#more like my obsession with characters as snails

[hazel-shithappens]

Yes it's that time again. The snail art spoke to me. ... Someone take that knife from Snailstarion, he's about to do crimes

[snailvibes]

Absolutely enjoying the hell out of my stranger things hyperfixation rn don’t get me wrong but I really can’t wait for splatoon 3 to release Cus I’m still hyperfixated on splatoon I just really miss it taking up #1 priority in my brain at all times

[scope-dogg]

Some generic thoughts I’ve recently had about AC6 lore lately after seeing other people’s commentary:

I think it’s notable that 621 is a 4th gen enhanced human on a meta level - while human augmentation is a constant across AC and very common in mecha fiction as a whole, arguably the most famous and one of the most memorable examples is that of Four Murasume, the cyber newtype from Zeta Gundam. In fact “cyber newtype” is a bit of a translation liberty, in Japanese it’s “kyouka ningen” ie. Enhanced human, the exact same term AC6 uses. I think this is notable because Four lost her memories and identity as part of the process, and thus her number and the facility where it was performed became her identity. In my head canon 621 is the same, and as such when Walter refers to them by number it’s not meant to be a slight - he probably has nothing better to call you.

On a related note, emotional instability is noted as one of the side affects of gen 4 augmentation, which may be another call-out to Four’s character, as drastic changes in personality and emotional outbursts were the result of her piloting the Psyco Gundam. It’s also notable that Iguazu is also gen 4 and I think this accounts for why Iguazu is the way he is and probably also why Michigan puts up with his shit to the extent that he does. If I’m thinking along the right lines it probably recontextualises his obsession with you as less pathetic and more tragic - it might be less that he’s just a salty little bitch and more that he has a serious mental illness due to the augmentation. It would also put him in line with the characters of Ypsilon and Rada Niva from Votoms, two other enhanced characters that were similarly insecure and/or obsessed.

If you manage to lose to Invincible Rummy in the grid 86 mission, he immediately starts begging for Carla to reward him with coral. This makes it seem like she’s exploiting Rummy’s and probably the rest of the Dosers working for her through their addiction, highly predatory and immoral behaviour if I’m reading it right.

Open Faith, V2 Snail’s AC, uses predominantly needle-like weapons, some of which use electrical discharge which is kind of like AC6’s version of poison. The cone snail is a marine snail that poisons prey by shooting a poison barb into its prey before devouring it. The laser lance he uses is even shaped a bit like a cone snail shell.

V1 Freud is the most notable user of the laser drone back weapon, that’s an obvious fallout to funnels and other remote controlled “bit” weaponry, which is one of the signatures of the Gundam series. This is usually used to denote characters or technology that goes above and beyond the norm, such as powerful newtypes, or technology that emulates their capabilities. AC6 subverts this in that Freud, as far as I know, is one of the only AC pilots in the game, and certainly the only one amongst the Vespers to have no augments at all, which means that he’s operating his bits on nothing but raw talent - the game even draws attention to this through Carla’s dialogue. With this combined with the fact that he’s rated as the number 1 AC pilot on Rubicon really draws attention to what a monster the guy must be (even if his actual fight doesn’t quite live up to his reputation.)

[spacesapphic770]

I'm high key obsessed with the ways Armored Core 6 gives us multiple characters that are a mirrors to 621 and/or you as a player

What follows will be spoilers that include stuff all the way up to the New Game++ ending. Don't click if you're not okay with spoilers:

There are a couple that immediately jumped out to me.

The first is V.I Freud. The first sign you get that he is a mirror to the player is that he is ranked number 1 in the arena, and his bio says people speculate that he is heavily augmented and gets unethical "updates" like snail does. But the truth is that he's not augmented and he's just someone who really fucking loves being an AC pilot. Like us as players, he's just here for the love of the experience. This is further displayed by the fact that even though he is technically commander of the Vespers, he's absent from the story until it's time to fight him. Because he has no interest in doing what Snail does, engaging in logistics and command and subterfuge. He just wants to pilot his mech. And then you finally meet him in the Fires of Raven ending... and his first action is to kill Chatty and complain about the lack of challenge. And you get this chilling mirror into what your devastation across Rubicon has been like. Every AC pilot you've taken on was loved by someone. The way Carla loved Chatty (the way I loved Chatty too). And the rest of the fight is filled with great moments, like Freud silencing Snail on the radio and him revelling in your fight... but the tone has been irreversibly changed by his cold blooded killing of Chatty. To Freud, I'm sure Chatty felt like just another side objective or Loghunt. Freud's fight is an amazing way to make the player reflect in my opinion.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO AVOID NG++ SPOILERS

The next one is more of a reflection to 621 in world than the player. Gun 5 Iguazu. I loved this dude and his shitty attitude from the moment I met him. He was such a perfect dickhead. Just a sassy dude. And then you read his arena bio and you realise he sasses you because he gets shit from the other redguns all the time and is scraping for any control in his life. It doesn't make him less of an ass, but you get it on some level.

Then the NG+ missions start happening, and you keep having these fights with Iguazu. It's almost funny how mad he gets and how relentless he is in trying to kill you. And he might take you down once or twice, but you can reload saves and he can't so he's doomed to fail. And he just gets angrier. He even sends a full on assassin to kill you, just to feel in control. In another world the game would be about Iguazu trying to finally beat his rival 621.

He gets more and more desperate. As you take the Coral Release ending he shows up when you ambush Snail, and he's more desparate. A few times he's mentioned a noise in his head he can't get rid of. It's a little unsettling. You continue down the path, get to the final boss, and... it's Iguazu. Sort of. He's joined with Allmind and is serving as its pilot to take you down. It's funny at first, at least I found it so. "No way! Iguazu is the final boss? Hilarious!"

Then you hear his dialogue. I had forgotten by this point that his arena bio says he's also a gen 4 augmented human. And it clicks.

In another world he really *could* have been the protagonist. He's a gen 4 like you. That noise he's been hearing? It was Allmind (And in the same way Iguazu is your reflection, Allmind is Ayre's reflection. Listen to the way Allmind talks to Iguazu. It's more manipulative than Ayre, but when Iguazu overloads your ACS Allmind tells him to take advantage of it the same way Ayre tells you to take advantage when Iguazu's ACS is overloaded). He wants to have the agency 621 has, he wants to have the skills 621 has, when he hears voices he doesn't want it to be painful... he wants a friend like 621 has. Walter says gen 4's can have trouble with their augmentations and we don't really see that with 621, but I get the impression Iguazu DOES struggle and he looks at 621 and says "Why? Why do they get to be free while I suffer?" Which becomes even more painful when you pick a fight with him at the Galia Dam.

As he says with his dying breath... he was envious of 621. And if you're anything like me it makes you reflect on things. Look into the mirror that Iguazu is and was. Think about the life 621 might have led if they weren't the chosen one who gets to be player character. This is not to say 621 does not suffer throughout AC6, because they are often treated like an object, a tool, or an animal. But it does make you think about how things would be if they weren't such a good pilot.

Anyway, yeah AC6 is good.

[where-i-overanalyze]

Soul Eater characters and their MLP Gen 4 equivalents

i will be disregarding all ships and familial relationships for this purely because it would make it WAY too complicated and this is my silly little haha. i already put too much thought into it, i cannot burden my mind with the restraint of familial and romantic relations.

first up, the main 7 characters. starting with the one who inspired this all:

Maka as Twilight Sparkle

she's got the wings, she's got the book smart, she's got the power of friendship on her side, it's perfect. this was all started b/c while rewatching the anime, we joked that Maka's dubbed voice sounded like Twilight. this one is the strongest comparison, it gets worse from here.

Soul as Spike

no offense to Soul, but he's usually secondary to Maka most of the time. snarky, sassy, and often asking questions. also, his name is Spike, Soul's got spiky hair, it makes sense.

Black☆Star as Rainbow Dash

cocky, proud, super strong, fast, and blue!! a lot of their development revolves around like valuing other people (Black☆Star is more about like,,,, becoming his own person but y'know) also they both have scratchy voices.

Tsubaki as Fluttershy

calm and mild mannered, but also on occasion has the ability to go apeshit. befriends someone who is quite strong and obnoxious that most characters find annoying.

Death the Kid as Rarity

obsessive about appearances and has a particularly fancy way of talking. pale?? distinctive hair. makes sense.

Patty as Pinkie Pie

no explanation necessary.

Liz as Apple Jack

older sister figure! blonde and realistic, kinda tough and used to having to work for stuff (though Liz doesn't have to do it too much anymore now that she and patty are chilling w/ Kid) also, AJ was the only one left of the mane 6 lol.

Crona as Princess Luna

obviously the moon connection, duh. dark aesthetic, doesn't understand other people, and gets kinda possessed by madness!! which leads into my next choice

Kishin Asura as Nightmare Moon

evil!! but also because they were a bit misunderstood. spreads their powers across the entire world. possesses someone who is also part of them. lives on the moon.

Lord Death as Princess Celestia

tall and a god figure, but also kind of royalty? super OP but also we barely get to see them fight or use their powers ever so that our lovely main characters can be the ones to defeat the big bad. questionable morals at times.

Stein as Discord

crazy ass bitch!! tall and a slightly concerning amount of people simp for them. looks stitched together, stuff sticking out of their heads.

Marie as Princess Cadance

Ox as Snips

weird hair,,,,,,,,,,

Harvar as Snails

tall?? Harvar's a spear so he's tall by default. he's also gold-ish when he's in weapon form so that counts, also pointy b/c unicorn and spear.

Jackie as Octavia

Jackie has to be Octavia b/c her name is based off of cellist Jacqueline du Pré and even though Jackie doesn't play cello, this is who she must be to fulfill her destiny. also, they both have dark hair.

Kim as DJ Pon 3 (Vinyl Scratch)

gay. unicorn, so she has magic like a witch

Kilik and the Pots as the Cutie Mark Crusaders

there's three of them and they are inseparable. do not separate them. Kilik can be Sweetie Belle b/c he's standing in the middle.

Sid as Big Mac

man of few words. super strong and ,,,,,,, angular?? idk they're both kinda blocky. sad eyes,,,,,,,, UNDERRATED.

Naigus as Zecora

doctor!!! also if i was a pony, i would have a crush on Zecora. i have a crush on Naigus. this is my reasoning.

Medusa as Chrysalis

evil. weird and confusing hair!! dark aesthetic with one accent color. insanely manipulative, undeniably slaying.

Arachne as The Storm King

this one comes as a suggestion from Tumblr mutual (and my literal current college suite mate) @xaltiide she says that this guy is "the big bad" but isn't doing Most of the bad stuff in comparison to the other villains.

and finally, my grand finale

Giriko and Justin as Flim and Flam

they suck!!!! they suck SO BAD!!!!!!!! and they're evil. HORRIBLE.

anyways, happy April fools everyone. i finished the last half of this post while an edible kicked in on a Friday night and i feel like that probably shows in what i have created, but i will stand by this.

[orowyrm]

my squids!!! and other assorted critters… had the idea awhile back that if there was a cowboy in the splatoon world, he could be tending to herds of cowrie snails and/or sea sheep nudibranchs… and then i became obsessed with the idea and now there’s a whole family of em. yeehaw! (more about em under a cut cuz i kinda rambled a bit ^^; i like my silly guys what can i say)

unnamed octo is my player character / neo agent 3, i just haven’t settled on a name i like for him yet…. butch and flicker are his adoptive dads and he grew up on their nudibranch ranch on the outskirts of the splatlands ^-^ alucod is the first friend he makes when he heads into the city, he’s the son of the mysterious but prestigious lord aquala*, who owns a fashion company that also specializes in custom weaponry, like alu’s brella. he’s also….oooooo…… a VAMPIRE!!! he can’t produce his own ink naturally and has to steal from others to keep from getting dehydrated over time. he’s angsty about it, but, yknow, in a pretentious teenager way... octo boy thinks he’s really cool no matter what though. he’d let him borrow some of his ink if he asked. besties forever <3

*(yes alu and his dads names are cheesy on purpose. i wanted to get a little silly with it)

** alucod, flicker, and aquala i actualy share custody of with my beautiful husband @helmofhades … luv you hon MWAH !!!

[quibbs126]

Well alright, someone said yes, so I’ll post the designs

Warning, these are kind of old and not very good art. Or maybe I’m just being self critical, some of it I think still looks neat

Let’s start with the ones that I made look cool and drew both the Stand Human and Human Stand

Unfortunately I could never figure out a Stand design for Okuyasu, so he only has his half done

Why does the lettering actually look kind of cool…like it doesn’t look half assed at all like it normally does. Maybe because I was intentionally trying to make it look cool

I made Joseph a scarf because I remember his scarf being a notable part of his design. Also Hermit Purple was vines, so equal treatment

Giorno looks like that because I recall at the time some people saying how Golden Experience looked like young Haruno but GER looked more like current day Giorno, so I kind of took that idea and made him look like Haruno, though maybe I took things too literal. Also that’s why Oro looks like GER. Also Oro is supposed to have a somewhat unsettling stare, since people say GER looks kind of creepy

Also another thing I want to mention about Polnareff, specifically his name, so that’s not an 80s song, that’s from 2014, it’s the name of a song from a French artist I liked. So realistically it probably wouldn’t be used but I thought it sounded cool. And hey, the song itself samples a Michael Jackson song, so eh?

Anyways, so something I should mention about this style, so at the time I was obsessed with this other artist’s, @droolingdemon style, and I tried desperately to recreate it. I think by this point I just tried to integrate it with my current style, but that’s why the art style looks the way it does. I might make another post about the subject on its own though

Anyways, onto the Chibi style Stand humanizations

I’ll just list some things I remember from their characters

So I did eventually consider turning Purple Haze into a dog, I think specifically a greyhound, but I didn’t know how to draw dogs, so that never happened

Stone Free never takes off those sunglasses and never lets anyone see what she looks like under them. As it turns out, she’s actually blind, and this would be revealed around the snail part in the story (assuming there are still snails), as she’s unaffected, and I believe she’s told to drive a car because of it, but she can’t, and when asked why, she says it’s because she’s blind (and that this was probably a bad time to relay that info)

The three in the last pic are all different characters who end up sharing the same Stand as it gets passed around between them. Whitesnake is part of the prison staff, C-Moon is just an unfortunate young lady who just happens to get stuck with the Stand after something happens to Whitesnake, and Made in Heaven is I think a horse rider who gets the Stand from C-Moon, probably forcibly taking it from her (and she likely dies) as he knows what it is. Also, Whitesnake and Made in Heaven were dating

Oh yeah, also the first Standswap art I did, which was also Chibi style, I just singled it out because of that

Featuring Star Platinum and The World. Not sure I ever found a definitive design for The World, but maybe I did in my sketchbook

Anyways, so then we have some random headshot ones I did

Let’s see, in the first one we have GER looking ominous, Purple Haze, the blushing one is Tusk Act 1, and buns is Ball Breaker. Then for the second one we have Whitesnake, Under World, Killer Queen and Scary Monsters

I believe one thing I did for the Part 7 swap storyline was to have Tusk have a journey of slowly transitioning from a woman as Act 1 to a man as Act 4. I know I’ve drawn Act 4 Tusk but I think it was in my sketchbook, so I cannot show it. Also I believe Ball Breaker was trans too, just male to female, and where Tusk got the idea that you can just be your preferred gender if you want. Also note that at the time, I did not actually really understand how transitioning worked. Though to be honest, I think the main thing was that I didn’t know hormones existed, or that transitioning could be more than just making yourself look like your preferred gender

Anyways, on to Scary Monsters. I believe he rode horseback without a saddle. Also, he started out with one Stand (Dr Ferdinand) but then got another (Diego)

Then with Killer Queen, I believe he was a mute cop. But also secretly a serial killer. Also he might have had a cat like face

And yeah, I think that’s about it, hope you liked it

[generalkiira]

Part 2 of: My mom started watching OPLA (she has never watched an anime before).

-> And here are her opinions so far on episode 2:

Zoro is very arrogant

“I knew they shouldn’t trust this Nami girl”

Upset because Luffy is annoying and dumb

But she likes his self confidence and positivity

Buggy is over powered and invincible (canon event, I cannot interfere)

Found Kabaji obsession with Zoro kinda fruity

Oh so he cannot swim??

Thinks Luffy should be killing his enemies otherwise they will all go after him

Cute snail thing (Den Den Mushi)

She likes Koby a lot for some reason

She is curious about the next crew members, I think she will like Usopp as he’s a more “realistic” character than the other crew members. ^^

-> part 1: here.

[queerbarb]

Okay so... Is it just me or Lockwood from Wuthering Heights sounds queercoded?

This might sound crazy, but there are a few moments while reading Wuthering Heights where I thought to myself "wow, Lockwood compliments Heathcliff a lot!", for example on the Edgar Linton's Portrait scene:

"Mrs. Dean raised the candle, and I discerned a soft-featured face, exceedingly resembling the young lady at the Heights, but more pensive and amiable in expression. It formed a sweet picture. The long light hair curled slightly on the temples; the eyes were large and serious; the figure almost too graceful. I did not marvel how Catherine Earnshaw could forget her first friend for such an individual. I marvelled much how he, with a mind to correspond with his person, could fancy my idea of Catherine Earnshaw."

Does that imply that he thinks Heathcliff to be physically appealing? Well, at least he thinks that Heathcliff is more handsome than Edgar, which is weird because the only person that seems to compliment Heathcliff's appearance is Catherine.

I thought that I was maybe too much obsessed about my beloved queercoded characters, but then I found some other interesting parts of the book to support my theory:

"But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose."

Okay, this seems normal since a compliment between gentlemen may be completely platonic. But there is some hinted stuff about Lockwood that seems to be inherently queer, such as his failed attempts to flirt with women and the fact that his own mother said he would never have a family of his own, which is weird since he seems to come from a wealthy family, he does not seem too off puting besides his social awkwardness, so there is no apparent reason to why his mother would say such thing... EXCEPT FOR WHAT IF HE WAS A BIT FRUITY AND SHE KNEW!

"Let me hope my constitution is almost peculiar: my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home; and only last summer I proved myself perfectly unworthy of one."

"While enjoying a month of fine weather at the sea-coast, I was thrown into the company of a most fascinating creature: a real goddess in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of me. I 'never told my love' vocally; still, if looks have language, the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears: she understood me at last, and looked a return - the sweetest of all imaginable looks. And what did I do? I confess it with shame - shrunk icily into myself, like a snail; at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded her mamma to decamp. By this curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness; how undeserved, I alone can appreciate."

Anyways, Lockwood is an awkward guy, and I find him rather amusement. He seems very much homoaffective to me, and I am enjoying trying to understand more about his personality.

[jaaklops]

|| INTRO POST ALERT! ||

ABOUT ME! :)

hey there!

i’m rory, and i:

use any pronouns (truly just guess, idm. but if you must, here’s my pronouns page)

im an infp-t

my bday is december 5th

i am a minor

i’m like 92% sure i have audhd but i do not know

heres my ao3!

and i enjoy the following:

MOVIES/TV/MUSICALS: stranger things, fear street, one piece, little witch academia, wednesday, barbie 2023, bottoms 2023, mean girls, ianowt, spongebob, hazbin hotel, heathers, wicked, hsmtmts, atla, tlok, spop, arcane, eqg (but just for rarijack + sciset)

there are definitely more i just have no clue what they are

GAMES: ummm really just the arcana and stardew valley😭

CHARACTERS: nancy wheeler, robin buckley, max mayfield, sam fraser, cindy berman, chococat, spongebob, squidward, deena johnson, simon kalivoda, janis ian/imi’ike, haley (sdv), regina george, and a lot more

SHIPS: ronance, rejanis, cadina, byler, lumax, elumax, elmax, sameena, diakko, chansaw, wenclair, rina, cindalice, chaggie, jatchen (janis/gretchen), korrasami, catradora, caitvi, rarijack, sciset

MUSIC: taylor swift, boygenius, lucy dacus, phoebe bridgers, maya hawke, mitski, snail mail, turnover, soccer mommy, lemon demon, megan thee stallion, pinkpantheress, and lots, lots more

CELEBS: maya hawke, renee rapp, natalia dyer, sadie sink, olivia scott welch, emily rudd, havana rose liu, taylor swift, kiana madeira

also i LOVE cats<3333

CURRENT OBSESSION(s): renee rapp, regina george, mean girls, rarijack

CURRENTLY WATCHING: yellowjackets

DNI/BYF

DNI if you are:

racist

sexist

pedo, zoo, proship

lgbtq+phobic

anti-any of my stans (have your own opinion idgaf, but if you’re gonna actively hate on them, then yknow)

any other dni criteria not stated here

BEFORE YOU FOLLOW:

as stated above, i am a minor. i don’t care if 18+ users follow or interact, just don’t be weird!

i don’t usually interact first, so mutuals (especially new ones) do not fear if i don’t talk to you!! im just nervous. go ahead and invade my ask box/dms!!

not really a precaution, but i don’t always answer asks!

some reasons as to why i wouldn’t answer an ask:

i felt uncomfortable answering it/the ask made me uncomfy

i forgot about it

i intended to answer it, but i got distracted and now i believe that it’s too late to answer it

it required too much thought that i was not ready to give at the time

trust me i LOVE receiving asks! if i don’t answer an ask consider this part my preliminary apology

this will continue to be edited sooo yeah. for now have fun chewing on the silly snack that is my blog ig!!!

[orchideae]

I'm a little late to the party, and I have a few more of those 'before 2023 ends' to answer in typical me fashion— which means answering them incredibly late: on the 4th of January (okay, it's the 4th over here). Who's surprised? Okay, but, but! Better late than never, right? So here we go: Happy New Years, you fellow-obsessers over fictional characters! (And let's be honest here, they're the real reason that we get up in the morning, right?)

Now, while 2023 proved to be a year of many tribulations and changes in my personal life, it also proved that not all of that change was bad at all. Relocations and all kinds of stresses aside, 2023 was also the year where I finally caved and got into Genshin Impact. I've forgotten how many times people have told me that 'It's right up your alley, Sae!' And honestly, every single person who ever did was so right, 'cause I haven't enjoyed a game as much since the peak of Warcraft. Its gameplay is engaging and diverse, its storytelling is one that I thoroughly enjoy, and its lore is deep and vast and never-ending that I'm given crumbs in corners of Teyvat where bread shouldn't even exist! And the latter is, as anyone can guess, my favorite. I just don't feel like I ever run out of things to dig into and research.

But most importantly, Genshin has slowly been giving me something back that I lost numerous years ago after a very big loss in my personal life, which was/is my desire and will to write. Throughout the last few years, I've tried to get it back, but nothing ever quite nudged me enough, and I only recently realized just how much of an effect the prospect of losing a passion of that kind of magnitude, had come to have on me. But my enjoyment of the game ultimately led me to its RPC, and through the likes of Guizhong and now Yelan, I think I've found my next 'home', a place where I want to stay for quite some time to come. And that's because of you guys, it's because of all of you who engage with me every time I surface (even the tiniest of likes has me smiling), all of you who read my ramblings, and express an interest in writing with me despite the fact that I'm slow as a snail, and most of you haven't even gotten a thread or ask response out of me yet. And that has to change. I always preach that words don't mean much if your actions don't back them up, and so it's time I really make this a proper resolution this year: I will do better. Not just for you guys, but for myself. I can yap all day about how much I want to write because I really do, but what does it mean if I don't actually... write? There's so much that I want and need to say and talk about, there's so much that I want to write with so many of you; and so it's time I proved that. I have numerous resolutions this year, but actively engaging with my passion again? Yeah, that's a big one.

Here's to 2024, may all your resolutions and wishes for it come true, may Hoyo bless us with not only more quality of life updated, but also more ways to gain primos, because sanity knows I'm running out! And here's to you guys, for making this fandom, and my time in it so far, truly great and rather memorable. 💙🤍

[ladyluscinia]

Idk if it's just a coincidence, but all of the sudden I keep seeing those "Izzy stans are so obsessed with this random white guy that they ignore or flatten every other character (especially poc)" takes all over and it's annoying me so much. So:

First, I'm going to link bromelads most recent attempt to get some actually constructive dialogue going about fandom racism because it has a whole section on this point. Technically two sections if you count the linked drive file as separate.

And then I'm going to ask all my fellow Izzy Hands lovers to add on to this post their favorite deep thoughts / burning questions / fun headcanons / etc. about your favorite non-Izzy characters. I know you all have a bunch of them. Bonus points for other side characters instead of Edward or Stede.

I'll start.

---

So I'm fascinated by the glimpses we get of pirate culture / the Queen Anne / the general environment that Edward is coming from and still half enmeshed in because I personally find the narrative push and pull there a lot more interesting than the whole running from one world to another that Stede (and to a lesser extent his crew) has going on. Which naturally leads to me finding Fang and Ivan so fucking interesting.

(Mandatory moment of sadness that Ivan won't be in season 2, because I was really hoping to see where his story was going 😭)

Not sure if I can really hypothesize many "hidden" depths to Fang because the show openly hit a pretty wide range. He cries over his dog and nude models for Lucius, but also skins a man with a snail fork and seems shockingly chill about Edward making an abrupt 180 to "maroon all your new friends to die". He's an obedient henchman in 1x02 and 1x04, but he also takes basically no prompting to go for the jugular on humiliating gossip the moment Edward seems disinclined to enforce Izzy's authority. The man contains multitudes already, minimal sleuthing required.

I am really looking forward to how S2 addresses his loyalty to Edward over the crew. Like at the end of 1x10 Fang and Ivan don't even really look that conflicted??? They were buddy buddy with these guys yesterday - moreso Fang than Ivan - but also seemed fully aware that Blackbeard could decide he was done playing around at any moment and then he did. Whoo boy. I mean, one genre of fic I'm usually not interested in is "Lucius in the walls" fic (I know he's alive, I just don't really care for that approach), but I will make an exception if it really explores Fang specifically hiding him because that's a big thing given he is openly afraid of defying Edward.

Like... Fang is a pretty friendly dude, and I can't imagine someone to fool around with was that impossible to find on Blackbeard's leatherman express. So it's really cool that despite very much not being, like, his true love or whatever, Lucius is apparently offering Fang something novel on the acceptance and connection front but maybe not something that wildly diverges from what he's had before. And I do think it's interesting to rotate how that tension could be playing out in his mind. He's got to be used to the whole flow of making and losing connections - that's just pirate life, nbd - except this time it's supposed to just be whatever, only... it's not? He actually misses Lucius and those other fun guys??? Maybe even enough to stand up to Edward over it?!

And Ivan! Man, Ivan has all kinds of potential stuff going on that I feel like people could talk about. I would probably talk about it more, only with the news he won't be in S2 it always makes me wonder how they are going to get rid of him and what that's going to imply about him (which might be contradictory to what they were intending). Which makes me sad.

Probably the biggest thing is like... I don't think Ivan actually likes Stede or the Revenge crew much? I mean on a personal level. Like, his only real friendship bond appears to be Fang, he's not noticeably trying to make new ones, and he's kinda fed up with Stede's people a few times? I'm thinking of rooting to kill them after 1x02, and scoffing at them during the raid in 1x05. And to me this is a really cool trait. I love it when "good" side characters have independent personalities enough to find the protagonist mildly annoying or something, instead of every single one of them perfectly correlating "good person" and "protagonist's friend". It prevents protagonist POV from becoming tunnel vision and accidentally making them seem like the center of the universe. (This is part of why the spn fandom loves Kevin.)

Not liking Stede isn't a character flaw, you know? And if you analyze Ivan's POV with just kinda not being impressed with these guys as an option, that leads to some really interesting places. Because in 1x06 he's actively encouraging Edward to just kill Stede like he said he would, not just following Izzy's lead, and then in 1x07 and 1x08 Ivan and Fang disappear. They don't show up again until Izzy does, but they also aren't seen leaving with Izzy or showing up in scenes like Jackie's bar like you would expect if they were just his loyal henchmen or whatever. So what are they doing in that gap???

I've said before that the adventures of Fang and Ivan is a completely wild story squeezed into the background and gaps of this show with two fascinatingly insane guys at the center of it, and I still think that's true. Fang goes right into becoming besties with the crew while still definitely thinking Edward is going to have him murder all of them in a few weeks. Ivan watches Izzy get banished, sleeps on it, and then fucking bounces with his buddy to go meet up with him... And then they praise Edward's punch and mutiny Izzy later! It's fun to think about!

...but I suppose my interest in Fang and Ivan does connect back up with my Izzyposting fairly often (since I like analyzing how characters interact and relate, and these two interact with Izzy), so how about another character?

Oluwande.

Now obviously the well trodden path here is TealOranges thoughts and feels. Plenty of drama, development, struggles, etc. But actually what I most want to know about Oluwande is how he and Spanish Jackie know each other???

Like what was up with that??? 👀👀👀

Their interaction gives off sorta inner circle vibes to me. Jackie clearly suspects / knows he betrayed her, but she calls him over to chat like old friends and Oluwande is expected to play along to act normal. So like... Was that normal? Did he regularly sit at Jackie's table and chat about life with her? Jackie does not have the time of day for her own husbands' problems most of the time - she seems to reprimand Geraldo for expecting more attention than the others - but immediately asking after Oluwande's life doesn't ping "oh she's definitely onto us" for him???

I don't think he's a husband (feels like it would have been addressed) and them being related seems unlikely. He's got a good head on his shoulders but he's clearly not some notorious pirate or outlaw of great skill. Like Oluwande is just some guy! But also some guy that Jackie was personally invested in!

And then bringing Jim into this... So Oluwande is just some guy in Jackie's inner circle, finds out the new barmaid is out to kill Jackie's favorite husband, and just helps them out??? My dude??? He doesn't even get whirlwind romance privileges. He did all that for a mysterious yet compelling stranger and no shit is this man crazy enough for the Revenge.

My headcanon re: the murder is that Alfeo was universally loathed and literally only Jackie and his gang liked him. So when people (and let's be honest Jim is not the most subtle of assassins so probably more than just Oluwande) realized someone was legit after him, they pretty much shrugged and sent them good thoughts. Also I think Oluwande and Jim had a solid plan to get away with killing Alfeo that went completely sideways, which is how they ended up hiding on a pirate ship pretending they knew how to sail. Oluwande didn't actually intend to completely ruin his status with Jackie and he does lowkey regret it in some ways, so he's gonna be thrilled when Jim tells him all about how they are cool with Jackie now and he can go back to the bar to hang next time they are in Nassau.

Anyway that's another big thing I want from S2 Jackie is Oluwande backstory, because that would be such a treat.

[charthanry]

Liberating the Talented Mr. Gu

This is my first non-Bad Buddy post so feel free to scroll past. For I’m about to wax poetic (at length) on my latest obsession. Will attempt to keep this relatively spoiler free.

I just finished binge-watching My Liberation Notes and my ladies and my misters, this drama made me feel big, ginormous emotions. Feelings so large that they’re threatening to burst out of me if I don’t let them out. 

You know that feeling of consuming media and already missing it even though you’re still in the middle of experiencing it? Like, your heart is subconsciously preparing you for being without it. You want the episodes to both slow down so that you can savor while also wanting to find out what happens next. How seeing the opening credits envelops you like a warm embrace signaling that you’ve arrived home. This was one of those dramas for me. I haven’t felt this way since Bad Buddy ended, over a year ago. And not for nothing, but BBS inspired this entire Tumblr into existence so…. yeah.

This slice-of-life, character-driven, nearly-plotless drama was scripted for introverts like me. It trudges on at a snail’s pace with its audience urging it to hurry along and do something (insert meme of stick person poking at that thing to c’mon and do something interesting already). It puts the slow in slow burn, making all other slow burns feel like you were hit over the head at first impact. It’s sloooooowww. The characters walk slowly, they eat slowly, pour shots of soju slowly. Slow is the name of the game. Why hurry when you have no where else to be? Having said all this, what fueled my obsession was the show’s execution. Because oh boy, did this show execute.

I’ve never watched a drama quite like this one. Where the director lets a scene simply exist and breathe. Where the silence between characters is more revealing than the dialogue itself. The loudest parts in this drama were the quiet moments where the characters aren’t even looking at each other. How brave of the director to let the silence exist rather than fill it just because. The direction here is both evident yet clearly understated.

Bravo also to the incredible cinematography. Dull colors and muted tones set the atmosphere because this drama was an entire MOOD. We have close ups of subway hand hold straps, we see condensation sweating off of glassware, we feel the seasonal changes as the chill of impending winter seeps into the bones of the characters. We hear the gravel underneath plodding feet and the sliding of doors open and shut when a character reaches their destination. Who knew that the sound of two bottles of soju clinking against each other while inside a black plastic bag can be both deafening and most welcoming. How characters come together for a meal and all that can be heard is the scraping of utensils and chewing. The silence is palpable as everyone is just trying to get through a meal while fighting individual battles of brokenness.

This drama is a visual and audio feast.

The scenery is its own, living and breathing entity. We have a countryside village with fields of greens and uneven pathways of dirt that take our characters away and back home again. Rinse and repeat. We have strong gusts of wind rustling through the trees and ruffling the sheets and garments hanging dry on makeshift clotheslines. The sounds of cloyingly humid nights where you can just hear how muggy and hot it is—all of this juxtaposed by the noise and brightness of Seoul, the supposed defining mecca for success in life. 

The countless unpacking of delicious metaphors left to viewer interpretation. Underlining that the best stories are still ones that are shown and not told. How a pack of wild, roaming dogs are metaphors for freedom and imprisonment. How the subway serves as the division between the land of the living and those merely surviving. How the buzzing of an incoming text is a long held lifeline.

But more than any of this? This drama gave us the talented Mr. Gu portrayed by the incomparable Son Soek Koo.

I first discovered SSK years ago in the Korean adaptation of Suits where he played David Kim, an extremely intelligent rival lawyer and antagonist for the main lead. Think Moriarty to Sherlock but in the legal field. His guest role arc was only three episodes long but he was so magnetic and spoke perfect, impeccable English (kinda rare in kdrama-land, at least enough so that it's noticeable when it's spoken well). Fluent English that was delivered with such swagger that I quickly became a fan. It didn't hurt that the man knew how to don a fitted suit.

I next watched him in Designated Survivor: 60 Days where he played Cha Young Jin, senior advisor to the designated acting president, a meatier role that saw him on the good side of the fight. And in watching him passionately urge and support President Park's will to run the country, I learned how versatile SSK could be. Magnetic enough to take over the screen while also willingly staying in the background for others to shine.

And then along came Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu, the neighborhood alcoholic who is shrouded in mystery. A man of very few words, but with an expressive face that conveys tomes of meaning you can’t wait to decipher. He portrays a lonely soul with hints of a dark and dangerous past. He never apologizes for who he is and even tells people: I’m a bad guy, you won’t like me when you find out what kind of person I am. Only to be met with: I don’t care. I accept you entirely.

He’s not a pretty boy by Korean standards, but there’s no denying the charisma and swagger that SSK (and Mr. Gu by portrayal) reeks. Honestly, everything about SSK is pretty average. Average height, average build, average looks—let’s be real. BUT the way he carries himself in this role… he dials the sexiness to a boiling point. Looks are fleeting…but presence? Presence can’t be denied. Both scruffy and clean shaven, Mr. Gu oozes presence. 

How does he make dirt and sweat look so damn delectable? How does he look so sexy in a sweat-soaked, oversized shirt that desperately needs laundering and an immediate introduction to an ironing board, while also filling out a cable knit sweater and an overcoat like nobody’s business? How does one look so desirable dressed like a homeless man (actual words a character on the show used to describe Mr. Gu). And damn, can this man lean on things—against a subway railing, beside a car, against a building, walking up a dark, hilly path. Body language that is an entire character, one that tells its own story. The lean while delivering his rare, lopsided smile is a true sight to behold. It’s beautiful.

And why did I watch this show hoping for glimpses of Mr. Gu in Pat’s sleeveless tees and jean short cut offs? Because arms. And calves. And a face so delicious that I yearn to slap the confident smirk right off of it. I could make a home for myself inside his cheek dimple. Dimples that rival only Nanon’s. Excuse me as I find a tissue to wipe my drool.

Make no mistake about it—when Mr. Gu is on the screen it’s impossible for me to look anywhere else. He is that mesmerizing. I grew so attached to his character that when Mr. Gu’s past indeed catches up to him, I fervently watched with bated breath hoping he comes out of the other side unscathed.

This show is not perfect. No show ever is. But for me, it does come close. I give it a resounding 9.5/10. The same rating I gave BBS, coincidentally.

I know I talked at length about SSK and his Mr. Gu, but this show features an ensemble cast of massively talented folks who all excel at micro-expressions. It’s Kim Ji Won’s most mature and impressive role to date. It’s Lee Min Ki in his least Lee Min-Ki-est role. It’s Lee El churning out a sympathetic and realistic character who yearns for love while realizing she's her own obstacle at obtaining it. It’s about the entire Yeom family existing alongside each other without ever truly talking or listening to one another. And still yet, it's in seeing each other for who we are and less of who we want the other to be. It's the idea of escaping and running from a past that we can never truly leave behind.

As much as I’ve touted the show, I understand that it’s not for everyone. The slow pacing can be off putting. There are parts that can be a slog to get through (it never was for me for what that’s worth). Some may even drop it for lack of moving plot, but man…. the journey is so wholly satisfying simply because it’s entirely relatable. These people are my people, my fellow introverts who are trudging through life one day at a time, piecing together small moments of happiness to offset their loneliness. It’s in the measurement of self-worth and finding your place in society. It’s discovering and accepting that you’re lovable.

It all speaks to me so much that after the end credits rolled, I immediately clicked replay on episode one. I never do that. Not even for Bad Buddy did I do that with such immediacy and need.

In an interview, SSK referred to playing Mr. Gu as possibly his role of a lifetime. He urged viewers to pay attention when watching, for it might just change their life. It certainly did mine. I'm jealous of any of you who are still reading that have yet to experience this extraordinary drama. If you decide to give My Liberation Notes a go, consider yourself warned, you might just catch some very big feelings along the way.

[thatbanditqueen]

i’m obsessed w all ur fics but i gotta ask…

are u planning on midge and ep making up some way in the next chapter or are u thinking ab dragging it out? (also wanted to let u know i reread the only sure thing probably once a week lmaooo)

So I'm writing chapter 8 right now and...... they are going to be colliding into each other at the end. Followed by three very very very smutty chapters. This and the last chapter where they are not together have been the HARDEST for me to write because I have the smut headcanons for the next chapters rebounding around in my mind grapes and I just want to get there already and I want the build up to be good but I have discovered this about myself as a writer. I'm not great at slow burn or storylines that don't lead to somewhat immediate smut..... lol.... maybe I'm off, but my favorite chapters of Only Sure Thing are 2 through 6..... I did like writing the scene in 7 where Elvis walks in on Midge writing fake fan letters for the Colonel.... but some of that chapter felt flat trying to accomplish more exposition and where i see them going... idk i am an aggressively hard on myself person, but i guess I think my favorite thing to write is pre-smut verbal foreplay which is hard to do if characters are broken up... so, this was a really long way to answer your question. The short answer is yes, and I'm sorry because I'm still learning how to write stories but I see ch 9 and 10 being.... um.... fun....

Once a week? My love.... im so fucking honored to hear you say that because I am really fond of these characters and I reread it everytime I write a new chapter, but I also want to rewrite it, especially some of the clunky paragraphs early on where I feel like I was over explaining Elvis' bio.... I might one day....

This is something I'm struggling with so I'm curious to know what you think... I don't want them to make up totally until March 1961 bc Elvis is going to convince Midge to go to Hawaii with him and he's leaving like the day after they reunite. But I also don't think it's realistic that he wouldn't try to see her every chance he can and try to wear her resolve down... I'm having him bombard her with telegrams and phone calls, and sort of explaining how he's off filming two movies and doing benefits and events in Nashville and Memphis as the reason he doesn't see her for six months... but I feel like I need to write ONE "look let me prove I can be just friends" scene from Midge's pov, where E shows up at her place unexpectedly because he's super impulsive and hyperfixated..... and he wants to use any excuse to get her alone and bring her back to his house ... uh... ok apparently this post became part of my writing process...

Thanks for reading and supporting my own hyperfixation. Im always down to chat about them. I really hope the fan community doesn't dissolve bf I finish these stories....I know I'm moving at a snail's pace..

xoxo

norAHHHH

The Only Sure Thing forthcoming in the next few days Ch 8 vibes...

[selene-and-the-cold]

Sicktember Prompt 19 – Curled Up With a Pet

Hello again. Today's little ficlet was inspired by Sicktember prompt 19: Curled Up With a Pet.

Fandom: OF/MD

Characters: Sick!Ed and fussing Stede with a side of grumpy Izzy.

No snz, so more of a general sickfic. Slight fever, a cough, and dubious medical treatments. And some sappy fluff, because apparently that's how I roll these days.

***

It was the year of our Lord 1717, and Blackbeard the scourge of the seven seas had come down with a cold.

Well, technically, Edward Teach had come down with a cold, which had put Blackbeard on an unprecedented hiatus. The hiatus was mainly forced on him by the Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnet, who had insisted that Ed should rest.

It had taken some coaxing and well-meaning threads from Stede to get him that far, but now that Ed was resting comfortably in Stede's bed, a cool compress on his forehead, wrapped in a robe which smelled of Stede and lavender, and covered with layers upon layers of the finest blankets, while a steaming mug of tea with a tooth-rotting amount of sugar sat right next to him, Ed was grateful that he had been persuaded to take a break. Just like Ed had learned about the concept of „retirement“ from Stede, Stede had also introduced him to the term „sick leave“. A time of rest and recuperation for the illness-vexed body.

There was just one more thing missing for Ed to reach peak levels of comfort.

“Steeede? What's taking you so long, man?”

Calling out for Stede had not been the best idea, since it launched Edward into a chesty coughing fit.

“Just a second longer, Edward,” Stede replied from the other end of the room, where he was rummaging through his shelves and cabinets, fluttering from one spot to the next like an oversized butterfly. “I'll be with you before you can say 'Tell me where the loot is or you'll be skinned alive!'”

“Well, you just said it and you're not here, yet, so... “

“Psshh... I never had you down as the nit-picky type, Ed,” Stede waved Ed's objection away with his hand as if it were a pesky insect, his long, lacy cuffs dancing around his wrists. “You are quite moody when you're sick, aren't you?”

“Moody? No!,” Ed protested, crossing his arms in front of his chest, sounding decidedly moody as he did. Stede just shot him a look. “And besides, I'm not nitpicky. I'm a perfectionist. You don't achive my level of piracy and fuckery by doing things half-arsed.”

“Fair point,” Stede conceded as he approached, a vision of soft pastels, gold embroidery and white lace.

He was pushing a tea cart with ridiculously intricate gold-plated acanthus-carvings towards Edward. It was laden with various little bottles and vials of medicine and spirits, a stack of handkerchiefs, and books. The cart had been part of their latest loot from raiding a French ship and it was Stede's newest obsession. He loved pushing it around the captain's quarters to transport things, but in this case, it actually came in quite handy as an additional side-table for Ed's sickbed.

“What the hell is all of this stuff?”

“This,” Stede declared with a dramatic flourish, “is an assortment of things that will make you feel better in no time. Especially curated for you by me.”

Ed took a jar from the cart and peered into it, moving careful so the cool compress on his forehead would not slip. Inside of the jar were a bunch of leeches writhing and winding against the glass.

“Eww, come on Stede, you can't be serious! I hate those fuckers!” He hastily put the jar back down, staring at Stede in horror. “There's no way in hell I'll allow you to put one of those on me, man! I'd rather die than have my blood sucked out of me by some disgusting vampire snail!”

“Well alright, alright! No leeches,” Stede agreed and put the jar onto the lower shelf of the tea cart. “But perhaps I could interest you in this soothing balm for your chest..”

“Look, Stede,” Ed began softly, interrupting the blonde before he could rattle on about whatever ointment he was about to suggest, “I appreciate that you compiled all of that stuff to make me feel better, but I don't really need any of it.” As he spoke, Ed propped himself up on his elbows, taking off the cool cloth. His eyes were much more intense like this. Their vast, dark seas gazing at Stede, deep and mysterious like the ocean at midnight. “There's just one thing I need to make me feel better.”

“And what's that?,” Stede asked eagerly, curious blue eyes scanning the room to find the object in question before meeting Edward's eyes again, lips parted, muscles tensing in anticipation as Stede readied himself to go and get whatever Edward desired.

“It's you, you nut!,” Edward chuckled. “I need you. Right here next to me. That's all it takes to make me feel better.”

Stede's face glowed, his chest swelling with pride.

“Well, in that case...”

In one swift motion, Stede shrugged off his Jacket and kicked the shoes off his feet before he hopped onto the bed next to Edward. Their bodies met in a long, warm kiss, and soon the tea cart was forgotten as the two men melted into each other.

***

Some time later, Izzy made his way to the captain's cabin. He had not seen Edward all day and he did not like that his captain spent more and more of his time with the pompous colorful canary that was Stede Bonnet. Izzy could not allow that his cut-throat, menacing soul-as-black-as-hell Blackbeard fell more and more under the spell of the would be captain Bonnet.

Besides, the rest of Blackbeard's crew was itching to get news from their captain. It was all nice and dandy to spend some time aboard the Revenge, but it had been a while since their last raid and the men were itching for their next adventure.

“Edward?,” Izzy demanded, his voice as loud and assertive as his knock at Stede's door. “Edward, you need to come out, I need to talk to you!”

He was not getting a response, but Izzy was was tired of waiting, so he just opened the door and barged in – only to be aggressively shushed. Stede was sitting in bed, Ed's head resting peacefully in his lap, his body curled around Stede like a black cat.

“What the fuck?!”

“He's asleep,” Stede mouthed. “Come back later.”

“But...,” Izzy huffed, but Stede shooed him away with his hand.

“Not now!," Stede hissed, "We'll be up on deck AFTER Edward's rest.”

“Fine,” Izzy pressed out through gritted teeth, then turned on his heel and left for the main deck, his mood as dark as as a thundercloud.

“Where's the Captain?,” Fang asked as soon as Izzy set foot on deck.

“Below deck, curled up with his pet,” Izzy replied with a growl. “Stede fucking Bonnet!”

[theslowesthnery]

okay, so maybe it's okay if i put my deceive inc findings under a cut? i don't know if anyone even cares about this stuff, but...well, i do, and i really want to share them lmao

please don't look if you don't want to be spoiled for probably upcoming content found in the files

upcoming agents:

Octo (male) -tag line: "Boisterous Hacker" -loading tip: "Previously an information broker and prominent hacker, rumour has it that Octo hacked through IRIS to get himself employed by Deceive Inc." -uses card game references and similes, so maybe a gambler? -emotional and reactive -seems to be somewhat superstitious -might be spanish? -"I am the house! I am the one who deals!" -"Hacking is its own reward, but the money ain't bad either." -"No hacking job is too tough for the great Octo!"

Vigil (female) -tag line: "Precise Profesionnal" (sic) -weapon names: Glaive, Saber, Falchion -loading tip: "Back from the shadows and ready to make amends, Vigil looks forward to see what Squire, her mentee, is capable of." -she's the knight! though she now goes by the codename vigil. what happened to her and why is she back? no idea, but she's working "on [her] own terms" -a veteran spy, she knows how shit works, even addressing IRIS directly -"Knight is no more - call me Vigil." -"Preferred the old software." -"Selling security software now, Garcia?" -"Good to be back!"

Sasori (male) -tag line: "Venomous Assassin" -bio: "Ex-henchman for hire, Sasori has tangoed with death more time than anyone could count. Armed with his noxious arsenal, and a sincere wish to make amends, Sasori comes back from retirement to cut through the competition with a renewed sense of quietude." -passive titles: Poison Sense, Give And Take, Toxic Infection -expertise titles: Coated Weaponry, Poison Vials, Noxious Gas -weapon names: Darts & Kage, Kunais & Hanei, Needles & Hikari -loading tip: "After he left the henchman line of work, Sasori went back to Ōsaka and opened up a kushikatsu restaurant." -uses food/taste references and similes -very calm and level, polite but not smarmy like larcin -based on his codename (japanese for scorpion), weapon names and certain lines, he seems to be japanese -a bit of a leap but based on him having formerly been a henchman and some of his comments re: criminal masterminds, perhaps he's the one who cut hans's hand off? -"Standards are much lower since I retired." -"Senseless violence is simply tasteless." -"I'm sure the others will find me…intoxicating." -"Espionage is more about following your heart than following the plan." -"Fall down seven times, get up eight." (a japanese saying) -"O snail / Climb Mount Fuji / But slowly, slowly!" (haiku by kobayashi issa)

new level/mission name: "Sound Eclipse"

new VIPs:

Hazen (they/them): -"A true artist in every sense of the word, Hazen has made a name for themself as an immensely talented musician, a performer in experimental theater, and more recently as an opera singer. Disgusted by the utter disrespect for arts and its importance, Hazen's show will be the final curtain call for the information age. By using an experimental sound system powered by pushing a vocal note that only they mastered, Hazen will disable all of the earth's electronics in an instant. As Necessity breeds true creativity, Humanity will then return to an age of darkness, an age of boundless creativity." -you might've noticed them featured on some newspapers that can be seen in the game -most likely the VIP for the above-mentioned Sound Eclipse mission

VIP_BAB (female) -no information (including her actual name - all internal names for the characters are [role]_[three letters of their name], eg. agent_CAV, agent_XIU, VIP_GAR etc) about her is available yet, only some voice lines -she's very paranoid and obsessed with security

no character models that i could find for any of the new characters yet, only audio and subtitles. sasori and hazen have the most information about them available at the moment, so my guess is that they're going to be the next additions to the game

edit: oh yeah, not a spoiler or a leak per se but just a fun little detail - red's internal name is 'socialite'. all other agents are internally called the same as they are in the game itself, only red so far has a different internal name.