#kinda sad about gods. if the animation had more energy to it i think it could have been up these with these two

[fxllingout]

rise and warriors best worlds mvs no contest

[iwoszareba]

Knight Commander as Companion

for the longest time I thought I can't do this template for Knave because he doesn't properly exist outside of the context of being the knight commander but then I had the obvious realisation that he is a walking joke and full trickster

template by @dragonologist-phd​ and you can find blank version here

Name: Knave

Race: Kitsune (is what his character sheet says, he is actually fey)

Class: Crossblooded Sorcerer (Arcane/Abyssal)

Background: none

Appearance:

his full trickster appearance but the ringmaster getup was too out of place and had too much of a "the man in charge" energy for his role as a companion so I designed a jester outfit for him so you know you are getting yourself into some clownery the moment you see him

Favored Weapon/Equipment:

he starts with a fairly standard equipment for a sorcerer but with some goofy item descriptions like "I left my best stuff in the other save file to not destroy the party balance." or " My favourite colour is red. If you put a blue robe on me I will be upset."

Top Skills: knowledge arcana, mobility, stealth, perception

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

General Personality:

He has two modes which I call: cartoon character and horror monster. As a companion you mostly get his cartoon side bc he doesn't want to be kicked out of the party (and because he is well fed so he is feeling pretty chill). He is fairly friendly if a bit weird. Some other words I could describe him with: nonchalant, playful, capricious. He turns into a little pissbaby when he is bored. If you play an evil commander you get to see more of his monster side

What traits/values do they admire?

chaotic

independent

ruthless

jovial

What traits/values do they disapprove of?

predictable

mundane

mortal

serious

Are they affiliated with any deities?

Nope! Atheist. Will always decline if you offer him ascension. Gods fascinate him sometimes but he treats it like watching a puppet show.

What do they think of their role in the Crusades, and of sharing the Commander’s Mythic powers? What are their reasons for joining the commander’s party?

He doesn't think he has any particular role, he is just here for the ride, baby! He is an observer and maybe even a fan. He doesn't care all that much about receiving mythic powers but he is thrilled for the commander and is curious to see how their powers develop.

Who are their friends among the other party members?

Ember - weirdly enough. he would wear a flower crown if Ember made it

Woljif - kinda sad he doesn't get to mentor him here, but still very thumbs up about whatever Woljif is up to

Nenio - she is extra funny because she doesn't realise how funny she is

What about rivals?

Regill - Knave thinks he is exceptionally boring and stuck up which makes him fun to annoy. Regill despises him big time 

Ulbrig - Sarkoris and its practices are a bit of a sour subject for Knave so he sometimes boils when Ulbrig start to talk about it

Seelah - she can smell the evil on him and she is not a fan. Knave thinks she is thiiiis close to being entertaining but she is still a goody two shoes paladin, shame

Are they on any councils? If so, what sort of advice do they give?

He is on every council and it is said openly that he was not invited there but he refuses to leave. He gives nonsensical joke advice that somehow still works because that's what the game mechanics demand.

Where do they hang out in Drezen? In the Abyss?

He just randomly appears in different places. Sometimes he doesn't appear at all. One time you got jumpscared when he popped up in your commander's bedroom.

What are their idle animations?

He can juggle!! He can do a little dance!!

If you stay in one spot for too long he will lie down on the ground.

He is so bored he is ready to die.

(ofc he gets up with that roll back a bit and do a little jump move bc he is extra)

If they’re taken to Areelu’s lab, what is their dream?

You find him sitting at a table with two people: one is a teenage boy and the other is a young Osirian man. All three of them are chatting excitedly about magic. As you are about to speak to shake him out of the illusion Knave looks directly at you and puts a finger to his mouth to shush you. He lets the whole thing play out for a while longer but eventually gets up from the table.

"It was a real pleasure but regrettably I am needed elsewhere."

As he moves towards you the illusion disappears.

"We going?"

KC: So you knew it was an illusion?

"Sure. Why wouldn't I?"

KC: Who were these people?

"Mmmm. Just some guys I got to know quite well but can never meet or speak to. And before you ask - yes they are dead. I killed them. There is nothing more to explain, let's go."

Do they advise the commander to abandon or keep their mythic powers?

He is very pro mythic powers. Why would you want to be a regular, snotty mortal? The only exception is aeon and his reasoning is that he would like to see the story finale.

If you confirm aeon he will peace out: "Hey, soooo I guess you will grow even more powerful and I don't want my powers and your powers to clash and go on the fritz. We could get me erased by accident! What a shame that would be. So this is my cue to leave."

How/when do they join the Commander’s party?

You can stumble upon him in a couple different places in act 1. Always surrounded by disarray and in contrast he acts like a jolly tourist having a great time.

When he notices your group approaching he points at you with a big smile "You! I've been looking for you!" you can ask what he means by that "Do you know that feeling when you finish a really good story and you instantly want to re-experience it? But then you realise it's kinda pointless, you already know exactly what happens. Why would you do the same thing again? That's me. And you are my key to some variety." ask him what he wants "Nothing in particular. Just want to see how all of this will go for you. I could do it from the sidelines but things are always more exciting first hand. I will assist you of course! I'm great in combat and I'm helpful in general. Helpful is my middle name actually. Knave Helpful Commander."

Describe their companion quest:

He doesn't have a companion quest proper bc it's not his story, he doesn't really have any specific wants or problems. But you get a special scene with him in act 5 after the whole situation with Areelu's child's soul is in the open.

LEGEND

You can encounter Knave looking more sullen than you've ever seen him before.

"You really want to get rid of that kid's soul, huh? I guess there is something to just wanting to be yourself. What a luxury that must be."

He produces two glasses filled with suspect looking liquid that shimmers with many colours. He offers you one of them.

"I never toast to the dead, I'm more of a spit on their graves kind of guy, but today is a weird day."

If you drink the strange brew, you receive a permanent +2 to strength, constitution and dexterity plus some minor fey themed power.

OTHER MYTHIC PATHS

Knave comes to you and seems more frantic than normally.

"I have a proposal for you. There is a… ritual that I could do to nourish that extra piece of soul stuff in you. 'Why the fuck would I agree to that?' I can hear you think. Trust me, it will be good for you. Something, something strength and weakest links. You know how that goes. And I promise no negative consequences."

If you agree to go through with the ritual, you receive a permanent +2 to intelligence, wisdom and charisma plus some minor demon themed power.

Are they romanceable? Describe their romance quest/scenes if you want!

Yea! Works both as a little friendship/romance path, you don't have to escalate it to physical and he is looking for a playmate regardless if you are into him sexually/romantically.

Available to commanders of any gender but not of any alignment. He needs to find you entertaining and I don't think that would be sufficiently conveyed with just picking the romance opener lines. So I imagine he has a counter that sums up all your chaotic and/or evil choices. You need to have enough of them in each act: 2, 3 and 4 to unlock his special scenes.

Act 2: a little spot of iconoclasm

He approaches you when you are camping out and about and says that he has something he would like to show you.

He leads you to a secluded place surrounded by big, jagged rocks, the only thing of interest you notice is a box that Knave goes to and sits on.

"So here's the deal, you had all these new responsibilities dumped on you and I know how that goes: they want you to do the most boring shit day in and day out and then expect you to thank them for the opportunity. The fucking audacity. There must be some pent up frustration there and I thought I could help you relieve it."

KC: That's suspiciously caring of you.

"Hey, I've told you I'm a helpful fellow."

KC: I actually enjoy my new duties.

"A bit of a weirdo, huh? But even things you enjoy can be frustrating at times."

KC: This already sounds like a great idea.

"Ha! It seems I was right and you really need this."

KC: Are you offering yourself?

"Mmmm, no. Or maybe I should say 'not yet'.

He jumps off the box and opens it, you look inside and see a whole batch of figurines shaped both as Iomedae's sword and visage of the goddess herself.

"There is nothing more relaxing than smashing something breakable. And we can have our symbolic 'fuck you' directed at Iomedae for making you toil to keep her crusade afloat."

KC: Did you steal these?

"Yeah, but all this stuff looks real cheap. You can say we are saving people from getting scammed."

KC: We can't just destroy the symbol of the goddess!

"Why not? What she gonna do, smite us? I don't see her doing that to all the fuck ups within her own ranks. Besides, she needs you and I'm not afraid of her."

KC: Can I also curse while I smash this stuff?

"Absolutely. Be my guest."

KC: Do you do things like this often?

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Depends on the mood."

If you still don't agree he will roll his eyes but he pats the box a couple times and the figurines inside transform into unholy symbols of Deskari and Baphomet.

"Hopefully this is more palatable for you. These guys deserve a personalised 'fuck you' as well."

Either way the two of you spend some time smashing fragile objects against the rocks. After you are done he pats your arm with a smile.

"Hope that helped. We could wreck something bigger next time around. A statue? Maybe even a whole temple! Something to think about."

Act 3: tavern brawl

He invites you for a drink in Half-Measure. The place is crowded tonight but when they see the knight commander they make sure there is a free table. The two of you chat for a while, you get to ask him some questions but at some point he starts to look around and a mischievous glint lights up his eyes.

"What if we started a tavern brawl?"

KC: (lawful) But I'm in charge of these people.

"What I'm hearing is that it's in your right to dispense a bit of misery to them. To build character, of course."

KC: (good) Someone could get hurt!

"What is life if not the constant possibility of getting hurt? They'll be fine."

KC: (chaotic) I like the way you think.

"I knew you would understand."

KC: (evil) I wouldn't mind getting some hits in myself.

"Mmmm. And I would never deny such a wish."

KC: You're just going to start shit no matter what I say.

"Well, yeah. But I like hearing your thoughts!"

With a clever use of mage hand, illusion magic and one raw fish turned into a projectile weapon the place soon erupts in all-out war. Knave seems to be having a great time, dodging hits left and right, but when he sees a whole ass table being thrown in your direction he grabs you, picks you up and you disappear.

You are teleported outside of the tavern, Knave looks at it with a satisfied grin as the sounds of scuffle are now muffled by the distance but still very much present. He eventually turns around and starts walking in the direction of your quarters, still carrying you in his arms.

KC: You can put me down now.

"But what if I want to carry you? Fine, have it your way."

KC: You don't look like you should be able to carry me.

"Really? But I invested everything in muscles. And by muscles I mean magic."

KC: Are you looking for an excuse to touch me?

"I don't need excuses for anything. I just do what feels right at the moment."

He carries you or walks you all the way to your bedroom doors.

KC: I had a fun evening.

"So did I. Made even better by the company."

KC: Maybe we shouldn't have done that.

"Don't overthink it. And in our defence: it was funny."

"You try to get some sleep. I'll go see the aftermath. Some of those punches looked real solid!"

optionally you can start a sexual relationship with him

KC: And what if I invited you in?

"Mmmm. Nothing like a brawl to get your blood pumping, right? Yeah, okay. I'll make this feel good."

Act 4: like the demons do

He comes to you with a little proposal and you can pick one of three options (l will not be writing out each possible scene bc please have mercy on me).

"Hey, so I know everyone expects you to be all 'boohoo, my crusade' and 'boohoo, being in the Abyss sucks' but what I think is that you should get to do something fun while you are here. And I have a few ideas!"

"I know where Socothbenoth's place is. We could sneak in there to throw eggs, break some vases, paint crude things on the walls… No, scrap that last thing. He could actually find that endearing. Anyway, we will think on our feet and cause some mischief!"

"This one may be a little controversial but what if we bought some slaves to see how hope lights up their eyes, the confusion of possible future, then turned into pained, fearful confusion as we kill them afterwards. I'm salivating just thinking about it."

"Have you sampled what Ten Thousand Delights has to offer? I don't advise rubbing elbows with demons too much, but if you would like we could find ourselves a cozy corner there. Do a little play pretend. I could be your demon whore for the evening."

Act 5: know where we stand

If you managed to go through all of his scenes, in act 5 you can have a little friendship confession and then optionally try asking for more but the latter is tricky since he doesn't show up for the jealousy scene and having any other romance active locks you out.

FRIENDSHIP

KC: I have to admit I had a lot of fun with you.

"So did I! Out of all the commanders I could have encountered, I'm happy it was you."

KC: Do you consider us friends?

"Mmmm, everyone seems to understand that word differently. But if 'someone who would drop everything to support your stupid ideas' is a definition that works for you, then yeah, I think we are friends."

ROMANCE

KC: Do you think we could be more?

Legend

"We can't. You are so nauseously mortal now, it's sad seeing you like this. Really breaks my heart."

Another romance active

"Mmmm. Tempting, but it seems things are getting serious between you and your main squeeze. Not that I particularly care about their feelings but I'm not really looking for that kind of drama."

Otherwise

"You have me burning with curiosity: why would you want that?"

KC: You are my kind of weird.

"I see, it's a highly curated kind of weird so no wonder you can't find it elsewhere."

KC: I always wanted a pet monster.

"Ha! You know the thing about leashes: they can be pulled from both sides."

KC: I think I love you.

"A horrible decision, really. But I get it, we don't always choose these things."

KC: I don't know, it just feels right.

"Ah, this I understand very well, following your instincts where they lead you, even when you don't fully comprehend them."

"You may be the most fun person I've ever met. You make me feel… things. I wouldn't be opposed to spending more time with you, even after all of this is over. Take that as you will."

(Shout out to Mother Mother 'Wrecking Ball' for finally putting me on the right track for writing this section.)

What would their ending slides be like?

General:

He stays for the post game celebrations and you get news about him causing mischief for a while longer but after that he is never heard from again and you are unsure what happened to him.

You agreed to drink the fey brew:

You haven't noticed it at first but some time after the crusade was over and everything calmed down it became apparent that every time you are about to have a drink you feel a subtle pang of sadness. Melancholy of missing something that is no longer there.

You agreed to the ritual:

When the crusade is long over and you begin to feel like that part of your life is behind you, you start to recall memories of Areelu's child as vivid as if they were your own. There doesn't seem to be any other effect. At least for now.

Friendship:

One day he shows up out of the blue to tell you he recently remembered how much fun the two of you had and asks if you would be interested in another adventure.

Romance:

He sometimes teases that he can't be truly tamed and one day he will have his freedom back but he is still here. With you. And it's been a good while already.

Any other fun facts?

he has a white rabbit familiar from arcane bloodline

—

if you use his kitsune change shape ability he turns into a literal fox and becomes useless in a fight but he gains a big boost to stealth

—

from act 3 you can make an observation that he seems to be really enjoying all the chaos and violence of the crusade (if you want you can be disapproving about it)

"Why wouldn't I enjoy it? Not only is it plenty fun, I also get a real good meal out of it."

KC: A… meal?

"Mmmmm… I may have said too much. Now you will think I am another cannibal. Would that even phase you at this point? Hah. But what I consume is not of the flesh and blood. It's fear that sustains me and we are in the middle of a war with demons. It's like the finest buffet here."

AZATA

"I could do without that colourful sprinkle of hope you keep adding to the mix but I doubt my opinion is going to stop you."

LICH

"My only concern is that most undead don't feel fear, so maybe don't turn all our troops into zombies? I would appreciate that."

DEMON

"And to have a leader who can be as frightening as the demons we fight? That is a doozy, let me tell you."

DEVIL

"And you commander, you may not be as aggressive as demons but you still make quite an impression on people."

SWARM

"And when you have your chow time I get my fair share too. We have a good thing going here."

ANGEL

"And you are an interesting puzzle. Your light can soothe but your zeal unnerves. Personally I would love to see more of the latter."

AEON

"And you. I don't know which is better: fear of your judgement or fear of what you are becoming... The mix of both probably."

TRICKSTER

"And it's said people fear what they don't understand, so from one trickster to another: people don't understand you."

GOLD DRAGON

"Do you think people are never afraid of you because you preach forgiveness? You are still a massive beast and some feelings are stronger than reason."

LEGEND

"They fear you will not be enough without your powers. You will prove them wrong, I'm sure, but I will savour this moment anyway."

KC: That's… not very normal.

"Well, it's normal for me! And as you know I'm a perfectly regular person."

KC: How does eating fear even work?

*shrugs* "It just does. It's kinda like when clerics channel positive energy and people get healed or rejuvenated simply by being in proximity. But fear is better, believe it or not it has flavours. So many nuanced flavours."

KC: Can you tell what people are afraid of?

"You worried I will use that against you? Don't be. Your secrets are safe with me. Your tasty, tasty secrets."

KC: (good) You can't feed off of people's fears like that!

"What do you want me to do? Starve myself? Tsk, tsk. Didn't expect you to be this cruel. Mmmm. Actually that's a good look on you."

KC: (chaotic) Oh, I hope to never see you when you get the munchies.

"Ha! Would you say… you are afraid of that possibility?" *winks*

KC: (evil) That seems like it could be useful.

"Sure thing! Use some fear spells during combat and I promise I will fight extra hard for you."

"And as I said I am fed and happy simply being here so this is a non issue for you."

Provide some dialogue/bark examples!

On select: 

“Yeeeeees?”

“Imagine I'm saluting.”

(clicked too many times):

“Oh I see, you want me to tell a joke? Be your little jester? Sorry, I don't perform on demand.”

Perception Check Passed:

“Look-see!”

“Something interesting?”

Succeeding a skill check:

“Easy-breezy.”

“The dice are in my favour.”

Failing a skill check:

“Aw beans.”

“I am very powerful, I swear.”

Low Health:

“A solid hit hahahah- ouch.”

“Heal me, maybe?”

Attacking:

“Strike fear into their hearts!”

“Yes! Let's have some fun!”

On critical hit:

*maniacal laughter*

“This is what it's all about!”

Provide some examples of companion banters!

I know I previously would make these for all the companions but this time around I was not feeling it so there are just a couple

there exists a set of banters from his own early game if you are interested in that

—

Knave: Hey, psst. If you ever want to like… *cough*Killyourdad.*cough* I could be a better company than the commander.

Camellia: I will… consider your words.

—

Ember: Will you show me that trick again, the one with hat and the rabbit!

Knave: For a real magic aficionado like you, I will do it as many times as you want.

—

Woljif: I don't understand how you move all stealth like with those bells attached to you. There is some magic to it, I just know it.

Knave: My bells know what I need! They would never betray me.

—

Knave: I never tire of watching you think up more and more insane things to do.

Nenio: Don't just sit and watch, strange boy! Come over here and help me set up this experiment.

—

Knave: Hey, want one honest advice? Stay away from Camellia. Make her work for her meal.

Trever: I- don't understand what you mean.

—

Regill: You have been staring. If you have something to say, spit it out and be done with it. 

Knave: I was just wondering if it's more reassuring or infuriating that every time I meet you, you are still a sourpuss.

—

Lann: So let me get this straight, you chose to look like this?

Knave: I know how to take pride in being a freak show! You should try it sometime.

[some-pers0n]

*VERY randomly puts this in your inbox*

Have you ever watched the movie Suzume (2022)?

And if so, what are your thoughts and/or feelings about Daijin?

Hey so when I got this ask I was like "oh, I've never watched that! I'll make sure to since it's a recc" and then I watched it and now I'm feeling like my heart was torn from my chest. Good movie! Really gorgeous and brings with a really fun adventure but also a heartwarming and bittersweet. Hold on lemme get my thoughts in order... Spoilers, of course!

So it's a story about coming of age, obviously. Suzume is holding onto the tragedy of her mother dying in the tragedy of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. She lives with her aunt for 12 years before then being whisked away on an adventure with a mysterious boy (whom she falls in love with)(obviously)

Suzume is pretty tragic in that sense. She's 16 years old and at a very crucial moment in her life where she's transitioning from childhood into adulthood. The way she goes about Japan and closes the gates, remnants of the past, as a means of which to close the door on what was and focus on what is...yeah that's a nice metaphor. That and also the constant allusions to Japan itself being in a transitional state, paralleling Suzume.

She was probably one of my favourite characters. I really liked seeing her journey of reconciling with her mother's passing. That ending bit where she had to step up and be the mother figure she always needed, with her being the one that Suzume went on this whole adventure for...god it hurt me. Poor girl. She's really funny, sweet, and I love her general energy and such.

Souta was also a very entertaining character. At first I was like "oh boy edgy mysterious boy who refuses to say anything" and then??? CHAIR??? I went into this movie completely blind, so seeing him become a. chair was completely surprising. The animation on the chair was infectious in how much joy and whimsy it radiated. A three-legged chair with lil' holes for eyes. The animation of it just moving was stellar and gripping. Whenever it was in a chase scene or trying to just run I was glued to the screen. It's so fun.

All of the side characters were so fun too. I loved all the people Suzume met on her journey and the general sense of her being so, so far from home. The constant shots of her looking at the map and seeing just how far she was I always liked. That and also how the cities got bigger and more bustling until she was finally in Tokyo itself. I loved the aunt too, Tamaki. I fully understood and sympathized with her struggles of being a woman who couldn't find time to go out on a date and sometimes feeling like she lost the best years of her life trying to raise her sister's daughter. Yet...she loves Suzume. She's her daughter. For how much trouble she can be, Tamaki adores her.

As for Daijin? Hm. Y'know, I searched up stuff relating to the movie after watching it and I saw a lot of people attached to this lil' guy. I thought he was cute. I liked the scenes where it was being a mischievous troublemaker, smiling and giggling the whole time, but I dunno. I think I would've liked if Daijin was in the movie more. I just didn't get terribly attached and was only like "aw that's sad" when he turned back into the keystone. Like sure yeah Daijin is pretty tragic in the sense that he's essentially a child who just wants to have fun and be liked by Suzume, the one who freed him, but I didn't get entirely invested in him.

Honestly? I thought Daijin was nice as a little chaotic being, letting the gates open up and cause havoc. I thought Daijin was just kinda messing around and playing a trickster role as opposed to an innocent childish one. I thought he wanted all of Japan to fall and for the worm to break away as opposed to treating it like a game. When Daijin came to Suzume after they stopped Tokyo from exploding and Suzume exploded at him, I was like "YEAH?? YOU DESERVE IT????" which was kinda jarring seeing how the majority of people reacted with sadness. Maybe it's cause Daijin is a cute cat or somethin' idk. I like villains. I don't dislike where Daijin's character went, but I did wish he was more present in the movie and his motives made slightly clearer. Same with Sadajin too. Both characters as well as their more god-like forms should've been more present methinks, perhaps with Sadajin trying to help Suzume when the Tokyo gate was unlocked and sticking with her.

I dunno. It was a really nice and fun movie! I've been meaning to check out Makoto Shinkai's works for a long while now, and this was a great introduction to him. I was also recommended Weathering with You as well as, of course, Your Name. I'll maybe write a post when I watch them, especially since this movie on its own is supurb and super great. Lovely and lively animation, fun and entertaining characters, heartwarming and emotional story, interesting and compelling themes and messages, etc.

[rosebuddnd]

pt 3

And last but certainly not least is the absolute firecracker, Dyme Pepperbox.

Dyme grew up in a bunker underground, having to deal with the boredom of subterranean living and a group of survivalist fundamentalists. She only saw the surface for the first time when the being she was hiding from, The Animator, was slain by the original party and her home was brought into the Material Plane. Everything should be great, right? I mean she’s alive, her oppressor is dead, and her people don’t have to hide anymore. Everything’s great, r-right?

Nope! Things are so not fine that its kinda funny to even pretend like they are! When her community was brought back to the Material Plane, they were brought back a couple hundred years too early. This temporal anomaly caused a massive rift to open in the sky above Spring Valley (her home). Quickly, this rift began to cause havoc in Spring Valley, including allowing a WW2 American fighter pilot to attack the city (yes, really).

But most importantly to Dyme’s story, waves of temporal energy would cascade down onto the city, causing people to rapidly age until death. Why is this important to Dyme’s story? Well, one day in Spring Valley she was working on her various inventions, and when she returned to where her family was they were all rapidly dying of old age in front of her. There was nothing she or anyone could have done.

The death of her family DESTROYED Dyme mentally, but instead of coping with it she threw herself into the work her and her father had started. If only she could finish these inventions, certainly everything would work out. Just one more cup of coffee (likely laced with cocaine). Just one more screw. She just needed more time.

Time.

Dyme’s story, in my eyes, is defined by her struggle against time. Time is what stole her family away from her, time is what was taken away from her family, and time is what she now tries to harness. She starves herself of sleep, forsakes times with her loved ones, and shirks her responsibilities to her surviving family and community all so that she can claw back just a bit of the time she lost. The time that was used against her.

Surely running this hard from your issues won’t cause any issues, r-right?

Again. A hysterical thing to say. Of course it has! Dyme’s repressed sadness over the death of her family has manifested in POWERFUL anger issues. This culminated in the most recent sessions as her yelling at Kiriko’s father figure who was trying to flee, and being arrest by the police for blowing at a truly ridiculous tabaxi man while trying to save her cousin’s life. That event in particular, seeing her ability to save one of her only remaining family members slip away from her because some asshole wanted to extort her for more money, really seemed to draw this anger out.

Its interesting to have two characters who are both running from their problems, but in such different ways. Kiriko *has* to run, if he doesn’t everything he’s worked for will be taken from him. But Dyme, Dyme could confront her issues. She could go back to Spring Valley right now and apologize for missing her family’s funeral, apologize to her longtime friend for closing herself off entirely. But instead, she chooses to flee. I think the key difference between these two pcs is that while Kiriko does confront the things he’s running from, Dyme doesn’t. She avoids them as hard as she can possibly avoid them. And all those bottled-up emotions are starting to spew out.

But can we blame her? Time literally stole her family’s lives. It only makes sense that she would try to beat the clock

God what fantastic characters you’ve all built, I could explore them all from so many different angles and I’ve already written a 2000 word paper about them.

[ask-teamplayer]

Hey enzo how do you like h your school so far

ENZO: got a buncha crazy bitches vyin for my attention in this new friend group but honestly its a lot better than it was back in texas

ENZO: i had friends because look at this FIGURE of course i had friends yknow

ENZO: but they all kinda sucked like they really liked talking about ladies in kind of a demeaning way and made so many jokes about how big their dick was and seemed to act like being the homo sexual was a fuckin crime or some shit and it was just kinda uncomfortable

ENZO: like im not gay but god DAMN the way they talked about the pride march goin on when june started was always the most uncomfortable shit fuckin texas man

ENZO: ngl this is my first time really having any substantial girl friends and its not as bad as some of those assholes liked to think it was like

ENZO: i am talking so vague here you want me to just go down the list? a little itinerary of all my friends? cause i can do that for ages i love having an excuse to just TALK

ENZO: like i got vera who barely even looks at me i cant even tell if shes noticed im like IN the friend group or maybe i just dont interest her idk id get it

ENZO: then nahla who is like the coolest bitch ever with emphasis on the bitch she is one of the HOMIES we gotta have more cool manly fistbumps some day i wanna make more elaborate ones with her and seth

ENZO: then lily who is a total crazy bitch but in the best way possible and i love her energy and kinda her but god damn is she a kooky one also she always looks like she wants to lick my abs its kinda uncomfortable

ENZO: then cora who isnt a cool bitch she is JUST a bitch and somehow she is my friend even though shes a total asshole who sees right through me

ENZO: and ronin my babygirl the light of my life and i only say that because he fucking HATES me and its funnier the more i hit on him just to piss him off

ENZO: and seth the actual love of my life like my gay soulmate if i were gay which im not but like in a hypothetical universe where i was we would be gay yknow

ENZO: and darin who i cant even say anything positive about like i cant justify his existence with a response

ENZO: and yknow. fate of course

ENZO: he just seems to think i and every other one of these crazy bitches just hate him and need him and dont actually like him and its fuckin sad, man

ENZO: im really tryin here but like how do you prove that to someone

ENZO: cora seems to think im making "progress" like hes some kind of wild animal and not a person that hasnt been proven wrong yet and it kinda sucks balls

ENZO: fat ones. fat balls

ENZO: hey but progress is progress even if the wording is fucking weird

ENZO: im workin on provin him wrong B)

[letsgosisyphus]

Alright so boom Im back and Im turning my contribution to this space into a live journal of my experience with Retention and just life in general. I just kept going and God kept protecting me from wasting my life force. Paragraphs aren’t separated by topic really anymore, it just looks easier to digest than a wall of text.

I have been doing dummy missions and bringing my ex along to kill 2 birds with one stone and it almost killed me. I gotta stop trying to kill birds simultaneously and just focus on one at a time, unless it’s clear there is no negative benefit of killing them.

I will never mate with her again, Im jilting her(I know I could use that work better). She is like a planet. It’s already been too long I’ve been running in circles (ironically not orbiting but lemme cook) just spiraling out but it turned out I was spiraling up into a helix and then I reached escape velocity.

I no longer can exist on that vibration. I have been busy with studying for this mechatronics assessment and just trying to eat healthier things. I want to have these concepts understood enough to explain to a 5 year old or and old head. I wish there was an online community for people interested in mechatronics so I could learn and be around like minded people.

This girl who I’m kinda like impressed with gave me $40 dollars today and said she was a Christian and God told her to give this to me. She’s pretty cool and is into anime and sad music, she’s pretty introverted and idk I try not to bother her too much. I talk to everyone I work with but I just be telling her my whole life lmao. But as far as the money thing, I have to think of what to do about that, like I don’t know what I’d want most if I was in her shoes.

I’ve literally been in her shoes atleast somewhat when I’d give people an unexpected large amount of money, usually homeless people or people Id only see once. Her superego speaks to her perhaps but with religious support. I think we both feel like vessels for God. It’s an interesting situation meeting someone pretty similar to me and yet not exactly the same. Oh and she’s a writer.

I have to remember to raise my vibration and not ask for the attraction of specific person but of someone who is on the same vibration. It is no point in love potions be they physical or abstract. I will not settle for specifics, that would only build up energy unnecessarily. I am not hedging my bets on individual people, myself included. I require a team, we all have value and some are more suited for certain tasks and delegations than others.

I really desire clear skin and healthy hair. I have clear skin and healthy hair. My chakras are balanced. I am trusting of the process and I am patient. I study for 2 hours and then I take a 15 minute break, every other revolution I take a 30 minute break. On these breaks I eat and just focus on something else. Im basically using Amazons work structure for my own purposes.

I also want to get my official enneagram. People speculate Im a 6. It deals with so many different things and I just want the information so I can create a better world for everyone(myself included). I had some time where I freaked out thinking I was a narcissist but I’m not disagreeable enough to be that. My extroversion is limited to people I work with directly. I don’t particularly enjoy having to convince people of the truth that I am not flirting with them. In public I am not that social or rather I have not been in social situations where I felt it necessary or appropriate to give my name or any life details- aside from work.

I really need to write more, I still record stuff on my phone tho. I need to buy some recording equipment next week to work with a friend from a psychology group. Im really excited to create with another person and really create something special. I will do my best to not let myself or anyone down. I should read more of my adhd book as well to help with that.

Ok it’s nearing 5 o clock and I need to get sleep. Later slimes🙏💚

-Slime

[honey-tea-and-cookies]

Hello there, can you give the public an inside scoop on cancer risings?

Cancer Rising

THE SCOOP <3

I used this gif because it reminded me of the welcoming sweetness of all you Cancer rising babies <333

-Such soft, beautiful skin? Obviously everyone has pimples and acne and whatnot, but they still look absolutely gorgeous!! Their skin is somehow still ✨flawless✨

- Generally have upturned eyes, or eyes that just look big and bright in that way. Almost like doe eyes :)

- Their eyes are positively captivating, because their eyes are so honest. You can always see the kindness and gentleness of their souls through their eyes. It's actually very endearing <3

- I've touched on this before here, but they are very smart!! Extremely intelligent and most of all perceptive people. However, they never show this. They dumb themselves down for others sometimes, and that's absolutely ridiculous. If your friends don't like you because you're smarter than them, get new friends. You deserve better sweet cheeks :)

- I know Cancer is stereotypically known for being good at social studies subjects, but I've found my Cancer risings are good at STEM-related subjects. In particular biology and chemistry, but obviously it still applies to all.

- Cancer is seen as very emotional, which they can be, but emotions are confusing. I think they like anything in STEM and more fact-based subjects like that because it's a relatively black and white way for them to understand the world. Like, they may not understand how they feel a lot of the time, which can be overwhelming, but at least they know how their physical body functions??

- The type to watch sad animal movies just to feel something 💔😔

- Attract energy vampires!! If you don't know what I mean by that, an energy vampire is someone who sucks up all your giving and positive energy. They leave you with little kindness left for yourself or anything else that might need you, and often to do not give you their time or energy in return. I know you guys love to help people you care about, but please put yourself and your wellbeing first. Remember; you can't save anyone if you are drowning.

- May have a very strained or superficial relationship with their mother/mother figure. Alternatively, may have quite a dependant relation on their mother/mother figure.

- Pretty hands!!!! Clean nails!!! Dainty fingers!!! I want to lovingly take your hand and kiss your fingers like the royalty you are.

- The type to playfully flirt with their friends, ESPECIALLY if they have Gemini placements. It's never serious, but kinda fruity if you ask me 👀💅

- If they have Aries placements as well (especially Aries Venus), they are probably just flirty in general. Like not just with their friends, they flirt all-round. God forbid they ACTUALLY have a crush on you too, oh my 💀. Be prepared to receive some bold remarks from them omg

- Probably secretly good at cooking and/or baking. They may not necessarily look very skilled in the ~domestic arts~, and they may not be very domestic otherwise, but they can DEFINITELY make some good food.

- The type of people who would help you with your homework (I TOLD YOU THEY'RE SMART!!). Honestly super duper sweet when they want to be <3

- Probably the youngest sibling, or at least one of the youngest

- May really want kids, or be naturally good with them. Kids might love them and gravitate towards them. Honestly really excellent teachers!!!

- Dog people. I have never met a Cancer rising who wholeheartedly prefers cats 🤨🤨

- Might have a lot of earrings, or just pretty jewellery!! Gold looks really nice on them :)

- They might enjoy getting their nails done quite a bit. This includes the guys. I've noticed they tend to go for purple/blue/green colours, but that's just a personal observation 💅

- I say this with the UTMOST love and respect; "Mommy? Sorry, mommy? Sorry-" vibes. I do not care if you aren't a woman. You Still Have Mommy Vibes. I'm sorry you had to find out this way 😔💔

- I know a Cancer rising who owns a bunch of clothes and art and jewellery with naked women on them (more specifically, the torso of naked women) and that just makes sense, you know?

- I promise I don't mean to slander y'all like this again, but I will NOT give you the aux cord. I do not trust your music taste. You'll play Eminem then Mitski then Taylor Swift then Juice WRLD and expect that to be okay. It is not. Cancelled 😤

This is all I have for you guys today! Thank you so much for reading. If you are a Cancer rising, please let me know if I was right lmao. I love you guys! Have an awesome day/night <3

[59writes]

STRAY KIDS - THEIR S/O IS ADHD/AUTISTIC

two posts in one night???? I spoil you all /j

hello fellow autists <3

it has truly occurred to me how much I want a relationship where my partner loves seeing me happy stim that’s it lol. if you like seeing ppl happy flap constantly then date me hehe

this is so self indulgent I’m sobbing irl

also this most definitely wasn’t written because I am doing a little bit of skz hyperfixating absolutely not. (/s)

(it’s been a while because I’ve been hfxing on svt and I just. miss the boys v much skz will always have a very soft spot in my heart)

okokokok time for the vibes!!!

(Note: this used to be x “neurodivergent” reader. I was using neurodivergent to just mean autistic/adhd, when it really encompasses way more disorders than that. I’m sorry for any misunderstandings or distress it may have caused. Happy reading!)

BANG CHAN

• (god he’s so goofy I love him)

• okok so

• this man was just. so kind when u told him and he was like “yo that’s cool!!!”

• it was a little awkward cuz he had no idea exactly what was going on but he learned quickly!!!

• he just. is a very fast learner and observant fella and just. quickly understands

• he is your human weighted blanket

• warm n heavy when ur sad (:

• he gets excited when he sees you happy stim and definitely does it back!!! He does not know why he does it back but it is instinct to him now!!!

• he keeps all sorts of dangles and attachments on his keychain in case you need to fidget in public

• he definitely plays with them too shhhhh

• he orders food up to you if he knows you’re struggling to eat and will do chores for you if you’re overwhelmed ???? 10/10 man

• he’s such a go with the flow kinda guy I think he wouldn’t be fazed by any sudden mood swings or oversensitivity

• you push him away because human contact is too much rn? no worries. you zone out mid-sentence? all good, he’ll bring you back gently. you start rambling about a special interest?? he will listen!!! he does not care if he’s busy!!!!

• you aren’t a burden to him at all and it really is just. comforting to know ㅠㅠ hhhhhh

MINHO

• I have to start this by saying he brushes his cats for you before you visit so they’re very soft and have no potential for any bad textures

• is totally fine with you coming over to his house all the time because he knows animals make you happy

• he’s definitely fine with visits where you both just sit in silence or one of you talks the whole time while the other just listens

• definitely the type to keep stuffed animals or comforting clothing saved in his house for if you’re stressed or need to stay over

• he’s okay with not wanting physical contact like hugs. he’s just not that kinda guy so it works out lol!!

• because a lot of his jokes are sarcastic or teasing he’s started doing jazz hands whenever he’s making a joke so you can tell if he’s serous or not

• plus it’s really funny seeing him make an annoyed joke and then doing the jazz hands after while he’s all grumpy

• he notices the little things and changes them

• very willing to make small changes in his life to help u (:

• sends u texts with pictures of his cats where he’s reminding you to take a break or he’s gonna “let Dori eat your socks” or something like that

• rents movies you hyperfixate on and stays up late talking about them with you

• he later buys the movies lol

CHANGBIN

• ngl this man screams neurodivergency to me

• idk he’s my bias so I kinda look at him a lot and he just. stims a lot and has those random bursts of energy??? he has trouble with telling how loud he is??? sometimes reacts “inappropriately” to a situation??? And he zones out a lot??? idk I could explain this better but like. he and I have a lot in common and I’m very autistic so

• the lip biting thing he does all the time could totally be a stim (especially thinking about how he does it a lot in interviews or when he’s put on the spot, yk??), he has a very consistent style and doesn’t change up his hair like. ever. likes wearing hats and big clothes and kinda hides in them

• idk man I have been thinking!!! this isn’t like a “headcanon” or whatever I legitimately can see him being neurodivergent (idk I know Korea sucks about that kind of shit so ig we’ll never know??? but h)

• anyways on that note

• you guys trade clothes all the time because they r just. good comfy!!!! good associations!!!! plus you both dress for comfort so all of your clothes are safe clothes

• y’all will just hang out on the floor on your phones and just enjoy being together (:

• when one of you stims it triggers the other person’s stims and soon you guys r just having a little stimfest

• you both can tell when each other needs a break or a distraction if things are getting too much

• like you keep an eye on him in the studio and if he gets frustrated with a song you challenge him to a Mario Kart battle on your phones or start talking about something you saw out shopping and how cool it was

• and he does the same- if you’re stressed he’ll lay down next to you and start talking about the song he’s working on and what everything means and little details and all of that. or asks if you want to go out and get food

• y’all got matching stim toys, little stuffed animal keychains that crinkle a little when you squeeze them. changbin says it’s embarrassing but you know he likes it.

• you can talk without actually speaking like. you just Understand if you look at each other

• you just both know each other well and can read each other well and it’s just. very balanced and peaceful and calming ((((:

HYUNJIN

• first of all I’ve been watching this gif on loop hdbbdhvshdbjfjfjdhbdjfkfknbsvahg. help. men. specifically this man.

• lets you fidget with his hands and rings

• like you can just grab his hands when he’s talking with someone and he won’t even flinch just let you do whatever while he continues his convo

• definitely also lets you style his hair if that’s your thing too

• braid his hair and then let it down and then braid it up and then let it down etc etc (((:

• loves trying to find you new stim toys it’s like a challenge

• he wears those fidget rings all the time like the ones that spin????? just in case you need something

• after you tell him you got overstimulated during one of the concerts he works on getting the crew to be a bit kinder with the flashing lights and gets you to be allowed backstage so you can watch privately away from crowds (:

• you’re his favorite person ngl he loves doing nothing with you

• he is whipped he is at your beck and call.

• you’re so peaceful and kind and inquisitive and knowledgeable and always have something new to offer him

• never a dull moment!!!

• he likes watching you interact with you special interests because your eyes get so bright and you get so excited, even when it’s overwhelming and you’re struggling

• when it’s overwhelming and you’re struggling he knows how to safely distract you too

• he’s a comfort human don’t even @ me

• even tho he’s a bit wild he remembers what’s important and is genuinely a good person

• he likes how you notice things he doesn’t, especially things about himself

• like you point out a new freckle that wasn’t there a few weeks ago or how he cuts grapes in half instead of just eating them whole just basic stuff like that

• little things that make him see the world in a different way )))):

JISUNG

• hee hoo

• this man has absolute monkey brain

• you will never be understimulated or bored with this dude

• he’s very receptive to the world around him for better or for worse, so he catches on quickly to if you’re struggling and makes an effort to avoid stressors from there on out

• when you’re stressed in public he just talks about nonsense that you don’t have to reply to if you don’t want to, just to keep you present

• and if you’re not in a talking mood he’s synced up your headphones with his so when you play your music he can listen too if he wants

• once he left to grab something and the song changed and this man comes sprinting back into the room with whatever he grabbed and is like “holy shit this is a banger what’s it called”

• he kinda gets distracted himself sometimes and can be a bit too exuberant or make annoying noises but he corrects his behavior immediately

• like I said he’s very aware of things

• it’s hard sometimes, cuz he definitely lives for those adrenaline rushes

• but he wants you with him the whole way and wants you to feel safe and happy

• steals borrows your stim toys on complete accident

• it’s all good you just “borrow” them back later lol

• does not like big social events so that’s a plus

• he’s clingy asf so at any event he won’t just ditch you to talk to his friends Nah you’re joined at the hip he will Not let you go unless he’s sure you’re 100000% safe and even then he’ll check in like “u sure you don’t want to hang out with me hmmm”

• bastard man I love him.

FELIX

• he loves getting excited about things with you!!!

• always keeping track of your special interests and remembers things about them!!!!

• he’ll be like “yeah so I remember the time you said something about (x) and I’ve been thinking about it” and you’re like “holy shit you remembered” (pls this shit is true love.)

• sees things that reminds him of you and comes home and tells you about them

• also lets you play with his fingers and braid his hair

• leaves you notes or sends you texts to remind you of things or just make sure you know his schedule !!!

• he is an excellent listener and you two can just chat for hours comfortably and be open with each other and there’s no shyness or anxiety

• will never judge you for an interest end of story!!!

• he knows remembering to eat is hard so he also sends texts reminding you to eat something!!! he always has snacks somewhere

• he’s so goofy and lighthearted uGh I love him sm I just want to hug this guy ))))):

SEUNGMIN

• this man definitely has a weekly planner set up on Google drive or something where you can both see recent edits or whatever that you write your schedules on

• he also writes notes about his schedule, usually something about how he hates dance practice ):<

• it’s very funny he is a funny little dude

• another one who is totally fine with just vibing in the same room without talking

• he has a rlly soothing voice so if you’re stressed he just talks about random stuff and it helps ))))):

• is quick to tell others off if they don’t listen to you when you ask them to stop something or if they’re stressing you out

• normalizes some of the shit you do so you don’t feel bad

• like “yeah we can definitely order to-go. no they won’t question it we just have to look busy lol” or “dude everyone wears their headphones in public it’s not weird” or “honestly who doesn’t like the sound of rocks clicking together?” etc etc

• I definitely think he tries to steer away from the topic in public as much as possible so you don’t feel like. weird yk??

• he’s great with coming up with excuses for why you can’t do something or why you need to leave early

• not that he wants to hide your neurodivergency, just that it’s hard

• like apparently “I’m too overstimulated” isn’t a fucking valid excuse smh

• plus like. he doesn’t want anyone demeaning you because of whatever

• will fight. no questions asked. passive aggressive comments are his forte.

• gives the best hugs. not too much pressure, not too much touching, yk???

• uGh he’s just always willing to listen and learn and sit through multi-hour long philosophical talks even with all the zoning out and backtracking and jumping around

• I need me a man like this tbh

JEONGIN

• he’s used to being nagged about being the youngest or most childish so he genuinely doesn’t judge anything you’re into, even if it’s “out of your age range”

• like he doesn’t see why it’s that big of a deal that you enjoy something??? like everyone needs to calm down and let you live???

• when you infodump he absorbs everything with big eyes

• ugh he’s silly and teasing and just generally a comfort to be around

• can read body language well and so he can let you know how people are acting plus he can tell if you’re stressed

• very much a pro at finding comfortable ways to have physical contact with you

• sometimes you’ll both just talk for ages about your lives or stresses or whatever while you lay on the floor and eat ramen or candy

• just vibing!!!

• even though he’s your partner he’s very much your closest friend and confidante and you two would just. do anything for each other and are always willing to help

• You are a unit!!! he doesn’t plan anything without checking with you first and you do the same with him!!!

• overuses tone indicators when he texts because he doesn’t want to mess up!!!

• so many stuffed animals. so many so many so many

• and soft blankets!!!!!!

[raposarealm]

Just saw the character questions you reblogged! I don't know who you've answered about in the past, but how about either Geo Stelar/Subaru Hoshikawa and/or Sonia Strumm/Misora Hibki? I'm almost positive you've probably answered about them already, but they're my favorite characters in Mega Man Star Force (Alongside Luna). Thank you for reading this, even if you don't respond!

YES ABSOLUTELY I WILL ANSWER

Also surprisingly nobody's sent in Subaru or Misora (or any Starforce characters, actually) yet.

Ok I'll do this in two, but first: Subaru because I will always, always be ecstatic to gush over him because he's my favourite. Also, this got super long so read more to save people’s dashes:

Why I like them

Oh god where to start. Literally me. he's literally me when I was a critically depressed hikkikomori kiddo floating in-between grades in high school. Right down to the space nerdiness. But, I digress.

First off, I don't see too many well-written representations of depression and trauma (or PTSD in this case, arguably,) in the media I consume or in general really, but the few that I do see tend to be the kinda 'Izusu Ren' archetype: gloomy, melancholic, tearful, and often self-harming or even suicidal (especially in Ren's case particularly.) This is accurate to some folks, yes! But, not so much to my experience with the illness. I'm not suicidal, I'm not self-harming, I'm not tearful and sad and mopey. And, neither is Subaru! He's not sad, he's angry, frustrated at the world in general and at himself specifically. He's self-deprecating, but also cynical and paranoid to the point of delusion. He's actively forcing himself to stay this way at the beginning of the first game (I'll ignore the anime for now,) because he's so terrified -- phobic, even -- of being abandoned or betrayed again, and it's just... easier to keep everyone away if you convince yourself that everyone's out to get you, or angry at you, or if you just see people as caricatures instead of, well, people. And that's so dead on the mark of how I act, it's almost creepy.

Subaru has no energy, no motivation, and that's what depression does to you, the 'depression' is the depresses energy, 'cause your brain's not producing enough serotonin, enough dopamine, and your nervous system isn't working right. But, all that paranoia and delusion ends up giving Subaru some pretty severe anxiety issues as well, which isn't really surprising given how often those two disorders overlap. He's not a classic textbook-example of depression, he's an amalgam of different disorders, all compounded by occurring in his early formative years! It's not really known if he had friends before Luna gang and Misora, but there's a good chance he didn't have any close ones -- which might have been why he was so close to Daigo, and why he couldn't physically move on from his death/disappearance for three whole years, until Warrock shows up and very literally drags him back into the world.

But Capcom didn't go full edge here, not at all, because once he's given a reason to keep moving, even one he might not have wanted at first, Subaru can't keep up the cynical façade anymore, he can't keep convincing himself he doesn't care about people, because he does, more than anything. I feel, Subaru kinda embodies the whole 'with great power comes great responsibility' line, y'know the one. He didn't choose to fight, he was forced to by the imminent crisis in the moment (either the out-of-control train in the game, or the derailed monorail car in the anime.) He didn't want to fight, he was scared, he straight up has a panic attack in the anime even; but, even if he didn't care particularly about the rest of the town, even if the classmates now dangling precariously over a hundred-plus-foot drop had previously left a bad taste in his mouth, these were still people, and therefore, he couldn't think of them as objects. There's a line he quotes in game 1 during the denpa-human attack that I've already made a whole post on, but I'll repeat it here again since it really sums up Subaru's true view on things: "Even if there was a sliver of a chance, it's better to do something." I compared it to a line said by Shinobu Akira in her story in Magia Record, "Inaction is Cowardice," and I feel that both lines also resemble a principle I strongly try to live by: Noblesse Oblige, or "Nobility Obliges," the ideal that people in power should help those who don't have it. (Or, as defined by the OED, "privilege entails responsibility.") Even if Subaru didn’t care particularly about anybody in danger, or otherwise, once he fully realized that, as Ryuusei, he now had the power to fight and protect others, he had a duty to do so. This was especially expanded upon in game 2, which, yes, joke all you want about the story, but I still feel that at least this part of the plot was handled really well. 

Having Subaru break away from the ‘gung-ho warrior of justice’ archetype we tend to see in both shounen and magical girl genre series (fight me), or maybe even just from his predecessor Netto’s pure nosiness and naïve curiosity, let Subaru have a character arc that mirrored the arcs of the characters he fought, and eventually saved. He’s having to overcome his past, the way Misora and Luna were. He was having to overcome the cynicism that had come to be his shield, the same way Gonta was using his image as a cruel ‘tough-guy’  to hide his insecurity. He had to learn to place his trust his new-found friend(s), the same that Utagai had to learn that not everyone was out to get him (and frankly, both had to learn to trust Amachi specifically, ehe.) He had to learn to persevere through the right path, even when facing insurmountable odds, the way Ikuta had to learn to fight for what was truly important to him, consequences be damned. And don’t even get me started on Tsukasa and Hikaru. Hell, Subaru even had to re-learn to see people as individuals, and to place hope in them, the way Warrock had to do when encountering Daigo, and again through Subaru himself. Actually honestly the dynamic of those two is just, fantastic thank you. It kept his character from feeling stagnant, since he didn’t start at a good place, he had room to grow and improve -- but also room to dip back down again, to have impactful ‘darkest hours’, and just moments of true, well, mental illness. 

And since the plot of the series is so heavily character-driven, Subaru ends up getting to the point where he chooses to keep going, to keep fighting and protecting others. He chooses to keep his own development going, into a true ‘shining star’ of hope for others. (Ok look I was trying to make a pun here, laugh, dammit.) And the hope others place in him ends up powering him in both a metaphorical sense, and in the very literal sense of the Brotherband. He’s only able to activate the Star Force when he vows to protect Luna no matter the cost. He’s only able to break free from the control of the OOPArt[s] through the force of his will to prevent harm from befalling those dear to him (once again Luna, I know.) And look I’m sure game 3 has an equivalent with whatever’s going on with the Noise Changes but I still haven’t finished it because D-pads are my enemy. He’s only able to be guided back home in the game 1 ending by the collective bond, the Brotherband, between him and his friends, even the ones who hadn’t formed a formal connection were still so dear to him that the connection became a literal path. ...Have I made it clear how much I love the Power of Friendship trope, because it’s literally The Best. 

And maybe that’s the core of it all, Subaru as a character, and through that Ryuusei as both an alias and extension of the two characters that form it, embodies the power of friendship, of bonds, of hope so integrally, yet he’s not the annoyingly bubbly, over-optimistic protagonist that usually gets that type of theming -- he’s believable because he falters. He never gives up hope or faith, but he comes dangerously close, and he’s still prone to a whole load of self-doubt and deprecation that comes with being the one shouldering it all. Also, how did this end up turning into a Madoka theme analysis? Whoops. Basically, I like Subaru’s character theming in the same way I like Madoka’s character -- a realistic, but not dark or edgy, response to their situations, and a inseverable, if not unwavering, hope.

Why I don’t

Ok, usually I have an answer here, but... Nope. Subaru is literally my favorite okay, I don’t dislike really anything about him.

I will note that, for the anime’s writing of him in particular, some of the impact of his arc is lost by speeding up his ‘recovery’ from his depressed state. Actually, my problem there might be that the anime kind of implies that Subaru ends up defeating his mental issues permanently, with the only relapse shown in the middle of the season much more to do with active trauma (and some goading from Cygnus) than with anything more deep-seated. Here’s the thing: depression, anxiety, trauma (and resulting PTSD), any other illnesses/disorders you could argue Subaru to have... they’re treatable, they’re combatable... but they’re not curable. They don’t magically go away, they don’t even go away with all the work in the world. Mental disorders are the result of a physical deficiency and/or deformity in the mind, whether neurologically or chemically. And the source of that issue can’t be cured, because it’s a fundamental part of how your brain works. It’s like saying that an autistic person can’t be ‘cured’ of autism -- because it’s a fundamental issue with how our brains are wired to work. 

The game doesn’t do this, fortunately, and instead does the opposite: it goes almost out of it’s way to show us how these illnesses and issues are still there, they’re still affecting Subaru and every way he functions. He’s never going to be ‘cured’ of his depression, trauma, anxiety, etc., but he still overcomes them the best he can -- and when he can’t, he’s got friends to pull him out of whatever funk’s got him this time. The anime kind of nerfs Luna gang into secondary characters a lot of the time (though arguably set up to be main during the short-lived and much better Tribes,) and while Misora is sort of set up to take their place, they take too long to fully let her and Subaru be actual friends instead of just teammates. Amachi and Utagai kind of fill in a little, but their adult status kinda makes them feel more like mentors and teammates more than proper friends. (Anime-ver. Amachi definitely feels like an older brother-esque figure to Subaru, at least. Utagai, well... he’s Utagai.) However, I wonder how much of this had to do with the show possibly just not having enough time to build things out at the pace they were moving.

Favorite episode (scene if movie)

Since I’ve mentioned both game and anime versions here, I’ll give one for both!

For the game, definitely the scene mentioned above from game 1, during the denpa-human attack on Kodamasho. This part of the game takes place directly after the culmination of the Libra arc, which ended in the school play, where Luna mistakes Subaru in a poorly-made costume for the actual Ryuusei (until Kizamaro fumbles his queue and blacks out the spotlight, which, having now worked with a manual spotlight, that’s not hard to do, give the kid a break he’s short.) Luna’s already starting to act on edge around Subaru at this point, since A) she’s not sure who she saw in that moment, but she can’t shake the suspicion that Subaru and Ryuusei are connected somehow, and B) her puppy crush on Ryuusei has started to evolve into a much more tangible crush, but on Subaru instead, so she’s frazzled and it doesn’t take much for her to start going off the deep end panicking when she, well, witnesses her two closest friends turn into some sort of pink floating monstrosity right in front of her. Her clinging on to Subaru instinctively helps cement Subaru into the rare leader role, and we get to see him act under pressure, in civilian form, with a panicked friend in tow. The line mentioned above is given in this part, where after tactically traversing the school grounds for an exit, Subaru realizes he’s definitely gonna have to fight his way out of this one, and accepts this all on his own, no prodding from Warrock, no complaining or cowering, he immediately moves to thinking of how to protect Luna who’s still clinging to him like a lost puppy. So, rare Cool Subaru, a not-so-rare flustered and panicked Luna (which helped to transition into her arc in the next part,) solid character growth on both parties, and my favorite line of all time.

As for the anime, I’d say I’m split between three. The first scene being Subaru and Warrock’s first meeting. It’s so drastically different from the game’s version, but I sort of liked having them get a chance to properly meet before chaos ensued. It’s rather comical, so it sets up the ensuing gravity of the fight to come in the next episode. 

The second scene, the Ryuusei vs. Harp Note fight. Note (ehe) that in the anime, Misora was unconscious during this fight, and her arousal signaled the end of the skirmish. As a result, Harp was in complete control of Misora’s body, and that led to a much more dangerous opponent than what Harp Note would be later on with Misora conscious. This fight had a surprisingly little amount of dialogue, given what’s normal for the rest of the series, and animation-wise, you could tell that lead storyboarder Shingo Adachi had his hand in this one, it’s one of the best in the season. Subaru demonstrates real efficiency and skill with the battle card system, as well as the high agility and speed he becomes known for throughout the series. The best part, though, being one of Harp’s lines before the fight -- in response to her rhetorically questioning whether her adversary was Warrock in henkan, he effectively tells her to shush and go back home... and then Subaru responds separately as Ryuusei, with much more dignified dialogue of course. Harp responds bewilderedly asking if Warrock’s host was actually conscious, cementing how rare a team such as the two of them working together was. It’s an early indication of both Warrock’s unique nature among the denpa, as well as showing how in-sync (or maybe in-synchro, this is the same studio after all,) the two are. 

The third scene, Subaru returning after the encounter with the Satella Admins to rescue Warrock. Given everything that had happened between the two at this point, Subaru’s decision to throw his wariness and anger of Warrock out the window to save and reunite with him, first, is obviously a really good Power of Friendship scene, which is just the best. But, secondly, it shows more character growth on Subaru, and a lot of it all at once. Warning for spoilers, but Warrock had been accused of being Daigo’s murderer, but in the end, Subaru decided that there wasn’t any way that could be true, that this person that he’d come to know so well just wasn’t betraying him. Finally embracing gut instinct and a blind faith in a friend sets Subaru on the upswing of his arc in this season, and helps to bolster Warrock’s character as well. (The premiere usage of the Star Break coming in the scene after this makes it even better.)

Favorite season/movie

For games, game 1 is my favourite game of all-time now. Like, it’s displaced Drawn to Life, the namesake for this blog even. For the anime, Tribes was better than season 1, ridiculous Gainax ending aside. I just know that if they’d had more time/episodes, it would’ve far eclipsed the source material of game 2.

Favorite line

Already answered above: “Even if it was a sliver of a chance, it’s better to do something.” (I know Daigo said it first but shush)

Favorite outfit

I mean, he wears the same thing pretty much all the time? But, I do like his normal civilan wear, and good ol’ Ryuusei also looks real neat. (Also the concept art outfit from the cancelled game 4 is actually awesome and also the only good thing we got out of that.)

OTP

Look, honestly, Subaru’s kind of shippable with any of the main adolescent cast, but also, I don’t strongly ship him with anybody really. But I guess if I had to pick a pair, Subaru/Tsukasa. Also, Subaru/Kizamaro of all things works... better than it should.

Brotp

Subaru/Gonta and Subaru/Misora! (Or better yet, all three of them as the game 3′s terrific trio!)

Head Canon

He learns to knit because Akane suggested it a bunch of times (she’s canonically said to knit in game 2,) and even though Kodama’s too warm for winter wear, any time he ends up somewhere actually cold, he has a scarf that Akane knitted for him earlier on.

Also, for a decidedly less cute one: since in-game, Subaru would die if Ryuusei did, I assume damage taken in henkan carries over to his civilian form. Thus, I imagine after months of fighting, he’s developed some fairly impressive scars, mostly on the limbs and back from near-misses and being surprise attacked. He usually wears long clothing as shown in canon, so they’re not visible normally, but during Phys Ed and other points where he would have more skin showing, he covers the scarring with a makeup concealer (probably found at like, the local drug store or something.) This would apply to Misora, too.

Unpopular opinion

Y’know, I don’t think I have one of these this time.

A wish

Let him continue to stay with the friends he’s grown so close to.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen

Capcom, don’t you dare pull out that cancelled game 4 ‘edge rebellious teenage phase’ Subaru y’all implied. I. Will. Fight. You.

5 words to best describe them

Stubborn, Resilient, DEPRESSED, Anxious, Determined.

My nickname for them

I affectionately call him ‘my boy’ because he’s my favourite and therefore my boy; I also call him ‘Mohawk’ (though I also call Kill La Kill’s Kinagase the same thing and that made for a confusing summer 2017) and also ‘Cockatiel’ because everyone else like to joke about that.

WOW THIS GOT LONG it also took me like three hours so sorry Crystal

Gonna get to Misora next, because I can’t not gush over her too

[delicrieux]

—MAKE YOU SAY “OH” EXTRAS: TINDER

extra meaning non-canonical occurrence; can be placed anywhere in the “make you say oh” timeline after couple (cha. 14) and before the final “oh”. 

pairing—corpse husband x f!reader warnings—tinder profiles, tw: men, swearing.  word count—2.6k. format— written. ─── ❥ req by nonnie​:  y/n makes a youtube vid/live stream where she's just swiping through her tinder acc and corpse literally blocks her lmao

author’s note—akldsljfs this was such a funny idea i could not not write it lmao

ultimate masterlist. myso masterlist

You have pulled the biggest brain move by setting up both a facecam and a screen recorder on your phone. All is beautifully displayed and visible during the stream. Your fanbase is particularly intrigued on what exactly are you planning on doing today, seeing as your tweet of “strea” had been a bit vague, if not downright ominous. No emojis. No elaboration. You couldn’t even be bothered to finish the word. Truly, a mystery. Everyone tuned in and are currently waiting with bated breath.

A few of your fans must sense upcoming doom because the overall mood in the chat turns from optimistically intrigued to...evil. It’s an entity all on it’s own now, clawing at you through the screen with various renditions of laughter and devil emojis. A few eggplants thrown in there for good measure, accompanied, naturally, by the scandalous water drops. At first the common consensus is that you’re biting the bullet and going through your camera roll on stream. Definitely an idea worth considering, though you frankly don’t know what lies at the start of the 11k photograph journey, and you are afraid to check in public. Could be a harmless meme, could be a salacious pic you had saved of an OF star. It’s really a gamble. Either way, you would definitely get banned. You might still get banned. Why do you insist on doing shit like this?

Because it’s funny. Because you’re kinda stupid. Because it’s just so absolutely laughably easy to do.

A smile quirks your lips, and while it is not explicitly smug, the look in your eyes sure is, “Greetings,” You utter lowly, dimming the lights--the budget for this stream! Ugh, you went all out, “my children.”

mother i crave violence

sensing evil energy rn!!

i do not claim the energy in this video for myself or anyone else watching this 💖💖

^with peace and love shut the fuck up

“I know y’all lowkey hoes-” Upon your words the chat splits into two: one side eagerly agrees (even shares a few OF accounts! How helpful, supporting small businesses!), whilst the other feverishly insists on innocence. You make a face stuck somewhere between offended and bewildered, “Now c'mon now-I know you. I know you all. We’re the same, don’t-what was that?”

You try to scroll back to the comment but it’s loss in the sea of incoming messages, “I swear to God I just saw-”

Corpse_Husband: i love late night streams it’s not like i have anything better to do.

“COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORPSE!!!!” 

rip headphone users

i cant feel my face when im with you by the weeknd but instead of face its my fucking ears

yall think full vol on pc is better?my parents woke up 😭😭😭😭

To think he’s spending his last waking moments for today with watching you (he probably still would have anyway, because you do not posses an ounce of shame or self-control and pester him relentlessly)! It makes your heart sing, and suddenly, a traitorous, fun hating idea barges it’s way through the crowd of incoherent buzzing and states: don’t do this. For some reason it also has the voice of Rae. As if that would work in guilt-tripping you- Rae never succeed, and her fictitious rendition in mind won’t fare much better either.

Still, you thought about it. That must count for something. Corpse will understand, won’t he? Why don’t you want to upset it in the first place? Men look so funny when they lose their shit, like hello, don’t you have anything better to do? But the image of Corpse just sitting there, hurt, distraught, leaving you on seen because he’s in his sad boy hours leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

queen rly went from  🥺😊 to 😕 u ok bbgirl?

Corpse_Husband: no pouts cutie

akjdjoeijdfse cUTIE??? deadass boutta r.i.p.

Well that succeeded in eliminating everything from mind, doubts included. If this was an anime, the scenery would shift into something roseate, with flowers and bubbles and sparkles all around you along with a halo or two. Alas, not an anime, rather reality. The led-lights, however, seemingly possessing a will of their own, slowly turn from deep violet to pink. You smile brightly, like the absolute dumbass you are, and you are met with a ray of heart and blushing emojis. You are just so cute, a real cutie! Still in your disguise adorable state, you swipe your finger on your phone screen, the grin never leaving your lips.

There, among the plethora of apps, nestled sits a red square with a white fire plastered on it. The delicate calligraphy on the bottom reads: TINDER.

The mood changes once again- you’re giving the roaches emotional instability by how quickly everything flips over- and the chat spams eggplants vigorously; some, of course, bravely fight against the thirst.

nooooooo i thought y/n is gonna stream in a god honoring way!!!

^pack it up girl defined

“So, Charlie and I-” You note a few awfully curious comments and squint, “-yes, we talk a lot. Charlie is a really good friend of mine. We’re best friends. Brothers. Sisters. Cousins. The whole fucking family tree-no, that sounds weird. Delete. Anyway, Charlie, being the absolute fucker he is, said, hey, you know what would be funny? And I was like, nooo, what would be funny, Charlie? And he says to me, he says, says, making fun of men on Tinder. And if y’all need any more proof that Charlie and I are platonic soulmates, then dunno, my children, my roaches, I dunno-I dunno what more to give you.”

You can’t be bothered reading the comments, there’s too damn many. You also need to save your reading comprehension for the actual bios. It has a time limit, that darn thing. 

“Okay, so I made a profile earlier, but I hadn’t swiped on anyone yet-” Despite the fact, Tinder helpfully informs you that already 99+ people have swiped right on you, “So, this is me,” You show the pictures you have of yourself, and damn, not to be a conceited narcissist, but you look really good. Like if you saw yourself on Tinder, you’d super like instantly. “Uhm, so, my bio-my bio says: let’s sauce in the tub together, ya dig? splishy splashy, giggle giggle.” 

i cant believe we are witnessing y/n trying to form a coherent sentence live 

shes trying give her time

ya dig??? y not capeesh

what scene from the godfather is this lol?

“My anthem, is,” You laugh, covering your lips with your hand, “Corpsie, this is form you-” Proudly, you show that indeed, Corpse’s E-GIRLS ARE RUINING MY FUCKING LIFE is listed as your anthem on Spotify, “Hehe.” Yes, you say that aloud.

Corpse_Husband: you’re killing me Corpse_Husband: thanks baby Corpse_Husband: now delete tinder ❤︎

You ignore his last quip, deciding it’s finally time to get this show on the road, “Right, let’s do this shit. I’m not actually going to swipe on any guys that look, uh, decent? Yuck, can’t believe I just said that, uhm, because I-because I feel like some actually deserve a chance with someone? I don’t wanna get anyone’s hopes up, as I am currently in a long distance relationship with Chrollo. So I’m just gonna swipe on, like, frat boy assholes. Because I don’t care if I hurt their feelings. Quite frankly I don’t think they possess them in the first place.”

The chat voices their agreements. With the ground rules set, you, giddy, click on the first profile.

Does Tinder know what you’re doing, your plan? The FBI agent watching you through your phone must be working overtime, bless his heart. They must, because the the first guy to meet you is named Jason, and there he is, blond hair and blue eyes, holding up a fish the size of his torso. Marginally adequate in looks, pretty good muscles. A solid 7 bordering on 8. He’s the same age as you, 15 miles away, and he studies at some college you don’t care enough to look up. Bio reads:

I like to drive fast. Fishing is my passion, but if you can’t catch me by the ocean, you’ll catch me catching waves, bro! Love a good gym date. You do squats, and I’ll keep a close eye to make sure you’re doing it correctly ;) You probably saw me at a party. Leader of the The Phi Kappa Psi. I’m a Gemini, if that matters lol.

You, of course, read it aloud, dramatically; provide some constructive criticism-he seems nice, but he’s a Gemini, so naturally, you can’t trust him at all! Also, that gym date session leaves little to be desired. With your rant done, you swipe right, and shocker! (not), it’s an instant match.

“Okie, I still wanna swipe of some profiles, so I’ll see what he’ll text later-” For a second you wonder the legalities of this stream, but you’re having too much fun to think of it further, “guys, I won't get sued, right?”

NOW she considers it

well....

if you do, we’ll kickstart your lawyer dw <3

Onto the next profile. Kevin, 25, is seen fixing his car- or, you assume he’s mid-fixing it, you don’t really know why else he’d hold a wrench and be covered in oil. He’s shirtless, and the caveman part of your brain echoes something closely resembling AWOOOGA!, but...but!...blonde hair, blue eyes. You pout again, “I don’t...I don’t really like blond boys, ya know? With the blue eyes and all, it’s just not my thing, uhm, unless it’s like-like...Armin from Attack on Titan. Else I don’t care.”

Onto the bio:

You have to treat a car like you treat a woman: go on long rides, take the lead, but most importantly, keep her oiled up 😜 

“What the fuck did I just read?”

The chat is equally confused. You swipe right anyway- another match. Too easy.

The stream continues without incident for a solid thirty minutes- all of your matches, expect a few that genuinely looked like normal dudes that really couldn’t write a decent bio to save their lives, had been blond hair blue eyed gym rats with ranging forms of misogyny. Some opened with asking for nudes out right, some asked about your day first before asking for nudes. You prefer the former. Straight to the point! You admire the gall. 

But then, down the forty-five minute mark a profile popped up that made you still by your phone, your smile dying as your eyes bulged. Dear God. Lord in heaven. Who is this demonspiit lookalike and why is he so fucking hot? The neck tats, the skateboard, the clothes- holy shit, you gotta close your mouth before some drool dribbles out.

No bio, just his name, Tyler, and that he’s 23.

“He boutta be 23 in me.” You mutter, swiping right with lightning speed.

WHAT DID SHE SAYYYYY?????????

tyler is y/ns karma for relentlessly mocking that one guy that had a whole ass list on what his “female” partner should be

^he deserved it and also tyler seems like a typical fuckboi y/n grow a braincell

look at mom 🥺 her eyes are sparkling

It wasn’t a match right away. You somehow expected as much, but it still upset you. Simp behavior, pathetic. The stream continued bravely, and when Tyler messaged you a simple “yo” you totally didn’t sequel. You didn’t manage to text him back on stream: texting all those guys that you didn’t really find all that attractive was easy, but this...You’re a sucker for a man who radiates red flag energy. His whole profile is a red flag. He might just be a red flag himself.

What can you do? Suddenly becoming color blind is not easy. Once the stream ends, you unmatch with everyone expect Tyler. He you chat with for a bit, but a sudden craving for different company makes you abandon him, too. You don’t feel too heartbroken for him- you’re certain there’s already too many girls in his dms. You wish them luck.

Happily, you delete Tinder. You go to Twitter, notice you’re trending again- look at you go! Queen shit- and as you compose a thank you tweet, something strange happens. You go to text Corpse, but when you click on his profile you grow cold.

YOU’RE BLOCKED. You can’t follow or see @/Corpse_Husband ‘s Tweets. 

...Pardon? You hop onto Instragram and-also blocked. Seriously? And you thought you’re one petty bitch. Corpse is seriously prissy about everything. Damn, if he didn’t like your stream, he could’ve just said so. Didn’t need to, like, block you from his internet existence. So not cool.

You try texting him but no text go through. Well how will you let him know you deleted Tinder just like he asked? You relieve your frustrations by punching your pillow a few times. Later, you apologize to her, you didn’t mean to hurt her, it’s not her, it’s you. Fuck, 5 minutes of exile and you’re already loosing your mind.

“Raeeeeeeeeeeee!” You whine loudly. It’s roughly 2am now, but you don’t care. You’re too heartbroken to care. There’s a thump from her room, but nothing else, “Raeeeeeeeee!!!” You wail, wallowing in self-pity on your bed. You hear a very loud, very annoyed sigh from her room, followed by angry marching. Your door is abruptly thrown open, and in the dim, colorful light you see her scowl.

“What?” She grits.

“Can you please tell Corpse to unblock me from everything?”

“What did you do now?”

“I made fun of men on Tinder.”

She pauses, “...That doesn’t sound so bad.” She surmises, voice laced with suspicion, “What else?”

“...There was one really hot guy that I kinda sorta talked to after--”

“Y/n.”

“-But I totally deleted Tinder and honestly he was pretty boring, so, like, uhm, please?”

She sighs, the servery of which implies she is holding the weight of the world on her shoulders, and instantly you know that you won. She taps away at her phone, “You owe me one.” She states, and before you can reply, she exits your room and slams the door behind her.

Grinning, you text his phone again. The message goes through, oh gosh, you’re so relieved you feel like crying. This has been, officially, the worst five minutes of your life.

You Y DID U BLOCK ME LOSER!!! MAJOR LOSER ALERT!! I DELETED EVERYTHING IT WAS A JOKE r u still mad at me? y u always mad at me i never do anything:(

my husband You’re my baby, how do you think I’ll react when I see you publicly simping for some asshole on Tinder?

Oh no, he used the words, he delivered the killing blow. You’re finished. Your heart can’t take such a workout. 

Not that you would ever admit it to him, though!

You hehe ur jellyyyy u always dis jealous hehe?

my husband Not jealous.

Yeah, you might not be the brightest tool in the shed, but even you know that’s a lie. You send him an array of kissy emojis that he doesn’t have the decency to reply to. Then, completely unprompted and dead serious, you send him a simple voice memo, saying: “You really have nothing to worry about, you know? You’re my favorite, Corpsie.”

He responds via text, reiterating that he’s not fucking jealous and that he just doesn’t like when you show such outward interest in anyone but it’s not like he cares or anything. It’s just really, like, weeeeird to see his baby simping for another man like that totally ruins the whole dynamic!!! It was only natural that he should block you on every social media platform, including his personal number (which, like, was completely necessary! Doesn’t matter that his viewers can’t see it, it’s gotta be super believable!), and inform his followers of that, because it’s all a joke, like, for the dynamic, that Youtube grind, you know? Ya dig? No personal feelings were involved at all. He totally wasn’t upset that you found someone else cute, no way!

my husband I’m not jealous. Lol.

You ik u repeated tht like 50 times  u trynna convince me or??? lmao

my husband No comment. ...You don’t actually talk to anyone else like we’re talking, right?

You no one else calls me their baby if thts wat ur wondering at least not to my knowledge lol im all urs

my husband That makes me very happy to hear:)

Yeah, it makes you very happy, too.

hope you liked it!! xx

[mandareeboo]

SU Music Rankings

Bc I can and I wanna start some Disk Horse rip. These are all in order of preference, with explanations, etc. It’s a long bitch. That said, I’m not counting little short jingles or small joke songs like Little Butler. This is the meat and potatoes of SU music- just under 30 songs. I might do the rest if people like my takes lol.

I scored it mostly on three bases- how dear it was to my heart, how much/often I relisten to it, and also what it means to the plot. That said, little fun songs don’t automatically go farther down than big, plot-heavy songs either! It’s a strange little balance.

Special Note: I don’t dislike any of this music! I love SU and that includes its bumps and glitches. I just pick favorite children lol.

1.) Change

Was there ever a more Steven moment than when he wiped the blood off his face and kissed it into sparkles? I think not. 

If “Be Wherever You Are” is an ode to young Steven, then this is teen Steven’s. Talking about change, and how much and how little it can do. How he holds his arms up for Spinel to hug him, so trusting. How he seems able to just. Break into soft tears at will, and not to be manipulative- it’s just his kind nature. The warmth in his voice. Fuck yesssss.

2.) Change Your Mind

This song is only fifty five seconds and it’s EVERYTHING to me. It really felt like someone was speaking the words I’d always held deep inside of me, unsure of how to say. It feels like a goodbye to someone who never really loved me. 

As much as I enjoyed Future, if this was the finale of SU, I would’ve been perfectly okay with that.

3.) Drift Away

This song gave me legitimate shivers the first time I heard it, and it still haunts me to this day. Spinel stayed, and waited, and all she got was a transmission thousands of years later. Fuck.

4.) Here We Are In The Future

THE MOVIE IS SU AS ITS BEST AND I WON’T BE SWAYED ON IT. Steven being a teen who loves his weird family but is growing just a bit sarcastic to their drama. The adorable love he and Connie share. His slow realization that he will always be working, always have things to do, is both somber and real. The Crystal Gems won’t be safe with one epic battle. They’ll be safe with years of hard work and love. HIS LITTLE HANDSHAKE WITH AMETHYST.

This is a helluva bop and a great way to summarize the main character’s backstories.

5.) Let’s Only Think About Love

Did ya’ll know that Zach Callison killed his throat with that last note? He gave his all for this performance in a vocal range he no longer comfortably do and by god did it SHINE. The FLAIR. The FORESHADOWING. All of the Gems all being awkward about Rose and Steven trying to bring them to the present. Peridot having a mini-existential crisis in a cute yellow dress. I love Zach Callison’s normal singing voice but man is that a fucking bop. Nothing will ever beat it.

6.) Here Comes A Thought

This bad boy helped me out a LOT with some mental issues I was dealing with in high school. I was unmedicated, unsupervised, and full of anxiety. I’d have break downs when I tried to speak about certain things. I couldn’t function. This song inspired me. It helped me feel okay with my intrusive thoughts.

And the episode! -chef’s kiss-. Once again bringing up the morally gray area of training child soldiers. Connie expanding her social group. Steven’s trauma hauling ass in that second half. The ANIMATION. Stevonnie’s gorgeous singing voice. GOD yes.

7.) It’s Over Isn’t It?

Just barely squeaking above Stronger Than You, this ballad is everything gorgeous. The whole episode is. I think Mr. Greg stands in the top five of my episodes for the entire show. It even got nominated!

There’s just so much about this song that I love. The gentle melancholy of Pearl’s voice. How the crew had to redo the shots for this bit bc Deedee went so fucking hard. The hard cuts between Pearl, remembering the love of her life, and Steven, who has begun to feel like he took her away. I’d recommend this song to anyone, regardless of what they do or don’t know about SU, simply bc it tugs so many heartstrings of love, loss, and responsibility.

8.) Stronger Than You

Did you realize this episode aired SEVEN years ago? This bitch was what got me into SU! Hearing about Ruby and Sapphire made my little gay heart so happy inside, and then getting a whole song confirming that they were a couple, that their love powered the strongest Gem on the team? Aaaaaaaaa

To this DAY I get excited when I hear Estelle start singing. This song is timeless. This song will live in media history. God I fucking love this song.

9.) Other Friends

I’m not the biggest musical person, so I hadn’t heard of Sarah Stiles before her casting as Spinel, but JESUS CHRIST the lady went hard. She went SO fucking hard. Sarah Stiles started on 100 and somehow just kept CLIMBING. You can just hear the sheer manic energy building in her voice, the anger and resentment. 10/10 Sarah Stiles is a queen.

10.) Independent Together

This made the list entirely bc the crew was like “you’re gonna get a himbo ass Steven-Greg fusion singing with Opal while Garnet flies across the moon on Lion while floating” and I am forever thankful to them for it

11.) Who We Are

Bismuth deserved more songs. ‘Nuff said.

12.) Peace and Love (On the Planet Earth)

It Could’ve been Great is EASILY one of my favorite s2 episodes. I love the entire concept of this song. Of Steven making music to reflect how much Earth means to him and his family. Of him teaching Peridot some self-care. Also Peridot’s singing voice is really cute and squeaky. 

I know it’s silly, but I would’ve really enjoyed a flip around of this in Future! Like Peridot reminding Steven how much he loves music, that he needs to take time to relax for himself, maybe with a new verse or just a remix of the original song!

13.) Something Entirely New

I watched this episode as it aired, and I legitimately almost cried. I love Charlyne Yi’s voice so much ya’ll- her raspy, not perfect singing voice against Sapphire’s deep soothing lull is great.

And to have Ruby and Sapphire’s meeting be the way it was- for Ruby to bemoan Sapphire losing Homeworld, to being stuck with a single Ruby, while Sapphire is a noble who has always been taught everyone in her “caste” is vitally important (and has, in her own mind, taken that to mean every Gem, as she should) and how they come together and make each other happy. Good shit good shit.

14.) I’m Just a Comet

The fact that Greg’s music career never really blasted off pisses me off to this day bc Tom Scharpling’s voice is fucking BUTTER. Also the song really feels like a jab at his parents now that we know the kind of dynamic he had growing up. “This life in the stars if all I’ve ever known” is definitely him wiping away their existence after reminding them (and himself) the things they used to say about him.

15.) Do It For Her

This episode. This fucking episode. This episode got me permanently hooked on SU. I’d just binged season 1 and was kinda meh about it overall after the bop of Stronger Than You. “Oh,” I thought to myself, foolishly, “I’ll probably just casually watch this from time to time.”

Like three days later Sworn to the Sword aired and that was it. I was hooked! Pearl’s gentle training song turning darker and darker, Connie’s accompaniment from nervous to determined to fully into such a toxic mindset. The fact that SU had the BALLS to discuss the repercussions of training child soldiers, now and later. This episode was everything to me, STILL is everything to me.

Six years and well over 100 fanfics written later, I think it’s safe to say this show swallowed me whole and never let go.

16.) System/Boot.pearl_final(3)

I debated putting this on the list because it’s not anything crazy important, just a way to show things are Wrong, but I had to do it entirely bc Pearl is so damn SALTY.

Like telling us about the Gems makes sense, she felt like she was given a duty, but she went so damn petty. WHY is that Ruby alone. Gross. This Amethyst is a trash dump. Wtf are you people.

17.) Full Disclosure

This episode really feels like a turning point for SU. Before, the show had its dark moments- but now we’re in the thick of it, and it’s not going away. Full Disclosure felt like an rebuff to the idea of returning to any normal we’d established in season 1. Gems are actually a giant species now. Gems tried to kill us now. There’s this Yellow Diamond bitch who got namedropped. Something about a Cluster. 

The song itself is BALLER, with its ingenious use of Steven’s ringtone and photos as he tries to decide whether to clue in Connie on all this nonsense. Meanwhile we, the audience, already know damn well Connie about to yeet some common sense into him.

18.) What’s the Use of Feeling Blue?

I’mma admit it- I’m a Yellow Diamond stan. I’ve always loved her- her anger, her poise, her hardworking nature. I actively argued against the “Yellow Shattered Pink” theories back in the day. But, man, when this arc leaked? I got so overexcited I was too jittery to watch it for like two days. It’s easily my favorite arc of the series. The sheer alien nature of the zoo, the Famethyst, and absolutely Patti Lupone’s beautiful ballad. Goddamn. Yellow singing to Blue to try and help her regain her old status, the warble in her voice as she reminds Blue she misses Pink too, the movement of the bubbles as she talks about attack. It gives me shivers to this day. FUCK.

19.) Tower of Mistakes

This is, fun fact, that only SU song I have completely memorized. The story itself is kinda funny! See, we lost internet at my house for a solid 5 to 6 months when these episodes aired, so I only got a very brief window to view them all. But this was the first Amethyst song in a long while, and I didn’t want to forget it! So I keep replaying it in my head for ages. And that’s still definitely a thing.

Anyway will never not be sad that this entire song was about making it up to Garnet for Amethyst’s perceived slights with Sugilite (which was a two-way road), only for Garnet to pressure her into fusion later when pissed and never discuss it again bc Garnet probably never thought twice about it and Amethyst has the emotional openness of a clam that’s just been told its ugly. Helluva way to make someone feel like shit, G. Helluva way to bottle that shit, Ames.

20.) On the Run

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Amethyst! Needed! More! Songs! 

The dichotomy between Steven’s play and Amethyst’s honest desire to run away from home is so well-done, especially when you consider a lot of Steven and Amethyst’s actions are playing together. The song is also near and dear to me simply bc it’s my favorite Amethyst episode to exist (well, maybe second to What’s Your Problem, but not by much). Moments like these are all the proof I need that they were right to fuse first.

21.) Be Wherever You Are

This tune really just feels like an ode to who Steven was as a kid. Trapped on an island with no way home, and he’s just happy to be with his friends. The stars are beautiful and not oppressive. Also that one animatic with Lars and the Off Colors playing in the Homeworld Kindergarten to this music was iconic and made this song get stuck in my head for a solid month.

22.) Familiar

I ADORE how the crew use bright neon colors to show how alien Homeworld can be. And Steven recognizing that the Diamonds treat him how the CGs used to, and how prepared he is to “fix” a broken family. It’s a soft, gentle tune about melancholy. Also the Pebbles are beautiful.

23.) Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart

Such a cute little love ballad, but every time I listen to it now I just imagine the heart attack Rose must’ve had at the line “And if we look out of place/Well, baby, that's okay/I'll drive us into outer space.” like there’s a Vietnam war flashback if I ever heard one

24.) What Can I Do?

I’m kind of neutral on this one? Rose and Greg both have great voices, but the song itself lacks many lyrics. I think it was definitely a good way to show Rose’s flaws in thinking.

Also, I’m shocked they managed cram that much vaguely sexual innuendo into two minutes, followed by how Not Hetereo that dance between Rose and Pearl was, and not get their asses chewed by it. You go guys.

25.) Cookie Cat

I love a lot of the vibes this song has. The lyrics are so damn prophetic, but they also sound like the kind of weird 90s commercials I grew up on. It’s been like two decades since I saw the Shirley Temple commercial but I’ll be damned if I don’t remember “Animals crackers in my soup! Monkey and rabbits loop-de-loop.”

26.) Giant Woman

I am. NOT the biggest fan of Steven’s original singing voice. I feel bad saying that, since it was just Zach Callison as a kid, but he never jived well with me for some reason. So I wouldn’t listen to this on the fly. 

The song itself is still really good though, with all sorts of fun animation of Amethyst and Pearl being bitchy to each other. It’s a bit sad in hindsight to see tiny Steven trying to get his moms to get along. Ahh, season 1.

27.) Strong in the Real Way

This song has SUCH a strong start. Pearl reflecting on Sugilite’s problems, but the show making sure to show us that Pearl’s lack of enthusiasm towards her also lends itself to jealousy as well as just general malaise. How much she cares about Steven, and wants him to grow up strong. 

And then Steven just kinda. Ruins it? I appreciate his enthusiasm for tryna bulk up but to take what was starting as such a rich, personal song and broadcasting it to random strangers just makes me a bit sad. Almost a bit angry on her behalf?

28.) That Distant Shore

I KNOW this is gonna create some discourse, but I’m just not the biggest Lapis stan. I love her voice. I love the visuals of the song. And I get why she felt afraid and needed to flee.

But Lapis never got to take responsibility for her own actions. And, in the end, the song feels hollow to me- because we all know she’ll never talk to anyone about it, know she’ll burst back in and destroy the barn, and no one will ever question it. I like Lapis a lot, but I feel like her arc never was fully finished. She never got help. She never learned to feel safe.

29.) Dear Old Dad

I’ve yet to meet a single human being who likes this episode tbh. There’s some great discussion about what kind of parent Greg is from it, and what kind of dynamic he has with the Gems that he felt he had to fake an injury to hang out with his son. Honestly the first half was fine and dandy. It’s just that then they Greg just went out of his way to drag Steven away from missions and such. It never jived well with his character before or after.

Also, is it just me, or does Zach himself sound like he hates the song as he sings it? There’s no passion or heart in his voice. It sounds like they told him to read off cue cards and he did. Tom Scharpling’s best attempts didn’t save this one for being a skipper. But the episode, unfortunately, isn’t, so it gets a spot on here.

[sayorseee]

All the messy, incoherent posts from my z3 premiere live tweets and first two rewatch livetweets

this gets long

Pre Z3 Release, Post Soundtrack/MV Release

I’ve cried three times from the songs alone HELP

Now that I’ve seen all the songs I don’t think I can rewatch z1 and 2 I think I’m gonna sit here with exceptional zed and come on out on repeat for two more hours until it’s movie time

I have been teased with so many almost kissed in these songs

When they do someday dance moves in ain’t no doubt about it??? Sobbing my eyes out

Ariel stepped up her GAME this movie

The werewolf barber and zombie tailor are my new favorite background charscters

Can’t wait to see zed get blasted through a mf doorway also like 2 ½ of these songs involve the aliens they cannot be that importsnt to the plot

I have never felt more gay than watching Willa in come on out I will NOT STOP SAYING IT

Premiere (approx 3:10am EST - 7am)

The opening animation is really cute

YES ELIZA INTERNSHIP QUEEN

Oh my god I love Wyatt so much

Willa our fearless werewolf cheerleader!

Love that the aceys are tired of Bucky finally!

ZED AND WYNTER HOWLING

The parents! I love them!!

I audibly screamed when wynter hit the bus and it is past three am my roommates are gonna kill me

ALIEN INVASION ALIEN INVASION

The way everyone was ready to fight

ZOMBIE PATROL THE ADULTS THIS IS SO GOOD

This is too good I have to pay attention

Not aspen roasting zed IM DYING

Not the one star planet comment

MOTHERSHIP IS GREAT

Twenty minutes and Zed and Addison’s are experiencing the tradition growing up doubts where everything suddenly terrifies you and I love it

The aliens are great singer and the dancing is amazing I love ain’t no doubt about it

Why does everyone wanna go to college it sucks here

How is zed THIRD IN CLASS HOW IS HE SO SMART

I love the aliens

I love how nothing is working out for wyliza all my homies hate Wyliza

Omg Bree is gonna fight I love this

Ali is the BEST

A werewolf on zombie patrol!?

OH MY GOD RHE MOTHERSHIP IS SO FUNNY

I will never stop being gay for Willa

Not my girl addison wandering around

Ali is no longer on the same wavelength as all the aliens, new gay crush

Ali is the best

Not the grandma storyline!!

The lashes on Addison are insane

The way he (Zed) puts his arms around her!! I’m CRYING this is as they’re walking away after being beamed down it’s so cute

The werewolves giving zed a pep talk I love them I love this movie

The exceptional zed dancing is so great

I just love the way Milo sings OMG THE ZOEY VERSE

Oh no, mishaps!

ALIEN POWERS

ADDISON HAS A MIDDLE NAME!?

The interview scene is top tier! Addison and Zed being excited for Addison and her powers yet being stressed

Oh my god Bucky

WYNTER LIKES CAT VIDEOS

NOT WYATT WITH THE CRUSH

ZED’S PHONE

Omg ZED YES KING BEHAVIOR

IM FINALLY MEEEEE

Zed will fight

ASPEN PLEASE “she can have it!”

Zoey and Zed will fight for these aliens

Zed loves Addison no matter what she looks like I love it so much

I feel like it’s a f you for Addison to be the most precious thing and not her mom

This is so sad let zed go with!

Did we really need the Wyliza side story???

NOT HER DROPPING IT

ZEDDISON FOR THE WIN

HOLY FUCK THAT ZEDDISON KISS IMA WATCH IT AGAIN

Everyone sadly missing Addison this is the someday I needed 😭😭

“Conflict is good” ok Disney whatever 🖕😭

THE SEABROOK MUSIC YES

Kinda wish Bucky had white hair in the end also why is every character in this movie graduating at the same time

TWO WHOLE KISSES

Zed’s “hi baby” at the end I’m CRYING

Other initial thoughts from my first watch

2nd Watch (3:18pm - ~ 5pm EST)

Addison’s parents and Zed’s dad being friends = amazing!

I love wynter’s energy btw

Cannot believe alien invasion is ten minutes into the movie

I love how no one in Seabrook knows how to feel about the aliens

Normally I would hate that Addison’s an alien but like, they added it in so well and everyone portrayed it so well that I’m actually so happy for her… like we got Addison family background happy zeddison what more could I ask for

All of Zed and Bonzo’s interactions prove their besties!!!

“One star planet” Ali please

MOTHERSHIP MY BELOVED

They really just don’t explain that statue it’s just there huh

I’m gonna assume ain’t no doubt about it is just how zed and Addison are whenever a new species isn’t invading their town

Alan my beloved I love your competitive nature

WHEN ASPEN STARTS SOBBING THO … they are not used to emotion

Ali is amazing she’s our new comedic relief in the alien trio and I love her for it

Mothership going on strike is hilarious

If I were four years younger ‘come on out’ would’ve made me realize I was gay which I think is so funny (cuz of the name)

The way they always go “Ali” with so much shock 😂

Zed is like really happy listening to the scout’s log. Like not in a weird way in a reminiscing way I love it

They way they cast addison out so quick yet in the end she still went with them. I’d be so petty like ‘have fun finding home bitches”

Looking around Addison’s room for pictures of zed… (looks like there’s one on her nightstand also SHE HAS A TEDDY BEAR I LOVE HER)

All the cast members who can’t dance standing all the way in the back of exceptional zed is so funny to me

The way Zed’s whole family got all dressed up ima cry

The way addison was bout to fight this lady when she said despite

“IM SO SORRY” “don’t be!” And her SMILE ADDISON GIRL

she’s so in love every time she’s just looking at him her smile my god

When I first saw the I’m finally me video I thought zed and Addison got in a fight and that’s why he wasn’t there but the real reason is so much better

Gonna fight my way through finally me I’ll watch it in it’s entirety this time I promise

So glad things are finally working out for Seabrook they haven’t won in so long

Aspen is me when I see Willa

Pretty messed up Missy never shared this with anyone imo

I didn’t skip someday this time WHY AM I CRYING

I never actually watched them reminiscing over Addison and it sounds like she died she’s still HERE SHE’LL BE BACK I SWEAR

I do love z3 I like it more than z2 and I may be alone in this opinion but it’s true

3rd and Final Livetweet Rewatch

Never noticed the werewolves backpacks before which is just a reminder that all these monsters gave up their freedom of living however they want to go to HIGH SCHOOL

“This shrimpy be CRAY” I love wynter (their energy her and Zed are the chaotic duo I need more of)

ALIEN INVASION MY BEST FRIEND MY WORST ENEMY YOU SET THE TONE OF THE MOVIE AND YOU WERE WRONG THIS IS MORE FEEL GOOD THEN SCI-FI ADVENTURE

all my homies hate alien invasion

Bree with no power in the back about to take the aliens on in hand to hand combat I love her

also Zevon holding Zoey back the girls in this movie are WILD I love them

I love when Aspen calls zed “meh” like bestie you end up crushing on him within the next hour 😭

Zed spends the whole movie getting electrocuted I’m CRYING

MOTHERSHIP MOTHERSHIP ANOTHER DAY TO LOVE MOTHERSHIP

Zeddison’s nose scrunches and and nose kisses and I love them I love them

There is something so personal about z3 wynter! 1. “This shrimp be CRAY!!” 2. “No fleas!” :D 3. “So catty. Clearly not raised by wolves.”

Willa is taking/reading about philosophy…I wonder why

The aliens and the pencil sharpener scene 😂

I can’t pick a favorite alien I love all of them so much

Lotta Acey in fighting I love it

Yes come on out come on out yes yes yes

everyone looks so fucking hot in this number

Addison was clearly never told “if you’re lost, stand in place”

Someone needs to let Ali fight she needs to let out some steam

Ali and Zed are such a funny duo cuz 80% he’s teasing her for her anger and she’s being annoyed with him and then they become besties

I love how zed is so happy for Addison he is now her biggest cheerleader

z2 he was questionable but now? redeemed

Zed’s house is so well decorated btw and Addison’s. All the family photos they took to decorate her room 😂

Exceptional zed is my fave

Zed and Wyatt friendship top tier

All of Seabrook cheering zed on be z1 when everyone was rooting against him

Signature early 2000s final chorus key change slaps in exceptional zed

Exceptional zed reprise is so good

Not Eliza going searching for Wyatt’s mind probe

Willa looks so annoyed that she’s working with Bucky I love it

When zed gets into college 🥺 the exceptional zed music playing under 🥺

I’m finally me is giving early 2000s dcom vibes

Like in theory addison could take them to their new planet and they could just bring her back after right…?

As much as I love zed’s half sacrifice (half cuz he didn’t die but he did put his life on the line) it would’ve been a bit more impactful if Willa joined. All of Seabrook united as one!

We all agree that Bucky wears the hat to help hide his alien self. I mean he’s flying on the space ship so clearly he has the stardust spark!

[2n2n]

I saw your post about your personal top 10 Amane list. And I liked it!

Now, I wonder. Can you make your personal top 10 Tsukasa list?

I'm kinda curious.

oh sure, though in nature it will be quite different, since I'm not exactly thirsty for Tsukasa, so to speak! The Amane list. it. has to be more. uh. you know. leering.

But Tsukasa....!

this boy is so endearing.... holding his telescope with both arms very carefully, he looks like he's focusing very hard to not drop them again. Amane just snipped at him for dropping it.... Amane told me not to drop my telescope..... he really exudes little brother energy here, doesn't he?

exemplifies Tsukasa. For all the ominous-ness of the rooftop meeting, there's no maintaining that impression for 1 minute. In the anime, they don't animate him dropping the muffin!!! Him not even getting the muffin to his mouth clumsily is sooo Tsukasa. It's a perfect early impression of him.

time to be pelvis to pelvis. The instinct to fullbody arms and legs hug Amane.... can you believe some people think this is top behavior?

we rarely ever see Tsukasa, frustrated, despite everything! I just love this fussy little second! UGH!!! I'M-- HUGGING AMANE!!! DON'T INTERRUPT!

god another... essence of Tsukasa.... he's having a dreamy little moment so happy with his elephant and thinking about what he likes about elephants.........this is. ultimate Tsukasa.

he is so proud of his elephant. he loves it. he is so sad when Mitsuba desecrates it. The saddest Tsukasa we have ever seen.

all things told I think about this chapter of Houkago Shounen more than so many things. This single panel, flawless. Innocent ardent Tsukasa like why don't you apologize....? really completely having forgotten it being his fault. And then immediately we flash back to him chasing Mitsuba around with a scary pile of eyeballs. Its so fuckin funny to basically like be inclined to chase Mitsuba around with a big horrible spider. fkls;jfskl. The way Mitsuba gets reduced to another toddler when he's around Tsukasa, they both suddenly are The Kids In The Room. We see the purest of Tsukasas when he's having his daily life shenanigans. This is the normal boy doing what it is in his nature.

legs wrapped around Amane completely casually, resting full weight on him. Holding Amane's face in his hands to wide-mouthed talk directly at him, staring pupil to pupil. The descent of gloom upon Tsukasa. Amane simply staring at him tracking his downturned face with his own gaze, tilting down. This really gives you the perfect vision of their funny little dynamic. Amane being really blunt and Tsukasa's bubble being like, rounded and bubbly. But he's liable to have as much childish disappointment as he is childish excitement. He just wants to share everything!!

I think the impact of this page is eternal. The reveal that Tsukasa was a clumsy, ungainly kid.... your. FAAIL BROTHER!!!! Suddenly Amane's coddling big brother demeanor (even with Yashiro) made so much sense, and so violently upon the mind, AAAOAOAUAOUHG NO TSUKASA--!! WAS... PATHETIC... is that why Amane is like that.... if I had to choose 1 panel from here, it'd be him on the floor in the second panel, staring blankly. Tsukasa is just not the sort of child to cry when he's hurt... just lays there dazed....

ahh this one feels like it tells me everything.... happily receiving his little pat pat from Amane, leaning into it, and, it feels like one of those Tsukasa who just obviously isn't receiving any of the emotional or tonal implications going on? I always feel that clinically, Tsukasa doesn't experience empathy-- that isn't to say being cold-hearted-- but rather that he simply can never 'read the room', cannot imbibe unspoken intentions, does not feel the emotions of others intuitively, is naturally imperceptive to them. He's just really happy Amane is promising to read to him later... the grim subtext of Amane's condition isn't reaching him....

Tsukasa in this moment.... I just generally love how wide-eyed and contemplative he seems. It really appears as if he has never, ever, considered Amane liked him.... it feels as if his entire brain shuts off, trying to parse the possibility... what he'd do about that.... if it could really be true. That he argues with Kou really hurts.... he's never thought about a life with Amane. he can't. Its like he can't move a muscle, it's so overwhelming....

this entire scene, such a Tsukasa....

and nao, the number 1 Tsukasa of all time....

crystallizing his first ever, desire. A wish... a dream. something for himself. A fantasy... a fantasy of something that would make him happy... his eyes distant, his voice trailing off, his cheeks flushing.. a Tsukasa unlike any we have ever seen before. It feels like it makes him dizzy, out of it, to form this idea.... Tanabata, with Amane.... getting to do something, together.... something fun, pretty, the fireworks, the games.... that's so much all at once, after however long he's spent in here doing nothing but existing to save Amane. He's never just... daydreamed! He's never had something he wanted!! I hope we get to see more Tsukasa like this....

the honorable mentions are each and every time Tsukasa has no mouth at all and is just wide little staring eyes. Whenever he's genuinely awkward or overwhelmed or embarrassed or something, his mouth becomes a speck or is gone... so endearing. A boy who is either :D or . . and no in-between.

^ boy when asked if he is scared of thunder

^ boy when mitsuba says that you eat croquettes with your family (Tsukasa replies '....' and won't concurr] do you dislike Mitsuba referring to you as family, lol? Is it confusing maybe?

^ boy replying [...] when asked what his New Years Dream is

^ boy who has messed up

my most honorable mention is this Tsukasa doing an impression of Sakura. Because it's very important you internalize that Tsukasa has this capability inside of him. He can apply Bayonetta animations to his model at will. Tsukasa is capable of simply donning feminine grace at a moment's notice flawlessly. I do not think Amane can do this. Neither Amane genderbent nor Amane overtaking Yashiro is capable of affecting this authentic display of femininity.

Tsukasa's natural skill..............................

[snorlaxlovesme]

full thoughts on the chaos walking movie? I want to hear more about it lol I haven’t seen it yet

it just...it felt like TKONLG but without EVERY GOOD PART, you know?

scene-wise, the closest individual scene we had to anything in the book was maybe the scene where Viola read Todd’s mother’s book to him? (even that wasn’t the same bc that was also the scene where we find out he’s illiterate, and he lets her read it right away, so there was no deep-rooted embarrassment about not being able to read). also it happened in Farbranch. BUT, like it captured the emotion of the OG scene a little, where Viola is reading to Todd and he’s hearing his ma’s words and getting emotional about it.

but all the stand-out scenes from the book, i.e. saying goodbye to Ben and Cillian, meeting the girl and getting hit in the head with a branch and bandaging her anyway, ALL of the Aaron fights, the bridge, the massacre of Farbranch, the song of Here, the Spackle, Todd’s illness, the waterfall scene, Haven, NONE of that was in the movie. so imagine all the really important and powerful moments gone

also all the overarching themes? those are gone too. todd becoming a man is  HUGE deal in the books. even in his horrible awful town he just wants to feel like he BELONGS and he’s the one person in the entire town being ostracized. two of the biggest secrets in Todd’s whole world are kept from him for the majority of the book because he’s “not yet a man”. it’s important to him. and once todd realizes the connection between Prentisstown maturity and murder, he spends the rest of that book WISHING he could be a killer. wishing he could have that kind of strength and seeing himself weak for not being able to kill. 

all of that?? gone. movie!Todd often chants the familiar “I am Todd Hewitt” (and sometimes “be a man”) when he’s nervous or trying to cover something in his Noise, and has a little tiff with Ben and Cillian at the beginning of the movie bc the Mayor sees Todd as a man while Ben and Cillian do not. (that’s a weird little bit though bc the movie never really explains why the Mayor had such an interest in Todd). but that’s about it in terms of coming-of-age material in the movie. and about murder. seeing as he doesn’t. kill. the. Spackle. let that sink in.

also like. the Noise is shown as a CONCEPT but not as a theme. the THEME of Noise is that, and I quote

“In this world of information overload, the ability to feel, my boy, is a rare gift indeed.”

or perhaps

“Knowing a man’s thoughts ain’t knowing a man.”

or even

“Knowledge is dangerous and men lie and the world changes, whether I want it to or not.”

in this movie, Noise would be described as like. a nuisance at worst and a superpower at best. you can hear most of every man’s thoughts in the movie, though not a constant, never ending stream. just just bits sporadically at either plot-convenient or comedic times. the Mayor (and at one point Ben, and at one point Todd) uses his Noise to construct illusions around people kind of similar to that Jake Gyllenhaal villain in Spiderman: Far From Home. 

but neither of these two main examples really SHOW the themes that Patrick Ness showed us in the books. that Noise is powerfully ANNOYING; that it can quickly break down relationships between groups of people; that it can be manipulated making large lies still possible.

like, remember when in the books, Todd and Viola get to Farbranch and poor Todd is absolutely GOBSMACKED that 1. the women are ALIVE and 2. the men and women are living together?? in harmony?? what the eff?? and you see Hildy in Tam’s Noise and just how much they genuinely love each other and Todd is like “damn we ain’t in Prentisstown anymore Manchee”. and you can just see based on the contrast that Prentisstown people are a whole different breed compared to the kindness of Farbranch?

in the movie Todd has a few moments of inner dialogue where he’s like “oh man that’s a woman. that’s nuts” and then we move on. his world should be turned upside down here and its not. and the difference between the two towns is that they kinda just made it seem like, yeah, Noise is annoying so we have the men sleep separately from the women so we all get a little peace, and it’s fine. that’s how Farbranch deals with it. it all just feels very blasé 

(i can’t remember specifically where this happens, probably either in Farbranch or cutting back to the Prentisstown men getting ready to march, but at some point a leader ends up saying something to a crowd of people and you can see how just one sentence spreads through an entire group of men and how they all start amplifying it and getting more and more panicked and i did think the mob mentality was cool. it reminded me of the beginning of The Ask and the Answer were the Mayor is addressing the citizens of Haven and you get that moment where the whole crowd flinches over the words of one man.)

and in all of this I’ve barely mentioned Viola. my wonderful girl. how they’ve massacred her story. god.

all of Viola’s development for the first half of the book is tanked from the start bc you SEE the crash, you see her stealing food from Ben and Cillian’s house (that’s the inciting incident of the movie), she talks to the Mayor in Prentisstown almost immediately after Todd finds her and his Noise helps everyone locate her, she talks to Todd a lot before getting to Farbranch after they escape Prentissown. the book does a LOT of work for Viola by having her mute and scared for the beginning and slowly showing how she comes to trust Todd. and how even after their incessent bickering in Farbranch they still choose to escape together because they know the army is after them specifically and they’re all the other has. that progression is really important in the book, as well as afterwards when we see how snarky Viola can actually be when speaking, how she thinks this entire planet is BACKWARDS and she can’t wait til her ship comes and shows them a thing or two about how to live.

movie Viola, well. she wants to find a way to communicate with her ship. she’s under the impression that since her scout ship crashed they’re gonna assume she’s dead and leave her behind. even though the Mayor brings up the settlers a lot after he learns about them, Viola curiously never really brings them up in any other context besides they need to come and get her. like it really made it sound like she planned on calling them, having them scoop her, and then they’d all just fucking leave, i guess. i don’t know what her end goal was besides CALLING HER PEOPLE which became the main point of the movie. the Mayor trying to find Todd and Viola so he could....use her to contact the ship?? that was also kind of unclear. and Viola trying to get to a communicator possibly so she could get the hell out of dodge. idk if that was her actual plan, but it was certainly what Todd was thinking, enough to where I was wondering if he was going to sabotage her mission in order to force her to stay (yeah. yeah. he had that energy about him and it was grosss)

and quickly, since all the animals couldn’t talk the way they do in the book, Manchee was more of a cute prop than anything. i could have gotten over it if he was useful in any way, but he never even like attacked a dude to save Todd or anything like that. so when he died it was sad on a dog-level but not a character level, since besides sitting next to Viola like twice while she cried he really added nothing to the story. also the shock of animal death was greatly reduced already since Todd’s horse that he used to escape Prentisstown from got a broken leg after he rode him off a cliff, so Todd used the knife (off-screen, thank god) to put him down. so Manchee getting killed was kind of lessened a little since my man Whiskey got nixed like 40 min earlier in the film.

this is getting long so I’ll cut it here since I’m gonna probably post about this a thousand more times. but yeah. if you watched it completely divorced from the books you would probably think “that was a cool concept but also what was the point of any of that” which is basically what most people thought based on the review headlines i’ve read. and if you are an avid book fan you’re gonna think you’re watching something else entirely.

[before-the-black-pearl]

I made those modern Jack and Fitzy headcanons over a year and a half ago. I started writing a modern!AU fic since then so I developed the headcanons more and I wanted to share some of them. Keep in mind this may be a little different than what I present in the actual fic. I’m making some shit up on the spot.

So picture this: The young Jack Sparrow books taking place today and all the characters are in high school in Tampa, Florida, and the school is called...

Barnacle High School

Jack the “I was at the door when the bell rang” Sparrow:

He’s one of The Boyz🥶🥵😎 But like the stupid kind who thinks they’re better than everyone else.

He’s a troublemaker and creates a lot of mischief around campus.

Mischief includes but not limited to: pulling the fire alarm multiple times, drilling holes between the boys and girls gym locker rooms, defaced a bunch of textbooks with The Boyz drawing dicks on every single page, one time he snuck into the office and played pr0n on the schoolwide intercom speaker, a time he gave everyone “shits and giggles” (laxative and weed) brownies at a school dance and caused everyone to shit and puke all over the gym floor and it made the news,..... How tf isn’t he expelled?

Unsurprisingly he gets in fights. The fights are half of the time started by other students, but gets in trouble anyway.

Constantly interrupts the teachers to the point where they write him up or kick him out.

Sometimes fucks with the quiet kids like “Hey, mate, do you know what we’re doing?” “Can you like teach it to me?” “You can do it for me, right?” “Why don’t you ever talk, mate?”

He’s actually pretty smart but the teachers don’t like him and home sucks so he gave up.

Probably has ADHD.

Wears layers, like leather, denim, flannels, t-shirts, hoodies, jeans of various “tightness”, studded belts, many pairs of combat boots or knockoff timbs. Half his shit is from Goodwill.

Undercuts for dayyyzzzz. Think Coming Storm cut but the bottom is shaved off.

Still wears his nasty ass bandana even though the teachers always tells him he can’t wear it in class.

His makeup literally always slaps.

He likes to collect random things and sometimes puts them on his clothes or his backpack or in his locker.

Obsessed with dead things (furs, pelts, bones, stuffed animals, etc)

Has a fascination with the sea and likes the nautical aesthetic.

Bonus: Yeah he totally vapes.

Arabella the “Shut up and let me work” Smith:

She’s the “good kid” and sometimes the “quiet kid.” Jack definitely fucks with her in class sometimes until she pops off and they both get written up.

She’s an honors student and exceeds well in her classes.

She’d rather blend in with the crowd and not many students really notice her. She keeps herself contained in a small group of friends.

If she’s not with her friends, she’s probably in the library.

She’s really into Art and History.

Kind of a conspiracy nut and likes reading into urban legends and stuff.

Infodumps about her interests to Jack and he gets hella annoyed.

Jack sometimes follows her around and she gets hella annoyed but she gets sad when he’s not around.

Mediates between Jack and Fitz.

Jack and Fitzy fight over her. Jean has shown a little interest in her too.

She ate the “giggles” from Jack’s brownies. She got so fucked up she had a panic attack and left the dance really early before all the chaos began in the gym.

Kinda looks like she hasn’t really left 2015...like basic white girl with knit sweaters and cardigans, t-shirts and tanks, leggings, boots or sandals, etc. Sometimes also wears hoodies and jeans.

Headbands and beanies and cottagecore-like bandanas.

Yeah her makeup slaps too.

She works for her father after school at the Tortuga Tavern, formerly named Faithful Bride before it was forced to change to something more “PC.”

Fitzwilliam the “My uncle is the principal” Dalton (the third):

Basic snobby rich kid.

President of every “snobby kid club”; the Chess Club, the Key Club, the Student Council, and Yearbook.

Also an athlete and is in the school’s track team and soccer team.

Is in a clique with his equally snobby friends.

Yeah but he’s like hella proper.

He’s well educated and knows several different languages.

Hella ignorant about certain shit tho.

Big fuckin FLEXER with his expensive name-brand clothing and tech.

Lies about being friends with celebrities and online influencers and shit.

Ate one of the “shits” brownies....Just leaving that to the imagination until I make a one-shot.

Drippin’ Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Coach, etc... Literally like full fucking tracksuits, knit sweater over button-up combo, fancy coats, name-brand t-shirts, jeans over hundreds to thousands of $$$, shoes costing almost as much as rent.

The pocketwatch from the books is a fancy golden $30,000 Rolex wristwatch.

Jack keeps taking his watch.

Wears his hair up in a manbun like it’s still 2015 and Jack keeps teasing him about it.

Yeah got like a brand new iPhone and and iPad and a really expensive laptop and an iWatch even though I already got a regular watch on my other wrist.

Jean the “I swear to god she’s like my sister” Magliore:

Y’all know it, he’s in the Anime Club.

Jean and Tumen are best friends, and in my story, foster brothers.

Likes video games and always has his Nintendo Switch with him.

Internet memelord and low key has “band kid” energy.

Always be sending Tumen or the “Barnacle Crew” group chat memes.

Being from New Orleans is a personality trait and is very enthused with his Creole roots and loves creole dishes.

He runs a foodie Instagram account with a large following. Self proclaimed foodfluencer.

Sometimes sells candy and chips at school. Gets in trouble for it.

Yeah he ate multiple brownies at the dance....

Jean has a cat Constance, named after his deceased sister, he brings to school hidden in his backpack.

Constance will literally eat just about everything, mimics human noises, and her expressions are very human-like according to Jean. Her traits are so much like his sister, Jean believes she is his sister born as a cat in a new life.

He made Constance her own Instagram account.

Jack HATES Constance. Constance LOVES Jack.

Hoodies, jeans, headphones, beanies.

His hair is the same but a bit shorter.

“Suspiciously quiet kid” Tumen:

The quiet kid sitting in the back of the class and drawing while listening to music.

He is also in the Anime Club with Jean.

Since Jean is into video games, Tumen is a weeb.

Jean is the only person he really hangs out with at school.

Tumen doesn’t have a phone in my fanfic but for the purpose of this headcanon and the group chat, he does have one.

He’s more of a “lurker” in the GC.

Jean’s #1 meme reactor.

He watches anime crack videos.

Tumen is the most “immature” than the others since he’s the youngest.

The only one who didn’t eat the brownies. Got interviewed on the news.

He takes pride in his Mayan heritage.

Has a random interest in geography and wants a career as a cartographer.

Anime t-shirts and hoodies galore.

Always has his hood up in class.

Teachers always telling him to put his hood down.

Tim “the newbie” Hawk:

He eventually transfers to Barnacle High.

I don’t have a full headcanon written for him yet.

Principal Lawrence Norrington:

Principal of Barnacle High.

Fitzwilliam’s uncle.

HATES Jack Sparrow.... Again how tf is Jack not expelled?

Brings his kid James to work sometimes even though the kid should be at school himself.

Jack sitting in the principal’s office in trouble again and James keeps bugging him. “Do you play Fortnite?” “No. Beat it, kid.”

Tia Dalma:

The school nurse.

Jack is buddies with her and he goes to her and pretends to be sick when he wants to ditch class.

Has crab parts in jars in the cabinets. No one questions it.

Joshamee Gibbs:

The janitor.

He’s in the Navy but he’s on off-duty employment.

Jack is buddies with him too.

He writes Jack fake doctors notes or signs permission slips or covers for Jack when he’s ditching, in exchange for booze Jack has at home.

He had to clean up the gym after the brownies incident ☹️

I don’t know how to write Davy Jones into this.

For the sake of this headcanon, it would be funny if Torrents was like a science teacher or something. Or if Madame Minuet was like an economics or math teacher. Or if Silverback is an English teacher. Or if Left-Foot Louis is a PE teacher and he’s all running in circles because he’s got two left feet lol.

Btw all these teachers HATE Jack 😂

[dorkshadows]

Nezha Reborn (2021)

@earl-of-221b Finally watched New Gods: Nezha Reborn! Honestly? It’s a lot better than I expected it to be lol. A solid 3.5/5 from me. I do think some story elements could have been tighter and it’s not as solid a script as Nezha 2019, but it works as its own thing so it’s worth a watch for anyone already interested in fengshen lore. Plus a jttw cameo!

This is going to be a super incoherent “review” lol but I’ll just run through my thoughts. Firstly, I loved Li Yunxiang’s character. He could easily have been an emo bad boy with a heart of gold or whatever, but he wasn’t! He was just this temperamental young man trying his best. A little cocky sometimes, but always has his heart in the right place, always willing to do the right thing. Not like, super unique as a character, but someone we root for. He’s flawed, he’s handsome, he’s compassionate 10/10 character arc

Especially love how he came to understand Nezha, and how they became one in the end. This version of Nezha is legit so tragic. A misunderstood child who had to wait 3000 years until his own reincarnation looked at him and went, ‘I get it. I am you. We’re better than this. We can do it.” The flashbacks were so sad omg, but somehow that made Li Yunxiang’s reconciliation with him more moving.

FUCK Ao bing. I knew he’d be evil but wow, WOW. That kitten was so cute. That kitten was my favorite character. And Ao Bing killed it!? FUCK HIM. Thinking about that kitten makes me want to pull his spine out for the third time. That said, Ao Bing’s character as an evil hotshot asshole works and is pretty in-line with how he’s usually depicted lol. Also a pretty balanced blend of cockiness and insecurity. Like, I loved to hate him lmao

Evil CEO Ao Guang is a silver fox dilf and I have no regrets saying that. Man has no redeeming qualities besides being the oldest piece of eye candy this entire film has. But the gangster suit, hat, grey hair combo awakened something inside me. That said, his character was kinda one-note. Like, just statically evil without much explanation. And like earl said, it was very jarring to see him treat Ao Bing so badly while also justifying killing Nezha for Ao Bing, and then not cared when Nezha killed Ao Bing. Like what was going on here

Six Eared Macaque had me screaming though. He was so bouncy and was probably the only character whose face matched his voice idk LOL Probably the best animated character, and one of the best characters in general. Had stronger characterization than Ao Guang and all the side characters combined. 

I was so SHOCKED when it turned out he was SUN WUKONG disguising himself as Six Ear. What kind of next level inception asdfasdf spent a whole minute losing it over Wukong committing identity theft by stealing the identity of the monkey that stole HIS identity 3000+ years ago. It’s such a funny thing to do, like he could have been anyone but he chose Six Ear LMAO I’m convinced it was out of pettyness and dark humor (because this Wukong seems to have had a hard life).

Anyway, once the Six Ear disguise came off, I was pretty impressed by how “mature” and world weary they made Wukong without losing any of the monkey energy.

What else? Oh right, the BODY COUNT. There was a death and/or attempted murder every 5 minutes. One of Li Yunxiang’s friends or family was always in the hospital from some critical injury in every scene omg. Kasha straightup losing her leg was a shocker. so was that dude trying to suffocate Six (hello??). Then the brother almost died and lived. So OLD LI died. And of course that’s when he reconciles with his son lmao. Like, our boy cannot catch a break in this.

Lastly, the post credits scene with Erlang Shen in the 1930s tuxedo also awakened something in me. Because I’m positive he has a 3rd eye under that hat. But also, the outfit, the dog and ball, Yang Jian shows up for 0.2 seconds and he’s all I can think about again adfasdf I paused the movie just to stare at him to make sure this was a thing that was happening.

Legit criticisms: Sometimes I felt like I was watching a video game instead of a movie. Namely when some of the more realistic looking people started talking or moving- it was just weirdly stiff and uncanny? And the voices didn’t quite match the mouths. Also wasn’t fond of how all the female characters looked like barbie doll waifus lol but that’s about it.