#8000 people and it's still going

[xynczachrome]

From the river to the sea

Palestine will be free

[littlespoonevan]

.

[icewindandboringhorror]

Recent life photos

[savage-rhi]

My legs and arms hurt from the climbing I did to get some of these views, but it's well worth it.

[sacrificialarrow]

The biggest L to me is them deciding Solas would only date another elf, as if he doesn't find the other races to be incredibly fascinating and vibrant.

Like do you know how much studying he would have had to have done to have pulled that fucking lemon juicer from a human culture out of his ass

[thesummerestsolstice]

I feel like between the Feanorians, the Gondolindrim, and the Iathrim, Elrond must've been like, one of the best guarded people in Middle-Earth. There's always some 8000+ year old elf (who probably committed multiple crimes in the First Age, and who would have faded several centuries ago except for sheer stubbornness) looming over his shoulder. Are they armed? Probably. Are they willing to shank someone for threatening Elrond? Absolutely.

He's told them, multiple times, that Rivendell is a peaceful realm, and that them standing around menacingly and making vaguely threatening gestures is kind of messing with the vibes. They always smile, and nod, and then go back to exactly what they were doing before.

(Emotionally, most of them still see Elrond as the determined, plucky War-of-Wrath era teenager he hasn't been for millennia now, so while they respect him and care about him, they don't always actually listen to him)

(Elrod sics Bilbo on them)

[pumpyriah]

Please help an unemployed brown mixed disabled trans person sustain their family + help their parents leave venezuela

Hello tumblr dot com users! I'm Ren, a trans and disabled venezuelan trying to get back into art. And as of the 1st of nov 2024 I'm officially unemployed and really, really broke 🥲

If you want a more extended version of our situation you can reffer to my last post thread from months ago, I decided to finally create this one as an updated version.

Summarizing and updating extremely quickly what has happened this last time: The humanitarian Parole is no longer available, The Darien has become way more dangerous and inaccesible to cross and the Panama goverment is going to get toughter, considering this is a mostly usamerican site I hope I don't have to mention what happened this month over there, and obviously there's certainty shit isn't going to get any better from this point onwards. Things have changed so much that my mother started considering emigrating to Spain.

As some of the people close to me know, I really dislike being in the necessity of e-begging without at least offering something in return to people helping me because I don't feel ok doing so otherwise. That's why in this post I have several avenues to help me depending on what anyone might preffer.

Our current plan is to keep saving as much as we can while we wait and hope for a relative of my father to present a Family Reunification TPS while there is still chance, if neither of those don't work or something happens, we'll help either him or my mother go to Spain instead. We are definitively not giving up, but that doesn't mean things didn't get harder.

❗Some of the most urgent needs we're currently trying to cover:

7-12$ Bug poison. We have an extreme problem of cockroach infestation

20-25$ Rispheridona resupply

10-15$ Glasses reparation

6-10$ Shower reparation

+30$ Mother's car revision

+20$ By-Weekly groceries

+15$ General Medicines

You can make as little as a 1 USD donation by simply buying a high quality piece I've done recently!

I'm also currently still offering extremely cheap comms for little chibi doodles like the ones in the pics below!!

Either way. If you can't of don't wish to donate or commission. Please know that just by sharing this around as much as possible is enough to help. Thank you <3

ppal

[ 0 / 8000 ]

[couch-house]

Okay I finally figured out Comet's origin story. Long version under the cut but short version is: knuckles finally got to reunite with the surviving echidnas but they didnt want to leave their homes to live on the floating island, so an alien felt bad for him and gave him a fankid <3

Okay so to recap stc canon: Knuckles has spent his entire time on the floating island believing he is protecting it until his people return. he doesnt remember, but he used to live in the ancient echidna city with Tikal and Pachacamac, but somehow was transported 8000 years into the future (present day). This happens after Tikal briefly brings Sonic back in time to help the echidnas fight off the Drakon empire--fish-shaped aliens that discovered chaos energy (the emeralds were made by the Drakons with the echidnas' sacred emeralds, then the echidnas "stole" them back and the drakons declared war). They succeed in beating them back for this battle, but my headcanon (which ended up being p close to what Kitching supposedly planned out) is that after this battle, the drakons come back and end up wiping the echidnas out--those that arent killed are taken off mobius as prisoners/slaves. At some point, some of them are able to escape and form a sanctuary away from the drakons.

Okay now we gotta talk about the Kaamdaarns. The Kaamdaarns are alternate dimension aliens that appear in 113, 119, and 120. They are peaceful aliens with "highly advanced science" indistinguishable from magic, which they use to disable any weapons on their planet and then also to free Shorty from his cybernik suit.

so the STORY WITH COMET GOES... Kintobor helps Knuckles to identify some kind of beacon signal that appears to be coming from other echidnas. Knuckles and Sonic hop into a spaceship (tekno and porker collab) and through a dimensional portal (tekno and kintobor collab) to find the source. they find a colony of echidnas long-established on a sanctuary planet under the protection of the kaamdaarns. the reunion is pretty bittersweet for knuckles bc like. these are people 8000 years removed from his culture. there are maybe some things still in common but otherwise their lives are completely distinct from how he grew up. and after 8000 years, very few if any of them consider the floating island home more than the place they are now. even those that might be interested in going back with knuckles are wary of the risk of leaving the safety of the kaamdaarn planet and being captured by drakons. and for a bunch of ruins... it's not really worth it

so knuckles has once again lost the whole Purpose of Everything He's Done and ummm well it goes about as well as the first time that happened

so he's hanging on by a Thread but the kaamdaarn that brought him and sonic to the village--her name's haven here she is--

says "you know what will fix that? a child." and see above: her making comet. GREAT idea, i agree. i mean the thought was more like "surely there is a way for you to both stay with your friends AND with other echidnas." but same difference. anyway sonic doesnt know what kind of egg that is.

thanks for listening. here's porker lewis as a reward :)

[ssaalexblake]

I know the whole point of Prim and Maysilee being reaped was to show that Nobody is safe, you may be statistically safer, but you are not Ever going to be at 0% chance of being reaped unless you're capitol.

But I feel like fandom can trend too far in the opposite direction to this and start acting like kids like Prim and Maysilee and any other kid lucky enough to only have the minimum number of slips in the bowls actually have Good odds.

Because statistically, every single kid in Twelve has the worst odds in the whole country. Prim, with her sister providing for them and only one slip in the bowl at twelve years old had worse odds compared to a child in that exact same position from another district.

(unless one of the other districts has a lower population than twelve, but i don't think the narrative implied this, Twelve is the runt of the districts and treated so.)

Twelve has a population of around 8000 or so. Katniss who goes out of her way to only really know people who are useful to her and doesn't talk to people in school knew the names and family situations of the tributes in years past. This is because she Did know these kids, All the kids in Twelve at the very least know Of each other because there are hardly any kids in district twelve at all.

I think the movies were probably pretty accurate with how few children were in those reaping pens in twelve. If you're in the situation of those kids, you want there to be Tons of people in the square with you to lessen the chance of them drawing your name. No kid in Twelve is that lucky.

The narrative IS making a point that anybody can be reaped by having some of the most privileged kids in twelve get reaped anyway (in this context, read privileged as not having to take extra slips). But I also kind of read it as part of Katniss' very narrow world view in THG. As in; The merchants are privileged and are not likely to be reaped, they get to eat as much as they like and have enough money for luxuries and necessities alike.

Because okay, compared to Katniss these people Do have a lot more luck than her just by grace of birth, but compared to literally every other citizen in panem? Every twelve kid is screwed. No kid from a different district would ever want to take their luck with the twelve reaping instead of their own.

In a wider context, you see that the merchant kids are every bit as much part of the 'worst district in panem' and that there is no discernible difference to seam or merchant kids to people in other districts and the capitol beyond simple appearance.

My point is that Prim and Maysilee had TERRIBLE odds. They just had marginally better odds than kids like Katniss and Gale. But their odds were still absolutely awful compared to the rest of the country, and in that respect, it's Not actually that shocking their names were drawn at all.

[whencyclopedia]

Ancient Egyptian Architecture

Ancient Egyptian Architecture is often associated closely with the pyramids of Giza but was actually quite diverse, taking a number of forms in the construction of administrative buildings, temples, tombs, palaces, and the private homes of nobility and commoner. Ornamentation of these various structures also varied according to their purpose and the resources of the builder.

Even so, the pyramids are the most recognizable symbol of ancient Egypt. Even though other civilizations, such as the Maya or the Chinese, also employed this form, the pyramid in the modern day is synonymous in most people's minds with Egypt. The pyramids at Giza remain impressive monuments thousands of years after they were built and the knowledge and skill required to construct them was gathered over the many centuries prior to their construction.

Yet the pyramids are not the apex of ancient Egyptian architecture; they are only among the earliest and best known expressions of a culture which would go on to create buildings, monuments, and temples just as intriguing.

6,000 Years of History

Ancient Egyptian history begins prior to the Predynastic Period (c. 6000 - 3150 BCE) and continues through the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323 - 30 BCE). Artifacts and evidence of overgrazing of cattle, in the area now known as the Sahara Desert, date human habitation in the area to c. 8000 BCE. The Early Dynastic Period in Egypt (c. 3150 - 2613 BCE) built upon the knowledge of those who had gone before and Predynastic art and architecture was improved on.

The first pyramid in Egypt, Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, comes from the end of this Early Dynastic Period and a comparison of this monument and its surrounding complex with the mastaba tombs of earlier centuries show how far the Egyptians had advanced in their understanding of architectural design and construction. Equally impressive, however, is the link between these great monuments and those which came after them.

The pyramids at Giza date from the Old Kingdom (c. 2613 - 2181 BCE) and represent the pinnacle of talent and skill acquired at that time. Ancient Egyptian history, however, still had a long and illustrious path before it and as the pyramid form was abandoned the Egyptians focused their attention on temples. Many of these whose ruins are still extant, such as the temple complex of Amun-Ra at Karnak, inspire as much genuine awe as the pyramids at Giza but all of them, however great or modest, show an attention to detail and an awareness of aesthetic beauty and practical functionality which makes them masterpieces of architecture. These structures still resonate in the present day because they were conceived, designed, and raised to tell an eternal story which they still relate to everyone who visits the sites.

Continue reading...

[fantasyinallforms]

✨I did some practice writing angry consort Bilbo, and it didn't turn out half bad. Slightly cracked and a tad occ for Thranduil but it felt good enough to share. 1.1k words. ✨ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bilbo lunged at Thranduil. 

"What is this!" He shouted, clutching a wrinkled piece of parchment in his hands. Things had been so calm. Years of quiet interrupted only by minor disagreements that were always resolved peacefully, but what he held in his hand at present was slander. 

Thorin caught him around the waist before he could connect, and Bilbo fought him like a caged cat, tears of frustration and hurt in his eyes. 

"I had your back! I offered you, counsel! I defended you against others who looked to sow discord between our people! Was this what you thought of me the whole time?" Bilbo had never been this angry. Not at Lily Bottoms for stealing his tart recipe, not at the page who ruined an entire nearly finished book with a dropped bottle of ink, not even at Lobelia for stealing his mother's silver spoons. 

He kicked and demanded that Thorin release him, putting weight behind his attempts, but his husband never let go, only tucking his nose into his hair with a whisper of apology. 

"Was it because our friendship started with dishonesty? Something I needlessly apologized for and made right time and time again? LOOK AT ME, DAMNIT!" Bilbo screamed, and finally, the elven king looked at him with a hint of shame in his eyes. 

"I had not thought through my actions or my words," Thranduil replied, unusually cowed by the sight of his rage yet still his eyes were callous. 

"How very evident," Bilbo sneered. "You have always seen conspiracy where none existed. All I did was try to warn you. I tried to counsel you when I knew others wouldn't. You surround yourself with those who revere you and will not hold a mirror to your actions. Anyone who doesn't see you in that light, you outcast." 

"I never asked for your opinions. I simply sought to share the stresses of leading my people without unsolicited advice." Thranduil shot back 

"You never had to ask! Has the definition of friendship strayed in the last 8000 years? I saw your mind swaying dangerously. It was my duty to say something. You are a leader. There is always more than just yourself at stake. If that burden of responsibility has grown too much, then hand the crown to Legolas and be done with it!" 

"You say that there is no conspiracy, yet there you hold the evidence that there are plenty I can not trust." Thranduil spat.

Bilbo balled up the parchment still in his hand and threw it at Thranduil's feet. He was no longer fighting to get his hands on the elf king's person, but Thorin still stood by his side like a ridged statue, his hand on his arm in comfort. He knew Thorin only held him back for his own sake. He wouldn't let him react out of anger, knowing he would regret his action later as much as he might want to let Bilbo blacken an elven eye. 

"I hold this in my hand because I earned the loyalty of the people closest to me. You should have known Bard was honorable, that his conscience would not have let your words go unchallenged. That you would take my kindness and twist it into animosity tells me more than I cared to know. More than that, in the months since I sent you my letter of warning, you acted as though nothing was amiss, sending correspondence and even asking for my opinion as you always have. By spreading these lies, you would seek to shatter the very peace you helped build!" 

"What am I getting out of any of this other than responsibility? I watch from The Greenwood as Dale and Erebor grow in power. None of that prosperity comes my way. You, and those like you seek to take from me all I have built and make me an outcast in lands I have inhabited far longer. I know it in my heart." 

Many times over the years, he worried about Thranduil. Time and stress burdened people in different ways; it mattered not the race they came from. Thorin, Thranduil, and even Lord Elrond had faced hard lives and the same water that softened potatoes hardened eggs. It didn't make the bitter sting of betrayal taste any better. Thranduil should know better, and Bilbo wondered if he was saying that because, to some extent, he always put elves on a pedestal, and to see one act as such was a hard truth that could not be veiled once revealed. Age and intelligence were no measure of wisdom. How do you change someone's mind when they refuse to see past their own version of the truth? 

"You betrayed my trust. You spoke ill of me behind my back and tried to get my friends to think less of me. You would attempt to alienate me from a community that you know sustains me to sate your own vanity. For what? The crime of caring about you, caring about your future! I can tolerate hate and vitriol said to my face, but I can't abide words said behind my back. Trust, once broken, is hard to get back." Bilbo held in the chest-wrenching sobs that lingered underneath his anger. It was a hurt that would sit in his chest for some time after Thranduil returned to his home.

"Then what of this community you claim exists between the elves, men, and dwarves? Even if I made amends, is this to be the end of our friendship?" Thranduil's face was unreadable, and Bilbo wanted to slap him. The bastard couldn't even apologize, not that he had expected one. 

I will not disparage you to others or vilify you further than whatever damage your pettiness has done by itself. I have only ever wanted to build a time of peace where we can trade and practice our crafts. I will not let you steal that vision from me. Dissent would only lead to war, and I have no interest in tearing the lives of my people apart. As far as our friendship, that is to be determined by you and what actions will take from here. Any words you could share beyond that mean little.” 

Everyone in the room seemed to understand that the end of his sentence marked the end of the conversation. Bilbo turned and sank into Thorin's waiting arms, letting his husband do the work of keeping him upright. 

"And Thranduil," Bilbo called, still not looking at him. "Take the soured gift you brought with you. I'm beginning to find your generosity inconsistent." ~~~

(At several points Tumblr auto-correct tried to change Thranduil's name to tranquil and taquito. I find this hilarious)

[axelsagewrites]

Roy Kent*Charitiy

Pairing: Roy Kent x reader

Word count: 1535

Warnings: Rupert existing and Roy being Roy

Masterlist here

Ever since last year when Rupert crashed annual charity ball and donated a butt load of money to steal her thunder, she was determined to make this year's even better. It was odd to you that someone donating so much to a good cause was grounds for revenge but then again, you'd met Rupert. He really was the worst. 

She'd gone all out this year, making sure she lined up at least 3 famous performers that equally hated Rupert and inviting everyone who was anyone. You were automatically on the list as her assistant but and also as Roy's plus one. It was at last year’s ball that Roy ended up walking you home from and kissing you in your doorway. Cut to this year and you were now in a semi-secret committed relationship with Richmond’s newest coach. You had both decided not to share to the press and after much convincing Roy let you tell Rebecca and the team.

One of the nights biggest earners was of course the charity auction. Roy had refused at least 19 times to do it but eventually with enough eyelash batting and promises of favours you'd convinced him to sign up. All the boys had signed up, even Will was forced to sign up.

To make things even more bizarre Rebecca herself was being auctioned. Though you as her assistant had also hired someone to come bid on her so she'd never have to have the date but still she was technically on the roster. What you hadn't expected was for her to turn to you with puppy dog eyes. 

"We need more women on the list. Cmon, you know how it is. Think of the children,"

Roy was more outrage you had said yes than the fact he had been convinced to do it as well. You however were sure that it would be fine. After all people were there to bet on the footballers to play a game with their kid or show off to their friends or whatever other questionable activities they had planned. Not some assistant. 

What you hadn't accounted for was that you were no longer just an assistant. Not only did you often appear in pictures with the team, but rumours floated around that you were dating at least one if not multiple of the boys. Between always being around famous footballers or the fact Keeley Jones was your best friend you’d forgotten people actually knew who you were now.

The night was fine to begin and halfway through the auction Rebecca had already hit the same record as last year but that was not going to stop her. Danni had gone for £5000, Sam for £6000, Keeley for £10,000. Yes, even Keeley had donated one of her Friday nights to Rebecca's cause.

Roy had practically begged you that if the old lady who won him last year was going to win that you steal the win and he'd give you the money so sure as fate you had just won a night with your boyfriend for £8000. This was only going to fuel the fires in the tabloids, but it was worth saving Roy another painful night with a toothless granny.

"Up next we have my dear, dear friend who many of you will recognise as the teams shadow. Come on up"(y/n)," Rebecca said, clapping as you walked up with an awkward smile.

" Can we start the bidding at £500?" You thought this would be over and done with in less than a couple minutes.

"Five thousand pounds," Ruperts voice came booming from the back of the room followed by the sound of Roy’s chair scrapping against the floor as he stood up, "Forgive me for being so late my dear Rebecca. A family emergency kept me away, but I couldn't miss this for the world," he said gesturing to the crowd who gave him a round of applause he didn’t deserve, “After all it is for the children,”

For once Rebecca stammered for words before finally stuttering out "Yes well thank you Rupert. Do I hear six?"

"Ten thousand," Roy boomed across the room. Small gasps left several tables as you stood, eyes bulging out at the moment happening. You’d got to witness the bidding war that went for Jamie last year with Keeley spending twenty-five grand, but you knew that both Rupert and Roy were far more stubborn. this could go for a while.

"This isn't how auctions exactly work boys-" Rebecca tried to cut in, knowing how stubborn Rupert was and how violent Roy could get, but to no avail. she looked at you with a sympathetic glance as the carnage began.

"fifteen thousand," Rupert said, walking to stand by Roy's table, his wife a few paces behind standing awkwardly. 

"twenty,"

"thirty,"

"thirty-five-" you heard Jamie's voice pipe up followed by a loud growl from Roy who was glaring daggers in the previously laughing boy, "withdrawn!" Jamie yelped as he shuffled his chair towards Keeley. you almost felt bad for Jamie as you tried not to laugh.

"forty-five," Roy yelled before turning to Rupert, whispering something in his ear as he went to say fifty.

You could practically see Ruperts sweat dripping down his forehead as Roy pulled away, a satisfied smirk on his face, "Hard to beat that," Rupert smiled as he carefully stepped away from Roy, slowly moving back to his wife, “I withdraw,” Rupert said before pulling his wife to go join some random table filled with old white men.

"Forty-five going once, twice," Rebecca said as she scrambled to grab her gavel, "sold to Mr Kent. What a generous donation, everyone let's give him a round of applause," Rebecca said as she started the claps as everyone followed suit to try mask the awkward tension. “Always such a generous soul,”

You gave Rebecca a sorry smile as you walked back down to Roy, wondering how you’d explain this to the tabloids, but Roy had other plans. As you walked up to him, ready to quietly thank him, Roy stepped forward, grabbing you by the waist and pulling you into his chest. The kiss was brief, but it knocked the wind out your lungs and left you wishing you had a private room as whoops and hollers came from the room around. You pulled back, breathless and grinning like an idiot. 

"Just to be clear that isn't included in the final sale," Rebecca said from the stand, trying to avoid lawsuits and trying desperately not to laugh since the auction still had its final prize left, Jamie.

"What did you say to him?" you asked, as you finally say back down, hand in hand with Roy. 

"I told him I knew where he lived and enough people to hold him down if he didn't back off what's mine, “Roy said as cool as a cucumber as if he didn't just threaten to beat a multi-millionaire, possibly billionaire at this point. "Plus, I said I'd tell his wife about you know who," 

This however caught your, Keeley’s, and Jamie's attention, "Who's you know who?" Keeley ask as you all three leaned in for the dirt. 

"Fuck knows," Roy barked making you all look at each other confused, "once a scumbag always a scumbag. There's probably some poor girl out there he’s fucked I just don't know which one," 

The three of you began to cackle as Rebecca announced her last prize of the night. “Time to shine,” Jamie said as he got up, running a hand through his hair before jogging up to join Rebecca on stage. His cocky joy went from pale faced terror when the woman who won Roy last year won him this year but for £9000. Jamie returned to the table, no pep in his step or swagger in his walk as he sunk down into his chair, “Why did you save me?” he whispered in betrayal.

“I’m not your girlfriend anymore, remember,” Keeley teased as she sat back in her chair, “Call us even for last year babes,”

Jamie turned from Keeley to you and Roy, looking like a kicked puppy, “Roy?”

“Mate I’ve just spent 50 grand tonight. go fuck yourself,” Roy said before what was left of his drink.

“It’s for children Roy,” Jamie said as he sulked back into his chair.

“Fuck the children,” Roy said with no hesitation, “I’ve just bought them a really fucking nice orphanage to stop some old prick touching my bird,”

you couldn’t help but laugh at how Jamie pouted in his seat, trying to avoid the old woman’s little waves. ���You do release your little stunt means we need to do press now?” you said, glancing up to a now groaning Roy.

“Already on its babes,” Keeley said from where she sat on her phone, “I’ve been waiting for this for months. knew you two wouldn’t go for my soft launch option,”

“Fucks a soft launch?” Roy said, confusing racking his face as he turned to you.

you patted his arm and shook your head, “You just let me and Keels deal with this yeah?”

Roy sighed as he sat back in his chair shaking his head, “I fucking hate charity,”

[flawseer]

So, a while ago this happened.

It's really been a whole year, huh? Wild. It seems like only last month when I was still drawing dragons. We sure have evolved a lot from that initial premise.

Jokes aside, I am very thankful to everyone who has continued to keep up with the content of this blog. It's not something I take for granted, so I appreciate it a lot.

In response to my last post about the second story arc protagonists, a few people have reached out to ask about my thoughts regarding the finale of that arc. I am presently in the middle of formulating a response. I've finished the raw text yesterday, and it currently sits at an overwhelming 13 pages, with roughly 8,300 words.

I don't know what to think about it, to be honest. I've been given to understand this part of the story was received with mixed feelings, and my own discussion of it is very overtly negative. I try to be celebratory and uplifting when I post here, so this sudden burst of harsh criticism may end up alienating people.

I'm still going to release it; I think it would be unfair to the people who asked for it so readily if I withheld it. But I anticipate this will generate some blow-back. I have very few kind things to say about it.

Just know, if you end up reading it when it comes out and are turned off by the dour tone: That post is atypical with regards to the content of this blog. I draw pictures and comics that celebrate this series, and I have no intention to start tearing it down on the regular.

Maybe I'm just feeling a bit anxious, perhaps nothing will happen at all. Maybe no one wants to read 8000 words of me blathering on, so it will be ignored. But just in case this turns into the moment where I jumped the shark (hello Shark, need to draw you at some point), know it's been nice to have had the opportunity to entertain you for a whole year.

In conclusion: Here is a picture of Squid wearing a baseball cap.

[macdenlover]

i’ve been thinking a lot about dee’s sexuality compared to dennis’s and I wanted to reblog this post with my thoughts but it would end up a being like a mile long so I’m dumping it here!

lesbian dee is probably one of the more “far fetched” headcanons i have (in the sense that dee hasn’t canonically shown interest in women at all) but i think it’s still a fun idea to explore because it doesn’t really take away from or water down anything previously established about her in canon and narratively it still draws from the intention of her character.

the crux of dennis’s and dee’s characters boil down to chasing a sense of power to repair the damage left from the emotional neglect in their childhoods— dennis obsessively trying to reach a distorted internal image of perfection, and dee constantly seeking out some sort of external approval. her relationships with men have always been shallow and fruitless, mostly just a series of one night stands to stroke her ego, kind of like dennis. the difference is dennis’s string of one night stands are way more about the journey than the destination than they are for dee. he gets off on the foreplay and the success of his own slimy methodology— it’s a different itch to scratch than the validation that dee craves, this lifelong desire to be wanted by someone even if she doesn’t want them back.

it’s also impossible to ignore the gender roles of it all. dennis and dee parallel each other a whole lot but it can never really be a 1 for 1 comparison. there is no direct parallel you can make for a character like dee, in her circumstance as a woman constantly surrounded by men who’ve been belittling her her entire life, who then desperately winds up craving approval from men in the form of sex. I think viewing it through the lens of comphet adds suchhh an interesting layer to it. would i love to see her canonically hook up with a womanthe waitress? of course. is it ever gonna happen on the show? probably not god please please please please i’m going to beg 8000 times.

now as for dennis. i firmly hc that he’s bi/unlabeled (in the sense that he’s bisexual but he thinks he’s too special to call himself bisexual).

he’s always had a more complicated relationship with queerness as an identity than he has with homosexuality itself, considering how weird he was about mac coming out, and the big speech he gave above mac’s obsession with labels. but he seems to be perfectly fine openly admitting he has a system to attract men and how much he loves putting his balls in dudes’ mouths. he’s not in denial about his attraction to men the way mac was, and i don’t think he’s had any reason to pretend to be sexually attracted to women if he wasn’t. he doesn’t value the respect of women enough for that, he’s really just in it for the puss.

speaking of which, something i think a lot of people forget about/ignore when analyzing these characters is the fact that they’re meant to be puppets for the show’s satire. the choices they make with these characters is meant to say something about the world, so i think viewing a character who’s primary traits surround his predatory behavior toward women as secretly gay just ends up saying the wrong thing?

ultimately it boils down to how much of the show’s intentions you factor into the way you see these characters but my general rule of thumb has been having as much fun as i can without disrupting the canon :)

[skidar]

Lil Number Chasing

I stopped doing fanart online for the most part after years of making a lot of fanart for shows like GF and CR and my engagement TANKED and then I hit nearly 2 years of horrible burnout (in the middle of the pandemic too cause who does life on easy mode ayyye) in which I still desperately tried to create stuff and felt horrible that nothing I made was good enough. Not good enough to make the ‘lil numbers’ on the post go up. Not good enough to get hired and not good enough to make things people cared about.

It feels good when the lil numbers go up but that shouldn’t be why we make art. I stopped looking at the lil numbers. I started making stuff for me, the lil numbers stay really lil, but I’m happier. The few people that also like my stuff talk to me about it. Their engagement is like an addiction to create more.

Shitposts, icorrect quotes, drabbles, short stories, whole novels are because out of 8000 (mostly human I hope but lesbihonest bots are everywhere) followers I found like five that like my stuff enough to chat about it and keep it going <3 I’m forever grateful to that goofy handful of people that make creating my own stuff worth it.

I dunno why I’m writing this, I see a lot of art friends from twitter panicking about the low lil numbers on their posts these days and when I check their stuff its numbers I could never fathom obtaining, let alone complain that they were too low. It makes me anxious about my own work all over again.

So what I guess I’m trying to say, and trying to live by my own example, is not to throw all your self worth into how big the lil numbers on your posts get. I understand how engagement can lead to work and stuff and its easier for more eyes to see and spread work to actually get hired but even casually we need to stop obsessing about the numbers themselves and start honing in on our work, why we really make it and who its really for.

We can only do what we can, and not burn ourselves out trying to compete with hostile algorithms just to watch the little number go up. I hope artists can still enjoy doing what you do and it hasn’t become a joyless, feverish state to keep work in this truly terrible time to be an artist/creator out there.

Tell your favorite artists that you love their work, that their characters make you happy, that their stories are a comfort to you. It means SO much more than the lil numbers and that sorta love and engagement makes them want to make more. Without it, the only feedback artists get is the rise and fall of the lil numbers on the post, THAT’S the approval we end up chasing.

[nocturius8015ficore]

Get to know your mutuals / Fandom Folks to Get to Know Better

Tagging @ithillia @justanotherdikutsimp I decide to combine both of your inquiry/tag together as some question were in both.

It took me time to answer properly to every question! 😅

What's the origin of your blog name? Is that just your username?

Nocturius is my artist-name since my edgy teenager years. As I still draw Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Steampunk/Horror, I think the name work fine for all that. I tried different things when i was at University but nothing really sticks. It's non-binary, it give a vibe. No one cares. I use Nocturius or Noctaël in most of my online presence.

For 8015Ficore, it's pretty obvious. I've put the 8015 for RC-8015 ''Fi'' in the name to separate from Nocturius. I didn't want a letters salad. ''ficore'' for Fi-Core, which is my coresona on FB and Bluesky.

I hope that my blog name is clear enough it's about that dumb clone and also my artist name being clear for the out-of-character/artist talking, like now.

3 OTP+Ship name/First ship ever/3 Ships I like

Well, I gonna combine those questions because I'm not a shipper. I don't speculate much about couple or potential couples in a story. I don't imagine them with different person than what's in the canon. It's not what drives me in writing fanfictions/drawing fanarts. I'm cool with people doing it tho. Each person their hobbies.

Favorite color

For a long time that was more of a green-leaves. Like this:

But nowadays it's more like teal or turquoise. Those rocks made my brain very happy, especially the greenish ones with some stripes of yellow.

Favorite game:

I would say Stardew Valley is a nice one, but I want to talk about a very underrated one on the NES. A Zelda-like game called Crystalis from 1990.

Song stuck in your head:

Ahh... I have many. Usually some Pokémon themes, Final Fantasy or Kirby.

Last song heard:

I had to find that song about Kirby so...

I would say I like that channel with chipmusic a lot. Not all tunes are good, but it's a great filler for when I draw. Ehmm, yeah, I'm a lot into videogame music. Music with lyrics distract me.

Weirdest habit/trait:

I have some minor form of pica disorder. That might be a offshoot of my general anxiety disorder or in the list of ''Am I autistic?'' traits. Not enough to cause me real problems but it's there. I'm a terrible nails/skins biter. I do other weird stuff that can go under the dermatophagia I won't elaborate here.

When I was in elementary school, I used to often eat paper, fibers, eraser bits and wood. Well, I actually eat a tiny bit of paper just the day before i wrote those words and I use toothpick way too often to say it's totally gone. 😅😰

If you work, what's your profession?

I don't really have a job for now. Mental health is complicated. But I draw and write stuff. Sometimes people support me on Patreon (in French) and Ko-fi (in English) or ask for Art Commission.

Hobbies:

As drawing and writing are kinda my career, I would say hobbies for me is watching shows, reading comics/books and very amateur needle work (knitting/crochet/cross-stiches)

If you could have any job you wish, what would it be?

I just wish I could have enough energy and mental health stability to do my things regularly. If I could draw/write at least 4h/day every day, I would be happy. But someday, the best thing I can do is a cheap meme and I had to learn to accept my limitations and be proud of those small achievements.

Something you're good at:

Brainstorming stuff. I'm a ideas factory.

Something you're bad at:

Respecting deadlines and schedules. That gives me anxiety.

Something you love:

CLONES.

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff:

Doctor Who. The whole thingy since 1963.

Something you hate:

AI generative stuff and disinformation.

Something you collect:

I used to collect books and comics for a while. Books of sci-fi/fantasy, animals and arts. I liked the idea of having a house filled with a personal library. But moving a lot as a student, flat to flat, made me reconsider my priorities. As I'm full on grown-up person lol, I decide to have a more curated one. Trying to ''KonMarie'' my collection with, still a lots of books, but less of the stuff I will never read. (often books people gave me). Sometimes I give the books that sparkle the less to my local  ''box library'' (public box where you can pick books or leave books)

Something you forget

I don't forget it often, but sometimes I forget to take my meds. It's just stuff for my thyroid but that make me feel weird when I skip it.

What's your love language

I'm a simple person. I like to care about people, making sure they are warm and cozy. Like with a blanket or a hot drink. Offering moral support. Since I created Fi-Core I realized how much I like to make people laugh and lift them up. My closest friends can only be reached online, so my love for them go through drawings and sharing pet pictures. I like to connect with people through art and sharing about life and feelings.

Favorite movie/show:

The Bad Batch

Favorite food:

Sushi and blueberries. Can those be combined? Oh certainly!

Favorite animal:

I love many animals. As a kid I was very fascinated by reptiles and snakes. Nowadays I'm happy with my two cats. I'm also an amateur beekeeper.

What were you like as a child:

I was feisty and nerdy. Didn't get along with the girls as an afab and wasn't accepted by the boys. I was bullied a lot and barely had friends. I had imaginary ones to keep me company. Books and my drawings. I don't have much good memories from my childhood.

Favorite subject at school:

History and later, art history.

Last Favorite subject:

French and English. I'm proud to be bilingual today but it's all my own work. I had a hard time learning English, very hard. French is my main language but the grammar always felt like it make no sense till university where I got actual explanations on some of the stuff.

What's your best character trait?

I don't know. I have the self-esteem of a shoe with a hole in it. I guess my sense of humor is probably in the top 5.

What's your worst character trait?

Way too much self-hatred I have to deal with daily.

If you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be?

If I was able to have proper restful night, that would be very game changing.

If you could travel in time, who would you like to meet?

Maybe... Mary Shelley? She sound like someone I would get along with.

Favorite Childhood Book:

No idea. I read many things as a kid, but before my teenager years I didn't have a favorite one. I remember I was mostly fascinated by my father's books, atlas, dinosaurs and natural science themed encyclopedia.

Currently Reading:

Republic Commando? Yeah Republic Commando. I always need to dig deeper in it.

Currently Watching:

We watch The Rookie with family, Rebels with my vod Mamuzzy and the Gundam franchise with my friend TIE Brute-Core.

Currently Consuming:

I'm a very sober person. Never get drunk or high.

Currently Craving:

Sushi, always. It took me super long to answer this! Hope people will be interesting with it. 😅 I tried to be as honest as I can. I probably shoudn't. Oh well!