#the idea of marrying or being in a relationship is extra cute and compelling because you would basically be teaching them how to love

[hyacinth43]

Your Hal is amazing. I would give anything to marry him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It won't be a stylish marriage, he can't afford a carriage :[ but you'd look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two :D

Real answer: I don't think any of the bots would fully understand human marriage/the concept of dedicating yourself to one person, beyond what they've seen in movies, books, etc. But if you formed a very close bond with Hal, he would be open to letting you teach him <3

[ramblingaboutglee]

As a non-Klaine fan I’m just curious, why do you think they work well together?

I think it depends on the season you're asking about - it feels like klaine never really have a set dynamic, and charting that course is part of what makes them interesting to me.

In season 2, realistically speaking the plot was "The only other gay kid they know that's not kinda a jerk," and it was a cute first love dynamic, but half the drama in S2 was the fact they didn't really know one another at all. It's not, at that point, the bedrock of any long-lasting relationship.

So for me, it's interesting to see how they shift? Like, honestly to begin with, they seem to like the idea of the other more than the reality. Which, it happens - you've got Blaine trying to be more mature and wise than he actually is, Kurt clearly buying it, etc. Then Blaine's uncertainties rear their head in a way no one's ready for, and they have a lot of adjustments to make. And then, four/five years later, they're married.

So that development, honestly, is a compelling one to me.

I've rambled about this before - when it comes to Glee, I feel like most of the early-season ships were never viewed by the writers as epic love stories for the ages, but rather as temporary relationships that would likely end with graduation. From that perspective, there are kind of two iterations of Klaine to talk about. Pre S4's break-up, and post.

Before, they were a mess. Neither of them knew how a relationship really worked, both of them struggled to act sensibly, both of them could be dumbasses at points, and honestly it's generally endearing - they're navigating unfamiliar waters, with the extra dose of queerness thrown in meaning they're much more on their own. I think it's a good journey for both of them individually, though Klaine was more a vehicle for the two of them than something with its own life.

(In-show anyway. Hard to deny the real life impact)

Then we have the break-up, and ooh I really want to ramble that episode at some point. The short version is, for Klaine, Blaine switched schools for Kurt, Kurt graduated, and he's left alone without most of his old friends. he's isolated, Kurt's distracted and struggling to relate while dealing with adult life drama, Blaine messes up. (Which, I am so curious to figure out the fandom view of that. I have one friend who mentioned she thought it was OoC because she viewed Blaine as someone who needed an emotional connection, while to me he'd always seemed more sexual, so idk. I think Glee definitely runs into fanon taking on a life of its own which makes untangling everything trickier)

If we fast forward to when Klaine end up together again, it makes for an interesting contrast. By that point, Kurt is much more sure of who he is, and presumably Blaine is as well, if to a lesser degree. They always had a vague 'first crush' thing, but for me it is this point where Klaine start being a relationship that functions well as, like, a relationship as opposed to just mutual character growth. They chafe, a ghost of their old 'Sometimes they, Blaine especially, focus on an idea and misses the reality' (which is suchhh a throughline to so many people on Glee) but they're much better at working through it.

Even then, it's not perfect, but even what we see of the break-up seems to be handled much better by them compared to S4.

And then there's the terrifying Sue robot. Ah, Glee.

All that to say - for me, Kurt and Blaine individually are good characters. Kurt, the quieter gay kid growing in confidence over years, and Blaine the optimist and daydreamer who sometimes spirals out when things inevitably don't go to plan. Kurt makes for an interesting counterpoint - to begin with, he's the one who almost looks up to Blaine, only to find out that most of Blaine's confidence is an act. It's a relationship where they both draw one another into unexpected territory, good and bad, and have to work out how to navigate it. If nothing else, Klaine is something that pushes both of them forwards.

I don't necessarily view it as the be-all and end-all of ships, I don't think it's the most compelling dynamic in the show, nor necessarily the sweetest - though they do have cute moments - but it's a relationship that helps draw out two characters, and gets rooted in surprisingly grounded drama of two people in a relationships learning to, well, share space. Especially in late S5, that serves to play off of Blaine's tendency to romanticise, and then Kurt's inherent defensiveness, so they end up as a ship that definitely have things to overcome. But then, that is part of what can make a dynamic interesting.

No idea if I put my view well but hey, you ask this blog a question and you get a ramble I guess.

[hopeymchope]

Final (?) Muv-Luv Thoughts

- God, Muv-Luv Alternative was really incredible and made the entire experience well worth the price of admission for me...

- That epilogue was deeply unsatisfying on multiple levels, though. Could’ve been so much better with just a couple of changes. 

- They never did use the term “Muv-Luv” or explain the title “Muv-Luv” whatsoever in any of the three visual novels. Wtf lol???

- I originally only played the two main endings (Sumika and Meiya) of Muv-Luv Extra. And they were both pretty good! However, completing Alternative actually convinced me to go back and get all of the other girls’ endings to Extra. And boy, they are UNsatisfying! 

Now, without further adieu, here are my impressions of each girl’s romance route.

Sumika Kagami here is the absolute queen of the girls here. One of the two “central” love interests, she is easily best Muv-Luv girl. Sumika is the childhood friend who has always loved our protagonist for his underlying, well-hidden kindness. She’s not book-smart (though neither is the protag), but she’s surprisingly emotionally intelligent and insightful. She does everything she can for a guy who blatantly doesn’t appreciate her. Yet... even though her and the protag physically abuse and insult each other CONSTANTLY, somehow the scenes of them getting together are incredibly touching and heartfelt. MUV-LUV MATH: Protag does not deserve Sumika, but no one else would make Sumika happy, and Sumika deserves to be happy. Therefore, Sumika absolutely deserves Protag (in spite of the fact that Protag deserves to be found face-down in a drainage pipe).

Behold purple-haired Meiya Mitsurugi, the source of all the drama. She’s the other of the “central” love interests, an ultra-wealthy heiress who is ignorant in the ways of the “common” world and who just throws herself at the protag. The story starts with the protag waking up in bed next to her because she broke into his house, stripped down, and got in bed with him; it’s LIKE THAT. She’s absolutely convinced that they’re destined to be married, and it takes most of the game to learn why she’d want to be with this useless tool. But if they get together, it’s actually pretty cute and sweet. I can’t imagine that Protag would adapt well to the lifestyle that comes with being in a long-term relationship with Meiya, though. And it leaves Sumika just devastated to where she’ll never see the protagonist ever again, so... can’t be having THAT.

The Kei Ayamine route at least gives you more background on the mysterious, acerbic girl that is constantly off alone... but it ultimately doesn’t feel like it makes sense that they’d fall for each other via the brief, minimal interactions they have. What is their emotional connection? By the end, Protag admits he still can’t comprehend her words or behavior. What kind of relationship is that? Furthermore, the great lost love of her life shows up and is willing to give up EVERYTHING to be with her again; if she should choose anyone, it’s clearly the person she never got over who would put his entire life on the line for her. At least this route gives you more background on Ayamine and a certain important player in Alternative... but man, I don’t like the central relationship at all here. Still, this is the best of the “Other” girls, perhaps in part because Ayamine usually has funny dialogue, and the backstory it reveals is compelling.

Chizuru Sakaki’s route is totally crap. She’s the uptight “Class Rep” character who is usually bossy and emotionally closed off. The romance is based strongly in the idea that “no means yes” and that if someone tells you to get away from them or never speak to them again or to mind your own fucking business, you should keep pursuing them and talking to their loved ones to learn about them behind their back and keep on literally chasing them, etc etc. So that’s awful, and it made me want to see the Protag beaten up even more than I already did. Furthermore, it raises a ton of questions about how Sakaki could possibly be the same person in the Unlimited/Alternative timeline, because her background here is obviously radically distinct from that one... could she even be BORN in another timeline with her parents being so different? Ugh. This is the Actual Worst.

Romancing Miki “Tama” Tamase is inherently creepy because she’s the loli girl and it makes the protagonist seem kinda pedo so, ew. She doesn’t really have much personality beyond practicing archery and acting like a child. Again: CREEPY. Like all three of the “other” girls, it never makes sense why the protagonist would develop serious feelings for her based on what we’re shown. They at least TRY to justify it a bit in the writing, though, which is more than they did for Ayamine and Sakaki. This route gives us a couple of funny scenes, I suppose. Overall, though, it’s yet another miss for the “also-rans” of the cast. 

There are also a couple of “Normal” endings (???) that apparently have the protagonist wind up with no one, which is precisely what he deserves. So I might have to try those... or I might not. I dunno.

[itsybitsylemonsqueezy]

ANGST KAZUMAJI ANON AND WOOF. FUCK. GOTTA LISTEN TO THOSE SONGS AFTER WORK. EXCITED. Your idea though OW. I haven't seen Y6 yet (I watch playthroughs don't have the console and my computer laughs at me trying to run the games) the streamer thats playing it finally got to Y6 and I am Refusing To Watch It. My heart can't take even starting the VOD.

You’re welcome for the music cc: 

A LOT of people haven’t seen 6 yet, so I did my best to get through that without spoilers ^^; Hope I haven’t ruined anything for you. And I feel that, my laptop and I have constant arguments and I’m not a good gamer anyway ^^; I should try Kiwami 1 someday though... I have it, I'm just Nervous about Being Bad ^^; 

Nice, following one streamer, well done c: I just hopped around to different playthroughs on youtube ^^; My wife and I binged all 7 games in I think 2 months, max. ^^; She crazy tho and a bad influence on me xp She likes to just sit and binge things and I am, understandably, weak for my wife <3 

6 isn’t so bad, I promise. You can do it c: It’s very pretty, you get to stare at Kiryu’s juicy ass the entire game, there’s lots of cute minigames of Kiryu with a baby, uh... *running out of nice things to say about 6* ...did I mention it’s very pretty? Fuck... Listen, I have... Feelings about game 6, but I don’t want to ruin it for anyone ^^; Everyone’s allowed to experience things in their own time and form their own opinions and I don’t want to deprive anyone of that. Please watch it and when you see it, feel free to come tell me about it c: 

And as a reward for all that, another angsty idea: 

The Nishikiyama Opera! 

So I composed the entire thing on a car ride with my wife last week and it’s WILD. Y’all ever see opera? If you’ve never seen an opera you SHOULD, they’re fucking Great. Operas are all about being The Most, comedy or tragedy, they’re all horny as shit and everyone is extra as fuck. If you living for the drama, you HAVE to get your ass to an opera. I’m lucky enough to live somewhere with a relatively robust opera community. And anyway, my point is, The Nishikiyama story? RIPE for an opera adaptation! 

First, you gotta know some of the opera tropes. There are two categories of opera, comedies which are kinda rare and tragedies which is... constantly. And operas are pretty good at telling you almost immediately which one they will be. There’s also a lot of meta about the voice parts themselves: 

Soprano - heroine, ingenue, beautiful. Will win if this is a comedy, will die if this is a tragedy. 

Alto - mothers & witches. Not the heroine. Will probably die regardless of comedy or tragedy. Unless she’s the villain, then she lives in a tragedy. 

Tenor - hero. Given the sexiest parts to sing. Sometimes unbearable. Everything is about Him. 

Baritone/Bass - fathers & villains. Gorgeous voice, never utilized properly. 

Knowing the vocal parts and what they classically represent is key to knowing who will win and who will die in the opera. For example, in Carmen, Carmen is actually an alto, not a soprano, and Don Jose is a tenor. This immediately tells you that shit’s fucked. Tenors are supposed to fall in love with sopranos, never altos. So this story can only end in tragedy because he’s interested in the wrong kind of voice part. There’s even a counterpoint of a soprano who is madly in love with him, and the baritone toreador for Carmen. They’re given their proper voice partners, but Don Jose still pursues Carmen which is a ginormous mistake by operatic tropes. 

So, opera education over, picture this: 

ACT I  Kiryu (soprano) is the loveliest yakuza in all the land! He’s just delightful. The Chorus sings his praises and he demonstrates his impeccable fighting ability. (Forgot to mention, any opera worth its salt has a Chorus and I will die on this hill.) The Audience is assured of his might and grace. 

Kiryu, obviously, does not want for admirers, but has not chosen to court anyone formally. 

Here enters Kiryu’s brother, Nishiki (bass). The Chorus explains that Nishiki is second to his brother in strength, but is formidable in his own right. Nishiki explains to the audience how he longs for Kiryu, how he covets him, his strength, his beauty. How after a lifetime together, affection has turned to love. Nishiki must have him. 

Kiryu hears none of this. Nishiki approaches to make his case when Majima (tenor) sweeps onto the scene. Majima is brazen and glib. The Chorus tells us to beware his charming smile, he is as dangerous as he is flirtatious. Majima has heard of Kiryu’s reputation and calls him into the street to defend his title. Kiryu responds and they do battle. 

In the midst of the battle, Majima finds himself won over by Kiryu’s skill and grace, his kindness and strength. Majima is bursting with love and there and then makes a proposal to Kiryu, offering his whole heart. 

Kiryu is stunned. Majima is not a weak fighter, he is not a braggadocio, despite appearances. He was a real challenge and Kiryu was not expecting the fight to take this turn. He is so surprised he cannot make an answer and politely, but quickly, leaves. 

Nishiki has been watching the entire time and finds his heart gripped by jealousy. He plots to claim Kiryu for himself and hates Majima bitterly, despite the fact that Kiryu has given no answer. Nishiki believes he knows his brother too well not to know that Kiryu returns his affections even if he won’t say. Nishiki leaves, concocting a plan. 

We find Kiryu at his balcony, lamenting his situation. Majima may have been exciting, but Kiryu’s no fool. He has no proof that Majima’s feelings will not waver in time. Majima steals into the garden beneath Kiryu’s balcony and professes his love once more. 

Kiryu is startled and makes to flee, but Majima sings so sweetly, entreats so gently, that Kiryu is compelled to stay. Majima doesn’t even ask again, just sings of his feelings. Kiryu, in his heart, is wooed by this. He may have been ready to answer when Nishiki interrupts. Majima quickly hides in the foliage. 

Nishiki counters with his own confession, his own proposal. Kiryu is shocked and saddened. He begins to sadly tell his brother that he cannot accept. Nishiki flies into a rage, demanding if there is someone else, someone else Kiryu prefers. Kiryu hesitates, but answers honestly that he has always seen Nishiki as a brother, regardless of any other feelings. He cannot accept Nishiki on the grounds of their previous relationship. 

Nishiki was expecting this. He reveals a vial of poison and threatens to drink it unless Kiryu will marry him. Majima gasps. Kiryu pleads with Nishiki not to be rash, but Nishiki only demands his answer, the vial nearly at his lips. 

Kiryu swallows back tears and collapses to his knees. Sorrowfully, he agrees, unable to bear the responsibility of his brother’s death, and the act finishes to the sound of clamoring wedding bells. 

ACT II The lights come up on Kiryu and Nishiki in their home. Nishiki is pacing the floor and making increasingly outlandish suggestions for things to do. Kiryu says yes to all of them, gently and politely. Nishiki’s frustration and annoyance increases with every yes. Eventually he snaps at Kiryu, demanding why he won’t fight him, demanding why he will give no more reaction than a placid yes. Kiryu shrugs helplessly and tries to soothe his brother, but Nishiki won’t be soothed. 

They have been married less than a year and it has been like this the entire time, getting worse by the day. Nishiki can see the pain he’s causing his brother, but can’t stop himself. He loves him too greedily to stop. He departs, hoping to take his mind off things. 

Kiryu is left alone in the house and sings a longer, sadder version of his lament from the balcony. Distantly, we hear strains of Majima’s love song, now broken and echoing. 

The scene changes and we see Kiryu sat down in a busy cafe. At first we assume he’s alone, but people move and we can see he is sitting across from Majima. They do not touch. Their careful, polite space around each other is conspicuous. 

Kiryu is tired, he looks wan, almost sick. Majima sings heartbrokenly, telling Kiryu he needs to take care of himself. He is desperate to take Kiryu away from all this, and asks several times, but Kiryu always sighs and shakes his head no. Majima knows Kiryu will not break his word once given, he is too good and honorable for that. But he cannot help singing for him all the same. He cannot touch, he will not permit himself to touch, but he can sing. 

Kiryu eventually cannot take the heartache anymore and departs sorrowfully. Majima looks after him, just as sad. Nishiki is revealed to have been spying on them the entire time. He confronts Majima, furious and accusatory. He insists that he and Kiryu have been having an affair. Majima simply looks at him and shrugs. Nishiki screams for Majima to admit it, to admit that Kiryu loves him, has always loved him, this whole time. Majima only says that Nishiki knows Kiryu best. He will not confirm or deny anything Nishiki says. Shaken and stymied, Nishiki flees. 

We return to Kiryu’s balcony, where he sits, silent and pale. Nishiki storms in and begins to berate Kiryu with his accusations. He is half-mad now, not seeming to hear Kiryu’s denials. Kiryu professes over and over that only Nishiki is his husband, that he loves only Nishiki. Nishiki cannot accept this as true. Nishiki screams that Kiryu ought to ask him for a divorce. Kiryu cannot claim to want a divorce. He gave his word. Nishiki reveals that he had been watching them in the cafe, that he knows all, the secret contents of Kiryu’s heart. Kiryu manages some resistance at last and asks Nishiki for proof. What proof of his indiscretions? What proof of adultery? What has Kiryu done that has angered his husband-brother so? 

Nishiki has none. Kiryu has not done anything wrong, not in word, not in act. Whatever thoughts he might accuse Kiryu of having are ephemeral and will never be real. Still... Nishiki saw how they looked together and his heart was sore. He knows he has stolen Kiryu from what was rightfully his. Moved to regret, Nishiki withdraws the vial of poison again. 

Kiryu gasps and tries to prevent his brother. 

Nishiki swallows the poison quickly, insisting this will set things right, this will free his brother. He says he did it for love. He falls. 

Kiryu collapses next to him, sobbing. 

The final scene is Nishiki’s funeral. Kiryu kneels next to his brother’s grave, all in black. He sings of his regrets, of his sorrow. Majima stands close by, but still not touching. He does not look at the grave, only at Kiryu. His broken love song is the last thing we hear. 

The End. 

...this opera was a tragedy ^^; 

[botslayer]

Octodad: Not-so-dark theory

From top to bottom, Octodad looks like a fairly innocent game, A simple story about an Octopus trying to survive in suburbia. But, through subtle hints and references, and inconsistencies with that premise, it is revealed that Octodad is no mere cephalopod. He is, in fact, something far more horrifying, on paper at least... What do I mean?

Octodad is not, in truth, an Octopus, He's a Cthulhi. For those not familiar with the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Cthulhi are also called "The Starspawn of Cthulhu" and "Xothians," and are a race that looks like Cthulhu who's true origins, as with everything in the Cthulhu mythos, are debatable and vague as sin, the only things known for a fact are that they look like Cthulhu (Or, in their first appearance, like Octopi), worship him, followed him from their home dimension/universe into ours, and then perished en masse while what remained of them went into a death-like sleep, same as Cthulhu.

Now, Star Spawn aren't often seen in the works of Lovecraft, but they do have a sliver of popularity in the fandom. Not as big (in the popularity sense) as Deep Ones, but not as unknown as the humble Penguins of Leng. Now, again, it's worth noting that common interpretations of Star Spawn are basically baby Cthulhus, just tiny versions of their dark and malevolent master, but to start with, they were described as "a land race of beings shaped like octopi and probably corresponding to the fabulous pre-human spawn of Cthulhu," in the story "At the Mountains of Madness." 

Octodad highly RESEMBLES an octopus, but with some interesting tweaks. Namely: His eyes, two of his Tentacles, and something we'll talk about in just a minute. But let's talk about Octodad's anatomy when compared to another octopus, namely, the one in the "Wold of kelp" at the Aquarium.

Now, this is Octopus is a giant, climbable sculpture one might see at a water park, so in a technical sense, some liberties could have been taken with its anatomy, but it looks semi-accurate to real octopi, down to the slit-like pupils and the tentacles all being at roughly the same spot despite them spreading out for kids to climb on. Now, if you pay attention, a patron of the Aquarium will note that the "World of kelp" was something else before it was the world of kelp, though they THINK it was "Squids or something" before. Based on how the section played out, I have to believe the whole affair was either cephalopods in general given how many bases of just kelp they went over, or just Octopi because HOLY CRAP there are lots of octopi out there. Failing that, I don't think the statue was a squid to begin with, the eyes are far too forward on the head, what can be seen of the tentacles makes them all look the same, and most species of squid have circular pupils and irises, not slits/rectangles. 

Octodad, in contrast to the sculpture, has vertically ovular pupils, far rounder than the slits on the larger statue, on top of that, his eyes take up a slightly larger portion of his head. Then we take a look at Octodad's tentacles, namely the two that form his mustache. These two tentacles are set away from the other six in a way that makes no real anatomical sense for an octopus. Not to mention that the two are preposterously shorter than the others, it's less like another pair of tendrils and more like a strange growth coming out of the middle of his head. Moving on from that, there's also a certain disparity with his other limbs, his "arms" are shorter than his "legs" when he stands, however, when he enters water, his limbs, save for his mustache, are all of equal length, this strange effect carries over to when he's buck-ass naked, so no, he isn't just scrunching two up while he's in the suit... Speaking of naked octodad:

What the hell is that THING in the midst of his tentacles? It's a lighter color than the others, he's still using two tentacles per leg, one per arm, and his mustache is basically vestigial. Octodad's anatomy makes no fucking sense unless you consider the idea that he has some level of shapeshifting power... and wouldn't you know it, Cthulhi have just that. To what end is a little shakey, as with most things in the Lovecraft universe, but still.

Also worth noting is the church Octodad got married at, a Church dedicated, at least partly, to Cthulhu himself. Now, we only see one window with any kind of figure on it, Cthulhu, wereas the others are all decked out with a strange symbol, as are a few paintings lining the walls of it. These paintings may be of religious significance to the practitioners of this particular faith, but a lot of it looks like some minimalist "If you get it you get it" kind of stuff, and then one is literally a crayon drawing of a child with a smiling balloon. The last vaguely Lovecraftian thing in the church is the treasure chest Octodad gets his wife's ring from, all the coins within have a squid/cuttlefish-like creature printed on them, In the story "Shadow over Innsmouth," the people of a town called "Innsmouth" start breeding with fish people. They did it specifically for the undersea gold the fish people (called Deep Ones) give out for the service. Deep Ones worship multiple gods, cheif among them are their great parents, Mother Hydra and Father Dagon, though worship of Cthulhu isn't against their laws or anything. 

The game takes a break from the hints of Eldrich horror while the family is at home, though it is worth noting that we don't REALLY know where Octodad's children came from. Hell, the game makes a joke about it at the end, Tommy asks, plain as day, "If dad's an octopus... Then where did me and Stacy come from?" While his parents laugh the question off, it has a few possible answers: The two of them (Or just Tommy) are leftover from a failed relationship/marriage Scarlet was a part of before Octodad came in, the two (Or just Tommy) are adopted, or, in a manner not dissimilar to deep ones, Cthulhi may just be able to breed with humans in this universe. 

Now, I say Tommy may be adopted/Not Octodad's specifically because Stacy says something concerning in the "Deep sea" exhibit at the Aquarium. She apparently has dreams wherein a deep, dark spot in the ocean seems to call to her. This turns out to be a sea horse ranch. Cute as that is, dreams are a recurrent theme in Lovecraft's work, sometimes compelling people into the service of Great old ones like Gla'aki, for example. Or there was that one story when a guy met Yog-Sothoth, the omniscient and omnipresent god of the universe just because he dreamed that deeply. Also "The Dreamlands" are a place in Lovecraft's fiction. I could keep going down that rabbit hole, but I'm lazy and I think that point is made.

There is also another reference (Possibly) to "Shadow over Innsmouth" and "Dagon" with the character of Chef Fujimoto. Now, Fujimoto himself is not a reference to anything in particular, but his backstory has some Lovecrafty bits. Namely, Fujimoto was once a soldier (Dagon) who cut open a combatant. Instead of human guts, "Piles of fish" were inside. (Shadow over Innsmouth.) This one might be a little more of a stretch but remember that Fujimoto is OBSESSED with Octodad and believes very firmly that there are fish people everywhere. ("Why is everyone fish!?") There are several Lovecraftian stories where the character feels he is being pursued or is surrounded in some way. Call of Cthulhu ends with one of the characters feeling that the cult is gunning for him, partly because some dude looked at him funny, and Dagon ended with the main character fearing that a servent of Dagon was coming up his stairs after him, so he threw himself out a window. The crippling paranoia experienced by Fujimoto is another hint that SOMETHING Eldrich is happening in the universe of Octodad. 

Also worth noting is that a magazine entitled "Inquisitor" can be found at Gervason's, Octodad is on the cover, and they think he's an alien. Which begs the question: Why is it that most humans will let an obviously strange man do things without much concern at all? Hell, there are three lines present in both the main game and one of the extra shorts that imply EVERYONE sees something is wrong with Octodad. And I quote/paraphrase:

"I thought he was a lawyer?" "He's slimy enough to be one."

"Is it just me or did the captain look jigglier than usual?"

"Hmmm, I don't see a blurblerulb on the list." 

These lines imply on some level that people recognize SOMETHING is wrong or different with Octodad but they don't carry the thought far enough to do anything with it... Unless perhaps at a distance, hence that cover of “Inquisitor.” 

Another thing that tends to happen in Lovecraftian horror is the mind not making proper sense of things. For example: Canonically in the mythos, the image of Cthulhu mankind sees, humanoid body, octopus head, draconic wings, etc, is not what he really looks like, it's just our perception of Cthulhu because our minds aren't equipped to comprehend the real deal. Looking too long at just what we can see of Cthulhu will unravel your mind, causing both insanity and death if exposed even longer. I think that's part of Octodad's effect. When he's dressed, the humans around him perceive what their mind makes sense of. He's in a shirt and pants, therefore he is appropriately dressed as a human, therefore their minds SEE a human even if he's not QUITE right. We see, rather obviously, that he doesn't have human hands, he has tentacles with suckers, but Scarlet refers to it as a "Hand" still, this implies she and others see his appendages as hands or feet when he's disguised or doing something "Human enough." Only really undone if he's naked or does too many strange or seemingly malicious things like accidentally smack someone with a bag of doughnuts.

This is why you can get away with randomly dragging things across the floor, their minds are telling them something is a little off, but their ability to perceive might be telling them he's just got a medical condition or something. It's nothing to judge him for, he's just got a disability. 

So at the end of that trail, what are we left with? Octodad as a Xothian/Deep one hybrid? Does that fundamentally change the game's story? Does this mean Octodad is a dark horror from beyond? Does he secretly seek to kill and maim and destroy all the things we hold dear? Will he one day help awaken Cthulhu and usher in the new age of the great old ones? No. See, Octodad, despite his horrifying inspirations, is a benevolent creature. He "blubs with a love for all mankind" in the ending for Dadliest Catch. He still obviously loves and cares for his family, whether they know his secret or not. He's just an alien from another dimension... or at least he has ancestry from another dimension. 

Now, why is that? I've got two little ideas for that: It's an often found interpretation that most of the original writings of Lovecraft focus on the idea that "It is different, therefore it is bad." Xenophobia of an extremely high sort. Mind you, I often find this interpretation lacking, but we can probably discuss that later. I feel Octodad may be a natural extrapolation of the idea that it isn't bad because it's different, in fact, Octodad, despite keeping a secret, is an all-around "good" guy. Upstanding, moral, all that garbage, he just happens to be non-human.  Something supporting this being a running theme is the scene with the Snugglefish. For those who have yet to play Dadliest catch, a section of the game takes place when the power in part of the Aquarium goes partially out. During this event, Octodad and Stacy come upon a large sculpture of a creature called a “Snugglefish.” which is covered by the dark. We shine lights at the supposedly malevolent creature, complete with monstrous teeth and evil red eyes, partially with the intent to “Blind it” despite the fact that its obviously a statue. That whole section up to then is nothing but fumbling in the dark, looking at the strange and some might say “alien” life living in the deep ocean, you can also learn some stuff about them if you pay attention.  The whole thing ends when you fully light up the spots on the statue, revealing it to BE a Snuggle fish as opposed to some giant monster. As a result of revealing this, Stacy’s fears of it go right out and she feels she understands the creature better, as with most things, learning and understanding quiet one’s fears. when we learn what something is, we stop seeing it as an immediate threat is the take away from that section, I think, which is, again, I’d say, a call to Lovecraft's writings and his fear of that which was different and unknown and how it’s so easily thrown out with just a LITTLE understanding.

Another plausible explanation for Octodad’s kindness may be that Octodad is not a Star Spawn of Cthulhu, but of Kthanid. Kthanid is not an original creation of H.P. Lovecraft, but a bloke by the name of "Brian Lumley." Lumley's creation is the brother of Cthulhu, and is considered the main reason Cthulhu is sealed away these days. Kthanid is said to look almost exactly like Cthulhu but to have "Golden eyes that radiate peace." He's a loving, benevolent "Elder God" that wants the best for not just Humanity, but for all things. It would logically follow that if a creature dedicated itself to Kthanid, or was one of his spawn, it would be at least mostly as loving and kind. So, if Octodad, or "blurblerulb" if you prefer, was a purely hypothetical Kthani instead of Cthulhi, his disposition may well fit within the actual mythos.

So, what do y'all think? Does this theory hold water? Or does it sink harder than Cthulhu going back down for a nap?

[theyoilibrary]

Youtuber AU Masterlist

The Bells And The Beats -  nuclearchinchilla

Summary:  In which Leo and Guang-Hong become famous YouTubers, Yuuri and Viktor get married, and large nets are somewhat involved in all this.

Birds of A Feather -  nocturnal_wanderlust

Summary:  Katsuki Yuuri is a 20-year-old dance student at an arts college. He dreams of one day gracing the world stage with his unique dance style. However, he usually holds himself up in his room watching Youtube videos of his favorite dancer, Viktor Nikiforov. When Yuuri gets the opportunity of a lifetime he's not sure how to respond. Follow Yuuri on his journey towards becoming a more confident dancer and winning Viktor's heart.

Break Me Down, Down, Down -  legolifesaver

Summary: Yuri refused to let anyone call his videos “pointless”. He spent too much of his time on them and he wasn’t about to let some asshole question him.orYuri runs a fashion channel, Otabek makes covers, and they both meet in the middle.

Changing Seasons -  Soigne

Summary: Seasons come and go, mostly in the same fashion of obsessions and numerous phases. Nearly all of the greater bit of the population go through these small trifles and continue on with life without a second thought- but not Victor Nikiforov. He has an undying interest in a smaller YouTuber by the name of Katsuki Yuuri, and what makes it even worse, is the fact that he has no idea whatsoever as to why. He doesn't even want anyone to find out about his seeming obsession, and still, he's still watching his YouTube videos at four in the morning when he can't sleep. Better yet- he can't stop watching the younger male's videos with great integrity and character being discovered within himself. Viktor can't find himself becoming bored with whatever is drawing him to the other YouTuber, and he's even becoming concerned for his own mentality at the same time. Of course, there's no real harm, as he would never be able to meet the YouTuber in real life- that is, until he stumbles upon him at PlayList Live, and fangirls like a complete imbecile in front of thousands of his subscribers.Also, the fic in which all of the characters are absolute dorks, and Viktor is too gay and sassy to function.

Collab With Me? -  SindarDragonRider

Summary: After Phichit posts a video of Yuuri watching Viktor Nikiforov's latest video, one thing leads to another and suddenly Viktor's flying to Detroit to do a collaboration with Yuuri.Viktor, of course, is excited to get to know and befriend the beautiful vlogger he saw online and quickly became infatuated with. Yuuri's freaking out because THE Viktor Nikiforov - one of the most successful YouTubers in the world - is talking to him and he has no idea what he's doing (of course, he's secretly just as excited as Viktor himself)aka the YouTube AU where Yuuri's a cinnamon roll and Viktor loves him for it

Cook Cook Fall in Love -  Blackbeyond

Summary: Victor Nikiforov is the most decorated chef in the world.Yuuri is a YouTuber who happens to cook his recipes.There's only so much Victor can resist when there's a cute, Japanese boy complimenting him and correcting him and saying he'd be an amazing teacher.What else is he supposed to do but teach him?

Go for Tech -  HopeCloudsObservation

Summary: Yuuri and friends(?) volunteer as staff at a convention. Yuuri tries his best to keep himself together, but that hasn’t exactly gone well for him before. It’s one thing being manager; managing this department in particular is another challenge entirely.“I’m not sure how I survive it every year to be completely honest.”

Haute -  Watermelonsmellinfellon

Summary: Yuuri is a hot dancer and a dedicated fasionista. He doesn't care what the haters have to say on the matter, he knows it and his subscribers know it. Shockingly, Victor Nikiforov seems to think so as well. And when Victor's attention is focused on Yuuri, life begins to take an interesting twist.Has Victor always been so extra?

Hello World! -  nocturnal_wanderlust

Summary:  Yuuri Katsuki is pushed into creating a YouTube channel by his best friend and roommate, Phichit. Through his channel Yuuri is able to gain a following and the attention of one of his favorite YouTubers.

helpless -   Barricadesatfleetstreet

Summary: The 'they are small Youtubers who just happened to find eachother online' au absolutely no one asked for.

How to save a life -  obtainjh

Summary:  Music AU in which Yuuri is a somewhat known musician who due to family issues had to leave music and focus in his studies but never quite left music and started a YouTube channel that got even more popular the moment Viktor Nikiforov, a reknown musician, watched one of Yuuri's renditions of his songs.

How Would You Feel -  aypreal

Summary:  “I have a feeling that Mr Evil Hamster’s main goal was for me to announce my status quo to the world in guise of having to play an acoustic love song. Anyway, let’s get this over with. This one’s for you baby.”

I love you, my dear -  indianchai

Summary:  Musician au where famous YouTube singer Victor is practically in love with a famous singer/lyricist named Lilith (who has never revealed his true identity to the public). Victor feels compelled to go to Lilith's first show of his world tour (even though he's never met him) and on the flight there, he sits next to this guy named Yuuri, completely oblivious to the fact that Yuuri is his idol, Lilith.

ILYSB -  aypreal

Summary:  The excuse was; the last available flight from Kazakhstan to Moscow was three days before the main show, the 2017 Spring Fashion Week, the next flight was a day after the closing of the season. Someone must have played a joke and somehow misrouted all the planes for the Kazakhstan-Moscow route. Then of course, given that it was crowded for the Moscow Fashion week, all hotels were booked and Yuri was one of the higher staffs under Viktor that doesn’t have any partners nor family members staying with him. So as courtesy for the imported DJ, Yuri was tasked to host the man who will bring the music to Viktor’s schemes. Otabek Altin.

Intertwined -  FutabaYoshioka

Summary:  Phichit is a YouTuber and Yuuri has been harbouring a crush on Viktor for way too long. After Yuuri's poor performance at the Grand Prix Final and the depression that followed him afterwards, Phichit decides it is time to bring them together.

On New Found Determination -  ReccoFanfiction

Summary:  A helpful stranger pointed out the high points of Yuuri's performance at the Grand Prix and it causes a changes throughout Yuuri's life and future.

Polyamory 101 -  Bassarid

Summary:  Based on a prompt by Lorienleylines: "an au where Phichit, Guang Hong, and Leo are all college students, Phichit is a semi-famous youtuber, and he invites Guang Hong and Leo to join him on his channel to answer submitted questions about polyamory. (Established relationship pls)"

Show Some Pinterest! -  Goggles_McGee

Summary: After a devastating defeat at a big cooking competition, Yuuri Katsuki is distraught but his friends come up with a way for him to continue cooking without that much pressure. And it's just a great way to have run and share their interests with others. They start a YouTube channel called: Show Some Pinterest!They find pins on Pinterest to try, like recipes, DIY crafts, and workout plans.Yuuri loves it. He loves the comfort of working with his friends, he loves that he still gets to cook. Sure, he's a but upset that he utterly failed at his favorite competition, not to mention, failed in front of his idol chef. But he tries to put that all behind him.But how can he do that when said idol tracks him down in Detroit and wants to coach him so he can redeem himself at the very competition he failed at?

sugary sweet -  kevincriesblood

Summary:  Katsuki Yuuri works at a coffee shop. Unfortunately, it is a coffee shop that happens to be his idol's favorite. He regularly sees the vlogger he has posters of, which he's not sure if that's good or bad. Yuuri also has a not safe for work blog that he updates, with a rather sweet, odd anon. It's also an issue that he fantasizes that this anon is his idol. He'd never really date a guy like Yuuri, right?

You Have (1) Notification -  arzenpai, hosarin

Summary: Katsuki Yuuri wouldn't call himself an internet sensation, no matter how many people followed them for their skating videos and Phichit's prank vines. Despite the number of people who would recognize him and ask for a selfie on the street, his life is plain.On the other hand, Viktor Nikiforov is an internet sensation, but he needs inspiration.He finds it when Mila shows him a video from the channel Shall We Skate.

Yuri and The Science Experiment -  ushijimascacti

Summary:  Yuri Plisetsky is quick to become addicted to something, whether that “something” be breaking a world record held by his Japanese rival or learning about biology and the scientific world. The young 16 year-old is the secret face of the youtube channel “Как сделать”, or “How to Make”. This channel features a variety of videos from anti-aging potions to the creation of the Homunculus, one of Yuri's greatest achievements (other than earning gold at the Grand Prix Final the year previous). He is very proud of this fascinating discovery and made it by entering a random donor’s sperm into the yolk of an egg. After this step, he covered the egg and left it to incubate for many weeks. Over time, he has created two successful organisms and in this story attempts to make one more. This time, though, he is too impatient and the outcome is a bit… annoying. (P.S. idk russian so pretend he’s talking in russian!!!!!)

[stampzine]

Subvert Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day strikes fear into the hearts of men. Men, especially straight ones, feel compelled to shop for everything required to be the “perfect boyfriend,” and the stress reaches excruciating levels. The pressure comes from the people all around them: partners, the media, their friends, even their parents interactions. It starts early, sometimes as early as preschool with “do you like me, yes or no” letters. Abundant information ranging from memes, to clickbait, to academic journals detail how men spend exorbitant amounts of money on Valentine’s Day, significantly more so than women. Still more pieces instruct us on how to stop linking the celebration of a holiday to our class status. Society, using its megaphone named media, tell women that if they do not receive a stuffed animal, chocolate, flowers, jewelry, a dinner date, romantic sex, or some other token of affection tonight, that their significant other does not care about them. More money gets spent on this holiday to try and quantify emotion and affection, leading to nothing but discontent. If  they are not already wealthy enough to afford gifts or take time off work, men can eventually reach a breaking point, viewing Valentine’s Day with apathy at best and dread at worst. Couples who encounter this issue have found ways to drop the baggage associated with the holiday, make their own traditions, use the night as an excuse to just spend a little extra time together, or do something new and exciting. Breaking the mold of the stereotypical Valentine’s Day, or finding a way to subvert those traditions, liberates straight and queer couples alike.

Men are bombarded from childhood with messages detailing and emphasizing what it really means to be a man, and these messages reach their most insidious depths around Valentine’s Day. It leaves a need for “providers” to fulfill a ritualistic dance; if there’s no dinner or gift or sex then you have failed. After constant consumption and exposure these messages get internalized without our consent. Even with a woman who  believes she does not care about the holiday, the compulsion remains. Johnny, a 62 year old, happily married man, finds he puts more pressure on himself than any outside force. He lives with his wife of two years and her daughter. “Certain things have to be done or it won’t be complete,” the gift being the most important of those things, he said. He says that commercialism doesn’t seem as bad or as intense as when he was younger, but that the expectations placed on him feel exactly the same as they did in the 1970s. Even though his wife is indifferent to the holiday, Johnny still feels a sense of relief after handing that gift over and completing the ritual.

These feelings peak during adolescence. As a teenager, Thomas was constantly questioned by friends and teacher about his Valentine’s plans. There was always the assumption that he should be doing something with a girl somewhere, and something was wrong if he wasn’t. This was at an all Catholic boys school, and his ideas changed with his environment after college. He was exposed to more viewpoints and styles of relationships, and realized that there was no “right” way to be a man or boyfriend, except to treat his partner with respect and kindness. This became especially apparent after an ex used Valentine’s Day as a reason to “throw a tantrum [if] things weren’t exquisite.” Now, he and his wife look at the holiday as an excuse to do something fun. They’ll “probably bake something heart shaped” since they don’t want to brave the storm that is evening traffic for a dinner date on Valentine’s Day.

Brandon, 28 and a doorman at a popular bar, had similar experiences with the disappointments of his girlfriends if he didn’t get or do anything for them. He has also found a way to make Valentine’s his own. He feels like overall, the message a man should be sending to a woman is “if you didn’t think I loved you before, hopefully this sends the message.” However, he definitely enjoys Valentine’s Day more when he’s single. It’s more fun, “[I’m] usually real shy, but I guess on Valentine’s Day I get to try my best at being Denzel Washington.” He uses the day as an excuse to have fun, “What other day can you say corny lines that make people laugh, not cringe?”

The experience Thomas had is a little more similar to what most queer women go through. After realizing that their sexual orientation inherently defies gender norms, many find humor in the expectations that were placed on them. A trans lesbian I spoke with was just happy to be spending time with someone she loved on her first Valentine’s day since transitioning.  “I have hopes for some of the trimmings like flowers or chocolate, but it’s not really important, it would just be cool.” K.F., a non-binary person, thinks there is some pressure to celebrate, “because that’s what ‘normal’ couples do...regular couples already think we’re not legit, I guess.” They continue, “Because I’m non-binary, I tend to want to do cute stuff for my partner because it makes me feel more masculine… Cis straight men in my life tend to treat me like a little girl, so I like opportunities where I get to be the cool boyfriend, like Valentine’s!” The only thing they really stress about during the holiday is their heteronormative family, and potential judgemental looks. Otherwise, they enjoy the opportunity to do the traditional boyfriend things.

Valentine’s day can be a celebration, especially if we treat it more like Mardi Gras. It can be an opportunity to poke fun at prevailing norms and stereotypes, lightening the load placed on couples by the media and society. Play with the traditional ideas of boyfriend and girlfriend, embrace the cheesy traditions, make it your own. There’s no reason to dread a holiday that is supposed to be about love and affection; provided we focus on the joy and happiness our partners bring us, and not status. Take those rituals, subvert them, make them your own, and let go of what society expects of you.

Written by Franke Normand, EIC of Stampzine

Artwork by Elliott Estelle

[evilmarrypopins]

via Stamp Zine

Subvert Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day strikes fear into the hearts of men. Men, especially straight ones, feel compelled to shop for everything required to be the “perfect boyfriend,” and the stress reaches excruciating levels. The pressure comes from the people all around them: partners, the media, their friends, even their parents interactions. It starts early, sometimes as early as preschool with “do you like me, yes or no” letters. Abundant information ranging from memes, to clickbait, to academic journals detail how men spend exorbitant amounts of money on Valentine’s Day, significantly more so than women. Still more pieces instruct us on how to stop linking the celebration of a holiday to our class status. Society, using its megaphone named media, tell women that if they do not receive a stuffed animal, chocolate, flowers, jewelry, a dinner date, romantic sex, or some other token of affection tonight, that their significant other does not care about them. More money gets spent on this holiday to try and quantify emotion and affection, leading to nothing but discontent. If  they are not already wealthy enough to afford gifts or take time off work, men can eventually reach a breaking point, viewing Valentine’s Day with apathy at best and dread at worst. Couples who encounter this issue have found ways to drop the baggage associated with the holiday, make their own traditions, use the night as an excuse to just spend a little extra time together, or do something new and exciting. Breaking the mold of the stereotypical Valentine’s Day, or finding a way to subvert those traditions, liberates straight and queer couples alike.

Men are bombarded from childhood with messages detailing and emphasizing what it really means to be a man, and these messages reach their most insidious depths around Valentine’s Day. It leaves a need for “providers” to fulfill a ritualistic dance; if there’s no dinner or gift or sex then you have failed. After constant consumption and exposure these messages get internalized without our consent. Even with a woman who  believes she does not care about the holiday, the compulsion remains. Johnny, a 62 year old, happily married man, finds he puts more pressure on himself than any outside force. He lives with his wife of two years and her daughter. “Certain things have to be done or it won’t be complete,” the gift being the most important of those things, he said. He says that commercialism doesn’t seem as bad or as intense as when he was younger, but that the expectations placed on him feel exactly the same as they did in the 1970s. Even though his wife is indifferent to the holiday, Johnny still feels a sense of relief after handing that gift over and completing the ritual.

These feelings peak during adolescence. As a teenager, Thomas was constantly questioned by friends and teacher about his Valentine’s plans. There was always the assumption that he should be doing something with a girl somewhere, and something was wrong if he wasn’t. This was at an all Catholic boys school, and his ideas changed with his environment after college. He was exposed to more viewpoints and styles of relationships, and realized that there was no “right” way to be a man or boyfriend, except to treat his partner with respect and kindness. This became especially apparent after an ex used Valentine’s Day as a reason to “throw a tantrum [if] things weren’t exquisite.” Now, he and his wife look at the holiday as an excuse to do something fun. They’ll “probably bake something heart shaped” since they don’t want to brave the storm that is evening traffic for a dinner date on Valentine’s Day.

Brandon, 28 and a doorman at a popular bar, had similar experiences with the disappointments of his girlfriends if he didn’t get or do anything for them. He has also found a way to make Valentine’s his own. He feels like overall, the message a man should be sending to a woman is “if you didn’t think I loved you before, hopefully this sends the message.” However, he definitely enjoys Valentine’s Day more when he’s single. It’s more fun, “[I’m] usually real shy, but I guess on Valentine’s Day I get to try my best at being Denzel Washington.” He uses the day as an excuse to have fun, “What other day can you say corny lines that make people laugh, not cringe?”

The experience Thomas had is a little more similar to what most queer women go through. After realizing that their sexual orientation inherently defies gender norms, many find humor in the expectations that were placed on them. A trans lesbian I spoke with was just happy to be spending time with someone she loved on her first Valentine’s day since transitioning.  “I have hopes for some of the trimmings like flowers or chocolate, but it’s not really important, it would just be cool.” K.F., a non-binary person, thinks there is some pressure to celebrate, “because that’s what ‘normal’ couples do…regular couples already think we’re not legit, I guess.” They continue, “Because I’m non-binary, I tend to want to do cute stuff for my partner because it makes me feel more masculine… Cis straight men in my life tend to treat me like a little girl, so I like opportunities where I get to be the cool boyfriend, like Valentine’s!” The only thing they really stress about during the holiday is their heteronormative family, and potential judgemental looks. Otherwise, they enjoy the opportunity to do the traditional boyfriend things.

Valentine’s day can be a celebration, especially if we treat it more like Mardi Gras. It can be an opportunity to poke fun at prevailing norms and stereotypes, lightening the load placed on couples by the media and society. Play with the traditional ideas of boyfriend and girlfriend, embrace the cheesy traditions, make it your own. There’s no reason to dread a holiday that is supposed to be about love and affection; provided we focus on the joy and happiness our partners bring us, and not status. Take those rituals, subvert them, make them your own, and let go of what society expects of you.

Written by Franke Normand, EIC of Stampzine

Artwork by Elliott Estelle