#without revealing the reason why you're supposed to regard them this way

[cheswirls]

watching jshk back in 2020 truly did change my perspective on horror n im still so sad i haven't found anything quite like it when it comes to animated media. the horror that is not full of jump scares or scary creatures or concepts like possession, murder, etc that is so incessantly popular in american horror, but instead a concept of horror where you're constantly filled w dread for smth you cannot see. a fear of the unknown. not outright 'in your face' scary but terrifying in concept. something that leaves the scare factor up to your imagination. i want to experience smth like that again

[nerdy-talks]

I agree with your opinion and thoughts about Solomon and him asking us to side with humanity... I love solomon, and his ideas and priorities are admirable, really! But I'm pretty sure his ways of execution to reach those ideals and fulfill his goals, for humanity to be seen as a race worthy to be seen as an equal, isn't the only plausible way.

Not to mention that humanity can still be seen as a strong race without us having to hover at each other's throats and without instigating into an all out war. We can still reach a middle ground through our peaceful and understanding approach. Like us giving the grimoire to Lucifer, man was seething at Mc out of worry and fear for his brothers, which was completely understandable, but us handing out the grimoire could possibly give us brownie points into regaining Lucifer's trust back. I'm pretty the MC isn't THAT stupid.

So maybe the MC's approach through peace and trust is better than any of other race's approach, which is guided by their own power, biases, prejudice and preconceived notions, etc...

And sure let's say that Solomon is 100% on our side, the way he acts with us sometimes could really tip off our perspective towards him from good to bad and vice versa. And this man has the balls to warn us about time paradoxes and shi when he chose to make a pact with Asmodeus early than supposed to... you're the strongest sorcerer... just use ur powers to kill the spider bro or summon Barbatos instead early on instead💀 (Lesson 7?)

I apologize for my late response, precious anon! Yesterday was a little hectic, so I didn't see your ask until now ^^"

But I have a LOT to say, so hopefully this long-winded reply makes up for the delay lol

Let me start by saying that I genuinely appreciate your insight and I also agree with you 100%

I feel like there's still so much that hasn't been revealed to us yet, especially regarding Solomon's past. I've already given my own theories thus far, but I am particularly curious why Solomon thinks that war is even a viable option. What makes him feel this way? What exactly caused the last war he fought pretty much on his own?

Potential Spoilers

What I do find interesting is the information we have been given, though.

In 9-A, some of those prejudices and biases are shown when Solomon ends up in what is clearly an illusion of sorts.

And personally... I would absolutely love to debate and counter all of these assumptions and misjudgments.

In comparison to demons and angels... humans may be more prone to illness, injuries, and death. But that's literally what makes us human.

Despite this, I argue that it does not make humans fragile or weak. We are resilient. We rebound and recover from all sorts of terrible experiences. We survive and overcome trauma. We suffer loss yet do our best to keep our heads up. We fight and push forward through life. We may be human, but we are not to be pitied or underestimated.

I also argue the point of humans needing angels to "protect" us. Yes, there are humans who believe in guardian angels because that is what many of us were taught growing up. Humans want to believe in an afterlife, of a peaceful paradise after this life.

But what about humans who don't share those same beliefs? What about tragic events that occur every day where humans end up dying through no fault of their own? What about humans who feel as though God has forsaken them for whatever reason, whether it be due to illness, loss, or other unfortunate circumstances that have negatively impacted them? For those humans, it seems like no angel is looking out for them or "protecting" them.

My first argument to this mindset : What could a demon possibly understand about a human's path in life? That's like us telling Diavolo how to run the Devildom. It's a topic we are completely ignorant of, therefore we have no business calling the shots.

Not only that, but every single human being is different and unique in their own way. While one path may be good for one person, it may be detrimental for the next person. Also.... I believe that sometimes, humans need to lose their way in order to grow and become wiser.

Speaking from personal experience, I became "lost" more than once to the point where I used to cry and wish that it was possible for someone to come save me from the pain I was experiencing at that moment in time. But even if a demon magically appeared and offered to lead me someplace where I'd be able to find happiness... I would be highly skeptical. What is their definition of "happy"? How do they know I even have a chance at finding happiness? Where exactly would they be leading me? What would they want in return?

For argument's sake, I will admit that I may take a demon up on that offer even now. But it would be out of pure curiosity, not because I actually think I'd be able to find happiness. Which leads me to my next point : demons deceive humans with sweet words in order to drag them into the darkness

I have heard this saying and similar ones numerous times before (Luke even said something along the lines of demons using honeyed words to get others to do their bidding), and I feel like it is perfectly accurate in this scenario too.

Diavolo would be promising a lost, confused, and more than likely desperate human the chance to be happy, and all they would have to do is follow him to some unknown place. Seems way too good to be true, in my opinion.

So that's not "helping" humans.... That's confusing them even more and leading them further away from their path in life (at least within the Human World, since it sounds like Diavolo would take them to the Devildom/Hell. Though I'm just speculating there)

Then in 10-A, it is revealed that this illusion was conjured up by "Nightbringer".

Side note : since this is where Barbatos sent Solomon when he teleported him, it makes me question if Barbatos has connections to Nightbringer... or is somehow Nightbringer himself?

Either way, I found this question interesting :

Solomon is convinced that we share his beliefs and viewpoints, that we'll agree with him and help him fight for the sake of humanity despite saying that he is "not trying to make an enemy" out of either demons or angels .... Which as Nightbringer pointed out, is an awfully overconfident statement to make.

I found this both interesting as well as funny.

Solomon is against demons and angels judging humans, yet he is acting like he knows us inside and out. Don't get me wrong, I love Solomon too. But isn't that a bit hypocritical?

He may have a very close connection/relationship to us, but he obviously doesn't know our heart well enough if he honestly believes that we would turn our back on the brothers and support the idea of a war against them.

As you pointed out, anon... Solomon's delusions beliefs definitely tip the scales when it comes to us wondering if he's genuinely on our side or if he has some kind of hidden agenda that he needs our cooperation with in order for it to come to fruition.

And I absolutely agree with you! I don't know if Solomon has become senile in his old age or what, but he really went out of his way to warn us about the dangers of potentially altering the present if we do or say anything untoward.... Yet he goes and makes a pact with Asmo WAY sooner than he was supposed to. Uh, Solomon? What's with the double standards, buddy?

I really hate to say this, but it honestly does make me question if he used the whole "time paradox" spiel as an excuse to precipitate a conflict with Diavolo, Lucifer, and the others... Because Solomon must have known that if any of them found out MC was lying to them or keeping secrets from them, they would react accordingly (and yes, understandably so).

The latter was pretty much proven already, considering Solomon arrived right on time to save MC from Belphie once the brothers found out MC is actually human, then immediately proceeded to take them to a place where he thought they would be safe. It almost seems like it was planned from the start, if you ask me.

Another side note : And let's not forget where Solomon brought us. He was conveniently in reach of a grimoire that could successfully control Lucifer. Who has been wanting to make a pact with Lucifer for a very long time? Solomon. So I'm curious to know if Solomon did indeed plan all of this. If not to start a war, then maybe to try to force a pact with Lucifer? Because Solomon obviously knew that Lucifer was going to pursue MC and himself, hence why he brought MC to the Reaper's Cave (to get a bargaining chip... AKA the grimoire)

Side Note Number 3 : I find it especially interesting that the brothers threatened Solomon to bring MC back safe and sound. Is that because they suspect he might be up to something, too? Maybe they're worried that Solomon may try to use this opportunity to appeal to MC and have them side with him to escalate a war in the past, and that's why they basically used the promise of bodily dismemberment if he doesn't return with MC in the same condition they both left in.

Anyway, onto the next very important part :

I firmly believe the peaceful and understanding approach is the absolute best way to prove that humans are just as formidable as demons and angels.

My main reason for this belief is in regards to something Lucifer said :

It was my own decision that precipitated the war.

MC knows the brothers better than anyone else. I'd even argue that at this point, MC knows the brothers even better than they know themselves.

MC can reach them in ways they aren't expecting, because MC can use their knowledge of the "present day" boys to properly handle them now. This has been shown numerous times already when MC helped them, encouraging them, and comforted them.

Even when MC gave Satan a few little tidbits about cats, it was a special moment between the two. MC knows that present!Satan loves cats, so they knew past!Satan would instantly be fascinated to learn more. Plus... What better way to quell the Avatar of Wrath's anger than an adorable, fluffy, purring little kitty? ^u^

MC also knew that Lucifer wasn't angry when he cast his spell and was lowkey threatening them. Instead, MC knew Lucifer was scared and worried about his brothers, that he didn't want to risk their safety because of some human who's intentions are currently unknown to him.

But I'm starting to get a little off topic here.... Let me go back to the statement Lucifer made.

It was my own decision that precipitated the war.

MC can choose to blindly follow Solomon and side with humanity like he asked them to do, which may potentially lead to a war between humans, demons, and angels.

Or MC can choose to do things their own way.

As I said before, MC knows the brothers better than anyone else. So MC can reason with them and help them understand that MC only wants what is best for them.... Because MC loves them and cares about them (whether that's romantically or in a familial way is up to you, but it still remains true regardless).

And if MC chooses to do things their own way, which I predict is what will happen especially after the whole grimoire incident.... if that choice means that MC will have to go through a series of trials and tribulations, overcome obstacles and hurdles, and use every ounce of energy and effort to find common ground between the three worlds while avoiding war at all costs.... Isn't that the perfect way to prove just how strong, driven, tenacious, and capable humans are?

MC can open the eyes of both angels and demons to exactly what they, a human, can accomplish through sheer determination and willpower.

It can also be a wonderful opportunity to show both Simeon (an angel) and Lucifer (a demon) that MC (a human) is able to accomplish what neither of them did.

It was my own decision that precipitated the war.

Lucifer made choices that resulted in war. MC can make choices to avoid a war.

Simeon regrets not speaking up back then, not reaching out and actively trying to get through to Lucifer. MC can do the opposite. MC can push and fight to prove their loyalty and dedication to the brothers, they can strive to enrich everyone's lives in a peaceful and nurturing way.

Knowing those two, I am absolutely positive that MC will unequivocally earn their respect this way if they choose this path. And if so... Not so weak and fragile after all, eh Simeon?~ ;D

Most importantly :

If MC makes their own choice to deliberately avoid a war/conflict because of their genuine love for the brothers, it will prove that being a human, demon, or angel is completely irrelevant when there is a mutual level of respect and understanding between two (or more) individuals.

Because let's face it.... We all know every one of the brothers is weak for us and will support us in any way they can. Even Mr. GrumpyPants Lucifer has a major soft spot for us. We just need to work towards rebuilding our relationships, strengthening our bonds, and reforging our pacts with them in this timeline.

But I'm sure MC will accomplish that, in their own way, on their own terms ^ᴗ^

[bemusedlybespectacled]

I admit, I didn't particularly like Izzy in season 1 lol. I think it's because I have a lot of experience with being at the mercy of someone Like That (in regards to how he treats the crew. Just generally an Angry Chihuahua of a person.) My abusive mother, my manager at my first job, ect... So far though, it looks like season 2 is going to turn my opinion around lol

Honestly, I didn't like him at first, either! I honestly don't think you're supposed to. He does a lot of really shitty things that we're not supposed to find sympathetic! There are several moments – Lucius turning the tables on Izzy in 1x05, Izzy getting smacked on the ass by Stede's sword and then losing the duel in 1x06, Izzy getting punched in the face in 1x09, Izzy almost getting thrown overboard in the mutiny in 1x09– that are definitely supposed to be a "yeah, get 'im!" thing, tonally. I like Izzy and I still have that "GET WRECKED, LOSER" feeling at certain scenes.

And Izzy plotting and scheming and being a dick and then failing anyway, usually in a ridiculous way for absurd reasons, is a good chunk of his humor (I have repeatedly compared him to Wile E. Coyote because it's basically the same joke). It's the same reason the crew discussing mutiny in the first episode is funny: the joke is in them NOT doing it, for inherently funny reasons ("but who will do the voices?").

Like, trying to murder your neighbor is not funny. Trying to murder your neighbor because he has a nicer lawn than you is funny. Trying and failing to murder your neighbor because you slipped on a patch of wet grass caused by you leaving your sprinkler on in an attempt to make your lawn nicer than his is fucking hilarious. And that’s Izzy’s plotline through most of Season 1: just him laying out series of rakes for Stede to step on and then repeatedly walking into them himself.

But I think it's important to distinguish him from those I would consider "true" villains of the series, like the Badmintons or the aristocrats. Almost no villains (outside of the aristocrats and possibly Nigel) are completely 100% without any sympathetic qualities whatsoever: Geraldo is clearly super into Jackie; Chauncey is trying to avenge what he thinks is the murder of his twin brother; Calico Jack (yes I consider him a villain don’t @ me) does/did have a genuine relationship with Ed, even if he’s being a duplicitous asshole to everyone else.

But we spend much more time with Izzy narratively than we do with any of them, in a way that shows us how he’s thinking and feeling. We get the voiceover in 1x06 (“I’m starting to suspect that Edward has no intention of taking Stede Bonnet’s life” over Stede and Ed’s love montage like NO SHIT?), but then immediately afterwards we have the bit where he’s talking to Fang and Ivan, and his evidence for The Plan still being on is… that Ed promised him. Literally just that. That’s a personal reason, not a logical one. We see him talking to Jackie in her bar, sounding exactly like someone who just got cheated on with some floozy. And there are multiple times the camera decides to stay in his face while he goes through five stages of grief: Ed giving up and deciding they’re doomed in 1x04, losing the duel in 1x06, and trying to get Ed to listen to him during Stede’s execution in 1x09.

Even in scenes where he’s being a huge dick, he’s an emotional dick? Obviously some of those emotions are shit like “evil glee” and “anger,” but they’re honest: we know what he looks like when he’s faking emotion and he is so, so bad at it (“BLACKBEARD IS JUST A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER”). He REALLY DOES know that Ed adores Stede: he’s just revealing that to manipulate him into continuing the fuckery. He REALLY DOES think becoming Depressed Musician Ed is “a fate worse than death”: he’s just saying so out loud to (in theory) snap Ed out of his funk. He REALLY IS happy when he thinks he got what he wanted and the old Ed is back: that’s why he reaches out to touch him like that.

And I’m just gonna say: I know the joke is Izzy being the human in a cast of Muppets, but “guy who already is VERY vocal and obvious about how he feels and sucks at being evil but in a funny way” is, IMHO, the exact kind of muppety personality that would make him fit right in with the crew.

We know this was on purpose: David Jenkins has repeatedly said that Izzy is supposed to be like Ed’s jilted spouse, and he wrote 1x09 and 1x10 with Con O’Neill’s audition in mind.

And now we know that this season is going to have even more Izzy. So I’m hopeful that this season is going to cement the groundwork the writers set in Season One.

[tinkerbelldetective]

It is not their first words, or the place you meet, or the first place you touch. It is the first time you argue. There is no feeling like seeing the words on your wrist slowly turn from being a touch darker than your skin to a brilliant gold, but as an attorney, it certainly is awkward to watch it happen in the middle of a suppression hearing, or immediately afterwards.

Michael Cutter is startlingly dismissive of the detectives who searched your client's house without a warrant, of the beat cops who stopped her without reason. The evidence Michael Cutter is so vehemently supporting is nothing less than the fruit of the poisonous tree. He has nothing without it, and he knows it.

"Mr. Cutter, we both know the evidence is inadmissible. You're an intelligent man. Turn your energy to reminding the officers who bring you evidence that they are bound by law just as we are."

His blue eyes-cold, calculating, intelligent - flash over to you. It occurs to you he probably has, but was determined to fight for what they acquired, as it is his job.

"The NYPD not only serves me, but you as well, counselor. We would not be here if Elisabeth Williams had not harbored evidence from the police."

Your client was a victim of domestic abuse. A survivor who was finally trying to get out. A woman who had been intimidated into hiding a weapon and photographs.

"My client is just another victim, your honor. Her rights have been violated enough. The knife was only found because Officer Braco stopped her for loitering 3 feet away from her own property and found out that the person who was recently taken off the lease had an active warrant on file."

"Mr. Cutter, the knife is out."

"The photographs?"

"Also out, pending further investigation, any charges regarding Ms. Williams and the objects found in her home are hereby dismissed."

"Thank you, your honor," you nodded, slipping the case files back into your brief case.

*

"We'll call her as a witness," he asserts, following you into the elevator.

You scoff, "Haven't you considered that putting your suspect's former partner on the stand may hurt your case? Or, hurt her?" A sigh leaves your lips as you switch your bag over to your other hand. "Ben Stone made cases without murder weapons. Surely, you can manage."

Cutter tensed, hand tightening around his own briefcase. A glance at his wrist revealed "Surely you can manage." turning to a faint rose gold script.

Of course. Of course, it would happen here.

His eyes flick over to you once more, noticing the way you tug at your lip with your teeth as you think.

Did his words already rescript in gold over your skin?

*

Your wrist feels cooler than it had 20 minutes ago, when Cutter had turned to you and wondered why you finally answered the call from Legal Aid.

"Charity wins out in the end, I suppose."

You had wished those words were said near the end of the argument, a laying down of arms, with fond teasing and acceptance. Yet, Cutter's words had burned in more ways than just the changing color of the sentence on your wrist.

Now, in the elevator, you finally catch the smallest glimpse of gold peaking out under the gray of his suit jacket.

Your words tumble out before you can stop them, "Photographs still need film to be developed."

And you both know. There's no way he doesn't feel the pull, the snapping of the thread of hostility, like breathing in new air.

His smirk is disorienting, somewhat unsettling, and it beckons you to match.

[chidoroki]

182 Days of TPN - Day 128

Chapter 128: "I've Decided"

I love Emma so much for this. She agrees that the annihilation would be a smart way to ensure that their family can live safely and happily in this world, but it is by no means the best way to reach that future. I understand Norman's drive for revenge on the aristocrats and those who play an active part of keeping the farm systems running, but the whole method to achieve that is just morally wrong, especially to attack those who are innocently going about their days as normal. (during this part of the conversation, the anime has "Existence of an Insider" playing, which famously played in s1ep5 when Ray reveals he's a double agent to Norman, so it's almost like roles switched in regards to whom we're supposed to be cautious about.)

She also agrees that escaping into the human world may be dangerous for them as well since they dunno how well they'll be accepted there, but still wishes to take that chance. Their whole journey up to this point was full of risks, optimism and resolve, so naturally Emma is willing to put her beliefs into such an iffy idea. All that is quite similar to her reasoning later in ch178 when they're all about to cross over actually and if it was for this recent ask I may not have thought about this just now. (perhaps that's another reason Ray chooses to trust in Emma so strongly, as he's heard her speak similar truths before during this moment.)

Anime is wild for having Norman make a comment like that. Naturally I love Ray getting angry at him for it.

Lowkey funny to me how it's the thought of not having Emma smile anymore that causes Norman to be like "oh wait, I certainly can't have that," and proceeds to talk through the situation more openly about a sort of compromise.

Maybe I'm the idiot, but how would you exactly defeat the demons without killing them? It's not like you could mortally wound them since they'll regenerate quickly, yeah? (unless we're chatting about Norman's drug that has yet to be revealed, since that forces them to degenerate. though that'll still lead them to death, just slowly. idk. this is why i write these out days beforehand so i can think and try to make sense of random shit like this.)

Norman, I regret to inform you that you're in a fantasy type manga. Impossible things are gonna happen no matter what you wanna believe.

He goes through this whole spiel about the Seven Walls being a total mystery and claims there's absolutely no proof of the place actually existing and Emma fires back telling him they've basically found the entrance already and it's such a perfect in-your-face moment for her and I love it.

The way her grip tightens on him.. aahh she wants to take the pressure off him so badly so he can just be Norman again instead of the WM persona and it hurts!

Hug her! Hug her, you fool! She needs many hugs!

How can you expect to her relax with that fake smile on your face? If ya wanted to be convincing you should've just HUGGED HER. (i'm surprisingly passionate about this moment suddenly, dunno why.)

Perhaps it because it didn't happen in the anime that I'm fond of the embrace now? Instead we get Emma just reaching for his hand.

And after she asks Norman if the annihilation is truly what he wants and if it's tough carry everything by himself, he simply replies with "no" followed by the below. Like damn boy, and here I thought manga Norman was being harsh.

Spoilers: he did, in fact, not think about it when Emma returned. In his defense, she arrived a bit too late. But also in her defense, a lotta things happened at the Seven Walls.

Enjoy the brief happiness while you can.

My boy gets sidelined so hard during this chapter that despite all the chatter that's going on, he only got about seven total speech bubbles.

Favorite panel/moment:

I'm afraid Norman fails to understand that Emma is gonna make her own agreement between them whether he likes it or not.

I absolutely love the way Norman freaks out, even if it's definitely a valid concern about if they could actually return from the Seven Walls. C'mon boss, this is Emma we're talking about here, of course her plan is gonna be reckless. He should've expected that.

She's got a fair point about the first Ratri being able to return. And I'll never get over how she thinks this task/burden she volunteers for is simple. Emma is amazing. Crazy, but we love her.

In the anime it had the trio agree to find Sonju & Mujika instead (since the Seven Walls really don't exist in that silly adaptation) and I did kinda enjoy the quick banter between Emma & Norman about how many days the search should be. Not including anything else here though because this is longer than intended and I am very tired.

[outrunningthedark]

I genuinely wonder why any time anyone has criticism about plot lines on this show the default response from a certain section of this fandom is that we lack media literacy skills? I have literally never watched a show and agreed with every single thing the writers have done. No matter how much I adore a show, I can always name multiple instances where I would have liked for them to not have done something or wished a storyline would have ended a different way.

Why do they act like the writers of this particular show are above people not liking certain plot lines they come up with?? Its insane to me that once a few blogs say something, everyone who doesn’t agree just somehow “doesn’t get it” or be labeled as a “negative person”. Why can’t we just have differing opinions? Why can’t we admit that something was just a bad idea?

I don’t know but I find it incredibly hard to believe that they like every single thing that happens? They literally can justify anything happening on this show because its supposed to lead to a “greater purpose”. What’s going to happen if that “greater purpose” is never revealed?

What’s going to happen to the “everything is deliberate” people if Buddie never goes canon? Is that when people can start criticizing without being accused of being media illiterate?

Sorry to unload on you. Its just something that’s been bothering me for a while.

I think there's two reasons behind the defensive stance: - People enjoy 9-1-1 to a degree that not everyone can relate to. Some fans truly do think of it as their "comfort show" and they see pieces of themselves in certain characters (hence the relentless projection), so when they see somebody else calling things into question or saying "I don't agree with what the showrunners did here", it feels personal. (FTR, this doesn't apply to discussion about real-life issues. I'm talking about pushback over things like how BT and BL were dealt with.) I don't know if you have any siblings, op, but I'm sure you're familiar with how sibling relationships work: "Only I can talk bad about them because they're my family." That's exactly how some fans treat the show - like a member of the family. "Only I can talk bad about specific characters and plotlines because my criticisms come from a place of love." - [This goes with something I said a few days ago regarding a specific area of fandom that doesn't like to acknowledge when they get it all wrong] Our fandom has quite a few folks who have hope in canon!Buddie (*raises hand*) and they've adopted the belief that everything leading up to that moment is part of a "grand plan" crafted well in advance just so they can yell "I told you so!!!" if/when Buddie is endgame. (We know this isn't the case. While it's true that the show puts careful thought into some of Buck and Eddie's timeline, it's also true that not everything is going to have a deeper meaning. Sometimes the showrunners just go with what makes sense at a particular time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯) Publicly expressing distrust or disappointment in the showrunners, even for one episode or one storyline, won't make them look as confident as they try to appear.

[nekropsii]

what's sov!cronus like? Also as someone who might be considered a fan of cronus, I feel like the big difference between a "good" cronus fan and a "bad" one is wether they acknowledge how awful he is. cronus sucks. objectively. and if you don't think he sucks then you're not a cronus fan, you just really like your oc that you stuck in cronus's body. cronus is a supervillain in the body of an incel and I love to hate him.

Yeah, totally get that. People who hate Cronus but are ultimately invested in his real actual canon character are welcome here. Hence why in a recent post, I did mention that you can like Cronus, you just have to acknowledge the fact that he’s awful and not, as you said, make an OC and put them in Cronus’s skin, for whatever reason. Apologists get blocked on sight. “Simps” also get blocked on sight. I’ve had far too many negative experiences with Cronus Enjoyers to not have severe, severe trust issues with regards to his character.

Hating Cronus is the correct response to his character. That was entirely the intention of his character. You are supposed to hate him, and Hussie honestly did a very good job of making a character who is genuinely evil without making it offensive. I’ve noticed a lot of writers will default onto stereotypical minority traits to show how much of a villain a character is- but Cronus is the opposite of this. He’s as hateable as he is because he does nothing but punch down and act like the victim of an oppressive system he’s actively upholding and benefitting from, and wants said system to be even more oppressive.

I suppose I could also be considered somewhat of an “anti-fan” of his character- I’m incredibly passionate about the idea of portraying him accurately, and I’m actually by choice one of the writers for his character in Sovereignstuck. I’m very much so passionate about Cronus’s character. It just so happens that that passion goes hand in hand with unending rage. Lol.

That said, Sov!Cronus is decently similar to canon Cronus. He’s still a vile person. In some ways, he’s even worse, but not in a way that breaks character. The framework for his behavior canonically started when he was incredibly young, and the reason why he’s as terrible as he is is because he had his hopes of being a prophetic Hero of Hope shattered. He’s jaded, bitter, and violently entitled, and he’s making it everyone else’s problem.

A key difference is that, in contrast to Cronus canonically having a millennia to “get over” the emotional injury of not being a prophetic hero, he’s only had one year to do so in Sovereignstuck. Which means he isn’t over it at all. It’s an incredibly fresh wound, and he’s still actively very upset about it. The fact that one of our key players is a Rogue of Hope- who is the prophetic Hero of Hope- does not at all bode well for his mental state. His rudimentary understanding of what classpects actually mean is not helping.

On top of that, he’s much more afraid of getting caught and revealed as the person he is, because getting suddenly hit with that information will absolutely lead to total rejection, which is his worst fear. There’s nothing he hates more than rejection. Due to this, he tends to put up more of a façade around the new guys. He’s not an idiot in that regard- he knows you have to start small and work your way up.

A big reason why he was able to get so far in the first place was because his biggest target, Mituna, is a Cassandra parallel- in which Cronus is the Apollo of that equation, as well as Ajax the Lesser. If you know, you know. The Cassandra effect has not had any time to set into the Player session- and actually won’t really set in at all. It’s very frustrating for him.

Also, he’s got shades now. He thinks they make him look cool. +2 Confidence Boost. They don’t actually look cool. He looks like a dweeb. He also wears clothes that are too big for him, to pretend that he’s larger than he actually is. It’s a sore subject. He’s in denial.

[vantemania]

Blossoming

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➤ Genre: Fluff, crack

➤ Pairing: Jungkook x Y/N

➤ Word count: 1.1k

➤ A/N: This is just a super fluffy nervous Jungkook drabble I couldn't help thinking of the first time I saw him in that fit. It's pre-date btw! Imagine in the second gif he's got that date on his mind~ all cute & overthinking things 💛 ALSO, I have to say — when I chose the ahem... combination of the outfit Taehyung picks, I had no idea Tae had truly put those things together before irl... (& made it look amazing ofc)

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"No one told me it would be this hard!" Dragging his hands down his face, Jungkook stared at his wardrobe with pure resentment. Everyone was always commenting on how 'boyfriend' he dressed, so why the fuck couldn't he figure out what to wear for a date?

Jungkook cast a longing look at his oversized T-shirts and collection of hoodies; he'd return to them soon. But for tonight, he needed something more... refined.

Earlier in the week, Jungkook had finally worked up the courage to ask you on a date. He'd been pining after you ever since you tripped over your own feet and spilled the contents of your bag, revealing anime keychains and video game themed pens. When he returned your Mario pen to you and you smiled in embarrassment, uttering a quiet thank you — he knew he wanted to be the reason you smiled from then on, and he needed to know what the sound of your laughter was like. It wasn't love at first sight, but he certainly felt something bloom in his chest.

The door to Jungkook's room inched open silently. Taehyung peeked in, taking in the scene before him. It appeared as though Jungkook's entire wardrobe was scattered about his room. Taehyung had experienced the maknae's indecision on an outfit before, but he'd never seen it this bad. Glancing at Jungkook, Taehyung noticed his hands were covering his face. He was still oblivious to Taehyung's presence. The boy seemed to be going through a crisis already, so Taehyung decided to be nice and spook him as little as possible.

With a tiny knock on the open door, Taehyung broke Jungkook out of his mental monologue. "Uh... I heard shouting and things crashing so I... came to check on you."

At the sound of his hyung's voice, Jungkook startled, his hands dropping from his face immediately. Taehyung snickered at the look of bewilderment mixed with something else... desperation? On Jungkook's face. "Looks like you could use some help?"

Hope dawned on the maknae's face, previously distraught eyes now sparkling. "Please? I don't have anything to wear," he whined.

With a tilt of his head, Taehyung smirked at the pleading look on Jungkook's face. "I'm sure I have a thing or two I could lend you for the night."

»»---------------------►

Jungkook checked himself out in the full length mirror in the hallway — he was never convinced it was a necessary component in the apartment before, but Jin had insisted on it, saying no home was complete without a full length mirror, and how else was he supposed to see just how handsome he looked that day?

Today, however, Jungkook was thankful. He fluffed his hair one more time — just to shake it out of his eyes — before taking a deep breath and heading down the hallway. Exhaling, he closed his eyes momentarily, a grin forming on his face. He was finally going to see you outside of class. Nervous didn't even begin to explain how he felt right then. Giddy, excited, antsy, terrified? He hoped you wouldn't think he was weird. All signs so far had pointed to you not hating him — hell, he'd take what he could get, just to see you smile was enough for him. With this on his mind, Jungkook bounded into the living room, a spring in his step.

Namjoon, who was lounging on the sofa watching TV, took one look at the boy who was practically vibrating with nerves and glee. "Jungkook." He muted the TV. "Come here for a second."

Halting mid-step, Jungkook obeyed, curious as to what his hyung wanted to say. Maybe he'd offer some sage advice? Or wish him good luck?

"Yes Namjoon hyung?" He answered, stepping in front of Namjoon's seated figure.

The older boy took a moment to scan Jungkook from head to toe. "You're going on a date?”

"Yes~" Jungkook beamed, a bright toothy smile enveloping his face.

"It's the first date, right?" Namjoon asked, quirking his brow. His eyes landed on one target. No, two.

Under his intense gaze, Jungkook shifted his feet. "Yes," he answered again, starting to feel his anxiety from earlier returning.

Namjoon took a deep breath. He considered how lucky the boys were to have a hyung like him to guide them. "I would reconsider that outfit."

Jungkook froze. "Wh- but why hyung?" He looked at himself, suddenly self conscious. He really thought he and Taehyung had come up with a solid first date look.

It took everything in Namjoon to not just deadpan his response. Namjoon settled on sighing instead. "Taehyung helped you, didn't he?"

"Ah... he did. Why?" Jungkook shifted back and forth on his feet, fingers fiddling with one another.

With a chuckle under his breath, Namjoon shook his head. Of course. "Jungkook. I admire Taehyung's sense of style most days, but you can't go on your first date wearing Gucci slippers and plaid pants."

»»---------------------►

Returning from his room, Jungkook crossed the hallway to Namjoon's room — where he had migrated to after trying to save Jungkook from making the mistake of being too..? Eccentric. For his first date with you. Impressions were everything, after all.

Namjoon glanced away from his computer's monitor as the younger boy entered. "There, now doesn't that feel so much better?" he asked, appraising the new and improved outfit.

Adjusting the sleeves on his yellow button-up, Jungkook grinned. "Do you really think she'll like this, hyung?"

Namjoon gave him a once over. "Well, if she has any taste, she will," he said.

The grin on Jungkook's face widened, crinkling his eyes. "I guess I'm about to find out," he replied, checking his watch.

"Go get 'em kid," Namjoon said, regarding the maknae leaving his room with a fondness in his eyes.

Jungkook reached the front door, after patting himself down to make sure he didn't forget anything. Phone, wallet, keys... He should be good.

His phone buzzed right after he patted his pocket to check it — a text from you saying you were on your way to meet him. A shy smile tugged at his lips.

Jungkook quickly texted you an answer before pocketing his phone and opening the door to his home. With one look over his shoulder before leaving, he adjusted the sleeves to his shirt once more and grinned.

"Let's get it."

[girl4music]

BUFFY REWATCH - S05E06 - Family

WILLOW: “My dance?

*She takes Tara's hand and leads her onto the floor as a slow song starts. They begin to dance. Willow has her hands on Tara's waist; Tara's hands on Willow's shoulders*

Good birthday?” 

TARA: “Best birthday.”

WILLOW: “I still can't believe you didn't tell me about your family and all that.” 

TARA: “I was just afraid if you saw the kind of people I came from, you wouldn't wanna be anywhere near me.”

WILLOW: “See... that's where you're a dummy. I think about what you grew up with and then I look at what you are... it makes me proud. It makes me love you more.”

TARA: “Every time I... even when I'm at my worst, you always make me feel special. 

*Willow smiles*

How do you do that?”

WILLOW: “Magic.” 

*They embrace, putting their heads on each other's shoulders and swaying to the music*

Melanie Doane (sings): “I can't take my eyes off you... I can't take my eyes off you...”

*This line of song repeats several more times as they continue slowly moving to the music and the camera moves around them. We see them slowly rising upward. Long shot of Willow and Tara surrounded by other couples who are also dancing, but Willow and Tara are floating several feet above the floor*

‘Family’ is one of my favourite episodes of the whole show. It’s definetly my favourite episode of Season 5... but then there’s not really much contest there. I love it not only because it’s the only Tara-centric episode that finally gives her some character development. But I also love it for the complex and serious themes it addresses. That of domestic abuse and found family VS blood-kin relationships. And you may well know that I am always more interested in the themes and messages conveyed in art/entertainment than the actual content of it. I’m definitely more about the meaning and the learning than the pleasure principle in watching a TV show - so therefore ‘Family’ is an important episode to me. It’s not just because I love the character it’s about,... although that does help. 

Tara is a character that is supposed to remind us of the shy and insecure character Willow used to be in the earlier seasons. However, there is much more reason for Tara to be the way she is in her demeanor than there ever was for Willow. At least in my opinion - Tara is without a doubt the most abused character in all of the show because she’s abused throughout her whole lifetime. This episode shows us that Tara is domestically abused by her blood-kinship and this reveal doesn’t exactly shock us because it’s really evident in the way Tara expresses herself. And she is abused in two different ways:

Emotionally - by her father and cousin that gaslight her to believe she’s an evil demon and use coercive control to exert power over her.

Physically - by her brother who threatens to beat her if she doesn’t do what her father tells her and how she reacts to him in the shaking and the stuttering. 

This girl has clearly been through a lot before ever meeting Willow and we really sympathise with her throughout all her interactions with her relatives (I refuse to use the word ‘family’ in regards to them because they are not) in the episode. The lack of love, support, care, kindness, generosity, understanding, trust, faith and compassion has seriously had a major affect on Tara - as it would with anyone that goes or has gone through domestic abuse or domestic violence as it’s now called and recognized. 

So for Tara... being accepted as and called ‘family’ by the Scooby Gang at the climax of the episode means a great deal. Not just for Willow and Tara’s romantic relationship but for the relationship Tara develops with all of the protagonist characters. They are now her found family and the only people she really knows and interacts with from now on. The dance scene at the end of the episode is my most favourite Willow/Tara moment. I fell in love with them when I first watched this scene. It’s the acceptance and the forgiveness Willow gives in that she understands why Tara tried to hide her prior life from her but explains that it wasn’t necessary because the fact she isn’t anything like her blood-kinship is what makes Willow love Tara more. Because she’s entirely right - anyone that can come from a cruel and violent environment like Tara did and still remain so empathetic and non-judgemental with other people deserve great admiration and respect. It’s not easy to not reflect and project that same behaviour on others. I know that firsthand. And I’ll forever feel extremely guilty for it even though it wasn’t something I could really have conscious control of at the time.

Going forward in the show, Tara’s demeanor completely changes. With the love and support of her found family and her girlfriend, her self-esteem greatly improves very quickly and she becomes a confident, secure, strong and all around beautiful person. So much so that she is able to say ‘No’ to Willow when she starts to spiral with the abusing of magic and the accumulation of power - knowing herself exactly where that can lead to as she’s tried to avoid “becoming evil” her whole life. There is the thought for me that were that the truth - were she actually part demon - I doubt she would have ever been all that evil at all.

[gallavictorious]

bottom!mickey nonnie here, i had some more thoughts in response to your reply, if you don't mind? :) i can see where the trust aspect might come into play for mickey re: bottoming and i understand your thought process. the only thing that makes me doubt that is how quickly that trust must have been established between him and ian if that is the case. they haven't been fucking for that long when kash walks in on them (which is the first instance we actually know mickey bottoms). i suppose that there could have been a lot of off-screen developments and interactions, but it's too quick imo. their relationship in season one seems more puppy-love to me rather than a deep bond (which i see as starting to form in season two). the way i see it, the only level of trust that needs to be established is "i know you won't tell anyone because you're also closeted and you won't treat me like a bitch because if you do, i'll beat you tf up and just never fuck you again" which is pretty shallow and something mickey could probably have reached with other guys, too. idk, i just don't see their relationship in season one as deep enough for mickey to start trusting ian with things he's worried or insecure about. it makes more sense to me that he lets ian fuck him because it's not that big a deal, rather than because he's already let ian past his walls. we know that ian is all in by that point, but i just don't think mickey is. he likes ian, is drawn to him (probably against his better judgement), but that's as far as it goes, as i see him. since there are such few scenes between them in season one we have no choice but to make our own interpretations, and those are bound to differ. i've just never seen mickey indicate that he thinks bottoming = being a bitch, or even that it's something he worries about. the only thing to support that would be his attitude to prison, but like i said before, i don't think mickey views sex in prison the same as he views sex on the outside. he probably views everything in prison differently. on the outside, with guys who share his secret? i don't think it's too much of a stretch that he would just do what he wants. the danger is the same either way. just my interpretation of him, of course :)

Hiya, Bottom!Mickey Nonnie No. 1!

I don't mind one little bit; in fact, I'm delighted! Apart from enjoying the fun discussion, it's always gratifying to hear back from anons: you usually never actually know if your answer has reached them.

First off, you're damned right it's quick! I personally don't subscribe to the idea that Mickey knew that Ian was gay or had a crush on him preceding their 1x07 tryst (nothing wrong with that notion, btw, it just doesn't appeal to me), so when they suddenly start tearing off each other's clothes that's very sudden. I tend to assume there might have a tiny bit of vague interest prior to this, the proximity and tussling triggers mutual attraction, they both spring boners, and yeah, off they go? You're also quite right in (implicitly) pointing out that we don't know that they had penetrative sex at that time – maybe they moved up from mutual handjobs or just plain grinding to something more a few trysts later. Either way, you make a good point about the danger of sex outside of lock-up would be the same regardless of whether Mickey bottoms or not. I'd never really thought about that before, so thank you for pointing that out!

However, it's probable that the reason I haven't thought very much about it is because when I speak of Mickey's easy trust for Ian I don't primarily mean him trusting Ian not to reveal his secrets to anyone else, but trust him to know Mickey in a way others are not allowed – and here we disagree and that is fine. :) If you see Mickey as unbothered by being into bottoming, you can certainly find support for that in the narrative. We do have the famous ”liking what I like”-line, which absolutely can be taken at face value! The fact that I tend to interpret it as (partly) Mickey being deliberately unapologetic because he feels a bit uneasy about his preferences and is somewhat defensive about Ian's brief allusions to common prejudices around bottoming, has more to do with my assumption that – given Mickey's circumstances – this is something that Mickey's likely to feel insecure about. He's internalized his father's homophobia to some degree; it just seems reasonable to me that he'd have internalized Terry's strong conviction that Milkoviches don't bottom too. (He certainly seems ready to embody that when he attacks Ian's army fuck buddy in season 3, citing the need to kick him straight because he's the one taking it up the ass. However, that could also totally performative or seen as him making a twisted kind of in-joke, so it's hardly conclusive.) Furthermore, I feel that it's not unreasonable to question Mickey's sincerity in regards to the line mentioned above, since we do have instances of him acting seemingly geuninely dismissive even when we know he probably cares quite a bit. I'm thinking primarily about his reaction to Ian's sex strike in season 11; I just don't buy he was unbothered by that, but there's nothing in the way he expresses his lack of concern that suggests it's insincere. This doesn't mean that I think my reading of the line is the correct one, though, just that it's a possible reading given what else we know of Mickey.

But of course, this really is just my assumptions and interpretations. It's very possible to infer from his actions onscreen that Mickey is totally unconcerned about bottoming, and always has been. After all, Mickey is in many ways a genuinely confident person, and I think this extends to his sex life. (I just think there's insecurity and concern, too... Basically, I think Mickey's relationship with his own sexuality and preferences is complicated, a paradoxical tangle of confidence and shame. I find this complexity is fascinating, and if we're being honest that's probably one of the reasons why I'm not so eager to let go of the notion of it.)

That said, though, and regardless of whether or not bottomingrequires any particular trust on Mickey's part, I think we dohave some concrete evidence of Mickey letting Ian past his walls already in 1x07. Not the sex – because we don't know anything about that – but the return of the gun after. That look on Mickey's face just then? That's vulnerability. He knows that by giving the weapon back when he doesn't have to, he shows hint of a softness he can ill afford people to know he possesses at this point. It's walls dropped, if only for a moment, and I just don't see him allowing that with many – if any – other people. While it isvery quick and while there's no telling whyor how, I firmly believe that there is an immediate trust between them that goes beyond just sex. It might not be logical, but I think it's there, and that this easy, natural understanding is a huge part of what has them coming back to each other again and again in spite of the odds being stacked overwhelmingly against them. Like you, though, I don't see this as a deep bond or anything, not this early. Ian falls in love quickly and easily; for Mickey is a much slower process, because he fights even the possibility of it tooth and claw.

And ah, I'm aware that in my first response to you I promised to elaborate on my thoughts on Mickey's stint in Mexico in my reply to Bottom!Mickey Nonnie No. 2, but I ended up cutting that because it got absurdly long in comparision to my notes on what they were actuallyasking about, and that didn't seem fair or relevant to them. However, I now have a third (and a fourth... apparently this is a subject dear to your hearts, sweet followers) Bottom!Mickey Nonnie in my inbox, so if this is something you're interested in, despair not! We'll get there!

Thank you so much for getting in touch, both with your first ask and with this follow-up. I've enjoyed reading your thoughts, and developing my own in response to them, immensely! I highly value being able to civilly disagree and argue viewpoints without either side feeling the need to convince the other, so this has been a real treat. <3

[mybrothershands]

MBH/Dumpling 2

second installment, same art because otherwise you'll be waiting on it all day tomorrow. Characters by myself and @diddlesanddoodles and editing by @thundering-susurrus

The giant pinched up his face as if he smelled something bad. He then prodded the lump in his chest-pocket. "Get up, you lazy fool."

Several emotions crossed Yale face all at once, from anger to confusion to relief. Now that he knew where to look, Yale could see a distinctive lump in the man’s front pocket and heard the smaller voice emanating from within. Well, if he had a human companion of his own, that was a welcome relief. But he still kept his hand on Nenani. Grinning, he jerked his head to indicate the lump on Ka's shirt. “Ah, well I suppose that answers that. He yer assistant then?”

"Parasite, more like," he said, fishing around in his pocket until he caught the man by the shirt and pulled his shoulders over the lip of the pocket.

"Why you little two-ton son of a hog-bellied cob, I ought to--" The human smacked the hand away.

A nervous laugh escaped the giant, and he clasped his hand over the smaller man's mouth. "Er, this is my brother. He took care of me when I was small," said Ka.

Yale had been watching Ka fish around in his pocket and smirked at the human’s grouchy reply. The human’s snark immediately reminded him of Farris, but upon hearing Ka call him his brother, Yale gave pause. His curiosity was piqued.

“Wha –? Really? Can’t say I’ve ever heard ‘a that. That must be one hell of a story,” he said and jerked his head towards Ka. “Ye must’ve had a time of it keepin’ ‘im fed and clothed proper.”

The giant paused, then seemed to draw back within himself and looked away. Cairo, however, had no such loss for words. "Got that right. Ungrateful, too. You should see the spot in my side where he--" The massive hand clamped over his mouth again.

"I, erm," Ka cleared his throat, worry painted on his face. "I was old enough to work when he took me in. I cleared land for a human farmer in exchange for food. Cairo paid for my clothes and gave me a place to stay."

Polly then decided to use his leg as a scratching post and began rubbing her face up and down the side of his pants, leaning into him. "Woah, hey!" Ka said as he was knocked off balance. Once he found his feet, he pulled her bridle back over her ear and straightened her forelock. "But yes, I'm," he waved his hand in a circle, "I can work with humans just fine. They just need to let me know they're there and keep away from my feet."

“Ah, well no worries there,” Yale said with a light laugh as he pulled his apron aside to reveal Nenani at his hip. “You know better than to be underfoot, ain’t that right Dumplin’?”

Nenani nodded while she observed the new giant and silently marveled at his height. Despite the way in which he towered over them, he had a kind face, and she was not afraid.

“Farris doesn’t like it if I’m on the floor,” she explained. “He doesn’t trust the footmen to keep a look out.”

Ka's expression softened. She was a little thing, even for her kind, with auburn hair that shone in the sunlight. Somehow she met his gaze without fear, and it gave him pause. "H-hello there," he said quietly. "I am Ka. It's nice to meet you, miss."

It took the giant a moment to realize that the young man must have been hiding her, and why he had questioned him so. Come to think of it, he had not seen a single small person, nor chest pocket since he had entered this town. Pieces began to fall into place, and he decided he should not stay here for long. Not with Cairo. Absently, his hand found its way to his pocket.

“Hi. I’m Nenani,” she replied back, trying to look friendly. He looked so nervous, she thought. Yale easily scooped her up and sat her on his leg. After getting comfortable, she gestured up at the cook and said, “And he didn’t say so, but this is Yale.”

Looking confused, Yale looked down at her. “I didn’t introduce myself at all did I?”

“Nope,” she replied. “That was very rude. Lolly would swat you.”

“Ah, well,” he said, giving Ka and Cairo an apologetic shrug. “She wouldn’t be too pleased with me bringin’ the lil’un on this errand either. So there’s that.”

Cairo grumbled as Ka fawned over this little girl. She seemed unafraid and even kind towards his brother, which he respected. Still, he regarded Yale with a critical eye. Hooking his elbow over the frayed lip of the pocket, the human raised his voice. "What kind of kitchen is this anyway, boy? It's a bit late in the day to be fetchin stuff. What are you doing out here now?"

“Best kitchen in Vhasshal,” Yale fired back with a smug grin. He pointed over his shoulder towards the castle behind them. “That being the royal kitchen.”

“But Gjerk didn’t clean the chimney and it ruined the luncheon roasts,” Nenani supplied with a frankness that made light of the true disaster. “Almost caught the whole kitchen on fire.”

Yale frowned and, blushing just a bit, agreed with a muted nod. “Aye. Well, even the best kitchen in Vhasshal can fall victim to inattentive tenderfoots. So we’re needin’ to shuffle things ‘round a bit. Headin’ to a merchant who raises and sells field rocs.”

Ka's face became a smiling mask with a blank stare. Royal kitchen? Was this boy not worried that some stranger picked off the street could poison someone Important? Even the king himself? What if something went wrong and he was blamed for it and put in prison? Even he himself was not sure he deserved such trust, and yet kept his mouth shut in hopes that there was something he did not know.

Cairo, meanwhile, looked the man up and down, and then the girl in turn. They seemed easygoing and honest, if not a bit frank. At last he nodded. "We will accept your offer."

The giant balked. "Cairo, I'm not sure--"

"Shut up," he said, waving a hand. "Your belly's been a'growling all day, and I'll have no more of it. This is an easy job, and you're gonna take it," Cairo barked.

Ka paused, a hint of frustration on his face. Still, this was Cairo. The giant seemed to let go of his worries and nodded. "Just tell me what to do," he said, fixing Yale in his gaze, "and I'll help as much as I can."

He seemed eager enough, Yale thought. And even if his kitchen skills were minimal, so long as he could hold a knife, he could find something for him to do. Ka’s human companion was clearly the more dominant of the two, which Yale found to be quite amusing. And even a bit refreshing. He was so used to humans reacting to him with fear or at the very least nervous suspicion. Not that they did not have a valid reason of course.

He decided he liked Cairo.

“Well, first we gotta go collect them rocs and scurry on back,” Yale said with a grin. “So if we just wanna follow along we’ll go get that done and we can get ye to work.” He paused as he considered Ka. “And get ye somethin’ t’eat. Farris might gripe at me fer it, but believe me. He’s gonna be thankful fer yer help. Even he don’t show it. Or say it. Or yells at ye.”

Yale flicked the reins to usher Polly forward, bringing a hand up to hold onto Nenani when she almost fell off his lap.

“Ah!”

“Oh, sorry there, Dumplin’.”

"Oh," said Ka as he backed away and let the animal slip past until he could walk beside the cab. This Farris fellow seemed a bit crotchety. "Thank you," he said above the creaking wheels. The mention of food set his mouth to watering. They had had so many good things down at the market, maybe now he could get his hands on something. "I can pay you, but I'm afraid my coin may just be trinkets to you."

From his pocket, Cairo squinted one eye, adjusting his position to better watch the small giant. "Why you call her 'dumpling,' anyhow?"

“It was a joke,” Nenani explained with a flat look. “Wasn’t a very funny one.”

“I dunno, I thought it was a pretty good one,” Yale replied with a knowing grin. He poked her belly and the girl squealed and laughed, batting at his fingers. She lost her balance and almost fell back off his lap, but Yale was quick enough to catch her and place her safely down on the bench beside him. He ruffled her hair into a bushy mess. “Anyway, I caught this one here after she’d nicked some fruit. And right in the middle of the King’s weddin’ feast too. Don’t think I’ve ever been that stressed in my life.”

“He threatened to eat me...” Nenani said with the same flat expression.

As lovely as he found the girl's laugh, Ka's smile quickly faded as the girl voiced the joke. He made a sound half way between a choke and a quack. "Hmm?"

Cairo looked more surprised at the noise his brother made than Nenani's admittance. "Oh he did, did he?" He sat up, eyeing Yale. "He looks like a pansy to me."

Yale could not help the smirk of satisfaction at seeing the way Ka reacted. But his focus drew to the man’s pocket and the human within. Leaning towards them and planting his hand on the other side of where Nenani sat, he grinned at the human man.

“Big words fer a fella who travels by pocket,” he challenged. “Why not come on outta there and I’ll show ye how much of a pansy I am.”

Nenani glared up at Yale and grabbed onto his sleeve and gave it a firm tug. “No fighting.”

Cairo merely laughed at the girl's reaction. "I ain't stupid. Think I'll stay in the pocket, eh?" He slapped Ka's chest.

The giant rolled his eyes. He kept pace with the cart fairly easily, even as the Svaldifari trotted. He cleared his throat. "Keep acting like that and I may just let him have you."

"What!" he exclaimed, clutching a hand over his heart. "He might skin me, don't you think? You brute, you should protect your poor old brother."

Ka sighed, plodding along. "You can take care of yourself just fine."

“Smart man, your brother,” Yale said to Ka. “With him taggin’ along, ye might just survive a day in Farris’s kitchen.”

There was something very comforting about watching Cairo and Ka banter. It was all too easy for Yale to be drawn back to the horrible memories of the war and the way it seemed to him at the time that the bloodletting would never cease. Yet before him was a man who openly and easily called a human his brother.

“As fer skinnin’: nah. Too much of a hassle. Much easier to just toss ye into the stew and pop the lid on.”

Beside him, Nenani rolled her eyes. She had become nearly desensitized to all staff’s banter about eating and cooking people. Cairo didn’t seem like the sort to take Yale seriously. But Ka, she observed, seemed to not care for the jokes at all.

Ka lolled his head back, exasperated, then clamped his hand back over Cairo's mouth. "Ne- Nena-nani, er..." he chewed on his tongue for a moment, still trying to decide how many syllables the girl's name had. "Nenani," he said decisively. "He... Yale. He said he found you stealing?" said the giant, desperate to change the subject.

There were a few shoves and knocks on his hand before there at last came a double-tap and Cairo's mouth was freed. However, he kept his mouth shut for once and watched the road ahead. The mare seemed to need a bit of guiding, unused to going this way, but Yale was not quite paying attention. He peered ahead. Was this the way they had come before? Where was the market?

“Oh. Yeah,” she replied as she fiddled with the hem of her skirt in slight embarrassment. “But it’s not like what Farris and they all thought at first. I’m not from the Hill Tribe, I’m from the Southlands. They were loading a bunch of carts near the docks and I tried to sneak in and grab a persimmon before anyone noticed, but the basket was really big and I just...kind of fell in. And got stuck.”

Yale stifled a snicker as he corrected Polly’s path. She whinnied at him in annoyance. “I remember all them peels, lil’un. It was certainly more than one.”

“I was in there for three days,” she said and stuck her tongue out at Yale. “What else was I gonna eat? The basket?” When Yale only shrugged at her, she continued. “I grew up being told stories about Vhasshal and I was really scared. So as soon as the caravan stopped, I tried to run.”

“Caught her tryin’ to make a run fer it,” Yale added lightly pinching her arm. “Didn’t get all that far. Like...a half a dozen yards maybe before I got ‘er.”

Ka frowned. He did not like the way that last bit sounded. He steered away as they passed another cart on the road. He wanted to ask the stories about Vhasshal, and why she had been so frightened, but the girl had not seemed a bit embarrassed about that point in her past. Come to think of it, maybe he did not want to know. "Persimmons... have peels?"

The edge of the village was approaching, and Yale could hear the sound of the rocs long before their pens came into view. Their destination was a handsome little cottage just at the end of the tight clusters of row homes. Though was an older building and had but a thatched roof, it was well maintained and clean. Behind it were the roc pens. There were a dozen or so of the birds loose in the larger space, and Yale felt relieved. He was only going to need ten for the luncheon service, and he’d be able to get a few extra just in case anything else went horribly wrong today.

“Well, I think they’re actually husks,” she was saying. “They’re from overseas somewhere. But you’re not supposed to eat the outsides because it’ll make you sick.”

“Ye did get sick though. Just not from eatin’ fruit,” Yale pointed out. His eyes trailed after the other cart as they passed, having seen the way they had been gawking at Ka. Poor guy must get that a lot.

“Yeah, I had the red reap,” Nenani said. “It was terrible. But Farris took care of me and gave me medicine and watched me all night while I had the fever.”

Ka blinked, trying to make sense of this new information. He had no idea what red reap was, but then again, he was not familiar with most diseases. "It sounds terrible," he said, worry on his brow. The way she had explained it, it sounded deadly. He could not imagine having to care for someone through the night, not knowing if the little thing would make it.

Though he had not yet met the man, Ka found himself reconsidering this Farris guy. If he was the type to yell at someone new, it seemed a bit backwards that he would worry over a thief. He shook the thought away. He had not met him yet. Maybe he would understand later.

It was then he heard some bird-like squabbling, and looked up to find a pen with some frighteningly large feathery beasts. "What... are those?" He felt a bit stupid for asking, but then again, nothing was familiar to him here. Nothing at all.

"What, you never seen a chicken before?" Cairo butted in.

“Oh them ain’t no chickens,” Yale answered, giving Cairo an amused sideways glance. “Those are common field rocs. Those beauties eat chickens fer breakfast. Literally. They’re birds of prey. And they’re what we’re here fer.”

Yale maneuvered the cart towards the pens and when they were close enough, he pulled the reins lightly and Polly came to a gentle halt. She turned to her head back at Yale, expectation in her eyes. With a chuckle, he reached into his apron pocket and pulled out a pressed oat cake. Turning to Ka, he held out the treat. “Wanna give Polly her reward while I go spend the king's money?”

A grin spread across Ka’s face, and he chuckled. "Seems she's in good hands," he said, gently taking the biscuit from him.

~~~

Twelve common field rocs were in the back of the cart, their wings tied down to their sides and hemp sacks placed over their heads to keep them docile. Nenani hung off the back of the driver’s bench, looking down at the immobilized birds. They were as large as cows, and it was a little daunting to think that there were birds that big in the world.

The trip back was fairly uneventful, except that news of Ka seemed to have made its way around the village, They seemed to be getting more stares than before, but Yale made a point of staring down whatever gawkers he noticed. But he did not have the same presence as Farris did, and mostly, the people just kept on staring.

Nenani found it to be pretty rude, and to several she stuck out her tongue.

As they approached the back gate that led to the kitchen courtyard, the guards stationed there did double takes as Ka came into view, but Yale was quick to head off any questions. “He’s here to help out for the day. If you have a problem with that, take it up with Farris.”

There was enough of a threat in those words that they were allowed to pass without any form of harassment.

“Don’t let those guards make ye nervous none, lad,” Yale said to Ka. “Most of ‘em are real decent fellas.”

Yale was still looking towards Ka as he directed Polly along the road, around the last bend, and into the courtyard. He pulled the reins and was about to say something else when felt a tug on his sleeve and he looked down at Nenani. “Hm? What’s it?”

Nenani merely pointed further ahead of them and Yale’s gaze followed along. A large fire pit had been lit in the middle of the yard, and the largest of their cooking pans was placed over the top, with a sizable pile of pumpkins next to it. Saen and Avery were in the middle of carving a few up but had made little headway.

But what had caught their eye was none of them, but the solitary figure just a short distance away. Standing with his arms akimbo and looking very displeased was Farris. His green eyes narrowed at Yale.

“Yer fuckin’ late.”

Ever since the border guards, Ka had gotten increasingly fidgety. As soon as Yale quieted down, he slowed up and walked behind the cart. The castle ahead was bigger than any he had seen, especially this close up. He ran his hand up and down his sleeve, trying to create some warmth as his breath crystallized before him. Upon hearing the voice, the giant's first impression was how gravelly and frayed it sounded, possibly from overuse. The second was that it did not sound happy.

"What's it to you?" Cairo muttered under his breath. It was more of a knee-jerk reaction, than anything, but it was enough to remind Ka to keep an eye on him. The human's left arm and legs lolled out of the pocket. He picked at his teeth as the giant walked. "Move over, Ka, I want to get a look at this meathead."

Ka merely shook his head, hand straying up to cover the man. "Be careful here. We don't know for sure if it's safe yet." There came a grumbling and a shove at the fingers, but for the most part he kept his mouth shut.

Before Yale could even begin to explain himself, Farris caught sight of Ka, and the kitchen master’s eyes widened as his gaze traveled up and up and up until he met the taller giant’s eye. “And just who in the Seven Hells are ye?”

Ever since the border guards, Ka had gotten increasingly fidgety. As soon as Yale quieted down, he slowed up and walked behind the cart. The castle ahead was bigger than any he had seen, especially this close up. He ran his hand up and down his sleeve, trying to create some warmth as his breath crystallized before him. Upon hearing the voice, the giant's first impression was how gravelly and frayed it sounded, possibly from overuse. The second was that it did not sound happy.

"What's it to you?" Cairo muttered under his breath. It was more of a knee-jerk reaction, than anything, but it was enough to remind Ka to keep an eye on him. The human's left arm and legs lolled out of the pocket. He picked at his teeth as the giant walked. "Move over, Ka, I want to get a look at this meathead."

Ka merely shook his head, hand straying up to cover the man. "Be careful here. We don't know for sure if it's safe yet." There came a grumbling and a shove at the fingers, but for the most part he kept his mouth shut.

Before Yale could even begin to explain himself, Farris caught sight of Ka, and the kitchen master’s eyes widened as his gaze traveled up and up and up until he met the taller giant’s eye. “And just who in the Seven Hells are ye?”

Before Ka could answer, though, Yale jumped in. “Came across him on the way to get the rocs. He was lookin’ fer some work, and I offered to let him help us today.”

All through Yale’s explanations, Farris sized Ka up with a critical eye, pausing at the distinct bulge in the tall man’s pocket. His eyes narrowed suspiciously before turning their vitriol onto his assistant. 

“Oh ye did, did ye?” he demanded. “Are ye fuckin’ daft boy?”

Yale hopped down off the cart. “We need the extra help, and as mad as ye are, ye can’t deny the big fella could be of some help. Hell, he’d make short work breakin’ down the pumpkins.” Yale leaned around Farris to yell past him towards his fellow cooks. “A whole lot faster than them two knobheads!”

Saen and Avery looked up from their work to glare back at Yale. Avery waved his knife in the air, calling back, “Go fuck yerself, Yale.” 

Yale was still grinning when Farris drew his attention back with a growl. “And ye think I’d let just anyone off the street come in and cook in my kitchen, do ye?”

Yale glanced over his shoulder at Ka and then back to Farris. With a shrug, he said, “Honestly boss, I don’t think he’d fit. Be a bit tight.”

Farris’s ever-present glare faltered as an amused smirk crossed his lips. With a grunt he looked back at Ka. “Ye have any experience in a kitchen there, son?”

The giant clutched his fists against his chest, shoulders hunched and brow scrunched with worry. Though the man was half his height, he scared Ka. He looked like someone who knew how to fight and just might if aggravated.

"Y-yessir, just a bit, sir." Ka stuttered, coming out from behind the wagon. "Look, I promise I mean no harm, sir. I just, well I- I- I was looking for some work is all. He was nice enough to give me a chance. I promise I'll do my best if you'll only let me help."

Farris was silent for several moments, eyeing Ka once more. “Where ye from?”

The giant straightened up a bit, a slight hope welling in his chest. "Benhyke, sir. I'm... trying to find my way back there, actually."

“Never heard of it. So ye mean to tell me yer as tall as a fuckin’ house with no proper sense of direction?” The kitchen master didn’t give Ka a chance to answer before walking over to the cart where Nenani sat. He laid his arm across the drivers bench and looked at the girl. “What say ye Dumplin’? Think he’s some sort of secret assassin tryin’ to worm his way into the castle?”

Nenani blinked and shook her head. “No.” 

“Well, if yer so sure,” he said with a small smile and scooped her up. Tucking her into the crook of his arm, he turned back to Ka.  The warmth he had spoken to Nenani with was gone and the harsher tone returned. “Ye got a name?”

He scratched his head, still harboring the initial insult in his mind, and had not quite heard him speak to the girl. "What? O-oh I am Ka. And this is--" he paused. At first caution took over, but once he saw the way he cared for Nenani, the fear melted. "--Cairo," he finished.

Upon hearing his name, a single hand came out of the pocket and gave a dramatic wave. "Evening to you, you motherless goat," he called, then the hand disappeared again.

Farris’s expression darkened and, behind him, Yale was making a frantic motion with his hands at Ka that translated roughly to “Bad idea. Stop.”

“I’ll give ye fair warning now, boy,” Farris warned as he walked towards Ka. Pressing further into his space, he stared up at the taller giant and pointed towards his pocket. “Keep that one’s mouth under control or I’ll be doin’ it fer ‘im. I’ve had plenty of humans toss out insults at me and, one way or another, they learn not to. If ye wanna work, I’ve got work fer ye. And you’ll be paid fair wages fer it. But if that one skulking in yer pocket don’t watch it, he’s gonna become intimately acquainted with the inside of a roasting pan.”

Ka's face paled and he backed away, clutching one hand to his pocket. "No! No, please, he's my brother. Y-you can't--I won't..." He seemed to get ahold of himself then, squared his shoulders. "Take that back," he said, regaining his ground. If it were not for the girl in his arms, Ka was not sure what he might have done.

Farris did not back away, and his only movement was to use his free hand to cover Nenani as though to shield her. He met Ka’s eyes with a firm unwavering stare. “I don’t take it back. This is my kitchen and my word is law.” Farris let a small smirk come to his lips. “Just keep in mind though, I didn’t say nothing about actually cookin’ ‘im.”

The giant blinked, relaxing a bit. "What?"

At this point, Cairo heaved a dramatic sigh and pulled himself up. He looked the man up and down and came to a conclusion. "Ugly lump."

Nenani poked her head out from behind Farris’s hand. “No fighting.” 

At Nenani's word, Ka took a step back. There was still anger in his blood, and he elected to stay on his toes, but any hostility was snuffed out by the girl's voice.

Farris only adjusted his hand to ruffle her hair.  “Well ye ain’t no Blue Thorn Beauty yerself,” Farris shot back at Cairo, then raised an eyebrow at him. “Ain’t ye a bit old fer being carried ‘round like a babe?”

Cairo raised a brow, then patted the chest behind him. "This one here's the baby when it comes down to it, little man. Now--" He cut himself off as if he had heard something. "Alright already," he grumbled at apparently nothing. "What do I have to do to get your sorry bag of bones to do something decent, eh? This boy's half starved."

"Cairo..." Ka hissed through his teeth. "I haven't done the work yet."

Farris huffed and rolled his eyes. “Yale,” he called without taking his eyes from the pair. “Go grab this one one ‘a the leftover meat pies.” He paused, reconsidering the man and his height. “Make that two.”

“Will do, boss,” Yale replied, flashing Ka a wide grin before running off towards the stairway that led into the kitchen proper. 

“I don’t run a charity here,” Farris told him sternly. “But if yer gonna be any use to me at all today, it wont be with an empty belly. Ye’ll eat and then ye’ll work. Understand?”

"No," Cairo said blatantly before Ka had a chance.

[annonmaly]

Ok, It's Not Red. So What?

"Oh, It's Not Red" continuation

Welcome to the third part of my posts regarding Mochijun-sensei's official VnC artworks. This is just a continuation of the 2nd part (there will be no artworks to be discussed). I will just share some absurd ideas that I came up with after my realization (some may already be out there). If there's any chance that you stumbled to the prior post and decided to continue. I salute you brave warriors that assume I would mention anything that makes any sense. To those who have no time to read a post that only talked about Murr's eye color. Here's a summary: I realized Murr's right eye is not red.

Curious as to how did I come to this conclusion? Check it out here: Oh, It's Not Red (You may not read the first part as it isn't related to this. But if you want to, it's here: Regarding some of VnC Artwork this title is so uncreative)

As usual, a friendly reminder that best in writing is an award I never received. I'm not the person who could analyze, explain, or theorize things clearly. Please bear that in mind while reading. Photos are not mine, of course. Also, spoiler alert to be safe

Now that it's all said and done. Let's go ahead and talk about Murr.

By this time, we already know who is Murr. And I think we all agree that the cat is not just a cute mascot of the series. I bet that he would be a game-changer (yes, I'm putting Murr on a high pedestal). The question is: What do you think of Murr's role in the story?

After spending hours and hours of reading here and there, the common theories I found are:

1. Murr is Sensei (The Shapeless One)

Sensei is an observer. And where is the best place to observe? It's beside your subject of interest. Also, as his title suggests, he is shapeless, so maybe he could shapeshift into anything he wants. This sounds probable but, I do not lean on this much for two reasons.

Personal preference. If this is true, Sensei is weird, not terrifying. I mean, instead of doing scary and shady affairs during his free time, he decided to be a cat just to watch Noé.

Look at the image below closely.

Did you found Murr? No? Take a closer look at Louis. At first, I thought he was just reading, but his book has a weird shape. Where did I see that again? Oh, right.

Not yet satisfied? See this panel from the manga. This is after the first image's scene.

(Grandpa obviously has his favorites)

I think the cat Louis' holding is Murr. Thus, there's a panel where Sensei and Murr are together. That's the second reason I'm skeptical about this theory, folks.

Well, we also don't know. Maybe grandpa killed the cat so he could disguise himself as one.

2. Murr is a spy camera of Grandpa De Sade

It's a simple one. The theory goes like this: Murr's right eye connects to Sensei in whatever way. This panel is what inspires this theory:

(This cat really is suspicious, I bet he is one of the puppet masters of this arc along with Sensei)

This theory is what I'm more inclined to believe. I suppose the cat is working under/with Grandpa for their grand schemes. So, of course, he would report to Sensei the events that took place. Whether he is using his right eye or whatever means it is.

Going to my personal thoughts...

I guess that Murr was a kin of the vampire of the blue moon. He used the power too much, and thus he was rewritten from the inside. Alas, Murr became a cat! Why is he heterochromatic, tho?

Ok, kidding aside, there are two ideas I want to share.

1. Possibly Twins

Mochijun-sensei dropped the bomb in chapter 46. She gave us the idea that the theme of twins would be relevant in the story. Here is the page where Veronica mentioned the thing about twins:

Then three chapters later when Misha forced Noé to drink his blood and reveal his memory. Mochijun-Sensei dropped another bomb.

After seeing this, we speculated that Faustina and Luna are twins. I love that thought. Just imagine how complex the relationship it would be between the two. But if we think about it. What if this is just a misdirection? First, Mochijun-sensei makes us aware that the subject of twins is somewhat important. And while that information is still fresh in our memory, she dropped another bomb and told us that the blue vampire and the queen looked alike. Mochijun-sensei set this up so that we could connect the two easily.

All we know is that: Vampire twins are a symbol of bad luck, and Luna looks like Faustina. This is just me overthinking things, but what's life without competition. So, let's add three more names to the list that could be a set of twins.

Murr and Luna: Because why not? His left eye is blue. Also, Luna's left eye was never shown in the series. It's always hidden by her hair, maybe it's a different color.

Noé and Luna: Let's just say he is older than the series claimed him to be. Noé's memory started on the day that it snowed. I believe that Mochijun-sensei is keeping the timeline vague since it would reveal too much information. I mean, we don't know how long time passed from the day Noé was found by the old couple to the day Sensei brought him to the castle in the forest. Keep in mind that the vampire's growth differs for each person, as well.

Also, is the story the Noé and Sensei told trustworthy?

(How kind are this kidnappers that the kid was not traumatized? Also what's with the injuries. I don't much about slave trading in VnC world. But, if you're going to sell something you don't want it to have visible damage right. Sorry if the comparison sounds offending)

As far as I could tell, Sensei is shady, like really. Noé's memory is also not reliable. After all, someone out there may have the ability to manipulate memories. What if Noé was was born ages ago and was induced to sleep for a long time for whatever reasons?

Going back to Noé and Luna. Mochijun-sensei is giving us subtle hints of his association with Luna. I only saw Luna from one chapter, but I could say they are somewhat similar aside from the hair and skin(?) color (I will make a list later if I still have of time on hand).

(Child Noé and Luna both have similar haistyle, they have the "lid" as Mochijun-sensei called it. Their eyes are different tho')

Go on, read chapter 49, you'll see what I mean. Also, take note that at some panels (especially the ones where Noé is feeling extreme emotions), Noé's left eye was hidden by his hair or something. Who else out there that we don't see her left eye? Yup, the vampire of the blue moon (I have a weird feeling about Noe's left eye that I will share later) To conclude this, I think that Noé was not from this era. He is actually from the past and preserved in whatever way from whatever reason. And maybe he is actually the twin brother of Luna, seeing that they have a resemblance.

For now, I won't say that he's a reincarnation of Luna (I may change my mind later) as the timeline doesn't coincide. Besides, human Vani's reaction when Misha told him that there's a way to revive Luna is intense. Meaning he wants Luna to stay dead. I also believe that human Vani is hiding "something" he knows about Noé. So if Noé's a reincarnated Luna, there's no way human Vani would stay with him.

Murr and Noé

If you saw my previous post. I convinced myself that Murr's right eye's color is violet (the same shade as Noé's). That's why I decided to include them here. I have no definitive reasoning aside from their eye color and how Murr treated Noé in the series.

In the meantime, I'll write the scenario in my head. What if Murr and Noé are twins. Something happened when they were young, and so they were separated. Noé was somewhere we don't know yet, while Murr encountered Vampire Vanitas and Grandpa DeSade. Then the rest is history.

I swear I didn't expect it to be this long, at any rate, this would be to be continued here: Ok, It's Not Red. So What? (continuation)

Note: This is just a random theory, thoughts, assumptions, and/or head-canons. I wrote this to indulge my over-thinking self. Thank you for taking the time to read and understanding if I made any mistakes or post whatever it is you don’t agree on.

[stray-tori]

TPN Vol 8 - Chapters 66-70 Thoughts

[we're already on vol 9 but I'm slow with compiling]

I know I always rag on the "cop out" deaths and it is true that no corpse no dead, and I am curious if there will be any more worldbuilding regarding Lucas' survival (hello deus ex machina person) but uh. Idk. I'm sure it has a point and it makes sense in universe (having him be the reason for the knowledge among GP kids is good) but it just feels a little. Eh. Like it feels like paddling back on a small part of geezers guilt and feelings. In part it also feels like a "reward" for choosing the heroes moral side and going to help save Emma (why ever that happened - ig bc Gilda would blow up the shelter if he doesn't so. YAY).

...

Obviously the development is still his, and he obviously isn't expecting to find anyone alive there, but ig i felt like he was leading up to... healing more through the kids and not one epic Emma speech and "oh your one friend is alive btw" reveal later on. It feels like a spark of hope and happiness for him that I'm not sure if was needed narratively. He already decided he wouldn't harm them.

Like maybe they handle it very differently so i might be jumping the gun here but idk. It just feels a little... weird to me. Probably in a similar way how speeches about Norman hurt but also kind of get that "well uh about that...." Air once you know. I feel for the characters and their separation but it doesn't have the same weight it could have anymore.

In theory it reminds me a bit of the whole gate reveal structure in s2. With a setup being built up or established and a reveal just going "nvm that's not what we're doing".

It makes sense, I'm just not a huge fan of what it does for me for previously established things.

But i guess writing wise it puts its cards on the table with small scale Lucas and then Norman haha.

.

I find it rly funny how much the arc sort of mirrors the s2 arc so far (character assumed dead is alive, new cast of demon kill children introduced, a plan to kill demons).

Ig that might be intentional, for all intents it's a good method of conveying character change. Or different specifics or how things might be judged differently with different specifics (like hunting for enjoyment vs. farming)

I'm totally jumping in on this too early but idk it's interesting to think about.

That and also our whole "There's someone I want you to meet" - "ITS NORMAN" jokes made me think, like you could probably ACTUALLY restructure some of this in a way that would allow Norman's return here instead lol. Could be a fun AU, esp since we have the seeds of a (small-scale) demon annihilation plan anyway.

I also just find it funny to think about Norman grumbling from his future self that Emma agreed to some random guy's plan so easily udkhjsd

Obviously the time is a bit of a mess -- it's only been 3 months? is Adam out bc Norman's escaped already or was Adam just shipped to GP? if he already escaped, our boy is quick - plus, why would he go to GP. the supporters in Lambda probably know it's been compromised, so aside from freeing the children, there isn't a lot of reason to go there and while that may have priority, I feel like 3 months is a bit of a short timeframe for Norman to settle in there well enough -- so it's more wonky than anything BUT IT'S FUN TO THINK ABOUT.

.

btw I find it so funny how Emma has that whole "intent to kill" thing going on now, considering her later moral stance - like it's fair but coming from s2 it's a bit of whiplash haha especially since she's so determined about it right from the start. (though I have no idea if she ever addressed killing demons before this, memory bad)

Though notably she said "she wants to shut down the hunting ground too", not "want to kill them too" - and it's good that she draws a line but IDK IT'S JUST INTERESTING because what bothers her is the toying / no respect for their lives, right? - "this kind of hunt", not hunting in general.

... so like, if you were hunted by a demon in the wild, who didn't toy with you, just killed and ate you, that would be fine then? Idk, it's a very fine line and I get it, but it's interesting to think about. A quick, suffer-less death is of course a valid thing to want if you will die anyway, but you're dead afterwards in both variants.

Of course maybe I'm reading it wrong and it's just her sort of realizing that between mass production farms and GP, they really did have it good, even if they died an early death, and how this is much more hate-worthy than GF's method. Which is true, I suppose, and might expand on the building blocks of her moral development down the line (as in "there's different stages of demon-badness").

.

Also a more funny thought but imagine if Lucas DID have the pen, would... Geezer-senpai just not find the way back? And even if he did would he even get into the bunker? That'd be one tragic ending pff. Tell the person to run away and they can't even go back inside sudhdjd

.

Also i thought about it and isn't it weird that none of the books or materials mentioned what goldy pond actually is? Like youd expect sth that important to be in there.

We know WM wasn't at the bunker in the last 13 years and we know that the books he supplied to GF, the newest one was 2015. What if he was discovered or had to limit his WM activity 30 years ago?

So 30 years ago, he still sent people to goldy pond.

I'm just realizing.... That totally sounds like a setup for minerva to actually be on the demons side or a demon himself sjdhjddj. Like he orchestrates escapees (who are likely to be smart) and then sends them to GP where he and his noble friends can hunt them.

But where i was actually going with this uh, what if GP 30 years ago (potentially longer depending on how long ago he was there last) wasn't actually a hunting a ground? Why would you send kids there without a warning otherwise? What if it WAS a small human community (tho that would likely have been passed around by the inhabitants) or it was at least WM supporter base like the bunker, intended for humans to live there. Not sure about mansion then but YKNOW.

If it was, i wonder if it being discovered was a huge part in WM cover being blown OR if the demons decided to keep it secret bc you know this place is rly convinient haha

I also wonder how wm even finds and builds all these underground things lol. Bc it can't have existed since before the world split i think?

Man has some big construction projects running pfff.

I'm also not sure how that underground thing works-

.

its tori is confused about minor things hour

[Emma takes the axe with right hand, her right hand is still behind her as if she was winding up, but the axe is already thrown?]

like if she had the axe still in hand it'd make sense or if it was in her hand AND spinning, it'd be like "2 frames".

but this?? i am just-

.

im rly late with this but the glove is Lucas' memorial. the pair will only be together again when they reunite :<<

what I want to know is HOW. like the John thing is already questionable but I guess he could have gone back again?? but with this.

he has both gloves when they part he still have one glove on when his arm is gone. but the arm Leuvis has, doesn't have a glove?? So either Leuvis took it off but i wouldn't know why, and just dropped it on the ground for geezer to come pick up ORRRR he took one off for some reason?? maybe he threw it at the demon pff something is very un-continous here and i need answers-

.

the duality of man... not wanting people to know a) your age and b) your name (which you may have forgotten, who knows)

we just assumed geezer's name is censored here but I guess it could be anything haha-

[the-hetchia-universe]

So i found i miciti disney of phantom blot!

And i wanted to share the translated version of the interview ! ( and i like he has some kinda story behind the interview. The extras will be on a reblog post.)

"If I didn't have a heart of gold..."

Meeting within the walls of the prison with the one who likes to call himself a villain unique in style, intelligence and personality. A true emperor of crime, if it were not for the too much sensitivity that makes him hate violence and has prevented him on various occasions to get rid of the enemy Mickey, for now.

When it was decided to dedicate a volume - and a coin - to The Phantom blot, it was prudently placed towards the end of the series, in the belief that sooner or later the person concerned would be available for the ritual interview.

The reasoning did not make a wrinkle: more than six months would have been enough for him to try to pull off one of his famous shots, which would have been followed by the probable (not to say inevitable) arrest, and so it would have been easy to meet him in the cooler.

And instead, time has passed and no news of the lantitante Phantom blot has been heard.

That he had decided to take a long vacation or, even worse, to retire permanently from...business?

The only hope of not being forced to write with blank pages was placed in the major expert of the black character and his nemesis for sixty years, and that is Mickey. Who immediately reassured us. "No, Phantom Blot doesn't know what the holidays are," he said convinced.

"And as for the idea of retiring, I don't think it ever even crossed his twisted mind. He's not the type to sit on his hands, and even if he was, he'd never retire before he took me off the streets. He swore it to me... and he's not the type to break his word."

But then how did you explain him not talking about himself for so long? 

"He's on a break," sentenced Mickey. "he's preparing a big score... and I know which one too!"

At the Mousetown Research Center, very advanced studies were underway on a device to make people invisible. Very secret studies, of course, but not for Phantom Blot, as revealed by an ingenious electronic bug system discovered by chance at the Center.

There was no doubt that he was the one who planted them.

"Invisibility has always been his dream," Mickey said.

"And with that device, he'd have one that's perfectly good, not the handcrafted one that gives him his black cloak in the night."

the bug hadn't been removed, so as not to put the Phantom blot on the forewarning so that we could catch him red-handed at the appropriate time. Which, unfortunately, wouldn't be for a few months at the earliest. And to hasten the time was not even talked about it: even if it had been possible, an interview would hardly have been a sufficient reason to speed up the work.

I was already resigned to having to give up the interview when I had a dazzling idea. What if he just pretended to finish the job? A nice, exclusive benefit performance by Blot and his bugs and...

"And he'll bite for sure, because he doesn't know that we know that he knows!" exclaimed Mickey.

"Besides, if he has to act sooner than expected, he won't have the time to get his plans right, and it'll be easier to neutralize him. And there is another advantage: even if he gets away with it, he will have nothing to steal. But he won't get away with it..."

Mickey was a good man (not that it took long: all the precedents were in his favor) and so here I am, in Mousetown prison, visiting the blackest black character in the Disney world.

Who receives me in his usual cell. I'd like to describe him, but how do you tell something you can't see? The room, in fact, is in total darkness...

Interviewing an invisible subject is not the best, but taking notes in the dark is impossible...can't you turn on a light?

PB: Yes, but then you'll miss the right dark atmosphere.

Patience, I'll work on my imagination.

PB: I hope you've had enough. Anyway, I'm keeping the cloak and hood. Without them, I wouldn't be me anymore. Even the warden lets me wear them when I'm in jail. He has respect for my personality...

Me too, I assure you. You've always been my favorite negative character. The best villain. And don't get me wrong, when I say "bad"...

PB: There's no need to add anything else. I get it. On the other hand, how could you define me differently? Well, maybe instead of "bad," you could use the term "evil." I think it suits me better and is more exclusive. I'm the only one who's evil, and the comic book pages are full of villains.

And no one remotely has my class. Not to mention style, intelligence and personality.

Modesty, on the other hand, is quite common among you criminals...

PB: If you think you're funny, you're very wrong. I'm not immodest, I'm just telling it like it is. I'm not the kind of guy who's special, I'm not the kind of guy you're looking for.

That's what Floyd Gottfredson thought, too... 

PB: He's designed me. You ever wonder why I made myself look so much like Walt Disney?

As a joke, if I'm not mistaken.

PB: Pff! That's the official version. The truth is, he wanted to pay tribute to a great man by making him play a great character. And who could you find better than me? Walt and I have a lot in common.

Certainly not a criminal record.

PB: Obviously not. But we're both geniuses.

With very different results, though. His career has been a little bit better than yours. Speaking of which, can you explain the long hole between your first compo, in 1939, and your return to action, in 1955? Sixteen years is a long time: what have you been doing in all that time?

PB: If you had that imagination you boasted about earlier, you wouldn't ask me such a question. It's obvious I've been in prison. Serving my long sentence and figuring out how to get revenge on the man who put me away. You should have known better. And if you're really a fan of mine, you should know that I almost succeeded. I had a diabolical plan, a revenge so subtle that only I could have imagined it. Nothing crude, no direct violence. Mickey sabotaged himself with his own hands! I hope you publish the story of my return to the scene, so that readers will also appreciate my genius.

It's the first of this volume, a real classic. You really missed nothing because you're getting rid of your enemy. In this regard, can you explain me why, even though you had several times - and since your first encounter - the possibility to eliminate Mickey directly, you never did it?

PB: Because I'm too sensitive. I hate violence and I could never get my hands dirty. I wish I could. It would be so easy to just get the rat out of the way! But instead I'm forced to make deadly contraptions or studying very complicated subjects. Imagine that once, in order to get rid of my hated enemy, I managed to erase it from the mind of every inhabitant of Mousetown. Of course, as you can gather from my presence here, it didn't help. Do you know what that crude Pete once said to me, who I often share a cell with? That without my good heart, I'd be the emperor of crime! I hate to do this, but I have to agree with him.

Yeah, if it hadn't been Mickey in his way... He's blacked you out plenty of times!

PB: Yeah ! That's some low-rent humor. Why don't you also say that it's...stained my career? I don't mind anyway, because I'm tenacious, me. I'll never give up. I know what I'm worth, and I know the day will come when I can get rid of Mickey once and for all. That is, if luck doesn't keep on helping him, of course. That nosy little chap's always got a dose to envy even Gladstone.

You're not saying that to console yourself? The way you're putting it, it sounds like Mickey doesn't deserve any credit for putting you in jail. I'll grant you that sometimes he got away with it because your sensitivity prevented you from giving him the coup de grâce, but to say that he beats you regularly just because he's lucky, seems too much.

PB: Is that what you think? Then let us examine this latest supposed success of the brilliant detective, the genius of investigators, the terror of criminals. Tsk! I was preparing a perfect score, according to a schedule studied in detail... and what happens? That those scientists realize much earlier than expected the invention that I was so interested in, thus forcing me into a hasty action that led to my arrest. Mickey was there waiting for me, but if I'd had time to make a proper plan, I'd have done it under his nose, always snooping around. Grrr! And you're telling me he's not lucky?

Well, yeah, maybe a little. I'll grant you that it's not his fault, but the case, if the microplashes you had installed at the Research Center were discovered. But he was the one who figured out you planted them and had the idea to leave them where they were so you wouldn't get suspicious. And the fact that the invention was ready before its time is not a stroke of luck, but simply... false news.

PB: What?! You made that up. I don't believe it!

And it hurts, because I know what I'm talking about. I'm the one who gave him the idea. I went to consult him to find a way to interview you... Hey! Why did you get up? You don't want to...

PB: ...hurt you? No! I hate violence, you know that. I just want to hug you to show my appreciation! You are living proof that Mickey beats me just because he is lucky. But do you realize? I ended up in jail because of an interview!

That we can continue...

PB: Ah no! Even if I'm not angry with you, I don't talk to my worst enemy's allies. It's a matter of principle... that brings us to the end. So I'd be grateful if you'd leave. And on your way out, turn off the light!

[thehellishtrinity]

Uh I think before they got rid off Virus? Thanks for wanting to do this BTW you're the best

((np my dude!! sorry for the wait gfjs, now without further ado, summary under the cut! be warned, it’s pretty long))

I believe where you left off was:

Script confronts Virus about taking over Muse and attempts to chase him off. However, his plans go awry when Virus uses Script’s check (remember, Script’s check is mind control and Virus’s check is copying other people’s check) against him. Virus brainwashes Script by implanting fake memories into his brain, making Script think that he’s spent his whole life with Virus and that Virus is his closest friend. Unintentionally, these fake memories of being close to Virus leads Script to actually develop a crush on Virus. (part 2)

Hayden (from sassytictac) and Math (from immadeofmath) try to confront Virus to chase him out of Muse’s body. It also doesn’t work because the damage dealt to his body doesn’t affect him, but rather Muse. So Virus uses the opportunity to knock Muse’s conscousness out effectively. 

Then, Firewall (from ask-the-overworked-firewall) sends Page an invitation to meet. Script warns Page not to go because he thinks Firewall is bad news (he saw Firewall attack Virus and was scared by it because, again, he’s brainwashed and doesn’t know Virus is a virus) but Page goes anyways. Firewall tells Page the situation about Virus and how Basically Things Are Fucked. Page goes home and has a sad breakdown then gets his shit together and gets to work.

I think Page gets chase out of the sector, my memory of this is very hazy and I’m having trouble finding the corresponding posts. I think Virus and Page end up battling, but Page loses and barely makes it out alive. He flees to Firewall’s place and recovers there until he’s at his full strength. 

Then Page returns to the sector, ready to take Virus on again. When Page first arrives, he finds the sector protected by Virus’s defense wall. So he gets to work on taking it apart. When he finally cracks the code, he’s granted access back into the sector! And there he is met with Virus! Virus tries to get him to leave using Script’s check, but Page made himself immune to the influence of checks so it doesn’t work on him. He and Virus battle until finally Virus forces Page to the ground and kills him with a bolt of lightning.

Surprise! Page isn’t dead! He used his check (Page’s check is the ability to alter SQUIP code without there being any consequences. Basically coding without limits, who needs to remember coding rules?? Not Page) to make himself functionally immortal. They fight endlessly with Virus killing Page and then Pagecoing back to life. The tide turns when the anons manage to distract Virus and Page whips out the broken code of Muse and Script. Incomplete Muse and Script join the battle and manage to knock Virus out. Page restores Muse and Script’s code and banishes Virus from the sector. 

Act 1 ends here.

Act 2 begins with the trinity still coping with the aftermath of dealing with Virus. Muse and Page both have nightmares and PTSD, basically. Script is dealing with heartbreak because he was in love with Virus, despite his memories of him being fake. It’s tough. 

An anon gives Muse an M!A where his fears are personified. Naturally, Muse’s fears take the shape of Virus. Fear!Virus terrorizes Muse for ten asks, revealing that his real name is Deimos. Deimos eventually fades into nonexistence but before he does, he calls Muse out on his cowardice, saying that Muse’s pride and inability to reach out to others is affecting the ones around him. This gives Muse a lot to think about.

Time passs. Muse begins to start preparing for something but he won’t say what. He trains, trying to level up his physical powers for an unnamed threat. Meanwhile, Page receives an M!A that allows him to know everything that Muse does. He learns that Muse knows Virus will be returning, because Virus has many failsafes. He has code left all over the SQUIPweb that can hep ressurect him in the event that he’s killed. Muse cannot say anything about this explicitly because Virus left an unremoveable collar that physically makes him unable to say anything about Virus’s plans. (more on what was mentioned) M!A ends and Page loses all of the knowledge he gains. Script and Muse approach him again to get him back in the loop, with Script doing much of the talking because Muse cannot.

Then, the trinity are approached by a pair of anti-virus programs. They are called Melissa and Wally, or the twins for short. The twins claim that they are hunting down Virus and that according to their latest radars, Virus was last seen in the sector. The trinity are skeptical, of course, because they are unsure whether they are being deceived or not. In order to prove the truth of their statement, the twins bring out the body of Rowan, Rich’s Squip. Rich’s Squip Rowan has been MIA for a very long time and no one knew what happened to her. The twins explain that she was attacked by Virus and they’ve been working on patching her code up to try to recover her.

In the meantime, Muse is up to mysterious shenanigans again. He reaches out to an unknown person for potential help regarding the Virus issue. In the meantime, Script starts to dream more and more. He spends a lot of time asleep, just dreaming random fantastical dreams of a strange person with long hair and a sharp smile. This will be important later.

Muse reveals to Page and Script that he’s been contacting someone who could help, but the price of their help is very high. Page and Script are doubtful but they decide that they are at enough risk already, they may as well take the deal. The mysterious person turns to the anons for help, telling the anons through a message to send in M!As of any kind.

The person uses the M!As to crack a hole in reality and manifest on the blog. (The logic behind this is that M!As can inherently alter reality, so the person piggybacked on that capability and altered it for their own purposes.) The person reveals himself to be Muse from the Reverse World. Also known as Remy. Remy is from the April Fools Event where the Reverse World duo took over the blog. The Reverse World is an AU where Muse is the virus instead and virus is the SQUIP he’s infecting. Basically, the squips are viruses and the viruses are squips. Remy quickly reveals that he can break the fourth wall. The reason for this is that Remy’s check is knowledge. He has infinite knowledge of all things and is thus aware of his status as a mere character on a Tumblr blog for Be More Chill. Remy also reveals that the price of his help is being given a copy of Page’s check because Page’s check is honestly kind of OP. Also the twins are still there and they don’t seem to like Reverse!Virus a lot (we will call him Dov).

Remy kicks his plan to help the trinity off with having Muse train with Dov. His reasoning is that it will make Muse stronger and make him stop cowering before Virus’s presence. At the same time there are mysterious sightings of an unknown program manifesting in the sector, but the program usually disappears before anyone can detect it. This will be important later.

Remy gathers the trinity up for a planning session. They go over what they know about Virus already: mainly that he can’t die, somehow always knows their plans, and is very strong. Remy reveals the reason Virus cannot die is because he has these things called anchors everywhere. Anchors are small backup versions of Virus that can activate when the most recent Virus perishes. It’s functionally the same Virus resurrecting over and over again. These anchors are spread out in hidden pockets of the SQUIP network and are incredibly hard to find. Remy offers to deal with this issue by gathering the anchors for the trinity and storing them in one convenient location: Muse. Now, all the trinity needs to do is figure out how to destroy all of the anchors.

Next, Remy addresses the issue of Virus’s supposed omnscience. The reason why Virus always knows what they are planning to do is because he is connected to Script and Muse’s memories. Thus, whatever they know, he knows. To address this issue, Remy states that he will be wiping Script and Muse’s memories of the planning session when it’s all over. Thus, the responsibility of executing the plan falls mostly onto Page. To these ends, Remy states that he will be modifying Page’s power capacities to make him stronger because he is not strong enough at his current level to stand a chance against Virus. 

Finally, Remy gifts the trinity with a knife embedded with Remy’s code. This is a special knife because it can destroy Virus’s current body in one blow. It can also be used to destroy Remy. It can only be used once, so Remy advises the trinity to use it well. Planning taken care of, Remy launches his plan into motion. Page, Muse, and Script all shut down from the overload and things go into chaos for a while. Jeremy passes out from the pain. The sector goes black.

While the sector reboots itself, Remy ressurects Virus and invites him to a dance. It is then revealed that along with the deal Remy made with the trinity, Remy also made a deal with Virus. He programs a temporary host for Virus to use and tells Virus that the host will not last long, so he will have to find a real SQUIP host soon enough. Remy then bids Virus good luck and leaves Virus with a parting gift: Virus can no longer access the checks that he copied from the trinity. While Virus deals with that, the trinity reawaken and the sector goes back online. Virus resolves to hide in the void for the time being. 

The trinity are all fine! As promised, Script and Muse no longer recall a thing and Page has custody of the Special Virus Killing Knife. The twins are also mysteriously missing but that’s a topic for later.

Page asks Muse to check his code, intending to get the Virus Anchors out of the way and destroy them while things are still peaceful. Unfortunately, things are not that easy and apparently no one can touch Muse when they approach with the intent of modifying his code. Muse literally, uncontrollably, teleports away whenever it happens. Page correctly concludes that Remy pulled some type of tick on them. Thus, presenting the first problem: how to destroy the anchors in Muse’s body. It’s unsolved for now.

In the meantime, Virus is chilling in the void and answering asks when he wants to. He reveals a little bit about his creator, expressing not the most friendly behavior towards them. We also get a glimpse at a brand Virus has been tattooed with. It’s the mark of Virus’s creator. Then, we are introduced to a new character! Their name is Maii and details about them are a bit vague but what’s important is that they are on Virus’s side.

Back to the trinity, Script has somehow gotten worse. His heartbreak and pining over Virus as led him down a new path of questioning his self worth and realizing that he feels alone despite his friends being around him. He’s depressed, bois. He recognizes that his feelings for Virus are fake but he cannot let him go because being with Virus makes him think that he’s happy. He also goes off about realizing his memories of Virus are fake but the emotions that developed are real, because to him those memories were real to some extent.

Things with Muse aren’t so hot either. Muse is passing out at random intervals and waking up to a blurry figure calling him. He’s also getting hella headaches. On the flip side, the corruption of Virus’s temporary host is also getting to him and he too is passing out. Curiously, when Virus passes out he seems to see a hazy hallway that looks oddly like the trinity’s home... A new member has also joined the Virus team! Her name is Hierophant and she appears to have influence over dreams…. hm…..

Page hasn’t been idle either! He’s been up to mysterious shit. Muse catches him working on something but Page cannot tell him what it is he is doing because Virus will know if Muse knows. Muse is incredibly frustrated with this but he can’t do anything about it. After time, Page finishes the mysterious project he’s been working on and states that he hopes it never has to come to use.

Time passes yet again. Script dreams endlessly. In fact, it seems as if he’s always sleeping, like he doesn’t want to do anything but sleep. It gets to the point that Script starts confusing dreams and reality. 

And then one day, Script wakes up. Or maybe he falls asleep? He can’t tell anymore, there’s no difference to him. He gets ready for his day and heads to the kitchen. Virus walks in shortly after, telling him that it’s time for his shift with Jeremy. Script and Virus banter a bit. Things are nice.

While answering asks, Virus explains why the trinty are so fundamental to his plans. The reason being, of course, that they are just the right type of SQUIP that he needs to use to achieve his goals. The goals themselves are still quite vague…

Script also has a conversation with Muse about being careful of Virus’s oncoming advances. Or maybe it’s a dream? Unsure. People are also unsure if things are dreams or reality. We see Virus with Hierophant, telling her that he entrusts a not stated task to her. Hierophant claims to be ready for the task, and we see her weilding puppet strings that appear to control what looks like Page.

Meanwhile, anons start to speculate that Virus has taken over Muse again. They are correct. Virus has indeed taken over Muse again and is holding him hostage in Muse’s mindspace. Think of this as the equivalent of taking your emotions and shoving them into a mental jar, except your emotions are a Squip’s consciousness.

And that brings up to where we are now in the story!

[ifbrd]

Are there any other pairings between characters in Word Up you're willing to share? And you mentioned some new villains show up--are you okay with sharing a lil' bit about them, or are they entirely a surprise?

Firstly, thank you for the question! It did help me last night! Sadly I still didn’t  get a lot of sleep, but because I calmed myself down by typing the response to this, I at least wasn’t suffering through panic attack the whole night! So thank you so much (and if you have any other questions, feel free to share them tonight because I have a feeling I’ll need it tonight too)

I’m now rewriting the response because it was a little disorganized.

I’m not sure what you mean by “pairings,” would you mind elaborating? (We’re going to blame my inability to understand on the sleep deprevation)

Regarding the villains, originally I was going to keep them a secret until each of their reveals. But since I really needed the distraction last night and typed them all up, and because it seems rude to not answer your question when it helped me, that’s going out the window! I’m excited to share these anyway, I’ll just be extremely vague for the villains I want to keep secret for now.

Little bit of background, my original plan was to have a new villain to parallel every old villain. That idea was thrown out for a variety of different reasons, but some of them did survive to the final product! And I noticed a lot of these guys, while not being directly based off any character, often still unintentionally have similarities to some older villains. The villains who have a direct parallel to some of the orignals are the ones I’m wanting to stay secret. Honestly just a complete coincidence that they all ended up being the ones I wanted to keep secret

These are in no particular order.

I have one currently unnamed villain, who’s character design I’m struggling with, who is known as being basically the most useless villain in the city. She can’t commit a crime. (kinda like amazing rope guy, complete coincidence btw) Why can’t she? No one knows for sure, she certainly has the abilities to, her powers are like WordGirl’s, super strength, super speed, and flying. The real reason she’s so terrible at being a villain is because she doesn’t want to be, and she’s subconsciously sabotaging herself by making her too nervous to know what to do while committing crimes. The only reason she’s a villain is because someone is making her do their dirty work for her. Until I eventually reveal who this person is, I will refer to them as her “boss.” I don’t know if you’ve seen the post I did on all the episodes and summaries, I think you saw the original with the first five, but I don’t know if you saw the reblogged updated version with the next five as well. If you haven’t, the sixth story is titled “Theo’s Birthday” and features the kids (mostly Theo) wanting to have a public battle, and being proven that they weren’t ready for itwhen they get their butts kicked. This is the villain for that story and it will be her debut. You’ve got to be a pretty bad super hero to have this girl actually beat you!

Carrie- Is a social media personality, and a shapeshifter! But she can only shapeshift her hair and clothes. This makes her social media presence pretty easy, as she can have all the coolest new clothes without having to by them, and have all the coolest new hairstyles without destroying her hair, and it also makes getting disguises for crimes a lot easier! Carrie doesn’t want to be a villain, but she loves that she has a job as a social media star, and is scared of losing that, so she will do anything her followers want her to. Sadly, her followers think her doing illegal stuff is pretty funny

Immoral- Funny enough, Immoral was originally just the stand in name for this villain until I had their actual names (for example, Carrie’s stand in name was “Shapeshifter” while I was developing her, until I eventually decided on a name for her) but the name ended up sticking. I think this is probably a name Theo gave this villain, instead of them giving to themselves. This villain was inspired by me having a moral existential crisis. I was frustrated about a choice I had to make, in which every option seemed to have some kind of immoral repercussions, and I frustratedly said to myself “what’s even the point of having morals if they’re impossible to keep! I may as well be a villain!” And that’s how the idea for Immoral was born! Immoral has given up on the concept of morality, and just does whatever they want, whenever they want. He’s the villain in “Everything Changes” and that story at this time doesn’t have him present any kind of abilities that would make him a good villain, and I probably won’t change that for that particular story because 1. That story gave me a lot of trouble and I’m not about to change a whole bunch of it 2. I like that it helps show that Julie and Theo have no idea what they’re doing. That being said, he’ll probably gain some more exciting tactics in future appearances. At the moment my plan is to have him be very prepared for whatever he’s wanting to do that day. They make another appearance in what I think is the eighth story, which I believed I titled “The Only Way Out is Through” where they try to cheat in a biking contest, so perhaps they came prepared by bringing things like tacks to pop the tires of their opponents and things like that. I also noticed I freely switched between “he/him” and “they/them” for Immoral, so I guess he/they use both sets of those pronouns

Crazy Cat Lady- I love this one, and she’s not even a creation of mine, she’s the creation of my psychopath of a friend (can’t wait to read this to her hahaha). I told her I was in need of some unique super power ideas (WordGirl the show took all the good ones!) and she told me to give her a letter. I said “C” and she said “C…C…Cats! Okay…how about a lady who uses cats to do her bidding. She’ll need something done and she’ll call forth an army of cats to get things done for her.” And that was too good of an idea to pass up. Crazy Cat Lady has a lot of cats, she loves her cats, she’ll go through a lot for her cats and will get her revenge if you piss off her or her cats. (My friend also came up with a man who can shoot bees out of every orifice of his body. I have no idea what’s wrong with her but that’s a villain I definitely wasn’t going to do because…well because that’s really disturbing!)

Time for our top-secret villains!

One villain I knew, from the second I came up with him, that I wanted him to be the first official villain introduced. (Note I said official, I posted the first page of “Return to Fair City” where a character named “The Rural Burglar” is mentioned, this is not this villain. The Rural Burglar is a one off who’s just a plot devise for that particular story). I’m not even 100% sure why I wanted this villain to be first, it was just really important to me that he was.

Another villain who was supposed to be directed based off of one of the original WordGirl villains, is now in the process of getting a complete personality overhaul. When I’m done he might not be recognizable as being someone meant to parallel the villain for whom he’s based. I’m hoping I will find the perfect balance between the original personality I had for him and the new personality he’s getting. I’d rather wait until after his debut to explain why he got a last minute character overhaul, but I will say while this decision is making his debut a little hard to figure out, I’ve thought of some fun ideas for his future appearances that I hope will make it all worth it.

My final villain (for now. I’m not opposed to adding more as I go along) will be someone who will not be introduced until “episode” #20. I think he will stray a lot from the villain of who he’s based, but his debut will have him using the same methods as his WordGirl original. I do plan to foreshadow who this villain will be up until his introduction as a villain, so keep your eyes peeled for clues.

Thank you again so much!