#mashed multiverse

[purpleleafsyt]

Venus De Milo for my au Mashed Multiverse :)))

Original image under the cut

[p-antalons]

girl dinner is mashed potatoes. just all you can eat mashed potatoes. im girl

[flashen]

a little more context on last post: i still love flash comics. but when i rp a comic chara, i want to be as PERF as possible ( perfectionism ) so i am often trying to consume more comics then i can in record time and my brain fries. what matters is... every flash fam moment

[icedhotkopi]

Random plot bunny:

MoM x iswm crossover. In the middle of the events of ISWM (or after), the Captain and Engineer!Mark gets transported in the MCU because of the warp crystal. When the captain and mark try to hop to another universe, the captain realizes that the warp crystal is… missing

Somewhere, in a cottage in the mountains, the blue crystal glows in the hands of a witch

[localwebslingers]

((My wrist is still recovering from playing the game for such long stretches(I was in a brace all day at work, was not kidding about the carpel tunnel) but I'm doing much better tonight. Tomorrow there will be replies to threads that have come out since last Friday, maybe a wishlist post just so I can keep track of things, and possibly two new verses(not insomniac, actually, before anyone asks)

We'll see, nothing makes for active and high muses like swinging around New York

[signanothername]

What would happen to the rest of the Multiverse once Nightmare is gone?? Would it become better, or would perhaps new threats start appearing, which all weirdly remind Dream of his dead twin.. hehe

Ooooh, interesting concept

But tbh? Who could be that much of a threat to the multiverse aside Nightmare and maybe Error y’know? And Error is mostly dealt with by Ink, so if Dream were to take any part in stopping Error, it’ll be by saving the AU residents and bringing them to the Omega timeline to keep them safe

I feel like Killer might be a bit of a problem if left unchecked for too long, but Dream can still handle him no problem (bring him Color and that’s it vjvjvjjv), Murder and Horror would simply go back to their Aus, their Aus were always their first priority anyway

Dream might have to deal with other errors like Fatal and Bluberror, but they wouldn’t be that much of a threat either

Aside them there’s no true threat to the multiverse, unless we talking about a mash of different multiverses and Swad or Shattered making an appearance? Then woooooo boi

But if not then i’d say the multiverse would definitely become a lot better, which weirdly puts a bad taste in Dream’s mouth, not cause he isn’t grateful that the multiverse is a lot safer, but because it’s become safer after his brother’s death, and with how the villagers always talked about how much of a demon Nightmare is, about how everything would be better if he was gone? Yeah Dream doesn’t like it at all, it’s almost like it proves the villagers right (Dream knows they were always wrong, it rings deep and true in his soul)

Dream would definitely have to deal with comments from different people about how “relieved” they are that Nightmare’s gone, or how much they hated him and how death was the least he deserved, which all just hurt Dream deeply, but he also still understands why they’d make such comments and would simply stay silent, trying to get away from such conversation (unless they talk shit about Nightmare when they’ve never knew him then Dream’s putting his foot down)

Some do hate Nightmare but they simply refuse to make such comments not out of respect for Nightmare, but out of love and respect for Dream, they know better than to make such comments around the now twinless guardian

Some don’t actually hate Nightmare, but they don’t like him either, they’re neutral, they don’t speak about him, some out of fear, almost like uttering his nsme would summon him from the dead

Some simply don’t really care about Nightmare at all and simply forget about him completely, while some don’t even know he exists at all

Others are neutral but in a way that they’d treat him like they’d treat anyone else, these are very few, they don’t care enough to mourn Nightmare but care enough to bring their condolences to Dream

It’s always been just Dream against the world, Dream is the only one who truly loves and cares for Nightmare

Nightmare’s always been cursed to be hated, to be lonely, and especially after Nightmare’s death, does Dream realize how alone Nightmare truly was (something they’re both cursed with it seems) but it’s even worse cause Dream knows that if he was to die instead of Nightmare, people would’ve wept for him

So Dreams weeps, he weeps for the both of them, for both of their broken souls, for both of their pain

And if Nightmare could see beyond his death of how people still treat him, he wouldn’t be surprised to see how he’s treated even after his death, but he’d lie if he said his chest didn’t warm at Dream’s love and care, his twin has always been the only one to ever care, and who’ll care forever more

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

[ddejavvu]

omg okay so today is like 4/20 so like dealer!polymarauders or dealer!remus getting super high with reader and ending up getting the muchies so they like eat reader out or fuck <33

my brain is so clouded w this thought i cannot argh

today is multiverse monday, send me any au you can think of! :)

this post is 18+, minors dni.

The lesson you're learning tonight is that someone has to make sure the snack stash is properly stocked before anyone lights up. Only an hour into your smoke session, James had gotten the munchies, and you'd found only a dust patch where your collection of chips and candies had once been. You all reeked of weed, so sneaking off to the kitchens was a no-go.

James is a bright man, and he'd improvised. The remnants of his meal are still smeared over his chin, your release glistening against his skin, barely visible as he towers over you.

Your head is resting on the edge of his bed, Sirius and Remus's shoulders supporting your thighs as they huddle between them. They're feasting on James's leftovers, tongues eagerly lapping up any slick James had left behind after making you cum. They're desperate to lick up any new gushes that the swirling, suction-like motion of their tongues induce, and you're sure one single glance at the way they're devouring your cunt would make you cum on the spot.

Unfortunately, or very fortunately, you can't see them, because James's hips are in the way. He's standing right at the edge of his bed, straddling your face as his cock slides down your throat. After all, you've got the munchies too.

The position you're in will strain your muscles, you're sure of it, but you couldn't stop if you tried. Your hips buck into Remus and Sirius's faces, dragging your clit up to their noses as they groan gruffly into your cunt. Remus chases the sensitive bud, but Sirius stays below, tongue lapping just above your ass at the slick and spit that are beginning to drip down the curve of your flesh.

When Remus purses his lips around your clit, suckling lazily at the bundle of nerves, James strokes your cheek, wiping a gag-induced tear off of your skin.

Your hips jerk again and Sirius bites your thigh, "Stay still, pet."

"She can't help it," James drawls, rolling his hips further towards your face, cock stuffed that much more into your mouth, "Poor thing probably can't even breathe with my dick down her throat."

"She's wet," Remus gushes, tongue dipping once more below your clit to mesh with Sirius's as the two men drool into your cunt, "God, fuckin'- dripping, she's staining Sirius's pants."

"Nah," The man shakes his head, and he doesn't have to glance down at the wet spot on his jeans to know it's not your drool, "Came in m'pants, Moony. Couldn't help it, s'too good."

Remus reaches over to fit his hand over the stain, squeezing experimentally at Sirius's still-present bulge. The man lets out a groan and mashes his face into your cunt as a response, tongue driving you crazy as it presses into your cunt. Remus chuckles, turning his attention to Sirius and giving the man more room to devour your cunt, "Pants off, Pads, m'gettin' a new craving."

[rin-and-jade]

Are You? What about You? Them? : A Post about Differentiating Types of Parts.

We all know that spiderman meme where they pointed to each other because they share similar qualities that confuses their selves;

Like this. Right?

They all sounded so similar that we neither knew which is which at first glance..

And so, at the end of this post you will be confident in pointing out who is who, just like a spiderman who can tell apart from its own multiverse friends, that is. So let's get pointing to the smaller details!

How it works..

We know what it's like to be conscious, yeah? What if i were to tell you that yes, there are varying degrees of consciousness, and that we all can fluctuate on those levels too?

The levels of consciousness can vary from only being aware of its physical surroundings and react instinctually (lesser level), to being able to self-introspect and understand what they like and dislike (higher level). This is all dependent on many different factors and i want to clarify that it takes more than just 'awareness' to tell a fragment apart from an alter for example. But, still important to know what level its at.

This explains why shards, and fragments are less flexible when facing an issue, as they're more limited or not as equipped as an alter in terms of reasoning or level of logic/knowledge. So why is that? It can be from the intensity of dissociation, and other things like how much implicit and explicit memories it retains, this includes experiences.

How to tell them apart..

Sure, theres a spectrum to this too, as every type of part can be a bit different though still can categorized loosely, not meaning it has to fit perfectly to the box :

1. No sense of identity and, or tangible form/shape outside of performing a specific task, or hold a single memory/mood. (Shard)

2. Small sense of identity (a trait that is distinctive/distinguishable), possibly have a less blurry appearance than level 1 and still performs specific tasks, have little to no memories/range of emotions. (Shard)  

3. Mish mash of small qualities, but not enough to encapsulate an identity/personality, may have a sense of existing, and can emotionally react to environment/situation. Usually have a defined innerworld form, and may retain some memories but depends on origin, still fixed on role. (Fragment)

4. Has a developed dominant facet, which can be seen more lively and autonomous compared from level 1-3,, but still a bit rigid and have a narrow/limited view in general. Can distinguish and identify feelings, and have goals/hobbies/interests, self curiosity/exploration to function outside role. (Fragment, leaning to alter)  

5. Has a multifaceted personality in which it cannot defined by one word, fully knows its likes and dislikes, long term goals, morals, and a complex view on life. May have developed purpose outside role job, pursuing self-fulfillment. (Alter)

So in conclusion, shards are not wholly self aware and rely on current implicit memories, from my own system experience shards feels so blank, lifeless, somewhat robotic. Fragments have a partial sense of autonomy, it can rationalize and react to its own accord, reason, and learn/explore,, though had not fully know who they are. Alters are like any other usual people, where it has accumulated knowledge and experience that had shaped then throughout existing, reinforcing a faceted sense of self and purpose.

Growth to perfection..

Are you also wondering if shards and fragments can grow to an alter? The answer is, yes! Though some can be stuck in a certain stage, which is nothing to be ashamed about, and doesn't need changing.

Though, this takes a really long time and process, i note my own fragments will reach to a stage where it barely matches the loose category of an alter in 6 months, and to be a fully developed alter, it might need a whole year (okay this is my own calculations, other people will have it slower or faster).

To grow a shard towards a fragment category, my theory is that you have to interact with, and let them immerse/exprience the real world by supervision (outside of its role task) to develop more environmental, and self awareness. They will be very limited in terms of knowledge and names so this is a good time to start introducing these, and they may not even realize they exists themselves before sometimes,, try nudging them activities to experiment, and foods to taste, examine emotion wheel.. theres a lot to start from.

To grow a fragment to an alter, start introducing other views and complex topics, the goal here is to create a more developed understanding of life. From my experience, all my fragments have a dominant facet, e.g. angry dog vibes; and slowly let them learn how to be soft, or act more polite,, it will slowly solidify as a new facet, now capable of being kind and not always behaving threatening/i-will-still-bite-you attitude to every situation, as it now can be more flexible which facet it should use depending on situation.

Last words..

So, you are now an educated spiderman who can not only point out, but understand the basics of why,, and how to grow a part to have a better sense of awareness!

Let me know in the comments, i would like to hear why the part you had specifically picked/chose is possibly a shard/fragment/alter from your own reasoning and interactive mini discussion with me,, lets finally put them into real practice yeah?

Also, Happy Valentines, *offers you a free heart chocolate*

- j, your educational fiancée

[thatsthat24]

Sanderstober 2023

Upon request, I’ve provided new art prompts for this year’s month of October!! As always, feel free to do all or some of these, pick and choose whichever stands out to you! If you missed a day’s prompt but still wanted to do art for it, absolutely do that and post it whenever you want, no worries whatsoever. It’s all completely laid back and just for fun! I’ve added to this list without consulting old ones, so if I used a repeat idea, it’s possible that I just was interested in seeing more of it again this year!! Hope you all enjoy! If you’re wanting me to check them out at all, you can use the tag, #Sanderstober2023 🎃

Oct. 1st: Give me a spooky or Halloween-y figure and how he looks on Sep. 30th (their off-time, go as comical as you’d like) and then how they look Oct. 1st (traditionally how they are known to look!).

Oct. 2nd: Give me a flower design inspired by a type of candy of your choice!

Oct. 3rd: In celebration of the awesomeness that is Fionna and Cake, I’d love to see you take a character, or characters from your fave series, and give them a multiverse makeover (what they’d look like in a different universe, under different circumstances)

Oct. 4th: Take any historic landmark, and give it an autumn or Halloween-y makeover

Oct. 5th: Since I’ve been on my D&D kick with Roleslaying with Roman, what would any Halloween- or spooky-themed character be in a D&D world? What would be their race? Their class? Their backstory??

Oct. 6th: Google a Random Color Generator and use it to give you three colors. Then use those three colors to create a new Halloween creature or character.

Oct. 7th: Along the lines of Spiderman Noir, take any character you want from some sort of fiction, and depict how they might look like in any other time period!

Oct. 8th: In the spirit of having fun with both Halloween AND Christmas, take a Halloween story/character and draw what they might appear as if they were actually a character talked or sung about in a Christmas story.

Oct. 9th: Take a group of characters from one of your favorite pieces of content and create tarot cards featuring them. Google tarot cards to get inspiration if you need!

Oct. 10th: Take a musical (one that I would suppose wouldn’t already be scary) and create a poster for it as if it were the title of a scary movie

Oct. 11th: Google a Disney character generator, pick out two characters, and create what a mash-up of those two characters would look like!

Oct.12th: Pumpkin spice latte obviously has its spotlight during the fall, but could you come up with another special coffee concoction for another season/holiday of the year?

Oct. 13th: Take a Fall/Halloween concept or character and use it as inspiration for a fashionable outfit

Oct. 14th: As a tribute to Barbenheimer this year, take any character from Barbie or Oppenheimer and depict how they’d appear in the other movie

Oct. 15th: Take the last text you received. Use all or part of it to base a whole movie off of it of any genre, and create a poster for it

Oct. 16th: Take one of the names of your current pet, old pet, or friend’s pet, and use that name as the inspiration for a superhero. What would that superhero look like?

Oct. 17th: Is there a phrase that one of your parents or friend says all the time? Take it and imagine it’s the name of a children’s book. What would that children’s book cover look like?

Oct. 18th: Take a Disney villain, and depict them as a Disney princess

Oct. 19th: Take a Disney Princess and depict them as a Disney villain!

Oct. 20th: Take any Greek god and imagine what their preferred activity might be on an average Fall day.

Oct. 21st: Take a board game (one that I would suppose wouldn’t be scary) and create a poster for it as if it were the title of a scary movie

Oct. 22nd: This is an annual favorite of mine - take take any character(s) from a piece of content of your choice and depict them like a Tim Burton character

Oct. 23rd: Take a famous brand logo (Toyota, Playstation, Campbell’s Soup, Facebook, literally any logo from anything) and design a Pokemon inspired by the logo and color palette! Bonus for naming it and giving it stats!

Oct. 24th: In the spirit AGAIN of having fun with both Halloween AND Christmas, now take a Christmas story/character and draw what they might appear as if they were actually a character talked or sung about in a Halloween story.

Oct. 25th: Another favorite of mine: take any character(s) from a piece of animated content you enjoy, and draw them in the style of another piece of animated content!

Oct. 26th: Go to the latest playlist you were listening to, put it on shuffle, and see what song it plays. Take the title of that song and use it as inspiration for a Halloween/Autumn themed drawing of your choice.

Oct. 27th: Take a favorite pair of characters from a piece of content you enjoy and depict what their matching Halloween costumes would be!

Oct. 28th: [Random event from this past year] … and Zombies!!

Oct. 29th: Every town’s got some local businesses with interesting names (Jerry’s Tire Barn Emporium, stuff like that). If you know of one in your local town, take that name, and imagine it to be the name of a Haunted House. Depict what that location may look like. I wanna learn about some funny local business names.

Oct. 30th: Take one item from your desk/workspace, anything you want. This item is now the inpiration of a brand NEW cryptid (like Sasquatch, Loch Ness, El Chupacabra, just some legendary creature we have yet to find hard evidence of). Depict what this cryptid would be!

Oct. 31st: And, of course, in typical fashion for the big day, give me any character(s) of your choice, from any piece of content, enjoying Halloween in whatever way seems appropriate to them!!

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL October! And hope you enjoy these different art ideas! Looking forward to anything it may bring about!

[purpleleafsyt]

[dxoxlinq]

casually posts the 90s yaoi couple of the undertale multiverse idk (plus mashed potato)

[utilitycaster]

Dimension 20's Failed Genre Experiments

(This is the "Has Dimension 20 lost its touch?" post I’ve alluded to; please enjoy some genuine criticism masquerading as a riff on those sorts of articles for other shows.)

Dimension 20's debut and flagship burst onto the scene with a simple and elegant premise. What if a John Hughes movie were set at a high school for D&D adventurers? Its next full length pre-recorded season was the similarly strong urban fantasy The Unsleeping City, which in turn was followed up by the channel’s most ambitious outing yet: the Game of Thrones in Candyland mash-up, A Crown of Candy. 

Widely considered to be a watershed moment for the show, A Crown of Candy explored darker themes on a famously comedic platform, was the first on the channel to have permanent player character deaths, added new mechanics and limited what the players could choose to fit the world to support this more serious tone, and on a structural level, was a welcome departure from the prior rigid alternation between episodes of combat and episodes without. It was filmed prior to the pandemic but went to air in early April 2020, when many livestreamed actual play shows were on pause and even some podcasts were scrambling to figure out remote recording. D20 introduced their talkback show as a way for the cast to hang out remotely and chat about each episode, and Adventuring Party has remained a companion to the main show. The channel had hit its stride.

Its House of the Dragon sidequest, The Ravening War, aired three years later. Despite a complicated reaction to its announcement, it was a well-received outing, but one on what had by that time become a noticeably bumpy road.

Sidequests like The Ravening War are what D20 calls its shorter, 4-10 episode seasons that do not feature the main “Intrepid Heroes” cast in full nor necessarily feature Brennan Lee Mulligan as DM. We've seen everything from the perspective of the villains in both a Lord of the Rings clone (Escape from the Bloodkeep) and a Dracula homage (Coffin Run); to a Regency romance in the Feywild (A Court of Fey and Flowers). In addition to Mercer, Jasmine Bhullar and Gabe Hicks have each run a sidequest, and Aabria Iyengar has run three. And while the Intrepid Heroes' only venture outside D&D so far is the D&D-inspired Star Wars 5e, sidequests have been run in various Kids on Bikes hacks and Hicks' own Mythic system, as their shorter format makes it even easier to experiment with the parodies, pastiches, and mash-ups the channel is known for.

There have however been two notable failed experiments, and their close proximity (both released within the past year) could be a hiccup, or could be a sign that D20’s ambition, while admirable, could use some serious reining in. They are Neverafter and Burrow's End.

Marketed as the horror season, crossed over with fairy tales, Neverafter started out strong. Only three episodes in, there was an unprecedented (for D20) total party kill. The subsequent episode is the zenith of the season, in which each character is brought back, most of them changed and twisted by the experience, playing out an analysis of their role as an archetype within these stories: Sleeping Beauty and the classic roles of The Princess (introducing such NPCs as Cinderella and Snow White), for example; or Puss in Boots as The Trickster.

Unfortunately, the quality dropped soon after. It was revealed that the darkness spreading across the fairytale multiverse was due to the influence of The Authors, and the story began to be one about the concept of stories...while still trying to incorporate not only the plotlines of the fairy tales the main PCs were from, but also an intertwined conflict between the fairies and the princess NPCs. With this, the horror, with a few exceptions, melted away: violence and monsters are standard D&D fare, and when heroes race to save the world and victory seems not only possible but likely, any distinction between horror and a typical D&D heroic fantasy is lost.

It’s not the first overstuffed campaign, but it certainly is the first one that fails to land on several levels. Starstruck Odyssey is similarly chaotic and rushed at times, but it consistently sticks to a broad message of personal autonomy and freedom within late-stage capitalism. Mulligan is famous for his capacity to spin endless dense lore off the cuff, and if it at times overcomplicates the plot of the packed and colorful comedic space adventure, at least it contributes to the baked-in excess of the setting. But Neverafter's postmodern flourishes against a horror backdrop desperately needed an injection of sparseness and silence it never received. 

This is enhanced by the nature of actual play: with a few exceptions, even when filmed and even with the elaborate production values of Dimension 20, it is first and foremost primarily an auditory medium. We only know what is narrated to us. Neverafter did not permit its audience the time and space to fear the unknown. The existential horror of the metanarrative, of being a character doomed to a specific ending, while touched on by some of the cast (particularly Siobhan Thompson’s Sleeping Beauty), took a backseat to models of giant spiders and tales of undead dwarves. The story lacked the room to build real tension, but also failed to adequately create the claustrophobia of being truly trapped within its narrative. It feels more stuffy than unsettling.

Burrow's End is far less airless, but profoundly disjointed. Neverafter thought it knew what it was, but Burrow's End went through multiple identity crises by the halfway mark, and the marketing for the series reflects this.

The initial trailer makes it seem like a cute if dramatic story about a family of stoats - think Redwall, think Wind in the Willows. The first episode was excellent, however, and sold many who had been unimpressed by the trailers on the series, with its well-played setup of the clear Watership Down/Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH parallels with a unique twist in the form of The Blue.

The promotion took a strange turn, however, with the second episode and its infamous bear carcass battle map. It was hyped as uniquely horrifying, with a teaser video posted of the cast shrieking as the map, unseen by the audience, was wheeled past them. This seemed rather cavalier of the channel once the episode was posted, accompanied by a gore content warning covering a period of well over an hour...which was then further undercut by an exquisitely crafted, but ultimately rather tame display of a bear's innards. It was left out on the table during Adventuring Party as well, further reducing the idea of any meaningful shock factor (or any attempt to accommodate those in the audience who were triggered). The combat this map was for was a creative one, and the episode itself high quality, but it furthered the sense that Dimension 20 itself was unsure of what they were trying to get people to watch.

The series continued on with two more excellent episodes as it reached Last Bast, a clearly man-made structure full of thousands of stoats, with a strong dash of the police state. The actors immediately clocking the flaws of this society, but their stoat characters having no similar sense, led to a fascinating tension. However, the Blue (called the Light in Last Blast), previously described as some animating force and driver of magical power, and mysteriously concentrated in the brain of the dead-but-animated bear, was then revealed to be ionizing radiation.

At this point, the details of my own life become relevant. My career is in the field of health physics. I hold a master’s degree in this specialty and have served as a radiation safety officer, though not at a reactor. I don’t think that this background is a requirement to understand the structural issues of this season; but it certainly made me particularly attuned to the flaws.

Before you claim that this is just a show and who cares: In addition to my love of actual play, I am also a fan of comics and all sorts of speculative fiction. I am well aware that Spider-Man’s “radioactive blood” would not realistically grant him spider powers; I know that going into a high radiation field would not create Doctor Manhattan; I know that Superman does not actually have ‘x-ray vision’, and I know that radiation creates neither kaiju nor rad roaches. This is fine. In comics, radiation is a shorthand for “mad science” or “mysterious powers” with a sense of the lethal and the eldritch and the hubristic. The story is not so much about the source of these powers, but rather the great responsibilities they require. Godzilla, meanwhile, is clearly a metaphor for the very real nuclear devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Fallout is an anti-proliferation and anti-war message with nuclear annihilation as the set up for its post-apocalyptic setting. These works understand that radiation is a limited-use plot device, and, wisely, they keep it simple.

Burrow’s End, by placing radiation front and center, has lost the message. The themes of the story are irretrievably muddled: what seems like a tale of family displaced by human intervention now positions a man-made hazardous material as both sinister corruption and divine boon, and engages neither with a fitting narrative of both the pros and cons of technology, nor of human and animal symbiosis. The finale establishes the latter in a rushed cut scene reliant on a single persuasion roll, and the two episodes prior to that meanwhile establish that while the humans first introduced radiation to the ecosystem, the first five stoats were the ones who sought it out and disseminated it and built the police state, and their true nemesis was Phoebe, one of their own. This culminates with Phoebe, the previously unseen fifth of the first five stoats (who have by now already been killed by the heroes), piloting the body of a 20-years-dead human, threatening to somehow cause global radiation contamination as her grand Evil Scheme. Unnecessarily, from a narrative perspective, I might add; this occurs after the final combat has already begun and she is magically controlling two of the party members. They’re already going to kill her. It’s a hat on a hat on a hat, and the humans are incidental.

When I was a child, I was enamored with the sort of stories in which children are sent to another time or place and then return with seemingly no time passing, and at one point excitedly told my mother I had an idea for a story, of what happens back while you’re time traveling. My mother, a fan of speculative fiction herself, and never one to coddle, told me “nothing, honey, that’s the point.” I wonder if something similar happened here; an attempted deconstruction of those radiation-granted superpower tropes, focused so hard on being clever it overshot into something anything but. Other elements of the story - particularly the weak pun of “copper” to hammer home the already obvious theme of population support being the arm of the police - make me think this was indeed an attempt at cleverness that missed the mark.

I am happy to elaborate on the flaws of the science elsewhere but I think the most succinct way to put it is that while the biology and habits of stoats sans radiation has been considered with what seems to be at least a modicum of love and care (their use of pre-existing burrows, Viola’s pregnancy), the radiation science/understanding of recent nuclear history can only be described as abysmally neglectful, in and out of game. They let a Loss of Coolant Accident go on for three days with a remarkably casual attitude? This disaster was sufficient to result in what appears to be an exclusion zone (of which there have been three, ever, in human history; two of which are the immediately recognizable Chernobyl and Fukushima) and yet it isn’t being monitored closely enough for someone to notice that there’s been penned animals next to the building for years (let alone that the building itself is teeming with stoats)? For that matter, they’re opening the site only twenty years later? After the “radiation dust”, apparently present on the fully maintained roads by the reactor, but neither within nor in front of the reactor, just now made 14 people bleed out (not how Acute Radiation Syndrome works; also 14 deaths from ARS in 1982, when the series is set would in fact be an unprecedented disaster. In our world, Chernobyl - which had not yet happened in 1982 -  is the only nuclear accident that exceeds that ARS death toll.)

Radiation becomes an all-purpose plot engine with no internal consistent logic: it kills humans swiftly and brutally (though based on statements by Dr. Tara Steel and the fact that she seems fine in only a hazmat suit - which shields from contamination but will stop neither gamma nor neutron radiation - only via inhalation). But it infects chipmunks and bears with corruptive and bizarre neurological effects, turns wolves into horrifying but loyal hybridized monstrosities, and conveys to stoats not just human intelligence, but mastery of human language, magic spells, and the ability to come back as a revenant through force of will…though it also can immediately kill them, but also extend their lifespans, but also cause them to slowly mutate into wolves (but not through DNA splicing transfer, that would be silly). It kills 14 humans nearly instantly with off-site dust, but another survives a fiery attempted core meltdown with no apparent ill effects.

There is an excellent and thoughtful story about family, generational trauma, and political structures somewhere under here, and the incredible cast does its damndest to sell it, but it is all but lost beneath a sci-fi whodunnit that would make Ed Wood cock a skeptical eyebrow.

Neverafter and Burrow’s End’s respective collapses under the weight of ambition coincide, perhaps unintentionally, with some of the more dubious film editing choices on Dimension 20. Filmed actual play can be visually unexciting, and Dimension 20 has used simple shot/reverse shots, as well as some sound effects (notably for critical hits and fails) throughout its run to break it up. Neverafter, however, is marked by deliberate hisses and glitches, fractured split screens, echoey vocal effects, and nails-on-chalkboard screeches. This did not add to the atmosphere as intended; at best they were irritating and for many made it actively harder to hear key dialogue. Burrow’s End’s editing has been simpler, mostly relying on some, to be fair, well-placed cuts to black and voice distortion to indicate taped or radioed segments; but a key moment - Jaysohn’s potentially fatal rush into radioactive waters - is undercut with a frankly cheesy montage. Others I spoke to compared it to Indian soap operas, 1960s Doctor Who, The Oscars In Memoriam video, and reality show farewell reels. It takes what could be a tense potential character death - something D20 already handles wonderfully with their iconic Box of Doom - and makes it cheap and tacky, particularly jarring given the beautiful and haunting shadow puppet animation the season had previously delivered to convey the stoat creation myths. (And then, when Ava falls into the waters herself saving him, she merely comes back as a revenant with no ill effects. The stakes were never there to begin with in this smoke and mirrors season.)

Praise for Dimension 20 often hinges on its original innovative structure; most actual play shows skew towards more longform storytelling. However, the short format comes with a price. The fixed length of D20 seasons and the elaborate, custom made maps require a deft GM that can guide players to the exact right place without it seeming forced. Threading the needle is harder than it looks; even the otherwise iconic Fantasy High debut season stumbled towards the end when the players were too good at uncovering the mystery, and Mulligan had to place their characters in an inescapable prison in order to pad out a pre-scheduled episode before the finale. Perhaps the strain of this constant need to live up to a reputation as high-concept innovators, rather than simply create something good and cohesive, is beginning to show. The higher production values in Neverafter and Burrow’s End cannot hide their messy plots and confused messages, and indeed only highlight them. One interview said that for Burrow’s End, Iyengar wants the audience to trust her; after Burrow's End, I can’t say I do.

The next Dimension 20 season after Burrow’s End is a long-awaited return home to the flagship: Fantasy High Junior Year. Let’s hope this reminds the channel where they came from, and what magic they are capable of making when they keep it simple.

[swaps55]

Hi! I previously asked about Sam’s reasons for initiating with Kaidan in your multiverse fics, thank you for your answer, it was great to read and you’ve really switched back on the side of my brain that likes to analyse literature after uni killed it off lol. I was thinking more about the part where you said

‘I really wanted to push the queerplatonic nature of their relationship - have them be a lot more physically affectionate with each other, but Sam is really keen on physical touch once you give it to him, and the slow burn would have gotten a lot faster, lol’

And my brain is now filled with this AU where they’re exactly how you described them, v touchy feely with each other for a while before a sort of ‘relationship’ or kiss happens. Would you ever consider writing a multiverse fic exploring this concept? I totally get why you wouldn’t as it contradicts Sam’s nature as you said, but man, my mind is reeling with the ‘what-if’s’!!

Love your writing as always and the Cantata re-read count is now aaaatttt maybe 5/6 in the space of 6 months lol. Sending love! 🩷

That anyone cares enough to daydream about, analyze or ask about Opus is just mind blowing to me, so thank you so much for this question!!!!!

So, this may not be exactly what you're after, but I have an AU sitting on a distant backburner that is a Sam character study mashed up with the soulmate-esque idea of "I will find you in any universe."

The general gist is, Kaidan gets yanked out of a universe in which Sam never gets resurrected and the reapers are winning into a universe in which the reapers remained dormant, Sam isn't in the Alliance, and Kaidan died at BAaT. I love the questions it poses and what Sam looks like through such a different lens, but it isn't going to get written any time soon because there are too many challenges with it.

HOWEVER, the dynamic between Sam and Kaidan is different enough that I think a more queerplatonic relationship can exist. The Sam in this universe is a lot more open and free with physical affection.

I wrote a scene that got stuck in my head. It's not great, and I'm not convinced it works, but it does poke at this a little. So here you go!

~

Kaidan pads out into the living room, rubbing the bridge of his nose, sucking in a breath and letting it out slow. Only part of him is surprised to find the holo screen on, and Shepard tucked up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn.

Shepard’s insomnia appears to transcend universes.

Whatever he’s watching looks like some low budget salarian flick, with the silhouettes of a human, an info drone, and a FENRIS mech cracking jokes in the corner of the screen. Kaidan’s heart twists. Same taste in movies, too.

Kaidan almost continues onto the kitchen, not even really sure what he’s after – tea, maybe – but hesitates when he nears the couch. At the brush of their biotic fields Shepard looks up, eyebrow arching ever so slightly. Kaidan looks towards the kitchen, then back to the screen, uncertain.

It’s like looking at home through a mirror. Something he can see, but not touch.  

He circles the couch and sits down beside Shepard, who offers him the popcorn bowl without a word. Kaidan shakes his head and scooches over to leave a healthy space between them. Shepard shrugs a nonchalant shoulder and takes another handful for himself, slouching deeper into the cushions.

“Can’t sleep?” he asks.

“Something like that,” Kaidan replies.

Shepard eyes him for a moment before returning his attention to the movie. On the screen, a dozen salarians wearing wigs of human hair march catatonically across the screen.

“Are those salarians supposed to be dressed as humans, or are they supposed to be humans?” Kaidan asks after moment.

“Depends on how you look at it, I guess,” he says with a thoughtful tilt of his head. “It’s a take on invasion of the body snatchers, pod people, the like.”

“…Isn’t the point of those that you can’t tell they’ve been invaded?”

A lopsided smile tugs at his lip. “Something gets lost in the cultural translation, yeah.”

“Never understood what you see in this kind of stuff,” Kaidan says with a shake of his head.

“It’s unwatchable.”

Shepard scoffs. “There’s an art to a good B-movie. Ones like this can give you some pretty wild insight into how aliens see everyone else.” He throws a piece of popcorn in the air and catches it neatly. “I should show you Revenge of the Gun. Salarians recreated an Earth western shot-for-shot, but didn’t have a good translation for the audio. They just made up whatever they wanted. So you have a movie that was lost in translation from the start get interpreted by an alien race, then put back through a translator for non-salarians. It’s our own story twice removed through alien eyes.”

“And you love it, don’t you?”

“Are you kidding? It’s fucking incredible.”

Kaidan chuckles. On the screen, the info drone sings a jingle aimed at the director’s love of close-up reaction shots. “Well, if the bad movies are so amazing, why the snarky commentary?”

Shepard grins. “Because it’s funny.”

They lapse into silence. But it’s…comfortable. Familiar. Kaidan worries his lip, focusing on the wig-wearing salarians. “Do you not have Blasto here?”

“Blasto? Doesn’t ring a bell, and trust me, it would.”

“Blasto the Jellyfish, with a lover in every port and a gun in every tentacle.” Kaidan shakes his head. “This universe is missing out. You’d love it.”   

“Sounds like it.”

“Last I heard, it made quite a stir when they cast an elcor as Blasto’s next lover.”

Shepard snorts.

They fall silent. On screen, a struggling salarian gets shoved into an actual pod, and comes out expressionless, wearing a wig. Kaidan draws his bare feet up on the couch and rests his chin on his knees.

When was the last time he sat down and watched a movie, any movie, much less a mindless, terrible waste of time? Time had become so precious in those final months; he couldn’t afford to waste it on anything. And why? What was precious about it? What was he saving it for? What was going to be left to spend it on?

The only things he spends time on anymore are fear and bad memories.

“You ok?” Shepard asks.

“Fine.” 

“You know, if I’d been fighting a losing war to save all sentient life, lost friends, lost a partner, and lost my family, I’m betting I wouldn’t be fine.”

You weren’t, but you hid it so well.

Kaidan makes a noncommittal sound.

Shepard’s gaze rests on him, silent, shrewd, and Kaidan shifts on the couch cushion, keeping his eyes on the screen. Shepard grunts, leans forward and sets the popcorn bowl on the coffee table.

“I'm here, you know. I know it's...weird. But. You aren’t alone."

When Kaidan says nothing, Shepard shrugs, and retrieves the popcorn.

Kaidan hunches deeper into himself. How many times had he piled on couches in the ‘Yang’s lounge with the squad? How many times had he and Shepard brushed knees, thighs, dozed on each other’s shoulders? All those casual, intimate touches that were just part of the fabric of life, something he’d never seen or noticed until they were gone?

His eyes slide over to Shepard, whose attention is back on the movie. Before he can think about it any harder, he edges closer. Without a word, Shepard sets the popcorn back down and raises his arm until Kaidan curls into the crook of his side. He hooks Kaidan’s forearm with his fingers, arm a reassuring weight around his shoulders.

He’s soft, solid, warm, all the things Kaidan has lacked.

Like the fight’s gone out of him, Kaidan gives into it and lets his head come to rest against Shepard’s shoulder. A knot in his chest tightens until it’s hard to breathe, but the longer he sits, the longer he stays, it starts to loosen, the lead in his bones a little less heavy.  

They watch the movie curled together, Shepard’s hand running up and down his arm. Every now and then one of the jokes draws out a laugh. This close to him, pressed against his ribs, it’s a resonate rumble against Kaidan’s skin, felt as much as it’s heard. Sometimes he fills the silence with commentary, pointing out something about the scene or the context of the joke.

Kaidan says nothing, sometimes listening, sometimes not – either way it doesn’t seem to matter. But when Shepard’s fingers drift towards Kaidan’s hair and idly comb through it, a sigh rattles out of him, ending with a choke and a sound that says nothing but means everything.

Shepard doesn’t say a word, just lets his fingers do the talking, working Kaidan’s scalp, steady and rhythmic. Kaidan closes his eyes, but something in the air changes when Shepard’s gaze settles over him. He feels it without having to see it, like a sixth sense waking up from a long sleep.

It’s a respite. Temporary. Not something he can keep. But in that moment, for the first time in a long time, Kaidan’s heart rests.

[kairiscorner]

hobie x filipino reader going timezone…🫣 it sounds so childish but HEAR ME OUT PLEASEEEEEEE somehow hobie always gets the higher score in karaoke😔

OMG MHIEEEE ANG CUTE ⁉️⁉️⁉️ omw lovelies 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️💨💨💨

⊹ ‧₊˚ ౨ৎ at the arcade with hobie brown.

you try convincing him it's a waste of money, but he tells you money is an illusion of society–hobie tries getting you the stuffed toy you found cute in the claw machine, and somehow, he gets it on the first try.

hobie knows all the tricks to get the most tickets out of any arcade game, it surprises you how much he knows, but knowing hobie, he probably understood the inner workings of the machines one way or another to know all this–or he just trusted his gut, which was always right, or both!

hobie's favorite game is the retro version of pacman that they have at the very back, hardly anyone visits that corner of the arcade, which is why it's so calming to him to play there; and much calmer having you be amazed at how quick his hands and eyes move and how long he's lasting in the game.

he enjoys competing with you at the stationary basketball game, hobie loves treating you afterwards to your favorite snacks, whether you win or lose.

you two definitely send couple pics to the group chat between you and the rest of the gang, making them all feel jealous (even pav!) that you two are so chaotically cute together. hobie always sends short videos to the group chat on how intense your button mashing while playing tekken is, or how seriously you're taking the claw machine games–he hypes you up and wraps you in his arms for a hug when you lose, and picks you up in his arms and cheers for you when you win.

hobie uses all the tickets he's saved up to buy you the toys you like, no matter how silly or childish they may look. he insists on spending them on you because they'd go to waste if he didn't use them–besides he enjoys seeing you smile when he gifts you the toy.

you and hobie are amazing at DDR, he helps you reach the far notes when you're playing a tough song (you two gather crowds sometimes).

hobie loves teasing you and getting you all riled up while playing air hockey, he acts all cocky and teases you to get you competitive, and he distracts you every time by flirting with you (you forgive him every time, but are still slightly salty about that).

though he doesn't have the best voice, when you two do karaoke, hobie gets the higher score every time, it's like magic. you always send videos of hobie singing in the group chat, making the rest of the gang get wild about hobie, acting like his fans–and in retaliation, hobie does the same to you; making everyone in the group chat spam emojis that the machine's broken, you have the prettier voice... it's just that hobie has the prettier face (hobie insists you both have the prettiest faces in the multiverse~)

tags !! @k4tsu3 @luvstarrstruck @toneystank-3000 @ii01vq @maxoloqy @popeheywardssecretgf @arachnoia @solecitoszn @conitagray @rohansdisciple

[thefangirlfever]

Updated Fanfiction Masterlist

Started: 22/9/23

Updated: 4/8/2024

Total work: 44

Most of these fanfictions are Across the Spider-Verse related and revolve around the character of Miguel O'hara. I will update this masterlist as much as possible.

SFW fanfiction:

The Nightmare: Miguel has a nightmare and reader comforts him (angst)

The Monster : Miguel is hurt after a fight and he needs some help, something he usually refuses, because he is ashamed of his features. (angst)

In this lifetime: When Miguel had jumped into an other dimension to replace his variant, he had not expected life to be so different… (angst, romance, fluff)

NSFW fanfiction: (MDNI)

Trapped in a web : Miguel and reader are two spider-people in a relationship. They both know this relationship is impossible since they don’t belong in the same universe, but that doesn’t stop them from loving each other.

Workaholic : You and Miguel are both Spider people and you might be more attracted to one another than you acknowledge it. Things take an interesting turn during one night in his office...

Trick or Treat : One of your friends throw a Halloween Party and you meet a seducing masked guest. You both end up doing the monster (s)mash.

Four walls : You and Miguel are dating while working in the same company. What could go wrong when you are both needy, frustrated and find each other alone in an elevator?

A new beginning : Miguel and you are married for more than a year and life has been kinda hectic with all your work. One day he comes home and after seeing Peter B. Parker with Mayday all day, Miguel has only one thing in his mind… Getting you pregnant.

The unknown destination : Miguel found himself lost in the multiverse. He ends up in an alternative dimension filled with strange flowers.

Good morning : Since you and Miguel had been married, he’s been rocking a dad bod, not that it bothers you…

Control freak : Miguel is a control freak but there might be one place where he lets you take control…

Let me keep you warm : What would happen if the two of you spend the night in a cabin during a snow storm?

180 Degrees : A very self-indulgent piece of smut involving Miguel...and Peter.

The first time : Reader and Miguel have their first time together. (FTM Miguel)

Merry Christmas : You usually despise coming back home for the Holidays. You either get unwanted comments or questions about your job, you appearance, your love life… But this year, things are different. Your boyfriend is here with you and he is going to make you feel good.

Miguel O'hara! firefighter: the cute firefighter you're dating hid from you that he took part to a steamy photoshoot for a firefighter's calendar.

Headcanons:

Halloween headcanons: SFW, fluff

Boyfriend Miguel helps you relax after your finals: fluff and smut

Miguel O'Hara and bimbo's girlfriend: SFW, a bit suggestive, fluff

Miguel O'hara! firefighter: the cute firefighter you're dating hid from you that he took part to a steamy photoshoot for a firefighter's calendar.

Dad bod! Miguel imagine: smut, suggestive

Series:

The Nanny serie: part 1 (fluff, domestic fluff and angst), part 2 (smut, suggestive), part 3 (fluff, suggestive), part 4 (smut)

DBF! Miguel:

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5

part 6

headcanon 1,

headcanon 2

headcanon 3

Smut headcanon

Stress Relief: (18+, NSFW)

Part 1: Sometimes the best way to relax is a good drink, a bath, your favorite toy...and your boyfriend...

Part 2: When your boyfriend has to travel for his job, you both have to find an other way to relieve all the tension…

Part 3: a date night with Miguel turns heated when you bring out a special board-game...

Other characters:

~~I also take requests.

Into deep waters, NSFW, Jacob Holland (18+)

The bet, Very suggestive, Logan/ Wolverine (18+)

[journeytothewestresearch]

Journey to the West Discord Art and Writing Competition

The Journey to the West discord is hosting an art and writing competition centering around Sun Wukong.

Prompt:

Multiversal mash up! - Have one or more of your favorite Monkey Kings interacting with other versions of himself.

These include the Wukong from the original JTTW novel or unofficial sequels, as well as movies, TV shows, video games, or even your OC Wukong.

Details:

Art and writing only

NSFW content is NOT permitted

The contest runs from October 1st to the 31st.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced on November 3rd.

Criteria:

Art: structure, color palette, background, foreground, framing

Writing: structure, wording, grammar, character accuracy

Discord Judges:

greencicadarchivest

SaltyBeans

Six-Eared Macaque [Six/InkyPie]

Prizes:

I will be offering three statues from my personal collection. The 1st place winner gets to choose what statue they like best.

The first is a traditional religious idol carved from wood. It is roughly 40 cm tall. It is worth several hundred dollars.

The second is a new ceramic statue just shy of 36 cm.

The third is a vintage ceramic statue that is 35 cm.

Shipping:

The statues are free to the winners, but you must pay for the shipping. I will cover the initial cost.

The conservative estimate is $80 USD for shipping from Taiwan. But the actual cost might be lower given your location and if you don't mind a slower shipping method (i.e. by boat as opposed to plane). If you choose a faster method, then the cost obviously goes up.

Most importantly, you don't have to pay me back until after the statue arrives. And if you can't afford to pay the full cost all at once, you can divide it up into smaller payments. I don't want the shipping to scare off talented artists and writers.

Discord Link:

If you would like to join in on the fun, click here to join the server:

Please reblog this so others can learn about the contest.