#i am super happy with the pose regardless

[luxqaer]

Hello everyone! Happy late Melly Monday!

Time for another commission blog. And it is from @criticalspell with Hero Melia blushing after a special kiss.

Funny thing is though, Ceru (who the artist also goes by) didn't actually know what the truth of the blushing was until after the commission was done. I wanted to save that as a surprise 😊

So why did I go for this? It just so happens that Ceru drew this a few days earlier...

Yeah. I am a big fan of this ship. 😁

Which doesn't seem to be an unpopular opinion because many artists where creating Melia and Nia ship art. There is even a hashtag that got used pretty often earlier this year (#Melinia). This trend only really started happening a few months after Xenoblade 3's release and when the floodgates started opening up.

Regardless, the artist who mainly drew them together at the time was Ceru, the self-proclaimed "CEO of MeliNia". And I wanted her to draw Melia after she kissed Melia. A sweet blush with some awesome Ceru-styled chibis. Which, when her commissions were open at the time, she added free chibis to go with characters she liked. I thought it was an awesome deal!

Here is the sketch. You can tell Ceru was trying to test some things out for how she wanted Melia to be posed. Because the final version of the main piece and the chibi on the top right were flipped in the final version. Not really super interesting. Also, I like how Ceru does her sketches as well.

In general, the Melia art I commissioned from Ceru was a really sweet piece. I like how she gave Melia warmer skin color and the way she colors Melia's hair is so glorious. I love the chibis as well. The one on the top right is majestic and amazing, while the bottom right one looks doppy with the stars surround her. They're just so nice. Ceru just has such a timeless artstyle, and I adore it so much!

Ceru currently posts art on this account on Twitter (her previous account was suspended for some strange reason) , and she still does Ko-Fi commissions even though she doesn't advertise them as much. You'll just have to DM her for prices and a TOS. I recommend commissioning Ceru because her art just feels so authentic.

Anyways everyone, thanks again again for reading this all the way to the end. Tune in next Monday where I am going to share two pieces of Melia art I commissioned for Christmas last year. I'm just going off the chronology just for the holidays. Until then, good night and a Melly Christmas!

[fourseasonsfigs]

Masked Prince

Han Ye week continues with this adorable fig! Today's crown prince figurine was inspired by a very cute scene from Episode 8 of The Legend of Anle.

Han Ye wears this green and white robe and holds a mask in this scene below. He and Anle are disguised as commoners, hence the dressed down version of them both:

You'll notice that the mask Han Ye has here is a bunny mask. He's also wearing a pale grey-green over robe.

The fig, however, is holding a fox mask, and is missing the grey-green over robe, wearing only the darker green under robe. His hair is also a much fluffier, messier version that is sporting thick bangs.

This look (minus the fox mask) comes from this subsequent series of scenes a few minutes later in Episode 8, where Han Ye and Anle have messed up their hair and dirtied up their faces and robes to take their commoner disguise one step further to flood victim disguise:

Since him and Anle are in disguise among the flood victims, they are definitely not playing around with beautiful masks.

I am not sure if the fig maker took some creative license (which I'm all for), or if I'm missing a scene. Episode 8 is the only one where he wears this outfit, and he doesn't even wear it for the entire episode, so I can't think of any other scene it could be. That being said, I have only watched this show once, unlike Word of Honor, which I have watched an {undisclosed} number of times.

Regardless, this fig is looking super cute in his little protective box!

He's even cuter out of the box! I really like the Han Ye in disguise look (as well as all his other looks, let's be honest), so I'm really happy to have him.

I like how the fig maker echoed the fox mask in his eyes, as well as picked up the color in his robes in his eyes. It's just a beautiful figure all the way around.

As you might be able to tell by the fact that he's on a stand, this fig absolutely would not stand on his own. He toppled right over backwards no matter what. These days, I don't even bother with fig stickers or museum putty or anything else - if they're even slightly weighted to one side or the other I glue them right down.

He has his hand behind his back here in the classic Wen Kexing elegant young master pose.

This fig doesn't have quite the flowing locks of other figs, but it gets the job done!

You can see he has no guan in his hair, or any ornament at all. This is definitely our prince in disguise, although whether it's his commoner disguise or his flood victim disguise, I don't know.

I really do like the big chunky bangs, it frames his fig face very beautifully.

The mask is quite lovely too - it has the some beautiful leaf and flower motifs.

The costume is spot on for his disguise though - even the loosely tied knot on his left side of his belt.

Here's a close up of the mask. Pretty, isn't it?

You can't really see it from this bottoms-up angle, but he's got the wonderful detail of pants on under his robes.

I always particularly love this little detail!

His unadorned hair here - it's so rare we see this.

I watched the video pretty closely, but I couldn't tell if there was a black fabric band around his ponytail or if it was just his hair wrapped around it. I'm guessing by the look of this it was indeed a fabric band.

Well, we're going to continue our Han Ye week into the weekend! Come back tomorrow to see the next fig celebrating our elegant crown prince.

Material: Resin

Fig Count: 481

Scene Count: 31

Rating: No mask can hide his cuteness!

[link back to Master Fig Index for more posts]

[tobyfoxfacts]

Toby wrote in last month’s Undertale/Deltarune newsletter, that he had ONE beer and got piss drunk. We’re talking like, noticeably sloshed.

During his drunken episode, Toby began gushing over how much he adored Touhou Project. Zun (who was sipping on his 6th beer of the night politely smiled and nodded the whole time.) on a scale of 1 to “Oh shiiiiit I forgor how to write my signature” I’ll let you take a guess…

Second image is Toby's messed up signature.

Lucky for him, his art always looks like a drunk person made it….

I had a theory that Toby was sensitive to alcohol. He’s a little fella, who probably gets silly off of grape juice.

I stumbled across a picture of Toby sitting with some buddies drinking beer. Being the curious fella I am, I went into research mode and reverse searched the image. I feel super silly now, because it was a mainstream brand of beer, but I had JUST turned 21 and knew nothing about beer. Regardless, I researched the alcohol percentage as well. THEN I realized Toby’s can looked different from the others. HIS was non-alcoholic.

I posted a cute fact about Toby being a nonalcoholic king on Reddit SIX MONTHS before this article happened.

When my theory was confirmed as factual, I was… Verryyy happy. For a visual; I jumped out of bed, made a gremlin pose, and pointed at my tablet and screamed “HAH! HAHAHAH I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT BEFORE THEY DID!!” I did a little jig before shamefully lying back down in the oddest position known to man like the silly little iPad kid I am.

He wanted to fit in like a big boy and have beer with the homies. I decided that because Toby is very small, he’s probably SUUUPER sensitive to alcohol. (Because same lol) (this is literally the least professional newsletter ever.) That was my theory.

Extra fun fact. Neurodivergent people are more sensitive to alcohol. Especially if they take ADHD medication... so it may have hit him HARD.

Side note. While on a mission to screenshot my post on Reddit, I opened the Reddit app that’s been collecting dust, and was greeted by this message. NO idea what did, but fuck it, we ball. I also posted on Tumblr.

Extra side note. Sorry for abandoning you guys again and depriving you of tobert foxington facts

[allylikethecat]

oh i didn't mean to say you copied poses at all! just that this is kinda a fanon fact for me lol, baby hann being named william (i genuinely thought that was his real name for months)

poses is soooo good, one of my comfort fics! (i do skip like the two angsty chapters when i reread i am so soft lol)

excited for any and all upcoming updates, hope you have an amazing week

💖

Oh my gosh no worries at all! I know that's not what you meant - but I don't want anyone else to think that, especially with that being a fic and an author I have so much respect and admiration for! Also... if that ended up being his real name I would not be in the slightest bit surprised... William Hann has a nice ring to it... but alas in On a Friday baby Hann has been rebranded as Christopher and he's going to stay that way 😂

I was feeling really ambitious in terms of getting a lot of writing done (it's a holiday in the US so no work today woo!) today, but unfortunately did not get as much done as I had planned so far. Somehow Fictional!InfectionVerse!Matty is being really difficult this chapter and I'm like sir you are unconscious you're not supposed to get to have an opinion. I'll get it sorted and ready for tomorrow though! Then we'll have Make Way for Ducklings, and hopefully the next chapter of my Matty x Taylor Fake Dating fic soon as well - that one is my current favorite child and my baby and I haven't been super happy with the second half of that chapter, hence the delay (then again I might be the only person that likes that one haha) I also have more prompts to fill! And am also always accepting more prompts even if I am slow with them.

Regardless, thank you so much for reading and your wonderful messages! Poses 100% gave me a moment of hysteria where I thought about going back to school and becoming a teacher before remembering I don't have the temperament for that haha I think it's going to be a good week! I'm going to work, write, spend time with my pony AND I'm going to go relive my middle school glory days and am seeing the Jonas Brothers with some friends 😂

❤️Ally

[literaticat]

As a queer querying author, I’ve come across many agents who are only open to BIPOC creators, and I have to admit that I find this frustrating. Like it makes me feel *not marginalized enough* or something? Which is not a great feeling. I get that agents can do whatever the F they want , and my opinion really doesn’t matter, but I wish more agents would be open to “marginalized creators” rather than “BIPOC creators” which would allow

neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, and others the opportunity to feel heard—and fine if agents pick and choose which diverse stories they want after that point. Am I off base here? What are your thoughts?

I can't see what you are looking at, so while I don't NOT BELIEVE you or anything, I also am not able to know if there is greater context.

Like, are they literally saying they ONLY accept BIPOC creators, or that they encourage BIPOC creators to submit? When you say "many" what do you mean? Like "a handful"? or dozens? (You don't need to answer these questions, by the way, I'm just posing them so that you can know what I'm thinking as I answer this!)

I think MOST agents want all kinds of diversity in their query inbox. So sometimes an agent might just assume that people realize that and not mention it (but that doesn't mean they aren't open to it!).

For example, several of the agents at my agency DO explicitly mention on the website or on their MSWL page that they are open to LGBTQIA+ creators, but also all of us rep LGBTQIA+ creators and any of us would be happy to consider, whether or not we explicitly SAY that we are seeking that rep, provided that the story itself is within our general guidelines.

So why do sometimes agents mention it and sometimes they don't? Well, they might feel like they have to say something specifically so that people KNOW, like "I'm open to marginalized creators!" -- but then we get a lot of questions like "what does marginalized mean?" "I don't know if I'm marginalized" "I'm a woman, so I am marginalized" "I have red hair so I'm a minority" (I know that sounds like I am making up stories, but I promise it is true, ppl are wild) --

So maybe we'll be more specific, like, OK, I mean XYZ -- but invariably leave some group out, NOT because we don't want to see work from them, but just because we CAN'T mention every single point of marginalization that might exist, and then sometimes people think that if they AREN'T XYZ we won't consider them -- so . . . yeah.

(Honestly, I think that we will probably get complaints or questions regardless of what we put in our wishlists or how we phrase it, there's no way to please everyone and hopefully agents are being inclusive, etc.)

So with all that said - if an agent doesn't say "marginalized creators encouraged to submit!" or "BIPOC creators encouraged to submit" or some such, that doesn't mean they aren't open to those stories/createors. And if they DO say something like that, that doesn't mean they are ONLY open to those stories/creators.

BUT if they truly do say "I will ONLY consider work from BIPOC creators" -- it probably means they have a mission in mind and are committed to only repping People of Color (including BIPOC people with other marginalizations, ie, Trans POC, disabled POC, etc) -- in which case, OK, that's a space that isn't for you, and that's fine.

Just like not all gay bars are super welcoming to random groups of straight people. (Some are! But not all. And that's OK, it should be a safe space for their patrons and they can have boundaries.)

Just like when I was in college, I, a white person, did not feel like I needed to be let into a Black sorority -- even if the sorority looked super cool and they had awesome shirts and great parties. If a member invited me to one of their parties, GREAT, I'd be excited to attend and I'd bring my dancing shoes! But I'm not going think that entitles me to JOIN the sorority, or try to finagle a way to do so -- membership is not FOR me, and that's OK.

Just like non-Latine people should not complain that they aren't eligible for the Pura Belpré award - that's just not who that award is for.

There are lots of other bars, and lots of other clubs, and lots of other award opportunities, and lots of other agents, that ARE totally open to you - so focus on those ones. :-)

**

(ETA: This is not meant to come across as a scolding for OP, at all! Just a general PSA!)

[wander-wren]

the best new year’s present

that’s right babey! character art!!

this was a commission by @decarbry who did a fabulous job of bringing my kids to life and also being very patient with my questionable ability to email.

for the newbies, this is Cas, Ollie, Inari (w/ Zephyra), Daci (w/ Alarik), Eira, and Tyrian, and they think they’re a rugged pirate crew. they’re a few criminals fumbling around on a boat, same difference!

i’ll post more about them/their story later, but for now, some rambling about this under the cut!

first of all, just, lighting. colors. all of that. can we talk about it? i’m obsessed. i had nooo idea what kind of background color could fit all of them but the magenta and the blue?? is so??? also the blue lines are super cool, as is alarik being purple-y because he is daci’s. i still havent gotten over that since i first saw it. augh.

they were done in a group lineup also but i wanted to show off the individual portraits for this. regardless these are their same poses and i LOVE how tyrian and eira side by side makes it kinda look like tyrian is offering her his hand. they’re besties your honor?? he’s a gentleman??

if you look close ollie has freckles and i am completely obsessed with them. and just ollie in general. if i HAD to pick faves which i CANT but if i DID….ollie and inari. which is slightly unfair bc inari is my favorite ANYWAY but shh don’t tell anyone.

i really didnt give much guidance for tyrian because he took a LOT longer to form in my head and i therefore have a weaker idea of him overall but i’m very happy with how decarby ran with what little i DID have for him because actually? very fitting for his character to be the best dressed. it’s such a him outfit i’m kicking my feet and giggling.

cas’s little face…oh yeah he knows this is his crew. so sure of himself. he knows exactly what’s up. don’t worry pookie bear, i’ll change that for you >:3

i was going to say more things and then i realized they’re all spoilers HELP save me. just admire the pretty pictures yourself. bc i sure am. i think i’m gonna hang them on my wall just because i can

[darling-i-read-it]

hi hi! could u write hcs to how jason vorhees, jd from heathers, norman bates, herbert west and bo and vincent sinclair would react to learning their s/o has a knack for art/painting? (also hi, i’ve been watching so many horror movies lately and they’ve all been plaguing my mind ugh!!! im kidding, but how have u been maya? :])

Hi, how’s it feel to have immaculate taste? Also the limit for characters here is five so I just took off Vincent since you asked for him last. I hope you don’t mind! Also, I’m good how are you? I too am watching a bunch of horror movies so this was a wonderful request to receive!

Jason Voorhees

- omg! You can paint!!! That’s so cool!!!!!

- dude he would straight up die if you taught him how to paint

- then the two of you just sitting out by the lake as he points at how amazing your painting is and you reassure him that his is also amazing

- he tries to finger paint with blood

- Jason lovely boy

- anything you do makes him so giddy

- like just a simple sketch will make him all happy and he’ll wanna display it and show people

- he shows the deer’s that pass

- the deers think you paint amazingly

- he wants you to paint everything pretty he sees which means self portraits!

- he keeps one you made of yourself in his pocket whenever he goes somewhere <3

JD

- oh you paint? awesome babe. mind if we murder someone when you’re done?

- he just is slightly annoyed you’re not paying attention to him the whole time

- like hello! We need to go to 7/11!

- but the finished products always blow him away

- a cigarette between his teeth he will compliment you endlessly

- anything you may do of him only grows his ego

- he hangs that shit up in his car for everyone to see

- there is no stopping his pride for you

- if anyone makes a negative comment they’re just immediately added to the hit list, that’s just how it is

- and he doesn’t give mercy to people who hurt you

Norman Bates

- Norman loves loves loves it!

- oh he adores when he can watch you paint, it calms him so much

- he’ll hang up everything if you let him

- he’ll spend far more money then he should on supplies for you

- if you paint any of his taxidermy birds…he’s weeping about it

- how does that man not immediately combust whenever anything good happens to him

- if you’re concentrated he leaves you alone

- sometimes you’ll come down while he’s doing his taxidermy and draw beside him

- domestic

- it just absolutely makes him so happy when you do more than exist (which makes him happy regardless)

- Norman is just so proud of everything you do no matter what

Herbert West

- glad you have your own niche now leave him alone

- he’s got an experiment to do

- then he finds out how good you really are and that you can help him draw reference photos and maybe experiment type things

- now that gets him excited

- if you’re helping him out he may as well help you out as well and help get you new supplies

- maybe he’ll even pose for a portrait if he’s not busy (his idea not yours)

- not to mention the amount of green sharpies and colors you’re going to go through

- sometimes he’ll even ask you for offhand advice about is planning (if you point it out though he’ll never do it again)

- more time together though so you guys can just sit in his work space as you draw and speak and ask questions and he does his thing while getting to talk about what makes him happy while watching you do something that makes you happy

Bo Sinclair

- oh man, can you draw him?

- narcissistic asshole <3

- he likes that you have a good hobby cause he can’t always be with you when he’s killing people

- he isn’t against it or super for it, it’s just kinda meh to him on the outside

- but on the inside!!

- he loves everything you do even if he acts like he doesn’t

- will actively search for art supplies in victims cars and pockets to give to you

- sometimes he’ll even go out of Ambrose to get you more stuff

- he says it’s really no big deal for him but you know he wouldn’t do that if he didn’t care

- if he finds something he likes he’ll put it up on the wall

- he’ll even ask you to maybe do something for Vincent to go in the wax museum

- he just thinks you’re so talented but shush don’t tell anyone he said that

[arcadianmoonshadowjedi]

Let The Bells Ring (A Stricklake Wedding)

Good news everyone! I was finally able to motivate myself to finish this fanfic, which took me weeks due to work and weak motivation lol. Since I’ve been sick this week with not much to do, I was able to motivate myself to power through!

So this is a continuation of my Making Things Right fic, which is an alternate ROTT ending where the timeline is NOT reset and everyone lives and gets to attend the Stricklake wedding! This in general is how I imagine a Stricklake wedding going, regardless of the overall plot of ROTT. I got so much inspiration for this from throughout the fandom, including @bklily & @undeadchestnut <3 Enjoy!

~~~

In the weeks to come, the people of Arcadia and perhaps, the whole world would continue to recover from what would’ve been a large-scale apocalypse. To celebrate the end of this war and help everyone with healing, Barbara and Strickler felt that they should get married as soon as possible. Barbara nearly lost Strickler in his attempt to save Jim and stop the ice titan, and she was never more determined to tie the knot and be with him for the rest of her life. It was thanks to her excellent medical skills that both him and Nomura were able to recover from their life-threatening injuries, even though his wings were permanently damaged from the blast.

The day of the wedding arrived on a bright spring as the flowers began to bloom in the trees across Arcadia. Everyone was busy and super pumped getting ready for the big day. Claire, along with Aja, Darci, and Mary were all getting ready in her room. With Papa Skull music playing, they did their hair, nails, and makeup while also fooling around quite a bit. Aja sat right in front of the mirror back in her human form after a very long time.

“I’ve never been to a human marriage party before!” She squealed in excitement as her girlfriends did her hair and makeup.

“We’re so glad you can be with us, Aj,” Darci responded wholeheartedly as she pulled Aja’s light blonde hair into a beautiful, flowery updo with some loose hairs falling to the side. Claire and Mary both focused on getting her makeup done and when they were finally done, Aja gazed into the mirror in awe. 

“Wow! I look.. I look soo..”

“Lively!” The girls cheerfully finished the sentence for her.

“Hey Claire Bear, Darc and I are gonna grab a few things from my car. You and Aja finish getting ready, ok?” Said Mary as she and Darci left the room. Claire helped Aja get into her hot pink strapless dress, and Aja couldn’t help but squeal in excitement and twirl around in her high-low skirt. Aja quickly enveloped Claire into a tight hug.

“Oh thank you so much Claire! This is amazing!”

Both girls chuckled and smiled at each other.

“Also,” Aja started. “It’s so nice to have another girl to fight side by side with, I don’t get to do that a lot. And your shadows of magic are so lively!”

“Thanks! And yeah same. Boys clubs can get pretty annoying, haha,” Claire joked. "We should definitely hang out more," Aja nodded in agreement and they both smiled warmly at each other. 

“We’re back!” Mary said as she and Darci finally came back with more accessories. After they all finished getting ready, Mary took out her phone and they all posed for a selfie.

“Aw C-Bomb! It’s so good to have you back! We missed you like crazy when you left Arcadia! You and Aja!” She squealed cheerfully, squeezing Claire into a tight hug. Darci joined in and grabbed Aja as well. “Yeah girl! Don’t ever leave us out of nowhere like that again,” Darci said with a frown as she hugged Claire tighter. Claire chuckled and took both of their hands. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. It would be nice to take a break once in a while, hopefully,” She assured her girlfriends and hugged them again.

Moments later, the girls rode in Mary's car to Jim's house. When Aja got out from the back seat, the front door suddenly flew open and Steve ran out to her.

"My royal, ninja-kicking angel is here!" He yelled. 

Without any hesitation, he swung Aja up from her feet and spun her around as she screamed joyously. He kissed her so passionately that Aja eventually started pushing him.

"Steve!" She chuckled. "My makeup! You're going to mess it up!" Steve laughed and then they both pressed their foreheads together and smiled lovingly as they held each other.

Jim stood at the front door watching and shaking his head while the remaining girls chuckled and let out some "awws" from the car. Claire eventually opened the door and walked out from the front seat, and Jim couldn't help but let out a "woah."

Claire stepped out in glimmering heels and wore a beautiful, midnight dress with a slit to the side. She smiled at Jim and her smoky eyeshadow made her beautiful, brown eyes glow even more. She walked up to him and he gently took her hands in his.

"You ready to be the greatest best man?" She asked. 

"Ready as I can get," Jim chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. Claire smiled, then cupped his cheeks in her hands and leaned forward to press her lips against his. When she finally pulled back, she carefully stroked his hair and tucked it behind his ear.

"Good luck, I know you got this," 

Jim smiled and put his hand on hers, letting out a sigh of relief. 

Toby and Aaarrrgghh walked out of the front door beside them and the three trollhunters smiled at one another. It's good they were all back together. And actually happy this time! Toby walked over to Jim and Claire for an affectionate group hug while Darci and Mary walked over.

"Toby!" Darci screamed as she ran over to hug her boyfriend. With a massive smile on his face, Toby hugged her back and held her tight.

"Oh TP! It's so good to have you back! I missed you so so much!" She started, her eyes tearing up. Toby on the other hand, after everything he went through, just wanted to revel in this moment

"It's good to be back, Darc," he responded softly. 

Darci smiled at him and was totally digging his wedding look. "Looking good in a tux, TP,"

Aaarrrgghh nodded in agreement. "Mmm, Fancy,"

Toby put his hands on his hips and smirked. "Oh, well, yeah I do gotta look awesome-sauce for Dr. L's wedding, am I right?"

The gang laughed and finally went inside the house. Everyone headed towards the backyard except for Jim, who waited by the stairs. Toby and Claire looked back at him and gave him a nod of good luck before walking out the door.

Later that evening, more guests arrived and filled the seats in the backyard and Strickler waited for his bride at the altar. Blinky stood behind the stand mic with a piece of heartstone in his hand. Nomura stood by where Barbara soon would be. After all the help she's gotten and the time they spent together, Nomura became so close to Barbara that she gladly accepted her request to be her maid of honor. They were surrounded by a magical, embellished flower arch made by none other than Nari. Bright lights twinkled all around the place and soft, mellow tunes filled the atmosphere, played by both Krel on his keyboard and Douxie on his guitar. They high-fived each other for successfully setting a romantic mood.

Jim stood inside his house and then suddenly, he heard click-clacking from the stairs. It was his mother, so beautiful in her lace white dress. He couldn't help but tear up at the sight of his mom finally being happy again. She made it down the stairs and wrapped Jim in a warm hug. 

"I love you so much, kiddo," Barbara told her son as her voice began to break. "I'm so proud of how far you've come and couldn't be any happier to be walked down the aisle by my beautiful boy,"

Jim held her even tighter as he chuckled lightly, tears falling down his cheeks. Barbara then looked at him lovingly as she wiped his tears. She leaned forward to kiss his forehead, then put her arms in his as they began heading towards the back door.

The guests looked around as the beautiful bride made her way down the aisle. Strickler couldn't stop gazing and smiling at his soon-to-be wife as she walked towards him, returning his smile. Barbara finally stood looking towards him and Jim stood by Strickler's side as his best man. Blinky finally cleared his throat and approached the mic.

"Greetings everyone. We are gathered here today to join our dearly beloved Barbara Lake and Walter Strickler in holy matrimony. After everything that has transpired in Arcadia over the past few years, what a blessing it is for all of us to congregate here to cherish and celebrate this union. Despite all the trials and tribulations that have been faced by this lovely pair, well of course the unusual beginning they’ve had..." 

Strickler cleared his throat, interrupting Blinky’s speech. Jim couldn’t resist letting out a little chuckle. “Uh, Mr Blinky,” Barbara whispered. “We don’t need to go into all the details. What’s in the past can stay in the past. What’s most important is the here and now,”

“Right, right, right,” Blinky continued clumsily. “These two warriors have persevered through it all, the thick and the thin leading up to this very special moment. From this day forth, they will continue to strive and triumph together for the rest of their lives. Now may I have the rings?” 

The audience clapped while Blinky signaled for Archie to fly over and bring the cushion that bore the rings.

“Now both of you place your hands on this heartstone as you say your vows. Do you, Walter Strickler, take Barbara Lake to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

Strickler took a deep breath, then smiled wholeheartedly and answered. “Yes, I do,” Followed by the clapping in the audience, Blinky turned to face Barbara.

“Do you, Barbara Lake, take Walter Strickler to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do” Barbara responded softly, with light tears in her eyes as she smiled brightly at her soon-to-be husband. They let go of the glowing heartstone, then took their rings and gently placed them on each of their left ring fingers. They finally held hands tightly in excitement and couldn’t take their eyes off of each other.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss,” 

Strickler pulled Barbara closer to him and they finally leaned in for a warm kiss. Loud cheers spread throughout the audience with some sniffles of joy. Jim stood by wiping tears off his cheeks. Finally! Nothing brought more happiness into his heart than to see his own mother finally again, just as she deserved. And never did he expect that someone he once resented would eventually become someone so dear to both him and his mother. 

Claire looked towards Douxie across the front row and they both nodded. Absorbing shadows from around her, she released a couple of black and purple shimmering doves into the sky and in turn, Douxie cast out beautiful blue sparkles to light up the scene even more. A round of oohs and aahs echoed was followed by a standing ovation.

A few moments later, Barbara turned around and was ready to throw the bouquet to a competitive crowd of single ladies of all ages and… Varvatos, who’s made it his quest to be the next in line for Nancy. As the bouquet suddenly flew into the air and was falling back down, out of nowhere, a shadow portal opened and swallowed it up. The audience gasped and looked around in confusion as another portal opened and the bouquet was caught by Claire. She glanced over at Jim whose eyes widened and cheeks turned pure red. In response, she winked at him as he sheepishly smiled back and waved. All the other ladies grunted and Mary and Darci approached her. 

“Claire Bear! You’re not supposed to do that here! That’s cheating!” Darci told her with her arms crossed while Mary nodded in agreement. Claire chuckled and held the bouquet victoriously as she went to sit back down. “Um, I don’t remember there being a rule book for bouquet tosses as far as I’m concerned,” 

“Preposterous!” Exclaimed Varvatos. “It should’ve been I who won this battle for Nancy!” He heard Nancy walk up to him giggling and grabbing his arm. “Oh Varvatos, you don’t need a bouquet to marry me! I’m way past that!” Varvatos’s eyes glew up and he let out a big smile. “Glorious!” He yelled. laughing maniacally. 

Later that night, everyone got up and slow-danced to the sweet, charming tunes that Krel played. Douxie danced with Zoe, who he finally caught up with and they got to hunt niffins and grab burgers together as promised. Toby and Darci danced together and enjoyed their well-needed reunion, sharing a few kisses here and there. While Steve and Aja danced, they discussed their future plans and whether they would be together on Akiridion-5 or remain long distance.

“Well now, since we got wormholes and stuff, maybe I could come to you more often on Akiridion-5 while finishing college and who knows what will happen next?” Steve started as he held Aja and slightly dipped her. She smiled back at him and pushed her hair behind her ear. “You know, I really miss this mudball and seeing you more. I think maybe I too, should come visit and go on more Earth dates,”

Jim shared a short and sweet dance with mother then hugged her so tightly, before Strickler walked over to them and asked if could borrow his wife for another dance. Jim went over to Krel’s turntable and whispered something in his ears. Suddenly the music stopped as Krel plugged Jim’s phone to his turntable and pressed play. 

Claire sat and chatted with Mary and a couple of friends when she suddenly froze. It was a familiar melody that took her back to the night of Spring Fling, her first ever dance with Jim. The guitar strings of Eres Tu played as she turned around and saw Jim hold out his hands to her. She looked up at him smiling and grabbed his hand. She got up and walked with him further away from the crowd until they were almost alone but could still hear the song. They started dancing as the Spanish lyrics began to be sung, while Jim sang along parts of the song, just like last time. 

“Nice little trick you did back there with the flowers,” Jim joked as he spun her around. Claire chuckled and blushed a little. “Oh I bet you wanted me to be the one to catch it. But don’t worry, there’s no rushing into this. We just enjoy every moment together and take this all little by little, ok?” She assured him. He smiled back at her and stroked her cheek. It was so good that they finally got to enjoy this moment of peace without needing to defeat gumm-gumms or evil wizards trying to destroy the world. For both of them, it was a relief that neither of them felt the need to dread any upcoming battles hopefully for years to come. Without any further talking, they just danced together slowly reminiscing their beautiful memories they’ve had throughout their relationship, putting a warm smile on each of their faces. Jim spun Claire, then hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek, while Claire’s smile only got bigger and brighter.

From a distance, Barbara and Walter watched Jim dance with Claire while they too danced. “You’ve raised an amazing son, Barbara. Young Atlas has come so far in life and he wouldn’t have become the man he did without an amazing mother like you,”

“He’s also had a wonderful person like you come into his life and help him grow a lot. I couldn’t be more thankful he had you and Mr. Blinky help him become a strong trollhunter,”

The stars continued glimmering in the night sky as everyone enjoyed the rest of the wedding. A cool breeze blew through and the petals on the flowers and the twinkling lights slowly flowed along. The heroes of Arcadia have truly found an adventure worth telling for generations to come, whether it was on Earth, the caverns below, or on Akiridion-5. It was a one of a kind adventure that each hero will continue to remember and hold onto no matter what comes next. Despite all the trauma and heartbreak they all went through, they have also gained so much strength and wisdom, along with many great allies that will always stay together whatever comes next.

~~~

Thank you so much for reading this fic! I know this was super long but I definitely put in a lot of stuff that I wanted to see in the TOA series, including Aja and Claire bonding and a happy ending with a Stricklake wedding! I know this isn’t the best I’ve written and that I wasn’t able to give each character but I’m glad I was able to get it done! Stay tuned for more and hopefully more focus on other characters!

[the-enzyme]

My GameToys Sephiroth on the optional nude GameToys Sephiroth’s body. I am a bit disappointed that the shoulders are as narrow as they are. I knew the arms looked a bit thin, as I mentioned when I posted photos of when I received the body. Now with its intended head on it, I can see the shoulders are not broad enough. At least, not for ideal proportions, which Sephiroth is a proud owner of. DX They kind of gave him what I call “old-man-shoulders.” Lol! I sincerely wish his arms were more muscular overall. 

Otherwise, I am happy with this body, the hands are super lightly shaded, which my cameras had trouble picking up. I was going to attempt blushing them some myself, but they are super soft rubbery plastic. I have never shaded or blushed hands using acrylics, on a plastic figure. I am not sure how well that would work, or how crappy of a job I would do -- the nails on them are glossed too, which is a first for a 1:6 action figure I own by default. I might still try someday, to blush or shade the hands in the future -- I doubt MSC would work though. Also, they are super easy to switch out; I was led to believe (by the instructions included with full-set Sephy) that they needed to be heated. However, it was rather painless switching these out, so I posed him with his Masamune since I could. Now I regret not trying switch the hands when I had him on his fully dressed body. Putting the feet on was an actual challenge, and those do need to be heated in order to put them on and take them off the body.

I took crappy photos, because I suck, and my cameras hate me. I felt awkward taking completely nude photos of this guy, I don’t know why. I am used to taking full frontal nudes of all my “anatomically” correct BJD, so I have no clue why it was awkward with Sephiroth. This body is smooth down stairs, so I have no reason at all. Other than, he is my all time favorite character of all time, and I was posing him in pretty stupid positions -- sword fighting stands, when I know zero of such. The body is pretty easy to pose, but because of the length of his hair and the Masamune, he is pretty top heavy. It was a pain in the gut-hole balancing him. I had to use the Masamune at some point to balance him. The body does stand pretty well on its own, just not with the head on. 

There was no need for me to censor the full shot ones, but I did it anyway, just in case. Regardless of any nitpicking and me loathing how the lips look more and more, I am in-love with this figure and glad I got the optional body. I am a huge fan of Sephiroth since I was a teenager, and as an old-fart-40-year-old-lady, that hasn’t changed one bit. I might have to redo some of my partial repaints sooner than later, because that’s just how obsessive I am. *acompletenutjob*

[hee-blee-art]

tumblr user hee-blee i am trying to make a visual novel WHAT is the process like where do i start lol!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

hello anon, I am very happy to talk about this!! story-based games are a big interest of mine and while I am by no means an expert I do have some experience (I currently have four story-based games in the works and one demo out on itch.io) so I can offer a bit of advice based on my experience so far.

I think the very first thing would be to research visual novel/interactive story game-making programs. there are a variety of different ones out there, and going through tutorials for your program of choice will give you the best idea on what you'll have to do to put your novel/game together. I've been putting all my games together in the ren'py visual novel engine, which I have found to be fairly accessible and intuitive once you get the hang of it. there are lots of tutotials and videos and forums to learn from and ask questions in available, and the ren'py creator community seems very nice and helpful especially towards beginners.

regardless of your program, there are a few basic things that you can do to get started: 1) planning out your story (or stories if you have multiple paths; I personally find it helpful to have a document with all the story paths written out before I start coding to help keep myself organized, and to have a collection of character sheets on hand for the main cast, as characters are the most important part of visual novels/interactive stories), and 2) making sprite libraries and backgrounds (collections of images of your characters with different poses/expressions and the various settings for your stories. the basic setup for visual novels is sprites on backgrounds with dialogue/text, and you can definitely make a lovely visual novel using just those things. you can add in a ton of other elements if you want--there are lots of ways to get creative with visual novel/interactive story engines--but it's easier to keep things simple your first time around to avoid overwhleming yourself.

I'd also suggest checking out other visual novels for inspiration (itch.io is a great place to find free indie story-based games and visual novels), and taking a while to go through google and youtube to learn about how other people make their visual novels--the more perspectives you get, the more tips and tricks you'll learn.

some general pointers I have for people starting out with making visual novels/interactive story games:

- back up your code often! I copy and paste mine into a google doc every so often to make sure I have a back up of it just in case something happens to my active script, and for good measure I also copy my wip game files over to an external hard drive every once in a while just in case.

- don't worry about stylistic elements (title screens, menus, user interfaces, decorative flourishes, etc) until closer to the end of your coding process. I find it a lot easier that way as opposed to trying to tend to both the game script and the stylistic elements at once. if you'd prefer, the same benefit could come from handling all the stylistic elements first right out of the gate, but I would reccomend especially for you first time to leave styling your game until the end.

- don't let stubborn errors get you down! coding--even relatively simple coding like that used in engines like ren'py--is a lot of trial and error (at least for me), and you'll have to go back a lot to search for and correct little coding errors to get everything to work right. it can definitely be frustrating, but it gets easier the more you do it, and if you get stuck a quick google search will usually get you to a forum post with a solution (and if it doesn't, you can always post in a forum yourself to ask for help).

I hope that helps a bit! I'm very heartened to encounter someone interested in making visual novels--I think they're a wonderful and super versatile storytelling form and I would encourage anyone interested in making one to take a crack at it.

if you have any specific questions or just want to talk about the process or your stories, I would be more than happy to hear about them, so feel free to dm me (invitation open to anyone interested in visual novels/interactive story-based games!) best of luck, I hope to be able to experience your visual novel(s) some day!

[secretgamergirl]

Dear Game Developers, I don’t want to be a rapacious colonizing blight on the world.

I like a pretty wide variety of games, but one general thing I’ve always been particularly keen on is the sort of game where I start off just kinda naked in the wilderness with nothing and have to build up a bunch of infrastructure to accomplish something. So you know, RTSes, Civ clones, survival games, sandbox-y Minecraft stuff, Dwarf Fortress and similar things, but these all have this really annoying habit of making my character the biggest existential threat to the entire world, and I would really like them to stop doing that all the time.

So, just to open up with an example of how to do this sort of thing in a way I like, Subnautica is one of my favorite games. I recently streamed the whole thing, so, links to that if you’d like: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Subnautica actively confronts my issue head on, and handles it right. I’m not slaughtering everything I see, I’m not strip mining the whole planet, I’m not leveling forests. I’m here by way of horrible tragic accident, and by the end of the game I’ve done my best to clean up the mess from that and address some other global issues to the point where I can confidently say my presence over the course of the game has made for a net positive impact on the environment in which it’s set. Plus it’s a great game in a bunch of other ways.

I’m also pretty happy with Factorio, oddly enough. In Factorio I AM strip mining the whole world, slaughtering absolutely all of the local wildlife, and any forests I’m not clear-cutting I’m choking out with industrial emissions that leave nothing but dry withered skeletons where there were once beautiful stretches of foliage. The thing of it is, between actually tracking my environmental impact as a mechanic and having such downer visuals, it at least feels like the developers and I are sharing a really dark joke about how awful you are in games like this.

Then on the other side of the coin here, we have, say, Satisfactory. A game in the same weird subgenre as Factorio (do we have a name for these yet? Convey’em Ups?) but... really gross. The player is explicitly just heading down to this really beautiful planet to extract and process all the resources they can. You’re rewarded for killing... basically all life you see despite it not generally posing any sort of real threat to you, clear cutting all the vegetation, and to keep the factory building vibes nice and chill, when you tap into a coal vein or set up an oil well, you get an endless supply of those burnable fuels to use forever, with absolutely no consequence, as you just consume all the things to make all the other things and ship them out to meet quotas. And that’s... kinda gross? Again, the fact that nothing you do has any sort of consequence despite half of it being stuff that is literally killing the world in reality makes it way worse.

Meanwhile, lately I’ve been keeping a lot of modded Minecraft videos going in the background to stave off the social isolation with the whole plague and all with some human voices, and see what cool new ideas people are testing there. One of the real popular new mods is this one called MineColonies, and you know what? It’s really neat. The idea is you find a big open plot of land somewhere, throw down blueprints for really huge multiblock structures of houses and workshops and such, get those built up a little, and NPCs start wandering in you can start giving jobs to. Here’s someone to harvest and replant trees, someone to go mining for underground resources, someone to build and upgrade the rest of these buildings, people to provide renewable food and medicine to all these other NPCs. Schools for their kids to get their stats up to good places by adulthood, a whole higher learning system to advance a tech tree, it’s cool.

But the thing is, as you probably gathered from the name, it’s DISGUSTINGLY colonialist. All these people coming in are explicitly white, with British accents, explicitly gendered and explicitly heterosexual too incidentally, and a huge part of the general infrastructure building is having to set up guard posts and barracks all over, training knights and archers to defend against the local barbarians native to the land you’re building on who wander out of the wilderness to attack everyone with some regularity. And I mean, how messed up is that? This mod is explicitly adding in native people’s just so there’s someone for you to displace and murder as you colonize some big chunk of unspoiled wilderness in the name of prosperity for your... British colony. Which of course works on an explicitly feudalist system (and then also for some reason has everyone grumbling about how you’re spending your gold, which you aren’t even doing). It totally thematically ruins what I’d otherwise be super super into. And not long after this was released, baseline Minecraft did basically the same thing. There are now roving barbarian tribes who go around trying to kill you and any villagers near you and you have to concern yourself with wiping out whole groups of them with some regularity, whereas previously the only enemies you really had to deal with were zombies and skeletons and a few other weird explicitly monstrous things. It’s gross.

My distaste for slaughtering barbarians extends to the civilization games too. Which... I mean I have put a LOT of hours into a lot of Civ games so it’s obviously not a total dealbreaker for me, but... you’re always this weird immortal dictator and even if you set your civilization up as a democracy, you sure do win every single election regardless of how unhappy people are with you, and you spend a good chunk of time slaughtering local barbarians. And increasingly, with each new game, smaller independent nations because they really keep putting more and more emphasis on military conquest being, if not the best path to victory, one you have to push pretty far no matter what you’re going for.

And it doesn’t have to work like that. My favorite game, mostly in the franchise, is still Alpha Centauri. Where the “barbarians” are brain eating space worms, not other humans, and even then, you can (and I consistently do) be a big tree-hugging hippy, enact worm-friendly social policies, make friends with them instead of killing them, and have them go devour a bunch of violent anti-science anti-environment right wing creeps, strongarm everyone else into adopting similar policies, and, like Subnautica, leave the world better than you found it by foregoing all the easier wins and doing the thing where you find a permanent solution to the local planetary superconsciousness accidentally going berserk and eating itself at periodic intervals. Happy ending for everyone! Except for Miriam. Screw Miriam.

Meanwhile, someone I know not to long ago just randomly pitched a game where there’s a big nature ravaging industrial sprawl, but you play as some sort of reclaiming embodiment of nature, strategically... I guess spreading trees to grow up through everything and have rats chew through the wiring and stuff, and yeah, I would play the hell out of that game. If nobody else gets to it before I clear my plate of all these other projects, I might even make that game.

I should stress again too that it’s not even that I don’t want games to ever put me in such a role as the player, just if you’re going to do it, acknowledge that that sort of thing isn’t cool, and either make it clear that the player character has been forced into a really unfortunate position, or that said character is just awful. Or both, both works.

What I don’t want to ever see people do is rationalize a way out of the issues. “Oh this is an infinite supply of clean-burning coal” does not fly with me. “Oh we’re establishing a colony but it’s on an alien planet” is still colonialism. The weird fetish the whole game industry seems to have with leveling forests is not made better by having those trees give you saplings that fully replace every tree cut down in like 2 minutes. If you don’t want to unpack the moral implications of something, you can just not include it to begin with. None of the stuff I’ve been laying out here is actually necessary for any of these games to work. Just... quit being weird and making me play coal-mining conquistadors already.

[sk-lumen]

Hello dear enchantress Lumen,

I hope you are well and safe♥️ I just came here to seek for some advice from you and ladies out there if possible. I often get men complimenting me on my eyes and lips, more so my lips (I know damn well what they’re thinking about while they’re at it lol) but it’s become frustrating and to a point where I am objectified because of my looks.

I feel like I am a shell with a pearl inside- weird comparison I know but men just rather focus on what’s on the outside paying little attention to what may be inside. I like talking about mind stimulating stuff and the conversations get dragged to sexual stuff. While I am playful being sexually objectified is really a buzz killer 😞They start asking for naughty pictures and such. Every conversation I make online or in person with men has to always start with me addressing the fact that I do not send nude photos or videos.

I do understand that men naturally have a big appetite for sexual things. My question is dear Lumen; How do I deal with men like that? To have them to see more than and past my looks, but the beauty within? And also how can I keep the sexual thing playful yet not super nudity type? (Like for eg can I pose half nude or wear things to still keep his i terest but playful enough to leave the rest of my body to his imagination, hopefully enabling him to see me for my soul as well) Please tell me tips you would think be best in how to keep men going sexually but not getting things over done, how to handle situations like this, etc)

Your advice and tips are highly valued and appreciated by me. Thankyou in advance. ♥️♥️

Hi darling,

Note: you pose some very good questions which is why I thought it's important to share it with others. I will mention that advice requests, which are slightly more explicit in nature, should be redirected to my personal inbox where I can reply in-depth: either in private, or share on the blog to help others as well. I'm happy to help, however such topics are not the main focus of my tumblr blog, which I would like to keep as a more light and safe space, welcoming to all regardless of goals or sensibilities. I'm open to everyone else's thoughts on this suggestion.

After reading your story, let me address each topic one by one:

You may be looking for gentlemen in the wrong circles. There is a repeating pattern here, and it is either from navigating the same circles, or attracting the same type of guys, or simply being surrounded by the same type in your local area. For this, I would advise to experiment and try new places more associated with higher value men (theatre, art exhibitions, museums, upscale restaurants, etc).

This whole trend with provocative photos is simply a result of the p*rn culture combined with consumerism, which has normalized the access to/objectification of female bodies as a product so to speak. Yes, it is unquestionable that the female body is a work of art - but unfortunately today's society does not yet understand this. Ignore the trend of n*des. Do not for a second succumb to it unless you are in a 100% committed relationship, completely trust your partner, and feel very much safe to do so — and even then, thoroughly considered. Is it worth risking things like having those photos leaked, your privacy and trust broken, just for a nondescript guy’s validation? The smart answer is simple: never.

Generally speaking, women have an equally big appetite. It’s simply about how both genders (or any gender) are socialized in expressing it. LVM learn that they can express it any way they wish, HVM act as gentlemen, as they should; whereas women oscillate between the double-edged blade of being too little or too much, either way facing risking judgement over it.

How to deal with low value men (because no man of class would ask for licentious photos, and I stand by that statement)? Block, delete, move on. If you are determined to embark on a journey of leveling up, you cannot waste time with such behaviour, dear ladies. There’s zero benefit, zero return of investment from engaging with men that have not yet reached the baseline of respecting you as an individual. There's no two ways about this, and there’s nothing to negotiate there.

You can’t make a man see, do or say anything. He either sees your value or he doesn’t. If you have to bring arguments to the table, the game is already rigged and you have lost, because the moment you question your worth is when they have already won. The only thing you should do then is find another table.

"Can I (…) to keep his interest" - Please don’t entertain this line of thought darling, it serves no one but LVM. You don’t have to do anything to keep someone’s interest, except be yourself. If you have to go above and beyond, bend over backwards, be someone you’re not, or step out of your comfort zone/boundaries at any point, it’s time to walk away. Besides, a man's interest is not a warranty for commitment or love.

Don’t rely on the mindset of luring in a guy with desire, to capture his heart. It should be the other way around, or simultaneous. But if he desires solely your body before even considering your mind, heart or soul… his priorities are clear, and they’re not likely to change.

My universal strategy for dating/relationships, which is in the best interest of your sacred feminine energy, the safeguarding of your heart, and the wise use of your time, is this:

Have clear standards, know what kind of man you’re interested in, take your time dating accordingly. When you find a good one, let him court you until he’s proven himself as a worthwhile companion that you can trust with all of you. Once commitment is made clear (and I mean clear, open commitment stated out loud, no juvenile "what are we" allusions), wait at least 3-6 months to further strengthen the relationship’s foundation of intimacy, and only then open completely.

It may sound complicated or long-winded, but it is a smart strategy for countless reasons: only a HVM will be patient, consistent and dedicated enough to stay for the long run all throughout. LVM will either bail, protest, test your boundaries, or other red flags which will reveal themselves on their own and spare you the trouble.

Hope this helps. Take care. ❤️

-Lumen

[njamil21]

Inktober Day 1 - Crystal

Super late with this one but I was running other errands that I couldn’t skip out on, but I am glad I got to finish this! The first thing that came to mind when I saw the prompt was Sakura in that white, gold, and crystalline princess outfit made for Clear Card so I thought it would be fun to draw my best girl for today. Drawing crystals is hard so it’s not totally the best, especially when I decided to go for watercolors, but I’m quite happy with the pose and feel of it overall! It’s going to be a busy month for me, but I hope to get all 31 days regardless. Wish me luck!

Please do not edit or repost without permission. (I edited my commission prices!)

[thefairyletters]

Naruto in Hero Academy

Which Naruto characters would replace the MHA characters more accurately in MHA AU?

Here is what I think:

🔸

Naruto Uzumaki ➡ Mirio Togata

Naruto is a lot of things but nervous and shy isn't one of them. Izuku may be the protagonist of MHA but Naruto is like Izuku only in terms of his desire to protect everything that breathes, oblivious towards the blatant interest of opposite sex and their determination to succeed.

Mirio, on the other hand, is optimistic and shares same sentiment towards helping others. He, like Naruto, is not the brightest student and can be dumb and goofy. He is also a jokester of sorts and makes fool of himself like Naruto. Both of them are very hardworking and train themselves to master hardest techniques.

Naruto's quirk: Pressure control

Sakura Haruno ➡ Kyoka Jirou, Ochako Uraraka

Jirou is cool, smart, level-headed and quite aggressive. Sakura is book smart, is dry when she wants to be, isn't afraid to put people in their places when they show disobedience or act silly, and has leadership qualities. Both are self-conscious of their looks and bodies and have aversion to horror settings.

Ochako and Sakura are both strong willed, both work hard to be useful to their friends and don't want to left behind. Both are competitive, friendly and kind. Both become shy in front of their love interest. Ochako wants to become a good hero to support her parents and help people, Sakura worked to truly become a shinobi to stand beside her teammates. Ochako cares deeply for Deku, regardless of her feelings for him, like Sakura towards Naruto.

Sakura's quirk: Super strength

Sasuke Uchiha ➡ Shouto Todoroki, Katsuki Bakugou

Both Shouto and Sasuke are cool, quiet, impassive and blunt. They are top students of their class and are popular for their pretty-boy looks and their powers. They both are from influential families and have a strained relationship with their father and older brother who is a villain. They both are intelligent and top of their classes.

Katsuki and Sasuke are arrogant, tend to look down on others and desire to be on the top. They tend to snap at their rivals and often lose their cool in their presence. Both secretly cherish and care for their friends, but are really bad ar outwardly expressing them. They are antisocial and prefer to train over socialising.

Sasuke's quirk: Electricity

Shikamaru Nara ➡ Shinsou Hitoshi

Both are straightforward and clever enough to be one step ahead of the rest. Both are antisocial yet have many friends who are absolute sunshiand are manipulative when they want to be. Both have their mentor's quirks passed onto them – smoking and love for cats.

Shikamaru's quirk: Shadow control

Rock Lee ➡ Eijirou Kirishima

Both are overly enthusiastic about manly things and youth, have optimistic personalities and are insensitive to what people says about them. They care and believe in their friend – Neji/Bakugo – no matter how they shun him away.

Lee's quirk: Speed

Hinata Hyuga ➡ Tamaki Amajiki, Eri

Both are extremely shy in social settings, show outward signs of social anxiety when it gets best of them, doesn't believe in their strengths and look up to Naruto/Mirio.

Eri and Hinata, both are timid and naive. Like Eri, Hinata is accepting of her father's opinion of her and doesn't stand up for herself. While not psychologically traumatised like Eri, Hinata has her social.

Hinata's quirk: X-Ray vision

Shino Aburame ➡ Fumikage Tokoyami

Both are odd ones in their groups, blunt to a fault and have distinctive way of speaking. They are both underestimated and are powerful in their own rights. Tokoyami has his bird and Shino has his bugs to assist him.

Shino's quirk: Insect control

Neji Hyuga ➡ Seiji Shishikura

Both are proud, dignified individuals and are strong believers of their opinions about who can/cannot become heroes/shinobis. Both are arrogant about their abilities and tend to be very cruel to others at times, but that's where their similarities end.

Neji's quirk: Deflection shield

Konan ➡ Asui Tsuyu

Both are not afraid to speak their minds and are very stoic individuals who rarely show emotions. While both are blunt and to the point, they also are compassionate and care for their friends deeply. They are also very supportive and reliable individuals which makes them great partners.

Konan's quirk: Telekinesis

Nagato Uzumaki ➡ Tomura Shigaraki

They both have been manipulated by Sensei/Madara. They both wanted to ruin Shinobi villages/Heros of the world for what they were manipulated into believing a greater cause. They both hide their true identity from the rest of their allies, behind hands and reanimated body. Both, as a child, were kind, compassionate and desired to help others.

Nagato's quirk: Resurrection

Itachi Uchiha ➡ Dabi/Touya Todoroki

Personality-wise, both are similar in some ways – aloof, confident, smart, stoic and cautious. Both often taunt their brothers by pulling on their abilities and weaknesses, however, their intentions couldn't be more different. If Itachi had been a true villain with no martyr tendencies, only rightly placed anger, then he could be considered as true Dabi of Naruto universe.

Itachi's quirk: Hallucinations

Kakashi Hatake ➡ Eraserhead/Shota Aizawa

Both find their wards troublesome and causes trouble to them as much as they could, but they both secretly love them to death. Both have protective steaks in them and always turn 180 on their enemies who dare to pose threat to their kids. Both have distinctive – Aizawa usuallu has his sleeping bag with him and Kakashi always have his porn with him.

Kakashi's quirk: Copy

Hashirama Senju➡ All Might/Yagi Toshinori

Both are revered as idols and are considered the strongest heroes. Hashirama established the idea of 'will of fire' and All Might is considered the 'symbol of peace', which is an idea of goodwill. Both are jubilant individuals, brimming with positivity and strength. They are always shown smiling and have inspiring personalities that are well-liked by others. Hashirama, like Yagi, have serious streak in him which is in contrast to his normal, cheerful attitude.

Hashirama's quirk: Earth control

Anko Mitarashi ➡ Midnight/Nemuri Kayama

Both have similar appearances – purple hair, spiky hair and curvaceous figure – and dress provocatively. They both are quite sadistic and enjoy unsettling others like its their personal hobby. Both are impulsive, stubborn, playful, but also intelligent and resourceful individuals.

Anko's quirk: Elasticity

Madara Uchiha ➡ All for one/Sensei

Need I say? The boss villains whose powers rival the likes of Hashirama and All Might. Madara is better person than Sensei of course, but both are terrifying, manipulative, have animosity against Hashirama/All Might and can be considered the Symbol of Evil. Both are power-hungry, ruthless and manipulative. Despite their merciless nature, they also seem to love their younger brother.

Madara's quirk: Gravity control

Tsunade Senju ➡ Healing girl/Chiyo Shuzenji

Both are old women. Like Chiyo, Tsunade is kind and compassionate, but also harsh and chiding towards crazy and reckless people. They are both expert doctors.

Tsunade's quirk: Healing

.

I had so much fun comparing the characters of my two favourite fandoms for this post. As far as abilities goes, I am happy with this list. I think Fire Control is the most overused ability ever. Gravity manipulation is my favourite ability; if you can increase and decrease the gravity then you are nearly the strongest person. Madara is that. It's insane how strong he is in Naruto, I didn't give him all that credit here.

Thank you for reading!

[photiniainsummer]

Something Worth Celebrating

Rating: General Audiences (basically GenFic)

Summary: Dark admits he sort of, kind of has a birthday. And then he sort of, kind of asks you to throw him a party.

I know. Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

(Basically a purely indulgent fic where Dark gets to be happy for 0.2 seconds. Yes, it's late, please forgive me, Mr. Darkiplier sir.)

(second person POV, gender neutral reader)

Word Count: 4906

Author’s Note: No warnings. Honestly just tooth-rotting tenderness. This is a super-late birthday 'present' for our favorite spooky ego that I just couldn't get out of my head. Also posted to AO3!

The thought strikes you in the midst of your weekly scan of Mark’s content. While Dark makes sure to check his uploads and social media presence moment-to-moment, you often join his weekly wrap-up review sessions as a second, fresh set of eyes. It’s usually a silent and uneventful affair, with Dark sitting at his desk and you to one side of it, both focused on the week’s batch of content as it projects on the opposite wall. Hooking up the projector was easier than hunching over Dark’s laptop, the two of you bunched together around the screen, and it usually meant you could catch and examine any irregularities with greater accuracy. Not that there had been any for months. Mark’s content has become suspiciously unsuspicious, with no odd shot changes in the middle of playthroughs, no sideways comments in food reviews… and so your mind has started wandering during your viewings.

It’s not that his content is boring. But it’s hard to enjoy Mark’s lighthearted commentary, really, knowing the man for what he is: a manipulative, body-snatching, undead creature bent on conquering the hearts and minds of the world. That kind of imposing terror makes it hard to kick back and enjoy him goofing through a new horror game.

And, yet, despite that same terror, it’s difficult to stay fully focused on the task at hand. Maybe it’s the lack of weirdness lulling you into being unobservant - maybe that’s Mark’s goal. Regardless, he makes a jokey comment, surprised by a new onslaught of enemies so soon after receiving a new weapon - “What, is it my birthday?” - and though he proceeds to casually mow down a fresh flood of zombies, your mind is nowhere near his running monologue. No, you’re off on a tangent of wonderings - When exactly is his birthday, anyway? Is it soon? Do the egos share his, or do they have their own, if they know it? When would they celebrate it, anyway? Did Mark build in birthdays for them when he summoned them up, or was it whatever day they were formed from some strange, shadowy process you still don’t know the specifics of? It’s a strange and vaguely sad thing to ponder, your mouth turning down at the corners as you roll it around in your mind. To your side, Dark sighs softly, reaching out to pause the current video. Mark’s face freezes in an unflattering expression, and you turn to look at the entity.

“What, think of something?”

“No,” he demurs, scrubbing the video back. “But you are distracted. What do you last remember?” He doesn’t sound annoyed, which is a little surprising. Where a few months ago he would have bitten off a sharp comment about your wandering attention, he just gives you a mild look when you don’t immediately respond, hands hovering at his computer. It speaks to how routine this has become for you both, how each of you has grown accustomed to the other - the ringing of his aura barely registers for you now, although you were certain when you arrived that investing in a lifetime supply of ibuprofen was a basic requirement for working in close proximity to Dark for any extended period of time.

That’s when the thought strikes you - you meandering thoughts crystallizing around his presence, centering on him. You have to wonder how much of your thought process Dark actually heard, if your idle thoughts are loud enough for him to pick up. But seeing as he’s not making any attempt to immediately answer, nor chide you for thinking about such unimportant things, the thought, as a question, easily tumbles out between you.

“Do you have a birthday?”

He immediately furrows his brow, blinking in surprise. “What?”

“I said, do you have a birthday?” you repeat, committing to this line of questioning. You go so far as to turn slightly in your chair to look at him better, attention fully directed at him. Dark sighs and turns back to the computer, picking a spot in the video a couple of minutes ago, certainly farther back than necessary.

“I heard what you said,” he clarifies. “I am attempting to understand what could have possibly brought that up.”

“He said something about his birthday. It just got me thinking, that’s all.” Dark pauses, squinting his eyes ever so slightly at the screen. His cursor hovers over the playback bar, obviously considering his next move. You pause with him, then a smile tugs at your mouth. “You missed that, didn’t you.”

“I did not. It was merely an inane comment, so I did not take note of it.” He’s a little too indignant, too quick with that response, and it makes you laugh. He shoots you a patented glare, although it carries very little true malice. “When did he say that.”

“A couple minutes forward, it’s right after he gets that new gun.” Dark hums in response, clearly still miffed at having been successfully teased, but in a good-natured sort of way. You watch him scrub for the right spot, lulling back into a comfortable silence for a few moments before you remember what brought all this up and press on. “So, do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Don’t be obtuse, come on. Do you have a birthday?”

“They had birthdays,” he remarks. You recall them, or, at least, a picture of them, the only one you’ve seen that isn’t a staged portrait. You like it better than the stiff, properly posed photographs Dark hesitantly showed you once, when he had finally explained his origins to you. In the one you preferred to remember, a well-dressed woman and man hug each other close as they smile warmly into the camera. It’s some holiday, or just an excuse to get together - there are garlands blurred in the background - and the woman is holding a fancy-looking drink in the hand that isn’t wrapped around behind her brother, tugging him into frame. He looks a bit put-upon, smiling almost embarrassedly as if the woman has cajoled him in front of the cameraperson into taking a picture with her. But his expression, for all it implies, is still warm. His body curls close to his sister, his hold on her obviously affectionate. The woman is beaming like she’s won, squeezing her brother close as her cheeks apple, her painted lips curled in such pride. Her eyes dance, catching the light of the camera’s flash. They look comfortable, happy, beautiful. Full of life. The woman’s smile had pulled one out of you, when you saw it.

Dark’s explanation of how he had come to be makes the memory all the sadder, the melancholia curling around your throat even as you remember it now.

“I, on the other hand, was not born,” he explains, and for a moment you begin to regret bringing it up. But the shadow-bathed man doesn’t seem bothered, his tone matter-of-fact, simple. You know it pains him still, you saw the look on his face as he described how he had come to be, how his aura had raged around him like he was going to pull apart. How their faces had appeared in agonized red and blue flashes behind him - now that you knew what you were looking for, you could see them as themselves, not just as Dark.

Which makes the fact he can say something that directly referential without threatening to rip through existence sort of comforting. Is he just comfortable with you, now, knowing that you know? Whatever it is, you decide it’s a good thing, and settle back in your chair. “Well, sure, not as such, but… do you celebrate theirs?” you ask, as gently as you can.

“I do not.” Dark finds the proper place in the video, advancing to it.

“So you don’t celebrate you… coming into being, on any particular day?”

“I do not.” You squint slightly.

“You don’t,” you repeat. Dark sighs once more, bringing a hand to his brow in the way he does when Wilford is being particularly taxing.

“No. I do not. But the… fans. Do.” It’s an answer given through gritted teeth - the man finds the celebration of him and his many appearances in Mark’s work frustrating, to put it simply. Of course, he’s completely committed to his role as the villain the actor dreamed of, and won’t lie and say he doesn’t find it utterly amusing how Mark’s own fans seem to like him more than the actor himself. But all that is tinged with the truth of his conscription into this role, the indignity of being painted as the wicked mirror image of the man who took everything from him. It is particularly insulting, particularly painful. So to have some false version of him celebrated and adored, is…

Well, to use his words: Disgusting.

You would go for complicated, instead. It does feels strange to have them celebrate a fictionalized version of the entity next to you, given the reality of the situation, but it’s not like you can fault them for what they don’t know. They’re caught up in Mark’s game - it isn’t their fault. Still, you aren’t really surprised they found a whole day to put aside for the man.

“What day did they pick?”

“Hm?” Dark seems caught up in some internal brooding, set off by the memories of the fanart he’s seen. You prod again.

“What day is it? That they made your ‘birthday’?”

He pauses a moment, considering. You can tell he knows, he’s just debating whether or not to tell you. Whether or not this will have unintended consequences. “June 19th. It was the first time Mark posted something… strange enough to be counted as my first ‘appearance.’ So it is my birthday, by their reckoning.” He pauses again. “I suppose it is as good a day as any. Although I do not understand it - why would someone want to celebrate my existence?”

His tone takes this bitter, harsh edge, and you instinctively want to cringe against it. But you also know how Dark hates you trying to be delicate with him. It’s better to be honest, to know his reactions are not for you, but for his situation. For Mark. So you suppress the desire to turn away from it, instead reaching across the bit of desk between you to touch his arm. He doesn’t react, apart from flicking his eyes to rest on your hand. Touching him like this, yours fades to take on the same black-and-white cast as his own.

“For what it’s worth, I’d want to celebrate it. I’m glad you’re here.” You squeeze him very gently, as if trying to impress that more fully into his mind. “And… they don’t really know you, but, I mean. I think they’d like you even more, want to celebrate you more, if they did.”

Dark is silent, gaze falling to a whorl of wood in his polished desk as he considers your words. He doesn’t immediately reply and you take your hand away, not wanting to be overly touchy-feely about the whole thing. Or, at least, you don’t want to be if that’s not what Dark wants. You’d be the first to console him, if you could, but it’s hard to get a read on what might help the man most. He lives in his head, unaccustomed to sharing much with the other egos, let alone someone who hasn’t directly been through what they have. Your position on the outside imposes a distance that even having worked so closely with him for so long hasn’t yet bridged. Still, you leave that door open for him whenever you gracefully can, whenever it doesn’t feel like you’re opening it to force him through.

You try show him he can walk through whenever he likes. If he likes.

The man shifts slightly, reaching out to adjust a small pile of papers. He puts them to rights, even though they’re already perfectly in line with each other. When he finally speaks, his voice is almost covered by its own deep echo.

“If I am honest, I meant more… why would they celebrate the man they see, the ‘Darkiplier’ in his works? He is not a good man, by any means. He tells the truth, Mark’s confidence in himself sees to that. But they do not know it. He seems to seek to trap the audience through lies, manipulation… I simply do not understand the appeal.” You feel a little caught out, wondering if you jumped a bit too eagerly on his statement as a chance to comfort him. “However…”

He stops, realizing he’s run out of papers to arrange, things to fidget with. Folding his colorless hands in front of him, he finally and intentionally turns to look your way. It’s a slow, steady motion, heavy with purpose. When you meet his intensely contrasted eyes, they fall gently on you. His expression is open, almost bare. Devoid of any bitterness, frustration - his usual armor.

“...it is incredibly kind of you to say that. About me. I. I sincerely appreciate it.”

The hesitancy in his voice, yet how honestly he continues on, intent on telling you this… It’s enough to break your heart. You give him a tender smile.

“You’re not exactly that man in those videos, Dark. Not the way he has you play it, know you well enough to tell that… But even if you were, you have reason enough for it, I’d wager.”

That gets you a wry smile from the man. “Enough reason to pull ourselves back from the dead?”

You laugh, softly. “Yeah, something like that.” At your mirth, the lines of his body begin to relax, and he eases back into his seat somewhat. It’s a rare sight, Dark letting himself relax, be still for a moment. Even his aura, ever-roiling, merely seems to ebb and flow around him in gentle pulses. His mouth stays gently turned up as he looks at nothing in particular, gaze easy on some middle distance. You can tell he’s thinking, even at minor peace like this, but has no real intention to speak again. Sensing the Big Heart-To-Heart Moment™ has passed, you sigh and look back over your sparse notes. “Should we get back to it, though? I totally derailed us.”

Dark pauses a bit longer in the moment before he idly waves a hand and reaches out to close the lid of his computer. “There is nothing interesting this week, really. I think we can call it there, unless you are especially invested in head-exploding physics.” You pull a face.

“Not particularly. I can finish going over it later, anyway. Just in case.” You stretch and twist in your chair with a sigh. “Think I’ll make some coffee - can I get you a cup?”

“Are you going to use the cafetiere?”

“No, I thought the Mr. Coffee would be better. Really gets it nice and watery, just like you like.” Dark scrunches up his nose in the most totally undignified way, and god that makes you belly-laugh, bending slightly over the desk to support yourself. It breaks him, getting a real smile to curl over his face. He can be such a goofball, when he wants to be. “Of course I was gonna use the cafetiere. Who do you take me for?”

“I have to check, I have had many a disappointing cup after agreeing too eagerly. But yes, I will take one, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“None at all,” you hum, coming down from your laughing fit. You make your way out of his office but before you can turn the corner, Dark calls your name, stopping you in the doorway. You look back to him, and he seems… at ease. His hands are folded across his middle, he’s resting back in his desk chair. The ghost of a smile is still on his face. You try to bottle that moment, preserve it mentally. “Yeah?”

“Thank you. Again. And…” He hesitates for a beat, making some decision. “If you or the others would like to do something. On the day. My… sort-of birthday… I would not be opposed.”

You force your jaw to stay in place and not hit the floor. Wilford will go ballistic. You don’t know if the mustachioed ego will be able to handle the thought of throwing Dark a real birthday party - he might just explode in a haze of confetti and glitter stars. Blinking, you right yourself, finding your head nodding before you even know what it’s doing.

“I. Y-Yeah! Sure, we. We could definitely do that. Do… something.” Dark just smiles a little more fully, exhaling a laugh. “I’ll. I’ll talk to them about it.”

Holy shit.

“Wonderful. It will be nice to have a reason to have a proper party. Something to celebrate. Don’t you think?” You’re nodding again, agreeing wholeheartedly, but dazedly, too. You don’t realize you’re just standing there sort of staring until Dark tilts his head thoughtfully to one side. “Is… coffee still happening?”

“Huh?” You remember. “Oh. Oh! Shi- I mean, shoot. I mean. Yes. Yeah. I. Coffee, yes. I’m… gonna do that.”

As you beat a hasty and red-faced retreat to the kitchen, bursting with ideas, you can just make out the man giving the faintest, echoing chuckle.

---

You don’t think you’ve ever felt such pure excitement in the Manor before. The air is practically buzzing with pure, unbridled energy as you approach Dark’s office door. Downstairs, you can hear the egos making final preparations underneath Wilford’s speaking in an overly dramatic tone, giving some kind of grand speech. Likely a rallying of the troops into being on their best behavior for their de facto leader. You can’t help a smile and a shake of your head - maybe he’d take his own advice tonight.

Either way, everything is ready, so you rap on the birthday boy’s outer office door. He’d graciously locked himself away after retrieving his morning coffee so you would all have the space to prepare. Of course, he hadn’t escaped early-morning birthday wishes from you and the Host, nor a fresh-cut bouquet of flowers you two had collected for him. You’d even carried them up to his office for him, just so he wouldn’t have to touch them himself and risk draining their color. The memory of how sort of bashful he’d looked, the you really shouldn’t have energy that had rolled off him as he directed you to set them on his desk - it makes you grin in anticipation for this evening as he calls for you to enter, now.

He’s sitting by the fireplace, apparently killing time with a book which he looks up from as you enter. An inquiring look pulls his brow. “All prepared?”

“Oh yes. Your party awaits you, sir.” Dark huffs a laugh and rises, setting his book aside. He’s dressed a bit differently, still in slacks and a tie but with the addition of a waistcoat closely fit over his dress shirt, which is slightly rolled up over his forearms. Then he begins to fix them, going for his jacket, and you have to interject. “Are you really going to wear a full suit to your party?”

Dark stops, looking confused. And a little concerned. “I. Was intending to, yes.”

Oops. “I mean, you always wear a suit,” you chide as gently as you can. “They look nice, but the whole point is celebrating, relaxing a little? Besides, you look nice just like that.” Dark pauses, casting a look over himself. He absently adjusts his waistcoat, and you notice a thin chain connected to one of the buttons loops into one pocket. Has he always had a pocket watch?

“You are certain it is not too… casual.” He almost sounds worried, the poor thing. You give him a reassuring smile as you approach, picking up his jacket and folding it with care before hanging it over your arm.

“I’ll bring it down, but I think you’ll be more comfortable like that. Though you aren’t totally dressed, yet.” The man gives you an utterly baffled look, and you grin in response, bringing out a brightly colored party hat. His look sours immediately.

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on.”

“No. I am already being made to go down undressed, I will not go with bells on.”

Sometimes you forget he’s just a grumpy grandpa. You pull out the big guns. “Well… we’re all wearing them,” you hum, your own firmly in place. “Besides, Wilford insisted. And he’s the Decoration Czar. Self-proclaimed, but he rules with an iron fist.” Dark makes a valiant effort to hold onto his resolve, but it weakens in the face of you invoking the mustachioed man. With a soft, amorphous grumble, he pulls the elastic band of the hat under his chin.

Now that you understand a little more about how Dark and Wilford had come to be, their bond makes a lot more sense, even for all Dark’s frustrated looks shot the more light-hearted man’s way in the midst of meetings. Even before you knew the depth of their bond, Dark had always seemed surprisingly willing to go along with Wilford’s more doable requests, less inclined to irritatedly snip at him for his foolishness. As Dark adjusts his party hat in a nearby mirror (making sure his well-coiffed hair isn’t too disturbed by his headwear), you’re glad that, although Wilford may not fully be aware of it, the two of them have each other.

He drops his hands with a sigh. “I look ridiculous.” He’s positioned the cone-shaped hat directly pointing up in the middle of his head, and. Well. It looks way too proper, but very Dark all at once. You chuckle, coming close to help.

“You should see the den. It’s a wreck,” you tease, reaching for his hat, giving the man enough time to wave you off. But he doesn’t, just watching you in the mirror as you adjust it (careful of his curls) to a more jaunty angle. His aura has already absorbed the color from it, but it looks party-appropriate. More importantly, Dark seems a bit more at ease as he gets used to how it looks. You wonder if he’s ever worn a party hat in his life. “There, much better.”

“Hm. Then I suppose I am ready.”

“As you’ll ever be. C’mon, they’re all waiting.” When he turns from the mirror, you playfully offer him your arm. You think you’ll get an eyeroll, a dismissive but amused huff at best. You aren’t anticipating him looping his arm in yours and giving you this little smile that warms his eyes and has you pulling up short. He chuckles somewhat at your reaction, your lack of movement.

“I thought I was being escorted.”

“Uh. You. You are, oh, you definitely are, hold on to your socks, you’re about to experience the best escorting of your life.” Dark’s free hand comes up to help suppress the grin that threatens to split his face as you lead him from the office and down to the almost overwhelmingly decorated den. While the room is comfortably illuminated by a variety of the Manor’s most colorful lamps, the light is somewhat low and catches on the sparkling garlands heavily draped on the walls. Matching balloons bob at varying intervals and a rousing cheer goes up as you and Dark enter, a flood of grins turning your way. Music cuts on - something upbeat and jazzy - and the flock of egos quickly descends on the object of celebration, Wilford leading the charge and pressing a drink into the man’s hand after a massive bear hug. You release Dark’s arm to let the crowd of other egos at him, covering him in birthday wishes and affectionate pats on the back (their boldness inspired by Wilford, no doubt), before eagerly showing off all their preparations.

While Yancy explains the variety of possible games he’s worked up, getting a horribly wry grin out of the shadowy man at his creation of ‘pin the cravat on the Actor,’ you step back a bit to make sure Dark’s suit jacket is safely out of the way of the night’s oncoming revelry. Clearly, he’s already forgotten it, much to your pleasure. The bar is lined up with a few drink options, pre-made cocktails and bottles of wine opened to breathe, a number of elegantly arranged finger foods courtesy of resident chef Google Alpha. Carefully, you tuck Dark’s jacket under the bar in an empty shelf and before scooping up a drink of your own and tossing yourself back into the fray.

It goes a lot more smoothly than you had anticipated - everyone quickly falls into comfortable conversation, dipping into the snacks and games when it lulls. Wilford manages to keep his pants on despite threatening to provide a different kind of ‘entertainment’ at one point (and in spite of encouraging whistles from Bing and the Jims, who are quick to shove a camera in Wil’s direction). Further, Dark survives having ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to him, even blowing out the single candle in the middle of the complicated-looking tiramisu Alpha crafted.

It’s a rousing success, by all measures.

By the time you finally get a chance to sidle back up to Dark, the easy hum of the party has kicked up to a bit more of an excitable buzz as the jazz records have turned more and more swinging. Yandere and Illinois clearly know what they’re doing, beating a quick step around the open dance floor and grinning like bandits as Yancy does his best to help poor Eric get over the hurdle of not staring at your feet when you dance. The Manor feels more full than it usually does, with all of you crowded in the one room together, and you can see the warm, pure energy of it all is having a similar effect on Dark as it is on you - you don’t think you’ve ever seen him smile so much, small as they are.

Another thought hits you, even better than the one that prompted this whole affair. Grinning, you quickly gesture over the nearest Google. With the music like it is, it’s hard to speak over the ruckus, but you mime taking a picture and Green gets the idea, his glasses getting a particular sheen to them so you know he’s flipping through his interface. Once he gives you a thumbs up, you gently tug Dark down by the arm and gesture in Green’s direction. “Say ‘cheese,’” you prompt, and the shadowy man pulls a face.

“I don’t think-”

“Oh, just one, Dark, c’mon,” you poke. “He’s set up and everything.” With a sort of resigned huff, the man twists and gets his free arm around you, hand resting carefully on your back as you get yours around him, bringing him in closer.

Then, almost in your ear, you hear his very dour voice say, “Cheese...” and it breaks you. You’re busting out laughing, forcing yourself not to double over or spill your drink, and over the music and your own laughter, you can hear Dark chuckling, the subsequent snap of Green’s camera feature. The latter catches the most attention, the gathered egos coming running as soon as they realize pictures are happening.

Suddenly, everyone wants in, smushing in as close as they can get to you and Dark, bickering when elbows ‘accidentally’ find soft sides and someone worms in front of someone else, Green taking pictures all the while of the ensuing chaos. Dark’s aura is starting to rouse from its relatively peaceful state when you decide it’s gone on long enough. You quickly clap and break up the worst of the infighting, getting folks arranged as best you can. By the time you finish and most everyone is settled, Dark is wearing a very betrayed look and Wilford’s heavy arm, which is hugging him quite close to his side. With a playful shrug, you pick your way back to your spot.

“I thought you said one,” he grumps softly even as you both get your arms situated comfortably around the other.

“You believed me?” His eyes get a bit wide - you trick Dark? You trick him into photograph like the child? - but you turn away with a triumphant smile. “Green, set your glasses on the bar, get in!”

The android quickly obliges, setting the timer and sliding in among his copies as he counts you down. “Okay,” you call, “everyone say ‘Darkling!’”

The cacophony of laughter and broken-up attempts at the word is something you’ll never forget.

---

Google sends you the photos the next morning, as the Manor collectively attempts to nurse minor to severe hangovers. Flipping through and marking the best ones to print and frame, you get to see the first one of the two of you.

In it, you’re hugging each other close, smiling warmly into the camera. There are garlands blurred in the background and you’re holding a fancy drink, tugging Dark into frame. That slightly embarrassed tinge is gone from his smile, but he still looks cajoled, still smiles as affectionately as he ever has. There’s no doubt he’s changed - the photo warps to try to capture his existence, red and blue fragments breaking up the image - but his expression is still warm. And you look so pleased with yourself, so amused, eyes dancing with success and joy.

Full of life.

It pulls a smile out of you.

[darlington-v]

on the matter of chekhov’s gun

“what does chekov’s gun have to do with ranboo’s lack of panic towards his inability to speak about dream and his misdeeds?”

this was something asked in one of the replies to my essays, which made me feel the need to make this post instead of just a simple reply because i have a lot of thoughts on the matter.

first, let’s talk about chekov’s gun.

chekov’s gun is not just wilbur’s old crossbow, nor just something funny he would reference but it is a writing principle.

now, whether or not you follow that principle is up to you, but most good writers and writing will follow that principle which is: everything in writing has to have a purpose. even small details. 

they may not necessarily have huge plot relevance, but when you are writing you have to ask yourself, ‘why is this necessary for me to write this in?’ chekhov’s gun helps you maintain a cohesiveness within your story and writing as all of it will serve a purpose.

in writing anything, whether it is: character details, character arcs, plots of any degree (be it a small character arc or a main storyline point), setting details and the setting itself, you have to ask yourself, what purpose does this serve in the narrative? what does this establish?

let’s use a fine character detail for example. say your main character notices their companion sewing with a peculiar stitch that is not often used in their self proclaimed home country. what was the purpose of pointing that out? a good writer, utilizing the principle of chekhov’s gun, would have it be relevant to the story later. you could write their companion was lying about where they came from, which will later affect the mission they’re on, which will later come up due to the affects it has. or, perhaps, the companion was raised by parents who are refugees, which will then establish a personal connection with perhaps a political conflict at the core of this hypothetical story.

regardless, these give meaning to the fine detail you established in chapters, or episodes, or in the dream smp’s case, streams, earlier. which is what the principle of chekhov’s gun is. everything should be done with a purpose.

why is chekhov’s gun important?

the importance of using the principle of chekhov’s gun is in maintaining cohesiveness within your story. no one likes a dissatisfying story. we want to walk away from a narrative feeling a sense of wholeness and satisfaction. whether it has a sad ending, happy ending, or bittersweet ending, you want to walk away feeling satisfied. like it all had a purpose. a good story ends with good closure.

you get closure when your worries or questions or understanding of something are calmed, or answered, or explained to you. this is why chekhov’s gun is important. in making sure every element in your story serves a purpose, you make sure that any questions being asked are getting answered. in asking yourself “why does this happen” and then applying that answer to the story, whether it is immediately or later, you are making sure your loose threads are getting tied. you’re making sure that you will always be able to provide your reader closure.

and closure is satisfying! we all want closure. we all would like our lives and conflicts to have pretty answers wrapped up in a bow, but... the issue with reality, rather than fiction, is that we don’t always get it.

which is why it’s so important in fiction.

no one wants to use their time reading, or watching, or just consuming something in general, that leaves us unsatisfied. which is why we don’t have to, nor should we, necessarily use the way events unfold in real life as a skeleton for the way they unfold in fiction. like i said before, reality doesn’t always provide closure, but fiction can. in making sure your narrative has all of its loose ends tied up, you’re optimizing the amount of satisfaction received at the end of your story.

so, while chekhov’s gun is a principle, it’s a damned good one. it helps maintain a cohesive story which just naturally makes the story more enjoyable and satisfying.

what does this have to do with ranboo, or the dream smp for that matter?

well, you should apply this to any media you watch and think about critically, but it has to do with noticing small details and wondering what their importance is. 

i made an essay posing the question “why wasn’t ranboo shocked that he physically couldn’t speak about dream and the misdeeds they committed together” which talked about how ranboo didn’t really seemed shocked on the matter.

the point of the essay was really to point out that the behavior was peculiar and to ask what it may mean, because it was such an odd thing that stuck out to me. i wanted to perhaps go into depth about why he regards the circumstance with a tone of irritated understanding, and why he may understand whats going on. i don’t really have any solid ideas, but i wanted to start discussion on it.

now, why is chekhov’s gun relevant to this? because the lack of response sticks out, and it doesn’t have a clear answer yet. it subverts your natural expectations of how someone would react to their ability to speak being stripped from them. you would expect a bit more shock, and yet we don’t get that. at the very least it’s peculiar and it is a question to be asked. there’s a question created in the action.

as for the answer? i don’t really have one myself, it’s why i was posing the question.

i understand that ranboo was sufficiently shocked and panicked, but he wasn’t at a threshold to which he would have passed out. we clearly see him process the situation at hand. it’s not that he was numb to it, there is a pause where he processes the fact that he cannot speak. if he was numb to the shock, he wouldn’t have still been panicking over the prison, because he would have been shutting down all of the shock. that’s typically how shock and trauma works.

but even if his lack of response to the inability to speak was being numb or too mentally distraught, you have to ask yourself: why? 

what purpose does him being numb to that situation serve? what does that establish? if you say it establishes his character is mentally unwell or it’s a testament to ranboo’s mentality and his mental wellness, the issue is that we already knew that.

we already know ranboo isn’t okay. that’s been proven not only in the stream in question, but multiple other streams. there is no purpose in adding a new behavior or new element only for it to establish something that has been established before.

that is what chekhov’s gun and its principle has to do with my essay and questions raised. i am posing the question ‘what purpose is being served here’ because of the idea that every element to a story must serve a purpose.

as for why this is important to the dream smp as a whole, it’s very clear that there are at least three writers who likely use the principle of chekhov’s gun.

one is wilbur, he mentioned it and used the principle for season 1 of the dream smp. he shows the audience the tnt room and even like clearly references chekhov’s gun. 

another is dream! dream spoke on ranboo’s stream that he enjoys red herrings and leading the audience astray, with the conclusion being something unexpected but still understandable. i definitely recommend you watch the portion of that stream where ranboo and dream spoke about lore and writing because it was really insightful and just... enjoyable overall.

lastly, and most relevant to my essay is ranboo! similarly to dream, he likes red herrings. he’s stated multiple times on stream he loves to mislead the audience with small details only to have the reveal like... blow our minds later. the importance of chekhov’s gun and red herrings are that if you’re using the principle, your reveal is going to be SUPER satisfying because the red herrings will still serve purpose, just a different one than that which the audience expected.

and, in my opinion, their writing so far has been really enjoyable. i love ranboo’s lore streams and i love what direction lore goes when these characters and therefore ccs are involved. so... i trust them to write well, whether it is with the understanding of the principle being titled chekhov’s gun or the logical thought process which is... good writing has good closures. and in giving everything a purpose, you’re giving yourself a skeleton for good closure.

i definitely didn’t know the idea that “all elements to a story should serve a purpose” was called chekhov’s gun. and honestly, the name doesn’t matter. 

it’s just a damn good principle.

TLDR;

chekhov’s gun is the writing principle that every story element serves a purpose, which is why you should ask yourself “what does that mean and what purpose does it serve” whenever an event or element in a story jumps out at you, for whatever reason that may be.

if you need more info on chekhov’s gun here are some articles! they explain it much better than i probably ever will haha!