#because I haven't actually posted in ages

[eggcats]

Still thinking about this post bc these two morons have taken over my mind.

And I'm just like. Even after the revelation that Alastor thinks Vox is attractive, and even AS Vox is trying to get this idiot oblivious deer to realize he likes him, Alastor doesn't really change how he treats Vox. Like, at all.

The only change is that now part of his mockery is calling him stupid for not realizing that he's the most eligible demon in hell, lmao (he didn’t realize Vox didn't already know, how stupid of him).

He still likes picking fights and actually fighting him for real. (It's Fun and Entertaining - and for him, nothing has changed that would make him stop)

And I'm kind of thinking that THIS, and not everything else, is what makes Vox realize that Alastor ISN'T mocking him about this. He's serious. Because surely if this was an entire plot to make fun of him, Alastor would at least ATTEMPT to woo him properly before he pulls out the rug from under him, right? He wouldn't just continue on with his day as if he didn't just upend Vox's entire afterlife.

Like, maybe after the first conversation, and after Vox powers back on, he's hopeful, but he knows both what he looks like and what ALASTOR'S like, so he kind of just assumes that Alastor has figured out his less than 100% rival feelings towards him and decided to add it to his mockery.

But then he shows up the next day, determined to beat Alastor at his own game (he will PRETEND to be wooed and then throw it back on him when Alastor tries to mock him, it'll surely work! Totally). And Alastor is like, "Why are YOU back here?!" And doesn't even act any different towards Vox than he did the day before the Revelation.

And Vox is like. Oh, fuck. He was serious.

Suddenly, Vox realizes that, rather than the Normal Hell he THOUGHT he lived in (one where Alastor makes fun of his crush on him) he lives in Weird Hell, where now he has to somehow convince Alastor that he just, is attracted to him and NOT that everyone, somehow, is just. In love with him? Or something??? (What the Fuck?)

There are times when he's tired of fighting with Alastor about this, that a part of him wishes he DID live in Normal Hell, because at least he'd know what to do. (It's not like Val doesn't ALSO mock his crush on Alastor, he at least knows how to respond to THAT).

Even when he convinces Alastor to date him (to make everyone (who doesn't exist, by the way) jealous), Alastor still barely treats him any different. He still pokes and teases at Vox, even as he is (seemingly unintentionally) complimenting him.

One time, Alastor is like, "We haven't fought in ages, we should do that the next time we plan an outing!"

Vox, about to lose it because he had just NOW thought he understood what was going on: What the fuck??! I thought we were dating, why do you still want to kill me?!

Alastor: Dear, we've never been trying to kill each other! If we were, one of us would be dead, ha ha! This is entertainment, pure and simple!

(Translation: Alastor is bored and requires enrichment in his enclosure).

And now Vox has to now grapple with the fact that Alastor apparently saw fighting with him as fun, and not, y'know, rivals legitimately trying to kill one another. What.

--

Also, Valentino notices very quickly the sudden change in Vox's demeanor - usually when they fight, Vox doesn't take long before coming to him for forgiveness. Or, the few times he doesn't, Val doesn't have any difficulties changing Vox's mind (and getting Vox to buy him whatever he wants).

So, when Val decides that if Vox is going to stay pissy about his little comment, he'll "apologize" - ("Come on, amorcito, you know you're the only one for me! Those whores mean nothing compared to you!") But Vox, just, doesn't forgive him and go back to his arms. And Valentino is at a loss.

He LOSES it when he finds out Vox has been hanging at that shitty hotel and chasing that radio bastard (again!). He doubles his efforts of letting Vox know there is absolutely No Way Alastor cares for him at all, let alone as much as Valentino does!

And then Vox and Alastor are dating, and Val tries to shoot one (or both) of them. (He also tries to get Vox to leave Alastor for him when he finds them fighting and destroying empty buildings in a part of the pentagram, but it doesn't work because once they're done fighting Alastor is like "Well, that was fun!" And invites Vox to dinner after, lol. The fighting was the date activity for the day for the silly little radio man, and Vox is too confused to question it.)

(Also, ironically, Val being pissed at Alastor dating Vox just validates Alastor's beliefs - because it never occurs to him to Val is mad because keeping Vox hanging off of him made it easier for Val to get whatever he wants).

--

But, slowly, Vox is starting to realize that, despite Alastor INSISTING that he's not into him and is only dating him for the (nonexistent) clout - he does weirdly care in his own way, and somehow, he's a more romantic partner to him than Valentino ever was, even without seeming to even try to be or realizing it.

One time, Alastor notices that Vox not been to the hotel once in the past few days (since this whole thing has started, he's basically been showing up consistently), so he goes to break into Vee tower to see what's up.

"What's up" is Vox overworking himself and not sleeping for days and only consuming energy drinks as he hasn't left his little computer dungeon even once.

So. Alastor just. Kidnaps him. Refuses to listen as Vox is like, yelling that this project needs done, like, yesterday!

Alastor: Dear, are there not two others in your team who could do this?

Vox: Val is fucking useless at this shit, and Velvette doesn't care if it's late!

Alastor: Well, what's the point of them? You should let me eat them for this. Regardless, it's been at least 3 days of this for you, so if they wish for it to be on time, they can do it themselves.

And then Alastor just brings them back to his room and forces Vox to eat a real meal, before picking him up and dumping him on his bed.

(Vox, suddenly wide awake: What the fuck. What the FUCK. Since when were we having sex?!?!)

(They're not. Alastor changes his clothes to pajamas and threatens to eat one of his employees for every minute he's not sleeping for the next 8 hours.)

(Vox wonders what's wrong with him that he considers this to be romantic).

Either way, Vox passes out for at least 10 hours before waking up to 30+ missed calls, 50+ missed texts, and 100+ missed emails, all wondering where he disappeared to and why the project he was working on wasn't finished. Once again, Alastor offers to eat them. Vox refuses to find it charming. (He's lying, he does).

Especially since after this incident, Alastor will break into Vee tower now more often if he thinks Vox hasn't eaten or slept properly.

And then, one day, Vox just realizes that, despite Alastor saying to the contrary, they're definitely, like, dating for real. But Vox can't tell Alastor that, because any time he even implies this, he calls Vox an idiot because he's only dating him for publicity. (Never acknowledging that, like, anything he does for Vox that isn't in the public eye is very clearly not for that, lol)

[sweetheart-laity]

🌾✨️ Helloooo! It's me again. I'm sorry that, as usual, I haven't been around like I should. What can I say, life is just always kind of... hectic for me, to say the least.

(This is an extra post)

✨️Anywho, you ought to know the drill by now. I'm here to run my mouth.✨️

.

So, I went to a funeral two days ago. I suppose I'm better off coming here to speak on it instead of sitting in my room wallowing, like I'm most disposed to doing when things like this happen.

(I say 'things' because it's multiple subsequent events.)

Anyway, so let's cut to the chase. Somebody relatively important died: therefore, I had to get off my ass for once, slap one of my multiple dreary black dresses on and head out. My mom hates the lady who died though (or should I say, 'greatly dislikes'? 🩷) so of course I wasn't about to get any transportation there. Long story short, she dropped me off at a bus station then dipped. (These photos are from when we were still on our way to the bus station however, because I think it would be shameful taking selfies on public transport or at someone's funeral.)

Anyway, I'm a fucking idiot sometimes, so of course I accepted a seat in the bus' front row when it was offered to me despite it being my first time taking that particular bus, simply because the person who offered that seat was also a lady(💀). So then of course I also proceeded to be sexually harassed not only by the old woman, but the bus driver himself literally pointed his rear view mirror directly at me and stared into it pretty much the entire bus ride to the funeral. I am NOT crazy, we held DIRECT EYE CONTACT through the rear view mirror MULTIPLE TIMES and even when I eventually started moving to avoid his gaze, he moved the damned mirror in my direction and glanced back at me whilst doing so. (??? Please ask him why for me, I'm not sure either.) Then (of course) I also ended up being the last person in the bus, so towards the end he started driving much more slowly.

After that, I thought for sure I arrived late, but it turns out I was actually two hours early, ('Yay!' Right?) ...I stood in strapped high heels under a scorching caribbean sun, in the middle of the church graveyard, waiting for one of my aunts to arrive during those two hours.

Fast forward to the after party.

I was speaking to three of my male cousins on the staircase of the deceased's old house. Anyway, as men tend to, they eventually made the entire conversation about me and my business despite the fact I don't even know two of them (I was literally first meeting the eldest one, he was like 44.) And, as luck would have it, the eldest also saw fit to impart on me some of his testosteronic wisdom (yes, I know, that is not a word) by randomly beginning to lecture me about the apparent fact a woman's era of worth spans from the ages of 18-28; and that those who 'pretend' to be independant throughout this apparent grace period of tolerability, forever lose out on the apparently vital opportunity to marry male's beyond their socio-economic class. (Mind you, this man is newly-wed to a woman far beyond 28, and said woman is also pregnant with his child.)

Additionally, I got groped by my great uncle, who is the widower of the lady whose funeral it was.💀

Ps. Apparently I also have attachment issues? It's what some other cousin of mine I don't know either said after I explained to him the reasons I don't want locs. (He didn't have locs either, he had a literal buzzcut.)

.

[d1sc01nf3rn0]

I'm seeing a lot of people with neurodivergency, specially under the autism spectrum say that "Laios is annoying, never shuts up, is insensitive, and I can't stand him"; and the irony is not lost on me lmao.

[marshmallowgoop]

Happy Shinichi Day! In a few timezones still.

While I don't have anything new and complete for the occasion, I have been working on this Jimjam AMV and thought I'd share a WIP! (Even if it isn't exactly the happiest edit for the birthday boy...)

Song is the nicopop. poolside Remix of "Messed Up" by Lizzy Land, which you can listen to here!

[mothwithapencil]

Opelucid City's had it too good for too long

Ref image under the cut

[ch1zzie]

Some Julie's and idk a little thingy for today

[lieutenant-amuel]

Elena of Avalor is genuinely such a good show.

[sysig]

The most fun you can have, barring the pain and torture (Patreon)

[thyandrawrites]

Free matsuhana fic concept: the team places mistletoe everywhere in a sweet but misguided effort to get them together, not knowing that they've already been dating for months. They still go along with it, wondering how many heated make out sessions it will take for them to catch on, since the double dates with iwaoi (who actually aren't together yet) haven't been evidence enough

[wild-at-mind]

Today's events and the past few months of bullshit have made me feel so rejected from my local LGBTQ community.

[rosetintedkaleidoscope]

best books i read in 2023:

- comfort me with apples by catherynne valente. fantasy/horror. this is a creepy, dystopian, fairy tale kind of story. some biblical references. the creepiness builds up slowly through strange little details.

- quest for a maid by frances mary hendry. children's historical fiction / fantasy. 13th century scotland & norway. read as a child, completely forgot, then found in a used bookstore this year. it absolutely lives up to my memories: rich with details, from the foods to the clothes to the activities to all the little things you don't really notice that create a sense of another time & place. the loving attention to detail is a big part of why i like this book so much. also excellent characterization.

- nisa: the life and words of a !kung woman by marjorie shostak. nonfiction. okay, if you're following me you've probably heard of this because of @etirabys, whose posts inspired me to read it, but i had to include it anyway. based on interviews with a hunter-gatherer woman, it tells about her life and worldview. moving and immensely fascinating

- making babies: the science of pregnancy by david bainbridge. nonfiction. also immensely fascinating. my ideal kind of science book: readable yet detailed and in-depth, and full of strange facts. strong contender for the coolest nonfiction book i've ever read

- the ladies of grace adieu and other stories by susanna clarke. fantasy. wonderful eerie fairy stories

- we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson. classic, horror. sinister and evocative. one thing i really like is that the characters are likeable and often happy despite the weirdness and the horror. it's optimistic and tragic at the same time, and gives you things to think about even after you're done reading

- murderbot series by martha wells. science fiction. it has an interesting plot and setting and all that, but the main appeal is the character and charm of the protagonist, a robot who hacks itself to gain freedom. all it wants to do with that freedom is watch tv, but dangerous stuff keeps getting in the way

[rosalind-hawkins]

What Do I Ship?

Don't mistake this for a tolerance or tier list. I will read and write ships that aren't even on this list, or write ships from the secondary list sometimes, this is just to give you a general sense of the stuff I mainly support/think about and in what capacity. Might be updated periodically. Ranting and comments in the tags.

Re: the Mokuba ships, I only ship them in non-problematic ways, where either the Kaiba brothers are ageswapped, making Mokuba the same age as the rest of the main cast, or where they only get together far post-canon where Mokuba's an adult. We cool? Cool.

Primary Ships

(things I can/want to create content for; this does not include every ship I've ever written, just the ones I care about/are currently engaged in writing/plan to write multiple fics for, or ships I just stan in a way that I know it'll never end)

Euroshipping (Kaiba x Ryou)

Puppyshipping (Joey x Kaiba)

Mumbleshipping (Kaiba x Ryou x Duke)

Teaseshipping (Joey x Ryou x Kaiba)

Snareshipping (Joey x Duke)

Trustshipping (Kaiba x Ishizu)

Polarshipping (Joey x Mai)

Blueshipping (Kisara x Kaiba)

Mizushipping (Kisara x Priest Seto)

Minorshipping (Ryou x Duke)

Mastershipping (Duke x Kaiba)

Puffshipping (Joey x Ryou)

Sweetshipping (Ryou x Mokuba)

Wintershipping (Mokuba x Amane)

Rollshipping (Duke x Ryou x Joey)

Secondary Ships

(things I will read but I don't write {much, or anymore, in some cases} for one reason or other)

Wishshipping (Joey x Yugi)

Powershipping (Kaiba x Marik)

Graceshipping (Ishizu x Ryou)

Doubtshipping (Kaiba x Ryou x Marik)

Petshipping (Duke x Kaiba x Joey)

Axisshipping (Kaiba x Siegfried)

Angstshipping (Ryou x Marik)

Irateshipping (Marik x Joey)

Buddyshipping (Joey x Tristan)

Heartshipping (Yugi x Ryou)

Fragileshipping (Yami Yugi x Ryou)

Changeshipping (Duke x Marik)

Logicshipping (Priest Seto x Priestess Isis)

Gemshipping (Ryou x Thief King Bakura)

Thiefshipping (Yami Bakura x Marik)

Candleshipping (Kaiba x Ryou x Yami Bakura)

Antagoshipping (Kaiba x Yami Bakura)

Corruptshipping (Priest Seto x Thief King Bakura)

Stoicshipping (Kaiba x Priest Seto)

Shimmershipping (Duke x Mokuba)

Guardshipping (Kaiba x Roland)

Senetshipping (Ishizu x Duke)

Angelicshipping (Ryou x Rafael)

Mercuryshipping (Kisara x Kaiba x Ishizu)

Entrepreneurshipping (Duke x Kaiba x Siegfried)

Unnamed (Aigami x Marik x Yami Bakura)

Scholarshipping (Kaiba x Ishizu x Ryou)

There's also plenty of random unnamed poly ships that I want to play around with in one-shots, usually a combo of my top six fave characters.

[dragonsarecats]

are they wearing each other's clothes? is it an elaborate roleswap au where shun gets to lie in the grass and relax for once while alice obliterates vexos ass? does shun look weirdly good in lavender?? the answer will surprise you! (yes)

[shikai-the-storyteller]

When Eret died in their hardcore world, the world turned into a black void with endless rainfall. It felt so beautiful and poetic, and I know it was probably some glitch or something, but let’s imagine this from a character lore perspective for funzies:

If we assume c!Eret is Herobrine kin (or something of the like) in every world they inhabit, including this Hardcore World, then perhaps their death is what corrupted the world. Some fanon lore categorizes Herobrine as: “a virus that can delete or manipulate worlds”. Maybe whenever c!Eret is killed, there is catastrophic reality-shattering damage as a result. (After all, Herobrine aren’t technically supposed to exist in any world).

If we were to go a step further and connect this theory to c!Eret’s DSMP iteration, it might explain the whole “potentially immortal (?)” thing they’ve got going on. There’s certainly something strange about their relationship with life and death. We could say this is a side-effect (or even the cause) of their friendship with Foolish, a Totem of Life who was once a Totem of Death, but I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.

When Eret accidentally (non-canonically) died on the DSMP recently, they said: "I never die -- I never die! That's my whole THING! I don't die and -- I died!"). From this we can posit several things: A) They’re some kind of minor god, B) They don’t die easily, or C) They cannot die because their death would break the world (and I doubt ‘ol DreamXD would be too happy about that).

Either way, there’s lots of unexplored lore potential with c!Eret’s character. Hopefully we’ll get some answers about their character’s history someday, but in the meantime, it’s fun to theorize!

[thethingything]

also we finally got our medical records from all the shit last April and it turns out the doctor that insisted we weren't feverish actually lied about our temperature when he wrote stuff down.

our temperature was 38C. we saw on the thermometer they used that it was 38C. he's noted it down as 36C. he also said we had no systemic symptoms besides nausea and reduced appetite meanwhile everything written by other medical professionals on the same day lists a whole bunch of symptoms.

at least we have confirmation of that which is the main thing we wanted our records for besides getting to see the actual test results and there's stuff on some of the tests that sounds kind of concerning but I don't know enough to know if it's actually concerning and nobody ever mentioned it to us

[steakout-05]

rewriting the Age Of Zombies kiss scene for funsies and because it's.... bad........

so there's this scene in the original version of AOZ and subsequent mobile releases that has been kinda bothering me lately, and it's the scene in the bonus Western level where, after Barry completes the second wave of zombies, Barry meets Ruby's sisters and mistakenly kisses Prince Runningunin thinking he was Ruby because he was dressed as a saloon girl (which is never explained... he probably did it for shits and giggles which is so based). when i first saw this scene, it kinda... irked me a bit. i think this is best explained if i just show the transcript of the scene itself (lovingly copied from the JJ wiki).

Ruby's Sister 1: We're free! Thank you kindly Mister! Ruby's Sister 2: Our sister Ruby will be ever so glad. Runingunin: Ah, Mr. Steakfries - I've been looking for you! Barry: I know you have baby... now come get some fries to go with that shake! Runingunin: Wait Barry, you don't underst.. Runingunin: Mmmhnnsffgghh! Runingunin: MMMGGHGFFGGHHHH!! Runingunin: $X@S MMMMMMGGHHHHHGFFFFGGHHHH $X@S Barry: Darn baby, you sure do squirm around when kissing. Ruby: Who's your friend, Barry? I sure like his dress. Barry: PRINCE RUNINGGUNIN! [sic] Runingunin: I hope that was your gun digging into my hip Barry! Barry: Argggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Barry: Wait...why are you dressed as a confusingly hot saloon girl? Runingunin: No time for explanations, Barry! Runingunin: I've traced the source of the outbreak. Follow me! Barry: Wait... are you wearing Cherry Lip-gloss?

now, i have a lot of... problems with this scene, the main one being that Barry just fuckin. kisses Runingunin completely without his consent??????? that is????? assault???????? that is LITERALLY sexual assault. and i hate that. i hate that a lot. Barry kissing someone without their consent makes me like... really uncomfortable and i don't find this scene funny or amusing in any way. it just makes me feel gross and i hate that one of my favourite characters ever did something like that and that it was played off for laughs. AOZ has had a lot of dialogue changes over the years, but this scene remained completely unchanged until the Halfbrick+ version of AOZ where the kiss was written out entirely, with Barry instead asking Runingunin if he's seen a giant hat anywhere, which i definitely prefer a lot more.

but i still feel like this scene is missing something. when i realised how gross the OG scene was, i wanted to rewrite it so that the kiss stays in, but it's, like, not weird. i had an idea in my head that Barry gives Runingunin a polite lil' kiss on the hand before he follows him to the abandoned mine that Mad Dog is hiding in. here's a draft of how this scene would play out, with a combination of dialogue from the original and new version:

Ruby's Sister 1: We're free! Thank you kindly Mister! Ruby's Sister 2: Our sister Ruby will be ever so glad. Runingunin: Ah, Mr. Steakfries - I've been looking for you! Barry: I know you have baby... Say, why don't you and I have a little time to ourselves in the Saloon? Barry's treat. Runingunin: Psst, Lord Steakfries, it's me. Barry: ... Runingunin? Oh hey! What are you doing here? Barry: And why are you in a dress? Runingunin: It was necessary to disguise myself because of all the zombies. Barry: You sure had me fooled! Well, in that case... *Barry kneels down* Runingunin: ? Barry: Wouldn't such a pretty prince like you mind at least a kiss for your troubles? Runingunin: If you wish, Lord Steakfries. *Runingunin holds out his hand, Barry kisses him and then stands back up* Barry: So, where are we off to next? Runingunin: I've traced the source of the outbreak. Follow me! i like this. i like this a lot. this is mostly a self-indulgent thing but i really feel like the OG scene could have gone a lot better if Barry didn't like.... do that......... i'm honestly surprised the scene went unchanged for as long as it did. it's odd because you KNOW Halfbrick would never put anything like that in their games today lmao. i might fix this up a bit more later but for now i am quite happy with my rewrite! gay people in a zombie apocalypse real