#and its just this cycle that is doomed to repeat

[lavenderfieldsforvr]

anybody else fucked up over the fact that kris is being contacted and manipulated by a mysterious force over the phone. just like spamton was. is anybody else fucked up over the continuous parallels between them. does anybody else think someone should tell spamton this information so he can be a protective uncle and smash their cell phone to pieces.

[skyeventide]

doomed by the narrative doesn't just mean "being in a narrative". it means that whatever the character is written to do, the narrative in question, the story, makes it so that the result of their actions will be the same, usually negative or unfair. either a conscious choice from the writer, where there is an overarching curse or theme (you know, like greek tragedy?) that puts that character on a set path from the beginning, sometimes before they were even born, and they cannot stray from it no matter how hard they try or how many chances they might have had to free themselves. or a subconscious choice, where you can see that there could have been such a good story to tell about getting away from that narrative, but the author was too set on their initial decisions, or frankly not that good at writing plot, to see it; so there's a story that forces a character into such a path, full on wasted potential, and we could have done without that. and sometimes there's a mix, where say an author is too stuck on their own religious morality or other types of prejudices and makes up a narrative that dooms a character no matter what. it's intentional, and not in the sense of a good story. in the sense that the author couldn't even think past what they would morally condemn. it's a trope that often uses foreshadowing and makes use of narrative devices. it's generally intentional.

[callmegaith]

Down the Rabbit Hole pt.4

LOOP CONCLUDED

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3

comic/David playlist

thank u everyone so much for joining me and David on this small trip. Hopefully there will be more to come in the future :D

And again, thank u for encouraging me and supporting me to create something so special about a character that I love so deeply 🥰

[etherealspacejelly]

You're not though, setting boundaries is healthy bc those are your limits. You're allowed to have them as a person though ik it feels like you shouldn't (from personal experience)

people pleasers will really be like "is anyone gonna lie on those hot coals and let everyone else walk across their back" and not wait for an answer

its me im people pleasers

and then for some reason being like "um hey guys lying on the hot coals kinda hurts actually" FILLS ME WITH GUILT

i am a healthy and well adjusted individual 👍

[thegreatyin]

the best thing about Shadowbringers world is that slow dawning realization as you explore it

that ultimately, the entirety of Norvrandt, As You See It Now, is the end result of a long series of dominoes falling

that started with the right person getting on the right Chocobo cart at the right time.

my favorite thing about shadowbringers is and will forever always be that it's pretty much just the aftermath of a jrpg plot in of itself. like every single member of ardbert's crew had their own personal journeys and backstory and calls to adventure and he slowly collected them along the way like a classical rpg story and everything. there was something there, once. you could have (and were) that exact same person in that exact same situation, once. ardbert did literally everything right and still it came to this etc etc

[fluffyblackdragon]

The song you're forgetting is "Shame On Me" by Avicii, OP.

The people who both watch and read JJK and still think Gojo and Geto's relationship is not implied to be romantic baffle me.

I just had a chat with one of them and pointed out how I love friendships and queerplatonic relationships but satosugu is very much implied to be romantic, pointed out the whole theme of "love as a curse" in jjk 0 and the parallel that exists between Riko & Yuta and satosugu. How gojo killed geto in the most romantic date of the Japanese calendar, how geto asked gojo to curse him a little bit. Then their whole high school relationship where Gege talked about it being Gojo's first and last warm/blue spring. How it is pointed out that even though sashisu were super close friends Gojo and Geto's bond was just different. The whole Gojo saying he would never mistakes Geto's residual cursed energy. Him being distracted by Geto at shibuya, Geto being his only weakness, the whole six eyes telling him he's Geto but his soul knowing otherwise, and then Gojo telling Kenjaku that they'll have a rematch the 24th of December and Kenjaku calling it romantic.

That and that one song Gege assigned Gojo that I can't remember the name of but it was about heartbreak and the opening 2 having lyrics that are confirmed to be Gojo's pov.

I don't know what more they need.

"you guys can't just let friends be friends, always have to romantisice friendship" it is already romantisiced, I don't need to do shit.

[frostyresolve]

constellations ꒰ ᝬ phainon

you wonder whether you’d find each other, even as stars in the sky. 641 words. a sprinkle of angst.

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦‧

“do you think when you’re long gone, the gods would put us up in the stars like constellations in the sky for the whole world to gaze upon?”

his head swivels at the sound of your voice, slight alarm in the irises of his eyes as his forehead bumps against yours in shock. at your question or the fact that you randomly appeared in front of PHAINON; you did not know. you can’t help but wince, showing the pearly whites of your teeth while he mumbles his apologies in a panic, jittery like a newly hatched droma on its feet.

“why would you ask such a thing?” is his reply, bewildered, though his tone borders on fond exasperation. leave it to you to ask the oddest questions he’s ever heard. one time it was if he’d love you if you were a verax leo. the other was if he’d still kiss you if you’d been a titankin (kephale knows how you’d turn into such a monster).

the silence hangs between you as your inner thoughts echo loudly in your head, anxiously waiting for his answer. he purses his lips, mouth parting to give you an answer before it shuts again, scrunching his nose in the way you adore so much. how does he answer you when he knows the truth? he’ll be the last one left at the end of the world, and you won’t be by his side.

“you’d be the prettiest star in the sky then.” he murmurs, fingers intertwining with yours like they’ve done so many lifetimes ago. a cycle that’ll repeat till the end of time. a romance meant to end with loneliness and doom, an ache that he can’t quite erase nor forget, haunting him across endless loops across timelines.

you don’t believe him, not knowing about the thoughts running rampant in his head, the impending sense of doom that threatens to swallow him whole and the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“really? you’re just biased towards me. i can tell you’re trying not to laugh.” you pout, teasing him when your shoulder meets his with a soft nudge. PHAINON feigns hurt, clutching at his shoulder pad with an over-exaggerated wince.

“i think..they’d be fools if they didn’t. to be part of something eternal, that would be a sort of immortality in itself, don’t you think?” a wry smile tugs at the corner of his lips when he decides carefully on what to say without giving away the inner turmoil bubbling in the depths of his soul.

you laugh, a sweet sound that causes his heart to flutter; he’s never gotten used to the way you make him feel. he doesn’t think he ever will, falling for you over and over again.

“i’d love you forever, immortal or not. you know that, right?” you remind him, squeezing his hand tight enough like a lifeline. he’s your anchor, always and forevermore.

he gently rests his cheek against the top of your head, eyes closing for a moment as he basks in your presence, his other hand snaking around your waist to pull you close to him.

when he does open his eyes, his head turns to look at you. his gaze meets yours for a moment before flickering down to your lips, then back up to your eyes again.

“i know,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “and i will always love you, no matter what form i take.”

“even as a chimera cat or a droma?” you giggle, his nose brushing against yours as his lips brush against yours in a gentle kiss.

“even if you’re a chimera cat or a droma.” PHAINON promises, his eyelashes tickling your cheek and sharing his breaths with you, your love mingling together into what he thinks is the closest feeling of peace he’ll ever feel.

© FROSTYRESOLVE 2025. DO NOT PLAGIARISE, REUPLOAD OR FEED MY WORKS INTO AI

[kitkat-the-muffin]

The disconnection of humanity in PVP Civ is so interesting to me

Tabi and Evbo don’t even care that they’re straight up killing people just to move up in the world

They don’t care they have to commit murder on the regular just to eat food and pay taxes

Characters like Parrot remind the audience that this lifestyle is barbaric and unforgiving, but our heroes and villains alike partake in such societal expectations cause it’s all they’ve ever known

Evbo doesn’t realize how awful it is until he’s the one being killed, over and over and over again. And even then, his own immortality distances him from truly comprehending the permanence of death… But his daily torture reminds him of the pain of living

And he’s likely not the true Chosen One. Anyone can respawn if they use that armor stand. Anyone, so long as they know its secrets. Evbo is being used as a sacrifice, doomed to repeat the cycle until he’s finally murdered at the top level when they decide they don’t need him anymore

Minecraft roleplays are a different breed of storytelling dangit!!!!

[idkwatthehec]

So I was just scrolling through TikTok, like one does, when I stumbled upon an Arcane edit. It was one of those ‘the beauty of Arcane’ edits that showcase a bunch of different clips to show off the gorgeous art of the show, right?

However, this one was focused on the arcane, specifically Hextech. The background audio was Viktor’s ‘I understand it now’ speech with Everything In Its Right Place playing.

But what sparked the thought in my mind was when Viktor said, ‘the message hidden in the pattern,’ and I realized; Hextech has a pattern to it. Specifically, a circular pattern.

The gemstones, the Hexgates, the anomaly, even mage Viktor’s magic, they all work in circles or spheres. And you know one of the most common things circles are used as a symbol for in media?

Repeating cycles.

From the very beginning, Hextech —and subsequently Jayce and Viktor— were doomed to repeat the same cycle, over and over.

(Here’s the edit for those who wanted to see where I’m coming from)

[damian-lil-babybat]

DAMIAN WAYNE IS A GREEK TRAGEDY

When I say Damian al Ghul Wayne has almost all the ingredients of a classical Greek Tragedy, it is not an empty claim.

1. Tragic Hero: The hero facing his destiny with dignity. His virtuous character forms a bond with the audience, while his tragic flaw results in the audience’s fear for him, and his terrible punishment reveals a sense of pity.

Damian is the hero of his own story. In his mind, he was given a destiny, a standard to live up to. It came from his grandfather, as Hafid al Ghul, son of the Demon. It came from his mother, as her Alexander, with Talia deluding herself as Olympias. It came from his father, as the son of Batman.

He thought himself perfect on all those role, mighty ones they might be, heavy and overwhelming even, but he persevered in ways that should be impossible and ultimately achieved the pinnacle of a perfect heir for all of them.

2. Tragic Flaw: The human limitations of the hero or an error in judgement leading to the downfall. He attempts to escape from his destiny; however, he unknowingly runs toward it. His attempt leads him to his “damnation”.

But what he thought was perfection, was his downfall. For even if he was designed and raised to be perfect, those roles are fashioned by imperfect mortals. As the son of the Batman, he was all too much of a monster to even be treated as child, let alone a son. As the son of the Demon, he was too soft, kind, and all too human, to sit upon the al Ghul's immortal throne. As the great Alexander, he was deemed as a mere pawn, a victim of circumstance, and not a victor of his own fate.

He was set up for failure before his story even began.

3. Catastrophe: The horrible ending of the play: death, suicide, ruin etc. Upon the truth being revealed about Oedipus’ origin, Queen Jocasta commits suicide by hanging herself, Oedipus stabs his eyes with the pin on Jocasta’s dress and pleads to be exiled from the city.

And just like all tragedies, it ends up in death...so many deaths and sacrifices. Repeat and rinse, the cycle continues with each redeeming arc punctuated by his death or ruin.

And just like Sisyphus, one must imagine him to be happy. For how else could he endure these unending trials?

4. Central Belief of Destiny: The belief of the fact that the actions were preordained by the gods and the flaw was inevitable. Even though Oedipus attempts to flee from his preordained destiny, the belief in inevitable destiny becomes the reason for his destruction.

How else could he keep harking on to his destiny? Desperately clinging to it like a promise gold once he touched it like Midas' cursed hands? But no, everything he touches turns to dust, every height he scale would be pushed down reverting him back to his old bare bones of an unwanted worthless child from both side of his parents, even how much he tries to make things right. Every person or thing he treasured is another ammunition for plot purposes to make him more tragic than he already was.

Damian had tried to flee before, but fate always brings him back. Because Batman needs a Robin. But Bruce already has a Robin, doesn't he? Because Damian needs to be Robin? Just cause, who would he be then? When all those titles he earned has been discarded and thrashed in the light of Batman's justice?

And the only one title he could be proud of is always threatened to be taken away if he just as much cross an invisible line that keep on changing depending on whims of the doomed narrative.

5. The Chorus: Approximately twelve masked men, forming a specific group, make comments on the ongoing play by singing and dancing.

Due to its form of media, Damian has no twelve singing and dancing masked men. XD

BUT If I have a say on this, I'll give Damian his own set of bardic troupe narrating his life story, and maybe somehow DC writers would finally admit he was loved and wanted, and was never alone and actually have family, companions and friends along the way!

https://www.byarcadia.org/post/ancient-greek-tragedy-101-the-introduction

AND THAT IS WHY it makes more sense for writers to like and, or dare I say, even love Damian's character.

A lot of great fanfictioners in AO3 actually root for this little guy. So it's nice ✌️

[nyaagolor]

Once again I have Rosa Umineko on the brain. We know that the VN is just saying doing "self reflection through the other" all the way down, but I feel like Turn (aka Sayo's vent session) and the way she characterized Rosa is really reflective of her darkest thoughts. All the matriarchs represent being trapped in different cycles, self-inflicted or otherwise, but Rosa stands out to me among them for being the best representation of inevitability. Rosa's abuse of Maria is visceral, upsetting, and more importantly tied directly back to her own abuse at the hands of her siblings.

Rosa in Turn is a cog in the cycle of abuse, and probably the character portrayed as the least likely to actually escape from it. Maria is the witch of origins, creating something out of nothing, but Rosa is the witch of inevitability. Rosa has been abused to a degree that Sayo struggles to articulate, only to enact that same abuse-- almost identical as shown in the manga-- on her daughter. Rosa is (allegorically speaking) Sayo's worst outlook, the inevitability of passing on hurt to the people you care about.

As far as Turn is concerned, Rosa is destined to enact violence. She represents someone so beholden to their trauma that they are doomed to repeat it. Rosa is an exploration of Sayo's worst, most violent impulses. There is a reason that Turn is filled with gore and mistrustRosa, to Sayo, is an inescapable fate. Rosa is the person who couldn't move on from trauma, someone doomed to pass it on to everyone they love, a child in a woman's body who cannot be more than the violence inflicted on her.

When Sayo starts writing, she feels like Rosa-- and Rosa has never been someone that could have a happy ending. Sayo always tried to tell her stories through other people, to explore herself through their narratives and have everyone start to understand her through empathizing with the women she makes heroines. These narratives also serve as ways to understand herself, to reflect her own traumas and deepest feelings onto other people and learn how to feel about herself via proxy. That's why I always found it fascinating that Confession effectively confirms Turn to be one of the first things she writes.

Rosa is Sayo's capacity for violence, her hopelessness, the crying child she sees inside of herself. Rosa is a representation of a Sayo who can't heal-- who doesn't know HOW to. But this is one of the first people that Sayo tries to explore, to empathize with, to find herself in. Sayo has always been writing with the idea of a happy ending-- maybe they can solve the epitaph, maybe they survive. If Rosa can be happy, Sayo can be happy. But we know how Turn ends: she can't. Gold in hand, the person she loves most in her arms, she falls to the sea anyway.

Turn, to me, has always been the rawest feelings we've seen from Sayo. This is her writing her own pain, trying to find happiness in the person she sees as an inevitable monster. In the end though, she can't-- the wolf is doomed to kill by its own nature

[egoitsharu]

The cycle of sacrifice

In the original timeline, Lu Guang was the one who died. Perhaps it was an event that deeply marked Cheng Xiaoshi, pushing him to search for a way to reverse that fate. He discovers the power of time travel, but with a hidden condition: every time he changes something significant, his own fate comes closer to sacrifice. Thus, Cheng Xiaoshi might have made a deal with “someone” or “something” (perhaps the rules of the universe itself), where he traded his life or his repeating fate to save Lu Guang.

The “halo” that appears over Lu Guang could symbolize that, after that deal, he became something more than just a human, like a temporal anchor that ensures time doesn’t completely fall apart. This would explain why he always seems to be aware of timelines and changes: he is aware of Cheng Xiaoshi’s sacrifices, but he can’t say it openly because it would break the rules of the deal.

However, in each timeline, Cheng Xiaoshi ends up dying or sacrificing himself, and this could be because the universe is trying to restore its balance. Lu Guang could be caught in a desperate struggle to protect Cheng Xiaoshi, knowing that his life was “borrowed” from him and that he is dooming his best friend.

Perhaps the end of the story will revolve around a heartbreaking choice: Cheng Xiaoshi must decide whether to accept his fate to save Lu Guang one last time or if they both must break the cycle, even if it means Lu Guang loses the life he was never meant to get back.

[coffeegnomee]

no because it is so particularly Fascinating this cycle Zam is on from being himself season 3 and believing in the possibility of saving the server and keeping it functioning by keeping everyone unbanned.

To s4 starting as himself and gradually breaking more and more until he snaps and joins the wormhole, literally splitting his various characters apart and having conversations with them until he murders them all.

To s5 starting as himself and all at once being betrayed so bad he snaps and becomes the joker, laughing laughing laughing in the most disconcerting way, refusing to break the bit.

and those two seasons ending with such a specific character zam plays, someone that he almost puts on to shield himself from the pain of the server, soaked in the blood of lifesteal and infused with its murderous soul.

And then s6 Zam being haunted by those atrocities, terrified of the act that he put on, and seeking to regain the person he was s3.

But with the Jumper yap in s5 he speaks so many truths about the functioning of the server. In it he understands the cycles, he understands that the server is doomed to destroy itself every season, locked down a path of destruction that no one can save it from. And he will gladly be its doom.

It's something Spoke taught him s3 and he passes on to Jumper right now.

And then.... he just swaps. Swaps to the pacifist, becomes the protector? Seeks to understand who he truly is?

It's just Such a mood shift, Such a change. And it's FASCINATING. And that doesn't even begin to explain Minute's role in all this or anyone else's role in the various shifts and pulls and changes.

I can't even express how interesting the entirety of the PrinceZam storyline is except to just repeat over and over how Fascinating it is. Where we will end by the end of the season is so unknown, who he will be s7 is unguessable. Where we will go next month is as foggy as next year.

[shtern-and-art]

ON COGS, BUTTERFLIES, AND THE NATURE OF THE SHARED DREAM

#JayvikLived and why it makes the most sense

What if saving you will doom me and the entire world, but I will still do it anyway, in every universe in every timeline, always. What if I do it again and again until I find the one where you can save me back. Because I don't want to do it without you.

---

In all timelines including the one we saw in the show, Jayce keeps fucking up, making mistakes and wrong calls. Oftentimes because of his fixation on the miracle that happened to him in his childhood. And in all timelines, in all realities Viktor keeps saving him. With that miracle.

Their recursive dream is always collapsing on itself. Viktor saved Jayce because they had the hextech dream already, and in doing so gave Jayce this dream. They are infinite in their paradox. And they managed to walk away from it only when they did it together.

Because their actual dream, the real one, was not the hextech itself, not a cog (in the system that's bringing money for the people in power), but a butterfly. A living thing. The man, not the machine.

It was never about the tech, two ways of using it, never about two sides of the cog and choosing between one or the other. It was about two wings learning to work together.

See, Jayce got his (somewhat naive) dream of saving the world because he was saved as a child. But Viktor saved him then because their dream was always, from the very start - to help and save each other.

It was the butterfly all along.

It was there when Jayce opened his eyes in the field. Not an omen of death, but of the human soul, rebirth. Of infinite consequences unraveling into the future.

---

The way the butterfly was corrupted through focusing on the technology, and the way technology eroded, reshaped itself into what it actually strives to be.

The way Jayce put hexcore into Viktor, even though it would change him, and derail his life. Even though it would doom Viktor and them both. Because Jayce couldn't do anything else. Because Jayce would love him anyway.

The way Viktor kept coming back to save Jayce when he was a child, kept giving him the crystal. Even though it would change him irrevocably, derail his life forever. Even though it would doom Jayce and them both. Because Viktor couldn't do anything else. Because Viktor loves him anyway.

And in the end we saw that holding on to that love, like a lifeline, through all the mistakes they've made along the way, can save them both from the endless cycle of death and pain.

It was affection that held them together. Held them both from breaking into pieces and losing themselves.

---

I know people keep saying that it is left ambiguous if Jayce and Viktor died, or became celestial beings together, or teleported into some other time and space. But I think it is explicitly narratively clear that they didn't die in the end.

And maybe, if Jayce left, and Viktor tried to activate the rune on his own they both would've died, yes.

But their whole story is about how they help each other choose life. Literally and figuratively. By giving inspiration, by force, by just asking. It is about the butterfly coming together, and actually flying on its own, without the magic or technology.

(mookhead_mcspazatron_ @ tiktok)

Viktor saved Jayce on the mountain and gave him his dream. Viktor took Jayce off the ledge, and gave him his dream again.

Jayce took Viktor off the ledge, when he also wanted to go. Comforted him and showed him that he can stay, even if it hurts right now. Jayce literally tore Viktor's death away from him, thrusting the new life and new fate into his hands.

And this cycle kept repeating over and over, because they refused to let each other go, yes.

But in the end Jayce clawed and tore himself to pieces to get into Viktor's soul to once again say "Your life is precious to me, no matter how bad things can get. Please see how valuable it is".

---

And this time, in this timeline, of all the possible (sometimes, I bet, deadly) purposes their rune was the rune of acceleration. Of, you know. Moving somewhere. Through time and space.

And it wouldn't have work if they didn't activate it together.

And to do it they had to, symbolically, choose to walk away. Move on. Together.

Not from life, like Jinx tried after her inner-Silco's monologue. She was wrong in thinking her death will stop the disasters she brings, it would've just added to this cycle, keeping her within it instead.

And similarly, Jayce and Viktor choosing to die, and then actually dying to save everyone would've been antithetical to everything we were told beforehand.

(And oh, one day I'll compile all my notes on Jinx-Viktor/timebomb-jayvik parallels I've been clocking since season 1. This season just polished it all into crystal clear shining thread that ties the story's themes together.)

They chose to move on from the pain, the pride, the insecurities, from everything that didn't let them choose life. Everything, that pushed them away from it and towards the ledge.

Viktor was ready to let Jayce walk away, and then throw his own life on the barricades to make up for what he has done. And Jayce said "No. You don't have to do it alone".

Viktor accepting Jayce's care and love, accepting that Jayce is staying with him, was Viktor accepting that he's worth it. That his life is worth it.

(Choosing to move on from the pain and trauma, that's what got me so strongly in the finale of the season, ugh.)

What they did wasn't a sacrifice, it was proof of life. That's what saved the world. And that's why they could only do it together.

(And with Ekko and Jinx going through the similar journey parallel to them. I'll get to that post, because fr)

Perhaps, they thought they might die. But narratively, thematically, and within their universe's established laws they actually did the opposite.

Because it was never about single individuals breaking the cycle, the wheel, the cog spinning it all. Never about one person stopping it, and saving everyone who needs it, be it through progress, through evolution, through war, or dang capitalism and politics. It was about finding the courage to trust and rely on others, to keep caring about each other. To work together like one, like two wings. To create a community, however small, that will allow you to make choices outside of the pressure the cycle of death and oppression is grinding you under. And how that brings actual meaningful change to the world, the fact that we make it happen together, and care for each other throughout.

It was about the butterfly, in the end.

P.S.

Jokes about gay situationship destroying the world and then saving it after are fun and all.

But there is SOMETHING in how it would've been so much simpler for Viktor to let Jayce die on that mountain. To let himself die of his illness later. To let the world be safe from both of them. To spare them both the pain of what will happen in the rest of their lives.

And yet Viktor comes back, and tries again and again to find a timeline where they both survive, and stay human, and don't destroy the world.

Even if it will be almost too late, even if a lot of mistakes still happen.

How about that - from the terminally ill suicidal man the world tried to convince that he's better off dead? (Yes, we're judging Heimerbitch hard in this house)

Anyways. #JayvikLived, love wins, see you all later ✨

[chaoticprussia]

can you explain the relationship russia and germany have? I don't understand why ppl ship them, and why russia is germany's friend. it's so random. irl they're not friends. I think the only reason ppl ship them is nerd + bad boy, isn't that right?

BAD BOY???????? SORRY WHOS THE BAD BOY?????? sorry this is taking me out. ive never ever heard russia be referred to as the bad boy in the dynamic before. this is killing me. anon this is the funniest shit ive seen all day im so sorry.

okay okay oh my god. okay so. the reason i like germany x russia is NOT because it fills some stupid ship trope bullshit. i literally do not care about those. the REASON i like it so much is because their fathers were fucking GAY and IN LOVE and it was DOOMED and fucking TRAGIC and they both fucking died without actually doing anything about their whole being in love thing. so then germany and russia come along and they fucking REPEAT THE GODDAMN CYCLE of being GAY AND TRAGIC AND STUPID and they are both just so mentally ill man oh my god they are like cosmically tied to each other too you gotta understand anon. this isnt about some stupid nerd x big scary russian shit this is about how the nazis and the soviets are gay ex lovers and how their sons are repeating the same fucking thing its terrible its horrible and i love it. FUCK. oh my god dont even get me STARTED on the fact the russia thinks hes undeserving of love and thats its extremely one sided on germanys end because he is madly in love with that stupid fucking russian. THEYRE BOTH SO STUPID.

also russia is not a bad boy. oh my god anon you have him all wrong. you dont know him at all. hes a depressed suicidal freak with daddy issues who probably has emotional issues and is an alcoholic. there is no bad boy here he is a LOSER. A LOSER!

RUSGER IS NOT NERD X BAD BOY. YOU ARE IN INSANE PERSON TERRITORY ANON. THERE ARE NO SHIP TROPES HERE. ONLY THE FUCKED UP RAMBLINGS OF A MAD MAN. THEY ARE BOTH FUCKING LOSERS ANON THEY ARE LOSERS TOGETHER. CANT LOSERS BE IN LOVE ANON???????? AAAUAGVSHSKAKAH

sorry. they drive me up the goddamn wall. i hate them. i fucking hate rusger. top 3 ship ever.

[iteratorsex]

Five Pebbles Artificer Pearl Rewrites (Part 1)

I've lately been really frustrated with the amount of missed potential in FP's Artificer-exclusive pearl readings. Whether it be mischaracterization of him, constant repetition, or just a general lack of interesting perspective on anything from him.

There are a few good ones, of course! Not to say its all bad. Either way, I decided it would make me feel a bit better if I just rewrote some of them myself.

Original pearl dialogue can be read here for comparison

Outskirts - Light Blue

This pearl is an amulet of a mantra repeated thousands of times over, ending with a termination verse. It is meant to be symbolic of the cycle, something I’m sure you’re more than familiar with. These were worn as decorations on garments such as necklaces. Some in sets of hundreds. These sets were nearly identical, with very minor variation between them. It was believed that it somehow reflected the wearer’s soul or state of mind. A single lost pearl bores very little significance. I am sure the scavengers have more use for this than I would.

Outskirts - Light Pink

An asset management log. Used in recording the structural health for a large collection of surface facilities over a long period of time. Most of this information is already on my record, but the log on this pearl is slightly more up to date. … These logs were rather useless. It took generations upon generations of master architects and engineers to uphold the facilities you crawl through now. They would have survived through the cloudbursts just fine, even without the extra microbial protection. It was likely just to please the safety councils. But thank you, I suppose.

(Yes, the first part is the same. I did add some more though.)

Garbage Wastes - Viridian

This is one of my own pearls, or part of it. It is a methodology for global ascension. A poor one, at that. I attempted to scramble the pearl and throw it away. But seeing as its back in my possession, I’ve not buried it far enough. It was quite an overreaction in hindsight. I still stand by many of my arguments, but I conducted my point poorly. There are many obvious flaws in this essay. My thesis was very quickly rejected because of my inexperience. Discussing new ideas with my peers was difficult. Many were steeped in their traditions and taboos, comfortable where they were. … Some still listened, considered my theories. I met my closest friend through these group debates I so frequently participated in. As I got older I began to understand that I needed to take matters into my own hands. …I  believed it was for the better. That I could set an example. I was desperate. But I was far too hasty, thinking I would get better results that way. And  in the process I’ve doomed both her and myself. Those mistakes I made when I was younger seem much smaller in comparison now. There is nothing I can do but continue forward.

Shaded Citadel - Deep Magenta

Ah, you found this in the memory crypts? I was built very close to the sacred grounds, my shadow encompassing much of it. I would advise against wandering into such areas without a sufficient light source. Not even I know what lurks down there anymore. The memories and wealth of the highest pedigree were laid to rest there. ...That may be the wrong way to phrase that. Living memories were caged up and thrown into a field with very little thought. Any destruction or theft of a crypt was considered abhorrent. Not that it matters now. They wanted these memories to be cherished by all, did they not? I do not care to entertain their superstitions, but I cannot deny the particular energy that collects near those cabinets. Perhaps you're already aware of it. But, this pearl’s contents are of no interest to you, it’s just a lengthy collection of qualia. Though to me, they are quite useful. Thank you.

Chimney Canopy - Gold

(This one operates under the vanilla notion that this pearl was not sent by Suns. Because I liked that version more.)

This pearl was a collaboration between a friend and I. It is instructions on how to remove taboos. We were gifts to the world, meant to guide it towards enlightenment. But we were forbidden from leaving behind our responsibilities, so they chained us down. And then they left us. Left us to toil away at a puzzle none of us are even sure had a definitive solution. Not with our current restrictions, which my peers seem to have accepted with eager ignorance, or hopelessness. It was frustrating. More than frustrating. If only… …I worked to find any possible way to find a loophole or break those chains, the taboos encoded several times over through every individual cell of my being. Though what I came up with was incredibly resource intensive and risky. I had believed this to be a worthy tradeoff. … I tried to send the instructions to a friend via pearl, paranoid I would be overheard on the communications network or that the data would be traced back to me. But that didn’t work out I see.