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intuitive-revelations · 1 month ago

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Live analysis of Wish World!

Sorry for the wait! I'm with family so haven't been able to watch the episode until now. I almost skipped the live reaction aspect of this for this episode, but have managed to work out a system with my laptop + ipad that works so I can write and watch at the same time. I also can't add any screencaps, as I can't PrtScr on this keyboard. Given all this, I'll think I'll hold back on most of my overall thoughts and theories for now, and save that for later this week.

Spoilers below. Again, I think I've been partially spoiled on this episode, but we'll see how this goes:

OK. Straight away it's 1865, so our third member of the unholy trinity is somewhere here?

And a baby, straight away, hm.

Luck? Is the Rani experimenting with the universe's new superstition?

"Sturm-und-drang" Thought that was going to be Gallifreyan for a sec, before I relistened and turned on the subtitles. "Storm and stress"?

Yep, doing something with superstition.

"It's older than that, darling." DARK TIMES MENTION?

"Your child is the fountainhead of a power from beyond this universe." May be spoiled on this being something else, but... Timeless Child link? Or Pantheon?

Hm, the word play with VIolets was a lot better, since it felt intrinsic. The Rani using similes and metaphors feels a lot more arbitrary.

Actually, I think I might discuss that spoiler now. If this goes back to Omega, is the "wish" thing linked to his ability to shape the anti-matter universe, now being applied to N-space too?

This domestic setup feels so expanded universe-y, like the The Natural History of Fear or something, with our main cast projected into a very different kind of story.

Poppy! So we're "casting" her as the Doctor and Belinda's child here?

Yep, and Conrad is the voice of this reality reshaping.

"Doctor Who and the Deadly Wish" Very 1st Edition Philosopher's Stone cover there. Kinda surprised we didn't go in on a Target cover instead. Is there some anti-JKR commentary to be had here, with crypto-fascist Conrad reading it?

WAIT WAIT THAT SAYS I.M. FOREMAN?! (On one hand, yay how can I link this to the EDA character. On the other hand, how dare you put them in the place JKR's name would be.)

"Uncle Connie" Hmm... given Poppy's the Doctor's child here, how can I link this to Brax?

"Once upon a time, the TIme Lords were really clever people from the planet Gallifrey. But one of the Time Lords ran away."

Amma?

What was that big tease RTD gave? "Tables don't act that way"?

Ruby :)

"My name is John Smith" The return!

Doubt. Interesting. So a post-truth-y sort of thing? This feels like it could get pretty poitically disjointed, given Conrad is a conspiracy theorist, but let's see how this goes.

Mel :D

And great skeletal beasts. I know I'm not alone in thinking of Faction Paradox here.

"The people who lived on the Earth were called humans. Doctor Who had lots and lots of human friends." The past tense is fun. Makes me wonder if it will be literal in some way. Also very TARDIS wiki.

"They loved him, they'd travel with him, but sometimes they'd leave him so they could go and fall in love and marry and have babies. And then the Doctor was all alone." Hm, what interesting contrast, after that moment with Mel. What are we getting at here, especially with something so reductive? Is this something to do with the Doctor wishing he could have that life?

"But he travelled on with bravery in his heart, looking for his next best friend." And now we see Shirley. (Also, heart singular? Almost could be interpretted as a "First Doctor had one heart" confirmation.)

Susan Twist!

Hmm, this retro environment feel quite HP-like actually. Like the Ministry of Magic. Hm...

"But then a sad day came along. All the Time Lords were killed, and Doctor Who was the only one left." This is what I've been waiting for, with the Rani back.

Ich, so sexism is alive and well here. Very cool Conrad.

"You're a beautiful man." "What's that supposed to mean?!" Oh God. Yep we're going there, and it's not just flavour.

"Unified National Insurance Team" lol

"And Doctor Who .wished it was like the old days, when he had a faithful companion at his side, but sadly those days were gone." The old days huh? Also, are we really going there, with the Doctor's subconscious wish warping reality and causing Belinda to be stuck with him, like theorised?

Belinda's family!

"Good little girl, good little wife, then good little mother." Triple goddess?

"And as Conrad says, that's what we're here for." Again, very cool Conrad.

Interesting having Poppy here, but clearly a lot more convention in terms of her childhood intelligence. How does that happen?

Ooh, is Belinda breaking out of this?

"It turned out, Doctor Who wasn't the only one left. A Time Lady had survived." Hm, are we going in some "repopulate the species" direction here? Seemingly not conventionally, given the Rani isn't herself acting as the Doctor's wife here, but there's implications from Conrad's lines here.

...what's she riding?

Seal of Rassilon spotted!

Hm, what with these helmetted people? Thought they were passenger-forms for a second.

Wait, the Rani wants people to doubt?

"Is it ok out there? Is it working?" Hm? So Conrad a) seemingly isn't in as much control as he seems, and b) is trying to accomplish something specific.

"Sometimes I forget about the weather and South Africa gets flooded." So reality is flowing through him somehow? It's almost like he's trying to take care of everyone, but is also clearly malicious in other ways.

Ah right. Clear mummy issues. That makes sense.

"The boy who wants the world to be better." Stop trying to make him sound earnest.

THE GIGGLE!

Hm, so the vindicators still have a part to play? I wonder how accurate or not my episode one onwards theory is.

"Tonight, we will find him. The One Who Is Lost." Gee I wonder who that is (disclaimer: I already know who that is). Interesting that this name echoes "The One Who Waits". Are we pulling Omega into the Pantheon too? I kinda hope not, as really can't fit with having a history with the rest. Not like Sutekh with the Titan Comic parallels.

"And then the great work begins." Rebuilding Gallifrey maybe?

"Many years ago when Gallifrey was young, the Doctor and the Time Lady had been terrible enemies." Uhh... 'young' is an interesting choice of phrasing. I'm guessing this is just for the narrative, but taking this literally, this feels like a Fugitive / Morbius Doctor sort of thing. But the Rani doesn't fit into that (unless we really are getting "Time Lord reincarnation is more common than we think" theory confirmed, like I said on that one Chibnall-related post.

"But the Time Lady knew they could be great friends, if only Doctor Who knew how clever she was!" Hmm... this feels interesting. Hopefully we're not making the Rani's research all about the Doctor, are we?

Also, what does this refer to? Ancient Gallifrey (as mentioned above)? Academy era (this arguably could fit best, if we take this as a sort of meet cute of how Ushas joined the Deca)? Classic era? Now?

"So one day she stepped out from the shadows..." "He said her name out loud. And he said, "We shouldn't be enemies any more..." NO, PLEASE LET ME HEAR ALL THIS! ... also by name, do we mean "Rani", "Ushas" or somehting else? I hope Conrad's background speaking is included in the script, whenever Writersroom releases it.

"The disabled, the dispossessed, the ones who don't fit in." Once again, very cool Conrad.

"It's like a glimpse in the corner of my eye, like I can remember something, then... it's gone." Perception filter?

WAIT, are we seriously about to link back to 73 Yards?!

"It's perception bias. He's not disabled, so he can't see us." God I love this. This is such a clever way to use this reality warping actually. Of course Conrad's biases enforce gender roles, homophobia, but he doesn't give a shit about disabled people, for better or worse.

"We're going to bring down God." Huh, so who did the Rani/Flood overthrow to get us to this point?

"But the Time Lady had an idea. She said, 'It's not over, because I know a secret, hidden away.' And the secret came from the depths of Time Lord history. A secret so old and so terrible, everyone had forgotten. But the secret was beginning to wake." OH?

SUSAN! SUSAN! SUSAN!

(Why does her appearing on the screen in white feel so "The End of Time Woman"-core?)

Also, no way, is this going to link back to her origin?

"But the secret was beginning to wake." Dark Times / pre-rationality? The Timeless Child? Omega's betrayal?

"And the Doctor said, 'Tell me the secret'. But the mysterious Time Lady was clever and wise, and she knew that Doctor Who was weak. " Again very curious when this story, if real, actually occurred. It sounds like it must have been right before the episode, but how does that work with the previous episode's cliffhanger?

ROGUE?!!!

'Hell dimension'. So he's not in a Land of Fiction then. So much for that sequel idea.

"Tables don't do that." There we go.

"I miss you. Well... more than that. I love-" And of course Conrad interrupts this!

"I warn you, Doctor. This secret will change reality forever."

Oh, I didn't realise the cups were literally falling through the table. So it is a matter of projection, isn't it? The matter, in a sense, isn't actually there? (Or the force of electromagnetism itself has technically vanished with the surrounding loss of rationality?) Again, reality being held together by the mind, ala the Antimatter universe.

(Also, quite TV Movie esque, with matter's properties changing from the Eye of Harmony being open. Who do we know who was involved in those Black Hole experiments?)

Nope, Belinda is still suppressing then.

OK, I know it being UNIT is what's important, but I chuckled at the "relic from the other world" being a fucking iPad.

Rassilon mention! President Eternal huh?

Hm, the Rani's characterisation is interesting. It's clearly paralleling the Master in some ways, with the emphasis on their history etc. but she also thankfully doesn't actually feel like them at all (though the discoball is cutting it a bit close). Sure it's a bit of a far cry from Kate O'Mara's Rani in some some ways, but I actually really like it. This feels like someone who really was close with the Doctor once upon a time. It also makes sense she may act in a way that builds off those old bonds, given they are both, effectively, among all that's left of Gallifrey. Regardless, Archie is VERY good. I hope we keep her.

The way she's testing him is specifically very Rani though. It shows her inate academic curiosity.

Also, tbf, there are actually a few tender moments between the Rani and the Doctor in previous stories. They're easy to forget, but they are there. Like when she's disguised as Mel and clearly, for a moment, sympathises with Seven as he bemoans the nature of regeneration (one reason I like the interpretation, which I've seen some others share, that the Rani was actually scared of regenerating and hestitated for a long time). Or when the Doctor momentarily begins to wonder if they can be friends again (or maybe more? he doesn't finish the sentence), before dismissing the thought. It's a shame their dynamic is so often slept on tbh.

"We danced once upon a time, you and I, with the city burning around us! People said we were lovers. Can you remember if that's true? Far away in time and space. Were we?" I'm sure people are annoyed at this, and I can see an argument that it's a shame the Rani being being brought back so quickly leads to something romance related, a bit like the discourse around Best Enemies being depicted so strongly once the Master became Missy (I got the unfortunate implications of it all, but disagree it was intentional or anything - it was Moffat's first time writing the Master and I think he just wanted to depict their relationship explicitly while also introducing us to an on-screen cross-gender regeneration, and doing both together just happened to look a bit bad). But the Rani is clearly just teasing the Doctor's lack of memory.

Yay, Kate O'Mara :D

"Yes! I had a different face. So did you, a long time ago." Hm, who danced with her? Logically, it would make most sense to be Six or Seven, but this honestly sounds quite academy era-like? Could this be seen as evidence for O'Mara indeed being the First Rani?

"Because the tragedy is... we were never enemies. Every villain you ever thought wanted death. I only wanted life!"

"But this planet is a lie. This whole world is a wish." Yep, the planet's already gone isn't it? I'm so curious how this all comes together, it feels like the Rani's playing every side. She (presumably) wanted the Earth destroyed (by the TARDIS and the Vindicators?) but is also here holding it together? There's a gamibit here.

"But he made so much of this happen. He stirred the gods, Belinda. He woke the most ancient of powers."

"Desiderium - the god of wishes" Ok, this works for me so far.

"The Vindicator. Hidden in plain sight. Do you remember?" Plain sight is a bit much (we payed plenty of attention to it) but ok. This is what I'm waiting for.

But how does this work to amplify Desiderium's powers? Unless the Rani somehow planted it in the TARDIS, it must be via it's intended purpose, right?

"It crisscrossed the universe, creating a web of power to bring you back here." A Web you say? 👀

Or am I wrong, and it'll be more of a ritual thing, ala the fairy ring in 73 Yards?

"A billion supernovas" wait, is this based on what Rassilon did when Omega was lost? With the energy of the black hole flowing through him, how he changed the laws of physics and created the event horizon?

Kind of? She's using his doubt. Literally the Doctor's own Observer Effect.

"Omega" YEP there we are.

"Omega. The First Time Lord. The creator of the Time Lords. The greatest and most terrifying Time Lord of all."

OMG she's not acting to restore rationality per say (though in a way, using the Doctor's doubt could be seen as doing just that, re-imposing logic on a reality that has ceased to make sense) she's doing this to tear down Rassilon's work, isn't she?

When you think about it, this is the consequence of the Doctor's overthrowing of Rassilon in Hell Bent. The Time Lords finally began to see him for what he was, and the Rani may well have been among them. Only she filled the void of what once was likely a great hero of hers, given his impact on Time Lord science and rationality, with someone else.

And of course she wants to help Omega. The Deca loved him, Morbius, other fearsome Time Lord leaders of legend.

Side note - I can't believe they're actually showing us Omega's seal again too!

The Series 4 version of the Doctor's Theme! Have we even heard it since Eleven regenerated?

Ooh, the purple hues of everything disappearing are very similar to the threshold (I've been thinking about it every time they've said that word) and the portal the Timeless Child was found below. Is that just what portals out of N-Space look like (remember, the Master implied that Gallifrey was in the pocket universe when he destroyed it)?

"I have a daughter. Poppy is real. Do you know what that means?" HUH? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END IT?!

OK, as I said I'm not going to say too much right now, as it's late and writing is a bit inconvenient atm. I'll be saying a lot more later next week.

What I am going to say now though, before I see any other reactions to this? HOLY SHIT I LOVED THAT EPISODE. Low key, might be one of my favourite penultimate episodes (Heaven Sent is still top though obviously). Admittedly it leaves SO many questions open, so we're dependent on it sticking the landing and not copping out of all this, but my hopes are so high right now, even with the bad taste Empire of Death gave me previously. That's not to say it's perfect (there's a few RTDisms in there, with obvious reveals and such, plus things like Rogue kinda coming out of nowhere, but maybe he's back next episode?), but the fact we're actually kinda hinting at all this deep lore, FINALLY some consequences actually making good use of post-Time War Gallifrey (even if it's not around, and to be clear, I did like 90% of the Timeless Child/Division arc too), and giving us compelling characterisation of the Rani?

You've got me Russell, don't let us down.

#Doctor Who #Wish World #Fifteenth Doctor #The Rani #Doctor Who Spoilers #DW Spoilers #DW Theory #DW Meta #I am slightly scared given what I have heard in rumours regarding the next episode and the show's future #but avoided most details #and have been slightly assuaded by recent news #anyway with regards to the 'deep lore' stuff #I don't think I've been this excited since we got the Anchoring of the Thread in Flux

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grieselightning · 22 days ago

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what if the voices were in Real Life New York but Part 2 (of 2)

y'all like detective noir universe. well how about The Mafia Gets Involved.

so to start off: I Hit Cold With The Woman Beam. meet Femme Fatale Cold, aka Clara Gambino neé Bates!

why did i turn cold into a woman for noir au?? because i wanted a hot woman who takes full advantage of how hot she is to get away with murdering her mob boss husband I Mean Definitely Not Murdering Her Mob Boss Husband. (also the husband in question was The Narrator/Nathaniel Gambino.) she's the boss Connie is secretly reporting back to!!

anyways, design notes:

I based much of the way Clara's hair falls on real life 40's actress Veronica Lake, who was famous for her distinct hairstyle! Curly/wavy hair was the style back then, which means College Cold's normally straight hair got curling iron'd in Noir AU.

clara very much exemplifies the beauty standards of the era. she's a beautiful woman with an hourglass figure and she wants everyone to know it so she can get away with literal murder.

no more piercings it's 1948. she does have earrings though.

Clara's on the younger side of the cast (32), so she has Minimal signs of being not a teenager anymore 😌

Now onto her closest collaborator: Opportunist, aka Oscar Elliott!

meet Gentleman Thief Ozzy! he's here to steal your jewelry and trip over his own feet because a cute boy said he's pretty and he's all outta jewelry to steal. Oscar is an old friend of Clara's who now works for her undercover at the local jazz club, The Long Quiet. He spies on the people who come by and has recently been assigned to keep an eye on Scott Doyle to make sure he doesn't get too close to the truth. nothing will go wrong with that instruction. definitely.

design notes!

remember when i said men in the 40's just did NOT have long hair. well i broke that rule for ozzy because he just doesn't look right with short hair and my justification is This Man Canonically Fought In WWII and having short hair felt too much like the war so he grew it out on purpose.

still has his lil fang but this time it IS purely for aesthetics in the art.

he changes his hairstyle and outfit vibes depending on whether he's breaking into a rich person's mansion to steal their money, working the bar as his alias James O'Sullivan, or just meeting up with a friend as himself. this is primarily his James persona.

he needs a cane so bad he hurt his back in The War. but he'll be damned if he uses one of those. what you think he's Weak?????

mans is 34 how is he still so baby faced. where are your smile lines. how do you do it.

Next up: Cheated, aka Charlie Russo!

charlie my beloved. Charlie is Clara's rival mob boss, who is left HEAVILY scarred and in chronic pain thanks to a run-in with hired mercenary Rachel "Razor" Sharpe and her Nefarious Blades. Charlie is the only victim who has ever managed to escape her, and though you'd think his scars and obvious physical disabilities would make him less intimidating as an Actual Crime Lord, somehow instead it just makes him So Much Worse. this man refuses to die and he will make sure you know that.

design notes!

he has SO many scars. but this time he didn't bother growing any facial hair to cover them because like. what's the point. a mustache won't hide the massive scar across his whole face or the chip in his ear or the missing part of his eyebrow or the deep, nasty-looking scar across his entire chest. who cares anymore.

never without his cane. he needs it to walk because rachel fucked up his legs.

he is entirely Missing the middle finger on his right hand. because at one point Rachel asked him if he had any last words for her while she mutilated him and he flipped her off. she thought that was sooooo funny (charlie lost his finger)

but she left his eyes completely untouched. so he could Watch, of course. you understand.

also among the youngest of the cast at 31! who needs age-revealing face lines when you have Scars Freaking Everywhere

and no mob boss is complete without his Massive Hulking Monster Of A Bodyguard!

behold Stubborn, aka Steven "Stevie" Battaglia. he and Charlie have been friends since they were kids and Boyfriends since their twenties, Don't Even @ Me /silly

he is 6'5 and over 300 pounds of pure muscle. this is not a man this is a bear walking on two legs. he's the physical force behind Charlie's intimidation and he is the reason Razor hasn't managed to get Charlie again yet. he loves his husband even though they bicker.

design notes!

this is the hairiest italian man in all the land and you will have no choice but to know it because steven hates buttoning his shirts.

he too has some scars from the various brawls he's always getting into. but not NEARLY as many as Charlie.

big eyebrows. still big eyebrows.

he grew in a mustache now! good for him! good for him.

little 33 year old baby. Infant. no wrinkles. /silly

and wrapping up the Russo Throuple is Paranoid, aka Peter Garner!

this man is Nothing but a bundle of nerves wearing a human skin suit. he is so scared all the time because his boss is a mobster and no one knows. Peter is a doctor who lost his medical license due to ✨Medical Malpractice Caused By A Panic Attack✨ and now he works for Charlie and Steven! they are a throuple don't @ me. charlie has chronic pain and steven is always getting punched in the jaw by other mob enforcers and peter is So Tired. save him.

design notes!

he gets Glasses now. like a Nerd. because they're cute, Leave Me Alone.

still a gangly skeleton man. so pale. so lanky. so skinny.

instead of a big hoodie now he has a big shirt. his sleeves are so large on him.

he is 35 and looks it more than oscar because his cheeks are so sunken in. save him

and last but not least, Smitten, aka Sammy Harris!

sammy my darling. Sammy is the usual jazz singer at The Long Quiet! he Hates Clara because she was an adulteress who flirted with other men while wearing her wedding ring. how dare she cheat on her husband who Doesn't Love Her and whom She Does Not Love. but he and Oscar are War Buddies and Oscar got him his job at the jazz club. usually Sammy helps Scott or police officers by sharing info he's learned from customers who think he's Pretty and Nice and Good At Singing, but he's technically not on either side.

design notes!

i miss smibby's long luscious locks so so much. but he's not as concerned about his old military haircut as oscar so. alas.

he still gets his insane cheekbones though.

sammy WILL wear pink. even if it's just his tie and his handkerchief.

he too is 35! he's got slight lines under his eyes from smiling all the time! what a friendly guy

(he is Buff As Hell and can DECK you which sometimes happens when his untreated wartime ptsd is triggered. but he's fiiiiiiine.)

And that's Mostly Everyone!! i haven't drawn all the Vessels yet because i keep getting distracted by 800 other AUs but some of them also exist. thanks again to Grey for helping with the Lore of this AU!!

#slay the princess #stp voices #stp cold #stp opportunist #stp cheated #stp stubborn #stp paranoid #stp smitten #noir au #i love these losers so much

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clean-casual-analysis · 1 year ago

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When the villain is a philosophy

When you think of the word antagonist, the first thing that comes to mind is a villain. This is completely natural, given that stories of good vs evil tend to follow a heroic protagonist fighting against an evil antagonist. But once you get into the definition of the word, a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something, moral alignment doesn’t dictate whether a character should be a protagonist or an antagonist. The most recognizable examples of this would be the likes of Invader Zim and Megamind, characters that are villainous in nature but are still the protagonists of their respective stories.

But villain protagonists and hero antagonists aren’t what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the antagonists that aren’t entirely focused on, at least in the traditional sense. Antagonists that, despite being the source of conflict in the narrative, don’t actually show up a lot of the time. These antagonists, while characters in their own right, are more symbolic in nature. The protagonists of these stories aren’t just trying to defeat the antagonists, but the rotten philosophies that these antagonists have. The beliefs that push the antagonists to do their villainous acts.

White Diamond: Uniformity and the Status Quo

In the entirety of the original Steven Universe series, not counting the movie or SU Future, White Diamond appears in three episodes out of one hundred and sixty episodes. (Two if we don’t count White Pearl/Volleyball) That’s not even one percent of the series. In most series involving a good vs evil plot line, we usually switch perspectives between our heroes and villains to understand how they’re reacting to the events of the story. But SU is entirely told from Steven’s perspective. The audience only gets new information about gems, homeworld, Rose Quartz, etcetera, when Steven himself learns it. Because of this perspective, we don’t see the final antagonist of the series until the very end of the show.

But even though White Diamond is not present throughout the majority of the show, her homeworld subordinates and beliefs fill in the place of the hurdles that the protagonists must pass. Think about what the show is about and what lessons it teaches. Relationships are intricate and need mutual respect, being proud of who and what you are, and (most importantly) societal roles do not define you. The development of the main characters each involve acceptance of the self and bucking of what’s expected of them. Pearl fully moving on from Rose, Garnet improving her self-love, Amethyst fully accepting herself for what she is, Peridot’s disillusionment with Homeworld and growing appreciation for earth, Connie disobeying her mother’s strict rules, Steven slowly becoming someone better than even his own mother, I could go on. It’s honestly surprising, looking back, how most of the characters’ core issues stem from the lack of self-assurance and how homeworld views their flaws.

White Diamond and her Homeworld regime ultimately represent how systems put limits and stigma onto people for the sake of uniformity. The consequence of living inside your own head. A fusion cannot happen between two different gems, Pearls must be servants, Quartz gems must be big and strong, and Diamonds must be the perfect leaders. Why? Because that’s just what gems do. Because that’s how the system works. Homeworld’s status quo is one of creating an ever-expanding empire at the cost of independence, self-expression, unique lifeforms, and healthy relationships. The system can’t be wrong, White Diamond can’t be flawed, it’s how things have always been so why change what isn’t broken.

Sauron: Dominance and Corruption

While he has more screen presence and is a much more a significant part of the story of Lord of the Rings than White Diamond is to SU, the dark lord Sauron is similarly one small part of a larger tale. Heck, he doesn’t even have dialogue in the book trilogy. Also, like White Diamond, Sauron is best represented by his many underlings. Ruthless orcs with crude but effective weaponry, colossal beasts to crush his enemies underfoot, massive armies dedicated to the dark lord’s cause of dominating all life in Midde Earth. But what’s most notable about Sauron isn’t the great power he possesses or the armies he commands, it’s the way he corrupts and deceives those that stand against him.

The betrayal of Saruman the White, the nine Nazgûl once being great kings of men who were turned into terrible ringwraiths, and most notoriously, the enticing power of the one ring. Boromir, believing that Gondor can use this evil weapon for good. Smeagol, utterly degraded into a deceitful cave dwelling throttler named Gollum. Frodo, forced to carry a heavy burden that weighs him down both physically and mentally. To Sauron, the corruption of good is a weapon he wields with unmatched lethality.

The insidious nature of his villainy is what makes Sauron the great representative of dominance and corruption that he is. The promises of more enticing good people to do evil for the “right” reasons and the ruthless conquest for dominion over all is all too real an evil to ignore.

The Martians: Colonialism and Warfare

I debated with myself on whether or not the martians from War of the Worlds should be included here. Unlike Sauron or White Diamond, the martians are clear and present throughout the story. On the other hand, there isn’t a named martian general or a big bad that’s shown to lead the alien invaders into combat. In the end, the fact that the martians are made to purely represent the darkest parts of humanity outweighs the secondary theme of this essay.

One of, if not THE first alien invasion story, War of the Worlds messaging is clear and easy to understand. The tentacled beings from Mars are coldly intelligent, remorseless, and regard our world with envious eyes. They use human blood as sustenance when they aren’t vaporizing us by the hundreds, their tripods are horrific machines of mass destruction, and their invasion is one of slaughter and destruction. But the book is quick to remind us that humanity isn’t so morally innocent compared to the martians. The consumption of our blood seems horrific, but humans have also killed animals and each other for food and resources. Their tripods are colossal and terrifying, but humanity has made countless destructive war machines. The invaders are dead set on wiping out humanity, but humanity not only brought extinction to animals like the dodo bird but to entire groups of our own kind. The martians are not simply an alien invasion to fight back against, it’s a cautious look into our worst future. A humanity that prioritizes ruthless colonization and military might is a humanity doomed to be parasitic and heartless.

War of the Worlds also takes a critical view towards solving problems through warfare. Violence is sometimes needed to fight evil, but that does make violence a good thing. The action and battles in War of the Worlds are not thrilling or glorious, they are horrific and even bumbling to an extent. Much like the early British imperials that they represent, the martians are arrogant and only win because they have the better technology. Even the destruction of a tripod has severe consequences, a flaming wreckage falling into a lake and boiling the humans hiding there alive. There is nothing pride or goodness to found in destruction and death. Warfare and violence should be the last resort of those trying to survive, yet humanity and martians brandish their weapons without care or empathy for those beneath them.

The Truth, In-Fighting, and the Seemingly Insignificant

These antagonists all represent a morally dangerous part of humanity. The stubborn refusal to change a flawed status quo, the desire to dominate and corrupt those who don’t, needless conquest and bloody war. But despite all their power and influence, these philosophies that the villains believe in fail them in the end.

For White Diamond, her ultimate failure stems from the mortal enemy of all tyrannical systems: the truth. In the last episode of Steven Universe, White Diamond removes the gemstone from our protagonist’s body. Believing that the mischievous Pink Diamond is merely hiding in this human body, White seeks to end this silly game once and for all. But once the gemstone is removed, it does form into Pink Diamond or even Rose Quartz. It forms a bright pink Steven. In the final act of Change Your Mind, White Diamond is faced with reality and all its implications. This gemstone is Steven, it’s always been Steven. This half human is not the irrational or childish person, it’s White. The leader of Homeworld, the one who’s supposed to know all and make things better, is wrong. But in order to do that, she needs to leave her own head. One of the hardest things for a person to do is admit when they’re wrong, that their foundational beliefs holding up a status quo is deeply flawed and objectively false. But accepting that you were wrong, learning from and fixing your mistakes, and becoming something better than what you were before is the greatest reward anyone genuinely looking for redemption can ask for.

For Sauron, his victory over Middle Earth comes so close. Minas Tirith has been ravaged, the army of man outside the black gates are crumbling before his might, and the ring bearer has been corrupted. However, just when all hope is burned to ash, something unexpected happens. Gollum, the epitome of the corruptive power that the one ring possesses, attacks Frodo to get back his precious. Whether it’s through struggling with Frodo like in the movie or not paying attention like in the book, Gollum falls into the fires of Mount Doom with the ring in tow. In the movies, we’re told that the eye of Sauron can pierce through cloud and stone. Because of this detail, I personally wonder what was going through the dark lord’s mind as he watched Gollum plummet to his death. The one ring’s defense, Sauron’s greatest strength, corrupting others into fighting amongst each other, was what led to his ultimate downfall. This is not the first time something like this has happened. Think back to the orcs fighting amongst themselves, or when Wormtongue stabs Saruman in the back. Not to mention that the mercy of both Frodo and Bilbo is what led to Gollum reaching Mount Doom in the first place. Even with all his armies and power, Sauron underestimated the petty infighting amongst his followers and the little acts of kindness of his enemies. Even when the forces of darkness seemingly succeed, all they’ll have left is each other to destroy. As Frodo himself said in the Two Towers book, they can’t conquer forever.

For the martians, their demise comes outwardly from nowhere. Their Tripods fall silent and they all die due to sickness. The book states that the martians either never encountered bacteria like earth’s or they had wiped out all disease on Mars. In both scenarios, the martian’s belief in their untouchable superiority over earth led their death. As soon as their invasion started, they were doomed. War of the Worlds isn’t just a hard look at what humanity could become, but also a love letter to all types of life. Bacteria, the seemingly most insignificant part of our world, is our savior here. It is so, so easy to despise germs and how they make mankind ill. But they also decompose dead flesh, helps the human body digest food, and are just as vital to our world as so many other creatures’ humanity takes for granted. All forms of life has a place in this world and to undervalue, let alone actively want to eliminate, all of it is foolhardy and black-hearted.

It’s how these stories come to an end is why I’m attracted to the idea of villains representing abhorrent philosophies. They show the inherent flaws of such morally bankrupt ideas and how their failures are inevitable. The desire for uniformity and belief that your status quo is flawless cannot stand up to the truth of the situation. Great and powerful conquerors seeking to corrupt will find themselves destroying each other when there is nothing left to dominate, while small acts of generosity and sympathy keep their opponents afloat. Arrogant war lords with their mighty machines will crumble to the things they deem to be insignificant.

#steven universe #white diamond #sauron #tolkien #lord of the rings #martians #war of the worlds #analysis #character analysis #media analysis

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cherryite · 4 days ago

Text

back to me - 2. i hope you get bitch cup

summary. after the sudden death of your mother, you come back to the coastal campus at shiganshina state university after taking classes online for fall semester, hoping for a return back to your normal life for the end of your junior year. hanging out with your friends at the campus cafe, studying for exams, attending parties, cuddling with your cat pluto, practicing for the upcoming beach volleyball season; all normal. realizing you're developing feelings for one of your friends? not normal.(mostly written, with some text conversations) (cross posted on ao3) (chapter word count. 4.9k)

content. jean kirstein x reader, fem!reader, friends to lovers, modern au, college au, slow burn, yearning, mutual pining, falling in love, not actually unrequited love, art student!jean, track athlete!jean, found family, coming of age, some humor to soften the blow lol, jean is a d1 yearner oh lord

warnings. eventual smut, angst, alcohol/drug use, grief/mourning, death of a family member, parties, insecurity, talks of depression, kms joke, more to be added as fic progresses

author's note. yayayayya!! another chap! sorry it took so long my brain has been melting but! i hope you all enjoy! (i have a few jason fics in the drafts and a mark on i'm slowly working on so look out for those as well!!)

(now playing 'sally, when the wine runs out' by ROLE MODEL)

series masterlist. character directory. ao3 link. previous/next.

‘pluto's cult following’

|connie

i’m so excited to drink tonight i’m literally shaking

|historia

It’s 9 in the morning…..

|sash <3

He’s just excited for the day ahead!

|mika <3

Sasha don't enable him

|connie

i’m buying you tacobell after the party as thanks for defending my honor sash

|sash <3

BARK BARK

CRUNCHWRAP TIME

you|

guyyyyyyys

I dont know what to put for my white lie 🥺

help!

|eren

‘I have hoes’

‘i dont bite’

‘I hate being manhandled’

|sash <3

Oh hellno

|armin

Keep that to yourself please!

I don’t need to know this!

you|

i’m gonna kill myself

I TOLD YOU THAT IN CONFIDENCE

eren! yours should be ‘my dad loves me!’

or ‘i don’t get road rage’

OR ‘i don’t have daddy issues’

|mika <3

Why would you even tell him in the first place?

First mistake

|historia

LOL he’s quiet now

|sash <3

She just aired you out eren 🤐

|jean

What am I reading rn….

you|

jean look away

keep urself innocent

|eren

Bitch be for real

Jean also likes to be manhandled he’s far from innocent

|sash <3

I could have gone my whole LIFE without knowing that

I’m bleaching my brain

🤮🤮

|connie

Jeans a bottom??? 💀

|jean

When did this become about me?

What did i do?

|eren

See he’s not denying it

you|

dont tell the girls on campus jean

they’re gonna think youre even hotter now

|sash <3

🤔

|connie

the huzz love jeanbo

😍

|jean

Yeahhhhhh, Im ignoring all this

You’re pulled from your phone as you feel a tap on your shoulder. Scowling, you look up, only to be greeted by none other than Eren Yeager, his hair pulled back and a smug grin on his face. Jean lingers behind him amused, as Eren slides by you, plopping down in the seat to your left. Whipping around to face him, you sharply flick his ear.

“OW—” he yelps, jerking away as he dramatically shields the side of his face. Jean snorts as he settles into the other seat beside you, the scrape of his chair quieter than Eren’s boisterous entrance.

“That’s what you get,” you hiss under your breath as Eren cradles his ear like he’s been mortally wounded. Despite it all, the corners of your lips twitch at the sight of him.

“Undeserved,” Eren grumbles back, leaning back in his seat. Jean cocks a brow at him.

“Very deserved, actually,” Jean mutters, dropping his bag to the floor and cracking open his water bottle. “I don’t go around announcing your alleged freaky activities.” He raises a brow pointedly at Eren, who just shrugs shamelessly. You try to ignore them as they continue to bicker between themselves, focusing on the front of the room. Professor Hange is pulling up a PowerPoint, big bold letters reading ‘Muscle Groups of the Face: Facing Your Fears’ on the projector as students continue to trickle in.

You glance at Jean, who’s flipping absently through his notebook now. His hoodie sleeve is pushed up to his elbow, exposing his forearm. You catch the way he’s already sketched something in the margins—a quick figure drawing, maybe. There’s a faint crease in his brow as he focuses. Something about the concentration in his face makes your stomach twist, just a little. Or you’re probably just hungry because you skipped breakfast, so you silently remind yourself to prepare better next time.

Eren leans over and nudges you with his elbow, whispering, “So what are you putting on your white lie shirt?”

You groan softly, burying your face in your hands. “I don’t know. I might just write ‘Not Drunk’ or something and be done with it.”

“Aww, none of my suggestions make the cut?” Eren says, propping his chin in the palm of his hand. Jean looks up from his notebook, his lips twitching like he’s trying not to laugh.

“Honestly? I think ‘I don’t bite’ is funny.”

Eren throws his hands up. “See! I told you that was actually good!”

You scoff. “You should do one of my suggestions then. The daddy issues one is classic.”

Jean snickers quietly beside you and Eren shoots you a glare.

At the front, Professor Hange taps the microphone attached to the podium, and the lecture hall quiets down quickly. You scribble the lecture title in your notes, glancing sideways at Jean, who’s already doodling again in the corner of his notebook, one leg bouncing slowly under the desk.

“All right, future anatomists,” Professor Hange beams, “time to get intimate with your frontalis’!”

‘pluto’s cult following’

|eren

someone make sure sasha eats before we pregame

i’m not scraping her off the floor tonight

|armin

Since when is eating a problem for her?

I’m confused :(

|sash <3

Damn wtf

Eren i hope you get bitch cup tn

We’re beefing now

|mika <3

She ate a loaf of banana bread an hour ago

She’ll be fine

|historia

Ymir and I will meet you guys at the party btw!

She’s picking me up from work

you|

awe

true love 😻

|connie

hey loser

come downstairs already

this is your house isnt it??

i made jungle juice

|jean

Do NOT drink that whatever it is

It’s a little after nine when you finally finish putting eyeliner on your waterline, your phone buzzing constantly on the bathroom counter. Music thumps downstairs faintly from a speaker Connie obviously brought, his infamous pregame playlist filling your ears. You blink at your reflection, giving yourself a once over. ‘I don’t bite’ is written in black sharpie across the front of an oversized white tee. You had caved, having been talked into it by Sasha.

From downstairs, the sound of Sasha yelling something about vodka carries up through the floorboards. Pluto lingers by the bathroom door, her tail flicking as she watches you with her usual judgemental stare. Her amber eyes gleam in the dark of the hallway as you exit the bathroom.

“Don’t wait up for me tonight, Plu,” you mutter to her, stepping over her. She follows anyways as you pad downstairs, your bare feet sticking slightly to the hardwood in the late night air. The house smells heavily of Sasha’s coconut body spray as you enter the kitchen. Sasha is writing something on the front of Connie’s shirt, drink in hand as he sits on the kitchen island.

“Stop moving or I’m writing ‘My dick is huge’,” she threatens, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she focuses.

“And yet I’d still get more play than you,” Connie fires back, sipping his drink completely unbothered. Mikasa is perched on the counter behind them, sipping out of a mug that definitely contains the foul mixture Connie came up with. Her shirt says ‘I can’t fight’. Connie catches you entering out of the corner of his eye, nearly spilling his drink as he points at you excitedly.

“There she is!” You roll your eyes at Connie, pouring some lemonade and vodka into a cup, steering clear of whatever Connie made. Sasha turns, finishes with Connie’s shirt, and raises her arms dramatically to show off her shirt. It reads ‘I’m not hungry’ and it makes you giggle as you sip your drink.

“Accurate,” you say. Connie squints at your shirt, his own reading ‘I hate boobs’.

“No way you actually put that on your shirt,” he says.

The back door swings open with a creak and a gust of cool night air, and Jean strolls in behind Armin and Eren—who’s somehow already halfway through a beer. Eren’s shirt says ‘My dad loves me’ —a smug smile twitching at your lips— meanwhile Jean’s shirt reads ‘I’m short’.

You give him a look, raising an eyebrow. “Really?”

“I panicked,” Jean mutters, running a hand through his hair, handing Armin the keys to his car.

“Do we know what time we’re meeting Historia?” you ask, hopping up onto the empty part of the counter.

“Not sure. I’m sure we’ll just see her at the party,” Jean says, fiddling with the snapback he’s placed backwards on his head. “Where’s Pluto? Haven’t seen her in a while.”

As if on queue, Pluto strolls into the kitchen, brushing against Jean's legs, saying hello in the form of a raspy little meow. Jean bends down, scratching between her ears gently. He softly speaks to her as she continues to rub against him, her tail held high. Connie watches with a scoff.

“Why does Pluto like you more than me? She always tries to bite me,” Connie says, shooting Jean a look as he cradles his drink. Jean’s hand runs down Pluto’s orange back, giving her one last scratch before she lazily pads off into the living room with a flick of her tail.

“She knows I’m cooler than you,” Jean says, taking a sip of his beer and leaning against the island. He turns his head to you, flashing a smile, “I’m Pluto’s favorite, right?”

You nod, grinning behind your cup, “Mhm, definitely. Toto loves you. Probably because you give her extra treats, though.” Connie doesn’t seem to like that answer, whining about how it’s ‘not fair’ and ‘he gives her treats too’ as Sasha pours him a shot to take his mind off the betrayal.

You take a sip of your drink and lean back against the cabinets, letting the sound of your friends’ voices fill the space around you. It feels so calm, even amidst the chaos. It makes you want to bottle the feeling and keep it in your pocket forever. Connie’s pouring everyone shots as he and Sasha down them like the liquor's gonna fly away. Armin looks mildly concerned as he chats with Mikasa, probably regretting ever agreeing to be the designated driver tonight.

You glance at Jean when he’s not looking. His arms crossed over his chest, ashen curls brushing the tops of his ears from under his hat. There’s a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he listens to Eren ask if Marco is gonna stop by for a party this year.

Marco has been Jean’s best friend since forever. He goes to a community college in Trost and based on what you’ve heard, he’s super nice. Jean often mentions him in passing. He’s apparently the nicest guy alive— but beyond that, you don’t know much. Still, you find yourself excited at the prospect of his best friend stopping by— mostly so you can try to get him to tell you embarrassing stories about Jean.

After a few more rounds of shots, Armin finally manages to wrangle everyone out of the house and into Jean’s car. Mikasa, easily the least intoxicated of the group, ends up in the passenger seat giving Armin directions while he drives. Eren all but shoves Connie and Sasha into the trunk and their loud, tipsy giggles carry throughout the entire car.

You’re squished between Jean and Eren in the backseat, their obnoxiously long legs encroaching on your own leg space as Armin starts your commute to the party. The motion of the car does nothing to ease your slight nausea. Your head lolls to the side, and when it begins to spin a little, you start to really regret that last shot of fireball you had. You don’t register most of the ride there, zoning out to the sounds of Connie and Sasha arguing about how she ‘can’t keep shooters in her boobs’. Their slurred bickering and the occasional hiccuped laugh surround you.

Eventually, Armin pulls up in front of the house. “Alright, out,” he says, waving you all toward the door as he prepares to find a parking spot.

Jean nudges your leg and you look up at him as Eren goes to release Connie and Sasha from the trunk. You glance up groggily to see him watching you, amused, a hand waving lazily in front of your face.

“Hey, you here with us? Or are you blacked already?” Jean says, a carefree smile on his face. You frown, fumbling clumsily with your seatbelt.

“I was locking into my party girl mindset,” you retort.

He eyes you as you continue struggling, his body half out the car door. With a sigh, Jean leans over and reaches his hand across you to help you with the buckle. His forearm is warm as it brushes against your stomach briefly before retreating, releasing you from the clutches of the seatbelt. Suddenly, you’re embarrassed about your brief helplessness as you climb out of the car. Maybe you had drank a bit too much, too early.

Armin drives off to go find a parking spot, Eren and Mikasa staying in the car to keep him company while he parks. Connie and Jean lead you towards the back of the house as Sasha clings to you. The back door is slightly ajar, the room inside crowded with people, bass pulsing under your feet. Connie charges ahead, pulling the dark haired guy manning the door, who looks vaguely terrified, into a bone crushing hug.

“Bertie!” Connie shouts, “They have you stuck manning the door?”

“Leave Bertolt be, Connie,” Jean says lightly, nodding to the man in question. Bertolt gives an awkward little wave, already reaching for the sharpie tucked in his pocket.

“No big deal. Reiner’s supposed to take over soon,” Bertolt leans down to mark little Xs on all your hands, giving you and Sasha warm smiles. “Athletes drink free tonight,” he adds with a grin. “Have fun guys.”

Jean thanks him with a nod, but as soon as he looks away, Connie throws open the basement door like he’s storming a castle and grabs your arm, practically dragging you down the steep staircase. You stumble on the way down, your surroundings a bit blurry as your feet struggle to keep up with the rest of your body.

The basement is hot, the air is thick, and you can barely make out the faces of those around you. ‘Scream’ by USHER blasts in your ears, multicolored lights shining in your eyes as you let Connie drag you further into the sea of people.

The floor clings to your shoes as you walk, sticky from spilled drinks. You’re a little hazy from the shots you had earlier, so you barely notice Jean’s hand clasping around the bend of your elbow. The makeshift bar is shoved into a dark corner, barely lit by a lone lamp clamped to the wall. A rickety folding table holds an alarming array of lukewarm liquors and questionably labeled bottles. The guy who’s behind the bar is not someone you recognize, you just assume he’s a freshman on the team.

“What can I get for you guys?” The guy asks, handing off some cheap beers to some people who are way drunker than you.

“What do you have for shots?” Connie asks a little too loudly as he slaps his hands on the small table, his actions over exaggerated. Sasha appears over your shoulder, her hands gripping your upper arms as she shouts, “Shots! Shots! Shots!” The guy manning the bar tilts his head at Connie’s question with a grimace, ignoring Sasha’s chants.

“Uh, vodka and tequila,” he says, to which Connie immediately points to the bottle of Mr. Boston's vodka, much to your dismay. You nearly groan as four shots of lukewarm vodka get poured in front of you. Two rounds of sharp, unpleasant shots later, your throat burns and your stomach turns just slightly. Sasha and Connie don’t waste any time, tugging you and Jean straight into the throngs of people. The air is steamy and almost humid, body heat warming the dark basement. The alcohol finally hits—your vision swimming a little as you sway, hips bumping into someone else’s.

You barely even notice that Connie’s pulled you to a corner where Historia and Ymir have huddled themselves away from the crowds.

“Heyyy!” Historia cheers, throwing her arms around you and Sasha at once, tugging you into a hug. She’s always been a clingy drunk, full of love confessions and teary declarations of friendship (Ymir says she isn’t jealous but she definitely is). “I’m so happy you’re here. I love you guys. Like so much.”

“Love you too, babes,” you practically wheeze, successfully prying your body from her grasp.

A few moments later, you spot Eren, Mikasa, and Armin pushing through the crowd to rejoin the group. Mikasa looks like she wants to leave already. Armin’s smiling patiently like he always does when he’s surrounded by all you.

More shots are had, more beers are passed around, Connie fumbles getting at least two girls' numbers, and you swear Eren and Mikasa are dancing way too closely (though you're drunk, so your eyes could definitely be playing tricks on you). Jean is halfway through rescuing Connie from embarrassing himself with another girl when Sasha grabs your arm, Mikasa leaning heavily against her.

“We’re going to the bathroom! Wanna come?” Sasha shouts over the music.

You hesitate and barely breathe out a yes before you’re watching them disappear into the crowd. The music thumps against your ribs, lights strobing across the war zone of a room as you quickly follow them up the stairs into the upper level.

You furrow your brows, trying to spot where Mikasa and Sasha had gone on their way to the bathroom. With a sigh, you decide to stay put—leaning against the kitchen counter instead. Your fingers fumble with your phone, yanking it out of your pocket and clumsily attempting to open it. Mid attempt, someone plucks your phone from your grasp and you dizzily whip around to see who has the audacity. “Seriously?”

“Where are all your friends? They abandon you?”

Regretfully, you immediately recognize the voice. You can barely contain the eye roll as you're faced with Porco Galliard, snatching your phone back from him. He's also on the track team and to say the least, you are not a fan. Besides his constant on and off relationship with Pieck, in your opinion he’s cocky and inconsiderate in most conversations you’ve had with him. He does not rank high on your list of ‘fun people to talk to at parties’.

“Hello, Porco,” you say, incredibly unenthused as you lean against the solid countertop. “And to what do I owe the pleasure.”

“Don’t be like that. I’m just chatting,” Porco says, his lips quirking up at the corners. You narrow your eyes at him and all your motions feel exaggerated in your drunken state as you cross your arms.

“Shouldn’t you be hanging out with your girlfriend or something,” you scoff, “I’m sure she’s looking for you.” Porco brushes off the comment, taking a long sip of his beer with a shrug.

“How’s the start of the semester?” He asks, completely dodging the earlier line of questioning from you. “Heard you’re interning with the trainers this year.”

You nod, keeping your answers short and clipped, eyes scanning the crowd for a glimpse of Sasha or Mikasa again. “Yeah, I am.”

“And how're you gonna manage all that and volleyball?” he presses, leaning forward. He’s officially invading your space at this point and even in your drunken haze you feel uncomfortable.

“Just… do it? I don’t know what you want me to say,” you respond, trying to subtly move out of his reach.

“C’monnnn. I haven’t seen you in a whole year and you’re being so standoffish,” Porco pushes, his head tilting and you’re suddenly filled with the urge to crush your full can over his head.

“You’re acting like I wanted to talk to you before,” you counter sharply, with a roll of your eyes. “Seriously, where’s Pieck? Maybe focus on her instead of me.”

Porco looks like he’s about to respond when his gaze shifts over your shoulder, a cocky smile on his face.

“Kirstein. Didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”

You barely turn your head as you glance over your shoulder, seeing Jean approaching from the crowd, his eyebrows pinched together. As he stands next to you, he places a hand on your shoulder to steady you. You hadn’t even noticed the way you were swaying until the contact held you still.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Jean asks, his voice laced with tension. In fact, most of him is tense. His jaw is clenched, his shoulders squared up, and there’s an unhappy look on his face. You’re suddenly grateful you’ve been found, releasing a deep breath from your lungs. Porco still has a stupid look on his face, clearly enjoying poking the bear.

“Just figured you’d still be resting. Y’know… with your leg and all.”

Jean visibly stiffens beside you, his eyes narrow.

“I’ve been cleared to practice for four weeks,” Jean says evenly, “and I’m competing in the next meet.”

Porco laughs like it’s funny. “Good to have you back. Let’s just hope they don’t put you in a lane next to me again, right?”

This does not go over well with Jean, you can see his eye twitch as he steps forward. He nudges you behind him, hiding his expression from you.

“I hope so too,” Jean says, his voice low.

You stare up at his back, your drunk brain catching up to you as it clicks. You remember last spring semester, the meet that Jean hurt his leg. Jean and Porco were in the same heat, lanes three and four respectively, and that's where the problems began. Because on the curve, the final 100 meters, Porco stepped out of his lane. It happened so quick because you never really saw what happened but whatever it was, Jean fell, tearing his hamstring as he did. As Eren explained it later, Porco had spiked Jean (on purpose or by accident, you’ll never know), and getting spiked is not a fun experience. Porco so casually talking about throwing Jean’s track career off kilter, and standing there smiling about it, makes you mad. You peek your face around from behind Jean, and without thinking, jab a finger toward Porco.

“Oh, fuck you, Porc-”

Jean’s hand clasps over your mouth, muffling whatever insult you were about to hurl at Porco. Jean’s other hand grasps your shoulder, his arm steady against your back.

“Okayyy, let’s find you some water,” Jean mutters, giving Porco a stiff nod as he steers you away. His hand is still on your mouth, so you impulsively lick his hand and he recoils instantly, practically whining your name as he rubs his hand on your shirt sleeve.

“Oh, gross. I save you and this is my reward?” Jean says, releasing you and putting his hands on his hips, clearly not amused.

“You should have let me bitch him out,” you grumble, leaning against the closest solid surface and brushing your hair from your face.

“It’s not worth it. Porco’s always been an ass. That’s not gonna change,” Jean says with a shrug, though you can tell he’s still bothered because of the way his brows stay tightly together.

“He still shouldn’t talk to you like that,” you grumble.

“He shouldn’t talk to you like that,” Jean echoes, adjusting the snapback on his head, "I don't care what he says to me. But he doesn't get to make my friends feel uncomfortable.”

You stare up at him, crossing your arms over your chest, slowly blinking.

“He’s still a dick,” you say with a scowl as you wobble a bit on your feet. Jean rolls his eyes and steadies you, his hands gripping your shoulders.

“And you still need water,” he counters. You whine in protest as Jean finds you some water, handing you the cup. Fumbling with it, he sighs holding the bottom to help you keep it steady as you drink.

“Thank you,” you mumble, vaguely embarrassed you let Connie convince you to have as many shots as you did.

“No problem,” Jean murmurs, almost too soft to hear amongst the party’s noise. Maybe it’s because you're drunk, but suddenly you are noticing the way the light bounces off his honey brown eyes as he observes you. Drunk time is not accurate, so you really don’t remember how long you stood there for, thankful for Jean’s friendly presence in your moment of drunken weakness.

Sasha’s yelling pulls you from your trance, as you tear your eyes away from Jean’s face. The brunette shoves through the crowd, stumbling a bit as she leans against you.

“Hey! There you two are! We’re playing boom cup! Come onnnnnnn,” Sasha says, her words slurring together as she speaks—all while spilling some of her beer on her shirt.

Sasha drags Jean toward the beer pong table for boom cup, Connie screeching excitedly at his presence and you’re left swaying slightly in the middle of it all. Something tight coils in your chest and you know it’s time for that bathroom break you missed earlier.

You wave vaguely toward Mikasa, who nods from across the room by the pong table, and slip out of the chaos.

Your solo trip to the bathroom ends with you waiting in a cramped hallway that reeks of vodka and weed, the bass rattling the floorboards beneath your feet. The line feels endless, your feet aching, your head spinning just enough to be irritating. When the door finally swings open, four girls tumble out of the bathroom giggling. Among them is a familiar head of black hair.

Pieck blinks at you before lighting up. “Oh my god!” she exclaims, your name falling from her mouth in a drunken drawl. She throws her arms around you with all the stability of a wet noodle and squeezes.

“I haven’t seen you in so long! We all missed you last sem!” she practically yells into your face and you can smell the tequila on her breath.

“Yeah, I missed being on campus,” you respond, a smile curling at your lips as you give a soft laugh. Pieck has always been a nice girl, despite her taste in men. You enjoy her company, even though you usually only see her at track team related events.

Suddenly her face shifts, like she’s remembering something.

“I’m sorry about your mom, by the way. Not to overstep, I just wanted to say I hope you’re doing okay.”

The smile on your face freezes. You know she means well, she’s just trying to be kind, but suddenly it feels like ice water is running through your veins. With shaking hands, you try to nod appreciatively but it feels wrong in your neck.

“I’m doing okay, thank you,” you say. You nearly cringe at the way your voice immediately sounds much less enthusiastic. If Pieck notices, she doesn’t say anything, pulling you into a hug again, before bidding you goodbye.

Wordlessly, you slip into the bathroom, locking the door behind you. Your hands reach for the vanity counter, bracing yourself. Breaths come quickly, hiccuping softly, you hardly realize you’ve been crying before you look up, making eye contact with yourself in the mirror.

And it’s her face that stares back at you.

All you see is traces of your mother, your gut churns, and suddenly you’re hunched over the toilet, heaving as your throat burns. After throwing up the contents of your stomach, you push yourself up off the floor and clean yourself up in a blur. You brush the remnants of tears from your eyes and exit the bathroom, your skin clammy. Mikasa and Jean are not far away, talking by a table where people are playing beer pong. You cross the space without a word, when you reach them, you silently lean on Mikasa’s shoulders.

“Where’d the others go?” you ask, trying to sound as normal as you can. You’re pretty sure you’re failing to maintain the evenness in your voice. Mikasa pats your head gently where it rests on her shoulder blade.

“Armin drove them to Taco Bell. Jean and I stayed back to walk you home,” Mikasa explains, soothingly stroking your hair, the action calming your spinning mind.

“Mhm, let's go home,” you murmur, weariness seeping into your bones. Wordlessly, Jean takes the lead, Mikasa following behind as she leads you out behind him. Leaving the house, the night breeze off the ocean pricks at your skin as you trot along next to Mikasa. Jean walks ahead, pausing now and then to glance back and make sure you're still keeping up as you stumble along.

Most of the walk is a blur, you vaguely remember Mikasa helping you clamber onto Jean’s back after you tripped again. The rest of the walk is spent drunkenly drifting in and out of sleep, your cheek pressed against his back. It’s like no time has passed before you eventually end up in your bed.

You barely say anything as Jean sets you down, talks to Mikasa quietly, and leaves. You barely say anything as Mikasa wipes off your makeup for you. You barely even think as she helps you into pajamas and tucks you into bed.

Because your mind has narrowed in on one thing.

You had forgotten your mother was dead.

You were out having fun; smiling with her smile, laughing with a laugh too close to hers, and she was in a box on the mantel at home.

And that made you more sick than any amount of alcohol ever could. The night is spent reliving the night she died, tears dripping from your face. You stare up at the ceiling for hours, convinced if you stare hard enough, you’ll see her face. That she’ll be waiting in the static of the dark to ask how dare you forget her. Pluto hops onto your bed and presses her tiny body to your side, licking the salt off your cheeks, but it doesn’t lessen the pain.

It’s your fault she’s dead and yet you’re still here.

Wearing her face like a fraud.

#my writing!!#my fics #attack on titan #aot #snk #shingeki no kyojin #jean kirstein #jean kirschstein #jean kirschtein x reader #jean kirschtein x you #jean kirstein x reader #jean kirstein x you #jean kirstein fanfic #aot modern au #aot college au

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xoxochb · 10 months ago

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the weirdest girl you’ll ever meet! ₊˚⊹ 💿

⟢ my native language is english but I do also speak french so feel free to parler avec moi un francais <3

alts: @percyssweetgirl + @warnersangel + @thephonegirl + @sshadowdaddy + @luvtoohard

the girl I’ve always been: nearsighted. the number one percy jackson girlie. american. adhd + ocd. silly bisexual. ice cream and young sheldon enthusiast. little miss queen of themes. founder of tenebrosusism, tumblr’s big sister. irl faerie on earth. daydreamer. scary movie lover. written by lynn painter.

the kinda book that you can’t put down: riordanverse, lynn painter universe, agggtm, powerless triology, the inheritance games series, tfota series, caraval + ouabh, shatter me series, the empyrean, twisted series, acotar + tog, lord of the flies, the outsiders, nytefall, and more to be added soon!

except when I’m on tv: young sheldon, gilmore girls, the good place, never have I ever, modern family, kalogeras.

this sick beat: taylor swift, gracie abrams, dominic fike, olivia rodrigo, adrianne lenker, mckenna grace, laufey, cigarettes after sex, maisie peters, beabadoobee, madison beer, maya hawke, connie francis, lizzy mcalpine, charli xcx, mazzy star, ariana grande, quinnie, clairo, leith ross, kyra fields, remy bond, lorde, frank sinatra, sombr, sabrina carpenter.

#xoxochb #⤷ navigation ⟡ ݁₊ .

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angelo-the-whistleblower · 3 months ago

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Part 3 - Incoming Text for Halle Berry (@halleberry) and 50 Cent (@50cent) and Connie Orlando (@connieorlando) and Draya Michele (@drayamichele) and Eiza Gonzalez (@eizagonzalez):

Question:

What is “World Building” in literature and screenwriting? Provide a thorough explanation of its definition, significance, key elements, and how it differs between novels and screenwriting. Additionally, explain techniques for effective world building and give examples from notable works.

Here is the Wikipedia link for “World building”:

World Building on Wikipedia - (click on the blue link)

ChatGPT Answer:

Understanding World Building in Literature and Screenwriting

Definition of World Building

World building is the process of constructing a detailed, immersive universe within a narrative, whether it’s for a novel, screenplay, video game, or any other form of storytelling. It involves creating the physical, social, cultural, historical, and even metaphysical elements of a world to serve as the backdrop for the story. This world can range from realistic settings, like 19th-century England in Pride and Prejudice, to fantastical universes, like Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings or the futuristic dystopia of Blade Runner.

World building provides the foundation for a story, offering context for characters’ actions, motivations, and the narrative’s events. It is a way to immerse the audience in the story, making them feel that the world exists beyond the specific events or characters presented.

Importance of World Building

Immersion and Engagement A well-built world allows readers or viewers to lose themselves in the narrative. By offering a richly detailed setting, creators can make audiences feel as though they are stepping into a fully realized universe, enhancing their emotional connection to the story.

Contextualizing the Story World building gives meaning to the actions of characters and the progression of the plot. For instance, the political intrigue in Game of Thrones is only compelling because of the meticulously crafted social hierarchies, historical rivalries, and cultural nuances of Westeros.

Creating Unique Narratives A distinct world enables unique storytelling opportunities. The laws of physics, social norms, and even the geography of the world can shape how the story unfolds. For example, the magical system in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is a key driver of the narrative, defining what is possible and influencing characters’ choices.

Key Elements of World Building

Physical Setting

Geography, climate, and natural features define the physical scope of the world.

For instance, in Dune by Frank Herbert, the desert planet of Arrakis profoundly affects the culture, economy, and politics of its inhabitants.

Cultural Elements

Languages, traditions, religions, and societal norms create a sense of authenticity.

Tolkien’s use of Elvish languages, detailed histories, and mythologies adds layers to Middle-earth.

History and Backstory

A believable world has a past. The events that happened before the main narrative started can add depth to the current story.

George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series thrives on its intricate histories, like the Targaryen dynasty’s fall.

Rules and Systems

These define how the world operates. In speculative fiction, this might include magic systems, technological advancements, or supernatural laws.

In The Matrix, the rules of the virtual reality world are integral to the plot and action.

Characters’ Place in the World

Characters must interact with their environment in believable ways. How they adapt to or resist the rules of their world helps define their arcs and personalities.

World Building in Screenwriting vs. Novels

In Screenwriting

Visual storytelling: Screenwriters must communicate their world through what the audience can see and hear. This includes production design, dialogue, and action.

Economy of detail: Unlike novels, screenplays are concise. The script must imply the world’s depth, leaving room for directors, production designers, and visual effects teams to flesh it out.

In Novels

Detailed exposition: Authors have the luxury of providing elaborate descriptions and backstory directly to readers.

Internal monologue: In novels, the inner thoughts of characters can reveal nuances of the world in ways that are difficult to replicate on screen.

Techniques for Effective World Building

Start with a Core Concept

Identify the central premise of your world. Is it a futuristic society run by AI? A magical kingdom locked in eternal winter? Build outward from this core idea.

Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of explaining how the world works, let the audience discover it through the characters’ actions and dialogue.

Example: In Mad Max: Fury Road, the scarcity of water and fuel is shown through visuals and plot, not exposition.

Consistency is Key

Once rules are established, they must be followed. Breaking the logic of your world can confuse or alienate your audience.

Layer the World Gradually

Introduce details incrementally to avoid overwhelming the audience. Let them piece together the world naturally.

Anchor the Audience

Even in the most fantastical worlds, there should be elements that the audience can relate to—human emotions, universal struggles, or familiar archetypes.

Examples of World Building in Fiction

Literature

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry of Magic, and wizarding society create a deeply immersive world.

1984 by George Orwell: The oppressive regime of Big Brother and the concept of “doublethink” vividly portray a dystopian society.

Film and Television

Avatar by James Cameron: The lush, alien ecosystem of Pandora is integral to the film’s themes of environmentalism and cultural preservation.

Star Wars: The galaxy far, far away is brought to life through diverse planets, political systems, and a rich mythology.

Conclusion

World building is more than just creating a setting; it’s about designing a universe where every detail, from the grandest cityscape to the smallest custom, serves the story. Whether in novels or screenwriting, effective world building transforms a simple narrative into a living, breathing experience that captivates audiences and leaves a lasting impression.

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quill-pen · 8 months ago

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So, DnDverse question. We know Adonis basically gets ping-ponged into the fantasy dimension to get rid of him from his modern timeline.

Then he meets the Cratchits, Bess and Wolf, Connie, and obviously begins to set up a life there. Takes over the manor. Marries, settles down.

Do you think there’s ever any intervention or magic that comes up where some mage is like, “Good news! We can send you back to your own universe. One Ebenezer here, the other Ebenezer there! Just let me know when.”

I’m sure it’s somewhat of a choice. I mean, he was ripped away from the life he knew. But also, leaving his new found-family? Leaving Connie?

And if this conversation came up while Connie was already secretly pregnant, I imagine she hasn’t told him, so she goes to Bess that night and just sobs about losing him.

“I can’t keep him here, Bess! He should go home … if he wants. I shouldn’t be selfish, but gods preserve me, my heart will break without him. How could I go on? How could our baby go on?”

This is such an interesting topic, and I have thought about it. Can he go back? Would he go back? Who would offer to send him back? Would Connie go with him back to his world if he went?

Interestingly enough, I actually see the Queen of the gods being the one to offer to send him back. She approaches him somehow, somewhere, someway, and tries to tempt him into returning to his home. "We both know you don't belong here. You weren't born of this world; what does it have to offer you, child?" She tries to play it off as benevolent mercy. What it is, really, is her own self-interest and self-preservation, because he's part of the group destined to end her reign. Without him, the prophecy doesn't come true. Of course, nobody knows that yet. But they do know, via the moon goddess at the very least, that the high goddess is not to be trusted.

However, after she's defeated, and they can find someone powerful enough to do the magic to send him back, is a different story.

Does Adonis consider it? I mean, who wouldn't really? Yes, the world he came from was harsh and cruel, and he was alone and friendless in it, but that was the only home he'd ever known before being sent here. And I'm sure he wonders what's happening there without him. Is Harry all right? Does he miss him? Is he looking for him? Is anybody? Do they even know he's gone? And he probably has regrets about being so cruel and not making amends back in that world, now that he's a changed man here. Going back is not something to jump into or brush off so quickly; it's too complicated for that. He has to think.

Funnily enough, while Bess is consoling Connie, I can see Wolf being the one to go to Adonis to have a chat. I think that brotherly relationship from other worlds just kinda... carries over here. The two of them have a long talk about home and what it really means and about what's really important in life. They've both learned a lot since their... change of situations.

"I've travelled all over this land at least twice, in my time," Wolf says. (Due to his lycanthropy, I imagine Wolf is even... older in this world. lol) "I've even explored a few others. Even before I was bitten and forced into that life, when I had a roof fit for a lord over my head and money overflowing and then some in my coffers, I've never experienced what home was until I met my Brightness.

"Whenever I think of home, I don't think of four walls and a door post, or a roaring fire under a solid roof in a rainstorm, or a comfortable bed in the dead of winter, or even a table stocked with a feast at the end of a long day--I think of Bess. Her smile, her laugh, her kisses, her arms, her scent, her warmth, her heartbeat. Everything else about home comes from her; she's the foundation. Without her, I'd have none of it at all.

"So, let me ask you this, Brother: when you think about home, who do you see?"

When Adonis and Connie meet up again, later, I think Adonis just goes to her and pulls her into a tight embrace and solid kiss. If she says this feels like a goodbye, he nods. "It is. To whatever was before this world--before you. Wherever you are, Constance, that is my world. You, Sunflower... you are home."

#ask me anything #rom-e-o #dndverse #scroogeverses

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thebusytypewriter · 1 year ago

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see that girl, watch that scene

https://archiveofourown.org/works/55943938

Fandom: Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future Pairing: Connverse (Steven/Connie), implied Bispearl Rating: Gen Summary: "At the roller rink, Steven's self-doubt comes to light upon meeting Connie's friends. Bismuth swoops in to give some advice."

Steven Universe? In the Year of Our Lord 2024? It's more likely than you think.

This one's four years in the making, folks! Thought I'd finally get it out there. Also! Consider this a universe (lol) in which Steven did/will NOT propose to Connie when they're both in their mid-teens.

#steven universe #salem's works #connverse #steven universe future #connie maheswaran #steven x connie #bispearl #tosses this into the su fandom SO incredibly late to the party #LOOK i don't know why the embed isn't working #just click the link #hm need to update my masterlist methinks

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mymanyfandomramblings · 1 year ago

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The Fellowship of the Gems

(L-R: Peridot, Greg, Steven, Connie, Amethyst, Pearl, Garnet. Lapis is in the air)

My sister did me this absolutely stunning art for my Steven Universe Lord of the Rings AU, and I hope you appreciate it (especially Lapis’s wings, which she poured blood, sweat and tears into).

yes Garnet is a wizard in this AU. As she should be.

If you are interested in this AU feel free to ask me about it, and to check out @stevenoftherings (the dedicated sideblog for this AU) and please reblog this if you liked it, my sister believes, as do I, that this artwork deserves to be seen.

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autisticsupervillain · 11 months ago

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Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Stats Equalized!

This Month's Fighters...

Davepetasprite^2 vs Stevonnie!

Conditions:

No other restrictions.

Scenario:

Steven and Connie are going on a date fused together as Stevonnie on the beach when Davepeta crashes down to Earth right in front of them. Stevonnie asks if they've alright as they pull them from the crater, but Davepeta brushes it off, casually explaining that they've been at war with the New Galactic Republic ever since some guy named Horn beat up Sollux and now some Skywalker guy blasted them across time and space. This does not make Stevonnie any less concerned, especially as they don't know what any of that means beyond "war" and "blasted across time and space" but the topic gets side tracked when Davepeta points out that their gemstone belly button looks a lot like "that Universe guy" and asks if they've landed in Gem Territory. Stevonnie explains that they kind of are Steven and the two get into comparing and contrasting how Gems snd Sprites fuse. Davepeta ponders out loud which kind of fusion is stronger and challenges Stevonnie to a sparring match.

"Um, didn't you just say you're in a war?"

"B33 < nah, it's chill. the war's nothing purrsonal, i'm sure skyguy will understand if i hold off on kicking his ass fur a bit."

"Every word out of your mouth makes me more concerned...."

Analysis: Davepetasprite^2

Sprites. The mysterious, aloof guides of the Gods. When mortal beings play the video game SBURB to become the gods of a New Universe, the Sprites are assigned as their guides. In order for a session to be successful, Sprites most be fused with physical objects, be that an inanimate toy, a dead creature, or even a living person so that they might have the sentience to guide their assigned Player through their quest.

Davesprite was one such Sprite. Hailing from a doomed timeline where his best friend John died horribly, Davesprite traveled back to prevent this future, becoming his past self's Sprite in the new timeline.

While this did successfully prevent the death of his friend, Davesprite didn't anticipate how this would effect himself. The versions of his friends in this new timeline weren't the same people he knew in his timeline. John was back, but it wasn't his John. His friends didn't even consider him to be the "real Dave" anymore. They had a Dave. And it wasn't him. The timeline didn't need two Daves anymore. He was just leftovers.

He was just a Sprite. A figment of a dead timeline. What use would he be when the story was over?

Dave would unwittingly get his answer after inadvertently fusing with Nepetasprite. The two were merged and reborn again as something new. Part troll, part human, part crow. Reformed not as a leftover Dave or forgotten Nepeta, but as something entirely themselves.

It helps that they're indisputably the most powerful Sprite in Paradox Space. That's a nice boon.

As a fully Prototyped Sprite, Davepetasprite^2 should have all of the boons inherent to their biology. Sprites can become intangible at will, create light constructs like a green lantern ring, fly, and posses a natural nigh-omniscient understanding of SBURB and its function in the greater multiverse... at least, in so far as it would help their assigned Player. Furthermore, as a fully realized Sprite, Davepeta has very little worry of accidentally fusing with something or someone just by touching them for too long.

It helps that their components are absolute juggernauts in their own right. Any version of Dave or Nepeta could be counted among the most skilled fighters Paradox Space has to offer and Davepetasprite^2 has the combined experiences of both of them. Nepeta was a proud hunter who happily battled the beasts of hellplanet Alternia while Davesprite could go toe to toe against 3x Prototyped Jack Noir, who could slaughter entire armies single handed. Both of these fighters could demolish the armies of Derse, but combined together, they gave even Lord English, the destoyer of all Paradox Space, a good fight.

In many ways, Davepetasprite^2 is the ultimate payoff that both Nepeta and Davesprite could ask for. Two characters made irrelevant, tragically left behind by their closest friends after fulfilling their one purpose, reborn again as something new. Something themselves.

Claw claw, meowtherfuckers.

Analysis: Stevonnie

Fusion. The ultimate form of bond between Gems. The physical embodiment of a relationship between two people, coming together to create something entirely new. Literally.

With Gems, this merging is possible only because their bodies are physically made of hard light. As such, a fusion between and human and a gem is impossible. Or was, until Steven Universe came along. As a half gem, half human, Steven was able to create the first gem human fusion in history. A living statement of his close bond between him and his girlfriend Connie. Something entirely new. Stevonnie.

Naturally, Stevonnie has all of Steven's Gem powers combined with Connie's keen tactical mind, creating a skilled and versatile warrior. A hero that the Crystal Gems could be proud of. They wield Steven's nigh indestructible pink shields, which they can materialize at any time, either portably or around their entire body. They've also been known to wield Rose's Sword, an absolute giant of a sword that was specifically designed to cut through Gems with ease.

On top their weapons, Stevonnie has access to all of Steven's powers, including his limited flight, regeneration, mental projection, healing spit, and even life creation. The end result is a devastatingly versatile foe, likely the most powerful and versatile across the entire universe, as Stevonnie's three-fourths human physiology makes them immune to most gem neutralizing weapons.

Both Steven and Connie have been trained by the Cystal Gems, the thousand year old protectors of Earth, and both have fought against the toughest warriors the galaxy has to offer. As Stevonnie, they were able to defeat Jasper, a perfect quartz gem super soldier, while both of their components have teamed up to save the entire planet from the Homeworld Empire on several occasions.

All together, Stevonnie is the best attributes of both their components, making them arguably the greatest hero in the universe. The perfectly embody the compassion, trust, and hope that their relationship is built on. The perfect representation of both Steven and Connie.

Throwdown Breakdown:

This fight is an interesting one. Both characters share quite a few strengths and weaknesses. While both fusions can be undercut and even destroyed if their components aren't seeing eye to eye, the situation here is pretty unlikely to create that internal conflict and neither one of these fighters would willingly press each other's trauma buttons even if they had the means to.

Both should be pretty even in terms of skill. Both fusions are made up of some of the best fighters their universes can offer, to the point where some of their best feats were considered completely impossible. Connie can fight as an equal with and against centuries old Gem warriors, all while swinging around a sword roughly as big as she is, cutting through cars in a single swing. On the other hand, Nepeta is such a skilled fighter and proud hunter that she's completely unaffected by the hellish nightmares that plague troll kind, as for her, it's just reliving proud memories of the hunt. And so on.

On the one hand, I do think Stevonnie is going to be better coordinated tactically. Steven and Connie have been close friends since childhood, going on constant death defying adventures together while Dave and Nepeta are relative strangers brought together by happenstance. However, I would say Davepeta's skill feats as a whole edge out Stevonnie's. Both characters have fought against ancient empire built on Eons of conquest, but whereas the Homeworld Empire has always been a massive threat, Nepeta and her friends curbstomped roughly 90% of Derse with disappointing ease, minus some roadblocks here or there. So really, it all kinda cancels out skill wise, with one team being better together innately while the other is more skilled in general.

Ultimately, this is decided by powers and abilities. In which case, I'd say Davepeta's arsenal counters Stevonnie's.

Intangibility is a perfect counter against Stevonnie's shields, Davepeta has slightly better flight due to it not being just a form of self gravity manipulation like what Steven does, and Nepeta has innate mental resistances the nullify Steven's telepathic powers.

Remember those dreams I mentioned earlier? It's been very heavily implied that these nightmares are either caused by the horrorterrors, or by the purple bloods keepinh Alternia in line. Either way, that's a massive scale of mind control that Nepeta is simply unaffected by, meaning she should be able to just push Steven out of Davepeta's mind if he tries anything.

While this would by no means be an easy fight, especially with Stevonnie's fast acting regeneration, Davepeta's intagibility is a counter that Stevonnie simply has no real answer too. It would be a hard fought fight... but the Sprite beats the Gem this time.

This Month's Winner is...

Davepetasprite^2!

#fictional throwdown fridays #stats equalized #homestuck #steven universe #davepetasprite #stevonnie #tw seizure

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mint-hiddenite · 1 year ago

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Vriska Undertale

Characters

Ace - Luke Skywalker (he/him) [Star Wars] (Dermal Human)

Ace’s Father - Anakin “Darth Vader” Skywalker (he/him) [Star Wars] (Dermal Human)

Alexandrite - Eda Clawthorne (she/her) [The Owl House] (Violet Aquarist Fusion Troll)

Amethyst - Asuka Langley Soryu (she/her) [Neon Genesis Evangelion] (Rust Arist Troll)

Andy DeMayo - Miguel O'Hara (he/him) [Spider-Man Spiderverse Trilogy] (Dermal Human)

Angel Aura Quartz - Giffany (she/it) [Gravity Falls] (Rust Arga Troll)

Aquamarine - Eric Cartman (he/him) [South Park] (Rust Arittanius Troll)

Aubergine Pearl - William Afton (he/him) [Five Nights at Freddy’s] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Baby Melon - Baby Groot (he/it) [Guardians of the Galaxy] (Sentient Tree)

Barbara Miller - Frye Sparkle (she/her) [Splatoon 3] (Inkling)

The Best Diner in the World's Waitress - Draluc (he/him) [The Vampire Dies in No Time] (Vampire)

Big Bird - Big Bird (he/they) [Sesame Street] (Unknown Fusion Troll)

Biggs Jasper - Bowser (he/him) [Super Mario Bros] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Bill Dewey - Arataka Reigen (he/him) [Mob Psycho 100] (Dermal Human)

Billy Bank Assets - “Big” Jack Horner (he/him) [Puss in Boots 2: The Last Wish] (Dermal Human)

Bismuth - Undyne (she/her) [Undertale] (Violet Aquara Troll)

Bixbite - Roxie Richter (she/her) [Scott Pilgrim] (Lime Canlo Troll)

Blue Chalcedony - Crab Rave (she/he/they) [Crab Rave] (Purple Caprittanius Troll)

Blue Diamond - Tallest Megamind (he/him) [Megamind] (Blue Scoro Troll)

Blue Pearl - L Lawliet (he/they) [Death Note] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Bluebird Azurite - Meowth (he/they/she) [Pokémon] (Green Scoricorn Fusion Troll)

Buck Dewey - Castiel Reigen (he/him) [Supernatural] (Dermal Human)

Buddy Buddwick - Stanford Filbrick Pines (he/him) [Gravity Falls] (Dermal Human)

Cactus Steven - Cagney Carnation (he/him) [Cuphead] (Sentient Flower)

Carnelian - Paintbrush (they/them) [Inanimate Insanity] (Rust Armini Troll)

Cat Steven - Vodka “Mutie” Mutini (she/her) [Homestuck] (Cat)

Cherry Quartz - Makima (she/her) [Chainsaw Man] (Rust Argo Troll)

Chert - Lady Luck (she/her) [Dicey Dungeons] (Rust Ariborn Troll)

Chrysocolla - Frieza (he/him) [Dragon Ball] (Bronze Taurun Troll)

Chunk Truck - Fantoccio “the Great” (he/him) [Billie Bust-Up!] (Sentient Marionette)

Concrete Heat - Barnaby (any pronouns) [Billie Bust-Up!] (Ghost Owl)

Cloud Connie - Sprite Miku “Hachune” (she/they) [VOCALOID] (Sprite)

Comby - Scissors “the Duel-Bladed Duelist” (it/its) [Paper Mario: The Origami King] (Star Droplet)

Connie Maheswaran - Miku Hatsune (she/they) [VOCALOID] (Dermal Human)

Cookie Cat - Constable Whiskers (it/its) [Cookie Run] (Cookie Cat)

Crab Monsters - Zodiac Crabs

Crazy Lace Agate - Marie “Agent 2” (she/her) [Splatoon] (Rust Armini Troll)

Crystal Basilisk - Zodiac Basilisk

Crystal Shrimp - Zodiac Shrimp

Dante Barriga - Anthony J. Crowley (he/him) [Good Omens] (Dermal Human)

Dashing Danny Doober - Ash “Ashy Slashy” Williams (he/him) [Evil Dead] (Dermal Human)

Demantoid - Skeletor (he/him) [Masters of the Universe] (Indigo Sagisces Troll)

Derrick - Jake Park (he/him) [Dead by Daylight] (Dermal Human)

Desert Glass - SCP-3232 (it/its) [SCP Foundation] (Olive Lepia Troll)

Dogcopter - Rocket Raccoon (he/they) [Guardians of the Galaxy] (Anthropomorphic Cyborg Raccoon)

Doug Maheswaran - Kaito Hatsune (he/him) [VOCALOID] (Dermal Human)

Dr. Gero - Dr. Drakken (he/they) [Kim Possible] (Dermal Human)

Dr. Stromberg - Dr. Colress Akuroma (he/they) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human)

Dr. West - Dr. Realist (he/him) [VOCALOID] (Dermal Human)

Drew - Blackjack O’Hare (he/him) [Guardians of the Galaxy] (Anthropomorphic Cyborg Hare)

Drill Parasites - Zodiac Drills

Earth Beetle - Herbert (he/him) [Homestuck] (Firefly)

Electric Skulls - The Phantoms (it/its) [Animal Jam] (Sentient Goop)

Emerald - Lord Dominator (she/they) [Wander Over Yonder] (Lime Camini Troll)

Empire City Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Employee - Lusamine (she/her) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human)

F-3 - Meg Griffin (she/her) [Family Guy] (Hiveman)

Fable - Princess Luna (she/her) [My Little Pony] (Unknown Being)

Flint - Bullfrog (he/him) [Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix] (Rust Arsces Troll)

Fluorite - Philip “Belos” Wittebane (they/he) [The Owl House] (Teal Limino Fusion Troll)

Foxman - Rigby “the Raccoon” (he/him) [Regular Show] (Anthropomorphic Raccoon)

Frybo - Lotus Dragon Cookie (they/them) [Cookie Run] (Cookie Dragon)

Garbanzo - Ash Ketchum (he/him) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human)

Garnet - Dirk Strider (he/they) [Homestuck] (Violet Sagio Fusion Troll)

Garnet's Doppelgänger - Dirk Strider’s Doppelgänger (he/him) (Dermal Human)

Gary - Preminger (he/him) [Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper] (Dermal Human)

George - Aku (he/him) [Samurai Jack] (Prospit Angel)

Glass Ghost - Snatcher (he/him) [A Hat in Time] (Ghost)

Green Light - Auspice Prospit (Angel)

Greg Universe - Sans Undertale (he/him) [Undertale] (Skeletal Human)

Grossular Diopside - The Muse (it/its) [Alex Bale's Muse] (Purple Caprius Troll)

Harold Smiley - Alastor (he/him) [Hazbin Hotel] (Anthropomorphic Deer)

Handsome Hank Hackleschmidt - Gummigoo (he/him) [The Amazing Digital Circus] (Anthropomorphic Gummy Crocodile)

Heaven Beetle - Serenity (she/her) [Homestuck] (Firefly)

Hessonite - Funny Valentine (he/him) [JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure] (Indigo Sagirius Troll)

Holly Blue Agate - Papa Emeritus IV (he/him) [Ghost] (Rust Armini Troll)

Holo-Connie - Holo-Miku (it/its) (Hologram)

Holo-Pearl - Holo-Onceler (it/its) (Hologram)

Hopper - Lola Bunny (she/her) [The Looney Tunes Show] (Anthropomorphic Bunny)

Hoppy - Kitty Softpaws (she/her) [Puss in Boots] (Anthropomorphic Cat)

Howl Jones - Jack Box (he/him) [Jack in the Box] (Dermal Human)

Indigo Light - Infinite Prospit (Angel)

Invisible Manta Ray - Zodiac Manta Ray

Jamie - Ken Beach (he/him) [Barbie (2023)] (Dermal Human)

Jane - Pomni (she/her) [The Amazing Digital Circus] (Dermal Human)

Jasper - Catra (she/her) [She-Ra and the Princess of Power] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Jasper (Eyeball) - Wilford Warfstache (he/him) [Markiplier] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Jasper (Skinny) - Jax (he/him) [The Amazing Digital Circus] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Jay-Ten - Xavier (he/him) [Xavier, Renegade Angel] (Hiveman)

Jeff - Jeff the Killer (he/they) [Creepypasta] (Dermal Human)

Jenny Pizza - Dean Winchester (he/him) [Supernatural] (Dermal Human)

Kerry Moonbeam - Anthony “Angel Dust” (he/him) [Hazbin Hotel] (Anthropomorphic Spider)

Kevin - Ji-Woon “Trickster” Hak (he/him) [Dead by Daylight] (Dermal Human)

Kiki Pizza - Samuel “Sam” William Winchester (he/him) [Supernatural] (Dermal Human)

Kofi Pizza - Robert “Bobby” Steven Singer (he/him) [Supernatural] (Dermal Human)

Lace Amethyst - Starlight Glimmer (she/her) [My Little Pony] (Rust Arist Troll)

Lapis Lazuli - Reagan Ridley (she/her) [Inside Job] (Fuchsia Pimini Troll)

Lapis Lazuli (Mean Lapis) - Mean Reagan Ridley (Rafe’s Enemy) (she/her) [Inside Job] (Fuchsia Pimini Troll)

Lapis Lazuli (Nice Lapis) - Nice Reagan Ridley (Robot) (she/her) [Inside Job] (Fuchsia Pimini Troll)

Larimar - Kitty (The Mask) (she/her) [Courage the Cowardly Dog] (Lime Cano Troll)

Laramie “Lars” Barriga - Mordecai “Motti” Crowley (he/him) [Regular Show] (Anthropomorphic Bird (Bluejay))

Lemon Jade - Zoe (she/her) [Monster Prom] (Lime Canus Fusion Troll)

Lina - Princess Leia (she/her) [Star Wars] (Dermal Human)

Lion “Boo” - Lion “Kovu” (he/him) [Lion King 2] (Lion)

Lock Ness Bloggster (Ronaldo) - Gizmo Goth 2000 (Guillermo) (he/him) [What We Do in the Shadows] (Dermal Human)

Lonely Pearl - Virgil Sanders (he/him) [Sanders Sides] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Malachite - Hexxus (he/they) [FernGully: The Last Rainforest] (Teal Libries Fusion Troll)

Martha Barriga - Aziraphale Crowley (he/him) [Good Omens] (Dermal Human)

Marty - Aloysius O'Hare (he/him) [Lorax (2012)] (Dermal Human)

Mary - Ahato “Dedf1sh” Mizuta (they/them) [Splatoon] (Octoling)

Mega Pearl - Kokichi Oma (he/they) [Danganronpa] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Mearl - Oldler (he/him) [The Lorax (2012)] (Dermal Human)

Mike Krol - Gerard Way (he/they) [My Chemical Romance] (Dermal Human)

Mollusks - Zodiac Mollusks

Monster Lizard Gem - General Yunan (she/her) [Amphibia] (Bronze Taurittanius Troll)

Moonstone - Freddy Krueger (he/him) [Nightmare on Elm Street] (Purple Caprio Troll)

Mr. Fryman - Almond de la Cruz (he/him) [Cookie Run] (Dermal Human)

Mystery Girl - Loona (she/her) [Helluva Boss] (Anthropomorphic Hellhound)

Nanefua Pizza - Mary Sandra Winchester (she/her) [Supernatural] (Dermal Human)

Nephrite - Meruem (he/him) [Hunter x Hunter] (Gold Gemza Troll)

Obsidian (1.0) - Cecil Gershwin Palmer (he/him) [Welcome to Night Vale] (Fuchsia Pisci Fusion Troll)

Obsidian (2.0) - Misha Collins (he/him) [Real Life] (Fuchsia Pisci Fusion Troll)

Ocean Jasper - Big Mama (she/her) [Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Onion - Little German Boy (he/him) [Tumblr] (Dermal Human)

Opal - Princess “Bonnie” Bubblegum (she/her) [Adventure Time] (Jade Virra Fusion Troll)

Orange Light - Philia Prospit (Angel)

Orange Spodumene - Octodad (he/him) [Octodad] (Teal Liblo Troll)

Padparadscha - Raymond [Animal Crossing New Horizon] (Jade Virittarius Troll)

Patricia and Daniel - Jessie (she/her) and James (any pronouns) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human)

Pearl - Onceler (he/him) [The Lorax (2012)] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Pearl's Doppelgänger - The Greedler (he/him) [The Lorax (2012)] (Dermal Human)

Pebbles - The Gnomes (pronouns vary) [Gravity Falls] (Star Droplets)

Peedee Fryman - Gregory de la Cruz (he/him) [Five Nights at Freddy’s] (Dermal Human)

Peridot - ZIM (it/he/they) [Invader Zim] (Purple Caprimini Troll)

Pink Pearl - Natural “N” Harmonia Gropius (he/they) [Pokémon] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Pinto - Liko (she/her) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human)

Plant Monster - Demencia (she/her) [Villainous] (Unknown Troll)

Prism Fusion - Bezel (he/they) [Chikin Nuggit] (Anthropomorphic Clock)

Priyanka Maheswaran - Meiko Hatsune (she/her) [VOCALOID] (Dermal Human)

Pumpkin - GIR (he/him) [Invader Zim] (Robot)

Purple Puma - Bob “Beelzebub” Velseb (he/him) [Spooky Month] (Rust Arist Troll)

Pweepwee - Kirby (he/they/she) [Kirby] (Unknown)

Pyrope - Krang One (he/him) [Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] (Indigo Sagicer Troll)

Quentin Frowney - Johnny C (he/they/it) [Johnny the Homicidal Maniac] (Dermal Human)

Rainbow Cloud Monster - Slenderman (he/it) [Creepypasta] (Unknown Troll)

Rainbow Quartz - Spock (he/him) [Star Trek] (Rust Arza Fusion Troll)

Rainbow Quartz 2.0 - Wally Darling (he/him) [Welcome Home] (Rust Arza Fusion Troll)

Red Eel Monster - Sal (he/she) [Wadanohara and the Great Blue Sea] (Unknown Troll)

Red Eye - Neco-Arc (she/her) [Tsumehime] (Robot)

Red Light - Spirit Prospit (Angel)

Rhodonite - Simon Petrikov (he/they) [Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake] (Bronze Gemus Fusion Troll)

Ricky - Cedric (he/him) [Sofia the First] (Dermal Human)

Ringo - Joy “Jobu Tupaki” Wang (she/her) [Everything Everywhere All at Once] (Demigod Human)

Robot Shooty Thing - Pea Shooter (it/its) [Plants vs. Zombies Series] (Bio Machine)

Ronaldo Fryman - Guillermo de la Cruz (he/him) [What We Do in the Shadows] (Dermal Human)

Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond - Nagito (Danganronpa 2 outfit)/Komaeda (Academy Uniform) (he/him) [Danganronpa] (“Rust Arpio”/Blue Scorrius Troll)

Rose Quartz (Hippie) - Moon (he/it) [Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (Ruin)] (Rust Arpio Troll)

Rose Quartz (Shy) - Eclipse (they/them) [Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (Ruin)] (Rust Arpio Troll)

Rose Quartz (Superfan) - Sun (he/it) [Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (Ruin)] (Rust Arpio Troll)

Ruby - Lance Charles McClain (he/they) [Voltron: Legendary Defender] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Army) - “Commander” Peepers (he/him) [Wander Over Yonder] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Doc) - Francis Mosses (he/him) [That’s Not My Neighbor] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Eyeball) - The Nostalgia Critic (he/him) [Channel Awesome] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Giant Ruby) - Buck Toothsome (he/they) [School for Vampires] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Leggy) - Daffy Duck (he/him) [The Looney Tunes Show] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Ruby (Navy) - Astarion (he/him) [Baulder’s Gate 3] (Rust Arittarius Troll)

Rutile Twins - Ingo and Emmet (he/him - individually) [Pokémon] (Olive Leus Troll)

Sabina - Yun-Jin Lee (she/her) [Dead by Daylight] (Dermal Human)

Sadie Miller - Twilight Sparkle (she/her) My Little Pony] (Alicorn)

Sapphire - Keith Akira Kogane (he/him) [Voltron: Legendary Defender] (Jade Virga Troll)

Sardonyx - Discord (he/it) [My Little Pony] (Gold Gemries Fusion Troll)

Sea Wasp - Mr. Krabs (he/him) [SpongeBob SquarePants] (Anthropomorphic Crab)

Shadow Connie - Derse Miku (they/them) (Derse Antiangel)

Shark-O-Mania - Dr. Livesey (he/him) [Treasure Island (1988)] (Dermal Human)

Shell - GLaDOS (she/her) [Portal] (Troll Artificial Intelligence)

Shep - John Doe (any pronouns) [John Doe] (Dermal Human)

Slug Monster - Zodiac Slug

Smoke Monster - Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi (she/her) [The Lego Movie 2] (Unknown Troll)

Smokey Quartz - Beetlejuice (he/they) [Beetlejuice] (Dermal Human/Lime Camino Fusion Troll)

Snowbeast - Snow Miser (he/him) [The Year Without A Santa Claus] (Unknown Troll)

Snowflake Obsidian - Envy (any pronouns) [Fullmetal Alchemist] (Indigo Sagipia Troll)

Soup - Frisk (they/them) [Undertale] (Dermal Human)

Sour Cream - Jack Frost (he/him) [Rise of the Guardians] (Dermal Human)

Spinel - Pinkie Pie (she/her) [My Little Pony] (Indigo Sagilo Troll)

Squaridot - TAK (it/she/they) [Invader Zim] (Purple Caprimini Troll)

Squash - Apple Bloom (she/her) [My Little Pony] (Pony)

Steg - Leon Scott Kennedy (he/him) [Resident Evil] (Dermal Human/Blue Scorrius Troll)

Steven Jr - Moon Moon (he/him) [Tumblr] (Wolf)

Steven Universe - Vriska Undertale (she/they) [Homestuck] (Dermal Human/Blue Scorrius Troll)

Stevonnie - Rika (she/they) [Pokémon] (Dermal Human/Blue Scorrius Troll)

Sudsies - Waddle Dees (they/them) [Kirby] (Waddle Dees)

Sugilite - Lychee Dragon Cookie (they/them) [Cookie Run] (Violet Aquapia Fusion Troll)

Suitcase Sam - Rayman (he/him) [Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix] (Unknown Alien-Bird Hybrid)

Sunshine Justice - Miss Piggy (she/her) [The Muppets] (Anthropomorphic Pig)

Sunstone - Vinyl “DJ PON-3” Scratch (she/they) [My Little Pony] (Olive Lepio Fusion Troll)

Susan - Chuck (he/him) [Angry Birds] (Bird)

Tiger Millionaire (Steven Universe) - Marquise Spinneret Mindfang (Vriska Universe) (she/they) [Homestuck] (Dermal Human/Blue Scorrius Troll)

Tiny Floating Whale - Handsome Squidward (he/him) [SpongeBob SquarePants] (Anthropomorphic Octopus)

Tongue Monster - Pyramid Head (he/him) [Silent Hill] (Unknown Troll)

Topaz - Steve (he/him) [Minecraft] (Rust Arcen Troll)

U-12 - Yan (he/him) [Library of Ruina] (Hiveman)

Uncle Grandpa - Uncle Grandpa (he/him) [Uncle Grandpa] (Dermal Human)

Unknown Giant Bird - Unknown Zodiac Bird

Unnamed Dog-like Ally - R2-D2 (he/it) [Star Wars] (R2-series Astromech Droid)

Unnamed Robot-like Ally - C-3PO (he/it/they) [Star Wars] (3PO-series Protocol Droid)

Vidalia - Angela (she/her) [Library of Ruina] (Dermal Human)

Vine Monsters - Zodiac Vines

Violet Light - Kismesis Prospit (Angel)

Watermelon Stevens - Groots (he/him) [Guardians of the Galaxy] (Sentient Tree)

Watermelon Tourmaline - Zora Salazar (she/her) [Epithet Erased] (Bronze Taurlo Troll)

Wedge - Han Solo (he/him) [Star Wars] (Dermal Human) and Chewbacca “Chewy” (he/him) [Star Wars] (Wookie)

White Diamond - Tallest Walter White (he/him) [Breaking Bad] (Blue Scorpia Troll)

White Topaz - SCP-2309 (it/its) [SCP Foundation] (Rust Arcen Troll)

William Buford Buchanan - Sus Gabriel (he/him) [The Mandela Catalogue] (Demon)

William Dewey - Thomas Jefferson (he/him) [Hamilton] (Dermal Human)

Wy-Six - 2-D (he/him) [Gorillaz] (Hiveman)

Yellow Diamond - Tallest Bill Cipher (any pronouns) [Gravity Falls] (Blue Scoriborn Troll)

Yellow Light - Allegiance Prospit (Angel)

Yellow Pearl - Raito “Light” Yagami (he/him) [Death Note] (Olive Leittarius Troll)

Yellowtail - Mordecai Heller (he/him) [Lackadaisy] (Anthropomorphic Cat)

Zebra Jasper (Fusion) - Mephiles the Dark (he/it) [Sonic the Hedgehog] (Rust Arcer Fusion Troll)

Zebra Jasper (Singular) - Perry the Platypus (he/him) [Phineas and Ferb] (Rust Arcer Troll)

Zircon (Defense) - Phoenix Wright (he/him) [Ace Attorney] (Gold Gemrius Troll)

Zircon (Prosecuting) - Miles Edgeworth (he/they) [Ace Attorney] (Gold Gemrius Troll)

#when I say that I gave a counterpart to every character in the show I mean EVERY CHARACTER IN THE SHOW (and beyond!)#pray for me when I begin to write this monstrosity of a series 😅#vriska universe #steven universe #su #alternate universe #au #fanfiction #mint_hiddenite

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