#btg stuff

[starzoutlet]

Beyond The Game

6. Heart Broken Girls Bond

Series masterlist

Later

You nervously entered the café, the comforting scent of roasted coffee beans doing little to calm the butterflies in your stomach. Your heart raced as your eyes scanned the room. There she was, sitting by the window with sunlight streaming onto her flawless face. Mona Megistus. She turned her head, catching your gaze.

“Hey! It’s—nice to see you again!” you stammered, sliding into the seat across from her.

“It’s nice to see you again too!” she replied, her voice bright and warm, like the first rays of morning light. “Since we never got to introduce ourselves properly, I’m Mona Megistus!” Her smile lit up the room, radiant as the brightest star.

You couldn’t help but admire her for a moment. She was pretty—very pretty, in that effortlessly captivating way.

“I’m Y/N,” you finally managed, returning her smile.

The waitress arrived with your drinks, setting them down on the small table. You wrapped your hands around the warm coffee cup, taking a cautious sip. Around you, the café hummed with soft conversations, the occasional clink of cups creating an oddly satisfying symphony. It was comforting—almost enough to make you forget how nervous you were.

Mona broke the silence. “So, I’m guessing you dated Kuni too, huh?” she asked casually, sipping her latte as if she hadn’t just dropped a conversational bomb.

You nearly choked on your coffee, sputtering. “Huh? No, no, we never dated!”

She raised an elegant eyebrow. “Really? Then why were you two acting so... weird at the meet-up?”

You sighed, feeling your cheeks heat up. “Well...” You hesitated, but Mona’s expectant gaze prompted you to continue. “I had started competing around the same time Scara had made a name for himself. At first, he was my biggest inspiration, but then... he became my biggest rival. Somewhere along the way, I developed this stupid crush on him.”

Her lips quirked upward in an amused smile, but she stayed silent, letting you continue.

“I thought the rivalry was just for the media, you know? But then I overheard him talking about me once. He said I was clingy, annoying, and pathetic. I just... I don’t know what to do anymore.” The words spilled out of you in a rush, as if finally sharing them might lighten the weight in your chest.

Mona listened intently, nodding along. When you finished, you dropped your head onto the table, groaning in frustration.

To your surprise, she giggled.

You lifted your head to glare at her. “What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, sorry,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “It’s just—you sound exactly like me when Kuni and I broke up.”

You froze, the pieces clicking into place. Mona Megistus, rumored to be Scaramouche’s ex-girlfriend. And here you were, pouring your heart out about your crush on her ex.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry—” you began, mortified.

But she waved you off, smiling. “It’s fine. That’s actually why I wanted to talk to you. Kunikuzushi isn’t exactly... easy to understand. I thought maybe we could bond over that.” Her gaze softened as she looked out the window.

“Well,” you said, attempting an awkward smile, “we can still be two heartbroken girls. And friends.”

Mona’s smile returned, brighter this time. “Look, Y/N, Scaramouche doesn’t always mean what he says. He’s... complicated. But if you want my advice, make him want you, not the other way around.” She shrugged, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “But of course we can be friends!”

Before you could respond, she stood and paid for both your drinks. Then, grabbing your hand, she pulled you toward the door.

“Where are we going?” you asked, struggling to keep up with her pace.

She stopped abruptly outside and pointed ahead. The annual fair was in full swing, the setting sun casting a warm golden glow over the colorful booths and rides.

“We’re going to have some fun,” she declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

You barely had time to process before she was dragging you into the fairgrounds.

The next few hours passed in a blur of laughter and excitement. Mona was a whirlwind of energy, pulling you from booth to booth. You shared cotton candy, the sugary treat melting on your tongue, and challenged each other to win plush toys at the carnival games. Mona won a small, stuffed star, which she immediately handed to you with a triumphant grin.

The rides came next. The two of you screamed your lungs out on the rollercoaster, clung to each other during the haunted house, and laughed until your stomachs hurt on the spinning teacups.

Finally, as the night deepened, you both made your way to the ferris wheel. The line wasn’t long, and soon you were seated in one of the gondolas, slowly ascending above the fairgrounds.

The view was breathtaking. The fair’s bright lights twinkled like a sea of stars below you, and the distant city skyline shimmered against the dark sky.

“Wow,” Mona breathed, leaning forward to take it all in.

“Yeah,” you agreed, unable to take your eyes off the scene.

For a moment, the two of you sat in silence, the gentle sway of the ferris wheel lulling you into a sense of peace. Then Mona turned to you, her expression uncharacteristically serious.

“Thanks for coming out with me tonight,” she said softly. “I think... I really needed this.”

You smiled at her, warmth spreading through your chest. “Me too. Thanks for taking me out, Mona.”

The ride ended too soon, and the two of you walked out of the fairgrounds together. The cool night air was refreshing after the excitement of the evening.

“Let me know when you’re free again, okay?” Mona said, waving as she started walking in the opposite direction.

“Will do! Bye!” you called after her.

As you made your way home, you pulled out your phone and opened Instagram. Scrolling through the pictures you’d taken throughout the night, you smiled and posted a few of the best ones with a caption: Best night in a while. Thanks, Mona!

For the first time in what felt like forever, the ache in your chest felt just a little lighter.

Scaramouche leaned back in his chair, the glow of his phone casting long shadows in the dim room. His thumb scrolled absentmindedly through Instagram until something caught his attention.

Your latest post.

He paused, his breath hitching slightly as he opened it. There you were, smiling so brightly it almost hurt to look at. The caption read: Had so much fun today at the fair with @Megistus.Mona

His jaw tightened as his thumb swiped through the photos. The first one showed you and Mona laughing over some cotton candy, her arm casually draped over your shoulder. The next was a shot of the two of you mid-scream on a rollercoaster, faces flushed with pure exhilaration. And the last—a picture of you on the ferris wheel, gazing out at the city lights with a soft, serene smile.

That smile made something twist in his chest, and he hated it.

Scaramouche tossed his phone onto the desk with more force than necessary, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Of all people,” he muttered under his breath. “Why Mona?”

It wasn’t a surprise, not really. Mona had a knack for inserting herself into situations where she didn’t belong, always making herself the center of attention. But this? This felt deliberate.

He stood abruptly, pacing the room as his thoughts spiraled. He couldn’t ignore the fact that Mona must have known how he felt about you. It wasn’t like he’d ever said it out loud—he’d never be that stupid—but he wasn’t blind to how obvious he must have been.

The way he always watched you out of the corner of his eye, even when he pretended not to care. The way his words always came out sharper around you, as if he could push you away before you got too close. It was his defense, his armor.

He’d never let himself be soft around you. He couldn’t. Being kind, letting his guard down—it would only leave him vulnerable. And vulnerability was something Scaramouche refused to allow, not even for you.

Especially not for you.

He scoffed bitterly, shaking his head. You probably thought he hated you. Maybe you even hated him back, and why wouldn’t you? He went out of his way to be rude, to keep you at arm’s length. It was easier that way, safer.

But now, seeing you with Mona—the warmth in your smile, the way you seemed so at ease—it struck a nerve he didn’t even know he had.

You looked happy without him. Too happy.

Scaramouche stopped pacing, his gaze flicking back to the phone on his desk. The screen had gone dark, but the images from your post were burned into his mind. Mona’s arm around you, the two of you laughing together.

It was infuriating.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as jealousy and frustration swirled in his chest. He hated Mona for doing this, for knowing exactly how to get under his skin. But more than that, he hated himself—for caring so much.

“Pathetic,” he muttered, the word cutting and self-directed.

But even as he said it, the familiar spark of defiance flared within him. Scaramouche wasn’t the type to sit back and let things play out. If Mona thought she could swoop in and take what wasn’t hers, she had another thing coming.

He picked up his phone again, his thumb hovering over your post. He stared at your smile, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“You think you’re so clever, Mona,” he muttered under his breath, his voice low and venomous. “But two can play this game.”

And as for you? He wasn’t about to let you forget him. No matter how much you smiled at Mona, no matter how happy you seemed without him, Scaramouche wasn’t going to let himself fade into the background.

He smirked to himself, cold and calculating. If he couldn’t let himself be kind to you, he’d make sure you couldn’t ignore him, either.

Letting out a low chuckle, he leaned back in his chair, the spark of a plan already forming in his mind. He didn’t know exactly what he was going to do, but one thing was certain: He wouldn’t let Mona hurt you like she hurt him.

how did we feel about todays chapter??? 😝 Don’t forget to follow and send in ask i would love to chat with you guys 🫶🏽🫶🏽

no head cannons today sorry!!

Series masterlist

Taglist 📩

@sketcheeee | @scaraenthusiast1 | @shutingstar | @automaticpatroltragedy | @bananasquash | @raineyun | @yuki-carmin | @vi0let-writes | @sushitushi | @shynsgore | @feiherp | @ale-t13 | @shyentsmissingink | @karma-gisa | @skyoverkill1

[phantasmatoucan]

PARANOID DOODLES AND SOME SKEPTIC IN WONDERLAND STUFF [his worst nightmare]

[patchdotexe]

the foundation block of my hierarchy of needs is having an oc i can go "WOW THAT'S ADORABLE" at

(this art is from last year but i recolored it slightly and i forgot how cute he is aaaaa)

[behindthegates-btg]

little template

[coldranger]

Nuking a canvas and had some doodles I wanted to keep, these are from december which is why there's like christmas stuff in here

The den drawing is in reference to Sasha the Christmas tiger and some lads on the btg server was redrawing it with den. Hunted was me just workshopping the pfp for that month. In hindsight reindeer Hunted would've been ironic considering instinct route

You can think of this as a continuation to this post w/the three of them in the snow. This is mostly just the fact Hunted would have to wear some extra layers and hate it

Younger variations on Hunted and Beast. That's it really, Beast is just salty he's taller than her (for now)

[the-acid-pear]

This is literally the whole fight man.

Was thinking of Spec and Hana's fight (hence why the urge to post though the tag is filled w x readers and no cool manga panels or gifs to rb smh) and like man it really was fucking kinky like Hana was straight up Naked and bro just continuously asking if he wanted more waiting for an answer before resuming to beating the shit out of this man until he couldn't go any longer like man this is just some bdsm shit that post I always tag as Baki is literally them it's mental.

[godmadeaterribleerror]

Hi!!!! Just so y'all know I finally got the time to link some fan-made stuff to the BTG masterlist, so when you get the chance, please go check it out and give @dammbi and @youdontknowe the "wow you're so hot and cool and awesome" they deserve!

[fanofthelamb]

COTL AU MASTER POST!

Hi! This is a WIP. :3 I’m gonna put in all my AUs so people know which Vitas is who!!! Since I’ve been drawing them a lot!

There’s a handful of AUs I have: (Color-Coded for your convenience!)

The Main AU (The Grove)

Beyond the Grove

Mistaken Prophet

The Modern AU

Fannon

And there is a little AU I have with @forbiddenlovecotl where Vitas stays in Lairei's Cult! Not sure what to call it.

The Main AU

The Main AU is just what I call my main story. The one where Vitas is hunted down, killed, and comes back as a vengeful vessel who slays the gods and then brings them back from purgatory! It’s also where a lot of the lore for the other AUs is stored.

Lore Posts:

Vitas’s Dad (Concept)[link soon!]

Tags:(will update as more come)

#fotl lore , #fotl [character], #fotl concept

Beyond the Grove

Beyond the Grove is the AU that takes place in an alternate universe after the games main events. Vitas, unable to cope with the betrayal and refusing the idea of staying a cult leader, decides he wants to explore his options and carve his own path.

Lore Posts:

None… Yet.

Tags:

#btg, #btg [character], #btg concept

Mistaken Prophet

In this AU, a different lamb is mistaken as the lamb to set Narinder free due to Vitas looking too much like his dad to be identified as a lamb. After crossing paths with the other Lamb, Vesta, who is barely able to take down a single heretic on her own, Vitas agrees to join her in crusades to help her take down the bishops on the condition that he’s allowed as much meat and beer as he pleases.

Lore Posts:

None, yet.

Tags:

#mistakenprohpet, #mp [character], #mp concept

The Modern AU

This AU is a silly little thing where the COTL characters live in the modern world. Ghosts and ghouls still exist, and it's Vitas's job to take care of them in whichever means he finds appropriate.

Lore Posts:

None, yet.

Tags:

None, yet.

Fannon

This is just random stuff that isn't really canon to anything. Silly ideas, jokes, doodles where I just do whatever whenever.

Tags:

#fannon

[wysteriaisapenguin]

Honestly, Moment of Clarity just makes me really sad…it’s depressing and heavy enough for me to only do it once and never again. And with all these new teasers about her, I’m feeling even more anxious because I feel like there’s going to be more new stuff with her other than her redesign. Like how much more can BTG possibly make me cry about her even more?

[starzoutlet]

Beyond the Game

2. Clashing Egos and Unlikely Alliances

series masterlist

Scaramouche’s POV

“I can’t believe this bullshit! I’ve worked my ass off for years, and she comes in and pretends to be better than me?!” Scaramouche paced back and forth in the common room of the shared house, his steps quick and agitated.

Childe, lounging lazily on the couch, let out a laugh as Kazuha passed him the blunt. “I think you like her,” Childe said, exhaling a cloud of smoke with a teasing grin.

“Hell no,” Scaramouche snapped, glaring at him. “She’s just trying to compete with me, and I hate it.”

Childe shook his head, grinning wider. “Sure, Scara. That’s exactly why you can’t stop talking about her.”

Kazuha chuckled from his spot, leaning casually against the arm of the couch. “You know what they say—opposites attract.”

Scaramouche froze mid-pace, whipping his head toward them. His tone turned sharp, defensive. “Opposites? Good. It’s a relief that we’re nothing alike.”

Childe smirked, tilting his head as if he’d been waiting for that response. “You’re right. She’s actually nice.”

Scaramouche glared, grabbing a throw pillow from the nearby chair and chucking it at Childe’s head. “Shut up.”

Childe dodged effortlessly, laughing as he reached for the blunt again. “You’re so defensive, man. If she didn’t matter to you, you wouldn’t be this worked up. Admit it—you’re obsessed.”

Scaramouche clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes. “Obsessed? Hardly. She’s just annoying.” He crossed his arms tightly over his chest. “And if I hear one more word about this, I’m leaving.”

Before anyone could respond, the shrill ring of the phone interrupted them. The sound startled everyone, cutting through the smoky haze of the room.

Meanwhile

You lay sprawled on the couch, your cat Velvet purring softly in your lap as your teammates chatted among themselves.

“I mean, it sucks that we worked so hard only for it to end in a tie,” Lumine sighed, flopping onto the bean bag nearby.

Venti, seated cross-legged on the floor, gave her an easygoing smile. “Come on, Lumine. Look at it this way—Scaramouche’s team has been playing for years. We’re practically newcomers, and we still made it to the finals. That’s something to celebrate!”

Lumine rolled her eyes. “Oh no, Venti, your idea of celebrating probably involves dragging us out for drinks. We don’t have time for that—we still have to meet with Ei about the...announcement.”

Before anyone could respond, the phone began ringing.

“I’ll get it,” you said, slipping Velvet onto the couch as you got up. Picking up the receiver, you listened carefully.

“Mm-hmm... Okay, thanks... Alright, we’ll be there soon.” You hung up, turning to face the others. “That was Ei. She wants to meet us as soon as possible.”

Time Skip

The familiar hum of the building filled your ears as you walked through its halls. The quiet murmur of voices and the rhythmic clacking of keyboards blended together, a constant backdrop of activity.

Lumine reached for the meeting room door and opened it, stepping inside. You followed her, your heart quickening when your eyes landed on Scaramouche. He was already seated with his team, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on you as you walked to stand nearby. You grimaced but said nothing, trying to ignore the way your chest tightened under his scrutiny.

At the head of the table stood Ei, her expression calm yet serious. Yae Miko stood beside her, flipping through a folder without saying a word.

“You’re all aware of the current situation,” Ei began, her voice steady and authoritative. “Due to recent developments, I’ve decided to merge your companies into one. Moving forward, you’ll operate as a single team.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room, but Ei raised her hand, silencing everyone before any questions could be asked.

“Another company has been rising in prominence, becoming a direct competitor. Unfortunately, none of the other teams under our company have been competent enough to handle the challenge. That leaves it to you.” Her sharp gaze swept over the room.

You exchanged a glance with Lumine, your chest tightening at the weight of her words.

“The tournament will not take place immediately,” Ei continued, “which will give you time to prepare. However, understand this: the stakes are higher now. You must prove that you’re capable of handling this merger and defeating the competition.”

The room fell silent as her words settled over everyone.

Scaramouche leaned forward slightly, opening his mouth to speak, but Ei’s hand shot up again.

“If you have a comment, Kunikuzushi, I suggest keeping it to yourself,” she said sharply.

Scaramouche clenched his jaw, sitting back in his chair with a huff.

“Good. You’re dismissed,” Ei concluded. “Prepare yourselves, and don’t waste this opportunity. Goodbye.”

Everyone stood silently before filing out of the room. As you walked past Scaramouche, you could feel the heat of his gaze on your back. The tension between you both was almost palpable, but you refused to look back.

You couldn’t. Not when the weight of what Ei had said was already pressing heavily on your shoulders. You sighed as you walked out of the building. Childe proceeds to walk over to you, Kazuha and Heizou following behind, dragging Scaramouche along.

Childe smiles brightly giving a small wave “Heyoo, we thought it was a good idea to invite you guys to our place, to get know each other better that is !”. You look up at him at a loss for words, A chance to be in your biggest idol’s house. Fischl steps in throwing her arm around your shoulders “What yn means here that we would love to come over, right yn ??” Fischl turns her head to face you. “Oh of course we would love to be your guest!” “wait crap i can’t look desperate” you think to yourself. “Well besides that budget Diva over there” pointing at Scaramouche. He sticks his middle finger up at you and walks towards his car. Childe sighs “Don’t worry about him he’s just grumpy, be at are place at 6! I’ll send you the address on instagram!” He says while walking away. Kazuha and Heizou waving a goodbye following Childe to the car.

Your eyes beam brightly as you turn to your friends. “A chance to hangout with Scara!” You squeal unable to hold back your joy. Your friends sigh as you all decide to go home.

Chapter twooo, don’t forget to follow me for updates. Feel free to send in asks, questions, head cannons, etc! WHAT DID YALL THINK LMK ??

Lumine and Venti are the only ones with liscences 😅

Yn’s friends are the “only” ones that know about her crush on scara.

In this Au scaramouche is nickname while Kunikuzushi is his REAL name (sorry for any confusion)

TAGLIST 📩

@sketcheeee | @scaraenthusiast1 | @shutingstar r | @automaticpatroltragedy| @bananasquash | @raineyun | @yuki-carmin | @vi0let-writes | @shynsgore

[bubblybloob]

Hey, so this kind of turned into a vent. Be wary going in, but it’s important if you engage some with my stuff. I think I’ve been thinking about it more as btg has become more active, and wanted to get it all off my chest.

I’ve wanted to bring this up for a while now, after my popularity grew. I’m sure some people have noticed my lack of joy at the 500 followers milestone, and the 600 one, but it’s a bit more complicated than on the surface.

So, there was something I haven’t really mentioned. It wasn’t ever really a secret, I just didn’t feel it was important, and was always taught it was dangerous to talk about and to dance around the subject if brought up. But I’ve noticed that the people on Tumblr find this kind of important to know when interacting. I know people on here can get really hostile, and this kind of became a secret because of that. I don’t know if it’s bad that I haven’t said anything or not, but I thought I should still make a post anyway.

So, I’m, in my country, since I know it might be younger or older in other places, a minor.

Okay most important stuff first. Yes, I’ve said or drawn mildly suggestive stuff, that’s mostly because I’m very unaffected by it and find it more amusing (I might be a little ace idk), though I do purposely keep stuff I make mostly tame simply because like- still technically a kid. I’ve seen stuff far more suggestive from afar before and just nod and say “mm, yes, that exists” and indifferently move the hell on with my life.

Being part of the STP community has been really strange for me and not all in good ways. I hate hate hate people looking up to me, or being jealous, or having anxiety talking to me because- in my head- I’m just doing everything and talking to everyone I can because I like making stuff and talking to people, and I feel so uncomfortable up on this pedestal where I’m held so high, but if I make one wrong step I’ll have tomatos thrown at me. It’s a really claustrophobic and isolating position and feeling and it makes me feel sick, anxious, stressed, and really really scared.

I like the community I’m in and friends I’ve made, but I’m really afraid I’ll say something unusual or wrong or maybe even offensive since I don’t know everything I’m supposed to say or do. I don’t know how to act when someone’s depressed, I don’t know how people feel about shipping, or designs for characters who canonically don’t have a physical appearance, or what the opinion is on all of the nsfw content. I do the Homer Simpson bush meme whenever I see it pop up because if there’s something that I do know, it’s that people don’t want minors reading their blorbos being sexy with each other.

(Side note: The amount of times I’ve accidentally clicked on an explicit fic thinking ‘Oo what’s this’ and then seeing what’s going to happen is… not staggering, actually. But enough for me to laugh in hindsight. I scroll to the bottom to read the comments to confirm my suspicions, and get the hell out. Happened with the same fics multiple times too because I forgot they were explicit and that I’d encountered them in the first place, wondered why I never read them and then boom, flashback, I never read the description like the fool I am).

And there’s the thing isn’t it. Some parts of fandom culture, it feels like all I can do is mess up. I just don’t know how I can handle all the fear of this attention?

Like, I don’t hate it. I like interacting, I like that people love my art despite my grievances with parts of my style, I’ve been so motivated to grow and get better because of everyone. You can all look at my oldest STP post and newest one and see the differences plainly.

But it’s really so much, and I’m as grateful as I am terrified. I’m terrified of hurting someone’s feelings when I don’t mean to. Like, what if I follow someone and they get excited because I’m a “big name” and then I decide to unfollow for whatever reason I might have at the time? I might crush that person’s soul or want to interact.

Despite my willingness, I do have problems with some ships, but I can’t voice any because what if I start a big argument with a bunch of people involved instead of the normal discussion I wanted to have? People are more likely to take my side because I’m the popular person, and we all know popular people are always right about everything and we must regurgitate their opinions without any thought put into how you actually feel. And then I’ll make whoever I was talking to retreat for a really long time, and everything will be awful and terrible forever and ever.

I can’t do that to people! I’ve been those people! I’ve was told things by people I looked up to and would get so so so upset, because I’m really emotional. I don’t want to hurt someone who might be sensitive like me.

I really just wanted to get all these feelings off my chest. Sorry if it got pretty venty. I’m open to discussing it, I’m still really scared to post this, it’s my only ever vent post, but I’ll try not to just save it in my drafts and let it rot.

[eclipsinggod]

Kissing BTG's feet for including more Tabby stuff.

I love her so much, I'm glad we can go platonic and just spend time with her instead. Or just be passive and bond, which is the key to solving this town's mystery, I suppose.

[modeus-the-misanthrope]

7, 16, 17, 28? :D

7. What line from the Shifting Mound do you like the most?

"She asks that you remember her. You won't." Has stuck with me since my first playthrough, it cements that not only do the Vessels have autonomy. But also that whatever you just met in the long quiet after your first run, isn't human and probably never was. 11/10 for setting the tone that Shifty is a cosmic entity beyond comprehension.

16. If you were a Voice in the Long Quiet, what would you be?

If I had to choose an existing Voice, Skeptic. From the get go I didn't trust the Narrator, and Chapter 1's Princess not wanting to give me a straight answer too many times made me distrust her too. Hence why I went back upstairs to grab the knife on my first playthrough. (It was with the intent to keep talking, but with some...unspoken leverage.)

17. You're a princess locked in the basement of a cabin, what kind of princess would you be?

I'm gonna assume I am a chapter 2 Princess, just to make things more fun. I think I would be more offended that I died to an opponent with a weapon, while all I had were my fists, and be convinced that if that situation meant I could end things in a draw...then some armor and a weapon of my own would make me invincible. Hence why I would be...Chapter 2: The Cavalier. Where LQ sees the inside of the cabin is now a Byzantine style fort (they were around for the middle ages) and in the basement/armory of this fort would be me. A cataphract wearing lamellar armor over a layer of leathers padded with heavy cloth and with a pike in my hands. I would be itching for an oversized bitch-birdman to try and stab ME twice. XD

26. What was your first playthrough like?

Enlightening. Becauss I had played the demo, I already knew about Chapter 2, but I didn't know about Chapter 3's or the Long Quiet, or Shifty. So while I had made some assumptions and heard some theories about what might be going on in the full game. Because I never even heard of BTG other work, Scarlet Hollow, I had no clue the cosmic horror rabbit hole I was about to fall down. But since I adore that stuff, I was very happy the whole way through...GodhoodEndingIsBestEndingFIGHTME!

[everestgale]

I noticed you call voices pinecones. Why is that?

This is a very funny story, dear anon, and by funny story, I mean "Everest took The Bit™ way too far, and now it's just a thing" /lh

Long story short, a few months ago, my dear friend @miyuka1709 shared a screenshot of her talking about different artists and their voice designs, and for me, she said "Everestgale is the one who draws the voices like pinecones."

Miyu's introduction to my art and my voice design was my Perception Check animatic...

This is SO OLD- [dies]

...They do kind of look like pinecones.

Anyways, I took The Bit™, changed my name in the BTG server to "EG | Voice of the Pinecone", started calling my voices pinecones, and then it slowly became what I unironically call them. They're pinecones now. If you see me talking about pinecones, there is a 99% chance I'm talking about my voices /silly

Fun fact: Pine Tree Skeptic joke pre-dates me calling my voices pinecones by about two months or so. It started when I was giving him a redesign back in February, someone said that his feathers made him look like a christmas tree, and then @/neverpathia made this glorious image of him.

Everest is just so easily swayed and finds the dumbest stuff funny /lh

Anyways!! Thank you for your ask <3

[newstfionline]

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Canada to cut immigration levels in major reversal, Trudeau says (Washington Post) Canada is set to slash the number of immigrants that it welcomes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday, in a sharp reversal for a country that bet big on immigration to boost economic prosperity and that has long cast itself as open to newcomers. The about-face comes as public opinion polls show waning support for immigration amid concerns that it is exacerbating long-standing housing shortages, pushing up rents and deepening stresses on an already overburdened health-care system. Canada is to admit 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, a 21 percent drop from the target of 500,000 it set last year. That number will fall further to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027. All are below the goal of 485,000 set for this year.

Asheville Has Tap Water, but No One Knows When It Will Be Drinkable (NYT) Nearly a month after the remnants of Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, running water has now been restored to most of the region around Asheville—but you can’t drink it yet. What comes out of the tap is often yellow or brown, and while it can be used to flush toilets and take showers, it is still unsafe for human consumption. Officials have given no indication of when the water will be safe to drink again, and the reservoir that feeds the system still looks like it is filled with chocolate milk rather than pristine water. Obtaining clean water remains a daily concern for many residents, who head to disaster relief sites to bathe, do their laundry and pick up bottles of drinking water. Large canisters stocked with well water dot some neighborhoods. Many restaurants and breweries that lack a clean water source remain closed. “It’s the new normal, going around to find places to do everyday stuff,” said Lisa Nowell of Swannanoa, N.C., after she did laundry with her daughter at a disaster relief site. “It has changed life so instantly.”

Thousands of adoptees live in limbo without citizenship (AP) The 50-year-old newspaper was turning yellow and its edges fraying, so she had it laminated, not as a memento but as proof—America made a promise to her, and did not keep it. She pointed to the picture in the corner of her as a little girl in the rural Midwest, hugging the family Yorkshire terrier, with dark pigtails and brown eyes so round people called her Buttons. Next to her sit smiling, proud parents—her father an Air Force veteran who had survived a German prison camp in World War II and found her in an orphanage in Iran. She was a skinny, sickly 2-year-old; he and his wife decided in 1972 to take her home and make her their American daughter. They brought her to the United States on a tourist visa, which in the eyes of the government she soon overstayed as a toddler—and that is an offense that cannot be rectified. She is one of thousands of children adopted from abroad by American parents—many of them military service members—who were left without citizenship by loopholes in American law that Congress has been aware of for decades, yet remains unwilling to fix. She is technically living here illegally, and eligible for deportation. “My dad died thinking, ‘I raised my daughter. I did my part,’ but not knowing it put me on a path of instability and fear,” she said. “Adoption tells you: You’re an American, this is your home. But the United States doesn’t see me as an American.”

Billionaire Esteves Sounds Alarm on US Deficit, Money ‘Printer’ (Bloomberg) Billionaire Andre Esteves, the chairman of Banco BTG Pactual SA, said he’s worried about the lack of debate over the ballooning US deficit and what he sees as the excessive printing of money. The Brazilian banker compared investor concern about his own country’s fiscal situation, which has been whipsawing financial markets, with relative quiet around the situation at the US Federal Reserve. The “reality is, even if you are the owner of the printer, there is a limit to print,” he said. While the fiscal situation [in Brazil] is being discussed daily by newspapers, politicians and investors, there’s been no similar talk in the US, he said. “The difference is that we don’t own a printer and need to be more rigorous.”

Molotov cocktail explodes in a Chilean high school, injuring at least 35 (AP) A homemade firebomb exploded inside a public high school in Chile on Wednesday, igniting a blaze that injured at least 34 students and one teacher, with several in serious condition, firefighters said. A group of students ages 15 to 18 at the school in central Santiago, the capital, were making Molotov cocktails in a bathroom to be thrown at a protest later when one exploded, said police Lt. Col. Fernando Albornoz. It was not clear what caused the blast. Police said they found bottles and fuel cans likely to make the explosives.

A loneliness epidemic is spreading worldwide. Seoul is spending $327 million to stop it (CNN) In South Korea, the city authorities of Seoul have announced they will spend 451.3 billion won (around $327 million) in the next five years to “create a city where no-one is lonely.” Every year, thousands of South Koreans die alone every year, a phenomenon known as “lonely deaths” and part of a larger problem of isolation from society. The initiative will include counselors, in-person visits and consultations, more green spaces and activities to encourage people to connect. “Loneliness and isolation are not just individual problems, but tasks that society must solve together,” Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon said in a news release. The problem of loneliness has gained national attention over the past decade as the number of related issues increased—such as young people who withdraw from the world and spend their days isolated at home, often for months at a time. The phenomenon, known by the Japanese term “hikikomori,” has become increasingly common; South Korea had up to 244,000 such recluses in 2022 by one estimate. The number of lonely deaths has also been rising—reaching 3,661 last year.

Japan’s ruling party may struggle in Sunday’s vote, but its decades of dominance won’t end (AP) Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ‘s ruling party, dogged by corruption scandals and plunging support, faces its toughest challenge in more than a decade in Sunday’s parliamentary election. This could set up a very short-lived time in office for Ishiba, who only took power earlier this month. But even if he may have to take responsibility and step down as head of the party and prime minister, it won’t cause his Liberal Democratic Party to fall from power. That’s because the party, which has had a stranglehold on power since 1955, easily dominates a fractured, weak opposition, which has only ruled twice, and briefly, during that time. The LDP has built its juggernaut of support through a network of bureaucrats, businesses and regional leaders. While opposition parties have made inroads in cities, the LDP controls the countryside, funneling huge government subsidies to rural areas.

Storm blows away from northern Philippines leaving 65 dead but forecasters warn it may do a U-turn (AP) Tropical Storm Trami blew away from the northwestern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least 65 people dead in landslides and extensive flooding that forced authorities to scramble for more rescue boats to save thousands of terrified people, who were trapped, some on their roofs. But the onslaught may not be over: State forecasters raised the rare possibility that the storm—the 11th and one of the deadliest to hit the Philippines this year—could make a U-turn next week as it is pushed back by high-pressure winds in the South China Sea.

Israel attacks Iran in series of pre-dawn airstrikes targeting military infrastructure (AP) Israel attacked Iran with a series of pre-dawn airstrikes Saturday in what it said was a response to the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Israel earlier in the month. The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities that Iran used to make missiles fired at Israel as well as surface-to-air missile sites. There was no immediate indication that oil or missile sites were hit—strikes that would have marked a much more serious escalation—and Israel offered no immediate damage assessment. Explosions could be heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, though the Islamic Republic insisted they caused only “limited damage” and Iranian state-run media downplayed the attacks. Still, the strikes risk pushing the archenemies closer to all-out war at a time of spiraling violence across the Middle East, where militant groups backed by Iran—including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—are already at war with Israel. The strikes filled the air for hours until sunrise in Iran. They marked the first time Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran, which hasn’t faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq.

Hezbollah proving a formidable foe against Israeli forces in Lebanon (Washington Post) After a series of staggering losses, Hezbollah is putting up a stiff fight against Israeli forces in Lebanon’s south while continuing to rain down rockets across the border, underscoring the group’s resilience and the limitations of Israel’s ground campaign. When Israel sent troops across the border on Oct. 1, officials estimated military operations would last for a few weeks. More than three weeks later, officials have said they will likely need a few weeks longer, raising concerns over the kind of mission creep that has defined Israel’s past wars in Lebanon. The militant group has bounced back from its unprecedented setbacks—including the penetration of its electronic devices and the assassination of most of its senior leadership—thanks to a flexible command structure, help from Iran and years of planning for an Israeli invasion, current and former Lebanese officials said. “They are a formidable foe,” said an official with the Israel Defense Forces. The official said Hezbollah militants are better trained, more experienced after fighting in Syria and armed with more advanced weaponry than in 2006, during their last war with Israel.

In Gaza Camps Where Tents Are Now a Luxury, a Harsh Winter Looms (NYT) A year into the war in Gaza, the prices of ready-made tents and supplies to build even flimsy shelters are soaring. Warm blankets, clothes and firewood are hard to get or prohibitively expensive. Finding a vacant apartment is out of the question for most displaced civilians. And many have no income at all. So people eking out an existence in tattered tents and makeshift shelters across the enclave are bracing for a tough, rainy winter. This one, many expect, will be worse than the last. Most of the roughly two million people in Gaza have been displaced at least once by the war, compounding the hardships of a population enduring waves of Israeli bombardment and widespread lawlessness.

[vitaminwaterreviews]

KiiiKiii - Uncut Gem

So these are IVE’s successors. Interesting, I genuinely never would’ve guessed. Although, they do follow in their concept a bit: IVE are about themselves, and Kiii Kiii are about being themselves. Musically this was weird, but still somehow cohesive. It felt like a five year old’s crayon drawing except it’s music, except more developed than a five year old could do. If that makes sense. Several of the songs had me questioning what instruments I was even listening to. Debut Song is still one of the biggest “what the fuck” moments I’ve ever had in K-pop, the MV goes so hard too. And actually, I liked all three of the MV’s in general, they definitely have a good team working on those. I did generally like every song, too. No real weak links, just songs that I liked more or less than the others. Average of 7.8 and I think that’s fair. Good stuff, I’m excited to see where they go from here.

- Debut Song

I watched this MV when it came out, and my god the audacity

They certainly got my attention

Mmmm the chorus into the rap verse

9/10

Groundwork

I really, really like this beat

It sounds like a coffeeshop

Lol what where did that come from

The bass is so prominent

“All you need to be” lol

Yeahhh this outro is good

8/10

I do me

I don’t remember if I watched this MV, so let me watch it

Youtube says that I did

I don’t remember it at all yet

Oh maybe I do, but that’s right, I think I thought it was boring

I like the vocals in the second verse here a lot

Yeah, this song is rather basic, it even literally has pretty girls dancing in a field of grass. It’s not bad, just kinda generic

Ironic considering the theme of the song

7/10

There They Go

What exactly is this instrument

Oh the “do do do doooo” that’s so cute

This is very Dem Jointz, actually it kinda reminds me of Itzy’s Gold for some reason

Haha the strings

What is this bridge

Honestly this song is Such a vibe

8/10

BTG

Are Kiii Kiii actually a hip hop group?

This choreo is so tiktok

I quite like the MV for the record, lots of pretty artsy shots

The prechorus (or chorus) the L-O-V-E part anyway, is super NewJeans

7/10

One Off

I really like how she’s annunciating the lyrics in the first verse

Haha what is that synth

I think it’s very telling that half of these songs have me like “what is this sound”

Cute little electric piano

I think that’s what that is anyway

What is the bass though

8/10 I guess? Kinda fun