the year anyway this has been a paragraph, ONTO THE NEXT ONE

August - Milk - HOW DID THIS BLOW UP SO MUCH ???? It is not only my best work out of August aside from the masterpiece of the year but also my best performing work ever ?? That's so insane to me. But anyway yeah this is another case of being possessed by visions or smtn I don't know, but I was kinda speedrunning it after getting sick lol

September - Loop strawpage art - Oh here it comes. This is the month where the many ISAT arts start loll. I mean I wasn't particularly happy with most of it in this month bc well. I was only starting out. but I COOKED with this one specifically. The concept and execution I lovee this one it's just. YEAH.

October - It's going to be okay - oh man I already said that there's a lot of ISAT arts and man I was doing so well this month, it was so hard to pick one specific piece for this one. Imagine they are all here in spirit PLEASEE there are so many good ones this month -> Around the clock, at the end of everything, Websiffrin, the road of trials, Sweater Forever

November - Hourglass - okay I had my high with the ISAT art, now it slows down a lot. This is probably the best piece for a while, or at least in my head it is. I know I did a lot of Moons and there is other art but this is where I started feeling less satisfied with my art again.

December - Where we started - Yeahhh the art block was strong this month. I had projects I wanted to do but just. could not. It took me a while to get back to a point where I could draw again and be okay with what I was making. I'm still not as satisfied as I'd like to be, but I'm at a point where I can do things, and this piece was one of the better ones.

ANYWAY!! I'd say it's been a good year, art-wise. FIXATION GAINED. and that has resulted in a LOTTT of art lol. Also I worked on my projects a bit (would like to make more progress on them next year though !!)

[felikatze]

hey. anybody want a snippet of a fic i am ever so slowly chipping away at that i will provide no context to? of course you do.

isat spoilers including epilogue. teehee.

"Hey. Frin. Communitate with me."

"What?"

"Communitate with me."

"Communicate."

"Communicate with me."

"Sure! What about?"

"Why you're avoiding me again."

Frin looks away.

"See!" you point at them. "You're even avoiding me with your eyes!"

"I can't tell you."

"WHY NOT?!"

"Shhh!" Frin presses a finger to your lips. They're being a big baby about it again. Once nobody wakes up at your lightly raised voice, Frin deflates and admits defeat. "I'll tell you a little bit. If you promise to stay quiet."

Without a word, you nod. Hard. You lean forward on your arms, eager to listen to every single word Frin has to say.

"It's... it's forever school, right?"

You nod.

"And... and forever school has detention, too, right?"

You gasp. "That's terrible!!!"

"Right? So, because the teacher is a reaaaal meanie, you got detention, too. And the next day of forever school, you got detention, again."

You whisper, full of wonder, "What'd I do...?"

"Nothing! Because the teacher was just *that* much of a meanie. You got detention so often, that I... stopped, thinking about... how to prevent it. I was just that focused on getting out of school, I guess, but I wasn't the best at *that* either, now was I?"

They laugh, mirthlessly.

"But, but Frin! You got out! And I'm not in forever detention! So it's fine, right?"

"When I look at you sometimes... It's like looking at a thousand different little Bonbons, all stuck in detention."

"That's stupid."

"It really is. Stupid Frin."

"Nuh uh! I'm the only one who can call you dumb!"

They blink. "Hm?"

"I'm stopping you! Right now! No self dep-re-ca-ting!"

"Where'd you even learn that word?"

"From Za."

He scoffs. "Figures."

"So!" Bonnie disappears into the depths of the pitch dark kitchen. They hop onto a counter, which sends panic down Frin's heart as they move to stop them, only for Bonnie to retrieve a glass jar from the top of a cabinet.

...The candy jar. Treasure trove of bad days.

"Tadaa!" Bonnie presents, quietly, so as to not wake Za and Belle and Dile.

They pop it open, stick a hand in aaaaall the way to the bottom, and triumphantly hold out a single treat to Frin.

Frin takes it, unwraps it, and rolls the bonbon around between their bare fingers.

"You're sposed to eat it, dummy."

"What flavor is it?"

"I dunno." It was too dark to see, anyway, and Bonnie liked the surprise of just grabbing one at random.

"Down the hatch it goes, then."

Frin throws it into their mouth. He chews for a second, and then his face contorts.

"Did ya get extreme super mega lemon?"

"...No."

"What's it then?"

"Cantaloupe."

"Oh. I like that one." Mhm, melon. "Don't you like it?"

"It surprised me, is all. It's my favorite."

Frin crinkles the wrapper some more before throwing it into the trash. At this sign, you deposit their empty soup bowl into the sink. You'll clean it at breakfast.

"Now off to bed, Bonbon! Or else you'll be grouchy tomorrow!"

"I'm not grouchy!"

"That's what all the grouchy people say."

"Hey!!!"

[livesworthlivingau]

Behind the Vale Chapter 19

ISAT, Two Hats, AND SASASAP spoilers this time! oh my! CW: Mental Spirals, very negative self talk.

New fit for Vale! Art by the always incredible @kuro-is-doodlin

[Nille gives an impressed whistle as you do a light flourish, showing off your new outfit once you arrive back at the inn you were staying at. The lightless coat and pants with darkless buttons, wrist cuffs, waist band, and tailoring around right chest section were incredibly elegant, striking in it's simplicity. Your usual gloves and boots complimenting it all perfectly.]

"Fancy, please tell me you didn't blow all our coin on an outfit again though."

"Of course not, Nilly~! That would be preposterous... It was two outfits~." [She simply responds with smacking her palm against her face, grumbling to herself.]

"Alright... looks like we're gonna need to stay here another day to earn some more..."

"Sorryyyy~." [You can't help but tease some, but she knows you'll do your best to earn it back. Her expression doesn't lift though, as if stuck on a thought.]

"Nille?... I-I'm sorry, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I can take care of it tomorrow if you want to rela-"

"Are you still avoiding them, Vale?... Are you prolonging this all on purpose?" [She cuts you off, causing you to freeze, your heart leaping into your throat. You hesitate, bringing your hands up to grip your arms in a bit of a close hug with yourself.]

"... I... I'm sorry Nille, I guess... I just wanted to enjoy this, as long as I could..." [Your words almost surprise yourself. You did your best to not think about the impending meeting, but it seems that subconscious part of you was forcing itself upon your actions. You look to Nille nervously, expecting the worst. Her expression is gentle, worried for you as opposed to angry.]

"Vale, this doesn't have to end. You don't have to leave when we find them... I want you to stick around." [She trying to take your hands in her, but you pull away.]

"I-I... I don't know if I can..." [You choke out, placing a hand over your mouth and trying to stop the tears from falling.]

"Why not Vale? Please, I just want to understa-"

"BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MINE ANYMORE, OKAY?! THEY'RE HIS! THEY WON'T BE MY FAMILY EVER AGAIN!!" [You scream, quickly covering your mouth again. No no no no no, why did we say that?! What do we do?! She's staring at us, confused, how do we explain that, what can we-.]

"Vale... Just tell me what happened, please? I promise I won't tell anyone, and I promise it won't change what I think of you."

"... I've had both of those promises broken before." [You mumble out, sitting down on you bed and wiping the welling tears from your eyes. You take a deep yet shaky breath, slowly letting it back out.]

"I don't want to lose you Nille..."

"I don't wanna lose you either, Vale." [She responds quickly, coming over to sit beside you, placing a hand on top of one of yours comfortingly. She slowly brings a hand up to your face, the rough, calloused texture gently placed on your cheek, helping wipe some tears away. You suddenly pull away with a gasp, pushing her hand away as memories suddenly flash in your mind.]

[You're brought back to so long ago... the loop you finally managed to defeat the king. The loop just before you finally gave up, when everyone noticed you were acting funny. When everyone comforted you... When Mirabelle touched your face, and realized how much you cared about them... Tears begin to pour from from your eyes.]

"V-Vale?! I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to-" [You fall to your knees, cupping your face and sobbing. We could have kept going! We made progress!! Why did we finally chose to give up when things changed for once?!!? Wh-Why-...]

"Why wasn't I strong enough?..." [Is all you can manage to whimper out through your crying.]

"... Please Vay, I can't help if you don't talk to me..."

"Why do you think you can help me?! Why are you so BLINDING insistent?! Wh-Why-?!.... Why... Why do you think I deserve your kindness? J-Just leave already and join up with your family... leave me behind like I deserve..."

"Alright, fine." [You look up at Nille in shock, she sits there with her arms crossed, a serious look on her face.]

"If you want me gone so bad, and you think I'll leave if I know what happened. Then tell me. Make me leave. Prove to me you don't deserve having me around." [You pause, a flurry of emotions running through you. We can't tell her, we can't let her leave!... but we can't keep lying to her! She doesn't deserve this, and we don't deserve her... We'll never be happy, it won't happen, so why keep trying to fool ourself?... Let's just get this all over with.]

"... Fine... It's not fair I've been parading around like I'm worth anything anyways... You don't deserve to be lied to anymore." [Your face hardens, trying to hold back every emotion you can. You wipe the remnants of your tears once again, getting up to take a seat on the opposite bed from them.]

"I'm not... I wasn't some extra party member journeying with them... I was the Traveler. Siffrin..."