#sorry if none of that makes any sense

[chronotopes]

Insane question so no obligation to respond, but for talk shop tuesday how do you square the circle with regards to the sort of contradiction between al2rnia as originally developed and al2rnia as continually worked on(i admit i dont know how applicable the latter is to you but aivide the prequel was still being edited fairly recently into last year and i dont doubt you have some input vis a vis vinbre the epilogue) with such a large collaboration i cant imagine even the majority of original artists are still interested in the project and of course the scope of the narrative has shifted substantially, in conclusion what is the fate of justay cowboy

omg, insane question but a very fun one! your question is almost two questions, the first one being how to square my own artistic process/evolution as al2rnia evolves in the way i and other people write it, and the second being how to square written material (atp, vtn) with the greater al2rnia paratext presented by People Saying Things In A Discord Server. they're two distinct approaches to me, at any rate, so i'm going to address them separately.

regarding PART THE FIRST, the real answer is that i just have to address the Mortifying Ordeal of Publicly Editing My Work. Aivide parts one and two were uploaded to ao3 when i was 20 years old and i have been very sneakily adding stuff and moving it around as time goes on, both in terms of my own evolution as a writer and in terms of new stuff happening in vinbre that becomes immediately relevant to aivide. is this a particularly effective way to construct a narrative? not really lmao, and in another world i would have revised and uploaded aivide in its entirety post-vtn completion, but i can't blame 2021 me for wanting it in public, so there's really nothing to do but say "this is on ao3. it is not a big deal." and make the evolution of the story a semi-public process.

regarding PART THE SECOND, i think it's a question of clear delineation between what is on paper / immediately relevant to the scope of my project, and what is not. things about characters created by not-me that are relevant to aivide include many of the events of vinbre the novel, given carett's connection to nora, sasara's life and online self-presentation at age 22ish and older, eubala's life trajectory and current position and demeanor, and raigne and bettah as they are when they work in eubala's office. i feel a very strong obligation to write those parts of the world in a way that is true to the things established by my collaborators, and it's my job in that sense to not really trouble myself more than i need to with things that are not directly connected to the project at hand. it would have been very self-deluding and counterproductive to approach aivide the prequel with the task of "THIS IS PART TWO OF ???? IN A GRAND EPIC FANSESSION WITH ???? NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS!!" aivide the prequel does set up some of her ingame stuff to a very limited extent, but the story has to be able to work without that.

so i guess tl;dr i have not ever troubled myself overmuch with the fate of justay cowboy in the process of writing aivide the prequel, because i have approached it with the mindset that the only Truly Established texts i'm working from are vinbre the novel, which immediately precedes it, and the aivide characterization-relevant plans i've discussed that i feel very confident about the large-scale stability of. vinbre and aivide's stories as published are compelling stories as the novels they are, with or without the greater context. the materiality of the world that esther and julia established and i worked from in aivide with their help really helps with that. so i guess the answer is that aivide the prequel is not set-up for anything except for the things i'm completely confident about or have discussed with friends as relevance dictates, and it does not directly build on anything except for vinbre, which is now published and complete. and really good.

[andsewingishalfthebattle]

Novice sewing pattern: Cut out shapes. Line up the little triangles on the edges. Stitch edges together. We've also included step-by-step assembly instructions with illustrations.

Novice knitting pattern: yOU MUSt uNDerstANd thE SECret cOdE CO67 (73, 87, 93) BO44 (63, 76, 90) 28 (32, 34) slip first pw repeat 7x K to end *kl (pl) 42 * until 13" (13, 13, 15) join new at 30 pl for 17 rows ssk 27 k2tog mattress lengthwise BO and sacrifice a goat to the knitting gods. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT "INSTRUCTIONS," I JUST GAVE THEM TO YOU

[rearviewghost]

one thing that really fascinates me about alex is his devotion to art – and more specifically, how he chooses to get some inspiration from scientific works of what he aims to implement in his art. every time one gets to examine some of his lyrics, or even how he explains these lyrics in an interview, they can be greeted by some bits of actual scientific information. an example is how he named his taquería on the moon with the term “information-action ratio”, coined by the critic neil postman, and referenced it in the song four out of five, something that might also indicate an interesting articulation with postman's concept. the line “cute new places keep on popping up”, for example, can express his well-known sardonic discontent regarding the flood of information being generated and transmitted over and over and, as much as it seems visually appealing and does give the idea of benefiting from advanced technologies, it doesn't really add anything substantial to the receiver's critical thinking – and worse, it distances the information receiver from the sender in a communication channel, according to postman.

what i'm saying with this interpretation is, it's known that alex is enamoured with the idea of gathering a bunch of references and condensing them into a mixture of metaphors in his writing, but it's so thrilling how, at times, we can find some bits of science inside of it – and it's even more exciting, just like playing a puzzle game, to find these references and analyse them by doing a similar research to what he did to create his works.

[hopeswriting]

was thinking about takeshi and how he's my favorite brand of unconditional devotion btw. the utter and absolute and all-consuming kind that runs so deep to the very core and is so intrinsic and fundamental to it, it can only express itself in the most casual and natural and certain way. without second thoughts, without any room for doubts or for any moral dilemma to be had over it, because of course he ought to always be breathing and living for his chosen person first and foremost. of course he ought to hang on their every word and make them true no matter what, no matter what he has to do to make it happen, no matter what he has to do to other people to make it happen, and no matter what it might turn him into in the process. because it's obviously the way the world should be for his chosen person. at their feet, ready to bend over backwards and break and build itself again to better answer to all their needs even if they don't ask it for it. it's the only right way it should be for them, and of course takeshi's going to do his utmost at all times to make it a reality as much as possible.

and his devotion comes out as naturally as breathing, comes out lighthearted and nonchalant like he might as well be talking about the weather, but it's not unaware of itself. it's not that takeshi doesn't know it's unhealthy and wrong and that he's willing to go entirely too far in its name for anyone's good. it's not that he wouldn't hear you out if you were to sit him down and explain to him just why he needs to tone it down a little (a lot). logically, he'd agree with you and know you're right. and then he'd tell you he's still not going to do anything whatsoever about it. that he's not bothered by it and doesn't feel the need to change anything to his attitude. makes it a point to never let anyone or anything sway him even an inch in the stand he took when it comes to that, no matter how many thousand of times you might go over the subject with him.

because the morality of his devotion isn't the point at all. is entirely irrelevant to it and doesn't affect the way he expresses it all. it's not the metric with which he draws a line in the sand to hold it accountable to. because the thing is, takeshi's entire world revolves around tsuna--tsuna is his entire world altogether, and it's just a matter of fact, that simple. to him it's a truth as unchanging as the sky being blue, and so being the way he is according to that truth is the only way he can imagine being that'd feel right to him. and so the actual and only metric that matters here is "would tsuna be happier if i were to do this?" and/or "is this something tsuna needs me to do?"

and like. i don't think takeshi ever stops being a kind person capable of compassion and understanding and mercy and forgiveness even ten years later once they became mafia through and through. and i don't think either he grows up to be feared and called a monster per se despite the things they inevitably had to do during those ten years (and the things they'll inevitably keep having to do as long as they keep being mafia), at least not in the way, for example, they'll never stop fearing and calling mukuro one. but i do think that among the tenth gen, he ends up being the one with the most ruthless, merciless and horrific blood on his hands of that particular and distinct loving kind. you know the one i mean, right? he comes to be the one most expected and the one first expected to be willing and to take it upon himself to go through with it when the need arises. and to think little of it after, if anything at all. all in the name of making tsuna's reign as easy on him as possible.

and it's to the point where it's the kind of blood that makes even mukuro pause at times. or, when takeshi is the one coming up with solutions himself during meetings, makes even reborn blink. not because it's unjustified or wouldn't be safe or efficient or anything of the sort, but because it is unwarrantedly thorough in its retaliation. and sometimes, at times like this, he's the one tsuna needs to step in for the most, because he's the only one who can reason with him that "yes, this would work in getting rid of our problem" but "no, please, don't do that takeshi". because if tsuna is the only thing that infers on just how much and in what ways he'll let himself be devoted to him, then of course, he's also the only one takeshi's willing to reign himself in for without second thoughts. because he'd hate to ever do something tsuna would disapprove of or wouldn't want him to do. or do something that'd make tsuna see him differently or love him back less even in the slightest.

and it's also like. his devotion isn't an undisciplined one. it's not one he doesn't have control over, the very opposite. it's a very purposeful and conscious choice he chooses to keep making over and over again every step of the way, and he taught himself to have control over it, to know when it's needed and/or wanted, and how much and in which ways it is when it happens, and to keep it down otherwise. and, yes, to also reign it back in at tsuna's request at times when it still slips past his control. because it's all about making tsuna's happiness easier and secure and long-lasting, and never about burdening him with just how committed he is to do that.

so it comes down to this: takeshi willing to go above and beyond and more for tsuna unless tsuna explicitly asks him not to. and to tsuna needing to ask him not to every now and then. and to other people pointing out to him how too many times tsuna's already needed to stop him, and that maybe there's a hint for him to take there. and to takeshi seeing the hint, looking it straight in the eye and recognizing it for what it is and just. deciding it doesn't apply to him because it's all perfectly normal behavior to him. because it's the only kind of behavior that makes sense to him and feels right.

and so—to circle back to my first point—he can only express his devotion as naturally as breathing, so casually, almost like it's something inconsequential and not worth talking about despite how unmistakably it couldn't be further away from being the truth. it's the only way he could have always known how to express it, because, after all, who has ever taken time to ponder about the details and the hows of the way they breathe?

and i, for one, absolutely eat that shit up every time, thanks for coming to my ted talk <3

[doehoney]

Nothing in television bothers me more than how the criminal minds writers handled Reid’s opioid addiction in the sense that they just didn’t handle it at all

[invisibleintrovertartist]

Random Neon J gijinka doodle dump from my old sketchbook. I might post newer ones if I can gather the courage to do so. Anyway, *disappears.

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

it does something incomprehensible to my little writer’s soul whenever alex articulates a phenomenon of the writing process i’ve always picked up on and then goes on to describe it in exactly the same way

[bloos-bloo]

Remember that mushroom goddess I drew a while back? Yeah- this is her. She’s a moth now :D

MAEVE- MY BABY GIRLLL- I’m sorry if this looks so plain :’D I cannot get myself to draw my own shit lmaoo- BUT my bishop of is finally done!

Maeve is kinda from the idea of the mushroom that controls Sozo being a deity. She’s basically the reason why her followers and potential followers have such dark desires and urges. She uses her crown to empathize and use their urges to aid her. A follower wants to be able to forget their past? She gets rid of it and replaces it with something else. Which is how Sozo (at least in my AU) finds the mushroom. Maeve led him to it, promising his pains away with the shrooms.

Now, the mark on her forehead. A heart, all her followers were stamped with her mark once they joined her cult or were helped by her. (It’s an ego thing with her) My version of Sozo has this mark, and that mark isn’t past down genetically. It could only be given by Maeve.

Those who know my sozura fanchild, Aster. She also bears the heart. Unfortunately, I can’t say why cause of spoils for future fics I have planned. But I’ll leave this crappy doodle I did :D

[lapinposts]

how it feels to read people on this site criticize death of the outsider

[lycoris-artcorner]

I'll forever be frustrated about Skids plotline

(demonstrated through MTMTE and Lost Light panels)

Nautica became that someone for Skids, Amica Endurae who saw him for his kindness, she changed him for better

Then Lost Light basically applied that Nautica betrayed Skids and pointed out that she acted out of character

And it's all while we could have had completely adequate satisfying ending for his story arc (in MTMTE notebooks)

I'm sorry I can't take that anymore all stuff that happened was completely unnecessary to begin with ughhh WHY

[theusernameiwantisntavailable]

Persona 5/ Persona 5 royal spoilers ahead!

Okay so I did this WIP a while back that I discontinued but I'm still going insane about the meaning of it and also the symbolism of masks in this game and also akeshu parrallels so I need to Yap abt them

Yap session under the cut!

The symbolism of masks in this game drives my so batshit insane actually. Like. So often we see in media that people are finally free when they take their mask off (both metaphorically and literally) but in this game we see people's true forms when they put one ON.

Like the palaces are where we see people's true faces and desires. It's the place where no one can hide who they are. And yet it's one one place where you wear a physical mask and disguise and have to conceal who you are.

I could (and will at some point) write an entire essay about that but rn it's akeshu hours

Because Joker is arguably the best example of that, he becomes alive in the palaces, where his face his hidden. It's his freedom

Versus Akechi

The first time we see Akechi show his true form to Joker (and the player) is in what is percieved at the time as the real world. The entire time we work together in the palace, the place that shows who you are despite the mask you wear he hides who he is. It's only in the gritty real world that he reveals himself.

Joker in the real world is perceived (at least by people outside of his circle) as closed off and someone to be cautious around, he has a criminal record so he could be dangerous. The exact opposite of how he is in palaces, the centre of the team and a flame people are drawn towards

VERSUS AKECHI

In the real world he is a celebrity, he is loved, people are drawn to him. But in palaces he's cold and heartless, his words are cutting and he cares for no one, not hesitating to kill to achieve his goal

Opposites in every sense

THE ABSOLUTE PARALLELS IT DRIVES ME INSANEASHBANANSJAKSS

They were both ruined by the same man. They both ended up in their current predicament because of said man. They both had the potential to weild multiple personas. They both have the capability to lead. They are the exact same and yet the exact opposite

They don't need to lie awake at night and wonder what would they be like if their life had turned out slightly differently. They don't need to because they have each other. EVERYTIME THEY GO INTO A PALACE THEY SEE WHO THEY COULD'VE BEEN, THEY FIGHT WITH THAT PERSON SIDE BY SIDE EVERY NIGHT I'M GOING MAD

[sarellathesphinx]

My biggest character flaw is that every time I see something about abt Cait being just a robot without his own personality, I can’t help writing a tag novel about how much I refuse to accept it

[saturnaftertaste]

something very interesting to me about miguel o’hara as a character is that like all of his actions, like the rest of the spiders, are based in good intentions. like there’s a lot of capital V villains out there who are working towards the Greater Good but as a smokescreen for their own Evil Desires For Power. but the thing about miguel is that he genuinely, one THOUSAND percent, believes he is trying to save every universe. the thing about trying to understand why a universe is collapsing based on empirical evidence is really fucking hard because you can’t keep collapsing universes to check out which factor triggered it this time. he wanted a family so he tried to have one, but it DESTROYED AN ENTIRE UNIVERSE. of course he believes that because he didn’t stick to his canon events he disintegrated his daughter out of existence (— even though this doesn’t fully make sense, because why would his own canon events have an impact on a different universe? — unless he simultaneously took over as spider-man on his alt-family’s earth and which fucked up the spider-timeline on that earth? but it isn’t mentioned…i’m getting off-topic—let’s rewind) what he is trying to do is make sure NOTHING goes wrong ANYWHERE — so like with pavitr’s universe when miles prevented the canon event with gayatri — when it started collapsing, he took that as evidence to mean the canon event shit fucked it up, and not spot. OF COURSE he’s chasing miles and yelling at him and scaring the shit out of him. miguel is genuinely terrified that the entire multiverse will actually collapse if miles (who, by the way, i AGREE WITH) saves his dad. he’s fucking crazy, but the feral behaviour comes not from some fucked up psyche or deep-seated villainous tendencies. dude is actually terrified that everything and everyone he knows will suffer and disintegrate into actual nothingness and he’s doing the only thing he can to prevent it. if he wrong? YES. but he’s genuinely trying his best like this a man who tried to be happy and was told that The Universe Does Not Agree. so if he as the holder of the spider-mantle has to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of the world he was to protect it’s not difficult to see why the canon-event theory makes more sense to him than anything else. if any of the other spiders try to be selfish, like he was, their universes will be gone. in a way i think he truly believes he’s doing all the other spiders a favor — maybe they have to watch someone they love die, but they don’t have watch ALL the someones they live die. and we know this man has nothing else to live for so if you came up to him and said hey actually there was nothing you could’ve done to prevent the total annihilation of the universe where you were happy other than by never being happy in the first place, ofc he’s gonna go crazy. if miles is right about having both cakes — and he is, gwen realised that canon events can be avoided safely — that means that miguel could never have done anything other than NOT go to the universe that collapsed. he had to stay in his lane and NOT universe jump. miguel’s story is lose-lose and if miles is right, then he just has to accept that

[moon-blanket]

Two posts in one day !!! And Milo's back !!! :')

Milo's yellow is Such a good shade by the way.

Oh no, is the CloseKnit case not reopening after everything at the Summit ? DUMP come ON dude. LET EM HAVE IT MILO !!

Him reassuring Sweetheart that they are a good person and that his rant wasn't directed towards them. How he's concerned how their job cares so little for them, while they're trying to actually do good with what they have.

Milo worried about Sweetheart, because he saw what that kind of stress did to his dad (though he makes it perfectly clear that his choices in handling that were of his own accord). :(( It's a hard job, on all fronts. With very little reprieve. But Sweetheart wants to help people, not gain power-- but that kindness can be taken advantage of in a million different ways.

And he's right ! It is dangerous ! No access to proper resources when one's life is constantly put on the line is Not very healthy !!

But above all the worry, he still respects their choices-- even if it's to dive into the deep end. He just wants his partner to be Okay. Safe. Supported in what they believe. :((

Their Hug :(( The nervous exhales, ourugh i'm Not okay.

They're not going all-in yet ! Thankfully ! More associates of CloseKnit. These roots are spreading out wide huh.

That "Hey. I love you." RAAAAAH. And he clears up that it isn't a guilt-trip at all, but he wanted to let them know how it affects them-- and he always wants to be Honest with them. :'))) I'm going Nuts. Forever.

And then they go make Dinner together :') what if i just Cry. I love those two so much.

[a-nice-egg-offering]

I just know they’re gonna make macdennis canon and it’s going to rly piss me off when they do lol. It doesn’t make sense with every piece of character and world building they’ve done but as the years go on they’ve started to lean into what the fans want rather than their original vision so I won’t be in the least bit surprised it’ll just be disappointing

Had this in the tags but I want it apart of the post actually

[19871997]

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