#i got myself so good with this one

[prtfrmhrtbrn]

june 8: ‘taking chances’. 495 words; prompt via @jegulus-microfic !!

(possible cws: drowning & descriptions of pain. whoops!)

The potion slips down his throat easily, like he was born to drink it. James’ hand is in his, holding it tightly, like it was crafted to hold it. Like they were etched particularly, to fit together like they do; not conceived but instead poured into candle-moulds that match only with each other. One-of-a-kind.

The potion slips down his throat easily, but the oyster shell is heavy in his hand, and only getting heavier. It’s hard to lift, even with James’ help; he sobs and begs and pleads, says, “James, anything but more, please, I’m going to die, it’s going to kill me,” but he knows that the agony is as much the potion talking as it is himself, and James lifts the shell back to his lips once more and despite everything in his body crying for the opposite, he drinks.

And drinks. And drinks.

The risk of drinking it sends cold shivers through his body, but they’re so indistinguishable from the nervous tremors- from the knowledge that this is probably what they call ‘the right thing’- that there’s no real difference.

The potion seems bottomless, so much so that when he comes to the end of it, his mouth is open for more; ready, waiting. James looks at him, and smiles, and reaches into the basin to grab at the locket, and he says, “you did it, Reg.”

(Shouldn’t it be- “we did it”?)

He sounds so pure; sweet; happy. Things so unreasonable for a nineteen-year-old who’s in a cave in the middle of nowhere to help his boyfriend kill an immortal to end a war. A nineteen-year-old who’s dealing with undue responsibilities because of a would-be Lord, a false god, a man who panned for gold and found pyrite and convinced everyone that it was authentic. And he’s ruining their lives.

It’s not so bad, not anymore. The potion stung and hurt and burned and made him feel lke he was being cauterised from the inside out, but it’s not so bad. It had left him achingly thirsty, but the lake surrounding the island is full of cool water that eases the pain, and when arms start to grab; scratch; claw, he doesn’t really notice, not until James starts screaming from on the shore.

“Reg!” He calls, anxiety and panic threaded through his tone; an expert weaver, the way that they’re so intrinsic to the way that Regulus’ name falls from his mouth. “Reg, swim away! Please, I-”

And then he’s in the water too, trying to drag him out; fruitless, because the grab-scratch-claw had left him weak and he’s all dead weight. Not even James is strong enough to pull him away from that, though he tries; he always tries. Has never stopped trying. It’s one of Regulus’ favourite things about him.

(Or, well. It used to be.)

(He’s the one who dies first, of the two of them, but it’s a ‘used to be’ no matter how the order looks.)

[artofalassa]

I'm drifting off to nowhere The past, an echo on my mind Home, I'm almost home...

[hinamie]

playing around w slightly different hair renders

[floccinaucinihilipilificationa]

[dizzybizz]

"this is regrettably the best kiss of your life, you understand?"

[excali8ur]

Weird dream.

[ukei-ok]

....neuvifuri jumpscare...

[bloobydabloob]

Holy shit I love your Dirk interpretations, it's so true and I could talk about this shit forever. I feel like another part of his character that people seem to forget (along with Roxy for some reason) is that he's from the future in solitude in an apocalyptic wasteland. I just see that part of his character always removed which is disappointing because I feel like that's a pretty big part, especially regarding his themes around technology, his brother's theme of Time, his own isolation, and how he plays in the vastness of the universe and spacetime.

Art I drew related to the subject because I like to respond to asks with art.

But absolutely. I certainly understand where the lack of discussion over his isolation + upbringing comes from, considering a majority of the fanbase that I have seen builds their ideas based on their own version of postcanon. I’m not entirely sure how that would be fixed, but certainly even in the somewhat recent past I would see a lot more content regarding his upbringing both literally and symbolically. I don’t have much to add regarding the things you’ve mentioned, because they just are what they are. Dirk being confined to a singular room left to him by a father figure he never met, in a future where the only other person left on the planet is someone he cannot pursue a relationship of because of himself, with purely 3 robots to keep him companion, one being an exact replica of his own brain who is *also* trapped inside a pair of glasses, is about as literal as it gets to me.

The contrast to me involving the flooded, organic world in comparison to the little speckle of Dirk’s apartment packed with the dude and his technics is not only a representation of his isolation and entrapment within himself, but also of his lack of control. I think his obsession with & themes of control are a direct product in the case of Dirk specifically *of* this kind of upbringing. His themes of technology are also related to his themes around control. So much of his character is actually revolved around this to me like so much. Dirk is so deeply disconnected from humanity in every way and so much of his character + symbolism is based around that.

It doesn’t even have to be about the symbolism or anything though. It’s just pretty *interesting* in the literal sense that he lives in the middle of the ocean in the future. There’s not only a lot to theorise on to do with his young life there, but on how it might affect him in the way he acts for the rest of his life. The latter part is probably what I see mentioned the most by people talking about Dirk regarding this, I’m surprised I don’t see more discussion on the former too though. I really ought to actually talk more about Homestuck stuff on here. I will do it myself.

Roxy & Dirk’s relationship is largely ignored though because there is a narrative a certain demographic spreads that Dirk resented and blamed Roxy for her interest in him, and thus too many people believe that their relationship was or would continue to be an abusive one. Realistically, I believe it’s important to acknowledge that the way Roxy treated Dirk regarding his homosexuality wasn’t right while still acknowledging the obvious amount of respect and admiration Dirk had for Roxy. I mean we have a huge piece of dialogue from their post trickster mode conversations on the quest beds from Dirk purely stating how he feels about Roxy that people completely ignore somehow. I think this usually happens to characters that are women though. I know everyone says it, but it is true. Jane gets the exact same treatment of boiling her down to solely her negative aspects. The things I see completely mischaracterising both of them are horrific.

I mean how much more explicit can it get that their relationship is obviously very important to Dirk? But I digress. I think the best or I should say “most interesting” interpretations of their relationship usually come from DirkRoxy shippers actually.

I would be interested to hear about Dirk’s relation to his brother’s theme of time though. I don’t have any thoughts on this and I don’t recall ever hearing anyone talk about it before. If you or anyone else would be willing to enlighten me I’d be thrilled.

[demaparbat-hp]

Almost

[expelliarmus]

[levitatingbiscuits]

i like a superbat dynamic where clark is a big friendly golden retriever trying doggedly to make friends with pissy, angry black cat bruce, but a dynamic i love that i rarely see explored is the cat trying very hard to cozy up to the concerned, confused, slightly petrified dog

[welcometogrouchland]

(ID in alt) I literally said I was gonna post this month's ago and then never had the wherewithal to describe it and so I didn't Lmao (said with pain). But since I'm thinking of opening my commissions I figured I should remind ppl that I. Yknow. Can draw.

Lots of Steph here (I had major art block making all of these and my brain worms for her kept me going) + some sprinkles of stephcass for Cass nation to enjoy!

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Thank you all for voting in the poll to decide who was going to be the leader of the band! It turned out to be such a close race!

[hinamie]

wanted to practice some more intense angry expressions and what better excuse to further my agenda of giving megumi the emotional catharsis he deserves

[moeblob]

North and Simon: (shaking hands on killing Simon potentially)

[otterize]

Food $200

Rent $800

Pokémon Cards $3,600

Utility $150

someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. my family is dying