#i have to get on stage when the piece is done so ill see if my angst survives that but otherwise i have helped with the props and such

[thelien-art]

Hi I just want to say that I absolutely adore your Caranthir thank u very much for ur contributions have a lovely day <3

Hi, I just wanted to say you just made sure my day was very lovely!! Waking up to this was everything♡♡♡

Have a lil Moryo!

[dr3c0mix]

Hiii! Could you please do a scenario where the reader is gushing over a fictional character and saying stuff like how hot they are and that they (reader) want to marry them (fictional character). And then the reaction of your characters to all that (specifically darik and hallow I think were the names) thanks!!

When Their Darling Simps For A Fictional Character

My OCs x GN Reader

hey silly billys !! ill be on a little hiatus for a bit because ill be visiting family <3 thank you for all the love yall have given me and my characters!

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Adrian sees you on your phone and smiling at...a cartoon character??

Over the course of the week, he teases and makes fun of you for it, but quickly goes through the stages of grief over how he's not getting your attention as much as before.

At first, he denies that he's jealous of a fucking picture, but that denial is soon forgotten once he hears you comment about how hot they were and he's fuming.

He'll try any way to get you to pay attention to him, slap your phone out of your hand, throw balls of paper at you, anything to make you stop ogling over that dumb character and be with him!!

"Stop looking at that stupid fanfiction and pay attention to me!"

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Brandon is not hiding the fact that he's jealous.

I mean he's trying, but you can clearly see he has beef with your fictional husbando.

He goes home and does research on the character, asking you all casual sounding what you like about them and change a bit of his style depending on your answer.

If you like how masc they are, he's gonna show off his muscles more during training, take off his shirt drenched with sweat in front of you, anything he can think of to make you think he's more manly and therefore more worthy of your love and attention.

"Hey (Y/N)! Check out my new haircut! You know, it kinda reminds me of that character you like right?...right?"

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Valeth brought you a few books to read and he notices you taking a liking to a certain character in one of them.

You tell him how dreamy and attractive the character is and how awesome they are, and he's trying not to grab your little book and throw it in the fire.

He would never want you to hate him for destroying something you love but goddAMN would it be satisfying.

He makes sure to note what characteristics you like about them and see if he can display them himself.

The big orc would even try to hide your book in a high shelf so you can't read it and pay attention to this fictional character instead of him :(

"Duckling? How about you put down that book and we prepare dinner together? I've missed spending time with my love~"

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Bo hates it. But he stays quiet about it, there's no way he can tear apart something that doesn't exist...

He's really salty and a bit whiny about it, begging you to compliment and love on him instead.

"Why settle for some fake when ya got the real thing right 'ere darlin'?"

Ribs is tearing apart anything that depicts the character. Say goodbye to your comic books or magazines.

He just throws a little pouty tantrum because you love someone that isn't the horde.

"You're our mate! Now please come here so I can hug you!" >:I

Soda is sitting across from you as you ramble about how cool this character is and he's not listening at the slightest. Fuck this guy, who even are they???

After you're done, he crawls up to you and pulls you into a tight cuddle.

"Thats nice...can we go back to kissing now?"

Screw just thinks you like the merch and not the character so he collects anything with your favorite character on it.

However, the others get mad at him for it and explain. Screw then takes it all away and hides it somewhere you'll never find.

"mmm I think we're cooler.."

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Wolfie isn't happy. He takes whatever thing you have of your character, and he rips it to pieces.

You run after him as he has your treasured item in his mouth and you hear his muffled laughing as he shakes his head around, ruining it..

He makes it his mission to jump in your lap whenever he sees you gushing about your little character, or pawing your face so you can look at him and love him now. It's been 5 minutes (Y/N)! It's his turn!

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Dorik's eye twitches as he watches you smiling and giggling over some picture. What's so good about it anyway?

He tries to get your attention on him by being extra obedient, making your favorite food, turning on your favorite movie for the both of you to watch, running you a hot bath, anything to make you praise him and not that stupid little image!

He almost settles to whining and begging for your attention, asking why and how you like this drawing and not him! He's your loyal servant after all!

"Master! They don't deserve someone as wonderful and perfect as you! Let's just eat dinner together and forget about them!"

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Kalva is a bit like screw and supports your interest in the character, but only if you praise him for finding little trinkets and stuff of them.

He loves seeing you happy, even though he hates the fact that you talk about them like they're your mate or something, but that's nonsense, he's your mate!

There will not be anything of that character in your shared bed/nest. You have a personal space for them, but your bed is special to only you and him.

He coos to sleep next to you, mumbling about you possessively while he huddles close to your warmth.

"Cute mate, my little mate, you're my mate! My happy little darling!"

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Jasper wouldn't really care unless you directly tell him you like them better than him then he's committing a war crime.

If he hears you saying you want to marry them, he's stealing all your merch of the character and burning them.

He might distract you with Jonesy like pushing a glass off a table and framing it on the cat so you could stop paying attention to your fanfics or whatever.

"H-hey, Jonesy's on the table again...maybe you should switch apps...take some pictures.."

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Viktor tries to stay cool but deep down, he's very very jealous of how much you like this character.

He's one of the only ones to actually confront you about it and he's adorable whilst doing so.

"M-my dear, maybe you should read some other books? I-I know how much you love that one but maybe uhm..we could read one together?"

Garrick doesn't even hide his hatred towards them, he insults and belittles them every chance his gets.

Why be interested in someone like them when you got 3 supernatural men hopelessly in love with you?

"Oh they're strong? Bet I could beat em in a fight. Can they turn into a bat? Probably not..I can though!"

Silas ignores it, he's sure it's just a little interest that will go away sooner or later.

But if he hears you talking about wanting to marry them, he's sitting you down and asking you why you'd want to do that. He hints a lot about him being a better pick.

"Darling I'm sure you can do better than them..I mean..you sure theres no other..attractive..intelligent and interesting people in your life?.."

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Baron has to keep his cold exterior from breaking every time you ramble to him about your favorite character. He's read the books you've read because he's a creep because he wanted to know you better and he can't help but find some similarities between him and that character of yours.

He wants to speak up about it but he's scared what he might imply. A bit of him is a bit flattered that you find people like him hot, maybe he should show off those characteristics more often around you.

"They're uhm..interesting, Boss..sounds a lot like someone I know..."

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Caspian is a whiny bitch when he finds out your liking to that character, he'll try to guilt trip you into dropping your interest in them because 'he should be your only love!'

He'll try his best to get you to look at him instead of that ugly little book.

"You love them more than me don't you? You're so very mean sometimes my treasure!"

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Hallow is hiding the book, no ifs, ands or buts. He's not letting some big strong hero protagonist person take up your attention. If you try finding it, he's ripping it up and disappearing for days.

He'll be extra cuddly to you from then. He'll make sure he's the one who makes you happy, not your other little friend.

"I'll give it back to you doll, if you give me a kiss~"

[lurkinglurkerwholurks]

Breathing

First posted: May 28, 2018

Focuses on: Jason (and his family)

My favorite bookmark: "Jason Todd is sassy monster and Bruce has PTSD from this asshole dying. 🥺🤣"

My second favorite bookmark: "I CANT STOP CRYIIINNNG WTFFFU"

Tier: Pretty middle of the road in terms of metrics, but one of my personal favorites.

This is my "behind the scenes" series where I indulge myself frightfully by annotating my fics. Link to the fic itself above. Thoughts below the cut.

This fic was dedicated to @starknjarvis27 because she came up with the idea on one of our many BatFam discussions, and being a Megan Whalen Turner superfan, I couldn't not take on the idea.

For those unaware, this fic lifts the bones of an absolutely wonderful scene in The King of Attolia, the third (and best) book in the Queen's Thief series. I made sure you didn't need to know the series at all to enjoy "Breathing," but the girlies who know shriek more.

Jason was still breathing when Bruce found him.

Most of my fics, I may not totally know where they're going, but I know my first line. No exception here.

The voice of this one doesn't feel fully Bruce to me, which makes sense because it's so early on in my written works. Also I'm telling myself that's just young Bruce not sounding quite like his more mature self. Ah, the tales we tell ourselves sometimes. 💀

Jason’s chest, or what was left of it, rose again, the cavity of smashed ribs deepening as his lungs fought to work.

I don't know enough medical things to comfortably get too detailed on Jason's injuries (and I wasn't friends yet with Audrey to ask), but since this was Bruce's POV, I worked to make it adequately gruesome.

If those panicked, roving blue eyes with their black-blown pupils could see anything beyond his own fear.

And sometimes I make up words for fun.

He wanted to hold him. Wanted to scoop that broken body into his arms and shelter it with his own until the miracle he was praying for arrived. Bruce wanted to hold his boy. But his stupid, awful, useless brain hissed warnings of spinal injuries and paralysis, of the harm he could cause by giving into sentiment at just the wrong time.

Apparently I also knew how I wanted this section to end because I was deliberately writing toward

And, at last, Bruce held his son.

This.

Trying to figure out the setting of the second half was tough because I didn't care about where they were coming from. I wanted it to be vaguely comic cliche and hopefully not racist or otherwise offensive but that's all.

Also, ugh, staging. Staging. I hate staging. Trying to mark where everyone is and why and keep them all straight as they start to move. Bah.

Of course, now, looking back, hewing more closely to the original scenario where the main figure (Attolis, Jason) turns and smiles at the narrator just before disaster, that sure would have been something, wouldn't it.

But Jason. The odd man out. The wild card, for good or ill. The unpredictable ace up their sleeve. Their magnet for trouble, collector of odd experiences. Too cynical to be Dick, too rash to be Tim, too undisciplined to be Damian. Raised on the streets. Trained by a Bat and a Flying Grayson. Raised again by assassins. Comrade of drug dealers, mercenaries, and thieves. Their family stories always seemed to twist on a “but Jason.”

I like this bit a lot, personally.

He had never seen Jason kill like this. It was the blinding flash of blades, the blur of a tan leather jacket and dark curls, the splatter of red blood on grey stone. And then it was done.

BAMF JASON TODD!!!

At the weight of three sets of eyes landing on him, Jason turned only his head and met Dick’s gaze. His face was pale, almost green, and splattered with a fine mist of blood. It took Dick a moment to piece his coloring together with the slant of his jaw and the blaze in his eyes. He was angry. No, he was furious. But when his eyes met Dick’s, he smiled. All teeth. “Let’s not keep Daddy Dearest waiting, boys.”

Jason is scary and I love him. I think if I could pick an audio narrator for him, especially the way I wrote him in the beginning, I'd pick the guy who does the Raven Boys audiobook, specifically in the voice he uses for Ronan.

“I could use a hand on this next part,” Jason admitted, voice steady and cool. 

And my brain recites, oh gods, stairs.

“I’m dying, Dickie. My insides are on my outsides."

Direct. Hecking. Quote.

“I probably won’t even make it to the Batplane,” Jason moaned. “You’ll have to leave me here. They’ll make me a trail marker. Reach the skeleton with the sweet jacket and you’re halfway to the temple of doom.”

A nice little trail marker. So like a thief in a ditch, one might say.

Jason lay still on the narrow cot, conscious but boneless. Even the furious greenish tint of his skin had faded away into a bloodless pale. Alfred had pulled up his shirt to reveal the truth. Jason’s grip down the mountain hadn’t been only to stanch the bleeding, but to hold himself together. At some point in the blurred fight, a blade had snuck under his defenses and slit open his abdomen, nearly from hip to hip. The blood that had trickled through his shirt and over his hand had been nothing compared to the steady flow that had soaked unseen into his pants. Over Alfred’s shoulder, Jason opened his eyes and met Dick’s.

This is full-scale lifting, my obscene apologies to Megan Whalen Turner, I love your work.

Alfred’s back blocked most of Jason’s body from view. Dick could see Jason’s face and upper torso. Bruce, being taller, could probably see a little more. Damian and Tim, being shorter, could probably see a little less. Both boys stood further back as well, Tim just behind Bruce and Damian behind Dick.

friggin blocking, my foe. Just lining up the stupid little dominoes so they fall right in a minute.

Six people breathing. Five people breathing.

I'm a genius. Good job, me.

Jason erupted like a tiger caught in a snare. He clawed at the cot, trying to push himself up. Alfred cried out, warning of wounds and fresh blood and popped stitches as he tried to force Jason back down. Dick sprang forward and tried to grab his brother, but got a fist to the face for his troubles. He staggered back.

Againnnnnnnnnn I'm so sorry Megan Whalen Turner

Dick slowly unclenched his fingers, first releasing Jason’s hair, then his wrist. Violent red streaks branded Jason’s skin like a cuff

I am a clever little clog with my symbolism and because these fics are for me, I can be smug about it

At least a couple people have said this fic have pushed them to read Megan Whalen Turner which is all I could ever want or hope for.

[moreespressoformydepresso]

So this will be tough to answer considering that carlos's actor is sadly no longer with us and let his memories live on

I was wondering if you ever had to do a story of carlos last few days with jane and his friends how would you do it

Like I love how they payed tribute to him in the royal wedding but I was surprised we never really got to see Jane sadness or her missing carlos

I guess it depends? Whether he saw his death coming or whether it’s as unexpected as the news of Cameron’s death was. If we go with the former, I’d put more focus on how everyone tries to cope with knowing someone is about to die. Specifically the underlying denial of everyone involved. Mostly I’d focus on Carlos trying to make the most of his last days and spending as much time with his loved ones as possible, tying up loose ends and crossing as many things off his bucket list as possible until his time runs out. Then there’s everyone around him coping, The denial, the pain of the truth constantly being thrown in your face, the powerlessness and the constant wondering what you could have done to prevent this. The trying to get everything out of the last few days because you don’t wanna live with the regrets of wasting time. Your deepest fear being that you’ll spend the rest of your life knowing you could have done more, and now it’s too late.

Then, finally, when it’s all over, I’d probably write about the inevitable ending to the story. Those who are left to pick up the pieces trying to stop that constant, niggling voice in the back of their head telling them it wasn’t enough. They weren’t enough. They could have done this that or the other and things might be different. They could’ve stopped it or at least slowed it down. The slow process of realizing that no amount of blaming yourself, justifiably or not, will change the past. It’s done. Carlos is gone. It’s too late to do anything about it now and all anyone can do is learn to live with it.

If it’s unexpected, I’d probably focus entirely on his friends and family. Specifically the different ways people try to cope with grief. The different stages of coming to terms with the fact that Carlos is gone and what forms they take in different people. The extremely emotional and the complete shutdown, the constantly doing something just to avoid thinking about it and the inability to do anything at all. The bottling everything up and the learning to let go. Grief is a slow process and it never really ends. It doesn’t leave, it just dulls to background noise. No matter how far you get, there will always be some kind of pain attached to the memories.

This was honestly hard to write. Apologies but I’m about to hardcore overshare so skip if you don’t wanna read it. I’ve written exactly one published story dealing with grief (fanfic for The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes) and that’s for a reason. When I was grieving, I was also dealing with a severe depressive episode, so I had a complete shutdown. I didn’t feel anything. Nothing about the situation felt real to me. But I saw the reactions of people around me and both of the situations I described above are ones I’ve experienced.

Two times, I watched a grandparent slowly die of illness. Years were spent seeing their health slowly deteriorate and trying to come to grips with that reality. It didn’t make the end easier when it came. All it did was shatter the illusion that maybe some miracle would save them and they’d pull through. One of these times happened right after an unexpected death. Everyone thought she’d live longer, and then she was gone. One week of thinking she’d be okay, and then it was over. It happened so fast I didn’t even have time to comprehend what was happening. None of these situations were easier, they were just different. It’s the sudden impact of a train against your heart vs the creeping cold spreading through you with every day you watch someone’s condition get worse. It’s watching someone battle against an illness until they’re so drained they give up the fight vs watching someone slowly lose touch with reality until they don’t even know what’s real and what’s in their head vs not even being able to watch anything at all because they’re already gone and you didn’t even get to say goodbye.

It’s never easy. And maybe the worst part is that you’ll never know if you had a hand in this or not, nor will you ever find complete closure. There will always be something, some regret or “what if”, and it’s inescapable.

[vilelittlecritter]

Here's some concept designs for OmorOff! These were done fairly quickly and without much thought and just about zero reference so do expect these to change.

I was going to make Humphrey an actual whale but then decided to go the more metaphorical route of that they were once beautiful and graceful however over time they have become this thrashing mound of flesh, and a "parasite within themselves". The idea for their design was majorly inspired by the parasite au by @seryojiinn which Is absolutely disgusting in all the right ways. I really like this design and can't wait till I can properly draw it and show just how horrific Humphrey has become.

Again a lot will change but i think for a quick doodle the design for Humphrey is pretty sick and I can't stress how much I want to properly draw them.

Also some added details I wanted to go over.

Omori's knife is a sacred weapon and when used against impure beings, causes them to feel an extreme burning sensation.

The red hands have the same effect as they are both created from Omori's body directly, however the knife is the only thing that can truly purify the guardians.

These aren't really important but I wanted to say them but didn't know how to loool

Anyway ima go shower and do more actual drawing instead of dumb doodles, I need to stop doodling as much...

While I'm away here's some more lore about Humphrey because I love how they're turning out so far and would like to share their character at this point!!! Again this is really early so expect stuff to change

Spoilers I guess for if I ever write this into a story

Okay so Humphrey in this au as said before has become incredibly ill however instead of them becoming selfish and leeching the resources, their people instead willingly sacrifice almost everything just to keep them alive. They spend hours maintaining them, feeding them, researching anything they can do to help them but to no avail. Humphrey although alive is still in incredible agony but fears leaving their people to fend for themselves so chooses to stay alive. While this is all happening a tumor forms on Humphreys chest and it eventually gains sentience, this tumor/parasite essentially wants to take Humphreys place however they cannot simply take over their body so instead they grow themselves as a copy and take from Humphrey to create themselves. During the early stages the tumor was able to take Humphreys eyes and some of their organs as their own, however was not able to take much of anything else directly from Humphrey. However, due to this the parasite (which I'll just call "The falsehood" ) is now directly linked to Humphrey as it contains some of their vital organs meaning if the Falsehood dies so does Humphrey. The Falsehood uses this as a bargaining chip to force Humphrey and their people to obey them and also equips themselves with a sharp piece of steel to use as a tool to keep Humphrey in line. The Falsehoods goals are completely delusional, as a parasite and disease it's one goal is to spread. It sees itself as some kind of saviour and that by spreading and having others become a part of the hellish flesh mound it sits upon it showing some kind of twisted mercy. Humphrey, too weak to do anything has to watch as this creature takes their identity, uses their voice and mangles their people all while absolutely powerless to do anything.

That is until Omori shows up and promptly obliterates the Falsehood by literally splitting it straight in half with the red hands.

My boy takes no shit from no one and will fuckin murk a bitch if he doesn't like them.

Anyway if you've read this far I'm impressed and please share your thoughts! I'm still nowhere near confident enough to make this a real thing but I'm getting there!

I want to make it creepy but also fun and not overly edgy. Of course it's brutal and weird but I still want it to be enjoyable and not some edgelord fan fic. I want the world to be dark but also interesting, colourful in its own twisted weird way.

Anyway enough rambling this idea is probably super dumb but I am super dumb do whatever.

Anyway bye bye :]

[jupiter-pls]

(look, im sorry idk if read more is still a thing/on the app but i can't see it im hoping tumblr does that auto read more thing if not IM SORRY! i just need things written out for my brain sometimes)

ya girl had a cheeky weekend in amsterdam to have just one good night...and afternoon 🖤🧡🖤 it's been the. best. and i spent it with some wonderful people who im missing so, so much 💖 (there's a group photo of my pals when i had gone on to m&g round 2 with them holding up my art that makes me SOB! 😭 goodest of eggs!) and ill remember it all for a long, long time. got to give dan the new piece after telling/showing him the piece from back at the start of tour needed a companion piece & the reasoning behind it. he was so SO sweet and said how he loves my style, especially with the circles always being used (😭😭😭) and then pointed out the photo backdrop with the eclipse on 🥺 yes 🥺 love a weird wonky dan heart too 🥰 i was a bit annoyed with myself cause i felt/heard myself fully tripping over my words and ugh but! it was really really lovely...

m&g no.2 however! 💖💖💖💖 (look, i panic brought a resale ticket cause i was so nervous about the matinée getting canceled in the wake of the promoters bullshit on this tour and knew i would be beyond heartbroken if it had happened) god, that felt so so special and im going to remember it forever 😭 i got so many laughs out of him and SO MANY HUGS idk what was going on there i guess being able to actually get my words out was the cause? (just lots of thankful words for the tour, meaning i could meet my wonderful friends, the show being something so special & important and that he BELONGS on a stage that is is home!) id been talking myself in & out of taking minnie ears for a photo for WEEKS, would i be ~brave enough to ask for a photo in them? no i couldn't it's too scary! but i found the perf wad aesthetic ones for him and dlp is my favourite place in the world, this was actually important to me! (see me fully not being alright when he got that fleece thing from anaheim disneyland...if u got to meet him in that ur on my list 😭) after a moment from him of "um...what are those?!" and telling him look, it's important! we got a bunch of photos with him declaring "ok these are cute, oh my god we're so cute!" yes! ears are silly & over the top but they are fun! and cute! and make u feel like a kid! told him he probs has no use for them but he can keep them if he'd like (the orange ones...not my prince charming carousel ones!) and he was all 🥺 that's such a sweet gift thank you 🥺 (also this is all backwards, we did the ears photos before everything else). i mentioned while i was so excited for the show again, it was bittersweet as it was my last one and i love that he responded with his whole damn chest that i better make sure i make it to the next tour then...that boy is never going to stop doing shows and i love that for him SO SO MUCH LIVE UR FUCKING DREAM! 😭😭😭

i had a whole lot of feelings during that last show, "embrace the void/one good night" really getting to me after getting that most recent sketch done & all the feelings that went into that and my decision to do it...it's all so much.

ALSO! getting to meet & spend time with some really, really special people ive gotten to know in this fandom and them being what made the weekend so incredibly special 💜 saying goodbye to those folks was hard but they all give the nicest hugs. i really hope i can see them all again in the not too distant future, thank you for making this trip all it was 🥰

tl;dr dan is the best boy in the world and deserves ALL the good things in the universe & i have some incredible people im lucky enough to call my friends 🪐

[e17omm]

Interesting. Welp, lots of thoughts about HSR 2.2 below.

Lots of thoughts so Ill start with a checklist.

Firefly: good so far. It doesnt seem like she hates her life being trapped in the SAM suit, and thats good. I was worried they were going to make her despise having to be Sam. Seems that she can survive for a while without the suit, which I find fine.

Now as long as they make her fight AS Sam and they wont really have screwed up anything with her. Not everyone needs to have superpowers. Let Firefly's powers come through Sam. She'll be a really unique character that way. Seriously, who else fights using a mechanical body armor like an anime Iron Man in a Hoyoverse game? I'd have no issues with Firefly then.

Well, except one thing, but I'll get to that later.

Now, the fucking plot twist? Holy shit. This really went from "that was kinda anticlimactic. We really went from "we do the cool thing" to "someone else does the cool thing" to "we pass out before we see the cool thing" like, really? Everythings solved and we're already ready to leave? We get on the train, have a chat with everyone, vote on where to go. And (presses hands together in front of my mouth) holy fucking shit.

My one issue is that I wish they actually ended the 2.2 story after the plot twist reveal. Of all the "cliffhangers" and "plot twists" they have tried to do, THIS WAS THE SPOT TO DO IT. THIS WAS IT. This was HUGE. Its in the third Penacony mission, so it would have avoided that thing with "oh yeah you totally wiped out the Herrscher of Dominance halfway through the second chapter" thing. Like, this is the end. We're done. We won and are leaving. In the 3rd story mission. This was THE moment to reveal the plot twist, just barely start it to not leave everyone confused, and then end it and save it for a 4th story mission in 2.3

But it was way too short. It was way too easy to just, get all the crucial pieces and solve the puzzle. We started Act 3 of the story and it only lasted like 20 minutes. It really could have done with SOME difficulty in getting all the important pieces to solve everything.

But we just learn about the plot twist, everyone important groups up, and we fight the final boss. Just like that.

Next on the list, Acheron! Or should I say, Raiden Mei? When that shadow asked for her name, I was PRAYING that Hoyo knew what they were doing, and they did! They didnt skimp out on it! Didnt go the whole "I have lost my memory of it" which would have been such a cop-out. But nope! They did it!

And the Honkai music? Fuck I had chills. And this is pure nostalgia of the best parts of HI3. Those parts were so good that you remember the music and the feelings you had with those notes.

I cant remember much of the music at the later stages of HI3. The story just hasnt grabbed me like chapters 5 to 25 did. (Hoyo should take notes of their own work, ngl)

Now... onto "Death"

"Death" might be the WORST character design I have ever seen. Not from the looks, but from their role in the story and how Hoyo uses it.

A shady character shows up, pulls out a gun, and shoots another character in the head. And later you tell me that that wasnt actually a murder? Bullshit. Get that garbage out of here.

And you know the worst part? ONE SCENE is what ruined "Death" for me.

Firefly's "Death" scene. Delete it. It ruins so much. She is the only one we see "Death" "killing". Why. She's not dead. Why did you show that "Death" "kills" like that? Who sat down and wrote that part? Literally just make us not see this scene and heavily imply that it killed her like they implied that "Death" killed everyone else and this would've been fine!

I can buy that Robin and Sunday are alive because we see neither of them dying. Robin is off-screen and Sunday is hidden from the camera.

But we saw a death when it killed Firefly.

Next time someone is shot in the head on screen I will be expecting it to be an imposter, a stunt actor, an illision, or WHATEVER ELSE. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THEY SHOW DEATH THEY CHICKEN OUT. AND ALL THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FIREFLY'S TRACES DISAPPEARED RIGHT BEFORE WE COULD SEE HER. WE COULD EVEN SEE "DEATH" SNEAKING AWAY AS WE ENTER THE ROOM. BUT DONT SHOW THE DEED BEING DONE.

...

Onto the final boss. ... Its... I mean, the boss fight is neat. Um, not sure if Hoyo now thinks that "big thing is intimidating" but this boss was just kinda, eh.

We've already defeated two big things with Cocolia's (now our) mecha, and then Phantylia. And now this sympthony thing.

Uh, Hoyo does know that big doesnt immediately equal "intimidating" or "scary" or "impressive", right? I just wanna be sure. Because this boss is none of that.

Uh the music also get a bit too pop-star-y? Its not bad, I just feel like it goes against the tone of what the story wanted this moment to feel like.

I also wish that Acheron actually did something to help in the end. She kinda just "eh well you can fight now. Me? Byeeeee~" I know that she had a glory moment in 2.1, but like, come on. Sunday just gives up fighting because we told him that people dream in order to wake up. Which doesnt sound philosophical enough to me to make Sunday have a freaking reality check and fall from the platform in shock and defeat.

Hoyo has really been trying to make so much of their stories in the Honkaiverse have a higher meaning and be a matter on philosophy, and then they keep asking why birds fly and I am so fucking tired of it.

Like, this is all they got and its not even a joke.

So, yeah. I kinda really wanted IX to show up and just, consume Penacony. That would've been cool and been decently foreshadowed. Could have had everyone go numb or like, whatever happens to us when we get close to IX in the Simulated Universe, and then have most people try to scramble to the ships to gtfo, and then have IX appear and consume the place.

But as long as we head to the Edo Star next, I'll be happy.

A place under attack by the Antimatter Legion and their distress signal recently went out? Send me there. Right now. Not even a question. I want to see the Antimatter Legion actually live up to what everyone has said about them. Dont fucking bait me on this Hoyo.

Oh yeah, another thing before I finish this!

Where are our ability to hear Stellarons? Did Hoyo forget that we can hear the voice of Stellarons? That is like, one of the most interesting parts about the Trailblazer!

Imagine a world where we get to Penacony in 2.0, and everything's fine and the same as it was. Except... we can hear the voice of a Stellaron. But, there's no signs of it. There's no Fragmentums. There's no sign of it at all. But we keep hearing its voice.

It could have slowly told us the story of Penacony over the course of these three patches so that we didn't have to get a history lesson before the climax of the story.

It would have easily added some mystery and questions while basically requiring no changes to the current story. Is there a Stellaron on Penacony, or are WE the only Stellaron on Penacony?

Speaking of the Stellaron inside of us... It has barely mattered after Belobog...

Hoyo... This should be a big deal throughout the story. Herta is shocked that a human body can host a Stellaron. We can hear the voices of other Stellarons. We could go nuclear if it goes out of control. Why has it not really mattered after Belobog? Hoyo, this isnt something you should just wave off like you have been doing with the Traveler's ability to wield 5 of the 7 elements. Dont make the same mistake twice.

This is dragging out, but I just keep remembering more things!

Hoyo, please dont tell me that you are unable to make long-term stories anymore. Everything has been self-contained recently. And sure, you've TRIED to make it feel like it has a larger impact, but in the end it always hasnt.

HI3 Part 1.5? It MIGHT be important later. I dunno if Vita has any importance at all to part 2 so far. All the regions in GI are basically self contained. You could take Mondstadt Traveler and toss them straight into Fontaine and you would basically not have to change them at all. All of HSR has also been rather self-contained. Happy that Dan didnt actually call the Luofu, that would have just made this all seem even more miniscule and also extremely convenient.

But... Remember when Himeko fucking died and the next 16 chapters was the fallout of that? Remember when we could have big story moments that still mattered for more than 3 months of real time?

Penacony's story is over, and I dont think that anything that happened here will have any impact on the next destination. Did we even actually pick up any new crewmembers?! Please tell me that the cowboy and Black Swan actually joins us for a while. You Chekhov's Gun'd it all the way back in Belobog!

So in short. I liked Penacony act 2 and 3 a lot. Not close to anything in HI3 chapters 5 to 25, but it was good. Could have been a lot better with (imo) rather small changes.

Also wtf is up with Hoyo's budget allocations? They put so much budget into the filler generic battle part of act 3. That was so much effort put into just filler. What's up with that?

[melisusthewee]

Happy Friday Mel!! How about something for Cassandra/m!Trevelyan + "Cutting their hair for them." from the wordless ways to say i love you?

I spent ages working on this prompt fill only to re-read the prompt and go, "Oh... well... no one actually gets their hair cut" but you'll see why at the end and I still have to say I'm really proud of this piece and I think it was at least in the spirit of this prompt. Which I very much enjoyed receiving, thank you! It was a fantastic excuse to write some post-whump fluff.

Consider this a much later sequel to this prompt fill. Will I ever write the larger fic? I have no idea.

For @dadrunkwriting Word Count: 2,304

Quinn Trevelyan makes an irritable sound as Cassandra wrings warm water out of a fresh cloth.  He isn't looking at her, instead staring out one of the room's large windows.  His brow is furrowed and his jaw is set in a profile that is as handsome as it is unhappy.

He's not cross with her.  She'd know it if he was.  He is upset with himself and Cassandra's reassurances that there is nothing wrong with resting, that the road to recovery from an illness as severe as his is long and slow.  But Quinn is tired of his bed, of his room, of the ragged and unkempt beard creeping across his face, and hair that hasn't been properly washed in weeks.

His stern expression softens when Cassandra begins to dab the cloth against his neck and shoulder, but only reluctantly.  He doesn't complain - not to her, at least - but she knows he wants to.

"This is only until you get your strength back," she says, as she has said to him every time she does something for him that she knows he would rather do himself.

"It is back.  It is just... short-lived."

"Perhaps we should keep that a secret," she replies with a quiet smile.

Quinn turns to look at her, confused for a moment before he narrows his eyes at her.  "My lady, that is hardly what I meant."

"It was a joke, my love."

"You need to work on those."

"I thought it was funny," Cassandra replies, taking one of Quinn's hands in her own to hold out his arm for her.

He complies, intertwining his fingers with her own without a sound.  He gives a little squeeze likely to insist upon how he is better, he is fine, and he doesn't need to have someone bathe him like this.  But it does not have the effect he hopes for.

The Inquisitor has always been a lean man, but his prolonged illness has made him lose an unhealthy amount of weight.  It will be a while before he gets it all back, particularly as his appetite is still only slowly returning in stages - the half-drunk cup of tea long grown cold that sits by the bedside is proof of this.  With his limb extended as it is, she can see the atrophied muscles that shift as he does.  His skin still has an unhealthy pallor to it, and the bruises and markings from all the initial attempts by the surgeon to purge the illness that circulated in his blood are still visible.

She has to remind herself that it is behind them.  He is better now, mending, on the slow road to recovery.  There is some colour returned to his cheeks, and while his eyes are bruised and sunken, a spark shines within in a brightness that is unmatched.  When she looks at him, he smiles and she can see the familiar lines crinkling at the corner of his eyes.  The man she loves perseveres.

But it is hard not to look at him and think about all the days and nights spent keeping vigil - of holding a hand that was clammy and weak and did not always squeeze back, of listening to fevered mutterings that became increasingly incomprehensible, of a man who at the worst of it looked so small and fragile and as helpless as she felt.

She pushes down these thoughts as she works.  With one arm done, she moves on to the next before telling him to pull back the blanket and turn onto his side for her.  He does so, without complaint at first, but as Cassandra tends to his back and tries not to notice how sharply his shoulder blades press against his skin, Quinn seems unable to help himself.

"You could make this a bit more exciting."

"I would not want you to feel inadequate with your short-lived strength."

Quinn gives her a look over his shoulder that tells her he very much regrets his earlier choice of words.

He continues to grumble to himself even as he turns back away from her.  It sounds like it is for show more than anything else, but he then jumps suddenly when she dips down towards his lower back.

"Cassandra, I must insist you let me do the rest myself!"

"It isn't anything I haven't already seen."

"That's not the point."  He pulls away from her, sitting back up in his bed, and holding the covers tightly over himself.  The stern look from earlier is back on his face but this time it's directed at her.  "I don't see why I can't just go and have a proper bath!"

Cassandra raises an eyebrow at him skeptically and pushes her chair back a little ways from his bedside.  She gestures nearby to the ladder leading up to the little loft built into the room where Quinn had decided to have a private bathing area set up.  The ladder is the only way up or down.  She knows it is a simple climb under most circumstances, but Quinn is not under most circumstances right now.

"I can help you up or down a staircase.  I cannot help you with a ladder.  You can make it up there on your own? And back down when you've finished?"

Quinn's jaw is set defiantly.  When he is in this way, Cassandra thinks this must be what it is like to deal with a child.  In this instance, it is a very tall and bearded child who throws off the blankets and jumps to his feet in a flourish of naked glory.

Much to Cassandra's prediction and concern, Quinn almost immediately swoons and she is up on her feet to catch and steady him before he completely collapses to the floor.  He's dead weight in her arms, looking dazed and dizzy for a moment before his expression slowly clears.  He has not quite blacked out after all, but it was close.

"That was very foolish of you," she says, coaxing him gently into a sitting position on the edge of his bed.

There is a defeated slouch to Quinn's shoulders that make him look even smaller and thinner than he is.  He can't meet her eyes - or he won't meet her eyes - and sighs, completely dejected.

"Can't I at least be saved this one indignity?" he asks.

Cassandra frowns though it is not an unkind expression.  She hates to see him like this just as much as he does, if not more.  The Quinn Trevelyan she knows and loves is tall and sure-footed, flamboyant and energetic, an absolute terror and menace.  She can see how his current limitations weigh on him, how uncomfortable he is with being forced to admit and show any sort of vulnerability.

"Alright," she says, gently this time.  "I will leave you to finish while I get fresh water.  And we can then do something about your hair."

"Thank you," he says.  And she knows that he means it.

She takes her time climbing the ladder into the loft and fetching things for his hair.  She knows where everything is kept - she's used the Inquisitor's special dwarven-constructed bath enough times to know which soap is kept where - but she chooses to allow Quinn a moment alone in order for the storm cloud threatening his mood to pass.

When she returns, Quinn has left his bed again although this time he appears to have taken more care and settled himself in her vacated chair.  He's retrieved a small mirror and seems singularly focused on his appearance.  Every now and then a hand reaches out to comb strands of hair out of his eyes.  A deep frown is etched in his face that seems to linger even as he looks up at her approaching footsteps.

"I look terrible.  Why did no one tell me I look terrible?"

Cassandra does not think he looks terrible at all.  He looks tired, he looks thinner than usual, and considering his lack of modesty she thinks he looks rather cold.  But she knows these are not what Quinn is complaining about.  She isn't certain if the growth on his face can truly be called a proper beard, but his moustache and chin have gotten considerably thicker and longer.  It is uneven in places and while there isn't much more than patchy-looking growth on most of his cheeks, what she can only describe as scruff has spread along his jaw.  It is in her opinion somehow both adorable and rugged.

"You just need a good wash," Cassandra says, setting the basin and jug on a nearby table.  "And perhaps a comb through it."

"I must protest, Lady Seeker," he says, though he takes the basin when she offers it to him and bows his head over it obediently.  "You know I'm very particular about my hair."

"Do you not trust me?  Shall I instead ask Sera to see to you?  She cuts her own hair as well."

Quinn's protest is immediate, his head snapping up to glower at her.  You wouldn't dare, he says wordlessly as he stares at her.  Cassandra simply rolls her eyes and pushes his head back down so that she can begin.

She uses the water sparingly at first - just enough to wet his hair before beginning to lather soap into it.  Quinn's strict particularities about his grooming rituals mean that every bottle of soap and oil and lotion is clearly labeled.  Even so, he mumbles the names of products to her and what they should smell like lest she grab one in the wrong order.  But eventually, the tension in his shoulders seems to dissipate and he simply sits with his head bowed, cradling the catch basin in his arms, soothed by the feeling of Cassandra's fingers working through his hair.  She thinks she even hears the softest of sighs or a happy little sound of contentment.

The scent of cloves and rosemary mixed into Quinn's soap soon fills the air.  It is crisp and refreshing, the first thing to finally overtake the smell of sickness that still clung to him.  It's a cleaner and brighter sort of herbal scent that is sharp and alive.  Cassandra is much more fond of it than the bitter smell of nightshade from the tea he'd been fed, or the earthy smell of Vivienne's tonics and the surgeon's leeches.

She works the soap evenly through his hair, being careful to keep it out of his eyes and from dribbling down the back of his neck as much as possible.  Once she is satisfied with her work, she gently pours the pitcher of warm water over his head, continuing to run her fingers through his hair to gently rinse away the lather.

"You see?" she teases once she's finished, reaching for a nearby towel to gently dry his hair.  "You've survived.  I haven't drowned you."

Quinn chuckles for the first time, a sound she admits that she has missed from him and one that never ceases to cause her heart to flutter.  "May I sit up now, my lady?  Or do you wish for me to remain bent over for you a while longer?"

Cassandra makes a dismissive sound at the back of her throat and gives his head a bit of a rougher rub than she should for a moment before draping the towel around his shoulders.  He can't see it but she is smiling.  "The world will be pleased to hear your cheek has not suffered nor your tongue lost any of its boldness."

Quinn grins as he sits up and looks at her, an impish expression on his face.  Cassandra rolls her eyes at him - more for show than for anything else - before setting down the pitcher and picking up a nearby comb in order to tend further to his hair.

"Do you know which side to part it on?" he asks suddenly, almost as if he can't help himself.

"Are you going to ask me next if I know what colour your eyes are?"

Quinn frowns slightly, realizing his misstep and hastily offers a sheepish apology.  For a moment, Cassandra is tempted to comb back his hair and part it on the wrong side anyway - either to tease him further or to make a point - but decides against it.  He wouldn't look right anyway.

"There is still the matter of my face," he says as she struggles with a lock of hair on his forehead that seems determined to misbehave.

"The Inquisitor has decided to trust me now?  I've proven my worth by washing his hair?"

Quinn smiles, but it is a soft and almost subdued look with none of his earlier cheek.  "Perhaps I realize that I enjoy this.  Sitting here with you.  The two of us."

Oh.

His earnesty is unexpected but not at all unwanted.  Quinn is normally so flippant with his words, a man of smiles and humor and action that so very rarely seems capable of expressing himself from the heart.  Of course she knows he enjoys her company but it is something else entirely to hear it said to her like he does now.

She smiles back at him in turn, tucking a few strands of hair behind his ear before gently taking his face in her hands.  He leans into her touch, saying nothing but looking at her with eyes that seem so expressive that he doesn't need to say anything at all.  She knows what he means.  And she is glad for it.

"Perhaps..." she says slowly, brushing her thumbs across cheeks dotted with long-faded freckles and the barest hints of scruff at the edges.  "Perhaps you can live with this for one more day?"

"This time, I think I will survive," Quinn replies with a breathless little laugh.

[sherwoodknights]

SP 1999 EPISODE 5 LIVEBLOG

And thus begins the final 2 parter of the series!!!!

Uh oh its 1794 and they're at an orphanage in paris

I'm gonna get my heart ripped out by the Dauphin aren't I goddammit

THE KIDS CALLING HIM YOUR MAJESTY LMAOOO

MY POOR BOY STOP SHOUTING AT HIM

I don't care what version of the story it is, I can and will get emotional over the Dauphin

LEAVE THE CHILD ALONE HES A LITERAL CHILD STOP MAKING HIM INSULT HIS PARENTS FFS

Who is the spooky man in the mask

Richard E Grant are you the spooky man in the mask

HE JUST FULL ON PUNCHED A WOMAN IN THE FACE AND STABBED A MAN IM NOT SO SURE THATS RICHARD E GRANT

Transformers wishes it has explosions like this

Awww percy being nice to the painter what a king

Women in pretty dresses yes please <3333

Marguerite in red dress is GORGEOUSSSS

Suzanne is also gorgeous for the record

PERCY AND MARGOT STOP HAVING FIGHTS IN FRONT OF THE PRINCE

SHES LEAVING HIM?????

Please tell me that was all part of a plan

I do not care if you are the Prince of England sir you will not touch my wife

Oh no

Oh I don't think it was planned at all

Margot you know what happened the last 2 times you were alone in france

Ugh ffs Chauvelin leave her aloneeeeee

"Your English is better than mine" says the British actor to the American actress

God they're so bad at small talk

Yeah Marguerite why have you left Percy we'd all like to know

Stop enjoying this so much Chauvvy damn

GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER SHES SLEEPING

Oh wait he was waking her up my bad

What do the French government want with Marguerite thoooo

OH SHIT MAYBE IT IS A PLAN

GODDAMN THEY HAD ME FOOLED

Robespierre has a model village akdndjeksndnd??????

Robespierre rolling his eyes and looking disgusted while Marguerite talks about falling in love with Percy lmaoooooo

She is a person thank you very much don't call her a piece of propaganda

Omgggg do we get to see margot back on stage lets gooo

"You should be in politics" oh robespierre if only you knew

WHY IS ROBESPIERRE LIKE A SULKING CHILDDDD

Chauvvy with a cigarette is kinda hot????

Andrew in a silly revolutionary beanie is too cute lmao

Who are they looking for

OH SHIT THE GUY THEYRE LOOKING FOR IS HANGING FROM THE CEILING

Yeah you go you funky actress stick your scene partners head into your chest

Oh god margot had to share a carriage with Chauvvy AND Robespierre?? That must have been the world journey in the worlddd

Oh nevermind the actress is a raging bitch

Aksjejskekrkrk she insulted robespierres playwrighting abilities

"It's an honour, Citizen robespierre-" "no, its an intrusion" lmao what a line

PERCY STOP KISSING YOUR WIFE CHAUVELIN IS RIGHT THERE

PERCY AND MARGOT REUNION AGAIN <3333

Uh oh the shaver cut Robespierre he's gonna dieee

He doesn't believe Percy is the Pimpernel despite the fact that he admitted it to Chauvelin??? Trust issues in full throttle I see

You go percy save that woman I believe in you

ROBESPIERRE BALANCING THE GLASSES ON THE WIG AGAIN LMAOOO

SIR THE DAUPHIN IS A CHILD DO NOT DARE BRING HIM TO TRIAL

The only time I will agree with Robespierre in this series is when he refuses to put a 10 year old on trial and execute him

Honestly Andrew looks so fit in his revolutionary disguise

Oh no where's the woman they were gonna save gone

OH FUCKED SHES BEEN DROWNED AND HER NECKS BEEN BROKEN

Stop bullying margot you bitch she's more of an actor than you'll ever be

We get a lot of sassy robespierre this episode and I'm enjoying it honestly

I hope the guy on stage rips his pants

Not out of spite or anything I just think it would be funny

I swear to god if she sabotages Margot ill cry

Girl what the fuck kind of Epilogue is this

DONT CALL MY WIFE A TRAITOR YOU BASTARD

Shoutout that one random man in the audience for starting to sing i guess????

Look he saved Marguerite from looking completely stupid good on him

Two seconds ago they were insulting her and now they're carrying her through the streets on shoulders??

Aww percy looks so proud of her <33

Another episode done!

Only one episode left this season now, I can't wait to see how this goes!!

[angelcloves]

thank u for the tag in this lil writing game @enchantedchocolatebars

1. What motivates you to write?

if i dont write ill just flat out go crazy it needs to get out of my brain

2. A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud of; if not, share a line from someone else's work that you love (just make sure to give credit

ive written so much and cant be bothered to pick a favorite line so heres an excerpt from burning bridges

“Camilla Myles, may I see you in the throne room?” The air was cold, but it dropped a few degrees chillier as the Emperor receded into his lofty throne room once more and soft chatter broke out amongst the scouts. They each spoke of Camilla, but none to Camilla. She stood paralyzed in the line for what felt like hours. She’d been a scout for two years without even a single warning on her record. She couldn’t imagine what she’d done to warrant being called straight to the throne room, but she didn’t want to keep the Emperor waiting. It never ended well for the Golden Guard when he made Belos wait.

3. Which OC makes you smile when you think/talk about them and what are they like?

all of them but lately ive had annie on the brainacle. shes cold and quiet but god she loves her friends more than anything even if shes just got the one and they end up with a major wedge driven between them for most of the story

4. Which process of writing do you enjoy the most?

planning! its the part i get to go absolutely bonkers during. im a huge fan of broad strokes so shaping things before i start real development hell is a super fun activity

5. Which part of writing do you think you're best at? (Stroke your own ego, it's okay)

ive always seen myself as a dialogue person from my time writing for stage but i think my foreshadowing has been getting better lately

6. What is something in the writeblr community that is most enjoyable?

im going to treat writeblr here as my mutual circle but god i love that we bounce ideas off of each other so often

7. A writing tool/device that helps you with writing (i.e. text-to-speech, a program, etc...)

comic sans

8. A piece of world-building that you like in your own story (it could be the magic system, a particular place, a law, etc...)

all of the hopper stuff honestly. it was funny how well it translated to the collector even before we knew what they were really made of

9. What piece of advice would you give to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

try a different approach. sometimes it helps to make a major departure from your norm. pick up poetry or work under a set of constraints youve never given yourself before. it helps to come into something fresh yknow

10. Tag some people whose work you love/ have been your biggest supporters

the GANG

@blackyote

@emsprovisions

@sapphic--kiwi

@secretly-of-course

and also everyone else who i forgot because i know thats not all of you please dont take it personally im just scatterbrained this is for all of you

[saemi-the-dreamer]

For the ask meme, 8, 19, and 23?

Thanks for the ask Elves ^o^ Now let's gooooo!!

8. Common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

I've answered it here already, but here's another thing that bugs me and I'm going to take the risk: about the games Life is Strange (1 and Before the Storm)

Rachel and Chloe were not a cute couple. In the first game "Life is Strange", it's implied that Rachel was selfish and manipulative and that she took advantage of Chloe and many people to get what she wanted, breaking hearts on her way and leaving the people behind to pick up the pieces after her. In "Before the Storm, there are many clues and foreshadowings telling us that Chloe shouldn't trust Rachel, nor get close to her, but she's just so lonely, desperate and in a vulnerable state of mind that she's tricked. This whole scene is not Rachel confessing her love or "proposing to her" - as some comments like to say - on stage / in public to Chloe while staying in character. Look well at the lines, forget they're acting a Shakespearian play, and you have a true summary of their relationship:

Rachel sent Chloe to wreak havoc for her; Chloé does and is always the one who takes the risks, always in the first line for her, and because of Rachel's influence, Chloe becomes more and more ruthless, self-centred and obsessed with Rachel, which leads Chloe to lose any friend she could make in BtS and we know how bad her relationship with both her mother and step-father is in LiS1.

After Chloe is done with a task, Rachel praises her but then immediately points out "There's more work"; even though Rachel's parents are rich and she's socially way above Chloe, she's relying on others to do everything for her. Rachel is the most desperate to leave Arcadia Bay, but Chloe is the one who has to find a car and the money to leave. What does Rachel do, except give orders and get more and more demanding? What does she concretely do for Chloe, except get her in trouble and give her some crumbs of affection/love? Nothing! She never helped Chloe find a way to go back to school, follow her studies online or anything, or even support her in finding a job! All she does is ask and take, and her pieces of advice are shit, she pushes Chloe to rebel and be unpleasant when it comes to her mother marrying again instead of telling her to talk it out with them or to give her future step-dad a chance before slamming the door shut to his face.

when Chloe reminds Rachel that she made a promise to her, Rachel either doesn't remember or pretends not to

"My liberty." "Nay, this most of all I will not grant." Rachel refuses to let Chloe go. She even has the gall to ask why! Like "Hey, why do you want to be free? Aren't you happy to serve me? Are you not having fun?"

"Yeah, but fun is not happiness!" Chloe even points out that she wants to be loved for who she truly is, not just have fun and adventures, Chloe needs something genuine, she also needs stability. But Rachel still refuses, "I hold you in my grasp" (!!!) and then even points out that seeing Chloe free, happy on her own, and seeing her thrive would make her envious. This plainly shows Rachel is an abuser! She can't stand the idea that Chloe can be happy without her, she needs to be the centre of her world!

And although Chloe reaches out for her, telling her "Then come with me, isn't that possible for you?", Rachel evades the question and basically tells her "Once we leave Arcadia Bay, I will make you so happy that you will forget that you're my prisoner and slave".

THIS IS NOT ROMANTIC! And people in the game PLUS many gamers are falling for it, since someone in the public screams "SAY YES!!" er... NO?! Chloe, run for your life!!?

Chloe was basically the caretaker of Rachel, and when Chloe wasn't enough, she looked for another. Rachel seduced Nathan (rich, abused and vulnerable but mentally ill), then Frank (an independent adult, but he was a drug dealer and not mentally stable) and then she fell for Jefferson, who had ticked all the boxes... Unfortunately for her, he was very much like her but worse!

Another point for LiS1, I don't believe David was an abusive step-father.

Is he kind of a jerk, not the most tactful, and kinda sexist? Yep, all agreed. But people also forget that this guy has fought in a freaking war! Everyone justifies both Chloe and Rachel's actions with their traumas, but no one even thinks about how this guy must be full of traumas too. What he lived explains (not justify!!) that he's a bit paranoid and adamant about following rules and laws. And we tend to forget how he had a very good intuition for many things: he was suspicious about Jefferson very early, but no one took him seriously, for one!

And back to the stepfather thing, I saw many people talking shit bout how Chloe didn't feel safe at home because of him. This is bullcrap. If Chloe didn't feel safe, then why did she take drugs in her room?! Or hid the gun she stole from him under her mattress? Because she knew she would get away with it with, at worst, a slap. A slap she pushed David to give her, which is another abuser tactic btw - one she must have taken from Rachel, as we see how her speech, manners and even clothing mimic Rachel if you take BtS into account. In Life is Strange 2, there is a scene where you meet him, and if you have a saved game with the "Chloe survived ending", we see how she and Max keep in touch with him! They write letters and send him photos, and David calls her "his daughter" and even "Sweetie" as he picks up when Chloe calls him!!! ; and let's not forget the "your old man doesn't fear the heat." So Chloe even came to consider him as her father then! Do you seriously think she would if he had been an abusive piece of shit? I don't. If anything, Chloe must have acted on her realization at the end of the first game, where she told Max that David doesn't deserve to die in the storm and reached out when she felt ready.

19. You're mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like…

I'm at an age where I stop caring about the internet's opinion most of the time, I just want to chill and enjoy my things in my corner xD BUT I'm quite kind of surprised and embarrassed (sometimes) at some kinks I realised I enjoy more than I thought I should (still quite soft compared to what we can find!) like spanking for example. Or when I start a story and think "URGH this character is SO annoying, I can't stand them" then it changes to either "I love them" or "I want *insert character* to tame them"

23. Ship you've unwillingly come around to

Well, I've ranted about the game series, so I'll keep on it:

I've spoken about Rachel/Chloe, so I'm not going to expand more, but for Pricefield (Chloe/Max)? Well, in summary, I'll say that Chloe did to Max exactly what Rachel did to her.

I'm not the purist kind, if you want to ship a toxic ship, it's totally okay! I can see the appeal! But most fanworks romanticise them way too much! They cut out all the toxic traits or interesting character development and make it all "pure from friend to lover" which isn't... that at all. I'd like them more if it was addressed that the pairings are not the healthiest, or if it was explicitly written under "toxic/abusive relationship"! Or just an "everything is fine/better AU", sure, go ahead! I love these AUs too, it would be fun and heartwarming to read slices of life stories/small comics with the characters without the tragedies awaiting them!

But at the moment, all I see is that Rachel was Chloe's toxic ex, and Chloe became Max's toxic ex-best/girlfriend (in the timeline where Chloe dies).

[astraltrickster]

Your Lie in April and the Elephant in the Room

An essay that I felt the need to get out this month.

If you were in the anime sphere in the mid-late 2010s, you're probably familiar with Your Lie in April. It was hailed as a masterpiece, and for good reason - it was a powerful tragedy; a cathartic exploration of themes of love, of loss, of abuse and trauma, of sickness, of dreams and where they come from and what happens when they're unattainable - all things we all have either experienced ourselves, or pray we never do but know that they could happen to anyone. The emotions were perfectly paced throughout; the drama was entirely too easy to relate to, and the humor was the perfect amount of levity at the most precise times for maximum impact. The music was incredible; the opening song remains iconic in its own right even before examining the OP animation, packed with foreshadowing and symbolism that becomes an absolute gut punch upon review, and the rest of the OST was no slouch either.

And for no direct fault of its own, I hated it.

(Spoilers below, in...case anyone cares about spoilers for a manga from 2011/anime from 2014).

It was a genuinely well-crafted story. It was an important story to tell, even! But it came out into a world where too many other stories had already done what it did, and often done so very poorly and insensitively, and not enough have dared to do anything different with its elements. As a result...I just can't force myself to see past the fact that when stripped down to its core elements, it's just yet another case of disability as misery porn and a girl made disposable for the pain and character development of a boy. The entire time I was watching it, I just couldn't get immersed, because one nagging question just kept making me angry - "why are we focusing more on Kosei's angst about it than on how Kaori herself feels about reaching the terminal stage of her illness at 14!?"

Yet, if it existed in a vacuum, this wouldn't have been a problem. There is an inherent aspect of tragedy in terminal illness, especially early-onset or congenital ones. I don't hate this tragedy's impact on a dying person's loved ones being put in the spotlight because I think everyone who loves someone with a terminal illness can and should somehow suck it up and just not grieve or hate being able to see the end coming so early, nor because I think people don't need or deserve fictional outlets to explore that perspective; I hate it because...as of now, I can name only one big name piece of media off the top of my head (The Bucket List) that actually focuses first and foremost on what the sick person actually wants, or why they might feel the way they do. Because the only emotions a terminally ill character is allowed to feel in the overwhelming majority of media are fear, regret, and maybe some hollow respite haunted by the fact that momentary joy won't save them, usually in such a generic and impersonal way that it would make no difference if the human character was replaced with a beloved family pet approaching their final days. I hate it because the loved ones' grief is nearly the only perspective we're allowed to see, as if none of the viewers will themselves be the ones diagnosed with a terminal disease in the future, let alone currently be in their own known final year.

In the scene where Kaori's legs suddenly give out, and she broke down screaming at them to just work again - that was the moment where I felt the weight of the story the hardest. I understood that feeling; I knew where it came from in a generic sense, but also in a personal sense about her - this wasn't just another function she was losing, this was crucial to her ability to do what she loved with the little time she had left. It was an experience I've seen. It was an experience I've feared. It was an experience I've even had "free trial" versions of, which were harrowing enough in their own right. I was able to well and truly connect with her, and her above all else, in that moment, and it still stands out to me as one of the more powerful scenes in anime to date.

I just wished we had more of that - and in hindsight, I wouldn't mind if it wasn't even in this particular anime, as long as there was enough of it to make the overall perception of progressive illness in media more balanced. As long as more media remembered that terminally ill people are people, whose reasons for their actions and feelings are always deeper than "I want to keep passively existing". As long as more media remembered that while friends', family members', and partners' feelings on someone's imminent death aren't irrelevant, neither are the feelings of the dying person themself.

It is a stunning example of how a story can be problematic (in the original nuanced sense of the word, not as a fancy synonym for "bad"), not because it did anything wrong in its own right, but because too much other media did, or because not enough did anything different.

I wish I could have enjoyed this anime. Maybe one day we'll have enough balance that I will, if and when I rewatch it.

[almond-tofu-chan]

i have never been angrier in my entire fucking life, it is taking every fiber of my being to not actually punch someone right now /srs

so this fucking show im assistant directing, WAS assistant directing, i quit because it was hell. the director is this piece if shit entitled bitch who doesnt know or care how to run a good show. i signed up to assistant direct, ended up babysitting a bunch of kids from four to six every day five days a week. while i was doing the job I DIDNT SIGN UP TO DO i was verbally berated, abused, mistreated, and taken advantage of at every possible corner. when i learned tech week would be till eight i fucking quit

heres where i get fucking pissed: the kids were amazing. theyre a bunch of talented, bright actors who are absolutely lovely, and for most of them this is their first show. i understandably feel awful for quitting, plus the bitch director hates me nowc but i show up to opening night to cheer them on

i want to kill this woman

kids are crying, shes yelling at them backstage constantly, lighting and sound cues dont work, choreo and blocking are nonexistent, so are props and costumes and set: everything needed to make a show a show is absent or so shoddily put together that it genuinely looked like it was going to fall apart

and the kids are amazing, they do so well with what theyre given and theyre so good and talented and im serious when i say theyre all gonna go far, if it werent for the fucking director

show starts 20 minutes late because she hasnt finished playbills, curtains are see through and on yhe verge of collapse at all times, they're doing this show in a HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA btw, all the costumes she got yesterday from thriftsmart, she got kids ti make all the props and set and it shows, and she never told crew what to do, so shes yelling at them constantly while giving them no direction at all. a crew kid is forced on stage at one point to turn on someones mic, he was crying

i had to comfort no less than four crying kids afterwards, all sobbing because she had yelled at them and berated them for no goddamn reason other than the thrill of the power trip

oh and btw, the second the show ended she disappeared. didnt talk to parents, cast, crew, just fucking dipped.

and you know what? im going to the show tomorrow too. i fucking quit because i forsaw this shit was going to happen, but no way in hell am i just gonna watch while these kids that i love suffer. fucking survivors guilt is a thing, and i want to kill her for making me kill myself for this goddamn show

i wouldnt be surprised if these kids hate theatre now. theyre all a bunch of talented, starry eyed young impressionable kids who she is using for her own power trips and abuse, and shes probably ruining theatre for them forever. shes hurting the people i love and forcing me to get involved again when i had already gotten out. seriously, fuck this shit, im so mad. you hurt me thats one thing. you hurt my kids? fuck you, seriously go fuck yourself.

sorry for the long fucking post, this show is so fucking awful i havent even talked about a quarter of the shit going on, theres so goddamn much of it

ill be fine, i just had so much fucking work to do this weekend that i cant get done now because of this goddamn show. if she directs the show next year i will actually kill someone, i hope she dies slowly and painfully /srs

[writingforfun0714]

I was rewatching CW Clone Cadet arc (Domino Squad/Rishi Moon/Attack on Kamino) and thought I’d share some of my Rancor Battalion headcanons (I’ve been working on my Halloween costume and haven’t had the time to work on any fics—sorry)

*All clones are alive and live happily here*

Warnings—Not a fic, headcanons for Rancor Battalion, spoilers for CW, part 1?

Members—Havoc, Blitz, Colt, Hammer

—Colt is the oldest followed by Blitz then Hammer and finally Havoc

—They all have a ❤️MOM tattoo on their shoulder/biceps in honor of Master Shaak Ti, since they all view her as their ‘mom’

—BFFs with 99 obviously

—Defended 99 from Brick the bounty hunter guy who trained Domino Squad

—When 99 says “I’m a soldier! Like you!” I wholly believe that Rancor Battalion taught him all the classic soldier-y things like disarming a bomb, learning ship specs, and how to shoot. I can just see Colt adjusting 99’s grip and aim while Hammer gives advice on his stance. Havoc shares helpful advice about the recoil and safety while Blitz looks on silently with a ‘proud older brother’ look.

—Because Rancor Battalion trains cadets in all stages, if they have a problem, they go to 99, who gives Uncle Iroh-advice lol

—Colt is the squad leader. Strong, slightly assertive type that follows the rules

—Blitz is the medic. Quiet, smart and a gentle soul

—Hammer is the weapons expert. Hammer is a secret artist. Like this man can draw! Think Meelo from Legend of Korra lol

—Havoc is the pilot and the squad joker/fun-loving one

—Havoc is an animal lover and loves hanging with Sergeant Hound and Grizzer, Hound’s tracking massiff

—Blitz loves plants and gardening, especially when it comes to vegetation with medicinal properties

—You wouldn’t know it but Colt’s superstitious

—No one believes Havoc, Hammer or Blitz when they explain why Colt avoids stepping on lines/cracks between floor plates, and keeps a 7-leaf clover Blitz grew in one of his utility belt pockets. Only Shaak Ti knows/believes them.

—They’re all great with the young cadets (the kids)

—Preferring to keep to their squad, they often have 99 join them whenever they have free time/during meals

—All of them are fiercely protective of Shaak Ti and 99.

—They once heard Lama Su speak ill of Shaak Ti and the Jedi. They refused to take orders from him for weeks until they all got court marshaled and Shaak Ti had a talk with them.

—They also overheard Lama Su and Nala Se discuss whether or not to terminate 99 and boy it was a good thing Shaak Ti was there when they confronted the Kaminoans. Cuz they were all ready to kill Lama Su and Nala Se. Shaak Ti talked with them, learned what was going to happen and ordered that 99 be kept.

—*Big bro mode* activates any time a clone makes fun of 99.

—*Big bro mode* also activates any time Shaak Ti brings a jedi youngling/padawan to observe and train a bit. They love all ‘little jedi babies’.

—They also love getting together with Delta Squad for drinks (is the clone bar called 79’s? For some reason I thought that’s the name)

—The kid cadets all aspire ‘to be like Rancor Battalion’

I think that’s all I can think of for now, but am definitely wanting to continue. I also have HCs for the 501st boys, the 212th boys, Delta Squad, Bad Batch, 99, Jango/Boba/Omega, the Wolffepack and a few specific clones like Monnk and Bly.

I’m almost done with my Halloween costume and only have a few accessory pieces to sew. I’m not a seamstress or anything (I just found out about patterns which are like tracers to cut fabric—would’ve been helpful when I was putting my shirts/shorts together) so it’s taking a lot longer than usual, but I’m happy with what I have. I don’t think I’ve said what I’ll be so I want to keep it a surprise until I finish everything. Thanks for being patient with me Readers. I’ll post more once Halloween’s over.

[curatoroffiction]

A Pain In The-

Crewel decides to teach the class about a type of potion that allows two people to be physically linked to each other. They'll experience everything the other person feels. He uses you and your lab partner as the example subjects. What he doesn't know, is that you have immense and debilitating chronic pain. This is a College/University AU where all the characters are adults. ---

I started this series a while back, so the first two chapters are an older style of my writing. It started as a way to vent through my chronic pain, and then became a way to explore different chronic illness problems I experience through the lens of some comforting characters. Because of this, the experiences are very personal, so it might not be relatable for everyone! Some chapters in this series might be more relatable for readers than others. This piece is absolutely not meant to encompass the entire chronically ill experience. It’s designed to be a series of snapshots of how people can experience and face these kinds of problems. The first chapter is very short because it sets the stage for all of the other chapters that come after it. ---

Warnings:

- Characters from the series are subjected to experiencing chronic illness symptoms (If you don’t like watching characters suffer, this definitely ain’t the series for you. Hahaha) - Reader is chronically ill and experiences chronic pain/fatigue/other chronic symptoms

- This series is written from personal experience, and may have an unrelatable expression of these symptoms of chronic illness as a result.

Chapter 1: A Problem Set In Motion

"I'm going to need two volunteers- Ah, you! And you." Crewel leads you and your lab partner to the front of the classroom. He holds two potions in his hands. "Today, we're going to learn about Tethered Potions. Potions whose effects are tied to each other. Sometimes, these potions can cause two individuals to share an experience." He hands each of you one of the potions. "Please drink."

Your lab partner and you are hesitant at first, but there's no getting around it. You both drink your potions and Professor Crewel smiles, turning to the class, about to speak- That is, until your lab partner clutches themselves and falls off of their stool.

The entire room stares at Professor Crewel, who looks baffled. The potion shouldn't have done that. But when he looks to you, you're absolutely fine. Crewel's eyes are calculating as your lab partner writhes on the floor. "... What are you experiencing, ___?"

"Uh, nothing?" You question, raising your eyebrow. Although, now that he mentions it, the more your lab partner rolls around, the more you begin to feel sensations. He can see you internally processing this. "Actually, wait. I can feel... I can feel the floor? On my shoulder and back?"

"And you don't feel any pain?"

"Not any more than usual."

There's the ticket. "Any more than.. usual..?" Crewel asks, beginning to help your lab partner off the ground.

"Ah.. I experience chronic pain. So if I'm supposed to be experiencing pain, it probably just isn't hitting my usual threshold."

"This set of potions isn't meant to cause pain - It's meant to cause the two who consume it to be physically linked. They experience everything the other is experiencing. It appears I've accidentally subjected one of the other students to your chronic pain.”

You shoot a sympathetic glance to your lab partner. Though, you'd be lying if you said you felt bad right now. It's almost a little validating to know that your pain is that disruptive to someone who never experiences it.

"You two may take the remainder of class off. The potion's effects will last until the end of the day. I'll fill you in on what you've missed. I can't very well have a writhing student in my class. Please do take care of your partner."

You help your partner hobble out into the hall. Every move of your body causing them more pain as they experience the agony that it is just for you to walk.

----- End Chapter ----- You can read the rest of this series, and other works, here!: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38190991/chapters/95414188

[flaim-ita]

Odd numbers for a Geats character of your choice!

You know I have to go with Ace

1 - My first impression of them

Love at first sight. I’m a Tsukasa fan so it goes without saying that I was THRILLED to have a new asshole boy for the first time in nearly 15 years. And then ep 1 his and I was fully cursed forever. He was so confident and cool and I just KNEW he was going to have something so very wrong with him

3 - A song that reminds me of them

Outside of canon Geats ones I guess the only one I can think of might be Black Sorrow from Alien Stage https://youtu.be/v0Rl9Au21lI

5 - My favorite ship of them

Ot4. I was obviously a mark for this one of course I am a Decade fan but they are all so mentally ill and I want the series to end with the four together or looking for each other, depending

7 - A quote of them that you remember

“My mother has done no wrong. I’ll prove it” the poor man is setting himself up for failure. Plus like wow. On a scale of Ace to Steven Universe what is your stance on blaming your abused mother for all war crimes and suffering ever?

9 - Your least favorite outfit of them

Ace wears this ridiculously oversized everything for Zombie arc and I cannot stop bullying it. But his worst suit is LazerBoost it’s too bulky and Mk II is sexier.

11 - What’s the first thing you think about when thinking about the character?

I want to ruin him. If he’s lucky, his cule will get the pieces to put back together.

13 - Your favorite friendship they have

Ace slowly going from forcing Tsumuri to be his sister to them clearly being genuinely open and honest with each other in the latest ep gives me Life.

15 - Worst storyline they had

I don’t have a single complaint about Ace like genuinely at all. But if I had to choose and acknowledging that I know why (making it easier on his beloved friends to fight him if he plays the villain mode up, also Keiwa basically just called him a sin to be rectified), I do wish he’d told the others what was being done to his mother.

17 - What do you think their first word was?

Mama. In every life, the first word he parses out, and usually much faster than most children, is whatever form of mother is easiest to say.

19 - The most random ship you've seen people have with them

Someone on Ao3 has written Ace x Hideyoshi Kan and I want to study their brain. I do not however want to read the fic.

21 - When do you think they were at their happiest?

Neon’s birthday. When Keiwa said “Ace is Ace”. I think in that moment Ace felt close to true happiness for the first time in centuries and it crashed as soon as it rose.

23 - Future headcanon

When everything is over, Ace keeps his hollow wishes. What he does not keep is his true one. His mother is dead, and he isn’t sure if he will finally forget, after this life. What he does know is none of the others can go home, and he built one especially for a DGP built family.

The Star of the Star of the Stars lives with popular breakout streamer Neon, who speaks openly about abuse and mental health issues in careful video essays but also chats and dances and is bright during actual streams. They live with three more mysterious individuals, Keiwa and Michinaga, who sometimes appear on streams, and Ace’s mysterious “Nee-San.”

What they don’t see: Ace is empty. Perhaps he forever will be. But having a family helps.

Even if it’s not who he spent so long searching for.

25 - When do you think they acted the most ooc

Ace rescuing Giroli like 2 days before Fox Hunt was hilarious timing but not necessarily OOC. Although it’s the only time his actions felt off from the reality of the story, it’s minor and movies are filmed super early.

As for proper OOC, when he’s all “I don’t care” about Michinaga. It makes sense, he finds Michinaga far too pathetic now to be a real rival, but it still feels odd.

27 - If they could meet a character from another show/movie/etc, who would be the most fun for them to meet?

I want him to meet Tsukasa because I miss Tsukasa desperately and I think they’d vibe together.

Also for non Toku I have this distinct image in my head of a Steven Universe crossover where not only have multiple Aces been friends with Rose, he then meets Steven and is kind of like “oh yeah of course there were things wrong with your mother but at the end of the day I think she wanted to be a good person, more than I did at the times, and we don’t necessarily have a right to judge what worlds our mothers definitely hoped would be better to us than to them.“

29 - How do you think they would be as a parent?

Ace seemed unsurprised that past and future people could not have kids so I do believe every Ace has had fertility issues, as a half breed himself. Any kids he did have, they didn’t live very long.

Ace is a doting father but he is distant and hyper vigilant. By the time the baby is two months he has had them checked for every possible disease and condition. He will always make sure the baby is clean and fed and cared for, but it takes longer to bond. After all, it never stops hurting when he loses a child.

When he does bond, it’s even more obvious. He is convinced his child is the most wonderful person in the universe, takes her with him when it’s safe, and cherished every moment.

If it’s Ukiyo Ace, the child survives.