#they often appear as a little floating guy in my art (as pictured in last 2 images)

[wiklm]

hmm i was just thinking about wilzard and realized i’ve never showed them on here?? they were originally intended as a fun persona for my art and then they evolved into a general oc who just like. vaguely resembles me and i love them very much

[astaroth1357]

Demigod MC Series: Nyx

Nyx is a primordial goddess and the Greek personification of Night - the mother of Hypnos, Thanatos, Nemesis, and many more. She's a mysterious figure in their mythos as there's little surviving info about her cult. What is known, however, is that she was portrayed as beautiful, powerful, and feared by Zeus himself.

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter, Athena, Hades Pt. 2, Poseidon, Ares, Hestia, Nyx

Lucifer 

What happens when you take a being born from the darkness and place them in a realm of eternal night…?

The answer came when the MC first stepped out of the portal. Everyone in the room was wholly expecting a normal-looking, confused human they could get up to speed, however…

The MC's skin suddenly darkened until it was as black as a shadow, their clothes levitated around them as if they were defying gravity, and glimmering speckles dotted their skin like twinkling stars.

Even their eyes turned a pure, glowing white without irises or pupils… Like two crowning stars locked into a body made from the shimmering night sky...

They weren't human. At the time, Lucifer wasn't even sure he could say what they were... Breathtaking, certainly, but there was something else about them that he couldn't place… something… foreboding...

Diavolo must have had the same unease because Barbatos was put in charge of monitoring them. The butler would send reports to them both and the results would range from benign to nerve-racking...

They kept their distance from his brothers and most people, but their power seemed immense... Barbs would report seeing them making small items float or summoning a meteor shower from their fingertips!

Lucifer ended up actually tasting their powers only once. When they stepped in to protect Beel and Luke and he went to attack them…

The whole House began to shake and the candles of the tomb started going out one by one as the air grew intolerably heavy... He could have sworn he saw a vortex of… something... swirling at their feet...

He backed off immediately and Beel and Luke got off with a warning, mostly because he was trying not to look utterly petrified...

He's never met a more beautiful and dangerous creature in his life… Pact mark or no, this is probably the only person the firstborn will admit he never wants to have to fight because he'd lose, big time.

Mammon

He was expecting to find a human when he walked into the Student Council room, not an alien!!

Mammon was seriously scared of the MC when they first met because he legitimately believed they were an extraterrestrial sent to probe him!!... Or whatever else those scary movies say aliens do, lay eggs in his stomach?

He straight up avoided them like the plague until the Goldie incident more or less bound them together. But even then there was a distance between them he just couldn't place…

Naturally, it bothers a demon a bit if their master doesn't seem to like them, so he eventually cornered them one day to force them to tell him why they'd been running off!

As it turned out, the MC actually knew as little about their new form everybody else! They had been perfectly normal in the human world, but for some reason the Devildom supercharged them! They could tell that they were powerful, but had no idea how to control themselves yet and it scared them...

So Mammon became their first unofficial "coach." Not that he knew how to train them or anything, but he was the first person supportive enough to even try to help them learn their new powers.

It led to some… interesting misadventures. Like when the MC unexpectedly burst every water pipe in the House or when they got a little too frustrated and ripped the kitchen apart with an accidental twister, but hey, Mammon was always there for them at least.

Of course, because he's who he is, he's not above asking the MC to help him with his schemes for "training purposes…" Infiltration is more fun if you're weightless, after all!

Speaking of weightless… His favorite way to float is when the MC gets excited and hugs him. They can't help but levitate them both off the ground when they're that happy and it makes the whole hug that much sweeter.

Leviathan 

It's… it's like he's in his very own Magical Girl anime!!! Uh, "I'm a Demon and this is My New Life with a Magic Starchild!!"-or something like that. 🤷‍♀️

He didn't even think their transformation was real when he first saw it! He really thought it was an elaborate body art cosplay but then their "freckles" rearranged themselves when he frightened them, so it had to be real!!

He'll declare that they're probably (literally) the coolest thing on the planet. They have the looks of an epic fantasy character plus insane powers to boot! 

…though uh… they may need a training arc or two to learn how to control them… 😅

Since their powers are apparently tied to their emotions, Levi's seen them do a whole bunch of stuff that's not entirely on purpose... Like, they can make things float when they're happy and push everything down when they're sad. 

So once he showed them one of those "tragic ending" animes for fun, but they cried so hard that they increased gravity and accidentally sent his bathtub crashing into the basement…

The worst of it is when they're mad, though. He made the mistake of making them play a rage game once and they ended up shattering all the glass in his room! His aquarium wall and Henry's fishtank included!!

They were able to make a zero G sphere of water in order to save Henry's life, but the cleanup was brutal… They were super sorry, but Levi took most of the blame himself anyway.

Honestly, he'd have been more mad but their body is clearly not something they can control just yet. Plus, it's so cool that he can put up with a little destruction anyway, you know?

Satan

Well, isn't that an interesting phenomenon?

Meeting a demigod is exciting enough, but one who reacted to the Devildom like that? It was pretty much unheard of!

Though he'd hate to admit it, Satan stalked the MC just as closely as Barbatos for a little while... But only because he was a little unsure of how to approach them…

They kept to themselves and their powers seemed "a little" unpredictable (see Levi's orphaned bathtub). Thankfully, Mammon ended up recommending the MC to him since Satan's one of the smartest guys around.

Satan made a better coach than Mammon, anyway. He was far more knowledgeable and actually able to hypothesize the strength their powers, which came in handy because uh… well…

Look. The whole realm 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' over their appearance but they're all fools - no morons - for not noticing what potential the MC actually has. Satan was positive that the MC is the most powerful being in the Devildom, without question.

They had a complete control over gravity, atmospheric pressure, and even astronomical bodies… If they wanted to, they could literally pluck a planet out of orbit and send it careening into who knows what!

Want more terrifying? They could create near-matterless vacuums at the palms of their hands with the potential to suffocate, crush, or rip apart basically anything they wanted with implosive force….

Does he even need to spell out why that's utterly horrifying??

At least the MC seemed to be a genuinely nice person who wanted to control their powers better… Their emotions often got in the way but they tried their best.

He likes the MC a lot, but he'd be lying if he said that they didn’t also terrify him… They may have been pretty normal in the human world, but give them endless night and they may as well be a god...

Asmodeus 

Oh… My… Father!!! They're GORGEOUS!!!!

From the moment their transformation completed, Asmo had never seen anything like them! He said that they were like a living droplet of the night sky!

They were magnificent!! They were radiant!!! He was posting pictures of them before they had even said their first sentence!!

So Asmo was pretty much patient zero for any and all rumors and hype about the MC after that... Apparently someone like them only visits the Devildom every one, maybe two, centuries so everybody was bound to get talking.

Thankfully, the MC's habit of ducking out of the House kept them from becoming a full on sideshow. Unfortunately, however, Asmodeus was relentless!

He'd beg them to try modeling or make videos with him because of their unique look! He'd lay on the praises, but it was a little... much. It wasn't until Mammon finally stepped that he backed off a bit.

Asmo sometimes forgets that not everyone puts as much emphasis on looks as he does... Though he meant well, he hadn't realized that the MC maybe wouldn't appreciate him making such a big deal out of their appearance change. Pretty as it was, it was still involuntary to them...

Of course, after they told him this he cooled off and stopped putting them out there so publicly but even still he could hardly keep his eyes off of them... unless he was looking in a mirror, of course. 😘

A fun fact about the MC: when they blush, their skin makes a pink nebula. And thanks to his antics, Asmo has seen their lively pink cheeks many, many times… 🤭

Beelzebub 

Belphie would like them, wouldn't he...?

Beel's first reaction upon seeing the MC was genuine sadness, as seeing the stars with his twin brother still gone often brought him… 

The sadness didn't last too long at least because Beel tried his best to see the MC more like a person than a work of art or an oddity. Sure, they looked different - like really different - but they still laughed, cried, and ate like everybody else so they couldn't be that different.

Though then again, most people don't end up floating in midair when they laugh… Eh, oh well. It's not like those little details bother him. 🤷‍♀️

He always remained certain that Belphie would like the MC so he told them a lot about him. Since his twin loved stargazing, it'd only be natural that he'd like someone who looked like the stars, right?

Aside from the occasional tangent about his brother, Beel would also help the MC with their training by letting them help him with his training!

Controlling gravity can be pretty nifty for strength/resistance exercises, so there would be days where Beel would just pull a Dragon Ball and walk around at 1.5 or 2 times Earth's gravity thanks to having the MC on his back!

Sure, lifting a glass of milk becane so difficult that he literally broke a sweat from trying, but he felt like he can juggle motorcycles afterwards so who's complaining? Not him!

Belphegor 

……

………….

Was it some kind of joke?

The MC was not human. There was no way in heaven or hell that whatever he lured to the attic was supposed to be a human!!

Really, everything about the MC and their situation seemed directly designed to throw a monkey wrench into his plans...

One: They weren't human so how was he supposed to ruin Diavolo's dream? Two: They were clearly some kind of magical being so they could likely defend themselves…

But third ans most embarrassing of all... he honestly, genuinely, has never seen a more amazing person in his life. Blame it on his soft spot for the stars, but the moment the MC step up to his prison bars, he was smitten...

And. He. HATED IT!

Look, as much as he loved the night sky, he wasn't about to let some random non-human derail his anger! He was stronger than that!

He managed to hold onto his bitterness just long enough to make a halfhearted attempt on their life after they got the door open, but uh…

His brothers found Belphie when he fell through a newly-made hole in the ceiling... Said hole was made when his body slammed to the ground hard enough to crash through the attic floor... 😣

If the damage they caused wasn't enough to change his mind (which it was), then their distress when they thought they might have hurt him certainly did. Even their tears looked like stardust...

After far too long, Belphie got over his denial and began to properly love MC. If he liked stargazing before, he adored it now because he never even has to get out of bed! He can just roll over and follow the "stars" on the MC's body!

Unfortunately, that same love means it also takes a lot to ditch him if they get sick of being his personal night's sky… The brothers have found him floated up and sleeping on the ceiling on numerous occasions so the mortal can get some fresh air (clever MC)...

[felassan]

Dragon Age development insights and highlights from Bioware: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development

Some really tasty factoids here.

Cut for length.

Dragon Age: Origins

The continent of Thedas was at one point going to be named Pelledia, a name initially floated by James Ohlen

“Qunari” was a temporary name that ended up unintentionally sticking, much like “Thedas”

Mary Kirby wrote the Landsmeet. To this day, nobody understands how it works, except possibly her. If she’s “really really drunk” she can explain how it works. There’s as many words in it as Sten’s entire conversations put together

Concept art for Thedosian art - as in in-world art - draws heavily on Renaissance-era portraiture, the Art Nouveau movement, religious styles and media like stained glass, and favorite pieces from the golden age of illustrations in the early 20th century

Andrastianism in-world (art-wise) is depicted in wildly different methods depending on who in-world made the art in question. “One religion, 3 different lenses”. There’s the Chantry take, the Orlesian take and the Fereldan take; each with its own different interpretations, different mediums and different stories

The stained glass images were drawn by Nick Thornborrow for DAI, to decorate religious spaces in that game “and beyond”

irl Viking art influenced Ferelden

Greek and Italian art influenced Orlais

The book also had other insights into and anecdotes from the development of DAO, but I’ve transcribed them recently as they’re essentially the stories DG has recently been relating on the awesome Summerfall Studios DAO playthrough Twitch streams. (On those streams he provides dev commentary while Liam Esler plays through DA. The ones with DG are currently once every two weeks. Check them out! Here’s a calendar where you can check when the next one is) Instead of repeating myself I’ll just provide the link to the first transcript. From there you can navigate to the subsequent parts. Note these streams are ongoing. At this point I will also point you to a related post which is cliff notes of the Dragon Age chapter in Jason Schreier’s book Blood Sweat and Pixels.

Dragon Age II

DAO had the longest development period in BioWare history. In contrast DA2 had the shortest

Initially DA2 was going to be an expansion to DAO. A few months in EA said “Yeah, expansions like these don’t sell very well, so let’s make it a sequel.” So it suddenly became DA2 and they had to make it even bigger, although they still only had 1.5 years of time in which to do this

Production of DA2 officially lasted only 9 months, and at the time the team was still supporting live content for DAO! They finished development that January after the design team crunched all the way through the holiday period that year. Then it went to cert 9 times

The limited time they had is why the story takes place mostly in and around 1 city, and over 7 years (so it was temporal, rather than over physical distance, because a more expansive world would have taken more irl time to make)

They had no time to review even the main plot. Mike Laidlaw pitched the idea of 3 stories taking place at different points in the PC’s life, tied together by Varric’s recollections of events. DG rolled with this and made 1 presentation on the idea. This presentation was then approved and off they went

As they were writing DG realized that there was going to be no oversight and that everything was going to be a ‘first draft’. “Because nobody had time.” He sat down with the writers and said “Look, here’s the conditions we’re working under. A lot of what we’re putting out is gonna be raw. We’re not going to get the editing we need. We’re not going to get the kind of iteration we need. So I’m going to trust you all to do your best work.”

Looking back, DG has mixed feelings on DA2. “A lot of corners were cut. The public perception was that it was smaller than DAO. That’s a sin on its own.”

Despite this he thinks DA2 has some of the best writing in the series, especially character-wise. The DA2 chars are his favorite

The pace with which production progressed may in some ways have helped. “When we do a lot of revision, we often file away [as in buff off] some of the good writing as well. Somehow DA2′s whirlwind process resulted in some really good writing”

The pace meant chars landed on the writers in various stages of completion. For example Isabela was fairly defined due to appearing in DAO. In contrast Varric at the start was just that single piece of widely-shown concept art

Varric was conceived as a storyteller not a fighter. His skills are talking and bullshitting. Hence the question became, so what does this guy do in combat? The direction was to make him as different as possible to Oghren, so not a warrior. He couldn’t be a dual-wielding rogue in order to differentiate him from Bela. But you can’t really picture this guy with a bow. “For a dwarf, it would probably be a crossbow. We didn’t have crossbows, or we only had crossbows for the darkspawn. And they were part of the models. We didn’t have a separate crossbow that was equip-able by the chars. They had to like, crop one off a darkspawn and remodel it. And that became Bianca” (quote: Mary Kirby)

“Dwarven mages are exceedingly rare.” [???]

If DAO was a classic fantasy painting, DA2 was a screenshot from a Kurosawa film or a northern Renaissance painting. (Here Matt Rhodes was commenting on art style)

John Epler: “In any one of our games, there’s a 95% chance that if you turn the camera away from what it’s looking at, you’ll see all kinds of janky stuff. The moment we know the camera is no longer facing someone, we no longer care what happens to them. We will teleport people around. We will jump people around. We will literally have someone walk off screen and then we will shift them 1000 meters down, because we’re fixing some bug.” John also talked about this camera stuff in a recent charity Twitch stream for Gamers For Groceries. There’s a writeup of that stream here

Designing Kirkwall pushed concept artists to the limits of visual storytelling, because it has a long history that they wanted to be present. It was once the hub of Tevinter’s slave empire, so it needed to look brutal and harsh, but it also then needed to feel reclaimed, evolved, and with elements of contemporary Free Marches culture

The initial plan was for DA titles to be distinguished by subtitles not numbers, so that each experience could stand on its own rather than feel like a sequel or continuation. (My note: New PCs in each entry make sense then when you consider this and other factoids we know like how DA is the story of the world not of any one PC). Later, DA2′s name was made DA2 in a bid to more clearly connect the game to its predecessor. For DAI they returned to the original naming convention. (My note: so I’d reckon they’d be continuing the subtitle naming convention for DA4)

DA2 was initially code-named “Nug Storm”, strictly internally

The Cancelled DA2 Expansion - Exalted March

This was a precursor to DAI

It was meant to bridge the gap between DA2 and DAI

It focused on the fallout from Kirkwall’s explosion, with Cory serving as the villain

Meredith’s red lyrium statue was basically going to infest Kirkwall and it would end up [with what would end up] the red templars taking over Kirkwall and essentially being Cory’s army

To stop him Hawke would have recruited various factions, including Bela’s Felicisima Armada and the Qunari at Estwatch, forcing Hawke to split loyalties and risk relationships in the process

It was meant to bring DA2′s story to an end and end in Varric’s death. DG was very happy with this because all of DA2 is Varric’s tale. The expansion was supposed to start at the moment Cassandra’s interrogation of him ended in the present. “And we finished off the story with Varric having this heroic death.” It tied things up and would have broken many fan hearts, something BioWare writers notoriously enjoy. But between a transition to the new Frostbite engine and the scope of DAI, the decision was made to cancel EM, work any hard-to-lose concepts into DAI, and in the process save Varric’s life. DG has talked about the Varric dying thing before

Concept art for EM explored new areas previously not depicted in the DA universe, with costumes that reflected next steps for familiar chars. Varric was going to war, what would he have worn? With Anders, if he survived DA2, the plan was to present a redeemed Warden

A char that vaguely resembled Sera in DAI was first concepted for EM. This fact was mentioned near this concept art (see the female elf) and this concept art of Bethany with the blond bob

The writers sketched out plans to end it with Hawke having the option to marry their LI. This included alternate ceremonies for party members like Bethany and Sebastian if the player opted not to wed. There was even a wedding dress made for Hawke. This asset made it into DAI (Sera and Cullen’s weddings in Trespasser). The dress can also be seen in DAI during an ambient NPC wedding after completing a chain of war table missions

The destruction of a Chantry was explored in concept art as it might have happened in EM. This idea ended up carrying over to the beginning of DAI. (My note: Lol, the idea that DA2 could have had 2 Chantries being destroyed in it 😆)

World of Thedas

Sheryl Chee and Mary Kirby started with “a disgusting little dish called fluffy mackerel pudding”. In the middle of DAO’s busy dev period one of them (they can’t remember who) found a recipe online for this, scanned in from a 70s cookbook. “I don’t understand why it was fluffy. Why would you want fluffy mackerel pudding?” MK says. “We loved it so much we included it in a DAO codex.”

This led them to create more food for Thedas, full recipes included, like a Fereldan turnip and barley stew from MK and SC’s Starkhaven fish and egg pie. The fish pie became Sebastian’s favorite. “To me it made sense for it to be fish pie because a lot of the Free Marches are on the coast”, SC says, “It was something that was popular in medieval times, so I thought, let’s make a fish pie! I looked at medieval recipes and I concocted a fish pie which I fed to my partner, and he was like ‘This is not terrible’”

For WoT the whole studio was asked to contribute family recipes which might have a place in Thedas. SC adapted these to fit in one Thedosian culture or another, including a beloved banana bread that localization producer Melanie Fleming would regularly bake to keep the DA team motivated. “Melanie’s banana bread got us through Inquisition”

DAI

It says part of DAI takes place in or near the border with Nevarra [???]

This game was aimed to be bigger than DA2 and even DAO in every conceivable way

The first hour had to do a lot of heavy lifting, tying together the events of DAO and DA2 while introducing a new PC, new followers etc in the aftermath of the big attack. DG rewrote it 7 times then Lukas Kristjanson did 2 more passes

DG: “Our problem is always that our endings are so important, but we leave them to last, when we have no time. I kept pushing on DAI: ‘Can we work on the ending now? Can we work on the ending now? Can we do it early on?’ Because I knew exactly what it was going to be. But despite the fact that it kept getting scheduled, whenever the schedule started falling behind, it kept getting pushed back... so, of course, it got left til last again.”

“The reveal of the story’s real antagonist, Solas, a follower until the end, when he betrayed the player”. “Solas’ story remains a main thread in Inquisition’s long-awaited follow-up” [these aren’t DG quotes, just bits of general text]

Over the course of development they had 8 full-time writers and 4 editors working on it. Other writers joined later to help wrangle what ended up being close to 1 million words of dialogue and unspoken text. While many teams moved to a more open concept style of work for DAI, the writers remained tucked away in their own room, a choice DG says was necessary, given how much they talked. All the talking had a purpose ofc as if someone hit a bump or wall in their writing they would open the problem up to the room

As writing on a project like DAI progresses, the writers grow punchier and weirder things make it into the game. This is especially the case towards the end of a project (they get tired, burned out)

Banter and codexes require less ‘buy-in’ (DG has talked about this concept a few times on the Twitch streams) from other designers. DG liked to leave banter for last as a reward because it was fun. Banter begins as lists of topics for 2 followers to discuss. These may progress over time or be one off exchanges. One banter script can balloon to well over 10k words. “The banter was always huge because we were always like, laughing, and really at that point, our fields of fucks were rather barren, so we would just do whatever”

The bog unicorn happened pretty much by accident. It was designed by Matt Rhodes and was one of his fav things to design. They needed horse variations and he had already designed an undead variant which was a bog mummy [bog body]. irl these are preserved in a much different way to traditional mummies. When someone dies in a bog their skin turns black and raisin-like. The examples we know of tend to have bright red hair for whatever reason. It’s a very striking look and MR wanted to do a horse version of this as he thought it’d be neat. 5 mins before the review meeting for it he had a big ‘Aha!’ moment, quickly looked up a rusty old Viking sword, and photoshopped it through its skull like that was how it died. “And I was like, ‘I just made a unicorn. Alright, in it goes!’” It got approved. “So we built the thing. It fit. It told a little story”

With the irl Inquisition longsword, one of the objects they tested its cleaving ability on was a plush version of Leliana’s nug Schmooples

The concept art team explored a wide variety of visuals for the Inquisitor’s signature mark. It needed to look powerful and raw but couldn’t look like a horrific wound. In some cases, as cool as the idea looked on paper, they just weren’t technically feasible, especially as they had to be able to fit on any number of different bodies

Bug report: “Endlessly spawning mounts! At one point during development, Inquisitors could summon a new horse every time they whistled, allowing them to amass a near infinite number of eager steeds that faithfully followed them across Thedas. “You could go charging across levels and they’d all gallop behind you,” Jen Cheverie says, “It was beautiful.” Trotting into town became an epic horse siege as a tidal wave of mounts enveloped the streets. Jen called it her Army of Ponies”

The giants came from DA Week, an internal period when devs can pursue different individual creative projects that in some way benefit DA. They also had a board game from one of these that they were going to put in but they didn’t have time. It’s referenced though. It was dwarven chess

Josie’s outfit is made of gold silk and patterned velvet, with leather at her waist. She carries “an ornate ledger” and she has “an ornamented collar sitting around her neck, finished by a brilliant red ruby, like a drop of Antivan wine in a sunbeam”

Iron Bull’s armor is leather. His loose pantaloons and leather boots give him agility to charge

On DAI in particular, concept artists took special care to make sure costumes would be realistic, at least in a practical ‘this obeys the laws of physics and textiles’ sense. “While on Inquisition, we thought about cosplay from a concept art perspective. Given how incredible a lot of [cosplays] are, I now am not worried about them. In fact in some cases in the future I want to throw them curveballs like, ‘All right, you clever bastards. Let’s see if you can do this!’”

2 geese that nested on the office building and had chicks were named Ganders and Arishonk (it wasn’t known who was the mom or the dad). Other possible names were Carver Honke, Bethany Honke, Urdnot Pecks, Quackwall, Cassandra Pentagoose, the Iron Bill, Shepbird, Garroose, Admiral Quackett, Scout Honking, HChick-47 and Darth Malgoose

Bug report: “The surprising adventures of Ser Noodles!” DAI was the first time the series had a mount feature, meaning this had a lot of bugs. A lot of the teams’ favorite bugs were to do with the mounts. There was a period of time where the Inquisitor’s horse seemed to lose all bone and muscle in its legs. They had a week or so where all quadruped legs were broken. It was a bit noticeable in things like nugs and other small beasties but the horse was insanely obvious. “The first time we summoned the horse [for this] and started running around, the entire QA exploration room just exploded with laughter.” Its legs flapped around like cooked fettucine, leading testers to lovingly nickname it Ser Noodles. At galloping speeds the legs almost looked like helicopter blades, especially when footage was set to classic pieces such as Wagner’s Flight of the Valkyries

For DAI the artists were asked questions like “What would Morrigan wear to a formal ball? Can Cassandra pull off a jaunty hat?”

On DAI storyboarding became the norm. John Epler: “Cinematic design for the longest time was the Wild West. It was ‘here’s a bunch of content, now do it however you want’, which resulted in some successes and some failures.” Storyboarding gave designers a consistent visual blueprint based on ideas from designers, writers and concept artists

Quote from a storyboard by Nick Thornborrow (the Inquisitor going into the party at the end of basegame sequence): “Until Corypheus revealed himself they could not see the single hand behind the chaos. A magister and a darkspawn combined. The ultimate evil. So evil. Eviler than puppy-killers and egg farts combined.”

A general note on concept art:

In the early stages of any project, before the concept artists are aware of any writing, they like to just draw what they think cool story moments could be. It’s not unusual for the team to then be inspired by these and fold them into the game as the project progresses

– From Bioware: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development

[waitimcomingtoo]

I know requests are closed but I’m obsessed with this Olympic ice dancing duo, they’ve been skating for 20 years since they were 7 and 9 and the guy is always saying she’s his favourite person and how beautiful she is and their chemistry is so intense and their body language just says they’re in love but it was announced that he is engaged to another woman and I’m sad and waiting for them to realise they’re in love! I was wondering if you could write something along these lines with Tom? Ily 💙

I love this idea. I pulled inspiration from Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue interviews and from Little Women.

One Man Cult

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Synopsis: You and Tom are inseparable ice skating duo who aren’t as inseparable as you thought

Masterlist

“This unrequited love, to me it’s nothing but a one man cult.” - Frank Ocean

Tom had been your ice skating partner for 20 years now. You’d come a long way from the frozen pond behind your house to an Olympic ice skating rink. The way you two skated was pure art. You moved impossibly in synch as you floated over the ice together, winning competition after competition together. Tom had never once dropped you or let you down due to your powerful connection to each other. He was always there to lift you, dip you, spin you, and you carry you around the ice as you danced to the music. Your undeniable chemistry and endearing friendship made you and Tom the most popular team in the Olympics on social media, but it was your powerful skating that made you the most decorated skaters in history. 

After every competition, with the medals you wore around your neck clanging together, Tom always picked you up bridal style to carry you off the ice. He’d been doing it since he was nine and he’d do it until the last day he ever skated. You were always met with a rush of cameras and microphones from journalists who wanted to know just as much about your relationship as they did your performance.

Your most notable interview was when you appeared on Ellen together after winning gold medals in the Olympics. Your fans campaigned for you to be on the show and Ellen happily complied. Despite the large couch, you and Tom sat practically on top of each other. He had one arm secure around your waist and the other resting on your knee. In return, you had both hands on top of his, giving them a gentle squeeze whenever you felt butterflies in your tummy. 

“Y/n, Tom, how did you two meet?” Ellen began the interview.

“We met when I was 7 and he was 9 because we were neighbors. We formed this unbreakable connection and we’ve been best friends since then.” You answered, looking at Tom for most of your speech. “I honestly don’t even remember my life before him. We started skating on the pond outside our houses and realized we both had a love as well as a talent for it.”

“Wow. That’s 20 years now.” Ellen nodded in admiration. “You guys must be very close.”

“Oh, definitely. I know everything about him and he knows everything about me. I can’t imagine not being with him everyday. We’re a family.” You smiled as Tom squeezed your hip, feeling the nerves melt away at his touch.

“Yeah, we’re very very close. I live for Y/n.” Tom chimed in and the audience melted.

“And there was never a romance? No feelings for the other?” Ellen asked skeptically.

“Uh-“ Tom scratched his neck, looking at you.

“Nope. Just a really close friendship.” You nodded.

“Does Tom know that?” Ellen teased and both your faces flushed as the audience laughed.

“I ask because you guys clearly have a lot a chemistry together as we see on the ice but your fans see a little more than just chemistry. They see a romance between the two of you.” Ellen said as a picture of you and Tom flashed on the screen. It was a photo of your last performance, and you were sitting on his knee with your hands pressing his forehead against yours. He had one hand around you waist and the other gripping your thigh. The audience laughed and ooo’d at the picture and you hid your face in Toms neck for a moment.

“Oh shoot. Maybe we are a couple.” You joked and felt Tom laugh beside you.

“Did you know we were a couple? That’s crazy. I had no idea.” Tom teased back. You laughed at his joke and he smiled at your laughter, throwing an arm around your shoulders and kissing your temple.

“So you are a couple?” Ellen asked as a different picture came on screen, a close up this time. You had both hands on Toms face and he had his firmly on your back with your legs wrapped around his waist, lips almost touching. The audience laughed again and Ellen’s point was made.

“No. We’re not. We’re just a really great team.” Tom confirmed as he looked at you. “Y/n is my favorite person in the world. There is no one I admire or love more. I mean, I’ve loved this girl since I was 9. We have such a deep love for each other and an unbreakable connection that I know I could never find anywhere else. She’s my soulmate, really. I’m so lucky I get to spend 23 hours a day with her.”

“What’s the other hour?” Ellen asked.

“Icing wounds and bathroom breaks.” You and Tom said in unison, earning a chuckle from Ellen and the audience.

“We really do take it as a compliment though. If that many people see us performing and think we’re a couple in love, then I think we’re doing something right.” Tom continued. “I think all the romance rumors speak to our chemistry and ability to portray a romance as we skate together.”

“Exactly. And we really do love each other.” You said as a third picture came up, you and Tom hugging tightly after a performance. You and your arms secure around his neck and he was lifting you off the ground. “We’ve spent the last 20 years building this partnership and it’s so rewarding to see where it’s taken us. I’m just really lucky I could go on this journey with Tom at my side. My favorite moments are always after the performance, when the crowd is cheering and the music stopped and it feels like there’s no one in the world but me and Tom.” You said as you gazed into Toms eyes. He couldn’t resist kissing your forehead, in no way helping the conversation.

“So you are a couple?” Ellen repeated and the audience chuckled again.

That’s how interviews often went, but some reporters wanted a different story.

“Where’s your other half?” A reporter asked when Tom came off the ice rink alone. He was met with a dozen more reporters and took a seat on a foldable chair to answer the questions.

“I know!” He laughed. “She’s getting changed. It feels so weird to be interviewed without her. Don’t worry though, she’ll be here shortly.”

“While we have you, we do have some questions.” Another reporter spoke up.

“Go for it.” Tom smiled.

“What makes Y/n a good partner?” They asked.

“Y/n is honestly just a perfect person. I love everything about her. She’s my best friend in the entire world. She’s so beautiful and so so dedicated to our work. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.” Tom said sincerely into a camera.

“You never considered trying you luck as a solo act?” A different reporter tried to instigate drama and Tom quickly shut him down.

“I couldn’t go solo because I myself am not a solo act. Y/n is my other half on and off of the ice. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.” Tom replied suavely.

“Hi! Am I interrupting?” You asked as you walked over to Tom. He smiled happily as the sight of you and reached out a hand to guide you over to where he was.

“Here, we can pull up a chair for you.” A reporter offered but you politely held up a hand.

“That’s okay.” You shook your head as you sat comfortably on Toms lap. He wrapped his arms around your waist and rested his chin on your shoulder.

“We were just asking Tom if either of you ever considered going solo?” You were asked.

“Oh, never.” You laughed. “I don’t exist if I’m not with Tom. We’re connected. I could never not be with him.” You turned over your shoulder to look at him and he smiled at you before pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“You two seem very close. Y/n, you wouldn’t date him?” A reporter asked and you laughed in surprise.

“Maybe.” You shrugged to appease them.

“Wow. I’ve known her for 20 years and we’ve been getting interviewed for maybe 10 now and that’s the first time I’ve gotten a “maybe”. Must be my lucky day.” Tom joked and squeezed you tightly. His answer seemed to satisfy the reporters and they left you alone.

A rough patch of ice and a broken ankle sent you to the hospital for a week and benched from the ice for two months. Unfortunately, the injury came in June, right as Tom was scheduled to return home for a holiday with his family. It killed him to leave you alone, but he knew with his busy schedule he’d never be able to reschedule.

“Go. Your family is counting on you.” You promised him from your hospital bed. He shook his head at you.

“You’re my family.” He insisted.

“I’ll be fine. Go. Be with them.” You told him, but he still looked unsure.”

“I’ll miss you. Can’t you come with me?” He whined. You laughed at his childish behavior.

“The doctor said I can’t fly with my cast.” You reminded him as you looked down at your bright pink cast. It had one signature, Toms name is a big heart. “It’ll be okay. We’re not attached at the hip. We can handle a few weeks apart.” You assured him.

“I don’t know if I can.” Tom laughed sadly and took your hand.

“You’ll survive.” You touched his cheek and he leaned into your palm.

“Without you? Impossible.” He smirked and pressed a kiss to your palm.

The three week vacation was extended by four weeks when Toms grandmother fell ill. Still not able to fly with your cast, you had to result to FaceTiming at 4 am just to get a hold of him. Being without Tom was strange enough, but he was acting stranger. His brothers told you he went out most nights and came back at odd times. His mom told you he wasn’t looking well, but brushed it off as a minor cold.

“I’m sure he’s just used to you keeping him in check, making sure he’s hydrated and getting enough sleep and all that. He’s probably just overwhelmed and being without you is making it harder. I wouldn’t worry too much.” His mother assured you but you still worried. It’s been 7 weeks since you’d seen him and you hated every second of it.

The day your cast was taken off, you got on the first flight to the UK. You didn’t get to Toms house until late, but Harry told you he was home. You climbed into his first story window and he jumped in surprise when he saw you

“Y/n?” Tom asked in shock at the sight of you.

“Hi Tommy.” You kept your voice low so you wouldn’t disturb his family as you jumped into his arms.

“What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t fly?” He asked as he held you tightly, taking in your scent once again.

“Doctor cleared me this morning.” You held up you healed foot with a proud smile.

“I didn’t know you’d gotten your cast taken off.” Tom said, a little disappointed he wasn’t aware of all the details of your life anymore.

“Well, it’s been pretty hard to get a hold of you lately.” You said a little sadly. “God, what’s it been, like two months? I’ve missed you so much. Sit, tell me everything.” You guided him to his bed and sat down with him.

“My grandmothers doing a lot better. They’re gonna release her from the hospital soon.” Tom said and you noticed he was beginning to sweat.

“That’s great Tom. I’m so happy to hear that.” You ignored his stiffness and rubbed his shoulder.

“Thanks.” He sighed and brushed a strand of hair away from your face, looking incredibly torn with himself. “Y/n-“

“I’m really happy to see you, Tommy.” You interrupted him. “I know I was the one saying we could stand being apart for a few weeks, but I honestly couldn’t last another day of this. I never realized how much I wanted to see you everyday. You’re a huge part of my life and it’s been so weird not seeing y-“

“I’m engaged.” He blurted, cutting you off. You blinked in surprise at his sudden announcement.

“What?” You laughed shortly, trying to read his face but the room was too dark.

“I met her over the summer when I came home and she fell in love with me. She asked if I wanted to get married and I said yes.” Tom continued in the same flat, emotionless tone. “She’s going to be my wife.”

“What?” You repeated, still not believing him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but my mind is made up.” Tom continued as if he wasn’t telling you the most outrageous thing you’d ever heard. He stood up, unable to look at you for a moment.

“I’m sorry, can we go back a second?” You got up as well and walked to him. “You’ve known her what, two months? Three?”

“One. We met in July.” Tom said quietly and you scoffed.

“You can’t possibly be serious.” You said gravely. Tom wiped his nose on his sleeve and nodded.

“I am.” He told you, a sad gleam in his eyes. “She wants to be married by Christmas.”

“Well what do you want?” You asked, looking for a different answer then what you were getting.

“Whatever she wants is fine by me.” He said robotically and you felt nauseous.

“I’ve never even met her.” You pointed out. More importantly, she’d never met you. You exactly a minor note in Toms symphony. You guys lived as a duet and now he was trying to rewrite the chorus without asking you first.

“You will. I’m going to introduce to her everyone. My family, my friends, you. You’ll get to know her.” Tom said as if he was trying to convince himself more than you.

“Oh so your family hasn’t met her either?” You laughed bitterly. “Do they even know she exists?”

“I’ll tell them.” He said, and you knew he was ashamed.

“Tom, what?” You asked gently, going easier on him now that you know he was upset. “Your family doesn’t even know? What’s going on? This isn’t like you.” You tilted his chin towards you and made him look at you. As soon as his eyes met yours, they filled with tears.

“What, just because I’ve never had a girlfriend before means I can’t have one now?” He asked with a defeated shrug.

“You have had girlfriends before.” You reminded him and he shook his head.

“Have I?” He laughed sadly. “I’ve tried, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t date anyone else knowing that they’d never…”

“Never what?” You stroked his cheek lightly, pleading with him for an answer to his madness. “Tom.” You urged when he hesitated to answer.

“Never compare to you.” He gripped your wrist as teared ran down his cheeks. You looked at him in confusion and tried to search his face again. He was making less and less sense.

“What are you talking about?” You whispered and Toms lip trembled.

“If you’re gonna stand in front of me right now and pretend there hasn’t been something between us for the last 20 years then you might as well just leave now.” Tom said through gritted teeth. You felt the wind knocked out of you and took a step back, withdrawing your hands and holding yourself tightly.

“Thomas…” You breathed.

“I can’t find another my heart will beat for. I can’t do it.” Tom cried in pain. “I have loved you since I was nine years old and it’s killing me. I can’t move on. I can’t think, I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. This unrequited love is destroying me.” He sobbed. “And I swear to you, I will never love anyone more and nothing has to change between us as partners but…” ,his lip trembled as he hesitated, “but I’m lonely! We spend all day together but I want to spend the nights too. I’m in love with you, Y/n. We have something incredibly rare between us. Can’t you see that? Please tell me you see that.”

You stayed silent as tears slipped out of his eyes, not having any clue what to say.

“Please?” He whispered at your silence.

“I do see it.” You touched his cheek lightly and he smiled in hope. “I see a beautiful and loving friendship between two people, Tom I’m sorry-“ he threw your hands off his cheeks and turned his back to you.

“I thought you felt the same. You’re always going on about the connection we have. Every friend of mine, all my brothers even your own mother told me there was no way you didn’t feel the same.” Tom sniffled. “The whole world sees something between us. They’ve seen it since we were kids. How is it that everyone sees it but you?” He looked at you over his shoulder.

“I just don’t, Tom. I’m sorry. If I could change it, I would.” You put a hand on his back and rubbed his shoulder blade with your thumb. “I love you so much, but not in that way. Not in the way you want me too. Not in the way you deserve.”

“You tell me I deserve it but then tell me not to marry this girl?” He turned around again and you saw how red and puffy his face was. You tried to reach out to him but he pushed your hands away.

“You don’t deserve a half baked engagement to some girl you met a month ago.” You said. “You deserve someone who knows everything about you, little things and big things, and someone loves you deeply and unconditionally. Someone you have a connection with.” You were as upset as he was now.

“Is that not you?” He cocked his head.

“Of course it’s me. Just not romantically. You have all my love, Thomas. I swear to you, my hearts beats just for you. Is that not enough?” You cried and he looked down at the floor.

“I would have you.” He said in defeat, nodding his head as he looked up at you. “If it were enough, I would have you.”

“You’re always gonna have me-“

“-I love you.” He cut in.

“-maybe not in the way that you want but that doesn’t mean-“

“-I love you.” He said again, as if he was accepting it.

“-we can’t continue being friends. You’re still my favorite person-“

“Just not the person you want to be with?” He asked with a sad smile.

“I’m sorry.” Was all you could give him.

“Don’t be. My bad for assuming, right?” He shuffled his feet and you felt more tears rising in your eyes.

“Can we talk about this? Please?” You begged, worrying if you ended this conversation it’d be the last one you ever had with him.

“I’ve said all I’ve had to say. What about you?” Tom shrugged and wiped his eyes.

“We need to be adults about this, Tom.” You grabbed his hand to keep him in the room. He looked down at your hands for a long time before squeezing yours and looking at you tearfully in the eyes.

“I can’t be anything but in love with you.” He said with a sad smile.

“Then why are you marrying her?” You asked him desperately.

“Because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life alone.” He told you.

“You’re not alone. You have me.” You held your intertwined hands against your chest, kissing the back of his hand.

“Do I?” He asked and dropped your hand, slamming the door behind him as he left the room.

The next few months leading up to Christmas had an ice between you and Tom that chilled the country. The distance between the two of you wasn’t noticeable enough to hurt your scores on the ice, but it was unbearable when you weren’t working. He wouldn’t talk to you, wouldn’t even look at you. Conversations never lead back to that night in his bedroom, no matter how hard you tried to lead them there. Tom went on as if it never happened, as if he never confessed his feelings for you.

You on the other hand, were given plenty of time to reflect. In those few months, you realized you’d never love anyone as you loved Tom, and in return, no one would ever love you the way he always had. You’d been so consumed in being his best friend that you hadn’t realized you wanted to be more. You knew there was no one in the world you could imagine spending the rest of your life with other than Tom. He was your soulmate, and you were his. Your heart broke as you knew you came to the conclusion too late. He was engaged to another girl. He was happy now, or so he claimed. So instead of confessing your feelings, you kept your mouth shut and let him distance himself from you.

It was different on the ice. Neither of you could conceal how you felt. Your chemistry was still evident and radiated off every leap and turn. With your newly realized love for him, your skating became even cleaner and more passionate. You were at the lowest point in your relationship but at the highest in your careers. You spend endless hours with Tom, practicing, performing, and being interviewed. Interviews turned awkward fast whenever Toms engagement was brought up. The rest of the world was as confused as you were.

“So Tom, you’re engaged?” A reporter asked and the room quieted down.

“Yes, I am.” Tom said stiffly. You tended up at his side and faked a smile.

“And not to Y/n?” The reporter joked. You felt your face flush, and not in the wya it usually did when you were questioned about your relationship with Tom.

“I was just was surprised as you were.” Tom said with sad laughter. You wanted to place a hand on his knee but decided against it in fear of rejection.

“How did you react, Y/n?” The reporter asked you.

“Yeah, I was surprised too. When I thought about my future with Tom and all the milestones I imagined we’d reach together, this was never a apart of the plan.” You laughed nervously. “I never saw this coming.”

On December 19, the church was set for Toms wedding. You sat in your seat with your leg bouncing nervously as his bride walked down the isle.

You couldn’t handle the smug look she gave you as she passed.

You couldn’t handle the stares of pity from everyone around you.

You couldn’t handle the somber look Tom had on his face as his eyes bore into yours.

You really couldn’t handle the feeling inside of you that told you you were making a terrible mistake.

Unable to handle being silent about your feelings anymore, you stood up. You locked eyes with Tom and gave him the most sincere look of an apology you could give him. He nodded and you took that as your cue to run out of the church.

“If anyone has any objections as to why these two should wed, speak now or forever hold your peace.” The priest read.

“I do.” Tom blurted.

“No no, you don’t say that yet, son.” The priest chuckled.

“No, I do. I object.” Tom said and dropped the girls hands like they were poison. “I can’t marry you, I’m sorry.”

“Why not?” His bride, no longer to be, demanded. Tom looked at the priest apologetically and then at his family.

“Because I’m in love with someone else.” He said as he stared at your vacant seat. There were no gasps of shock, just sighs of relief.

“I’m sorry everyone.” He said and then gave one last look at the girl. “I’m so sorry.”

Tom ran down the steps on the alter and out the doors, laughing a little as he went.

“Y/n? Y/n, wait!” Tom screamed once he was out of the church. He slowed down to a halt and looked around for you, but didn’t see you anywhere. He blew out a breath of defeat, knowing he was too late. You didn’t wait. You hadn’t run for him. You just ran.

Tom dragged his feet as he made his way to his car. There was no way he could go back into the church. His only option was to go home. Once Tom approached his car, he could hear someone jiggling the door handle on the passenger side. Suddenly, an all too familiar friend of his popped up from behind the car.

“What took you so long? We gotta go.” You urged in a panic. Toms entire face lit up at the sight of you. He smiled fondly, just taking you in.

You had waited.

But it didn’t seem like you could wait much longer. Tom unlocked the car and hopped inside. You bunched up your dress and did the same. Tom started the car and you drove off without another word. Once you had left the church parking lot, he looked back and laughed.

“I can’t believe I just did that! I left a girl on the alter. ” Toms smile quickly faded. “Can you imagine how that must feel? She must be devastated. Oh my God, should we go back?” Tom was experiencing excitement, confusion and guilt all at once.

“You can turn back if you want.” You said calmly. It was the last thing you wanted to do, but you’d do it for him.

“No. No of course we can’t go back. I can’t marry her just because I feel guilty.” Tom said mostly to himself. “Especially when I don’t love her.”

“You don’t?” You asked, having already suspected that he didn’t.

“I never did. And I don’t suppose she loved me either.” He laughed softly. “We were just two lonely people who didn’t want to be lonely anymore.”

“You don’t have to be lonely ever again.” You put one of your hands on his thigh. Tom looked at you before picking up your hand and kissing the back of it. You smiled slightly as he continued to drive.

“Can I ask you something?” Tom said, breaking the silence.

“Anything.” You replied.

“How’d you know I’d run after you?” He wondered. “I could’ve gone through with it. I could’ve married her. You must’ve waited by my car for a reason. How did you know I’d come after you?”

“It was that look.” You admitted. “I saw it in your eyes when you were on the alter. You know how we always say we have a connection?”

“Yeah?” He asked with a shy smile.

“That was it. It was our connection. You knew I’d run. I knew you’d follow.” You explained before quieting down. “Why did you run?“ You asked timidly.

"I couldn’t have what I really wanted, so I settled for whatever girl let me put a ring on her finger.” Tom confessed as he kept his eyes on the road.

“I see.” You nodded, also looking ahead.

“What about you? Why did you run?” He snuck a glance at you.

“I guess I couldn’t have what I really wanted either, and I couldn’t sit around and pretend to be happy for someone else when I was miserable.” You told him. “It hurt too much. Especially when it was my fault that I was miserable.”

"What is it that you really wanted?” Tom questioned and you looked out the window.

“Poor girl is probably so embarrassed.” You mumbled, feeling genuinely sorry for the girl he left at the alter. “The whole country was rooting against her and they won. She didn’t get what she wanted either.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Tom said, feeling his heart pick up speed when a tiny smirk appeared on your face.

“What was it again?” You asked, shifting to face Tom. If he wanted to go all those months avoiding the conversation, you weren’t gonna let him have it when it was finally convenient for him. He needed to work for it.

“You said you couldn’t have what you really wanted, so you were miserable. What was it that you really wanted?” Tom asked, looking at you for answers. It was the first time you had made and held eye contact since you both ran.

“What I wanted was you.” You confessed, and Tom slammed on his breaks.

“Get out of the car.” He ordered.

“What? Why?” You asked as you unbuckled your seatbelt.

“Out. Now.” He repeated.

You hastily got out of the car, seeing that he had stopped at a small elevated platform that looked over a river. You walked over to the railing and waited for Tom as he slammed his door shut and made his way over to you.

“Look, Tommy, I didn’t mean to upset you and if you could just let me explain-” Tom cut you off by wrapping his arm around your waist and pulling you into a long awaited kiss. You froze at this unexpected sign of affection, but quickly put your arms around his neck, where they belonged. Tom hugged you closer until there was no space between you.

You only broke apart to gasp for air. Tom smiled and pulled you into a hug, pressing a light kiss to your temple and holding you tight.

“I’ve missed you.” He said softly into your hair.

“I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry we fought.” You cried into his chest.

"Me too. I shouldn’t have sprung all that information on you at once. And I’m sorry I got mad for expecting you to figure out your feelings right away. I should’ve given you time.” He sniffled as he rubbed your back.

“I’m sorry too. And I do feel the same.” You pushed away from him a little so you could see him. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.

"Let’s put that in the past. It doesn’t matter anymore. All that matters is you and I, here and now.” Tom answered as he brushed your hair off your forehead.

“You look great, by the way. I never got to tell you that.” You complimented Tom as you fixed his tie.

“Thanks. I was more excited for the suit than I was for the wedding. It’s a shame it’s gonna go to waste.” He laughed lightly as an idea popped into your head.

“It doesn’t have to.” You realized.

“What do you mean?” He asked curiously.

“There’s a chapel about five miles from here.” Was all you said. Tom knew exactly what you were thinking. You grabbed his hand and you both ran for the car. Before you took off, Tom ran back to the railing and threw the flower in his lapel into the river, the flower that matched the brides bouquet. You laughed and applauded him as he got back into the car.

An hour later, you were officially married. You were slightly disappointed that your families couldn’t be there to see it, but Tom promised you that you could throw a huge wedding reception to celebrate your newly realized love later on. Before getting back into Tom’s jeep, you pulled your husband into a hug. Tom smiled and put his arms around his bride. You stayed in each other’s embrace for as long as you could, swaying gently as Tom hummed your favorite song. You were used to performing the most elaborate dance routines together, so this simple slow dance was nice. He was about to pull away when you hugged him tighter.

“Wait. Don’t let go.” You said and Tom put his arms back around you.

“I won’t.” He promised. “I won’t ever.”

Tag List 🏷

@maybemona @sunrise-shawn @foreverxholland @writing-for-hours-on-end @lavender-writer @captainmandeestudent17 @whatareyouhidingpeter @takenbyheartstrings @ultrunning @imyourliquor-youremypoison @theolwebshooter @andreasworlsboring101 @guksmyfav @waiting-to-be-myself @letsloveimagines @peterparkersbodyguard @peterparkoure @a-villain-vying-for-attention @m19friend @justcallmehitgirl @averyfosterthoughts @jackiehollanderr @tiny-friggin-human @celestial-skylines

[hazbinhotelcanon]

Voxtagram posts - 16 June 2020 to 30 June 2020

These are all the “in character” posts & comments from the Helluva/Hazbin accounts that have recently been popping up on Instagram. Comments from other people aren’t included unless characters interact with them. Since Instagram doesn’t have a chronological feed & timestamps show only the date on posts older than 24 hours, I’ve listed the posts as close to chronologically as I can reconstruct.

I’ve seen tons of fans expressing annoyance/frustration at trying to keep up with these in character Instagram accounts and their new lore and plots. That’s the top reason I started this blog. If you want to see my ongoing logs of the in character Instagram posts, follow @hazbinhotelcanon​!

I’m gonna call these “Voxtagram posts” instead of “Instagram posts” because Hazbin/Helluva Hell's equivalents to our social media sites were apparently named for Vox—Voxtagram, Voogle, VoxTube, Voxcarto—so I’ll use that for the in-universe posts.

Since this is the first “Voxtagram” post, I’ve got a big disclaimer on how “canon” this material is; I’ll put it at the bottom of this post. First, the actual art!

Canon accounts featured in this post: just Blitzo (blitzorodeo) and Stolas (daddy_hoothoot).

16 June 2020

blitzorodeo Here at the stable!!! #horsethings #itwasonly5$$$$$$$$ #selfie❤️ #😈😈😈😈

17 June 2020

blitzorodeo I just cant choose what name to give my horse!! They’re just so good! Which is your favorite 🥺😈😛 #namesrhard #icantwaittowriteitdownagain

19 June 2020

blitzorodeo My horse and I went to the living world. How do you people deal with all this blue

janegumball Blitz, show us your horse blitzorodeo @janegumball 😮👏😢🙌😔 janegumball @blitzorodeo so no horse? Damn... 😔 blitzorodeo @janegumball Push pin (my horse) and i have a special relationship, you cant just ask for pictures of my horse

20 June 2020

blitzorodeo I got new riding boots!! My horse coupon 2.0 picked them out for me! :0) BT dubs, i changed my horses’ name to coupon 2.0

megan25gothiqueimmortel Youre awesome like always Blitzy blitzorodeo @megan25gothiqueimmortel 😍😍😍 yes i am good thanks 😋💖💕❤️

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Blitzō (@blitzorodeo) on Jun 20, 2020 at 1:40am PDT

blitzorodeo

Watching my favorite movie with my horse!!

#movienight🥺 #spiritismyfavmovie

blitzorodeo Maxipad and i can’t get enough of these lil iced bitches 🥰😛😋 BTdubs i renamed my horse to maxipad dont flame me 🔥🔥🔥 #icedcofee #mmmmiloveicedcoffee #donttslktomebeforeihavemycoffree

markzillow655 I feel like Blitz put some drugs in that drink blitzorodeo @markzillow655 its just iced coffee 😬

janegumball What name is on your horse’s birth certificate? blitzorodeo @janegumball 😳 thats a secret 😗❤️

watsurdamage dont tslk to me before i have my coffree probablyfakeblonde @watsurdamage leave him alone, he just wants to enjoy time with his horse watsurdamage @probablyfakeblonde what horse blitzorodeo @probablyfakeblonde 😔

21 June 2020

blitzorodeo WENT TO THE MOOOOVVVIIIEEESSSS!! 🥴 it was lame, no horses in this movie 😑👎 it suuuuxxxxxxx!!! Anyways my horses new name is nail polish #moxxiehasstinyPP #iatrtheirpopcorm #illreviewthrmovielater

lordskelecat Pics of the horse or it doesn’t exist blitzorodeo @lordskelecat YOU CANT JUST ASK FOR PICS OF MY HORSE!!! DONT FLAME ME!!! 🔥🔥🔥

blitzorodeo Throw back to last years halloween costume!!! My horse Latex glove said i should post it :0) Oh yea my horses new name is latex glove #iusedlotsofmakeuponmyhorns #andotherplaces;) #donthugmeillloosemymakeuponyou

akira282006 Isn't it in those clothes that blitzo appears in a Hazbin hotel scene?. By the way great costume👌 blitzorodeo @akira282006 i had to look fancy at the stufio 😎

markzillow655 That is awesome looking ngl blitzorodeo @markzillow655 😎🔥

22 June 2020

blitzorodeo My horse and i found this in Moxxies closet! LOOOL!!! Im pretty sure moxxie cant pull it off like Tupperware can. My horses new name is tupperware BTW🥺😎👍❤️ #bigdickenergyproblemslol #myjorsesnsmeistupperware #stolaseatmyass

radio_demon_husk He wouldn’t know about virginity after all he did sleep with stolas blitzorodeo @radio_demon_husk who the fuck is stolas

yaelgilbert He low-key kinda hot tho. blitzorodeo @yaelgilbert 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

blitzorodeo GOD DAMN IT!! They gave me fucking HOT COFFEE!! 👿🔥 this is bullshit im about to to full karen on their asses!! BTdubs, my horses name is ICED COFFEE WHICH IS WHAT I WANTED!!! #bullshitbullshitbullshitbullshitbullshitbullshit!!!!

hellishgirly34 Do you like Moxxie xD? Spit the tea! blitzorodeo @licoholics nah he’s stinky.

23 June 2020

blitzorodeo Having my hotdog that my horse recommended. This guy wont stop talking to me. I changed my horses name to keystroke #thightuesday❤️😈 #hotdogtimeisagoodtime

yaelgilbert You gonna slurp that mustered off your lap or can I? blitzorodeo @yaelgilbert I want a happy meal first

blitzorodeo In a meeting rn, i love these filters LOL! My horse chose this filter :0) Their name is now snimmer~ #moxxieisatotalbabe #thattaghas100+onit #proovesmoxxieisbaby #:)😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

janegumball Snimmer is a dumb name 👎 blitzorodeo @janegumball 🔥👿👎🔥

blitzorodeo Feeling cute today, calling my horse on an old clamshell phone! 😈❤️🌟#foundthisoldshotinaboxlol #missusingmyclalmshells

daddy_hoothoot My eyes have been blessed to see my dear Blitzy like this! You’re always so adorable.

bryan_fedrix what's the horse's name now? blitzorodeo @bryan_fedrix THANK YOU FOR ASKING, the name is shrinkwrap

25 June 2020

daddy_hoothoot Octavia said I needed an instagram account and surprised me this morning. Am I doing this right? #nofilter #wokeuplikethis

blitzorodeo 👎 daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo Oh, Blitzy, you know you love seeing this in the morning❤️❤️❤️ blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot 😔 not a horse

blitzorodeo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

edwar_17_art Birb father daddy_hoothoot @edwar_17_art I’m not quite sure what a “birb” is but I am indeed a father. And a very proud one at that.

boiled_trash Daddy hoot hoot? Can you be my daddy~? daddy_hoothoot @boiled_trash I’m sorry, I already have a daughter

blitzorodeo Stolas came over and asked for my horse cook but snowcone (my horse) isn’t interested. 🥴👿😑

blitzorodeo BTW my horse is a master chef 🔥

daddy_hoothoot My, what a lovely pair of legs those are!

blitzorodeo At the pool with my horse! We both have pool floaties we stole from some kid together 🥺🔥😈

daddy_hoothoot Oh! You’re in the pool? blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot ................................. no........................... boiled_trash @karlaanimatesyt stolas is bout to join him karlaanimatesyt @boiled_trash Not it I get there first and stop him! 🤠 It’s our job to protect blitzo >:0!! blitzorodeo @karlaanimatesyt finally i have a human shield jaquiialeworld @daddy_hoothoot Stolas, I know how to make blitzo surrender to you, give him a horse blitzorodeo @jaquiialeworld i already have a horse 👎

wolf.nerd.geek Also Blitzo is so cute that face he is making can you send me a link to this pic please blitzorodeo @wolf.nerd.geek this is my selfie 😑🔥

thorns521 How do you feel about Stolas’s new account Blitzø? blitzorodeo @thorns521 I can never post a thigh pic again... daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo Don’t let me get in the way of you showing the world those hot thighs 😉

vinfer8 Who took the picture? 🤔 blitzorodeo @vinfer8 obviously my horse

boiled_trash What does your horse’s pool float look like? blitzorodeo @boiled_trash looks like a dragon 🐉

karlaanimatesyt Wow.... :0 What’s your horses name today? :D I’m interested!! blitzorodeo @karlaanimatesyt pool noodle 😎

nightmurr 🥺💕 you have such a cute little smile i- blitzorodeo @nightmurr 😎

princess_.ee Whats your horses name? blitzorodeo @princess_.ee FINALLY SOMEONE ASSKKED. Its Noodle, pool noodle

26 June 2020

daddy_hoothoot I spy a cutie 😈🥰 @blitzorodeo

pipunpkin i spy a SIMP daddy_hoothoot @pipunpkin If a “SIMP” means Sexy Imp then yes

watsurdamage Suspiciously with no horse... 👀 blitzorodeo @watsurdamage he went to use the bathroom obviously watsurdamage @blitzorodeo obviously boiled_trash @blitzorodeo where’s his pool float then??? watsurdamage @boiled_trash @blitzorodeo I think they’ve got you there blitz daddy_hoothoot @watsurdamage no one needs to pick on my Blitzy. If he says there was a horse there, there was a horse there.

blitzorodeo New icon fr da newme (My horse, typo, wrote that for me)

daddy_hoothoot 😘

maro.drawings blitzo your photos are always beautiful 👌💖 but I need to ask you something .... how much does a domicile murder cost? blitzorodeo @maro.drawings you have to get a consultation if you want a priiicceeeee 🔥

blitzorodeo So.. Remember, bushes are great places to hide... my horse, dixxie cup, hid in the bush next to me #hidingforgoodreasonslol #itskindafunnybutalsonotbecauseimstuckinabush #updatelateronthebushsituation

daddy_hoothoot Oh dear

janegumball Dixie Cup is a dumb dumb name 👎 horse name 0/10 blitzorodeo @janegumball DONT FLAME MEEEEE!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

sirnasteryg87 is your horse okay? (´；д；`) blitzorodeo @sirnasteryg87 dixie cup is doin just fine, were both hiding in the

27 June 2020

blitzorodeo ok update, I was able to escape the bushes and I got an iced coffee, I'm fine looooool. My horse (named latex glove) also got one too. I think we'll come here more often to get coffeeeee #tastyasfuckman #iloveicedcoffeeitstasty

daddy_hoothoot Hope you’re enjoying the living world, Blitzy! Can’t wait to see you when you get back! blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot yea yea....

maichyartnoodles You look like you are doing an Ahegao, wtf?! blitzorodeo @maichyartnoodles weeb

thesydinator Just add some beta blockers with that iced coffee, and bam: you’re completely hammered blitzorodeo @thesydinator now THAT sounds like an idea 😎😎😍😍

ant_arts_entertainment I love horses blitzorodeo @ant_arts_entertainment this guy gets me

king_leb72 Damn why were you in the bushes blitzorodeo @king_leb72 i have my motives, im a pro

blitzorodeo This is the piñata that reminded me of moxxie LOL. Tortilla chip (my horse) said to give it to mills, I think she’d love it 🤣😈

daddy_hoothoot It’s cute but not quite as cute as a certain imp I know 😏 😈 angelmadefromhell @daddy_hoothoot Moxxie? daddy_hoothoot @angelmadefromhell Which one of the little ones are they? blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot Just remember our agreement and you can call me whatever you want... ill see you at 8 daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo Can’t wait! 😘

janegumball You took my name suggestion. If you change it again I’m afraid I’m gonna have to report your account. blitzorodeo @janegumball wtffff!!!!!

daddy_hoothoot Had myself a bit of a spook. Still not quite used to this phone. #dadprobs 🦉

blitzorodeo Use a filter daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo I’ll keep that in mind for next time

hellishgirly34 Stolas, why Blitzo was hiding in a bush? daddy_hoothoot @bluepatata I’m not quite sure. I tried to call him but he didn’t pick up.

daddy_hoothoot Got to spend the day with Octavia. 💖🖤#prouddad #saturdaysaremadefordads

ballora_x Wait, I have a good question, how can you're daughter hear everything in the Headsets wale she doesn't have ears? daddy_hoothoot @ballora_x we’re in Hell, dear. Living world logic doesn’t apply.

ricardo_silis_garcia_ I came to ask for your daughter's hand daddy_hoothoot @ricardo_silis_garcia_ not my hand to give. Besides she’s far too young for matrimony.

28 June 2020

blitzorodeo I drew a picture of msyulef as a horse :) im such a a creative guy!! my given horse name from my horse (Renamed to flavor dust) is blitzo2. if you translate it it's whIIIINNENEEE nay bRRRRRR HEEERRGH. #whatsyourhorsiename #stolasdontotinteract

blitzorodeo Im such a good artist boiled_trash @blitzorodeo you’re not a good artist, you’re an amazing one! blitzorodeo @boiled_trash 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍YOURE 👏 RIGHT👏👏👏

daddy_hoothoot You’re always so talented with your hands, Blitzy!

sugar.weaver My horse name is Tiny Whore - or Horse... I'm not fluent yet and they're pretty similar sounds... In horse that's PBBBF.. NNNEEHHHHHEH BPFF! BPFF! (The exclamation points are important to the translation) blitzorodeo @sugar.weaver i liked this 3 times. Your horse name is perfect PBBBF NNNNNEEEHHHEH BPPFF BPFFF, fucking amazing sugar.weaver @blitzorodeo Thank you so much, whIIIIINNENEEE nay bRRRRRR HEEERRGH, but you forgot my exclamation points and called me Clammy Ankles 😔😔😔 blitzorodeo @sugar.weaver i was being informal but ill remember next time 😔

momgimmeoreo How did you learn how to draw, Blitz? blitzorodeo @momgimmeoreo im just talented

beetle.ghosts omg you're so talented blitzorodeo @beetle.ghosts ❤️❤️❤️😍❤️😍❤️❤️❤️😍😍❤️❤️😍😍

andonijean Oh wow! This is a piece of art! I'll give you one hundred of apples for it~ blitzorodeo @andonijean WOW GIMMUE APPLE

aateabee Gosh, I wish my art was as good as yours, Blitzo. I feel unworthy when I look at your art. blitzorodeo @aateabee ❤️😎❤️😎❤️😎❤️😎❤️😎😎😎

aitesound666 I Love you art，will you draw moxxie as a horse? blitzorodeo @aitesound666 i should....!!!!!

karlaanimatesyt Blitzo! >:0 I LOVE YOUR ART, YOU ARE SUCH A GODDESS! Will you ever do more art? :D I would love to see some more! blitzorodeo @karlaanimatesyt wow.... yes... ill post more art 😍😍❤️😍❤️

boiled_trash Love your art, Blitzo! Have you considered doing commissions? blitzorodeo @boiled_trash im thinjing of opening them soon :)

kaldraws8280 Oh you should hang it on moxxies fridge! I bet hed love it! blitzorodeo @kaldraws8280 hed better....

leoleochleoleo you draw yourself as a horse because you like to lay on your fours for the old owl 7u7? blitzorodeo @leoleochleoleo FIRST OF ALL. Im a top, and second, i draw myself as a horse because its my SPIRIT animal >:(

blitzorodeo Some requests!! You guys really like my art 😋 i worked really hard on moxxies horsiebdrawing. He doesnt HAVE a horse name. Its just moxxie. My red crayon ran out i only had blue dont flame me preps

daddy_hoothoot 💖💖💖💖💖💖🥺!!! blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot its from that time you choked on a rat bone 🦴 daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo I still absolutely adore it! daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo There’s only one bone I enjoy choking on 😏 blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot STOLAS

megadoomed Do you take constructive criticism blitzorodeo @megadoomed no

nightmurr AN ART GOD 😳😳 blitzorodeo @nightmurr 😎🔥 i am really good at art

aitesound666 I think you deserve this 🙌🙌👏👏👏 blitzorodeo @aitesound666 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

useful.crew.too Your drawings and pictures bring me such joy!! blitzorodeo @useful.crew.too 😍❤️

mr_unknown15632 Your art work is amazing not gonna lie, the second drawing looks exactly like moxxie blitzorodeo @mr_unknown15632 doesnt it??????? 🙌🙌🙌

whereareallmyenchiladas honestly at this point put “artist” in ur bio🥺 ur art is way too good to not be recognized blitzorodeo @whereareallmyenchiladas so right

29 June 2020

blitzorodeo My horse, who i renamed to smart phone, said I should wear sunglasses. I trust my horses opinion :} #sunglassesonfunsout #ifuckinglovewearingsunglassesyoucantseewhatimthinking #galaxybrainzriseup

bootyprince damn u single bb? blitzorodeo @bootyprince always up for a good time 😎

aateabee Where’d you get the glasses from? I’d really like a pair like that! blitzorodeo @aateabee at my local sunglasses hut

blitzorodeo stolas sent me this picture earlier... not sure what he was trying to do but i think the camera went off after he posed.

daddy_hoothoot Oh! This is embarrassing. blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot 🤧

bootyprince send him one back blitzorodeo @bootyprince maybe i will....... blitzorodeo @blitzorodeo NOT daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo 🥺

blitzorodeo just saw Antz... Z reminds me WAAYYY too much of Moxxie... #pleaseshutuppleaseshutup

daddy_hoothoot I always feel amazing after a good preening 🦉❤️ #fluffyisthebest

blitzorodeo I came back for my left glove thats all 🔥🔥 daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo If you want to come by for the other one, we can watch one of those horse movies you enjoy 🐴

blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot ............... spirit........ ill bring my VHS but NOTHING FUNNY daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo I’ll get popcorn!

30 June 2020

daddy_hoothoot Movie night with Blitzy! 😈🦉🍿

blitzorodeo SPIRIT IS A VERY EMOTIONAL MOVIE

deparkjimin COUPLE GOALS.! They should get married now.❤️❤️❤️ blitzorodeo @deparkjimin we are NOT A couple! saquesealchingada @blitzorodeo That's what everyone says, what do you say Stolas? daddy_hoothoot @saquesealchingada I... It’s complicated

leoleochleoleo I thought that old man didn't know how to use netflix 0: daddy_hoothoot @leoleochleoleo Blitzy brought a VHS

mistress_of_insanity Are ya watchin' porn or somethin'? 👀🔥 blitzorodeo @mistress_of_insanity 👎👎👎👎👎 NO ITS SPIRIT

natycolrange OhHH we can Finaly see the Horse!! 🌟🌟 blitzorodeo @natycolrange its just a horse figurine, my horse went to the shitter

blitzorodeo I went to Mcdonalds and Mccucked this human womans wife lol. My horse said it was my charms and my daddy fingers. too bad I'm wild and free babybeeee #ihadamcflurryandlarrrggeeefries #cantfuckintamemeimfree #likespiritthehorse

daddy_hoothoot Oh...

trysteropup Need an imp with daddy fingers in my life blitzorodeo @trysteropup this is my absolute favorite comment

mr_unknown15632 My main question is, what’s your horses name? blitzorodeo @mr_unknown15632 THANK YIU FOR ASKINGGGG!!! Thr name is flame proof, cuz nobody can burn this biatch

hat_flap Hey Daddy Finger blitzorodeo @hat_flap hey baby maker

yaelgilbert At least return her horse frame to her. blitzorodeo @yaelgilbert NO.

probablyfakeblonde STOP STEALING MY SHIT!!! YOULL NEVER BE LIKE SPIRIT blitzorodeo @probablyfakeblonde DONT FLAME ME JUST CUZ I HAVE DADDY FINGERS AND YOU DONT! watsurdamage @blitzorodeo @probablyfakeblonde I mean he’s right blitzorodeo @watsurdamage @probablyfakeblonde cucked again probablyfakeblonde @watsurdamage @blitzorodeo honey please don’t do this, he’s already stolen my beautiful framed horse picture, I can’t lose you too 🥺 blitzorodeo @probablyfakeblonde its mine now, and im wild and free, cant tame me watsurdamage @blitzorodeo @probablyfakeblonde you heard him, like Miley he can’t be tamed

daddy_hoothoot A pleasant afternoon tea with my wife 😢

daddy_hoothoot Sorry, I meant to put 😌

aitesound666 Ok，a question。Who took the picture?😮 daddy_hoothoot @aitesound666 Butler

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Blitzō (@blitzorodeo) on Jun 30, 2020 at 1:46am PDT

blitzorodeo I tried animating and it’s sucks

janegumball Everyone in the comments is trying to spare your feelings, and you know it blitzorodeo @janegumball i think ur just jealous thet im amazing

blitzorodeo Loonie and I went out to the city! my horse Dominator got us there! :) #horseinthecityha #betterthanataxiiii #itfuckinfreeeee

daddy_hoothoot How cute, Blitzy! Perhaps someday we can arrange a little play date. I think our daughters would very much enjoy it. blitzorodeo @daddy_hoothoot Loona might be a little too old to do play dates.. daddy_hoothoot @blitzorodeo it’s more of an expression than an actual play date, Blitzy. I simply think they may get along.

bootyprince she looks just like u blitzorodeo @bootyprince the resemblance is uncanine

And that’s all the June posts!!

So! Since this is the first Voxtagram post, lemme include the big ol’ disclaimer that’s going to apply to all of these posts: we don’t yet know how canon these accounts are.

This is why they’re broadly accepted as canon: as far as I have been able to track back (correct me if you know better & have a source!), the first of these accounts, Blitzo’s, was found by fans because Vivzie followed it when it was brand new. Since then, new accounts have been discovered as they follow/interact with each other. Some official artists have interacted “in character” with the accounts. The accounts accurately announced when the “Addict” music video was going to come out, and some art posted before “Addict” used imagery that was also used in the music video. So either the accounts are definitely made by the canon creators or else being made by somebody who’s got inside access to the creators.

But, as far as I have seen, nobody on the Hazbin crew has taken credit for running them. More importantly, nobody has said how canon the blogs are. Maybe every image/word posted by these accounts is 100% accurate/canonical; or maybe the art is canon but the roleplaying in the comments is noncanon goofy fanservice; etc. We don’t know yet. It appears safest to say these accounts are probably mostly canon—but take it with a grain of salt.

So until we’re directly informed how canon the Voxtagram accounts are, Voxtagram posts are going to be tagged “#semi canon” (the same tag I’ll be using for stream transcripts) to indicate that it appears to be info coming from the creators, but it may or may not still be canon/accurate by the time the full shows and comics are released.

[daily-dose-of-imagines]

HITMEN AU! | HEAD CANONS | 19+ [HAIKYUU!!]

𝕾𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖟𝖆𝖜𝖆 [PART i] [PART ii]

Here’s the second part to Shiratorizawa~! Next will be Johzenji~!! Hehe chaotic babies I’m excite uwuwuwu I hope you guys enjoy these ones as well, and as always thank you all so much for the support and love~! ;;

» » Admin Ko

»»————-　♔　————-««

Y̷u̷n̷o̷h̷a̷m̷a̷

Another one of the snipers on the team. Though he’s not on the field often, he helps Semi and Shirabu around with training and getting the rookies familiar with the guns in their arsenal.

More so seen as the technician of the group. The person who fixes and adjusts any weapons for the group members if something doesn’t necessarily work out in their favor

Though quiet and not really spoken out, he’s a vital member of the team.

He enjoys being able to help and provide his expertise in arsenal knowledge to the team . 

Usually ends up shadowing Tendo during interrogations to make sure he doesn’t go too far with his interrogations.

“Hm? An addition?”

Though the question had been poised, the male was already grabbing the device. Various ideas floating around his mind at what he could do to help the other before him as the rookie in question couldn’t help but sit pouting.

“Yeah, I just need something that’ll help me engage in close targets much more easily! I keep having a hard time taking them down in one swing like Ushijima-san...”

Now with a clearer picture of what exactly was needed, the technician went ahead and rummaged around the various chests he had filled with weapons. Each with their own specifications before finding the proper blades as he returned to the other.

“I don’t think you need an addition. Rather a change of weapons. Test those out on your next target and come back to let me know how it goes. Yeah?”

The glee and excitement that was held in the other’s eyes explained enough for him as he chuckled before waving the younger off. 

“Now then, let’s see about testing these new toys...”

Average height with a strong build, he’s one of the more sturdier members of the team. 

Prefers to have a shaved head as it keeps any sort of obstructions out of his view to make sure his work is precise and perfect.

Has the most tattoos out of all the members of Shiratoriawa to the point he actually has some on his scalp.

Pretty indifferent with his s/o 

he’s doting and loving when he needs to be, and purposefully will keep them in the dark about the life he lives at night.

K̴e̴n̴j̴i̴r̴o̴ ̴S̴h̴i̴r̴a̴b̴u̴

The main sniper sent out into the field to cover the rookies and mid-level missions that are given to the team.

One of the best shots, but like Fukurodani’s sniper Akaashi, he’s not entirely well known; and he prefers it that way.

He has a wide variety of skills under his belt, but he finds the most comfort behind the sniper rifle and secretly enjoys the perfect head shot kills. 

Despite being one of the main snipers, he always turns to Semi and Yunohama for advice whenever he comes to a point where he’s unsure of how he wants to continue with a certain sequence of moves. 

Similar to Tendo, he can be a tad psychotic when it comes to intervening with a target or having to engage in close combat. 

“Tch. You really could’ve made this easier on yourself....but I suppose it’s fine. I need to relieve some stress anyway, and what a perfect punching bag I have.”

His voice was devoid of emotions. The malicious intent that was swirling in his eyes had the target sweating in unease as they turned, attempting to put as much distance as possible between them and the enraged sniper. Though found that the effort was futile as a sharp pain ran through their leg. Their form collapsing as the male approached. 

“Oops, slipped outta my hand. Sorry about that, let’s try that again shall we?”

The dagger that had been once sheathed in the male’s thigh holster was now embedded into their thigh. Blood oozing from the wound as they tried desperately to get away.

“....maybe I should break those legs of yours so you won’t try to run away. I’m not one for a chase...”

One of the slightly shorter members, though closer to average height. 

He’s body type is much more lean than built. 

Has a couple of tattoos, not too many and an undercut styled asymmetrical sort of bob. (Will purposefully make fun of Goshiki’s hair style)

Can be a tad bipolar with his s/o. Mainly because of how chaotic he is when he’s with the members themselves, but tries hard to maintain a sort of ‘normal’ appearance with them.

Acts more so like a Tsundere with them than anything else. 

T̷a̷i̷c̷h̷i̷ ̷K̷a̷w̷a̷n̷i̷s̷h̷i̷

Works alongside Ohira and Tendo back at base, but more so with Tendo.

One of the other interrogators if Tendo happens to take too much time with a victim. Because of his emotionless exterior and blank expression it’s always a sort of mental game for those trying to out smart him during an interrogation.

Most definitely picked up some of Tendo’s more...torturous methods. 

Also frequents to Yunohama for new tools and toys to test on the ‘subjects’ that are brought to him.

The silence that surrounded the room unnerved the subject. With their form immobilized on the cold metal tray that was to be their ‘bed’ the panic they felt would only gradually increase.

“..Mm, just so you’re aware, you aren’t tied down...rather you’ve just been injected with an immobilizer, but don’t worry. You’ll feel every little thing.”

His words held so much malice that tears rolled out from the victim’s eyes. The desire to scream and thrash so strong in their system, but the lack of response from their body only served to confirm the horrors the young male before them said.

“Don’t be too scared, it’ll be a good time to....get to know one another...”

One of the taller members. 

Has a strong build that adds to the intimidating factor he already possesses. 

Mostly has battle scars and more piercings than tattoos, though he does have a small handful of them.

It’s very hard for him to communicate with his s/o as he isn’t super in touch with his emotions.

Honestly it’s a surprise that he even has one, but if he does he tries his best to be at least more humane.

T̴s̴u̴t̴o̴m̴u̴ ̴G̴o̴s̴h̴i̴k̴i̴

A close combat assassin in training. He considers Ushijima the ideal, and has considered the older to not only be a rival, but a perfect goal to look up to.

Though his skills with close combat are amazing, he does have trouble attempting to mimic the boss’s moves and skills. It’s only when Semi tells the younger to find his own proper fighting style that he is gifted by Yunohama with a new specialized daggers

it’s tuned to his psychotic tendencies once he’s in the zone, and attempts to try to alleviate the younger’s lust for blood when sent out on missions. 

Has been reprimanded more than once for killing too many people-- mainly because they don’t have a large enough cleaning crew to deal with the fall out.

Thus, he tries to hold back the urge-- also because Tendo continues to pester him about killing off potential victims he could interrogate.

The pounding of blood filled his ears as he stared at the sight before him. A maniacal grin graced his features as he could still feel the warmth of the target’s blood on his fingers. The absolute joy he felt when he managed to kill a disgusting and corrupt man.

Though he was snapped out of his thoughts as a familiar voice rang in his ear. An exasperated sigh and irritated tone filling his head as he laughed awkwardly, flicking the blood from the curved dagger he was given before sheathing it away.

“Any day now Goshiki. I’d really like to go back to base instead of continuing to babysit you while you go on some happy murder spree.”

“Ah! I’m done now! I’m coming up senpai!”

The light tone that fluttered from his voice was a great contrast to the scene he left for their clean-up crew. Though unfortunate, he couldn’t help but happily think of the masterpiece he left behind as he rushed to meet with the older male.

One of the averaged height males within their group, his build is neither too strong or too lean. A perfect medium that allows him to not only have enough power to snap someone’s neck, but agility to pounce on the target with ease.

Isn’t really fond of tattoos or piercings, but has just one on his back. He much rather prefers the scars and healed wounds he’s gained from working out on the field.

Has a bowl haircut that Shirabu will always poke fun at.

He’s a bit sporadic with his s/o. Trying to seem more like a shy tsundere who has his own spurts of excitable energy.

Enjoys cuddling and snuggling with them whenever he gets the chance and won’t hesitate to kill anyone who tries to harm them.

H̷a̷y̷a̷t̷o̷ ̷Y̷a̷m̷a̷g̷a̷t̷a̷

One of the shorter members in their group, but one of the most reliable members.

The team’s clean-up member, who usually ends up having to dispose of a lot of Goshiki’s abstract pieces of human art; and honestly he’s not phased by it. 

Usually the one who’s sent out if one of the members happens to miss a target or a target somehow survives. (Though it’s rare)

Besides clean-up, he’s also one of the top infiltrators of the group. Able to ease his way in to any scenario without a hitch and provide ease of contact with his teammates and the target.

An irritated sigh came from the male as he surveyed the scene before him. The sight gruesome to many, though normal for him. Thankfully, the young assassin had managed to tone down with his little sporadic killing spree. 

“Alright, we’re going to collect the bodies and any missing parts. Bring them here and we’ll see what we can do with the leftovers.”

A quick glimpse to the side and a twitch of movement had him sigh at the tensed up crew he was given for the night.

“Look, I get that you pansies aren’t well...acquainted with our team. But don’t worry. You will soon.”

The look of fear that rolled through their eyes as he effectively stomped down on the twitching figure’s neck had a shiver of unease roll down all their spines as the last bits of life fled from the poor soul’s eyes.

Despite being one of the shorter members, he has a well rounded build. Similar to Goshiki, he isn’t too lean or too built. Rather he’s equipped to be able to handle any sort of situation thrown at him.

Like Goshiki, he doesn’t really have any tattoos or piercings as he prefers the scars and closed wounds he’s earned from his work out on the field.

One of the ‘normal’ ones around their s/o. He’s affectionate and kind with them that he has no problem hiding his true career.

[pinkysfaultorbrainsfault]

pinky and the brain - s1e5a: where no mouse has gone before

the blood test went okay! i’m still fucking exhausted but i’m pulling through. hopefully when the results come through it’ll be something tame yet treatable.

episode summary: upon learning of a human plot to communicate with aliens from a nearby planet, brain attempts to convince them that he is earth’s leader.

the rundown:

the mice are floating around.

did i need to cap all of those images? no. i probably only needed the last one, honestly. was it funnier? absolutely. so that’s what y’all get.

brain is upside down now.

“look, brain!” cries pinky. “i’m experiencing total weightlessness!”

bonk.

they’re in an anti gravity chamber, for reasons that have not been elaborated upon. they just sort of merrily bump into each other in there until someone lets them out.

bonk.

bonk.

ow. if pinky could die, that would probably be it for his spine. brain looks more like his alarm has just gone off and he really doesn’t want to get up, but god damn it, he has a 9am on tuesdays.

gromp.

“these experiments are degrading.”

“narf! i think they’re fun, brain! i can’t wait for the next ride!”

“that is because you have no dignity.”

but it’s okay. this man in terrifying sunglasses has come to rescue the boys. air mice nyoom is over.

as he takes them back to wherever, brain spots something of interest.

IT’S A DVD. HOW ANTIQUATED. but no, he’s more concerned about whatever it is this dude is polishing.

“did you see that plaque, pinky?” brain asks, and then does... this. for some reason. i don’t know. maybe i paused at a weird time. this is, uh, not a good moment, brain. there are people here.

“poit. he really ought to floss more often.”

this, at the very least, is enough to get brain to stick his ass out slightly less, and as they get lowered into fun little chairs,

he explains to pinky that the plaque "displays representations of man, woman, and the rudiments of earth’s most sophisticated science.”

see! there are the sciences right there. all sciences can be narrowed down to a bunch of dots and pi.

so then they get put in the promare spinny machine for their crimes.

sunglasses man leaves. he has done his duty for bill and country.

completely unbothered by the prospect of fueling the promepolis warp drive, brain explains to pinky that said plaque is being “sent on a probe to the outermost extremities of the galaxy, along with a disk showing earth’s arts and music.” unfortunately, this show is set in the 90s, so it’s a miracle this episode actually happened and the aliens didn’t just listen to a couple seconds of bjork and then decide to call the whole thing off.

meanwhile, the scientist turns the spinny mode up a bit.

“if the aliens look upon it, they will learn everything they need to know about the dominant species on earth!”

“naaarf. too bad there isn’t a picture of you on there, brain!”

“exactly,” says brain, who can somehow still manage a coherent sentence. “are you pondering what i’m pondering?”

“i think so, brain! but pants with horizontal stripes make me look chubby!”

awful. brain somehow manages to convey that if he puts a picture of himself on the plaque, then the aliens will recognise him as earth’s leader.

unfortunately, most of his lower half appears to be significantly broken, so he may need some assistance.

the episode cuts straight from spinny machine to the next scene, so i’m not entirely sure how long afterwards it takes place. i assume at the very least they both had a nap first, but anyway, now the mice are here and significantly less broken, and brain is standing in front of an engraving of himself and saying voila.

“voila.”

not only has he carved himself into the plaque, he’s also carved the human figures out entirely. impressive stuff, considering that tool is bigger than him.

pinky thinks it’s marvellous!

“but who is it?”

bonk.

it gets worse. brain explains that he has “slightly altered the great art masterpieces” to enhance his own importance as earth’s leader.

slightly.

“oh, this is my favourite one, brain!”

“......how did that get in there.”

undeterred, brain switches over to some samples of The World’s Great Works Of Classical Music.

BRAIN’S THE LEADEEEEEEEEEEER BRAIN’S THE LEAAAADEEEEER

he’s even included some examples of america’s contribution to the fine arts!

ROCK. AND ROLL.

A WOP BOP A LOO BOP A LOP BAM BRAIN. let it be known that little richard was actually white and dubiously canadian.

/s

anyway brain wants them to swap his disk and plaque with the real disk and plaque, so they set off to do that.

“but brain, what about ballet? aren’t you going to give them a sample of the ballet?”

“the aliens aren’t going to care about ballet, pinky.”

or perhaps he was just too embarrassed to edit his face onto the ballets russe. it’s okay brain. we love you even if your short legs make your sissones lackluster.

time for Big Rocket.

they’re stopped at the gates, of course.

fear not! it’s only famous jet propulsion scientist wernher von brain from the braun institute in baun.

and wernher von pinky!!! from the mink institute in pink!!!

brain looks at pinky like he’s just said something stupid, and chooses to ignore the fact that wernher van braun had been dead twenty years before this cartoon takes place. very smart, brain. much genius.

still, it works on this guy.

“from now on, pinky, whatever anyone asks you, just say ‘ja’ or ‘nein’.”

BUT NEVER MIND THAT.

IT’S TIME FOR BIG ROCKET.

brain screws his custom Mouse Plaque onto the base of the rocket. he also sticks his ass out again as he does it, because he is clearly having one of those days.

pinky watches as the countdown progresses slowly, from ten-nine-eight-seven-six-five-four-three-stand by for emission.

“did you hear the countdown, pinky?”

“ja!”

“what number are they down to?”

“nien!”

“nine???”

“ja!”

“excellent, plenty of time.”

<does a gay little run into the distance>

(he did not, in fact, have plenty of time.)

“didn’t you tell me they were down to nine, pinky?”

“ja! nien! poit!”

there’s your answer, i guess.

but it’s fine! brain’s picture is on the rocket, as well as his cultural erasure of little richard, so surely nothing can go wrong now!

look at it nyooming around in space. how cute.

conclusion:

ALIENS LAND ON EARTH.

news man witters on about this being the GREATEST MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD as various politicians and news organisations congregate to say hi to the aliens. they are from firnobulax, and they want to meet earth’s leader!

here they come now!

squelch.

the aliens politely request to be taken to earth’s leader.

“he means me,” says bill, wriggling himself to the front of the line. “i can feel his pain.”

):

the other world leaders don’t seem too sure about this.

including... this guy. who is definitely supposed to be british (”oh, really, old chap, i think he means me”) but i. definitely do not recognise him. who are you??? what did you do to the queen??????? give liz back right now you bureaucrat, or the entirety of england will throw hands.

the aliens care not for this.

so they kind of explode everyone in the venue, as you do.

the politicians watch in horror as the aliens fly right past them, to this innocent looking soap box right at the back.

the inhabitants of which came prepared. very cute.

“you are the earth creature known as. brain?”

“yes!”

“i am the leader of this planet!! ruler of all i survey!!!!!”

good for you! (:

“narf. and he really isn’t just a laboratory mouse trying to take over the world.”

brain will handle this from here, thank you.

the aliens are satisfied, at least. they give pinky a little pat on the head for all his narfs (he speaks excellent firnobulax, don’t you know, narf poit egad) and take the mice away to CELEBRATE THEIR GLORY.

it doesn’t look very comfortable, but neither of them seem to mind.

“at last, pinky! we are finally appreciated!”

“what does it feel like..........”

anyway, the spaceship full of mice flies away. brain regails the firnobulaxians with tales of how he invented electricity.

“but brain. wasn’t that ben franklin?”

bonk.

brain realises mid bonk that this probably looks very suspicious, so he convinces the aliens that this is a gesture of respect on earth.

it goes about as well as one would think it would.

“you mean all those years, you were just showing me respect! i’m touched!”

“yes, you certainly are.”

luckily, they make it back to firnobulax without too much trouble.

there’s a parade and everything. the crowd cheers “narf! poit! brain!” as they’re carried through the street, which is probably a sequence of words that brain is very used to hearing.

i don’t know what these things are, but they’re scary.

they make it to brain’s “domicile” soon enough, which is a big fancy room with a chair in it.

there’s only one chair, which is sad, but hopefully that can be mitigated. brain settles himself down triumphantly.

“from now on, pinky,” he says, “everything will be different.”

which is a good time for bars to fall down over one of the windows.

donk.

the mice look on, horrified,

as it continues around the rest of the room.

and the door, too, for good measure.

“egad, brain!” cries pinky. “they’ve locked us in!”

“yes, pinky.”

“yes.”

awww. ):

as pinky attempts to break the bars, brain wanders off back to his little chair, incredibly despondantly.

he has to prepare for tomorrow night.

“why, brain? what are we going to do tomorrow night?”

“same thing we do every night, pinky. try to take over firnobulax.”

hmmmmm.

man. i just. the plan actually worked, is the thing. it did exactly what brain intended it to. and how could he have known that firnobulax wanted to kidnap the leader of earth for scientific purposes? maybe if they’d been upfront with their intent, we would have had an excuse to send some dictators into space. go figure.

but never mind.

brain: 6 pinky: 7 outside influence: 13

“ooooo, i don’t know, brain. i once saw a group of japanese tourists absolutely melt at the final scene of giselle.”

[cressasdbfanfics]

Homesick

Paring: GoChi

Words: 3,369

Summary: Set in the 7 year time skip. In Other World, Goku meets someone surprising. Meeting her both helps and hurts.

Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13694247/1/Homesick

Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26407174

Training for the rest of eternity on Grand Kai's planet was fun but taking a break sometimes was nice, too—even if my body didn't exactly need rest like I did when I was alive on Earth. My favorite place to explore was the planet the good people went to when they died. When I first visited the planet, someone told me that the place had something for everyone.

I flew over lush tropical jungles, arid deserts, around snowy mountain peaks, and over valleys that were forever locked in the perfect spring day. Fields of wildflowers blanketed the valley floors. King Kai told me people seek out the landscapes most familiar to them when they first arrived. It reminded them of home. King Kai said I might even find a spot that reminded me of home. I found my favorite spot not long after I died and visited often. It reminded me of home.

Tall, pillar-like mountains appeared in the distance. I kicked in a burst of speed, swooping low over a river toward the familiar landscape. I landed on the top of one of the mountain's grassy peaks and let my legs dangle over the edge.

I could just picture my house on the land below and imagine the mouth-watering smells of Chichi's home cooking drifting through the open windows. I smiled. I pictured Chichi as she stepped outside and called me in for dinner, a smile on her pretty face, and her hair let down from her usual bun.

I blinked and rubbed my eyes.

I definitely didn't imagine the woman standing with her back to me at the river's edge—a woman wearing a very familiar style of traditional dress with a long sleeved undershirt. I was sure she would have been wearing the same sort of loose-fitting pants and house shoes, too—if it weren't for the unsettling ghostly tail floating a few inches above the ground where legs should have been. A golden halo hovered over her head. Her long, dark hair reflected the halo's faint warm glow.

"No way." I slid off the edge of the rocky, grass-topped column and let myself free fall through the air. I slowed myself with a flare of energy only a couple of feet above ground and ran to her, my heart racing. I grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. "Chichi!? How—"

She yelped and stared up at me with wide eyes—a lighter brown than I expected. For that matter, the woman's hair wasn't the same shade as Chichi's hair was either. I let my hands fall away from the woman's shoulders. If there was anything Chichi drilled into me, it was manners so I decided to offer this strange woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to my wife an apology.

"Heh… sorry I scared you. You look just like my… ah…" I dropped my gaze to the river behind her and the silvery fish glinting in the sunlight as they darted around just below the surface. I rubbed at my chest.

"How do you know that name?" she asked, her head slightly tilted.

The woman's voice even sounded like Chichi's.

"Well. Ya see. Chichi's my wife," I said. "Heh… Or at least she was when I was alive."

The woman's mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide. "You're Chichi's husband!?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But—"

"I'm Chichi's mother, Lait!" she said, her expression brightening into an excited smile.

I stared at her. "Her mother…?" I mouthed. It felt like my brain froze—all thought grinding to a stop.

My attention snapped to a hand waving in front of my face. "I asked you what your name is," she said.

"Oh. Uh. I'm Goku. Son Goku," I said.

Lait clapped her hands in front of her chest in the same way Chichi did when she was excited about something. "Chichi got married! Oh, I hoped she'd find love!" Lait grabbed my hand. "Let's go for a walk."

Lait pulled me along a pathway following the river that wove between the column-shaped mountains. A forest of giant trees just like my mountain on earth lay ahead.

"An entire lifetime? Already?" murmured Lait. She glanced up at me and giggled as she scratched her cheek—a habit Chichi had when she was embarrassed about something. "Ah. Sorry. I lose track of time up here."

"Heh, yeah, I know exactly what you mean."

Gravel crunched under my boots as we entered the forest, the path still following the river. Lait floated along next to me.

"So, how is Ox after all this time?" asked Lait. "He was softening up into a real sweetheart when Chichi came along."

I stepped over a narrow stream that cut across our path and held my hand out for Lait—though I realized she probably didn't have to worry about losing her balance. "Yeah! He's a pretty cool guy! And an awesome grandpa, too!"

Lait halted just before the water, hovering inches above the stream's rocky bank. "Grandpa!?" She stared at me with her hand over her mouth but the shine in her eyes betrayed a smile.

I grinned. "Chichi and I have an amazing son named Gohan."

Lait's eyes filled with tears. "I'm a grandmother?" she murmured through her hand.

"Yeah!" I said with a nod. "Gohan is ten years old, super smart and incredibly strong. Heh. At least he was ten years old the last time I saw him. He's probably grown some by now."

I couldn't help but picture an older Gohan, nearing my height if not taller than me—though I didn't know exactly how much older

"Oh, I bet Ox spoils the daylights out of him," said Lait through a watery laugh.

I laughed, too. "Chichi got after Ox sometimes for giving Gohan too many presents every time he visited."

Lait accepted my hand and floated over the stream. She sighed wistfully. "That sounds like my husband."

We lapsed into comfortable silence. A small flock of chirping sparrows flitted by weaving through the trees. Lait looked at me, her mouth slightly open like she was about to say something. Instead, Lait bit her lip and looked toward the path in front of us. We followed the winding path deeper into the peaceful forest. The trail had left the river behind a ways back, though I could still hear the steady rush of water.

"Do you… Do you know if Ox ever found love again?" she finally asked, her voice quiet.

I looked at her and shook my head. "Don't think so." I thought back to the few times I heard Ox speak of his wife over the years I knew him—thought back to the way he spoke of her and the soft smile on his face. "Ya know, I think he misses you too much," I said.

With tears in her eyes, Lait fell silent again after that—aside from the occasional sniffle—leaving my mind free to wander. I frowned as we followed the path deeper into the forest, unable to shake the newly formed troubling question that pushed to the forefront of my mind: Would Chichi find love?

"Tell me how you and Chichi met," said Lait.

I glanced at her. "Oh. Uh. Well, we were just kids—twelve or thirteen maybe? When I first saw her, this huge dinosaur was chasing her and she cut its head clean off," I said through a chuckle. "Chichi was really strong."

Lait giggled, too. "Considering what her father was capable of, that doesn't surprise me." Lait and I crossed over a small wooden bridge built over a stream with crystal clear water. "How in the world did you manage to find Ox's kingdom, anyway? We were so far off the beaten path."

"My friends and I were searching for these things called Dragon Balls and tracked one to Ox's castle."

"The Dragon Balls, eh?" said Lait as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "I heard if you gather… seven, was it?" I nodded. "You can summon a mighty dragon that will grant you any wish. Ox and I never saw it ourselves but we believed the legend."

"The legend is true," I said. "I've seen the Eternal Dragon. Shenron is huge and powerful. If he's summoned in the daytime, the sky goes dark like it's night."

"That must have been incredible to see," said Lait with an awed smile.

"Sure was!"

"So… it was in this search for the Dragon Balls that you first met Ox and Chichi?" said Lait, her tone lifting at the end.

"Yeah! Ox overheard my friends and me talking about how to take the Dragon Ball from his castle. He didn't like that very much," I said.

A knowing smile twinkled in Lait's eyes. "He never did take kindly to anyone showing up to take his precious treasure."

I chuckled at the memory. "Yeah, he did attack my friends and me for that."

"Sounds like Ox," said Lait with a shake of her head. "Seeing that must have upset Chichi. Her dad scared her when he got like that when she was really little."

"Well, Chichi wasn't there right then," I said. "Ox sent Chichi on a mission far away from the kingdom."

Lait glanced at me, throwing me a look with an eyebrow raised and her upper lip just slightly curled. I knew that expression and I didn't miss the warning in it. "Away from the kingdom?" she said, her tone icy.

"Uh." I swallowed. "Y-ya see, a magical fire no one could put out endangered Ox's castle. He sent Chichi out to find the turtle hermit, Master Roshi to help."

"Master Roshi, huh?" Lait's expression of warning shifted into a surprised smile. "That's a name I haven't heard in a while. Master Roshi was Ox's childhood martial arts master."

I grinned. "Master Roshi was my grandpa's master! And then I trained under Master Roshi as a kid, too!"

Lait glanced up at me. "No kidding? Ox had expressed interest in training Chichi in the style of the Turtle Hermit school." Lait smiled ruefully. "I didn't live long enough to see that happen."

I touched Lait's shoulder as we walked. She reached up and patted my hand.

"Ox did train Chichi. She is one of the strongest women I know," I said.

Lait's smile grew genuine.

I spent the next few minutes telling Lait all about how I took Chichi to Master Roshi's house and back to her kingdom.

"Ox gave me the Dragon Ball for my help and even promised Chichi's hand in marriage to me for helping him and Chichi," I said. "I agreed because I thought marriage was a type of food when I was a kid. Boy was I wrong."

Lait threw her head back and laughed. "Did ya live under a rock?"

I scratched the back of my head and laughed, too. "Pretty much."

"What happened next?" asked Lait.

"Well, my friends' hunt for the Dragon Balls took me away from Ox and Chichi. I saw Chichi again a few months later and then didn't see her for a few years after that."

Lait stared at me. "A few years?"

"I was busy training for the twenty-third World Martial Arts Tournament," I said. "Didn't see my other friends for a while, either. Not until we met again at the Tournament."

"Did you return to her after the Tournament?" asked Lait.

I shook my head. "Didn't have to. Chichi found me to remind me of the promise I made to her."

Lait frowned sadly. "You forgot about Chichi?"

"Not exactly. When I first saw her at the Tournament, I didn't recognize her at first." I chuckled at the memory. "Chichi was so angry with me, she screamed in my face."

"Oh, dear. Sounds like she inherited her father's temper," said Lait through a giggle.

I nodded. "Yeah. But I really like that about her. I love her fiery spirit."

Lait sighed wistfully and said, "Chichi always was a stubborn child."

I laughed. "I can believe it."

"So, Chichi found you at the Tournament. Did she approach you after your matches?" asked Lait.

I shook my head. "No. She fought me."

Lait's eyebrows shot up. "Fought you? You mean she registered?"

I nodded. "Yeah! She was really good, too! She made it all the way to the semi-finals!"

Lait's face lit up with an awed smile that quickly turned into one of pride.

"I still didn't know who she was and she registered under anonymous," I said. "She said she'd tell me her name if I won our match so that's what I did."

"You won and she told you her name, I take it. And then?"

"Chichi helped me remember the promise I made to her but I still didn't know exactly what I promised," I said with a twitch of my shoulders. "I had to ask my friends what marriage was. They said I was supposed to live together with her for the rest of my life. I couldn't explain why, but the thought of that just felt right."

Lait sighed as we wandered down the forest path, a dreamy smile on her face. My thoughts drifted back to simple times, back to when my days consisted of training to keep Chichi and Gohan safe and coming home every night to Chichi's warm smile and amazing cooking.

"Goku?"

Snapped from my memories, I hummed a response. Lait's dreamy smile had turned into a troubled, sad frown.

"It couldn't possibly have been a whole lifetime for Chichi or for you. There's no way. How did you… ah…" Lait scratched at her cheek.

"Huh?" I put it together. "Oh. How did I die?"

Lait's eyes flashed wide a moment and then her cheeks went a little pink. Lait waved her hand through the air. "I… heh… Goodness. That's too personal. I'm sorry I asked."

I waved off her apology and offered a smile. "No, it's okay! I died fighting this really strong, evil guy named Cell. He was about to blow up the planet and, well, I couldn't let that happen."

Lait stared at me. "The… whole planet?" She shook her head. "Ox told me stories about some of Master Roshi's ability with ki but I didn't know anyone that strong existed."

"It's real," I said. "Cell was ridiculously powerful. Stronger than me, even."

"How did you beat him?"

I smiled toward the path ahead. "I didn't. Gohan did." I felt Lait staring at me. "My son and I trained long and hard to face Cell."

When I looked at Lait, I was surprised at first to see the pure rage burning in her eyes and directed at me. Chichi's temper didn't just come from her dad. It was almost comforting in a way. I did my best not to smile—I knew from experience smiling only made Chichi's temper worse.

Lait shoved her rigid pointer finger into my chest. "You made your ten-year-old boy fight against someone tough enough to destroy an entire planet?" Her voice rose with every word.

I nodded. "We didn't have a choice. We needed him against Cell just like we needed him against all the other strong bad guys before. My Gohan was stronger than me. And he won."

Lait huffed as she dropped her finger from my chest. Her lips remained pursed and her eyes narrowed.

"You know, you look just like Chichi when you do that," I said, unable to fight my smile any longer.

Lait's rage evaporated as her eyes lit up. She laughed.

Lait and I resumed our walk, following the path up a hill. The trees thinned.

"How about you? How did you end up here?" I asked. "Chichi and Ox said you got very sick but didn't tell me anything else."

Lait nodded and frowned down at the ground at her feet. "Yes, that's right. It was cancer. It spread too far, too fast for any doctors to do anything about it. Ox went so far as to hire shamans to try to heal me." Lait pointed a slender finger at her halo. "Chichi watched all of it." Lait hung her head as her hands balled into fists at her side. Her voice cracked as she said, "No little girl should have to watch her mother die."

"I'm sorry," I said as I touched her back.

Ox and Chichi rarely talked about Lait. Even then, I knew even then talking about her was too painful for them.

Lait blew out a breath. "I got to say my goodbyes when I realized I wasn't going to survive and not everybody gets to. It wasn't a disease or virus they could catch. I found comfort in that, too."

I didn't really say goodbye to Chichi before I left to fight Cell. I hadn't really said goodbye to her all those other times I left, either. I never was fond of goodbyes.

"What does Chichi look like now?" asked Lait.

"A lot like you," I said. "But darker hair and darker eyes than yours."

"And Gohan?"

"Well, Gohan looks a bit like me but he has his mother's eyes and different hair than mine," I said.

The path ended at the top of what turned out to be a cliff, a waterfall spilling over the wall of rock not too far from where we stood.

I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest, frowning despite the breathtaking view.

"You miss Chichi and Gohan a whole lot. I can see it in your eyes," said Lait.

I gazed out over the mountains and forest that looked like home but weren't and sighed. "Yeah."

Lait rested her hand on my arm.

"I was gone a lot before this. I know I hurt Chichi when I had to leave but she always forgave me for bein' gone." I smiled sadly. "I just hope she'll forgive me for this one."

"I know she will," said Lait, maintaining the comforting contact.

Goku, said a familiar voice directly into my mind.

I twitched as Lait gasped. I looked up toward the unnaturally gold and pink sky of Other World. "King Kai? What's up?"

There's something King Yemma and I need to talk to you about. You'll want to hear this. Trust me, said King Kai.

"Uh. Okay," I said with a shrug. "I'll be right there."

Good.

"Who was that?" Lait asked, eyes wide.

"You heard him, eh? Well, he's a friend. He's telepathic."

Lait nodded, but it was the slow sort of nod people did when they didn't quite believe what they heard. "I… see."

I chuckled.

Lait adjusted the shawl around her shoulders. Her skeptical expression shifted into a sad smile. "I guess this means you have to leave then?"

"Yeah."

"Don't be a stranger. Okay?" said Lait, tears gathering in her eyes.

I smiled as I tapped two fingers to my forehead. "I wont! I know this trick that lets me teleport to anyone no matter how far away. It's called Instant Transmission."

I concentrated a moment to get a good read on her ki, filing away her exact signature.

"Now I can find you whenever I want!" I said.

Lait closed the small distance between us and wrapped her arms around my waist. "Promise?"

Lait really did remind me a lot of Chichi.

I nodded and returned the hug. "Promise."

Lait stepped back and I got ready for Instant Transmission. I spared her an extra glance as Lait and the familiar landscape melted away.

I was surprised to find King Kai hanging out in Earth's check-in station with King Yemma. Last I saw King Kai, he was on the Grand Kai's planet supervising my spar with Pikkon. Whatever it was King Kai needed to see me for, it was big. Even more confusing, both King Kai and King Yemma had a smile on their faces, which they both directed at me. Fortuneteller Baba floated over the edge of King Yemma's huge desk, sitting cross-legged on her shiny crystal ball and smiling down at me, too.

I stared back and forth between the three of them. Whatever they were about to tell me was definitely going to be big.

[secretgamergirl]

Hate Mobs Gotta Go

Last night, I did something I have never expected to do, and just full on gave up on a fun RPG writing assignment. Which I had to do because I hit a point where it was so overdue and unfinished that I was falling asleep sitting up and stress vomiting and other such things. There’s a whole lot of factors behind that. Other health issues, the toll of being on total pandemic lockdown for months, with neighbors just straight up open mouth coughing at my door, emergencies with friends and family, multiple fires and hardware failures, but the main thing was, and still is, the constant harassment from a militant hate mob, completely out of touch with reality.

Years ago, I remember there was this thing the internet at large was fond of doing with foaming at the mouth far right religious extremists- Mercilessly ridiculing them in public to expose how disconnected everything they said or did was from reality. Remember seeing this one float around and laughing your head off?

And if I mention the Westboro Baptist Church, you immediately picture a single family of raving bigots picketing funerals and such with their big homophobic signs, with a bigger crowd mocking them, right?

For some reason, the modern version of that particular flavor of fringe weirdo doesn’t get that sort of ridicule. Presumably because they’re focusing almost exclusively on trans people, and most people have this weird thing where like if you stick up for trans people you get cooties or something and never dig into the real juicy ridicule fodder. But for real, this stuff is OUT THERE. Just look at a few examples here.

Come for the weird ravings about harvesting baby organs. Stay for the... adult woman who apparently believes breasts get their shape from actually being sacks filled with milk under women’s skin? Now, how about this colorful comparison?

For anyone who wasn’t aware, pronouns are words like “I” “you” “he” “she” “it” and “this,” while rohypnol is colloquially known as “the date rape drug,” so this is utter gibberish. The full context of course is that this person is trying to make the argument that forcing this bigot to refer to women she’s prejudiced against as “she” instead of arbitrarily tossing around “he” or “it” is... raping her brain, I guess?

So... this is pretty clearly some creep’s weird little fantasy. The obvious giveaway is pretending that trans women “aren’t in the correct bathroom” when going to... the correct bathroom, and that the non-existent law about this is somehow enforced by... random bigots opting to deputize themselves. What DOES happen for real though is bigots like this being arrested for barging into public restroom stalls with camcorders aimed at the crotches of women on toilets and trying to defend themselves by insisting they have some duty to check what their genitals look like. On which note...

That’s just disgusting. It’s also as close as I feel comfortable to posting all the graphic fantasies I see from these people about the barbaric genital mutilation they imagine trans women subject ourselves to which really has no basis at all in reality. Well maybe I can post this one.

I’m not going to go through and itemize all the baldfaced lies in that, because I really kinda hope I don’t have to, and also because the person who slapped this together was kind enough to break it up in such a way that I legitimately can say “every single line of this is a completely baseless lie.” Also the art in the corner is stolen from a child-friendly comic whose author is trans, so, that’s extra slimy. Also wow that “bone scans” bit is actually one I’ve never seen. Where the hell do they even get these ideas?

Also this one needs some setup. If you have time, this right here is a freaking journey, if not, I’ll try to summarize.

So a while ago, this one particular unhinged bigot decided the most productive way to spend all her time was to get in touch with a bulk sticker printing business and order thousands if not millions of these weird gross poorly framed slabs with a really crude drawing of a penis and bunch of gibberish she really wishes were the names of popular twitter hashtags that nobody else but her ever uses. And then after receiving these, just... wandering around the city she lives in all day every day plastering them on phone booths and power poles and the mirrors of bathrooms in like.. elementary schools and park benches, just everywhere. And then makes multiple passes a day apparently to make sure nobody has tried to remove any of them, as detailed in this amazing thread I’ll link again.

So the latest break in that particular saga is that same zealot going around plastering stickers like this around too, to make it seem like “both sides do it.”

It should be obvious that that’s a “blacks rule!” sort of fake between the baffling text and using the extra inclusive, particular emphasis on supporting people of color, general purpose LGBT+ flag, but also, like their fellows on 4chan, they plan this sort of “false flag” crap in broad daylight:

I should really properly credit the whistle-blowing on that particular oddity, and I should also note that aside from the breast milk sacks, this is all just stuff I saw TODAY catching up on my twitter feed, but my main point with all this is to illustrate that we really are dealing with Jack Chick/Westboro Baptist-level unhinged zealotry... but again, nobody’s out there pointing and laughing. And it turns out, when you don’t have people pointing and laughing at this sort of thing, you get people taking it seriously. So... when I went to quickly search for a news story to link with the bit about creeps barging in on women with cameras, the results I got were... this.

That... sure is a lot of stories about totally innocent people in a demographic I belong to being murdered by total strangers goaded into blind murderous hatred by the sort of people I’m pointing and laughing at! Ha ha! There’s a very real chance of that happening to me every time I step outside, for any reason! Tee hee! I live in a state of constant fear! Whoopsie!

And it’s not just stuff like that. The people posting these rambling tirades about “breast milk sack implants” and putting crude penis stickers everywhere, never being called out as the unhinged weirdos they are, either have the world turning a blind eye to all this crap, or have everything they do downplayed in the media to the point where outright sexual harassment, doxing, and slurs I don’t want to repeat get headlines like “so-and-so made comments that some fringe trans activists on the internet deem ‘possibly transphobic’” and that’s AT BEST. More often you get stuff like the one incident I managed to bring a lot of public attention to way back when, where some bigot just literally walked up to someone on the street, grabbed them, savagely beat the hell out of them until pulled apart, had friends film the whole thing, and bragged after the fact about it, and every story that appeared as a result claimed the assailant was the victim, because they were all written by her friends.

Face obscuring provided by me here, by the way.

And that isn’t a one-off incident. Because, see, most of these unhinged weirdos spewing out all this transphobic gibberish are not, as you would think, a bunch of barely educated Trump hat wearing members of some fringe religious congregation. They’re editors and producers in major British news outlets. This isn’t me shouting conspiracy nonsense either, this is well-documented. Like, The Guardian gets public internal protests over this crap. So does the BBC. Yes, other respected news sites cover this. Media watchdog groups do their best to reign this in with hearings and such, but, don’t actually have any power to enforce anything really. So when there’s “reporting” on this crap, it’s coming directly from the “breast milk sack implant” people. Oh and here’s some screenshots of the headlines of those stories you’re too lazy to click through and actually read:

And of course, sometimes when they want to really come across as respectful, they try to find “scientists” and “doctors” who back up their ravings but all they have to fall back on are disgraced quacks who spend most of their time on activism work to normalize pedophilia.

I’m not bringing that point about Cantor up to discredit his writings about trans people by the way. He doesn’t really HAVE any writings about trans people. He just pasted the names of a bunch of random studies from the 70s about whether playing with barbies makes you gay into his blog a few years back and this crowd was so desperate for validation they declared him an “expert in the field” and started passing out links to his.... pro-pedophila blog. Which is part of this whole pattern, but I’ve written about that before. Oh and the governments of multiple countries manage to treat all these people as “experts” and make policy decisions based on their ravings. That’s fun.

Anyway, aside from encouraging random people to, you know, just randomly murder anyone they see who looks like maybe a trans woman, every so often this weird little cult pulls in an actual celebrity who then has a public meltdown as they post all this gibberish to a wider audience. Currently this is going on with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling (who’s actively promoting the pedophile guy up there on Twitter), and I think also William Shatner, but I haven’t really looked into it. The last big one though was Graham Linehan. Who you might remember from co-writing some sitcoms that were popular decades ago in Britain, or from being the weird cartoon villain who tried to kill the funding of a children’s charity, prompting this strange pledge drive marathon of Donkey Kong Country.

You might also know him as one of... I think honestly just two people who have ever managed to be such out of control stalking hate mongers that they were actually given a permanent no possible appeal ban from Twitter. Personally though I know him more as, you know, that one absolute creep who’s been obsessively stalking me for like 5 years and never shutting up about his weird personal obsession with me.

I WOULD link the recent freaking filmed interview he did where he spent forever rambling about me, but I’d have to actually watch it to confirm I had the right link, and also the only place I could quickly find a link to it would be on his twitter feed, which as stated, no longer exists. Oh and random side note there, despite being personally, by name, the person he was explicitly targeting all his hateful ramblings at, he wasn’t banned from that site for any of the disgusting stuff he said to me. He just slipped up and mentioned a cis woman with a professorship while shouting about this crap recently and that caused people to actually take action. I do so love being invisible.

Anyway, point is, prior to Rowling grabbing the baton from him as his social media presence went up in flames, this guy was name-dropping me a LOT. Presumably he still is, just in places fewer people see it. And when you have as big an audience as he did, and that audience is as full of hatemongers as his was, that has a pretty noticeable effect. I’ve been deluged with so much hateful garbage for so long it’s impossible for me to put any numbers on it. The closest I can do to quantify it is note that hate dump was big enough that I was also flooded with more weird messages intended as support from total strangers than I could deal with, totally losing access to social media feeds and my e-mail from the volume for a good bit, and THAT flood was big enough that I got this whole second wave of creepy stalkers who’d built up this whole weird fanon where this stalker here is like, someone I used to date or be business partners with and not just some creepy dude like twice my age stalking me over the internet, from a completely different hemisphere.

And I mean... in the broadest of strokes, I can kinda laugh all this off. Because... these people are completely ridiculous, out of touch with reality, and mostly live in other countries. But... all the threats and shouting are very real and very constant and like.. picture someone outside on the street shouting at your windows about how they’re going to break in and kill you. You really can’t ignore that. Even if they’re unarmed, and all they’re really capable of doing is shouting and pounding on your door, you can’t really just ignore that shouting and pounding and just watch a movie or play a game or write this article you promised would be done 3 months ago. You can certainly try, but a pretty big part of your brain is going to be occupied with thoughts about how maybe you should call someone to see if they’ll escort this violent person away, or maybe you should barricade your door in case all that pounding does something.

And I mean this isn’t a bad metaphor for how all the constant threats and stalking I’m dealing with thanks to celebrity bigots personally obsessed with me impacts my life, but it also does a pretty good job of describing how my night went pretty recently when I ACTUALLY DID HAVE SOMEONE POUNDING ON MY ACTUAL REAL PHYSICAL DOOR SHOUTING ABOUT STABBING ME TO DEATH, and no, there was no resolution to that beyond the sound of sirens causing that person to back off.

I also had an experience not too long ago where I was supposed to take a cab to a routine appointment, a car showed up with the cab company’s name on it, somewhat early, and proceeded to drive me... out to the middle of the freaking woods like an hour from where I live, and when my phone rang with my actual cab asking where I was the driver freaked out, had me get out of the car, and took off leaving me just... stuck in the middle of nowhere freezing to death and trying to find a landmark an actual cab could pick me up from. Still don’t know what the hell that whole thing was about and whether a cab driver just REALLY didn’t know what he was doing and panicked or what, but I do know that talking about it publicly in the vaguest of terms lead to a bunch of unhinged shouting from... apparently some unconnected ride share driver with a habit of dumping trans women between stops when they try to get medications or something, convinced I was calling him out for that.

So.... yeah. Things aren’t exactly going great in my neck of the woods. I’d really appreciate it if people would properly treat these unhinged violent weirdos like unhinged violent weirdos and not respectable members of society so they quit getting so bold and public with the violent stuff, and people who listen to them get properly shouted down for doing so.

[yvaquietdays]

unfriending my phone

So the leaves are finally starting to drop off the trees around here, giving me all the autumnal/winter pinterest-your-way-to-Halloween vibrations. Nature has a canny way of living and dying and getting rid of what it doesn’t need, taking time out, taking a rest and putting its feet up while the cold weather sets in. It doesn’t need to tweet about it, or update an instagram story with the caption “Branches are dying off lolz.” Autumn marks the beginning of death and decay, it won’t be long until we start posting pictures of our favourite streets coated in leaves (I’m into it). It’s amazing; so many of us love the colours of the fall but in essence, it is the death of living things that we celebrate, so that everything can start anew next year. That’s reality, and I think that’s beautiful. 

Here’s my point. I wish social media would take a break; I wish it would curl up in front of the fire, maybe die off and come back better for everyone next year. I know so many people who now log out of their apps, only to be sent emails from the apps themselves trying to help them “get back online.” This happened to me two weeks ago. 

I don’t know whether I was suffering from PMS, or if I’d been sitting around too long, but my anxiety came on through flood gates I’d obviously forgotten to shut, so it took me a little while to realise the frequency had returned and was buzzing underneath everything before I tried to counteract its presence. I’ve realised I find it quite difficult trying to relive just how my anxiety feels in those moments, because everything seems like a big grey, squishy worm that bleeds into each passing minute, floating midair, making the atmosphere dreadful and vehr wormy. So there are no definitive emotions. Just worry, dread, pressure around my brain and the existential worry that I am not enough.  What I can recall, though, is that I was on social media so often I must have feared it was going to miss me. I have noticed that in times of my quarter life existentialism, the less I have going on around me, the more I automatically, without thought or intention, find myself immersed balls deep in social media. It takes around an hour of surfing absolute dink before I even realise how deep my balls are in the first place. I scrolled mindlessly, and through that open window of my phone, that little ignorant bitch named anxiety flew in as easily as a mother-fucking pidgeon, and I felt just as bad as that time I accidentally pronounced Pinot Grigio as Pee-not-Gri-guy-O. But alas! What did I do, but continue to swipe my poor little finger, as if it would find some answer, some pick-me-up that would relieve the overwhelming feeling of I-HAVE-FAILED (and believe me, when I ordered a Pee-not-Gri-guy-O to that waitress in the restaraunt I did feel that same sense of existential failure). I couldn’t explain to you or myself what I was looking for, and yet the more I found myself looking the worse I felt.

Let me tell you, that shit is as dangerous and addictive as gambling. 

Did you know, Twitter was the first application to develop the pull-to-refresh feature, which was essentially mimicry of a slot machine? It wasn’t long before all the others followed suit (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat et al); ever wonder why you keep refreshing your pages? Do you hope to see something new? Something more beautiful? Something you’ve been tagged in? What’s the difference between you and the fella in Aspers, feeding in twenty after twenty into the machine, in the hopes that this time, this time, he’ll be rewarded? What about the woman who keeps getting four fifties changed at a time, laying all her chips on the roulette table, and losing it all, only to change more money, because this time, this time, she might win? 

It’s not about the money any more. It’s about seeking the reward, the win, the fulfilment, and in social media’s world, validation.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/08/social-media-copies-gambling-methods-to-create-psychological-cravings

So I’ve known for a while the power the internet and social media apps have had over me; all the articles I read in research for my novel really opened my eyes. Sometimes, though, I’m just as good as all the other people on the bus; neck craned, eyes cast downwards, quickly researching Ariana Grande’s insta feed to salivate over her aesthetic, or to see why everyone thought she was responsible for Mac Millers death (hint: she wasn’t). It’s because, just like everyone else, I’m totally addicted to my phone.

Aside: I’m not blaming my bout of anxiety on social media, I’m just noting that it is a huge factor in how I perceive my life.

I use social media as a drug for my restlessness, and I receive sweet fuck all from it. Every time I look, it’s a reminder of how little I’m working, because I’m spending all my time thinking about working and looking at other people succeeding. It integrates this sense of failure, the smallness of my successes look in comparison, to be puney and frail. My lovely living room, amidst the quaint backdrop of my London suburb, looks boring against other artists hanging out in studios and lounging against LA backdrops online. What a failure I am; I’m eating into my savings to pay rent and afford food, I can’t buy that nice contouring set they’re selling to look the part, I’m flogging my clothes on Depop for spare change, I can’t afford flights there, I can’t afford any of this and I’m still chasing this pathetic goal of making money from my art. Every time I leave my parents house, my Dad hugs me and says, “Keep your head up, it’ll happen,” even if I haven’t spent the last two days complaining, even if I’m content, even if I run a bloody half marathon. Everyone’s still aware that she’s still trying, she’s not there yet. It’s really quite easy to lose yourself in those thoughts, it’s easy for me to reel all this off for the sake of a blogpost, but in the end I have to remind myself of the reality.

And that is, I’m fine. I’ve been doing better than I have for a long time. I’m excited, I’m getting motivated, I’m trying, I’m earning, I’m positive about the future. I’m looking after myself.It’s uncertain at times, but life is uncertain. I’m not stepping forward to play the victim in the play of me life. But that’s the kind of outlook I have in hindsight when I haven’t been on my phone all day, because social media does not help my anxiety, or hinder its progress at all. It encourages it. Instagram feeds off of my insecurity and isolation, Twitter feeds off my desire to be all knowing, Facebook creates the illusion that I’m connected when in reality I’m more separated from everyone on there than I’ve ever been.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/19/popular-social-media-sites-harm-young-peoples-mental-health

As a generation, we’re so very disenfranchised but we’re all part of this huge market. It feels as though we’re connecting, and don’t get me wrong, social media is great for self expression and identity and openness. But at the end of the day, it’s a business, and we’re it’s blind, salivating customers. It’s a marketplace for everyone to sell themselves, even when they have no goods to offer. We’re advertised products that an algorithm predicted we’d like, we’re told to post daily to reach more followers, but most of them are bots or strangers who won’t look at your page more than once. Everyone follows each other but we don’t support or give like we used to. I get the odd comment on Instagram complimenting me on my “content,” but that “content” is just my life, I don’t plan it, I don’t create it, it just is. When did our lives become fictional?! I’m all about real action, not figurative or hopeful. I’m about judging my relationships on how they are outside of an app, not what’s said inside of it. It’s too easy to lose ourselves in the virtual version of reality, where we can create how we’re seen. That’s the side of social media that I see, in terms of how it reflects back to me; it’s dark and foreboding, it’s void of meaning. And that is why I’ve been logging out. I want to enjoy it when I’m on there, not reminded of every flaw in my makeup. I rarely login in to Facebook now. I allow myself, twice a day, to look at Instagram (my main vice and source of all my first world anguish), and now I’ve been off-line, my desire to browse the app has diminished dramatically. I notice my boredom better than before; It doesn’t hold my attention. I caught myself scrolling half loaded pictures (bad wifi connection) this morning, and realised fifteen seconds in that I wasn’t actually looking at anything, I was swiping, endlessly, but the pictures were blurry and it was only the subconscious idea that something would appear that kept me going. So I put my phone down and finished my poop.

Has anyone else found themselves doing something similar? Has anyone else tried logging out? What kind of an effect did it have on you, on your mental health? What kind of an effect does your active participation on social media have, as a whole, on your mind? Do you feel less connected to the world, or more connected to those around you? Perhaps you have a better relationship with your phone than I do. *shrug*

I know I sound like a real doomsayer with my dark cloak (I’m not really wearing a cloak, but damn I think I’d like to) and and my seemingly pessimistic outlook. It’s not my intention to negate social media’s power to instigate positive change; just look at iWeigh, Help Refugees, Political Jules or Coppafeel. All good people using a Instagram to better spread their message of good health, equality and better body image across all platforms. I also believe the people who have really nailed social media are the heroes, the mums and dads of Facebook and Instagram, using Facebook to share with friends and family. That’s the whole point, and I personally think that we’re missing it as a younger generation. It’s so easy to lose ourselves in a business who’s main priority is traffic across all its apps. It doesn’t care what the traffic is, whether its bad or good, friend or foe, wizard or troll (I’ve been re-reading the Harry Potter books again), only that we’re there and we’re active. 

I reckon I really am an old woman at heart; so shoot me. I love my plants and painting, and I dream of living in some log cabin with an art studio, with a huge allotment, my main man and a couple of dergs, Bob Ross style. I love making music and getting on stage and performing, I love acting and I love media and I love galleries, I adore bookshops, beaches, forests. The whole, soppy whack. So what? I’m a romantic.

(That’s the only cool old lady gif I could find)^^^

I’m tired of stalling real conversations because either they or I have been sucked into apps, emails or jigsaw puzzles (it me). I want to live in this real world and create in this real world, but the discontent and conflict I feel is sometimes really, really irritating; I don’t want to use social media for my art, but it seems the only way you’re to be judged by labels and music makers. How much of a following do you have? How many likes do you pull in? How often do you post? It’s not about your art any more, it’s how good you are at selling it. I have enough trouble dealing with all the cogs turning in my brainbox without thinking about all this bullshit. And it goes beyond all that, it’s really irrelevant what career I choose, social media is addictive regardless of what we do. 

So fuck that. I play the game when I have to, but I’m not bending over backwards for it. 

[sam-i-am-27]

When Dreamscapes Cross - Pt 1

Summary: After a long day of panels and fans at a convention, all Thomas wanted was some good nights rest. But not even in the dreamscape did he imagine meeting more Sides, and from two others with ‘Sides’ of their own, nonetheless. 

Word Count: 2316

Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4 Pt. 5 Pt. 6

“It was great to meet you all and I wish I could just give you all a hug and give you all the time I could to personally talk to you, but I’m out of time. So for now, take it easy my gals and non-binary pals. Peace out!” Thomas said, smiling at the resounding cheers that came from this. He waved goodbye one last time and exited backstage, feeling like he was on Cloud 9. The entire room had been packed to the brim with beaming fans, each of whom had supported his work for the past few years and today he had got the chance to thank them. He just wished his friends could have been there since they were a huge part of the turnout, but they had other priorities. Thomas would have to send them all the videos and pictures he had gotten of what had just happened. 

He collapsed on a random chair and ran his hands through his purple hair, a broad grin spreading across his face. No matter how many times he got on stage, no matter how often he looked at what his fans did in support for him, he couldn’t get over the rush and happiness it brought him. There were no words to describe how amazing it was, but if there was, he’d use it far too often.

“That was great!” Thomas jumped a little as Patton appeared next to him, sitting on top of a stack of boxes, legs crossed and eyes watery. 

“Aw, Pat, are you alright?” Thomas asked softly. 

“I just have a lot of feelings,” his morality replied, wiping his eyes on his cardigan sleeve.

“I must agree with Patton,” Roman said, popping up directly next to Thomas. “Those fans care so much about what we do and that was the perfect mix of drama, excitement and love. And must I say that your singing was on-point, Thomas.”

“Thank you, Roman,” Thomas responded. 

“I believe that in approximately ten minutes you have a backstage ‘meet-up’ with some of your admirers who paid extra money to meet you,” Logan interrupted, popping up next to the exit looking as formal as ever. 

“Yes, I know, Logan. I was just catching my breath,” Thomas said. “What’d you think of that?” 

“It was something we rarely do so it was, of course, unpredictable, but I found it rather enjoyable,” Logan replied simply. “It was organized to the point that you knew what was going to happen next but had just a touch of creativity-”

“Yes, that was my doing.”

“... as I was saying, enough, how do I say it... well to put it simply, there was a certain element to it that was explainable and yet enjoyable,” Logan continued, glaring at Roman. 

“Well I’m glad that you liked it. I know how much you like your organization so I tried my best to stay on schedule,” Thomas said. “How about Virgil, what did he think?”

“Oh, he’s a little tired right now,” Patton said. 

“With this being such a new kind of performance, it took a little more out of him than it does with a normal theater production,” Logan explained. “He is currently recuperating in his room but he promised to be out as soon as his energy was back again.”

“Oh I’m sure he will. Can’t drag that ray of sunshine down,” Roman said. “I guess we’ll be there helping him recover until he’s ready to come out of his room. Cheerio!” 

“Remember not to be late to the ‘meet-up’ in approximately eight minutes,” Logan said, sinking back into Thomas’s mind. 

“I’ll be making baking and the cookie is out!” Patton said, starting to fade away.

“Not your best one, Pat,” Thomas said. 

“Yeah I know...” Patton replied as he disappeared. Thomas sighed and leaned back, chuckling slightly as he imagined Roman, Logan and Virgil bickering as Patton tried to get them to eat chocolate chip cookies. Roman would try to pass them up in order to keep himself as healthy as possible but would give in eventually because even Roman couldn’t ignore cookies. Logan would have a very similar reaction and might even pull a Patton and steal a second one. Virgil would take one without question. Cookies always calmed him down after a live performance. He made a mental note to stop and get some after the meet-up... or did Logan? 

Thomas sighed, knowing those types of questions wouldn’t be answered simply but he could at least rely on his Sides to keep him in check. 

There had been more people than Thomas thought there were going to be and each one had more than one piece of amazing art. This unfortunately meant that he had to use a laundry basket to carry it all up to his hotel room, which earned him a glance or two. Not that he minded; if people were looking at him because of the art, that was fine. It was amazing to see the type of commitment each of them put into their art and if people saw it, that was more than anyone could ask for. 

After a little struggle of getting through into his hotel room, he was finally able to relax. He set the artwork on the table and then collapsed onto the bed, his eyes stinging from tiredness. 

“You should probably post on Snapchat that you’ve finished and that you have returned to your hotel room,” Logan said, popping up next to the table. 

“Yeah...” Thomas groaned, grasping at the phone in his pocket clumsily. 

“But first, I would brush that rats nest that you call hair,” Roman added, appearing on the arm of the couch already holding a hair brush. Thomas sighed and took the brush, using one hand to brush his hair and the other to open the app. Just before he started the video, he heard Logan give a little cough. 

“Yeah?” 

“You, uh, forgot to pick up a snack on your way back here,” Logan said pointedly. 

“I will, don’t worry. Just let me get this posted and then... I can ask Room Service to bring one up for me including some dinner,” Thomas mumbled. 

“That would just cost extra money. Just go down there and get the food personally,” Logan said. 

“But he’s tired and needs his sleep. Going all the way downstairs for a cookie that might be there is pointless when sleep is so much more important!” Roman argued. 

“Logan, it won’t cost that much so I’m going to order the cookie from Room Service because I’m too tired to actually go down. I won’t order any more food than that ‘cause I’ve got some extra food from yesterday’s meal. Roman, I won’t have it all. Like half of it or something. Sound good?” Thomas asked. 

“I guess,” Roman replied. 

“It is an acceptable compromise,” Logan said and began to fade away. “Enjoy your snack, Thomas.”

“Bye, Logan,” Thomas said. 

“Thomas if you want to, go ahead and eat it all,” Roman said. “I’m sure that Patton will insist on you eating all of it no matter what the others say.”

“That’s true, sorry,” he said and waved as Roman disappeared. He sighed and called up the front desk. While waiting for the food, he took a quick Snapchat photo captioned ‘Panel and Meet-and-Greet finished! Thank you to everyone who attended and for all the support you all give!”

He smiled again and started taking individual photos of the art he had received. To him, every piece deserved to be in a museum but to others they would be deemed ‘childish’. He smiled as he photographed a creative picture of Joan made out of dyed macaroni. He could imagine Joan getting to hold it and jumping around happily, happy tears pouring down their face. He was sure that every time his heart soared as he looked through the art, that his Sides were cheering and critiquing it. 

By the time his cookie arrived, all the art had been sorted, photographed and forwarded to his friends. 

“No tip for you,” he muttered as he closed the door and took a bite of the cookie. He moaned in delight as it almost literally melted in his mouth, the bittersweet chocolate mixing perfectly with the sweet dough. “Okay... maybe there will be a tip.”

The cookie was gone within seconds and his tiredness had returned in full. Not even fighting it, he tugged a blanket over himself and instantly fell asleep.

Usually, when he fell asleep, he would float around in darkness for a while as his mind sorted everything that happened that day. Sometimes he could catch glimpses of the Side’s rooms or hear snippets of what was being said. After this, the darkness would form whatever his Sides had deemed appropriate for that night’s dreams. Most of the time, he could tell which one had created the dream (most of the time it was Roman) but others it was an obscure mess of color with no meaning. Those were usually the days where the events had taken more of an emotional toll on all of them. They were becoming rarer but they still happened.

Tonight, none of this happened. There was the darkness but it lasted barely a second before it was replaced with a physical setting that was far too detailed and perfect to be real.

Thomas looked around the strange living room, unsure of what was happening. Everything was detailed to perfection- when he bent down to study the carpet, he could see the stray strings coming out of the lumps. The room was set up similar to his own living room but it was far more spacious. The couch was larger and newer-looking, the kitchen had two stoves, a large refrigerator and an alcohol cabinet. There were multiple shelves covered in vinyls and toys but unlike his house, there were multiple characters from more mature video games than he had. They contrasted heavily against his Steven Universe plushies. It was strange...

“Guys?” he called out, his voice echoing strangely. It was exactly how his mind-palace sounded before he got the echo fixed.

He sat down on the couch, wringing his hands nervously. “If this is some new type of dream, I’m not really liking it!”

There was a thump from upstairs and multitude of yells of shock. Thomas recognized those yells as his own and raced upstairs. Sure enough, his Sides were all in a tangled mess in his now expanded bedroom.

“Guys, are you alright?” Thomas asked and helped Patton to his feet instinctively. The all realized the same thing at the same instant. Thomas had just touched Patton and they had all been physically touching each other without an illusion.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Virgil whispered. Even Patton couldn’t hide a look of fear as he cautiously helped Roman to his feet. Thomas noticed Virgil was now sitting on the bed, his legs curled up to his chest and his eyes closed as he breathed in the 4-7-8 method. The panel had already taken so much out of him and now this was happening; it was too much. 

“Patton... can you help Virgil?” Thomas asked softly. Patton nodded and immediately sat next to Virgil, whispering to him softly and talking to him in a calming tone. Thomas jerked his head towards the door and Roman and Logan followed him out. 

“So this isn’t your doing? This house?” Thomas asked nervously.

“Of course not!” Roman replied, offended. “I was actually trying to recreate the feelings you got from the experiences today but with puppies o-or cats.”

“But Thomas is allergic-”

“I know, Poindexter! I would have allowed him to be with them without reacting,” Roman replied.

“Well then what’s happening?!” Thomas asked. They all jumped at the clattering that came from downstairs. The three men looked at each other and then rushed downstairs. Where Thomas had woken up there were now seven identical men, the only thing distinguishing them being their clothing, skin and voices. 

“Ah, get off me, Chase!” one said in a heavy German accent. 

“Sorry, brah! Ow! Robbie, that was my dick!” ‘Chase’ groaned to which a groan was received. Thomas and his Sides shared a look as the group of men untangled themselves with a slew of swear words. It seemed to be quite difficult for them since there were so many and they didn’t seem to understand how to properly escape. There was a low growl from somewhere in the pile that sent a shiver up Thomas’s spine. 

“Such language!” Roman commented. Thomas wasn’t quite sure whether he was impressed, offended, or both. He and his friends had never been ones to swear so hearing this amount of swearing in one place with one word being said more often than the others was strange and almost painful to hear. But there was something familiar about it all. Many of them had the same voice but Thomas couldn’t put where he had heard it. 

There was a crash and a loud scream. Patton burst through the door, looking shaken and pale. His glasses were askew on his face and he was gaping like a fish. 

“What is it, Patton?” Logan asked. “Is it Virgil?”

He shook his head and opened the door wide. Inside, Virgil was curled up against the headboard, staring at the person who had just appeared with wide-eyed. Thomas looked at the man and felt his heart drop when he realized that he knew this person. Newly died brown hair, a scruffy beard a little bit redder than his hair, and an Irish accent weaving through every curse word spilling from his mouth. 

“What the shit is happening?!” Jacksepticeye yelled and then looked up. His eyes flickered between the three men, then to Virgil, and back to Thomas. 

“Oh... fuck...”

“Yup...” Thomas agreed softly. 

Uh... yeah! 

I got inspired by @ironwoman359‘s Sander’s Sides, Markipier Egos, and Jacksepticeye Ego crossover! 

https://ironwoman359.tumblr.com/post/168913513403/prompt-sanders-sides-meet-the-septic-egos-thomas

I got a bit planned for this and it won’t be super long but it’ll be a fun project if I go through with it!

Go read it and follow her! It’s so good and she’s got some really good content! 

Uh if you do read this, please comment or something. 

Have a good day!

[bill-the-baker]

My journey to Hell

Warning: Long post. Not suitable for dial-up users or those with a short attention span. (For mobile users, just keep scrolling until you see the picture with the inflated Shantae.)

I remember when it all started. It was when I was taking my break from this site (when I should’ve been revising), and I was browsing DeviantArt.

My journey down the rabbit hole began when I came across this account that did fanart involving characters from OK KO engaging in holy Christian activities, like denouncing Atheism as Satanism:

But then, I found out that it was part of this collection...

Most of it was just ironic and intentionally bad art, but then, after some searching, I came across some stamps.

I thought to myself something along the lines of “What the fuck”, and “This must be some kind of a joke. So, I went to this guy’s user page, and it all went downhill from there.

First of all, I must admit, this guy has some form of intellect to him, with him occasionally displaying his expertise with computers, which I can personally applaud.

However, in order to actually get to that point, I needed to go through boatloads of confusing and morally questionable content.

First of all, this guy has made it clear numerous times in the past that he is a sufferer of autism, so it’s likely that you’d find a lot of art based on specific interests, but these ideas and interests are so closed and obscure that they’re truly something to behold.

He describes himself as an advocate for numerous ideas, but they all just appear so trivial. For example:

He really wants to have Luvs (a brand of diapers, by the way) imported to his home country of Australia, Lord knows why:

He protested against McDonald’s on the issue of child obesity, using low quality thinly-veiled weight gain fetish art (more on that later):

He also doesn’t like how Avon (a company specialising in feminine beauty products) has a mostly-female board of directors:

And, to top it all off, he refuses to believe that men can be victims of sexual assault:

(By the way, the generic white man with the Tom Baker-brand thousand-yard stare is how he draws himself.)

He also believes that’s it’s extremely important for cartoon characters (including non-humans) to have navels, and also believes that one of the most important life lessons you would teach kids is why they have one. My best guess is that it’s all just for the satisfaction of his not-so closeted fetishes, but this guy never gives straight answers so I can’t really tell:

Speaking of not-so closeted fetishes, he’s also made a hefty load of fan-art of cartoon characters for the raising of awareness on child obesity, based on this image that you might have seen floating around the web about ten years ago:

The results are rather unsettling. I mean, he’s sticking to an idea that he wishes to advocate for, but you’d think that after about a hundred of these damn things he would have made the message clear enough (yes, he made over a hundred of these things).

Actually, you know what, let’s zoom in on that last image, and think about how he actually communicates to people. I know this might sound harsh, considering that I’m aware of his autism, but I’m well aware, as someone who suffers from a slightly more minor form of his condition, that communication is only really tough when speaking in person, with typing in the privacy of your own room being much easier; and while he does type in coherent sentences, he avoids questions as often as a politician. Here’s a few discussions between him and those who don’t approve of his art:

(you may have noticed that he comments in pre-set messages.)

Oh yeah. He also answers his opponents in a debate with the question “do you drive a Mitsubishi?”, because apparently that company is the personification of evil, because they build vehicles and tools that assist in chopping down trees. I mean, Mercedes do the same thing, but I don’t go around telling their owners that they worship Satan!

Anyhoo, back to his odd interests.

He seems to have some odd fixation for this brand of toilet cleaner, called Toilet Duck, which has an odd duck-shaped head. He says he first gained an interest for the generally-obscure bleach brand, when he first heard a news story about a burglar, who was found pleasuring himself, using the head of the product. Let’s leave it at that for now.

He also has a strong interest in parenthood. (I guess the man has thought to himself that these events would just remain fantasies.)

He appears to be attempting to give his pictures a cutesy-vibe, but his unnatural drawing style stops them from looking anywhere outside of creepy.

And finally, perhaps his most confusing and unexplainable interest of them all: bumpbows!

If you’ve heard of this guy before, then chances are that it was through this. He first found out about bumpbows about two years ago. They functioned as a solution to a minor problem in pregnancy, involving the misshaping of the navel. Since that’s two interests for the price of one, obviously he was going to jump on the bumpbow bandwagon almost immediately after he discovered them!

(This one’s my personal favourite!)

He’s even made a group about them!

(I love how this group doesn’t have any pictures of bumpbows showing their actual intended purpose!)

Now, it might seem all right (if not, only a little bit creepy), but things start getting weird when he starts getting people to use bumpbows, not because they’re expecting children, but as a fashion statement, as well as raising awareness for autism (even though there’s barely any correlation between them), among other hard-pressing issues. I guess I could maybe start wearing bumpbows at anti-war rallies, but, I digress.

(Spoiler alert: There doesn’t appear to be any sign of that group actually going ahead with the plan.)

However, perhaps the strangest of his ideas for bumpbows, would be throwing parties, with them functioning as the primary dress-code.

He’s even thrown his own private parties! (By private, I mean he was the only one there.)

But I’d say the weirdest thing about them is that there’s this strange sexual undertone to them. Now, actually, I wouldn’t say that they’re undertones, considering that he has outright said that they should be adult-only events. He’s even regularly connected them with sex. It all seems so weird, since he usually makes drawings with such an innocent tone (at least on the surface).

(Well, at least we now know why he’s interested in that Toilet Duck bottle!)

I could go on forever about this guy, but this post is getting long enough as it is. So I’ll just leave a couple of links, just please don’t send any hate over to him. I know it sounds hypocritical of me, but this guy’s getting enough flack as it is. He’s got an ED page, a thread on Kiwi Farms, AND there’s even and anti-Dev-Catscratch group on his home base of DeviantArt, so just feel free to explore some of these links, but leave it at that:

His DA: https://dev-catscratch.deviantart.com/

His ED page (NSFW of course): https://encyclopediadramatica.rs/Dev-catscratch

His Kiwi Farms thread (gave me easy access to the things I was looking for): https://kiwifarms.net/threads/bryce-cherry-dev-catscratch.17621/

Oh. And P.S: What’s a bad DeviantArt page without a favourites section full of fetish art!

But remember, it’s all for raising awareness on child obesity!

[attract-mode-collective]

Ready To Wear, Ready To Play

As previously noted, there’s been yet another change in direction for the Attract Mode blog… which I have dubbed Version 2.8 Final CE EX Λ Core Plus Alpha. BTW/FYI. But yeah, been posting on Twitter, a lot. So much so that you may have missed something, so here’s a recap!

Note: was originally going to cover everything tweeted throughout the month, but because there’s so much to cover (and February’s short)… am guessing bi-weekly might be the way to go. Am also going to present things mostly in order.

K, enough chatter: at the very top is another fine example of a Famicom being the ultimate in fashion accessory (via nintendu). And here we have, not designer threads but designer plastic (via gamefreaksnz)...

Speaking of plastic, Sega (or someone who got Sega’s blessing, or maybe not even) made Super Monkey Ball figures? Guess so (via magimacaque)...

I was under the belief that, if I truly wanted to make an impact with the relaunch of the Attract Mode Twitter, I couldn’t just post one single piece of Klonoa fan art, but two... 

And I only have one example of Cuphead fan art, but it’s the one that counts (via jothelion)...

It was Kyle who helped kick the Attract Mode Twitter’s rebirth into high gear, with the reveal of his Nintendo Power covers. So to help replay the favor, I must insistent that everyone purchase the hard copy of RPG_Friends (which I first mentioned here)...

Nothing makes me happier than seeing such a dense assortment of Japanese game stuffs (via peazy86)...

... Yet that being said, I also believe less can be more, plus a nice breeze while playing Secret of Mana is... well... nice (via sixteen-bit.tumblr)

These gamer chairs perfectly embody Japanese sensibilities when it comes to furniture, plus are a total 180 to the junk they peddle in the US (via shmups)...

Time for another excellent toco toco vid, this one features your fave old school Capcom illustrator, and mine, Akiman…

There's so much I love about this interview with the creator of Hong Kong 1997, whose goal was "to make the worst game possible”. Though this picture of the guy is near the top of my list... 

I love these kooky kids, thinking they could possibly get away with  stealing an entire Final Fight arcade cab (via videogamead)...

Yeah, I feel the same way kid (via tvgame)...

"This is Jesus. He lives inside my Neo Geo MVS cabinet. He was there when I got it. He is glorious." (via arcadephile)...

The pathos that is Sub Zero at the bat, in four modded screenshots(via lanceboyles)...

The pathos that is the Kachō interacting with kids, in just three YouTube screengrabs (via gaijira)...

And the pathos that is Splatoon 2, via two screengrabs and the piece of fan art that resulted (via lunaticobscurity)...

Though in addition to pathos, Splatoon is also filled to the brim with intensity (via thewaragainstgiygas)...

Welcome to VIOLENT CITY (via shmups)...

Also, STAY CHILL (via paperbeatsscissors)...

Not that any band in which music is performed via guitars hooked up to Famicoms is all that typical to being with, but this one is most definitely not typical (via miki800.com)...

This "what the hell is going on exactly" illustration has motivated me to finally Wario Land a spin at long last (via it8bit)...

Remember Absolutely Rose Street, the Beverly Hills 90210 meets Degrassi meets Wayne’s World-esque show that was actually an infomercial for the Sega 32X in disguise that I wrote about a little whiles ago? Well here's ad for it (via oldgamemags)...

I'm a total sucker for old Japanese video game mags, primarily ones featuring models/statues on the cover (via miki800)...

Another cover to an old Japanese game rag, this one featuring the very first Metal Gear; I wonder if this slightly cutesy take helped to inspire the Metal Gear we meet in Snatcher (via mendelpalace)...

Here we have a page from an 11 page comic, done in a single sitting, for an event that celebrates various pairings of Solid Snake/Otacon, one that's called Snot Week for whatever reason (via millionfish)...

I want this woman to be my mom (via cyberfights)...

Am obsessed with this image of a man playing Xevious in the middle of a desert that's clearly fabricated and clearly from the 80s (via shmups)...

mendelpalace sez: "This picture gives me anxiety" and I feel exactly the same...

This is comparable to my own morning commute, except for the lack of floating cherry blossom petals and various other differences (via tightenupthe)...

Spring is almost here, which means it's time for a new wardrobe, which really means it's time to get new PaRappa attire (via miki800.com)...

If a glitched Nintendo logo when booting up a Game Boy looks fashionable to you, you're in luck (via gameandgraphics)...

Tho if a glitched Game Boy Advance start up is more your style (via corruptionasart)...

Has anyone received this Mega Drive/Genesis chiptune album on a cart (described as a "16-bit VMU") yet? (via catskullelectronics)

Ever wonder what a 3 part symphony, one performed via 5 different Nintendo DSs and 5 different copies of Electroplankton, sounds like? Well wonder no more (via mendelpalace)...

And ever wonder what an Italian-based, US-born R&B, blues and disco singer (which is how Wikipedia describes Ronnie Jones) thought of video games in the year 1980? Again, wonder no more (via aestheticoftheday)...

The new DDR, which will record your performance and also add snazzy video effects, is my early contender for GOTY 2018 (via @Sega_AM2)...

I will never grow tired or bored of watching this run cycle, ever (via shmups)...

What appears to be a Nier motion study (via sixteen-bit)...

Sakura-ha (via rosscountertv)..

To commemorate the discontinuation of the Kinect sensor (via prostheticknowledge)...

Google Translate took the original Korean & translated it as: "Ittsumi! Maria", which @NotLikeFreddy re-translated as: "It's-a me, Mary-o"...

The medium of video games most certainly has many mountains to overcome yet, but there's little denying that we've made some progress nonetheless (via videofame)...

"I have to go now. My planet needs me.” (via sixteen-bit)...

Cuz it's been a while since I shared a gif from Sin & Punishment (via n64thstreet)...

The SNES & Genesis had cool accessories and all, yet I often wonder what it would have been like if 3D printers & Etsy were around back then...

Pretty much the cutest lil thing you'll see all day is this Genesis CDX hooked up to a 5″ Sony PVM (via decideweapons)...

“'Club Sega during the Snow' is a top-tier aesthetic, I think." (via pr0jectneedlemouse)

I love old VG sound team photos, especially when they double as old band photos, like Capcom's Alph Lyra here (via videogamesdensetsu)...

You all have no idea how happy I am to finally see a decent sized version of the flyer for Deadly Sport... again, no idea (via melvanainchains)...

Here's an illustration of Terry Bogard eating a hot dog (with the rest of his Fatal Fury posse chowing down as well)...

... Turns out, Terry's affinity for hot dogs is somewhat of a thing (via busterwolf)....

... Or, perhaps SNK as a whole are simply huge fans of hot dogs? (via meldowiseau)

I absolutely love this familiar, yet thoroughly refreshing take on Samus (via lady--peaches)...

And nothing new to report, as it pertains to @deimosremus's Metroid redesign, so am just going to continue staring at this some more...

Love Hultén is mostly known for their handheld creations, like the Pixel Vision, though I mostly dig their full-sized cabinet, the Kabin 1...

"Damn Tecmo never let Microsoft live that design down" (via sixteen-bit)...

Cuz I recently began replaying Breath of the Wild...got the Switch version for the gf on her birthday... some fan art (via it8bit)...

I've seen my fair share of comics with Sonic & Tails, but never one that addresses the debug mode from the original Genesis games (via vg-libary)...

Here we have two cats, from the game Jingle Cats, occupied with the fridge (via obscurevideogames)...

And here we have just one cat, from the Sailor Moon anime, occupied with an arcade game that I am unable to identify (via sailormoonreblogs)...

Can you believe the music video for @MissyElliott's Sock It 2 Me is over 20 years old? Crazy, I know...

Speaking of Mega Man, I guess I need to finally check out Mega Man Zero, cuz apparently X goes through some kind of religious conversion or something (via omnilunary)...

And here we have Cut Man, the one we all know (and love) from Mega Man meeting his Captain N doppelganger (via mewymarsher)...

I absolutely need this on a shirt or jacket (via @buzz_clik)...

It's always a thrill, seeing a fighting stick made out of tupperware in the wild for the very first time, isn't it? (via @silva_hime)

Yes. Fighting Layer is that game in which you jump off a folding chair to smash another one on the head of a gigantic falcon (via lordmo)...

Tonight’s episode: PINBALL ALCHEMIST (via tonights-episode)...

Here we have a Tumblr thread giving suggestions on how to access a seemingly inaccessible area of a hotel lobby; my fave, for perhaps obvious reasons, is the ring path/light speed dash combo from Sonic Adventure...

Am kinda hungry atm and feel like slicing & dicing some celery & onions, plus making some Julienne Fries; anyone got a copy of Sonic 2 handy? (via sonicthehedgeblog)

A. thanks to this fan art, I now know you can also play OutRun in Hokuto no Ken PS4! & B. great piece & all, but...still a shame that Alex Kidd is missing (via inspiredfatty)...

I've legit been staring at these rotating NES and SNES gifs all day long (via 3d-bear)...

These photos from the Dreamcast Mobile Assault Tour, circa the late 90s, right before the system's launch are very... and I mean VERY... 90s (via posthumanwanderings)...

"What will your next dream be?" (via 081594)

You know that UK/US reality show Undercover Boss, in which a billionaire CEO disguises himself as the new mailroom guy? Well there's apparently a version in Japan, with an episode starring the president of Taito (via @MMCafe_Prof)...

On Valentine's Day I came across a horror movies blog that presented various horror movie Valentines, including one for Jason Voorhees that references Friday The 13th for NES (via cameraviscera.com)...

Also, for Valentine's, my girlfriend made me pixelated chocolate; the pic does the blue hearts in particular zero justice, which look like plastic toys, but most assuredly are made of milk chocolate...

... And that’s it for now! The rest of February coming up in a few!

[zitis-sims-adventures]

Week 1 Part VI: Celebrating Love (and WooHoo)!

“Careful with your old teeth, daddy,” Walburga shouted as she lunged at her father. “Unless you want to drink plasma juice for the rest of your life.”

“Not so cocky, young lady,” Fravitta panted, but he barely blocked her blow. “I'm still older and wiser than you!” Walburga couldn't help but pity him a bit. He was technically right of course, but when it came to powers he was a pathetic excuse of a vampire – all these years he'd never cared about training or even learning the basic about undead life. It was no surprise she always defeated him.

“Aaaand another round goes to me!” Walburga giggled as she grabbed Fravitta by the scruff of the neck and pulled him with her when she gracefully floated to the ground. There she let him down more gently than she'd fought him, because he was still her father and she was happy he'd never begrudged her the victories. However, there were others who did.

“I don't remember teaching you to fight so sloppily,” Edeltraut said coolly. “You left your defense wide open – any little girl calling herself a vampire slayer could have defeated you.”

She didn't let that comment get to her. Her mother had been in a bad mood ever since her boyfriend had turned down the proposal. Walburga on the other hand had barely stopped smiling since then – things were finally going well for her. Now that her title was secured, she had time to focus on her studies of the vampiric arts. Also, her wedding was right around the corner and who could be unhappy at the prospect of getting married to a princess? “Well, dear mother, why don't you show me how to do it right?” she asked cheerfully and made a taunting gesture. Edeltraut barely waited until she'd finished her sentence before she attacked. Her movements a blur, blows quick and merciless. Walburga dodged some and raised her arm to deflect others, but she had severely underestimated her mother. Not that she'd ever won a sparring duel against her, but she usually wasn't that fierce. Apparently the heartsickness had brought out the true vampire in her again. Walburga was pleased about that, even if she wasn't about her inevitable defeat.

The sparring-match ended with Walburga falling to her knees quite ungracefully and with more bruises than she would have liked. “Let that be a lesson to you, girl,” Edeltraut said, floating far above the ground. “You may be talented and eager, but you have nothing against your elders and you should never forget that.” Then she was gone before her daughter could even reply as much as a word.

“Wow, that was amazing,” a voice behind Walburga said. She turned around and saw a vampire boy looking at her in awe. “You're really good at using your powers!”

Flattered, Walburga smiled at him. She may have lost the fight, but this boy was smart to see her true strength through it. One day she'd make her mother understand it as well. “Well, I am the heiress of the von Wolfenberg family. To me it was nothing.”

“I don't know the von Wolfenberg family, but you must be really strong then!”

Walburga cocked her head. “What? You've never heard of us?” That was surprising. After all, the von Wolfenbergs were not only an old and powerful line of vampires, but also one of the most important families in the country. “Are you freshly-turned? Didn't your master teach you?”

At that the boy looked a bit embarrassed. “Well… I don't have a master – I think I've been born like this. And I've lived alone and secluded for a long time now.” He blushed. “You're the first other vampire I've ever talked to...”

“Really? That's so… sad!” Walburga sighed and looked at this pitiful boy. She usually didn't talk to commoners she didn't know, but no vampire should be without a proper mentor. “How about I teach you a bit? We can have a sparring-match too!”

“Uh, if you want to. B-but I have to tell you, I'm really bad at this...”

Walburga just smiled. Who wasn't, compared to her. And he couldn't possibly be worse than her father, who'd spent more time arranging flowers than weakening foes.

Besides, Walburga was always up to new challenges, be it studying with unusually strong vampires or teaching weaker ones – she learned something either way and that was what counted. “Let's do this~”

The boy had been right: Walburga defeated him so quickly and easily, that she knew her feeling of pity had been more than justified. Still, it had been fun, so she said, “If you like, we can do that again some time. My name is Walburga, by the way.”

“Thanks, I'd love to. My name is Vladimir.” The boy smiled and Walburga couldn't help but return it. If all commoners were so well-behaved, she'd talk to them more often.

Later that night, Walburga continued her training with Valentine. He had a better humor about it than her parents and he was always open to some practice. Or at least he was whenever he wasn't busy partying or dating.

Staring intently at her brother, Walburga gathered her power. “And now,” she whispered as green rays of energy flew from her hands and swirled around Valentine's head, “you see… a giant bunny.”

For a second, everything was quiet and Valentine stood still. Then he shrugged and shook his head. “Nope. Guess your hallucinations don't work on me.”

“Huh, that's odd,” Walburga replied and pouted. “Guess I should have made it a woman-shaped bunny.”

“Might have worked better,” Valentine said, a wide grin revealing his pointy teeth. “Although I don't think I'd need one – it's not like I'm deprived of attractive people.”

“Or maybe you do, if you have to point it out like that. Let me try again, brother, I can't stand to see you single on Love Day.”

“Can't.” Valentine's grin grew even wider. “Thanks for your concern, dear sister, but while I'm not getting married tomorrow, I'll be on a date soon.”

“Really? Who's the lucky girl?”

“Actually, it's a guy…”

Elliot raised an eye brow. “My, I didn't take you for the romantic sort, to ask me out on a day like this.”

“I'm not.” Valentine smiled. “Or wouldn't be sitting in an old, run-down inn preparing to drink our asses off while all the couples go to fancy restaurants and post pictures on Simstagram to show the world their perfect relationship.”

“That's a fair point. Though it would be a shame if that came off.” His eyes wandered deliberately slow down Valentine's spine, before settling on his face again. “And I should warn you, buying me drinks doesn't come cheap.”

“I'd be disappointed otherwise.”

Elliot laughed. “Very well, let's see what this place has to offer.”

Valentine showed him a smile while suggestively playing with the plasma fruit skewer decorating his drink. “Well, I'm not that interested in what this place has to offer...”

After a couple of hours passed by sipping (or downing) drinks, flirting, and casually exchanging news of their lives, Elliot put down his empty glass and rose. “It's been a lovely evening so far, but I think I'm getting bored of this. I think I'll head home.” He cocked his head and grinned at Valentine. “That is… unless you have an idea to entertain me otherwise?”

Valentine, already feeling giddy from the drinks, felt his heart making a jump. “Sure, he replied, emptied his glass and got on his feet as well. Glancing briefly at a nearby man who looked a lot like Queen Zehena's husband, he added, “Why don't we go somewhere more private?”

They headed downstairs and found themselves in a narrow corridor, alone. There was not much to see here, except some sparse candles and a closet nestled in a corner.“You know, I've always been warned to walk alone with good-looking vampires.”

Valentine let out a laugh. “What, are you scared I'll suck your blood.”

“The possibility you doing something that involves sucking doesn't trouble me.” Elliot gently pushed a strand of stray hair out of Valentine's face. “Not at all. I just advice you to leave your teeth where they belong – otherwise this might have unfortunate consequences for both of us.”

“Well,” Valentine said, displaying a playfully sarcastic bow, “I shall treat you as tenderly as I'd touch a delicate flower.”

Elliot rolled his eyes. “Oh, there's no need to be a bore now, my friend.” Valentine didn't reply anything, because the other man kissed him in a way that could be described as anything but tender and pushed him against the door of the closet. There was no reason to resist.

It took quite a while until they stumbled out of that closet again, exhausted but pleased. “Well, that was something,” Elliot remarked, smirking. “It's no surprise the ladies were so happy to see you included in our little club.”

“That's me, I just like to make other people happy.” Valentine's eyes shone brightly as he straightened his clothes and added, “Sometimes even more than once, you know.”

“Well, that's certainly a virtue of yours.” Elliot's voice didn't lose any of his cheerfulness and he didn't stop smiling. But his eyes seemed to grow a shade colder when he said, “But just to be clear, I hope you're aware that this is no reason to grow attached. I'm a man who values his freedom and I've yet to find a person to challenge that.”

Valentine shrugged. “That's fine with me. Keeping people trapped is more work and infinitely less fun than just looking for others to have a good time with.”

At that the young noble's expression relaxed a bit. “Well, in that case I'm looking forward to our next encounter.”

“You look beautiful today,” Walburga commented on her fiancée's appearance. It was true, she'd donned a bright red dress that matched her lipstick and hugged her tall, slim figure tightly, leaving not much room for imagination and revealing much of her long legs. A very different style, compared to her own traditional vampiric dress in green with a long flowing skirt and frills everywhere. They truly were a beautiful couple, anyone who disagreed had to be a liar.

“I just dressed for the occasion. It's the last Love Day before our wedding – who knows how often we'll get to go out like this as a married couple.”

After they'd ordered food, she finally broke the silence. “You know, we shouldn't worry. Maybe this is our last Love Day as an unmarried couple, but it's also our first. We should just enjoy it, whether tomorrow will be a catastrophe or not!”

Xuvia laughed at that. “So you think tomorrow could potentially be a catastrophe? That's not reassuring.” She did seem a bit more relaxed now, though.

“You don't know my family,” Walburga grumbled, only half jokingly. “But you know, I'm as prepared as I can be and if anyone should ruin our day, we shouldn't let them have this one too.”

The waiter stopped by their table and brought them their meals. “A toast to that,” Xuvia said, smiling and grabbing her glass of wine.

“To that,” Walburga agreed. “And to not letting anyone come between us!”

“So, it's karaoke?” Lydia sounded a bit less excited than Arishat had hoped.

“Yeah, you said you wanted to try it, so I thought now might be a good time. Plus, I heard they have amazing juice here!” She also hoped it would cheer her girlfriend up. She and her mother had packed their stuff and thanks to Valentine found a new home right away, but the whole “suddenly getting kicked out” thing was still rough on her.

It was very early in the evening, so most tables were still empty and the volume of the surrounding noises was still low enough so they could understand each other talking. Lydia smiled as they said down, turquoise lipstick matching her hair. “Thanks, Ari,” she said softly. “For asking me out today. And… for sticking with me.”

“Of course.” She knew that promising to marry her one day had meant promising to give up on her privileges as a noble. For some, that would have been a great sacrifice. Maybe it even was for Arishat, having grown up as a noble she didn't know what it was like to live as a commoner. But the thought didn't scare her and the uncertainty was nothing compared to the thought of losing Lydia.

Just then, as if instructed by a higher power, a young woman began to sing a soft ballad with the voice of an angel.

Arishat decided to use that moment and reached into her pocket. “Here,” she said and gave Lydia a daisy. “I know, it's supposed to be roses, but I couldn't find any. I plucked it myself this morning.”

“Well, you know I think traditions are for being broken,”, Lydia said with a sweet smile. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Arishat grinned, gesturing at the karaoke stage and then the bar. “And now, on to the fun part?”

“Count me in!”

So they spend the evening trying new drinks...

... singing loudly (and terribly)...

... and finished with a slow dance. Arishat wished that night would never end. It was perfect.

Meanwhile, others spent Love Day alone, distracting themselves with work.

Or brooding over the turns their lives had taken.

And some were just moving on, leaving behind empty beds and taking with them nothing but memories.

[bluegreenamber]

The Mirror (3/4)

((AN: Heyyy here's the next chapter. Now if only I could find my motivation again... So yeah, sorry for the wait. It's been crazy busy lately, and updating just completely slipped my mind. Anyways! Hope the content will somewhat make up for it. Enjoy!)) I first met her at the library. It had taken an embarrassingly long time to realize that maybe there was a record of what had happened to the four boys that had previously lived in our house that might explain why some of them were still around… in a way. And that I might just find the record in the library and research those things. When I saw her among the shelves, I felt my whole body react. My face flushed with blood, my limbs froze in place, my eyes widened, and my breath halted in my throat. She was beautiful, perfection in its simplest form. I barely had time to compose myself before she looked straight at me, smiled brightly, and strode over. She introduced herself as Aisling and had to write it down for the spelling because it sounded like “ash-ling.” I smiled as I watched her write it, trying to keep my face from completely revealing every thought and feeling that crossed my mind. I hope it worked; otherwise, she would practically see me thinking, “A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” She asked me why I was here today, and I told her. Apparently, she was volunteering here and would be happy to assist me find my records. Just my luck. As we weaved through aisles of bookshelves, she decided to strike up conversation and started talking about the origins of her name. It was Irish, meant “dream” or “vision,” and was actually a genre of poetry. She personally was named after a character in a movie I had never heard of. She promised to show me one day, and I decided our friendship was off to a good start. No thanks to me or my awkward stammering I'm sure. She knew the library really well, so we found the record in… well, record time. We sat at one of the wooden tables with the files, and I started reading over them intently while she helped where she could. There was some… rather interesting stuff. Our house had last belonged to four boys: Edd, Tom, Matt, and Tord. They had formed their bond from a mutual love of art, comedy, and adventures. They went on many such adventures and often documented them through doodles and comics, many examples of which were within the records. But it was those adventures that led to their untimely demise. All four of them died young on the same day. Their bodies were found at home together, and almost all of the autopsy reports were unreadably marked over. So that was a dead end. Most of what I found was pretty useless. Since their deaths had been rather recent, the file was fairly empty. The only other thing that I saw that could possibly have been of any value was the obituaries cut out of a newspaper. They listed the usual things: age, occupation, date and location of death, birth date, accomplishments, family, etc. But what really caught my attention was the things that weren't mentioned. Many vital parts such as cause of death and what happened with the funeral just weren't there. That basically matched up the information marked out from the autopsy reports. I found that very intriguing. When I deemed the files thoroughly searched, Aisling and I returned everything to their proper places. There was yet another awkward moment as neither of us seemed to know what to say or do next. Finally, something came to mind. “So when do you get off?” I asked. Her face lit up in happy surprise. “At three. Which is in…” She checked her phone. “About half an hour.” I grinned. “Do you maybe wanna grab a bite to eat then?” She returned the smile. “Thought you'd never ask.” If I wasn't blushing before, I definitely was now. “Great! I'll just be hanging around in here. Meet me here?” She nodded. We stood there, looking into each other's eyes, for a beat too long, then broke apart. The grin still danced across my face and continued to do so for the next half hour as I browsed the shelves. I couldn't stop checking my phone every ten seconds. Finally, it was three. I had been loitering in our meeting spot for a good five minutes already. And just on time, she appeared, strolling from around a shelf. Another smile dimpled her cheeks as she spotted me. “So where are we going?” she asked as we walked out of the library together. I had been planning my response for a while now. “It's a surprise,” I replied vaguely. Her grin widened. “Excellent.” I was practically floating when I got home that night. Aisling and I had had a wonderful time at this cute little cafe I had taken her to, most of the evening consisting of us talking about everything and bursting into laughter. I had walked her to her house nearby and then nearly skipped the rest of the way home. I'm sure my family would have caught on to my mood immediately and been all over me about it… had they not been occupied by a news story on the TV. There had been a murder of one of the local students. Ben Jameson. He had been a year younger than me, and I could barely remember seeing him briefly in the hallway of my school. He had been on the tall side with dirty blond hair and blue-green eye; everyone considered him very attractive. He had been on the school Junior Varsity basketball team and in the BETA club. The epitome of one of the well-rounded, scholarship-to-a-local-college-just-waiting-to-happen popular kids. Not my crowd. And apparently, he had been stabbed with sharp pieces of glass. Part of the broken mirror in his room to be exact. There had been obvious signs of a struggle but no fingerprints or any other traces left by the murderer. Just a bunch of smashed mirrors. That rung a bell in my head, and I retreated to my room. I searched through the pictures on my phone, and sure enough, there were confirmations to my suspicions. One of the titles that had been written on my brother’s wall that one night was “The Mirror.” So this was almost certainly connected to the four boys. Matt and Tord were left. But I still didn't have enough information on them to figure out who it was or what was happening. Or, more importantly, what they wanted. Maybe it was time to do some more research… The next few days consisted much of the same thing. I went down to the library to research and usually ended up going out with Aisling afterwards. When I got home, there was a new murder story on the news. It was strange. The victims weren't really related or similar. It varied immensely, from old to young, from rich to poor, from ugly to stunningly attractive, from living in one area to living in a place across the county. Any gender, any age, any place, any time, any one. The words “serial killer” were being thrown around a lot lately. This same thing went on for days. After six of them, I thought it was going to continue. But the killer had the misfortune to pick our house as their next target. I was making myself a midnight snack in the kitchen, the microwave the only sound in the sleeping house. Until I heard a hissing next to me. I turned and nearly jumped two feet in the air. Towering over me was what could only be described as some kind of vampiric monster. The guy was easily seven feet tall with flaming red hair under an army cap. He wore black robes over his whitewashed skin. His eyes glowed red as his hair, and one of his arms consisted only of bones as bleached white as his skin. He snarled at me, baring his glistening fangs. I backed up against the counter, snack already forgotten. “Who are you?” I could barely hide the tremor in my voice. “Matt,” he hissed. Okay, that was good. It was willing to talk to me. Maybe I could work something out. “Alright, Matt. What do you want?” I was sure my skin was almost as blanched as his. “To kill you.” Okay, that was not so good. I trembled slightly. “Why?” He leaned in closer, and I had nowhere to retreat. “You're not my type,” he sneered. I doubted humor or reason would work, but it was worth a shot. “How do you know that? We’ve barely even met.” From his expression, I was right in my guess that my words would have no effect. “I can take just one look at you and tell.” I was definitely not comfortable with the proximity. “That's kind of shallow, isn't it?” I tried to keep a joking tone, but I think my fear overrode it. He hissed in disagreement with my words. I was certain he was going to attack when my saving grace came in the form of the microwave going off. He turned slightly, and that temporary distraction was all it took. I sprinted down the hallway and into my room, slamming and locking the door behind me. I could hear him moving, snarling and even breaking mirrors out there. I held my breath in anticipation as I listened for the end, my heart racing in terror. I thought for sure that I'd hear a bang or a rip as Matt attacked my door and removed my last barrier any second now, but it never came. Instead, the door beside mine opened, and my older brother sleepily wandered out. I could hear his half-awake voice through the thin wood. “What is that noise? What's going on?” My breath caught in my throat as I heard another hiss. My brother gasped, and I made the split-second decision to grab the nearest weapon and open my door. I immediately spotted Matt hovering over my terrified brother, who was surrounded by mirror shards on the floor. “Get away from him!” I shouted and threw the shoe in my hand. It bounced off Matt, and the creature didn't even seem to notice. His gaze was fixed on my cowering brother, and it had stopped hissing. Something felt off. I stood there, ready to jump into action but waiting. Matt leaned down over him, but it didn't seem as threatening somehow. I could barely hear the words that came out from between Matt’s fangs from my spot down the hallway. “You're perfect,” he said, almost longingly. Then, to our surprise, he closed the distance between the two of them and planted a soft, short kiss on my brother’s lips. We were stunned into silence. Neither of us moved as he retreated towards my brother’s room. Almost in a trance, we finally wandered over to the open door and watched as Matt walked towards the mirror in the room. He gave us one last toothy grin and stepped into the mirror, disappearing into it as if he had never been here in the first place. I had a feeling he wouldn't be coming back. My brother and I didn't say anything to each other as I went back to my room. In fact, we never talked about the incident. It was the second time he had saved my life from a monster, and we pretended it never happened. As usual, the picture of the four boys greeted me from my bedside table. I stared at it for a good while, still dazed, until I finally fell asleep. Matt was grinning up at me, his smile bright and charming and a mirror gripped in the hand that was sassily resting on his hip.

[incontinence-paris]

Central Florida 100: King’s legacy, the shutdown and Florida’s economy | Commentary

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. addresses the crowd during the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C. (Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Last week: In these politically divisive times, it’s easy to be discouraged about the state of mankind. But on this eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I choose to be encouraged by the long-overdue pardoning of the Groveland Four, and to celebrate the racial progress that we’ve made in the last 75 years. In our Lake County Clubs, we have a membership that is 30 percent African-American, 40 percent Caucasian and 16 percent Hispanic. The children nestle in side by side for snack and story time, high-five and hug each other on the playing fields — all of which would have been unthinkable when our organization was founded in 1944. Let us be heartened that we are marching, slowly, slowly, but surely, toward King’s dream of a day when a child is judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character.

Rudolph C. Cleare, executive vice president, The Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation

Last week: The 19th-century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard sought to re-introduce Christians to the radical power of a faith that could serve real people in a real world. One hundred years later, Martin Luther King Jr. took up, and was greatly influenced by, the writings of Kierkegaard. The Interfaith Council of Central Florida held a vigil service recently to retell the story of how Dr. King prodded America to face up to the sin of racism and overcome her legacy of slavery, segregation, and discrimination. We were reminded that night not to fall into the error of wishing only to admire Dr. King, but to follow and work to resemble him instead.

Looking ahead: We Floridians have come from all over seeking a better quality of life. Most of us have little knowledge of the fabric of Florida’s history and culture. Many have never explored the diversity that makes our state unique. Although Disney and other attractions are exciting, nothing beats the natural splendor of Silver Springs, Siesta Key or a Key West sunset. Florida is a peninsula floating on an underground river. We are more susceptible to the changes in nature than probably any other place on Earth. Floridians, get to know your state. A good beginning would be to watch PBS’ special "American Experience: The Swamp," available on the PBS website.

Last week: The phenomenal success of Broadway’s "Hamilton" can be measured in many ways. The obvious are its monetary track record and artistic achievements. Its full houses have ignited a younger generation’s interest in theatre, and it delights audiences in ways novel even to theatre aficionados. But Hamilton’s biggest coup is the interest it has generated in Americans going back and revisiting the important early history of our country. Community groups have gathered before history professors in order to learn more about Alexander Hamilton before the production arrives in Orlando. This is the very powerful magic of the arts and why it’s important to keep them well-funded.

Last week: Stephanie Murphy just began her second term representing Orange and Seminole counties in the U.S. House of Representatives. In just two years she’s become the leading voice for a group of solution-minded young House members willing to reach across the aisle to advance workable legislation. Last week Murphy appeared on the PBS news magazine Amanpour & Co. to outline her priorities, including health care and affordable housing. Murphy co-chairs the Blue Dog PAC, a coalition of centrist Democrats focused on fiscal responsibility and national security. She’s also vice-chair of the Future Forum PAC, designed to involve millenials in shaping laws.

Last week: The CFUL is mourning the loss of Charlie Ings, Orlando’s first black detective and the first black police officer to be paired with a white partner. After joining the Orlando Police Department in 1965, Ings quickly became a beloved and respected member of the police force, building long-lasting relationships with both colleagues and within the community. His commitment to the people of Orlando and to his job will never be forgotten.

Looking ahead: With Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, we should all take a moment to reflect on his legacy and the sacrifices he made to ensure that his dream became a reality. Along with our reflection, we should also take action. Since 1994, Monday has been designated as a day of service: an opportunity to provide a helping hand in the community, support a friend in need or simply perform an action that will better those around us. As King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Through our service, good deeds and loving thy neighbor, we echo King’s words and make our corner of the world just a bit brighter.

Last week: With all the talk of “toxic masculinity,” I couldn’t help but think of what kind of men our society thinks we should be raising. And then I remembered that just last week one such man was celebrated for his engagement: Tim Tebow. Gator fans will celebrate him for other reasons, but here is a guy who exudes all the positive qualities of what it should mean to be masculine – and not just for his health and strength. He is a responsible adult who respects women and has now finally found his perfect match. Let’s champion the masculinity of Tim Tebow.

Looking ahead: This week, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Last April, I was able to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death while in Memphis with several friends, including fellow CF100 columnist Glen Gilzean. Upon my return, I read through Dr. King’s book, "Strength to Love," a compilation of 15 of his sermons that was a reminder to me that before he was a civil rights leader, Dr. King was a Christian pastor. His faith led him to be the leader this country needed. May we all dive deeper into our souls to find the love our country still needs.

Last week: Last week, thousands of federal employees missed their first paychecks of 2019. Just as significant, during the shutdown, janitors, security guards, and other federal contractors will not receive back-pay. Based on the 2017 ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), more than 40 percent of American adults don’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency. Furloughed federal employees and government contractors in need of social services and individuals with questions about available public benefits can dial 2-1-1, text their zip code to 898-211 or chat live with a specialist by visiting www.HFUW.org/GetHelp to get help.

Last week: Our new governor has pledged to address the burgeoning problem of toxic algae blooms plaguing our state. I wish him and the legislature the will and courage to make it happen. Meanwhile, controversy is blooming over another kind of toxic thing: toxic masculinity. A shaving supplies company reinterpreted it’s famous "the best a man can get" marketing line, and somehow it became polarizing. Just like with algae, there’s nothing inherently wrong with masculinity. It’s when it — or anything else — goes toxic that there’s a problem. "Algae will be algae" isn’t a sensible or constructive response to toxic blooms. "Boys will be boys" isn’t a sensible or constructive response to toxic expression of maleness.

Looking ahead: For the last several years, I’ve had the profound honor of coordinating an interfaith/multicultural celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., coordinated by the Orlando Mayor’s MLK Commission and the Interfaith Council of Central Florida. The key moment for me each year is seeing faith and worldview leaders of all sorts standing together, bringing a teaching from their tradition and connecting them to the words of Dr. King. It’s uplifting and inspiring, a true feel-good moment. The real question, though, is not how we remember and honor the life and message of Dr. King this weekend — it’s what we choose to do on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And beyond.

Last week: In most counties, there is often infighting between local governments. That’s not the case in Osceola. In fact, leaders from the four Osceola governments met with its State Legislative Delegation this week to discuss the communities’ legislative priorities. This event, spearheaded by the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber, is a testament to the extraordinary working relationships between our governments. Working together to prepare an agenda which promotes objectives that build up our community! Now that’s good government!

Last week: Channeling Back to the Future’s Marty McFly, Nike just revealed their $350 Adapt BB self-lacing shoe. Since this is 2019 not 1989, the shoes are smartphone-connected — allowing users to change snugness depending on activity level. You know, like laces, but way cooler. Although the footwear need to be recharged every few days, Nike promises that athletes and weekend-warriors will be able to upgrade their sneakers with new features over time. No doubt, Nike will make buckets of money on their celebrity-endorsed novelty but get ready for this excuse the next time the Magic play poorly: “Coach, someone hacked my feet!”

Looking ahead: There’s something going around social media called the “10 Year Challenge,” where Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter users post pictures of themselves now and 10 years ago. It’s wholesomely narcissistic. Recently, though, a high-profile tech writer mused that the Challenge could actually represent a clandestine data mining operation, meant to perfect facial recognition algorithms. Facebook vehemently denied this improbable claim, but on the heels of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and others, this theory should at least give us a reason to reflect and ponder before posting: who else, besides our friends and acquaintances, stands to benefit from the personal information we share online?

Last week: I know I’m sounding like a broken record, but — our approach to housing IS broken! We need local governments to think creatively about allowing a mix of smaller, less expensive housing — like tiny homes or backyard dwelling units; we need developers willing to find a way to build these homes for people who make less than $35,000 a year; and we need state Legislators to use the Sadowski Fund to do what it was established to do — fund the building of more affordable housing. We will never be a prosperous region if we don’t address our ever-expanding housing crisis.

Looking ahead: I often hear people grouse that our elected officials are in a “Tallahassee bubble” — that they don’t get out and hear what “real people think." So I’m amazed that we’re spending any time at all debating whether our key government leaders need safe, reliable forms of transportation to move around the state — including having state-owned and operated airplanes to traverse this huge state of ours. To put the size of our state in context, you could fit Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg all within the boundaries of the state…and still have room! We should support efficient and cost-effective modes of safe and reliable transportation for use by our key elected officials.

Last week: When we need a new school taxpayers pay for it. When we no longer need the school, then taxpayers buy it again? This crazy scenario is playing out in Seminole County with the Rosenwald School. It seems that the Seminole County Commissioners decided that Seminole County taxpayers will buy the closed school to sell it again "for redevelopment." Why can’t the school board simply sell the property directly to the highest bidder and leave Seminole County taxpayers out of it? Warning: Seminole County taxpayers could be on the hook for a deal this smelly if all does not go well with the resale.

Last week: As the federal government shutdown approaches four weeks, the real and dire consequences of this policy are starting to show here in Central Florida. This week, the Orlando International Airport started a donation drive to help workers and their families affected by the shutdown. Also, Second Harvest Food Bank reported an increase of 60 percent over last week of people reaching out to them in need of food assistance. According to a recent United Way report, almost half of Central Florida’s families classify as working poor, meaning many in our community are just one paycheck away from poverty and hunger. If your family needs help, contact Second Harvest Food Bank at www.feedhopenow.org/need and if you want to help or donate, please visit www.feedhopenow.org/shutdownrelief.

Looking ahead: Jaleo, the restaurant by famed chef Jose Andres is set to open soon in Disney Springs, featuring tapas and other Spanish influenced cuisine and joining many celebrity chefs including Morimoto, Rick Bayless, and others in elevating the dining scene here in Central Florida. This week, chef Andres and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen has set up a pop-up kitchen in Washington, D.C., to help feed workers and their families affected by the shutdown. After providing millions of hot meals to people struck by disaster across the world, it is no wonder he has been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Chefs like Jose Andres and many in our own community use food as a way to nourish not only our body, but also our mind and spirit.

Last week: Karen Pence, the nation’s Second Lady, has accepted a position teaching art at Immanuel Christian School in Virginia. In and of itself, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, the school pointedly bans LGBTQ students and teachers. There is no denying that discrimination exists in our country under the guise of religion. Our elected leaders and their immediate families should be sensitive to the issue of discrimination, and should especially avoid discrimination against any of our nation’s children. Another pledge Ms. Pence took by taking this job is to “live a personal life of moral purity”. Let’s see how that plays out.

Last week: This week a 16-year-old boy from Marion County was rescued from an animal-feces covered trailer where he spent the past year as a sex slave lured by someone he met on the online gaming app Discord. Utilizing various communications technology that parents may not even be aware of, traffickers can groom their victims for months using empty promises of a better life to deceive their victims, exploit their insecurities and ultimately lure them away from their families. Luckily, aggressive police work put a stop to this trafficking ring with seven arrests. See something suspicious? Report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.

Last week: The governor’s removal of Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel should be a reminder of our need to have a well-trained resource officer at each school and the need to put financial resources into this important area of security to give the best protection money can buy to our children. It was reported that Orange County is still approximately 21 officers short of meeting the state law. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Chair of the Orange County School Board Teresa Jacobs should be working with Sheriff John Mina on a solution as a priority policy issue.

Looking ahead: Next week it should be clear how hard the shutdown is hitting the government employees. With 52 percent of the population not having $500 in their bank account to meet a financial emergency in the home, to be without a paycheck for four weeks is beyond my comprehension. Let’s hope this insanity ends soon for the hard working folks of this country

Last week: With the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history, the political game in Washington is taking its toll on federal employees in Florida. About 1,900, or 95 percent, of NASA employees at the Kennedy Space Center are unable to work. Many federal prison workers, TSA screeners, and air-traffic controllers at airports are working without pay, and therefore some won’t be able to pay for mortgages, car loans, and children’s higher education. Already nearly 1,000 federal workers applied for state unemployment benefits, and if the shutdown continues 120,000 veterans in Florida might lose their food stamps. The government shutdown must end now!

Looking ahead: Representative Kim Daniels, a Jacksonville Democrat, introduced a new bill in the Florida Legislature that would require Florida public high schools to offer religion classes as electives following in the footsteps of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. The proposed classes will focus on Bible study of the New and Old Testaments. While high schools should be permitted to offer courses on comparative religions, they should not be promoting one faith over another. Some in the Christian majority may see this as part of their students’ religious freedom, but what about the religious freedom of all the other faiths and none-faith students?

Last week: The Orlando Magic were on something of a win streak (dare I say it!). Granted, it was only a few games, but that’s how all streaks start – stringing win after win after win. Recent victories include felling the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets – both playoff teams. Despite having a somewhat dismal past record, it looks like we are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Great attributes of Central Florida sports fans are that we are both loyal and hopeful! I think the key word moving forward is … teamwork (it has been known to make the dream work!).

Looking ahead: “Oh let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King.” This is one of my favorite James Taylor songs, and it always floats into my head in early January. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed this Monday, became a national holiday in the early 1980s. The day honors the incredible work of civil rights activist, Baptist minister, husband, father, and social leader Rev. King, whose words and actions paved the way toward social, political, religious, and financial equality for all Americans. Like any great leader, his work and mission have outlived him. “We are bound together, all men and women…” by his legacy.

Last week: The state of Florida has an image problem. It’s the easy target of comedians and humorists. It’s known the world over for its “Florida-man” meme. The antidote of this negative perception is consistent and deep investment in arts and culture. Long-term economic development is in direct relationship to the artistic and cultural offerings of a place. Austin is the destination for loads of tech-industry leaders leaving San Francisco. Art, music, and film festivals like SXSW and Austin City Limits are the primary drivers of making Austin a destination for innovators. Even on a local level, we know that property values rise when artists make a neighborhood a great place to live and visit. On Tuesday, several hundred arts leaders gathered with State Representatives Anna Eskamani and Carlos Guillermo Smith to discuss “The Future of Arts and Culture in Florida.”

Looking ahead: The question is what will happen next? Will Florida legislators invest in the long-term health and viability of our state? Funding for arts and culture has gone from $43 million in 2014 to just $2 million this year. But there is a direct relationship between economic development and arts and culture. A creative and talented workforce demands a place with vibrant arts and culture. These workers are the foundation for the emergence of startups, corporate relocations, and the retention of company headquarters. Florida’s future success is directly tied to our investment in arts and culture today. Will our legislators make the right choice to reinstate funding for vetted arts and culture organizations?

Last week: Since 2001, Florida politicians have worked hard to expand the Corporate Tax Credit voucher which diverts tax dollars to pay for private and religious school tuition. The voucherization of Florida public schools chugged along nicely until 2006 when Governor Jeb Bush lost the Bush v. Holmes case declaring his most extreme vision, universal vouchers, unconstitutional. The money for these vouchers came from the Florida K-12 public school budget and could be used for religious schooling, in direct opposition to the separation of church and state. This week Senate President Bill Galvano told a Sarasota business audience that the legislature might be bolder since the newly appointed conservative state Supreme Court might support expanding “education savings accounts,” which is another name for universal vouchers.

Beverly Paulk, founding member, Central Florida Foundation and The Orlando Philharmonic

Last week: Last week delivered some wonderful and varied achievements by women. Nine women graduated in one class of Orange County firefighters/EMTs, the most ever in one class. During a recent football playoff game, my husband watched the action and I watched Sara Thomas, the first female referee in a playoff game. Visit Florida, the state’s heavily-funded tourism corporation, announced its first female CEO, Dana Young, an attorney and former legislator. Savannah Boan at Gatorland was showcased as she handled huge alligators, having fun while educating a large group. One day this won’t be news, but for now it feels good.

Matthew Peddie, host, WMFE’s "Intersection"

Last week: Gov. Ron DeSantis is considering dropping legal action upholding a ban on smokeable medical marijuana. The governor says he’ll give the legislature a chance to get it right, two years after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding access to medical marijuana. DeSantis indicated that other changes may be coming to how the state treats medical marijuana, including vertical integration, which means companies with a license have to grow, distribute and sell it. The changes could make a big difference both to patients and businesses. And, says Florida’s new agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried, it’s a revenue opportunity for the state.

Looking ahead: The partial government shutdown is having an impact on federal employees – including NASA workers on the space coast. Most of the 2,000 Kennedy Space Center employees have been furloughed, and as space policy analyst Laura Forczyk tells 90.7 News, it’s likely to have a long term impact on the workforce and the science that NASA supports. “Some people are considering leaving their federal employee jobs in order to be able to pay their bills,” says Forczyk. Meanwhile projects like the James Webb Space telescope have been put on hold by the shutdown.

Joseph F. Pennisi, founding executive director, Florida Policy Institute

Last week: To the dismay of many Floridians interested in access to care and better health outcomes, Gov. DeSantis has appointed Mary Mayhew as the state’s new Medicaid director. Those familiar with her tenure in a similar role in Maine, where she gained the nickname “Mary Mayhem," credit her with decimating that state’s program. Maine went from 8th to 23rd in national health rankings and the state’s infant mortality rate rose under her leadership. More disturbing are recent reports, including federal audits, citing gross mismanagement, record shredding and failure to investigate sexual assaults and deaths of those under her care. Surely Florida deserves better.

Looking ahead: Hopefully the coming weeks will see action on U.S. Senate Bill 21, the Pay Our Coast Guard Act. The legislation would ensure that 4,879 active duty Coast Guard members in Florida receive their salaries during government shutdowns. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are co-sponsors of the act. A similar resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives has bipartisan support from Florida’s delegation. In announcing support for the measure, Sen. Scott wrote, “the men and women of our Coast Guard shouldn’t be punished for the dysfunction of Washington.” True that. But, Senator, how about the other 800,000 federal employees and our economy?

Last week: When a business makes what is otherwise a business decision with political consequences, such as shuttering a plant losing money, politicians might care, but it is after all about business. On the other hand, when a business makes a business decision based on politics, such as Airbnb’s decision to remove listings in the occupied West Bank because settlements there are “at the core” of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, they invite political repercussions. Gov. Ron DeSantis, outspoken in his support of Israel, did just that, announcing two state sanctions, but even more importantly, signaling to the rest of the country that Airbnb’s policy, political in nature, should not be tolerated.

Stephanie Porta, executive director, Organize Florida

Last week: History has proven that when it’s time to protect and support the people of Puerto Rico, a colony of the United States of America, U.S. leaders continue to put corporate greed before the interest of the people. If Judge Taylor Swain accepts the illegally issued COFINA Bonds, working-class Boricuas on the island, who already are in a chokehold due to austerity measures, will surely suffocate; while vulture hedge funds and investors reel in big fat checks on the backs of our brothers and sisters on the island. Let’s end this abuse now.

Looking ahead: More than 50 years after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was gunned down on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., people of color are still fighting to realize his dream. They still face staggering levels of systemic social and economic inequality, rampant state-sanctioned violence and discrimination. As the Trump administration continues attempts to roll back any advancements in civil rights, on Martin Luther King Day, we all must vow to keep the dream alive.

Joanie Schirm, GEC founding president; World Cup Orlando 1994 Committee chairman

Last week: Often when business people run for election, they say they’ll run government like a private business. Well, it hasn’t been going well lately for that concept if you are a federal employee working without compensation during the shutdown in Florida for the IRS, Customs and Border Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission and more. While rejecting arguments from labor unions that unpaid work violates labor laws and the Constitution, a federal judge said: “the judiciary is not and cannot be another source of leverage” in resolving political “squabbles.”If a private company refused to pay workers, would a federal judge say it’s OK? Let’s elect people who understand government’s role.

Looking ahead: Suicides on the Skyway Bridge in Tampa may soon hit a 15-year-high. Luckily one man’s life was saved by a skilled Florida Highway Patrol trooper who talked the man out of jumping by sharing their commonalities about family and children. As the Florida Legislature prepares to address Florida‘s budget, isn’t it time we dramatically raise the funding for mental health programs well above the bottom of all the states where Florida consistently sits year after year? As the recommended remedies to stop school shootings include beefed-up mental health programs, let’s stop ignoring the need to improve Florida’s mental health for the young and old.

Last week: While there may be concerns about the global economy as the U.S. tries to negotiate with China and the British try to figure out how to exit the European Union, we are fortunate that the outlook for Orlando’s economy in 2019 is encouraging. UCF Institute for Economic Competitiveness director Sean Snaith told the Sentinel last week that “2019 is about momentum” that will carry us through the year with consistently strong growth – “some of the strongest in the state.” Economists like Snaith predict growth in construction, professional services, finance, manufacturing and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Rick Singh, property appraiser, Orange County

Last week: Heartfelt congratulations to Aquatica Orlando! SeaWorld’s water park has been named a certified autism center, along with Sesame Place. These locations cater specifically to the needs of visiting families who may have a member who deals with a cognitive disorder. In addition to ensuring that their employees are trained in autism sensitivity and awareness, both Aquatica Orlando and Sesame Place provide guests with attraction information to make better choices about their plans. There are even quiet rooms with adjustable lighting for visitors to take a break. What a wonderful inclusivity statement – and a welcoming message to these guests with special needs.

Looking ahead: Early estimates indicate that Florida will again this year lead the nation in ACA signups, with 1.78 million Floridians making up about 20 percent of 8.4 million signups nationwide. And that Florida number will grow as residents of the northwest areas hardest hit by Hurricane Michael were granted additional time to complete their applications. The response by Florida’s citizens to sign up for ACA indicates that they value health insurance, and that health insurance through an employer is not feasible or available. In our region, premiums can be a challenge to add to a budget built on income from a service wage sector job, or even multiple part-time jobs. I hope our new Tallahassee leadership will take these issues into consideration when addressing healthcare in Florida.

Last week: For a charity to solicit federal employees they need to complete a Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) application. Until 2017 it was free to nonprofits. Now the Office of Personnel Management is charging local charities $625 per charity per CFC. There are approximately 2,904 charities listed in last year’s directory. If the Central Florida CFC needs $1.8 million to conduct the campaign (Brevard would collect a separate $1.8 million), we all need to apply to work for the CFC. Doesn’t matter whether or not the TSA agents or postal employees give or not, the CFC still charges. Ick.

Last week: Florida saw close to 200 venture capital deals last year. Florida has not seen more than 200 venture capital deals in one year since the dot-com bubble nearly 20 years ago. Last year Inc. magazine ranked Orlando No. 9 overall for the 50 best places in America to start a business. Plus, the City Beautiful was No. 1 in job creation and second in population growth. The city also is host to business pitch competitions with venture capitalists in attendance, various meetups from National Entrepreneur Center, Orlando Tech Association, Orlando Tech & Beers, Black Orlando Tech and Chambers of Commerce.

Last week: This past week, the Orlando Magic did something we’ve rarely seen in the past few years: they had back to back wins over top NBA teams! The Magic have been an integral part of our community since their inception, providing significant charitable dollars to numerous causes while pumping life into our downtown economy. You want those you love to succeed, so here’s to their continued victories — on the court and off!

Looking ahead: As we remember the legacy of Martin Luther King this week, I am hopeful for the growing work of Orlando Together. Formed 18 months ago, their goal is to "undermine racial divisions wherever they are found" and they accomplish that by fostering relationships in our local community. They help groups examine the racial history of our city, how we have arrived here, and what can be done to move against current structures that foster division. Let’s keep working for that dream!

John Thedford, entrepreneur, founder of SMART Financial

Last week: This week approximately 800,000 government workers and contractors felt the impact of not receiving a paycheck. News reports focused on the financial distress of those not receiving pay, but what the media didn’t report is that nearly 25 percent of Americans do not have any emergency savings. It’s not always the low wage earners who have no emergency funds. One in four of the highest earners either have no emergency funds or only enough to cover a few months of expenses. 30 percent of baby boomers aged 54 to 63 have little or no emergency funds. Let’s hope this standoff between Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi ends soon.

Last week: This past week, we were pleased to join the City of Orlando, Orlando Health, Dr. Phillips Charities and the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation to celebrate the renovation of a new facility and a major expansion of services at Grace Medical Home, which provides charitable care for Central Florida’s uninsured. Along with construction costs, the partners’ gifts will fund mental health, spiritual care, pediatrics and dental programs. I’d like to thank the partners who joined us in supporting Grace Medical Home — and the many members of our community who generously donated — for helping Grace fulfill its mission of providing care to those who might otherwise go without.

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