#I am going to get good at drawing without reference or I will die

[eddpou]

It's the male miqo'te arthritis hand

[averlym]

,,, little lemmings in line...

[meanbossart]

DU DROW LORE ASK COMPILATION: COMPANIONS, ASTARION'S READING HABITS, AND HIS LONG-INQUIRED OPINIONS ABOUT BODILY WASTE REVEALED.

I don't think "discussed" is the right word, more so mocked her for her blind faith and got into brief spats. It was precisely Shadowheart's water-off-a-duck's-back attitude towards his remarks that kind ingratiated her to him - DU drow spoke his mind, she took it in stride and remained firm in her beliefs without arguing or trying to push it on him. That, alongside the fact that they are surprisingly similar people is what brought them together as friends.

Even long after the events of the game he's still opposed to her hopping from Shar to Selune, also. Shadowheart's attachment to religion is simply something they agree to disagree about.

Can I answer your question with one of my own?

Am I the only idiot that killed her in their first run LOL

BUT YES, he killed Lae'zel when she tried to murder suicide the camp and I went through the whole game without her. I didn't go to the creche either!

I have since had other runs and she's actually one of my favorite characters, I just haven't had the chance to draw her yet.

ACTUALLY - scratch that. I've drawn her once-

Somewhat! But not really. He genuinely just likes jewelry, and rings are the only kind that suit his life-style (necklaces and earrings are a hazard during fighting) this is a reference to his bhaalist days when he used to be completely covered in the stuff day and night.

Hence why he finds them comforting to have on in some way or another. They change around because he gets bored of/misplaces runs out of fingers to wear the new rings that he loots constantly.

The great link in question

I don't know if it's been made clear enough, but DU drow's love for Astarion is borderline pathological, LOL. He's got a good humor about things and Astarion is definitely no stranger to having little quips and jokes made at his expense (a few references to him being Pointy And Long here and there, for sure), but the guy overwhelmingly adores him and thinks he's always the prettiest girl at the ball, even when he gets in his face and his nose looks huge.

I'll be honest, Astarion strikes me as the kind of guy that has like, 3 really weird books he really enjoys and reads them again and again very slowly over the course of years. Otherwise, not really a reader, but I digress -

DU drow was probably never a big reader himself, I would say he got started on a couple of books back in the day but likely never finished any. He's fairly intelligent, but most of his downtime was spent managing the cult and parsing through relevant documentation.

I definitely don't think he'd have the attention-span for fiction (which I picture as being said books that Astarion enjoys) but he does like to snuggle up with his beau to watch him read - every once in a while he catches a particularly scandalous line or description and they bicker about it. He makes a remark, Astarion feels obligated to explain the context, it devolves into some playful kind of argument that ends with Astarion telling him to go dig a hole and die in it while playing with his hair - The usual LOL.

Oh man I have a few more in-dept descriptions of how that went, both lore-wise and just for me as the player - but in summary, DU drow was pretty mean to everyone earlier on in the game and he did catch onto Astarion's very obvious and obnoxious seduction attempts very clearly. He doesn't like being so desperately pursued and they actually got off on the extremely wrong foot because of it, LOL.

After being unpromptedly rejected at the tiefling party he was a little more enticed by him, basically the "no" was his "go". I like to think of it like Astarion catching onto the fact that his initial strategy wasn't working and that this man in particular needed him to play hard to get - from that point on, DU drow started playing along. DU knew this was still a game, but now they were playing it on even ground so he was fine with it.

First of all - he inexplicably got butt-ass naked for the event.

All in all he liked it a whole lot and it was his re-introduction to the concept of pain being dished out as a form of love and his deep enjoyment of it.

Thank you so much, glad to hear you get some joy out of my work!

Dang it I had a pretty good write-up about his thoughts on Wyll from a long time ago, but I can't find it 😭

In summary, Wyll was a frustrating person for him to be around because of what he viewed to be a deeply ingrained naivete about the world. He shockingly didn't hate him (Wyll is kind of difficult to hate) but he never really saw him as an equal either, and definitely not as a friend. Du drow just desperately wanted him to express something that he would perceive as a genuine emotion; some kind of outburst or show of anger or frustration, but all he ever saw was someone trying to put on an act of performative heroism that he didn't buy at all.

At the same time, Wyll was far too young for him to be too mad. He might have held his father more accountable for making the guy into what he was than Wyll himself, really.

Can a man be scared of being scared? Because if so, it's that.

He also doesn't like shit a normal amount. (piss is fine depending on whose it is.)

[stardust-does-things]

QSMP

I'm so upset that none of my friends are into the qsmp. Like, what do you mean you don't care about gay minecraft roleplay???? How could you not be completely invested in a 36 year old man's fake platonic husband and their two egg children in a minecraft server??

The worst part is they won't even let me mention them. I can't make any damn references to anyone without getting confused glares. Like, sorry you refuse to watch every vod from every creator on the server and don't understand the lore.

It's so cool because of the amount of people on the server, like there are SO many perspectives to see things from and so many different story lines to get invested in. Personally, my favorite storyline was Ph1lzA and the Enderking thing. I've always loved the concept of a character being corrupted or possessed and forcing them to hurt their loved ones(don't question me). Tallulah and Chayanne's admins did SO good. So did Phil, he sounded like a whole different person. And Phil was the best person to do this to. He's practically everyone's dad on the server, so seeing such a caring and fun guy to get aggressive and threaten his own children was scary and a great arc for him to experience.

I also absolutely LOVE the ships. Like you can't TELL me that you don't absolutely love Roier and Cellbit's relationship. Pac and Fit? OH MY GOOOOOD. I love the fanart and fanfics of them 😭 (I ship the characters in the actual server, not the content creators). I love Deathduo. Missa x Ph1lzA forever. They make such a good duo with how they interact around each other and the eggs. Roier and Cellbit have such a cute dynamic, I loved that one time Cellbit was running away and trying to blow himself up, and Roier went, "No, you can't kill yourself! You're too sexy!" They are so silly together, and I just think they're so cute.

Also the fandom is absolutely beautiful. I love all the fanart and memes, the fanfics and animatics. OH MY GODS. I really wish I had the confidence to make fanart or fanfics, I'm too nervous that I'll get info wrong or have a bad headcannon lol. I adore looking at the way people draw the eggs. My favorite designs are when they're bipedal dragons or like they're half hatched and their legs are sticking out of the shell 😭 its so cute!!! I still don't mind when they're just drawn like kids but with dragon features.

I loved Tallulah and her story, including Wilbur. I don't like Wilbur for what he did (even if it might be fake I genuinely don't know anymore) but I like him as a character in the qsmp. I love all the clips of Wilbur and Tallulah. Like when Lullah brought a gorilla into the garden and she was just so happy but Wilbur was absolutely terrified was so funny. The way he basically gentle parented her was adorable, like he didn't know how to raise a kid and just wanted her to be happy. (Wilbur is a horrible person, if the allegations are true, and I don't support him. I just like his character in the story but still understand why some people wouldn't like his character)

The humor is probably the best part. There are so many quotable things. One thing that I specifically remember was when Phil went to wake up one of the eggs (when they were all in hospital beds or smt IDK-) with Pac and someone else, Phil got downed by a warden and Pac went up to him and said, "Philza. I am here." in an overly manly voice, or something like that. Also I love just randomly saying quotes and pretending like everyone understands and thinks I'm cool. "we are all going to die. the sun is a false god but a true threat." -Gegg "IN THIS WORLD THERE ARE 2 GENDERS, PAIN AND SUFFERING" -Dapper "Geez abuelito I didn't know you were into drama omg slay" -Tallulah "heaven is homophobic motherfucker son of a bitch" -Roier

Anyways, I need more QSMP obsessed friends to talk to <3

(part 2 coming soon <3)

[depraved-poets-anonymous]

Pomegranate-Stained Lips Chapter 2: A Raphael/Haarlep/ Tav (og female character) Slowburn

Notes: Hey guys here's chapter two as promised! Finally the party will be introduced to the devil you know. This does include lines from the opening scene but I promise I'm capable of writing his character, I just love the dialogue! If anyone noticed the Persephone reference in the title of this fic I love you so much and you're my new favorite. (Words: 2932)

My name is Tav. I repeat it like a mantra every morning before breaking my trance. Tav is me. I am Tav. What came before is buried, hidden, and perhaps some day, will be as though it never existed at all. There is no such thing as fate. If there is, then I spit at the gods that willed such a path for us all. I am the master of my story. What came before will rot and die. No looking back. She is dead and I have slain her.

The warmth of the sun kisses my face as I finally sit up, stretching my arms as I take in the camp. I observe the others idly, some sharpening weapons, Gale petting Scratch, Lae Zel going through sparring forms. And then I see him. Astarion. I’ve noticed he watches every sunrise. With 200 years of darkness, in some ways, this tadpole is likely a lesser evil to him. My fingers go to my neck, which still twinges in faint pain from last night’s events. There is a sadness to him. A pain that runs more deeply than in the others. I don’t trust his affections as being real. They’re calculated. Does he seek protection? I offer it to them all without question. It’s something to confront him about, but now is certainly not the time. 

Breakfast is a piecemeal affair; berries, scraps of bread from the last village we passed, and cold meats left over from last night. I sit by Shadowheart and Wyll.

“I know we’re on a mission, but I think it's worth it to try to spend the day hunting, collecting food, or at least scoping out the area. The road gets rougher from here, and it’s obvious our supplies are low.”

“I agree” Wyll nods, “We’ll want a good source of protein to keep us going with how long the days are going to be, and having some of us scout the path to see if there’s any goblins or the like in the area with malintent like that bunch we encountered last week certainly wouldn’t hurt.” At this, he draws his sword, twirling it around, drawing a smile from my lips. Astarion finds him to be a droll fairy tale prince, but the courage in him is endearing. It's easy to see how he’s almost become a legend in his own right. He honestly behaves like some folk hero from the old stories.

Shadowheart also smiles at this display, before adding, “I’ll search for medicinal plants, we’re running low on those as well, and traditional healing methods are important should we run low on potions or should we reach a conflict where my magic is drained.”

“I’ll leave that job to you then. Wyll, I’ll trust you with scouting, though if it wouldn’t kill you, take Astarion with you. He can slip past damn near anything. I’ll have Gale keep watch over camp, and I’ll take Lae Zel along hunting.” The two of them nod, Astarion making a disgruntled noise in the background. 

They trust me, as much as one can trust a survival partner anyway. Yet despite the fact that we’re all steadily growing more amicable with one another, there is not yet genuine friendship, which is what makes Astarion’s advances so noticeable. If  I were to be gravely wounded, I’m convinced the only reason they’d spare me is for my strategies and range of skills. But even then I could be replaced. Trust is a fragile bird and I do not believe it capable of carrying me any far distance.

At the end of the day, everyone is in a foul mood. The weather was unseasonably hot, brutally so, beating down on us all. The road ahead is clear, but the medicinal herbs in this area are limited, and few game animals crossed our sights, the Githyanki muttering obscenities the long march back to camp as though I personally was responsible for state of the heavens, and the apparent lack of some bountiful herd.

The house will have guests soon, though of the business sort rather than casual according to their partner. After they leave however, perhaps they will be the subject of attention after such time apart. It’s always business guests. If only there could be a ball or some excitement.

By nightfall, even when everything has begun to cool down, there’s little to be happy about. Dinner consists of a stew that's more water than anything else, and snide arguments whistle through the camp like poison darts. I firmly keep Shadowheart on the other side of the fire from Lae Zel lest they attempt to duel. Yet it is in the midst of this conflict that I sense something. A presence that wasn’t there earlier, a trace of magic, and a whiff of brimstone. I turn, shushing the lot of them as Scratch begins barking furiously at the edge of the treeline.

I am immediately on my guard as a man steps forth from the darkness. His doublet is unimaginably fine, crimson and navy, with elaborate gold detailing, perfectly tailored. His gaze sweeps us all before landing on me, and I’m met with honey brown eyes that look deceptively gentle; soft even.

“My my, what manner of place is this? A path to redemption, or a road to damnation? Hard to say, for your journey is just beginning. What would suit the occasion? The words to a lullaby perhaps? The mouse smiled brightly: it outfoxed the cat! Then down came the claw, and that love,” his eyes do not move from mine, “was that.” His voice is rich, melodious, addicting in the matter of a warm rich drink on a cold winter's night. He chuckles, “They do know how to write them in Cormyr, don’t they?” 

At this, alarm bells go off in my head, body stiffening. His appearance is suspicious enough as is, for he speaks and dresses like a noble with bardic aspirations, and has no business in such wilderness-particularly with how clean and kept he looks, as though he simply spawned here. All of that however, is nothing compared to that last line. Cormyr was one of the most prosperous nations in all of Faerun until it was destroyed by dragonfire. Destroyed a millenia ago, yet this stranger speaks of it with almost a familiarity unattainable by some mere scholar. He’s no human, regardless of how he may appear. I wait for him to continue.

“Well met. I am Raphael. Very much at your service.”

I silently pray that my companions keep their mouths shut. The last thing we need is a blurted response, and I’m hesitant to give him a name as is, though my refusal to reciprocate might escalate the situation. I decide to appeal to his earlier poetic nature.

“Well my good sir, am I speaking to the mouse or the cat?” 

“Neither,” he gestures with a confident wave, “The fox, rather, hiding in a word: a silent observer-about to break the silence.” His tone. His demeanor. It stirs in me something from the hidden parts I’ve buried deep, crawling its way out uncomfortably like the tadpole’s machinations. A level of eloquence and speech. The manners to treaty with one whose demeanor is that of nobility. Like a trained dog, my shoulders square, posture prim as he continues, “Of course, what I have to say merits some privacy-as well as more…let’s call it refinement.” He glances around at the surroundings of the camp, a faint wrinkle in his nose. “This quaint little scene is decidedly too middle of nowhere for my tastes…come.”

Before I can react he’s snapped his fingers and the world vanishes in a flash of light and a rush of sound. I’m left unbalanced, reaching out to brace myself, hands meeting the edge of an ornate table as I realize I'm seated, the whole party likewise. My eyes dart to take in our new surroundings, a huge roaring fireplace, black marble, arched ceilings, and infernal sigils all around the room. I’ve just placed what realm we're in when my eyes slide upward  taking in the portrait above the fireplace, filling me with a rush of cold terror at the implications. Our apparent master of the house sits at the head of the table, encouraging us to sup, a bountiful feast laid out. The perfect trap for the starving travelers.

“Don’t touch it if you want to keep your heads,” I hiss. There is a slim chance of course that it’s a spread of completely innocent and ordinary dishes, but I know what they do not. There are two groups that will charm their food to ensnare and glamour the mind of the fool that takes from their table. The wild Fae…and devils. Their gazes jump to mine in confusion, obviously unsettled by the collective proceeding of the events thus far, but my eyes are locked on this thing that calls itself Raphael.

“Tell us where we are,” I demand.

“The House of Hope. Where the tired come to rest, and the famished come to feed-lavishly. Go on, enjoy your supper. After all, it might be your last.”

“You sound so certain,” I stand, irked at his tone, “And tell me, how are we to trust that this food is not charmed? That you will not have us for easy prey?” 

He chuckles at that “You really are their leader, how admirable. I can assure you I prefer my dealings with those of sound psyche. I have no need to alter the mind to do business. Here. See for yourself.”  He holds out a cherry, blood red and glinting faintly in the light. He’s testing me. I reach for it but he pulls it away “You know what this entails,” he tuts, “and yet you still reach for it.”

“I am not one to be demeaned. If it is business you want then I will treaty with you as a client.” I shoot back. He seems amused or impressed, some combination of the two, and this time hands it to me. I place it in my mouth, expecting poison, or to have to somehow disgustingly get rid of the pit. Or maybe he’s hoping I’ll choke on it and die. However when I bite down, my mouth practically explodes with sweetness and tartness in equal measure, immediately craving more. Strangely enough there’s no pit at all. I suppose he can afford to get the best if his clothing and our surroundings are any clue.

“See? No harm done” he murmurs gently, those same eyes meeting mine again, the softness still there as if he’s soothing some stray animal, though I’d be a fool to miss the cunning that lurks there too upon closer investigation. He offers me his well manicured hand. I’m tempted to pull away, unwilling for his skin to touch mine. He’s still testing me, either my courage or my apparent skill in courtly niceties, though I’m uncertain of which. In this too I relent, placing my hand in his palm, letting him delicately move it to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to my knuckles. Everything about him is warm, magically so, rushing over me like the surf. His lips soft in the gesture, as well maintained as the rest of him,.

“I am Tav.” I finally offer a reciprocal introduction, the very same I tell myself each morning, though if he’s been watching our group as I’m beginning to suspect he has, he knows this already. 

He smiles at my words, carefully releasing my hand, as he nods in acknowledgement. “Well met. Tav. As stated, I am most certainly at your service.”

At this apparent resolution my companions allow themselves to cautiously begin sampling the selection before them, leaving several moments of relative silence in which I slink back to my seat, awaiting the inevitable ‘fireworks’ to surely follow.

He surely knows what I am waiting for, remarking, “Come now, are you not entertained? Well-far be it from me to disappoint.”

With a rush of flame he transforms, now a good foot taller than his human form, skin now a flawless scarlet, with the faint scaled markings present on most hell beings. Elegant horns curve from the crown of his head, though they are nothing to the great wings spread behind him, (likely extended for dramatic effect), like those of some dragon. Also noticeable are his tail and eyes, the former like that of some cat’s, curving erratically, the latter no longer warm and brown, but a glowing gold, his sclera a cool black.

 My companions jump back at this shift, me included, though I knew this was coming. All have varying levels of awareness of what he is, though I’m the one to finally announce it. 

“Cambion” I murmur, though not too loudly, should the word itself be enough to drive his anger, many of his kind seeing the name as a dirty thing. The bastard son of both human and demon, their unholy union producing a creature capable of taking both forms, lacking the strength of pure demonic parentage, the mother always dying in childbirth, a cruel inevitability most are not forewarned of.

He continues, everything about this whole encounter practically theatrical, as if our earlier interaction was an odd break from both character and practiced speech, “What’s better than a devil you don’t know? A devil you do. I am sure you all are curious about my interest. My role.” 

His gaze sweeps over us, scanning each of the others for something. Potential? My thoughts are sidelined as he goes back to monologuing.

“Am I a friend? Potentially. An adversary? Conceivably. But a saviour? That’s for certain.” 

“And what has your person convinced that we are in need of saving?” blurts out Gale, the glowing eyes now fixed toward him, the man growing quickly uncomfortably under his stare.

“Come now, why play hard to get when you’re deep in over your tadpoled head? I speak to the rest of your merry bunch of course, you have your own exciting predicament it seems. Rigged to explode as it were. There’s hope for you too though she is at heart a cruel temptress.” He flashes his teeth as he quips this, and Gale lowers his gaze, realizing the mistake of engaging. Raphael looks back to the rest of us, at least the ones impacted by the Illithid devices. “One skull, two tenants, and no solution in sight. I could fix it all-” he snaps his fingers with an echoing click, another burst of magical flame as he does, “like that.”

Always offer less than you are capable of giving should you choose to bargain, their kind will always take more. “And what possesses you to think that we will make a deal with a devil? We appreciate your…kind interference but are currently more than capable of rectifying this problem without exterior intervention from third parties.” I try to keep my voice level. Talking to him feels like playing poker in the dark, with new rules I’ve never heard of, and the only one having fun is the dealer, who’s murmuring in my ear like I’m some rescued waif in need of a soothing touch.

Astarion is less subtle, “You’re mad if you think we’ll do it.”

“And what is madness but a denial of reality? Still, I have a feeling you’ll change your mind. Before it’s changed for you.” His gaze flicks back to mine, as if I’m the only one who needs to hear this. “Try to cure yourself. Shop around-beg,borrow, and steal. Exhaust every possibility until none are left. And when hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair-that’s when you’ll come knocking on my door. Hope-” he chuckles, “such a tease.”

His monologue is, at best, disturbing. It’s an incredibly effective reminder of the fears circling in all our brains. That our efforts will be all but useless. That this fighting now will mean nothing later and we’ll all lose ourselves. He’s an effective bastard who knows his marketing. 

“I don’t believe in hope. Or saviors. Hope is the cruelest of all things and your words merely solidify my point. In war it is soldiers that win the battle, bloody and bruised, not the hopes of some far off king. Yet I’m not foolish enough to refuse you outright.” My lips curl at the idea of trusting anyone, particularly this new player. “And should we decide to take this deal? How would we-I…find you?”

“I’ll be around, watching you squirm,” he waxes idly, as if he’s merely discussing some gossip, “All those awful little symptoms, they haven’t manifested yet have they? Sundering skin, dissolving guts, a paragon of luck some might call you, to have avoided them thus far. I’ll be there when it runs out, when all hope is lost; your light in the dark. Ta ta for now.” 

And with that, another flash of light and rush of movement as abrupt as before, we’re back in our camp, our devilish companion no longer with us. We all sit in silence as we process the last ten minutes, Scratch whining frantically and sniffing all of us, having been alone in our brief absence. Wyll heaves in lungfuls of fresh air, the terror of Avernus striking him more deeply than the others. “I think I speak for all of us,” Astarion finally cuts into the tension after a few moments pass, “When I ask what in the fuck, just happened. A devil? Really? Maybe we’ll be prancing around with faeries come the morrow.”

[zenkor123]

Peeta POV of Katniss entering training center 14 October 4

Part of WIP

Trigger warning: violence, reference to cannibalism, and the smell of morphling.

 I was talking with Tong 1. I then saw Katniss enter.  I feel a cold chill enter my body and  I remember what Katniss told  me “you’ve looked better” well look at her now she’s looked a lot better.  Look at her! Look at her!

No  I  should not gloat what the fuck was bothering her well its not my problem unless this maniac kills me. How many people have seen me this way? I'm sure that's how she sees me but the shoes on the other foot now Katniss Everdeen!

Peeta that's sick stop thinking like this, just because she never gave a shit about you does not mean you need to act like her. Why would she give a shit about you, she's a random stranger. Yeah that's correct.

It's confounding how she has everything, yet looks like she one of the avoxes about to be sent into the mutt ring under Snow Mansion! maybe its just a fluke she will be better tomorrow.

An Avox under Snow's mansion! Yeah that's exactly what she looks like except the mutt is me.

I ache feeling sorry for her. I will not kill her unlike the mutts in the mutt ring. I never thought of killing her. Then why did you compare yourself to the myriad mutts Peeta? Its what it looks like to her.

I see her gun, ok Peeta  thinks, "you've been inside Snow’s mansion you’ve eaten human flesh you are strong you will get through this like you have with everything.”  I see the fear on her face but there is nothing  I can do about it, get her off the watch.  I take  deep breaths, “Why?” 

I see  Jackered images no no! Keep your head clear.  I do grounding but  I have gravely hurt her. She will snap,  I and Annie are  not the only nutcases in this room, she thinks she can handle it but she can’t damn you Peeta for hurting her, and damn you Snow for programming me to kill her.

She deserved to live, but did she need her legs? There's no way she can kill  me without her legs and D13 can just get her new ones. Then I think “Peeta what the fuck is wrong with you!” 

I apply grounding 5 things I see Katniss sweating, Katniss biting her lip, Annie entering the room Finnick entering the room, they are waving at me 4 things I can touch, my notebook, my hair, my helmet, my gun, 3 things I can hear,  Boggs calling Katniss, the sound of me breathing, Wrynkal arriving and saying high to Lt ford.  2 things I can smell morphling from the vein node, metal from the bullet I have in my hand 1 thing I can taste, ham from breakfast” 

I begin drawing the jackered implants of Katniss, but then I draw the scene around me opening a new page.” She arrives again, who is she?  The girl called X! That’s who she is, a red fucking X!. That’s not fair Peeta, she has been rude and barbing me constantly,…. and probably wants me dead.

You don’t know that, but if I were her I would want me dead, look at that throat, well it's just a bunch of bruises. Ok back to her legs. WHY CAN’T KATNISS JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE???

Katniss is suffering because of me, because of what I did and now she's going to kill me for it.

I was created to kill her so why wouldn’t she. But why didn’t she try to kill me yesterday? It does not matter but I can’t die, I won’t die!

Yesterday I just barbed her but no! Today she is going to serve her full sentence this time she's going to look in my eyes this time and know why she should never ever be on my watch. She is going to see the flames and fires of hell, which is my home for while I enjoy the flames it will burn her. That's awful, do you have an alternative plan! Imagine having to see your killer every day and that killer has a loaded gun. Do you want to see this scared mess every single day, Peeta, Every. Single. Day. And see the bruises in her throat?

No I don't. Perhaps this is for her own good. She should know more about me then that I am a vile creature who exists to destroy her she should know how this mutt came about, when she sees me, really sees me she will know me.

I feel more like a mutt when I'm around her then I do with anyone else. I hate it. Get her the fuck away from me. I'm usually a mutated human but seeing the one I was designed to kill I feel less human.

.

Speaking of that let's go to the core of it she's going to cause fucking episodes.

[acefaun]

To my beloved Tauxolouve,

Thank you for being in my life and making it bearable. You have helped me through the past few years. I wouldn't have been here without your constant support and care. Thank you 💗 * hands him a Blue rose*

PS: Thank you ( @acefaun ) for writing and helping me live to see my 18th birthday. Thank you.

Lou: I think it's fair to say that sentiment goes both ways. I wouldn't be the god I am today without you. As a wishes god... it's my duty to make sure all your wishes are granted; but you've been granting my wish for so long by simply existing by my side. I want to continue supporting you as you've always supported me and shown me your love and affection.

Lou: I know life can be difficult, especially when you're as sensitive as you are. But you've been so strong, and I'm very proud of how far you've come, darlin'.

Lou: I love you, and I especially the gift you gave me. I'm going to start calling you 'my rose' if you keep this up. And It matches perfectly with the one from last year.

Lou: Oh? Did you think I let it wither away and die? Nonsense. It's perfectly preserved with my powers. I can't let something so beautiful that you gifted me go to waste.

Lou: Happy Valentines day, my love. I hope you're interested in staying the night, because I've got many things to gift to you~

Dark version:

Happy late Valentines day, lovelies!

I- Ah... You're gonna make me cry. But I guess we just have more in common now! I didn't think I'd make it to young adulthood either but here I am at 23 still stubbornly alive and kickin! A good 6 years of survival in the scary big-person world. I'd say weret doing great for ourselves!

All I can say is: Welcome to Adult Life! ✨ It's not as bad as it seems because even on the hardest days, I just remember I'm an adult now and I can do what makes me happy anytime I want. 🥰

I'm glad you're still here with us too. 💕 A fandom is nothing without the fans! And there's always something new to be found every day you keep on breathing. We didn't think we'd last this long or make it this far, but we did. So let's keep doing our best and keep moving forward and keep breathing. 💖 Who knows, maybe tomorrow will be better than today. Louie certainly seems to think so. ☺️

[For reference, this was the drawing from last year:]

Why did my roses get better but not Louie?? Progress is being odd with me. But progress is progress, I suppose. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[tossawary]

The new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" movie is VIBRANT! The unique and ambitious style with handdrawn textures and effects is fun and flashy and incredibly colorful - there have been comparisons to Spiderverse, yet TMNT:MM is very much doing its own thing (there is a fair bit of flashing in this movie too, so be warned, but not on the extreme scale of either SV movie). The animation is beautifully naturalistic in its acting and the action really pops. The character designs have great funky shapes, purposefully significantly uneven in a way that delights me with their lack of symmetry.

It's always fun seeing how the characters and backstories change with each iteration trying to do something different. (It's part of why I'm trying to watch my way through different Transformers shows. I think it's neat how the characterizations are always different.) I've only seen the "Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" show and movie (and enjoyed them a lot), and the boys and the world are wildly different to that, and I still enjoyed this iteration of them very much too. The turtles are young and adorable and, while they did kick ass, they were also excitedly talking over each other and making stupid jokes and being a little... uncool? In a way that felt resonant to the experience of being a teenager just having a good time and finding stuff you like and trying to find other people like you. The banter was fun and silly and realistic and teasing. And occasionally heartfelt, though most of the characters are (as many people do) constantly disguising their vulnerability with self-aware jokes.

The story is straightforward (it's kind of simplistic and not very deep at all, honestly, but I enjoyed that just fine) and moves along quickly at a fun pace. It's very like Spiderverse in that I think it's accessible while expecting you to be familiar with basic superhero tropes, so it's a real blast if you're already fond of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like I am, and I find it so refreshing to watch things that are unapologetic about their basic concept being more than a little ridiculous. There are lots of references, but they felt like references that people naturally make, especially teenagers with relatively little exposure to other people. This is a really silly movie! And the movie is like, "Yeah! This is silly! Isn't it great?! Now look at what we're going to do with it!"

The humor runs towards being pretty gross (puke, ooze, other bodily fluids and body humor, and some pretty extreme body horror regarding mutants) at times, depicted pretty graphically on screen. Which I kind of enjoyed, it's neat sometimes to see a movie go there, but I need to underline the vomit warning because that stuff was excessive. The movie also gets quite violent at times. As with most superhero media, they do beat up a lot of generic goons without pausing to consider the broken bones that would definitely be happening. (Very vague spoilers:) There's a nonconsensual medical experimentation scene that's a little disturbing, with repeated electric shocks, and the drawing of bodily fluids, though they keep telling jokes through it to try to keep it light. The final battle is also pretty destructive and did make me go, "They're just babies! (They're like 15ish.) Leave them alone!" a few times.

So, if you're looking for something fun and silly to go see, something that looks totally unique and vibrant on the animated scene, something that made me nostalgic for just joking around with my geeky friends by ourselves when we were teenagers, then I recommend going to see this movie! Especially if you enjoyed any previous iterations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles even in passing. Though if you're a die-hard fan of a particular previous iteration, maybe you'll be annoyed by some of the adaptational differences, idk, and if you don't like any previous TMNT stuff, then this is maybe not for you. I'm looking forward to the TV show and the sequel that have been greenlit already!

[mewymarsher]

Hi i have been thinking abt the wily dies au thing you spoke of in the tags of a bass drawing you did and homie i am LOOKING very much that sounds so banger

Hi Hello I didn't think people would be interested in my au!!!! :0

I'm not really a writer, but I've been kind of forming the plot in my head when I go on walks anyway.

I've got scenes I thought could happen like Rock trying to reach out to Bass to convince him to get repaired by Dr. Light and join their family, with Bass refusing and running away (as expected). He kind of just winds up hanging out with Blues because he doesn't want to die and Blues is the only robot he knows that does "not dying" best. Honestly a lot of the au is Blues trying to teach Bass how to live amongst humans--how to work a job, how to dress like a human...how to talk to humans without referring to them as "humans" or "weaklings" mid sentence lol.

Eventually Bass mellows out a bit and finds out that there's more to life than being a killing machine. He rarely wears his armor and is less irritable--to the point that Rock and the Robot Masters no longer recognize him. Also Wily's Robot Masters are doing a terrible job of living and I entirely forgot to mention them lmao. They live in Wily's fortress and scrounge for spare parts to replace their own when something doesn't work. Quick Man surprisingly does a lot of the repair jobs in the fortress, since he's very fast. Although I can't say he does any of those jobs well. His new catchphrase is: "Do you want a good job or a quick job? Trick question! A quick job IS a good job! :)"

Anyway sorry for rambling! There's more to the au than this (did not talk about Bass's job on the farm at all lol) and I've definitely gotta write it down in a word doc or something.

Thanks for the ask, though! Definitely made my night.

[milesonthenet]

So Goosebumps is actually good, huh?

Good evening, you ghouls and girls! I know that I am about a week late for Halloween references. I have been going through a creative block in coming up with reviews.

For example? I was supposed to do something with Earthspark a few posts back. That still might happen, but I would rather focus on other stuff. In fact? There are some good topics that I have been thinking up for you guys.

Something wicked this way comes... and what is its name? Goosebumps! It's the children's horror that everyone seems familiar with to some capacity. From the books to the movies, to the old TV series that helped perfectly adapt those books to the small screen.

This year? Saw the release of Goosebumps' latest media installment. A Disney+ exclusive released in October that helped light up our imagination. I remember seeing the trailer, and you know what I thought?

First Thoughts:

"They are about to pull a Riverdale",

Honestly, seeing the trailer made me think that it was going to be bad. I mean, the hip rap music and some of the acting just bothered me. Everything looked so needlessly gritty, in a way that felt the opposite of the movie's first trailer.

When the series finally landed, I decided to watch it. The episodes themselves were pretty well-structured. They did a good job of translating the antagonists of the prior books into the stories. The way some of them were even recontextualized felt new.

The character work was a little shoddy at times, but I felt like it was okay. It shined when it needed to most, and that was what helped it. The series has just wrapped up its first season.

So without further ado? Let's take a closer example, and look into some of the things Goosebumps has done. We will review both the good and the bad.

The 'Good'

Slappy (He's not a dummy, he's just plain scary)

Now, anyone who is at least vaguely aware of the series knows Slappy. He's the 'breakout star' of the Goosebumps franchise. Also? He was played by Jack Black, and that's just plain funny.

Our second-mos iconic doll (That title goes to Chuck!) is the overarching villain. He poisons Biddle's mind and turns him against his friends. Also, he teaches him a spell that basically makes everyone turn into dummies. Which, weirdly enough, starts with them gaining more wooden cheeks.

As much as Slappy is not able to move, he is just as threatening as ever. That accent that they give him is actually awesome. It helps underline his more sinister, bargaining nature.

My only 'problem' with Slappy is his lack of movement, overall. I feel like it takes away from the fantasy. However, I suppose Slappy's power to worm his way into other people's hearts is perfect compensation.

An attempt to reframe the stories

The series takes Goosebumps' iconic books and puts them through a blender. Because of this, we end up with vague strokes and loose ideas derived from the books. However, there are some strong points to take from this.

The way they adapted Say Cheese and Die! for example, was pretty useful. It felt natural for the episode and offered a good opener for the season. I also enjoy how they chose to adapt Go Eat Worms, in spite of how absolutely disgusting that episode is.

Our monsters are better:

The monsters you see in Goosebumps are actually very well-designed in my opinion. Harold's flaming 'ghost' form, for example, is pretty freaky. The series understands its roots, and it is not afraid to embrace them.

The design of Slappy is faithful enough to how he would normally look. There are a few notable differences, but it still draws a good enough example of what he looks like.

The actual design of the 'worm' monster got me. It sufficiently creeped me out seeing how it moved. The way that the creature is animated is nothing short of impressive.

The 'Bad'

The group's 'connection'

Yeah, this is where things get more critical of the series' nature. The main protagonists are good, but I feel like they function better when paired off. It is easy to see how they function more as pairs than as an actual group. If the series gets a second season, then I hope they improve the group dynamic.

Goosebumps was given ten episodes for its first season. There was a lot to cram into the series. Between Hary Biddle, the various monsters, and the character's own struggles? You had a lot to deal with right off the bat.

Harold Biddle (And he's just not interesting enough)

Harold Biddle just does not interest me. I get it however, he is more or less the thing that 'ties' everything together. However, he just does not interest me in any way.

I'm sorry, but he is one of the weaker parts of the Goosebumps series. He's your typical normal 'outsider' kid whose life is unexpectedly ruined. When he gains Slappy, he becomes a monster, and a tragic incident (that was also the fault of the main cast's parents - GREAT work by the way!) results in him burning alive.

Now that he's back, he's swearing vengeance on the children of those who wronged him. However, I just feel like he's an unnecessary element in the series. His role could be given to someone else, and it would be better.

More monsters could have been appreciated,

The monster selection for the series is not bad, but it is limited. In just a few episodes were introduced to some interesting antagonist elements. The Cuckoo Clock of Doom, the Haunted Mask, Slappy, and the Worms, for example, were all used in the series.

However, I feel like there are other monsters that we could have seen employed. The Garden Gnomes, for example, feel like they are a natural fit for this series. You could also have employed an episode with the Mummy, or The Creeps.

Honestly, the ones I am surprised did not somehow make it in are the Abominable Snowman and the Monster Blood Can. I think that they would have been easy plots to implement into the series.

Overall? I hope for more antagonists in a potential second season!

Overall, what makes Goosebumps worth while?

Goosebumps is an attempt to try and adapt a beloved children's horror series. That attempt is well-rewarded with its modernized blends of old Goosebumps stories. The story of Port Lawrence is only just beginning, and it can only go further from here.

I do genuinely hope that the series gets a second season because it deserves that option. There are so many stories and elements that could be adapted for the series. You have so many more layers to pull from with the books.

For people who have yet to check out the series? I would wholeheartedly recommend it if you are looking for a scary good time. I just think you should go in with the mentality that it is not the Goosebumps that you grew up with. It's the start of someone else's Goosebumps, for a newer, edgier series.

I hope you enjoyed this review. Next time? We're gonna tackle something spectacular. See ya and viewers beware? You're in for a good scare.

[dana-chan-the-control-brain]

When thinking of your trademark in your writing, I think it is the way you go into details and paint a picture for the mind's eye. The way you balance descriptive imaginations and realistic detailing is just very captivating.

Your art has a funky loose feel to the lining that just feels fitting to the enigma that is your brain, too full to truly poor it all out onto the paper no matter how hard you try. But boi do we love the attempts that give us any slightest peek into that brilliant mind of yours.

You clearly don't draw or write without thinking it over thoroughly.

Bwaaaaaaaa

Thank u! that's super sweet of you to say.

I do tend to overthink a lot of things.

I'm not very good at making like... Outlines or roughs of poses. I very rarely make base outlines, like I usually just start drawing and the rough sketch becomes the final lineart. So I often rely super heavily on references when I draw. For some reason over my 28 plus years of drawing, I never really gotten a grasp on how the torso, legs and fingers all really connect and form one entity. I know I could try with enough discipline and practice, as art is a skill. So I have this weird blend of like... Super confident lines, but not knowing how a torso, shoulders and legs connect which make a really interesting balance, and leads to things like this:

Like I can always see the framework of what I want, especially when little reference is used, but it really seems like nothing connects. Like the understanding of SHAPES is there, but not the understanding of how they are coherent together, if that makes sense? And you can kinda see that in my more high profile art, but I feel there was a period where It did click and I understood how it all connected but I forgot it all.

Like at some point, with these two, (rest in peace. the ship tag has not been updated since I left the naruto fandom) around 2019 I was getting it! Like I felt I was really getting it, Like I MADE THESE!!!! but then I kinda forgot it all. Like I still didn't use a base outline for these and did rely on heavy references, but I feel I was getting a grasp on shading and autonomy and how the human body works and fits together. And then it... Just kinda vanished from my brain, and I regressed to a more chibi simple art style. Either because it was easier, or because I was experiencing more chronic pain in my back and hand.

At the end of the day, I think my art style regressed a lot due to lack of practice, and lack of encouragement from outside sources besides the internet likes and reblogs like RL friends or Family. That, and I feel my attention span and patience for things has just gotten worse as I've gotten older. I'm guessing my Dad's death had a lot to do with that. As, I am over the loss of my Dad as a person. but mentally, I am not over coming the fact that mortality is very fleeting. You think I would spend most of my time living life to the fullest. But that isn't the case. I kinda feel like I've been stuck in that "What is the point of anything if anyone can die suddenly without warning for any reason" Stage of grief that I have NEVER really got over.

Needless to say my Dad suddenly dying with no warning due to a ruptured aurora was just something everyone was unprepared for. He wasn't sick from an illness, no one knew he was in poor health. It wasn't even a car accident. Like he just suddenly died cus part of his heart exploded essentially.

I mean, I know I rarely talk about it, other then mentioning "My Dad died Eight years ago. Haha I'm over it tho, it was awhile ago"

And, While I think I'm over it in the sense with, I'm at peace with always missing him a little bit, and don't think about him constantly... I'm not over it in the sense of how fragile mortality is and how it can be taken away. For no just cause or reason.

I guess I'm over it, in that I'm over that my Dad, the person is dead. I am NOT over the fact of HOW he died. And I think it'll be a long time till I cross that hurtle.

And yeah, that's a heavy part of life, that we all get old and die one day, but some people don't even get to grow old. you think it would make me more.... "make time with what you have, enjoy what you like."

but if anything, it makes me more fearful in "what is the point of doing anything if I were to die tomorrow, what have I done. Folks will miss me, sure. But I will still be gone." So then I just end up doing nothing for long periods of time, and that's mostly why my art skills suffer because I don't see the point of doing a discipline or working towards any goal whatsoever. And I'm just going through the motions. And yeah, sometimes, I will be super productive and be happy and do a lot of things for a bit, but they're always short lived moments and it's hard to stick to things.

Looool sorry if that's all just too heavy.

Oh, if this sounds too complaining... Or "pity party. Woe is me, Dana is Depressed again" ahahahah. Like, that's not the point of this. I mean, it's my blog and I can talk about my feelings I guess, and I feel that Depression, even before my Dad's death impacted my art journey. So I'm still trying to struggle to remain consistent in my endeavors.

Or I could just be lazy. XD That too. XD

Anyways... Moving on in terms of my writing style, that's very nice of you to say.

I am a deep appreciator of inner monologues if it wasn't obvious. I like to dissect what characters are thinking and I sometimes feel I overdo it, and justify every single action and breath they take by getting so close in their own head that there's hardly any breathing room for error.

But I just write how I tend to think in terms of Overthinking, so I don't think I've ever written a character from a close third person (or first person) perspective that hasn't overthought every action before they speak.

But usually within the context of the story, their inner monologue spanning 20 pages actually takes place in the span of less then a few seconds.

I don't think I could write from Bob's POV if I tried. He's a man of action rather then overthinking. And if I held his hand as a third person narrator, he would sho me off and do his own thing gladly without my interference. XD

Anyways. Didn't mean to get so venty on this ask.

Thank you so much for the lovely compliment. Also some insight into my process I guess. XD

[abyssal-cryptid]

Still thoughts about Tears of the Kingdom (SPOILERS)

The Great Fairies look like they want to eat the small man when they first emerge

Zonai Zelda is so cute

The memories bro the memories

THERE IS A SECOND GIANT HORSE

Why cant I put flowers in their mane

Please let me marry Zonai Zelda

Rauru is like lmao Zelda I wont die *dies*

Rauru dont give Zelda more trauma she has been through so much already

Rauru is like "we will put this all on Link"

HE'S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH

I will write angry fanfic about this

Gleeoks are so terrifying what the fuck

You can upgrade your horses

What did they do to my beautiful dessert

They let me in as a man??? Noooo I was waiting to enjoy the complicated feelings of Link's gender again

Riju looks so good in this new look

Its so hot everywhere

Nooo my coins my coins!!!

Again doing shrines because I need hearts and stamina

I am a well enthusiast

I caught the golden horsie

Trying to find a perfect colored 5* speed horse is hard

Why are there gleeoks everywhere

IVE BEEN COLLECTING HORSE GEAR

Outfits my one true love

My horses are so cute

Let me customize the big horses pleaseee

I need to murder more deer for coins

Need to go deal with the Lurelin Village Pirates

DID I FREAK OUT ABOUT GIBDOS YET

I HATE THEM

Sorry I write these while Im not playing so I dont always remember to go in order

Im also writing fanfic because of course I am look at me

YOU CAN MAKE PICKAXES FROM THE MOBLIN HORNS

Im having so much fun

Shrines are becoming less awful

MY GOD I HATE GANONDORF

NOT SONIA

NOOOO

Wait how is Zelda the descendant of Sonia and Rauru if Sonia died without children

I saved this man's goats

Satori mountain is said to have endura carrots. I need them please

THE STICKY ARMOR LOOKS SO COOL

Im pro-all armors that show off Link's cool arm

I looked up how to get to Hestu and

I know what I need to do but I dont have the strength to do it

No joke theyre evil for this

How do I get gloom resistant armor

Playing the Zora main questline

The sky island has moon gravity!!

Where is Kass

The new dragon is a Light Dragon

Finally some good fucking food (All the apples on satori mountain)

Me: oh shit blood moon should be soon

Literally the next night: blood moon

Im a psychic

You are correct Roman there is so many apples here you do deserve some here you go baby boy

The checkmark you get for caves is if you killed the Bubbulfrog in there

I need to kill more

I want the full mystic armor

I have one friend who isnt into LOZ and I could tell all this to her but its no fun if she knows nothing about it

She does send me Zelda memes tho. 10/10 friend

Finally endura carrots

WAIT HOLD ON YIGA CLOTHES

OMG FINALLY

I love Malanya so much

Best god

I love Sidon but my god is he just in the way during the Water Temple

On the way, making me waste my bubbles, why do I have to be next to him to get the bubble

GET OUT OF THE WAY LET ME HIT THE CROCODILE

Useless

Hearing Zelda being referred to as the Sage of Time >>>>

Also I will not shut up about how pretty Zelda is

I have to draw her

Im a simple lesbian

My switch camera is full of screenshots of her

Every cutscene has her be so pretty

Sidon made me my own copy of him

And this man isnt marrying me

KING DOREPHAN DIDNT DIE

YAY

I dont think I could have handled that

WAIT SIDON'S BECOMING KING???

My camera roll is also full of screenshots of Sidon

NOO YONA BECAME QUEEN

DONT CALL HER BELOVED SIDON

SIDON STOP CALLING HER ENDEARING NAMES

SIDON

Yona is actually really sweet Im just having a moment

A sad day for Sidon lovers everywhere

King Sidon is handsome

He literally got on his knees to swear a vow to me and gave me a ring and married Yona

Yona is cute and I love her

Like her voice too

She's adorable

Maybe we can do a triad

Political(ish) marriage + one crackhead who attracts all the trouble

No because I still actively avoid spots where there used to be guardians

I was at a stable and went "no cant go that way there's guardians"

Nightmares wont give up ever apparently

ALSO HAVE YALL SEEN THE TIKTOKS OF LIKE

PEOPLE ABUSING THE BACKBAG KOROKS

There has been so many crucifications. The Korok Space Program. Fire is involved

I've also seen people build bombers and mechs

I love it

It seems so wild to me because I dont build in this game

If I can avoid it

I do use the dispensers but thats because its gambling

But all the material spots just get ignored

Nope

Dont care

Im going on Roman (my horsie)

But I love everyone is vibing

But still. I need easy mode

These posts are how I process the game btw. Been surprised that people have liked them. I will keep going because I have to process what I feel about things (doctor's orders)

[booksandchainmail]

Pale Arc 7

Well that wrapped up quicker than I expected! I expected dealing with Alexander to be the focus of at least one more arc, but looks like John's wrapped that up rather neatly. From a pacing standpoint, I'd say this makes sense: we've just had two arcs focused on power struggles for the Blue Heron Institute, I think it would be tricky to have it not feel repetitive if they kept fighting over the school.

Outcome-wise, this seems like best possible scenario. Raymond Sunshine seems like a decent person for a practitioner, and while he might not want to hold the position long-term, I think he'll be better than either of his predecessors. Alexander being dead also avoids the threat of him retaliating against the students, particularly Nicolette.

This also seems like a good outcome for Kennet: not only is Alexander dead before he could investigate, but the local practitioner community no longer specializes in investigation. And I think Ray will take Zed at his word that they shouldn't pry further. Though I am worried that drawing so heavily on the Kennet Others for this fight will raise questions among the other students.

This arc also felt the most high-stakes so far. In most arcs so far, there's been some kind of safety net. Arcs 4 and 6 didn't have climactic fights. In Arc 2 Miss was there to help against Nicolette and Alexander and in Arc 3 the struggle was against their own allies who wouldn't use lethal force. And in the two arcs that didn't have that protection (1 and 5), the climax of the fight was from an interlude (unawakened) point of view, who saw the girls pulling off impressive feats without letting us see their fears and struggles.

Here, the danger is real and present and through their own eyes. After Laila's death, it was clear that Bristow was fine with students dying during his coup, and though I didn't think any of the Kennet Trio were going to die, the threats were heightened. Particularly when Verona and Lucy were captured, with no resources and a deadline fast approaching. Avery's also had a rough go off it this arc: most of her chapters involved physical combat that she got hurt in.

We didn't get much info on the Carmine Beast investigation this arc, aside from that ominous conversation in the extra materials. From that, I think we can conclude that the murder conspiracy has at least three members (two in conversation refer to passing information along). We also know that John is innocent! And I'm more and more inclined to say Miss is innocent as well. That doesn't leave many suspects in Kennet, though admittedly some (but not all) members of the conspiracy could be from out of town. Matthew, Edith, Alpeana, Maricica, Guilherme, Toadswallow, Bluntmunch, Cherrypop, and Gashwad. If no outsiders are involved, that's at least a third of them involved.

Also, some additional Maricica theorizing: we now know at least one of her three traps (the nettlewisp backfire). And I think Verona getting changed into a cat is another trap (glamour making you more vulnerable to outside transformations). Which would mean that there was a trap in Lucy's trick and Verona's glamour, and I'd expect the third to be in Avery's information gift. Went back and looked at the list, and Avery's information was on disrupting rituals like the Choir, which was noted a while back as potentially being a trap (not telling them about how that could strengthen the ritual or about how the Choir might cheat)

[lampmanliveblogs]

Season 2, episode 20. The penultimate episode of the season. Am I ready for this? Probably not, but whatever, let’s just go!

If you are only just now joining me, be sure to check out the two previous posts I made. In one of them I go over some of my theories and predictions for the finale. In the other, I tell you about the exciting game we’re going to be playing together during these two last episodes of the season.

Now. Let’s do this.

The portal has been moved to a cave in the head of the Titan by now and an abomaton is making the last few preparations.

I’m gonna be honest with you guys, the only reason I decided to grab this particular screenshot was because I noticed no less than four faces hidden in this image.

This really is it, huh? The end of the world as we know it.

We get a short scene between Belos* and The Collector. The Collector is impatient, begging to be freed from his eternal prison, with Belos countering that the draining spell has to work first. We get to see more of The Collector’s childish personalty, as they talk about all the games they wanna play. And this is the guy who’s apparently responsible for wiping out a race of island-sized giants.

(*sidenote: I kinda wanna start referring to Belos as Philip. Eh, I’ll wait and see. If Luz ever calls him Philip, I’ll start calling him that too)

Belos mentions that he doesn’t want to make another grimwalker until he’s dealt with Hunter, so I guess we can rule out other grimwalkers appearing. Unless Belos has reason to believe Hunter is dead I guess, but let’s not delve too much on that hypothetical.

It seems that Belos intends on returning home to the Human Realm once it’s all over, which makes sense I suppose. Gotta bring the good news right? The thing I’m wondering though is how long exactly he expects to survive there. Even without the violent mutations his barely human body goes through, he still relies on absorbing palismen life force to survive. There are no palismen in the Human Realm, so I imagine that he’d eventually run out of juice to keep him going.

(which may or may not be how he ultimately dies)

((I think Belos is gonna die, btw. i think i’ve mentioned it before, but just in case you forgot, or missed that post, or this is the first liveblog of mine you’re reading)

(((the jury is still out on the collector’s final fate)))

Another thing that I thought of while typing this: I’ve speculated that The Collector is going to betray Belos and not kill all life in the Demon Realm. But this could go the other way too; Belos might betray The Collector and not release them. Or at least try to keep him sealed, at this point I think it’s safe to say The Collector is going to be set free.

Oh, and another another thing I realized when looking at this screenshot. I wonder if the creepy robes and hoods is to make it easier for the animators to draw large crowds? I imagine that with how diverse the Boiling Isles are, any shot of a large crowd would be a nightmare to draw. Dressing everyone in single-colored robes makes that easier. I think, I don’t know all that much about animation.

Clouds on the Horizon

I’ve already gone over most of my predictions in a previous post already and I don’t really have anything to add as of now based on the title or what I’ve seen so far.

We can see some abomatons being loaded onto an airship while Odalia talks to Kikimora. I honestly did not expect Odalia to really be important, but who knows, maybe she will be.

Amity, Edric, and Emira are here, with the intention of telling their mom about the draining spell.

Emira points out that Odalia won’t believe them, which I could see her not doing, she is pretty stubborn. However, Edric follows that up with that even if she does believe them, she ”won’t care.” Which… yikes. Belos plans to kill everyone. Odalia’s no saint, but I don’t know that she’s such a  bad person as to not care at all about her kids and husband dying. And if nothing else, she is part of everyone, surely she has some sense of self-preservation? Even a lot of hardened supervillains know that there is no profit to be made in the destruction of the planet; it is very bad for business.

���or maybe she really will be that evil. This is the season finale, the Day or Unity is here, anything can happen and everything can change. I gotta keep my mind open.

She mentions a new product… that they’re going to test on Kikimora. Or maybe Kikimora will test it? Maybe it’s like an abomaton mech or something. That might actually make Kikimora somewhat threatening again.

(Odalia called Kikimora a gremlin. Is that her species… or is gremlin an insult on the Boiling Isles too?)

[smidgen-of-hotboy]

Reblogged the first time on accident bc i fat fingered teehee. anyway.

ZEPH I AM BITING YOU BITING YOU BITING YOU WTF I I I I I- NO WORDS HEAD EMPTY JUST YOUR VOICE I LOVE BONUS CONTENT!!!

Jay's Thoughts: Extended Cut

“Voices singing in harmonies, orbiting in perfect rhythm, chasing like the sun and moon across the sky, echoed in the deafening silence of Hadestown.” OHOHOHOHOHHOHOHHOHOHOHHOHOHOH- THE SUN AND MOON IMAGERY!!! THE ECHO OF DEAFENING SILENCE, THE ECHO OF VOICES SINGING IN HARMONIES!!! Eating this opening line up it is so good.

“And for the first time in a long, long time, the workers didn’t care” BARK BARK BARK BARK!!!!! My brain is drawing parallels between this and Our Angel og Brahma, Eevee and the other Dome Wardens going on their strike. Oh boy. Surly this can’t end badly!

I already gave my thoughts on this section when you posted the snippet a couple of days ago, but to recap: - “Took beatings from the executives…” this line reminds me again of Our Angel of Brahma - “creeping thyme” language of flowers meaning = courage, strength power, bravery. The Greek origin word “thumos” means “courage.” - i can’re read the word ceaseless without thinking of tma and i don’t even go there… but also smth smth- hermes “no hammer swinging… no pickaxe ringin… and they stood and listened” (i jumped ahead to persephone singing “how long” and ivfdsjgvnsjfibfnkrskjb AMBER GRAY LOVE OF MY LIFE I GOT TEARY EYED JUST READING THE LYRICS) - “Gilded cage” LIKE THE FUCKING TITLE!!!! Making ME think of Red Queen, “King’s Cage” now!!! (rip mare barrow)

Still thinking on King’s Cage and Slip is very Maven coded holy shit. He is obsessed with this boy like Maven was obsessed with Mare… OKAY YEAH HOLY SHIT WAIT- “doesn’t want him associating with those kinds of people anymore” THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE???? REALLY SLIP! HOMELESS BOY GETS A TASTE OF POWER AND BECOMES A FUCKING TYRANT GRRRRR- SENTENCE HIM TO THE MEAT GRINDER!

“something he saw as clearly as if the sun were shining down through the rock overhead. Slip was afraid of Juno.” SLIP WAS AFRAID OF JUNO. 1) love the imagery 2) SLIP WAS AFRAID OF JUNO!!!!! Our lady failure makes this 3ft tall king shit his pants <3 /j

“a well of dread” oooh love this line

“it’s the scared animals that are the most dangerous” smth about eurydice who once stepped on a snake, smth about SMTH ABOUT THE SNAKE IN JUNO’S STOMACH-

I like the mental image of slip chewing his thumb staring out his glass office, his glass fortress, looking down on hadestown, and he glances up at Nureyev’s reflection to catch his sign and he gets fucked sassed. Get dunked on Slip Hackoff.

“He’d already lost so much to this man he could barely remember” TERRIBLE WASTE REFERENCE- STOLE HIS STORY REFERENCE-

HOW LONG, HOW LONG, HOW LONG!!! Again. AMBER GRAY MY BELOVED, ME SWEETHEART, MY DARLING, LOVE OF MY LIFE I FUCKIGN RFUIEGHBRF GGYHJDSFN- i love “how long” so so so so so much. And the way you’re working it in is chef’s kiss. The flip of persephone taking pity on orpheus trying to convince hades to feel the same, to nureyev taking pity on the workers trying to get slip to understand how fucked he is. 

He thinks of this as BUSINESS???? BRO- i they don't even get health insurance out of this motherfucker for how much they work and how long their hours are. That should be like. A war crime. Slop Jackloss wtf. (terribly sorry about my name butchering, i love Sip Jakeson in equal parts i want him dead in canon)

“A small, scared kid.” FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK- he was just a boy in love! FUCK- THIS IS HOW 3FT KING AU/HC CAN STILL WIN!!! /heavily joking. 

“Everything I ever built for you” parallel to “feel that fire, think of it as my desire for you!” Chant reference!!

OH BRIEF ANECDOTE TIME!! …”one could kill you and the other could dispose of your remains” love that they found this funny. Teenage children are morbid… 

“No one is going to die!” Slip: proceeds to die first.

“Nureyev was left standing in the office, facing a man he had known so well decades ago, but didn’t know anymore.” ougggggg- this hurts. Hurts so good. 

SLAP FUCKOFF YOU ARE DELUSIONAL BOY- WHTA THE EVERLOVING FUCK!!! MY MAN!!! OF COURSE HE MOVED ON!! OF COURSE HE DID!! HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO!!! OF COURSE HE GOT MARRIED! OF COURSE HE FOUND HOPE IN SOMEONE ELSE!!! Smh juno steel is the problem for a lot of people but he is not to be blamed for your ex-bf moving on with his life, should’ve tried harder not to die so young Slappery smh.

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK NOOOOOOO LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! LEAVE BEN AND VESPA AND M’TENDERE ALONE!!! Vespa died a meaninglyess death, you stole Ben once already, AND YOU ALREADY PUNISHED M’TENDERE ENOUGH JFC- what’re you gonna do to them anyways?? Have them be killed again??? Double death? Death times two????????

Oh i can perfectly see Nureyev signing that. Rigid, stiff, and big. When you want to yell in sign, you make your signs bigger. Sing language is a visual language. So even tho nureyev is flat, not exclaiming, he is stern. Giving that thousand yard stare down. 

Nureyev wanting to grab juno by the shoulders and run, get him out of there, get him safe… Smth smth “why are you following me juno” and nureyev at the end of terrible waste still pulling on the net and being shocked and still trying to free juno… 

How fucked tho would it be if this wasnt juno, it’s ben, old switcheroo or smth. How fucked would it be if slip was playing coy “do you know who he’s associated with?” and then dragging in ben anyways. 

JUNO STEEL CAN YOU STOP BEING GAY FOR YOUR HUSBAND FOR 2 SECOND FJSKGCJF- at least peter has a braincell. A. as in singular.

“A wave of dread” first as small as a well. Now a wave as big as a tsunami. Before a tsunami makes landfall, the tide gets pulled out….

Slip blaming Juno for preaching fair work practices is actually kinda funny ngl

“Before we dispose of you?” WHAT??

“That look meant Juno had a plan” MAKING ME THINK OF WHAT LIES BEYOND!! When juno is talking with buddy and sasha and they’re all coordinating a plan together without actually being able to talk to one another, and buddy is the Captain but she puts her trust and faith in juno to pull this plan together and get at least one of them out of that ordeal.

“The smallest spark of hope ignited in Peter’s gut.” fuck-

“And then Juno opened his mouth, and began to sing the song of spring.” DOUBLE FUCK. it's orpheus singing epic iii the end of his song, his final plea to hades, melting his heart, reminding him of the woman he loves, reminding him of the world that could be! and Juno singing to Slip, reminding him of the boy he loved, reminding him of the world he used to live in, reminding him that he is allowed to grieve and ought to learn how to- FUCK THIS SHIT I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE! I'M TIRED OF THIS GRANDPA!! (well that's too damn bad!!!)

SONG FOR A CAGED LOVEBIRD: PART 15

wow. wowie wow wow. this section got me up to a little over 19,500 K. that's fucking INSANE homie!!!

this section took me a while to work out bc i knew what points i wanted to hit but not the order I wanted to do them in, so I had to break some stuff apart and rearrange it. hopefully this makes sense? this sections got a weird energy to it and i'm not sure why. but we are in the home stretch of this fic guys!!!! maybe like 3 or 4 more chapters max and then it is FINISHED, which is so crazy to me

alsoooo enjoy some bonus content!! aka me singing a lil bit of epic iii in honor of this absolutely insane milestone

HEY GANG IT'S FRESH FOOD: @smidgen-of-hotboy @ceaseless-watchers-special-girl @urjover @waters-and-the-wilde @gwenlena

@demonic-panini @the-private-eye @one-joe-spoopy

Voices singing in harmonies, orbiting in perfect rhythm, chasing like the sun and moon across the sky, echoed in the deafening silence of Hadestown.

The workers had stopped showing up a few days ago. Wouldn’t pick up their pickaxes or lay a hand on their wheelbarrows. Slowly, the factories ground to a halt. The furnaces died down. The wall stopped being built. And for the first time in a long, long time, the workers didn’t care.

They took beatings from the executives with a smile and a song on their lips, a song that spoke of unity in the face of loss with a melody that grew like creeping thyme through the town. It had been a while since Peter had heard Juno’s voice, but he knew. Even from this distance, he knew it was him. His strong, clear voice helixing through the air with another voice that he assumed must have been Ben’s. And the world stopped its ceaseless grind and listened.

And from his gilded cage in Slip’s office, Peter watched with no small amount of pride as his beloved husband brought the hell of Hadestown to a screeching halt.

Slip stormed back and forth in his office. Nureyev had been up here for…. Well, he wasn’t quite sure, but his best guess was a week. Slip had taken him up here after his executives had beaten Juno and left him for dead. Something about how he didn’t want him associating with those kinds of people anymore. 

Nureyev knew that was bullshit. There was something else at play here, something he saw as clearly as if the sun were shining down through the rock overhead.

Slip was afraid of Juno. 

He could see it with every furious step and angry huff. An undercurrent of fear laced his every move. Juno had crossed some sort of line, broken some sort of spell that Slip was afraid might never be put back into place. He was getting more erratic and scattered as the days went by. And for some reason that Nureyev couldn’t quite explain, a well of dread was beginning to bubble up in the pit of his stomach.

After all, it’s the scared animals that are the most dangerous.

“Godsdammit all, why won’t they work anymore?” Slip snarled, steps heavy but quick as he paced across the room.

Nureyev turned his gaze coolly away from the window. “Don’t know. Maybe they realized the lies and bullshit you’ve been feeding them!”

“Keep talking like that and I’ll leave you right where I left your precious husband.”

“Oh, I don’t know, he seems to be doing quite well for himself so far, considering he’s brought your whole town to a standstill.”

Slip stopped pacing like a frustrated predator and stared at Nureyev. Nureyev wasn’t scared. He’d already lost so much to this man he could barely remember. What was losing a little more? He stared right back, almost daring Slip to make a move.

“What else did you expect, Slip? You lie to these people for years, force them to work for nothing, keep them away from their homes and families, and expect they’ll be happy? That they’ll listen when you speak? That they’ll care about you and your opinions?” His motions were jerky with a deep set anger and hurt that was starting to burn hotter than the heart of the Hadestown furnaces.

Slip’s jaw was beginning to tremble, but in rage or fear or pain, Nureyev couldn’t tell.

Go on. Tell him. Tell him what he needs to hear.

“How long did you think they’d put up with this before they turned on you? How long do you think they’d wait for you to change?”

How long did he think you’d wait for him, little songbird?

“They’ll put up with it for as long as I am in charge of this town.”

Nureyev sighed deeply. “You don’t get it, do you?”

“What is there to get, Petya? That these people don’t comprehend the logic of a business?” 

Slip threw his arms open wide. Even now, even with all his power and might and control, he still looked like what he had been the last time Peter had ever really known him: a small, scared kid.

“They’re going to destroy everything I’ve ever worked for. Everything I ever built for you. And all because of that husband of yours and his fucking music.” 

“Everything you built….for me?”

Slip sighed, and his expression softened slightly. “Of course. I made this town for you. I was going to show you all of its wonders. But you never came to find me, like you said you would. Remember?”

Peter couldn’t. Not at first, anyway. But slowly and surely, a memory began to creep back into his consciousness. 

He was young. Couldn’t have been more than 12 or 13. The last of summer was still in the air. Slip had just finished telling him the old Story of Hades and Persephone, a story the two of them shared like their stolen food and blankets. Peter had cracked some kind of joke, something about the two gods in the story being a perfect pair because one could kill you and the other could dispose of your remains, and he and Slip were howling with laughter.

When the laughing had died down, Slip turned to Peter, suddenly serious. “Petya, can you promise me something?”

“Of course, my love, anything.”

“If one of us dies before the other… can we send a message to them from Hades? So the one that’s still living knows to go get them?”

“Slip, don’t talk like that. No one is going to die!”

“I know, I know, but…. Just in case, you know? If I die, I’ll send you a sign. A huge sign. I’ll…. I’ll get rid of the spring altogether! I’ll keep Persephone locked up in the underworld until you come to find me!”

That sent them both into another peal of unstoppable laughter.

And then the memory faded away, and Nureyev was left standing in the office, facing a man he had known so well decades ago, but didn’t know anymore.

“I should have brought you down here sooner, you know,” Slip said, chewing on his lip. “I thought, if I can take Persephone’s reincarnation and keep him down here, and change the world above, he will notice and come for me. Surely, if I just hold out a little longer, if I just let the winter go a little longer, let him starve a little longer, he’ll remember the promise he made to me. He’ll come to find me. But no.

“Instead, you moved on. Grew up. Got a respectable job. Even got married! All while you left me to fester down here. But it’s okay, my love. I don’t blame you. No. It’s all that Juno Steel’s fault.”

Nureyev suddenly realized his mouth and throat had gone bone dry, and a slightly manic gleam had entered Slip’s eyes.

“He stole you away from me. He’s what’s keeping us apart. You know, I should have killed him when I had the chance. Maybe I can still kill him now. You wouldn’t happen to know which of my workers he’s associating with, would you, Petya, dear? Maybe I could hurt them too.”

Peter’s whole body went rigid with fear. 

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

He could barely make his hands shape the words. The sudden adrenaline rush made him shiver. He could barely imagine the pain Juno felt when he woke up and discovered his lover was gone. He couldn’t imagine having to go through the same pain.

Slip just looked back at him, face calm and still and eyes shining as he slid into the chair behind his desk, and Nureyev knew. If he made one false move, Juno would suffer the consequences. He swallowed hard.

An executive rapped on the door. “The leader is here to discuss negotiations, my associate.”

Slip’s eyes never left Nureyev’s face. “Of course. Bring them in. You might want to stay for this, Petya. I’m sure you’ll find it interesting.”

Nureyev didn’t move a muscle.

A moment later, Juno stumbled through the door, an executive hot on his heels, and Peter couldn’t decide if he should let out the breath he was holding or grab his lover by the shoulders and sprint out of the room. Maybe both.

Once Juno regained his balance, he glanced around the room until his eye rested on Peter, and a soft, relieved smile inched onto his face.

“Hey, babe, what’s going on? Where have you been?” he said gently, taking a few steps in Peter’s direction. 

Peter wanted so badly to run to him, to kiss him, to leave town and never look back. But Slip’s threat had been genuine. He knew that. He stayed where he was, silently willing Juno to read the room and get the hell out.

“Mr. Steel. I will kindly ask you to keep your conversation directed to me, seeing as I am your host here.”

The smile fell from Juno’s face, and a mix of determination, fear, and hope appeared in its place. Simultaneously, a wave of dread crashed over Peter like a tsunami. Gods above, he wanted to throw up.

Juno bowed his head slightly in a greeting. “Slip.”

Slip bowed his head in response. “Let’s skip the pleasantries, shall we?”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

“What the hell do you mean by shutting down my whole town, Mr. Steel? I knew you were a troublesome one, but I never knew you had the guts to take it this far.”

“Oh, this isn’t my doing. It’s theirs,” Juno said simply, pointing out the window to the gathered crowd of workers partying in the street. “They decided they’ve had enough of being treated this way, so they decided to stop showing up. I had almost nothing to do with it.”

Slip leaned forward over his desk. “But you are the one who taught them that song, right?”

“And what if I am?”

“That still makes you an accomplice. You gave them the song that they unified around, and that would be considered a crime down here. And now that I’ve got you in my office, right in front of me, well…. I suppose it only makes sense that I punish you. I suppose you’ve been told how we punish those who step out of line down here?”

Juno’s jaw was set. He nodded. Peter wanted to scream.

Slip stood. “Very well then. Do you have any last words before we dispose of you?”

And suddenly, Juno looked very calm. Calm and careful, but still living up to his last name, with features set like quenched metal.

It took a moment, but Peter realized knew that look. He knew it very well. He knew it from all the nights of playing cards with Buddy or figuring out how to stack a new shipment of crates or watching him discover a new piece of the never ending puzzle that was his song.

That look meant that Juno had a plan.

The smallest spark of hope ignited in Peter’s gut.

And then Juno opened his mouth, and began to sing the song of spring.

[jgabi51]

Trans Head-cannon Thing

[With a drawing included at the end]

I know I kin only mostly male characters and usually its the one that are a bit more feminine and/or fruity in their design or personality. This of course leads to the “what if they were transmasc?” Head-cannon. Which I full support and anyone and everyone can like and believe whatever they want. I am most of the time a big time supporter of the trans head-cannon. But rarely ever enact this head-cannon in my own content because I without fail run into the obstacle of, “if they’re transmasc, then I can’t draw them in pretty dresses!” Then I get sad.

But, and I don’t really know how to explain this, however I have recently looked back at a series and one character I usually ignored within it. (They’re now my favorite character from that series) that series is the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the character is Leo (because of course it is). I’ve also watched the 2003 series and I now realize I am just a Leo kinnie across the board. Minus 2007, he can go die. I used to say I liked Donnie just cause I like purple but now I see the truth. The Donnies were either not fruity enough, were simps, or didn’t get enough screen time for me to get to know them. Thats not say I didn’t enjoy them, all the turtles are great but I am a sucker for the clearly (to some measure) gay ones.

Now you might be saying “2012 Leo isn’t gay. He likes his sister too much for that.” And I get that. In fact after the revelation that Karai was his sister he backed off. But not all the way off, because he kept trying to hangout with her in later seasons. His emo phase literally was spent with him getting in on girls night with Karai and Shinigami and joining them in committing crimes. In those left over ‘signs of a crush’ after the reveal as some call them there weren’t really any blushes or hearts or any clear indication of romantic feelings between them. It mostly was just Leo trying to be a bad boy and doing what he thought was right, hence his emo/goth phase. No one was as emo and goth as Karai so obviously he went to her. All this is too say that yes, while there may have been a bit of romantic feels on Leos part at first. I think that the signs after their (kinda) blood connection was brought to light , cause the turtles were mutated with Splinters blood or DNA and Karai is Splinters daughter, and overall feelings was just ✨gender envy✨.

Cause I mean like everyone agrees that Rise Leo is in some capacity attracted to men. And 2003 Leo is just too but only for Usagi. They both gave me the fruity vibes but 2012 Leos fruity vibes tasted a bit different. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I saw on TikTok that people were saying that he was transfem and therefore was actually a she. And I was like, “yes! Thats it! Thats what the vibes the fruit was giving!”

So may I present to you ✨her✨

God I haven’t drawn the 2012 turtles since elementary. Muscle memory didn’t kick in or more likely didn’t exist but I’d say this turned out pretty good. So in reference to the problem I presented in the first paragraph I have found the solution of just drawing a transfem character.