#I AM FINALLY GETTING THINGS DONE
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The number thing, I recommend numero 18
WIP #18: Loose Ends Tied Up In A Bow "Holy moly..."
Billy Batson was a boy who had seen wonders beyond the minds and imaginations of man. From monsters to the mythical and magical, Billy was accustomed to the strange nature of the universe and participated in being an active part of it.
He'd been to the depths of hell and farthest corners of space, experiencing what many could only dream of as a superhero. However, nothing could ever beat the pure joy of a childlike sense of wonder when experiencing something new.
Nothing could beat a cool-looking train.
"Billy! If you stop staring at the train, you might be able to get on it with the rest of us this century." Billy's sister, Mary, shouted at him, with a drawn-out yawn from the check-in entrance. She may have sounded irritated, but she was just as excited for this trip as Billy, if not more. Neither of them had gotten any sleep last night, staying up late thinking about their first family vacation together. They'd planned all the things they'd do together and all the sights they would see, the only thing the both of them didn't plan for was sleep.
Mary was not unfamiliar with the age-old tradition of traveling for vacations with family, but for Billy, this would be his first time ever leaving Fawcett that wasn't related to Captain Marvel or Justice League business. This would be his first time just...relaxing, with his new family, the Bromfields.
Naturally, Billy was hesitant at first, but with Freddy promising to look after Fawcett in their absence, sorting out any potential problems with the League, and most of their major rogues locked up in prisons at the present, Billy was eventually convinced to take some time off. Billy believed he was bullied into it by Mary and Freddy, but he wasn't too upset about it in the end.
What could go wrong on a train anyway?
Stopping his admiration of the cool train in front of him, Billy gleefully sprinted back to his family. Mr. Bromfield ruffled his hair the moment he got close and reeled him into a side hug, trapping him in his arms.
"Aha! There we go, Nora, I think we're all here now. Our boy's not getting left behind like some cheesy "Home Alone" sequel. Lord knows we don't need more of those movies going around." Nick Bromfield chuckled. The dad humor was something Billy was trying to get used to.
"Oh, Nick. Let the poor boy go, his hair is all a mess now. Here, give him to me." Nora Bromfield coerced her husband into setting Billy free, but upon the taste of freedom, he was just met with another trap which was Nora Bromfield "fixing" his hair. She cupped his face and pushed his hair back with a comb, straightening it out. Billy once again struggled to escape the arms of a loving parent, but ultimately let Nora comb his hair in defeat.
He never knew having loving parents could be such a hassle.
Mary did, apparently, as Billy heard her laughing at his misery. His face flushed red over feeling so fussed over. Suddenly, Billy felt a devious little idea pop into his head.
"Uhh, hey, Mrs. B, I think Mary's hair needs some help, too. You know, the hair she's hiding under her hat because she didn't want to tell you her hair was bad today?"
"Oh! Thank you, Billy. I need to get on that. Mary! Come here, let me clean up your hair real quickly. No, a hat is no excuse to be lazy about your hair. Come here- no don't hide behind your brother! Remember, we're sleeping in the same cabin. You can't run from your mom!" Mary zig-zagged away from her mother's comb in her hands, glaring at Billy with an expression that could make Medusa shake. Clearly, neither of the twins liked being fussed over, almost like cats who hated baths. Billy couldn't help but laugh in return.
While Nick Bromfield sorted out the check-in line for them, Nora Bromfield got to embarrassing her kids in front of everyone else around the train station. Multi-tasking parents. You can't get any better than that.
The Bromfield family were so busy smiling and enjoying their time together, that none of them had even realized they were being watched by a pair of glaring eyes. Eyes that would follow them on the train soon after.
#SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS#I AM FINALLY GETTING THINGS DONE#tysm for the ask!#wow this was a lot of fun!#ask challenge from before#billy batson#dc captain marvel#shazam#mary bromfield#nick bromfield#nora bromfield#fanfic#WIP 18#I got buried under IRL issues and school for too long#the author curse is real#anywhooo I'm answering asks and making posts again#if you see any spelling errors#no you didn't :3
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actually sometimes being neurodivergent is great bc you have a particular kind of Silly Mode that just . manifests glory. harmless fun is my precious side quest & i have a high score in whimsy. like okay if i gotta be the first dork in the dance pit it's gonna be me and this random toddler and we're gonna avril-style rock ouuuuttt
#i also like starting applause i'm really good at it and have a high score in it#i make entire groups cheer a lot. my friends are used to it . i am bolstered by so many of them being theatre kids#im like. let's celebrate! :) a guy did a thing well!!! :)#once we helped someone parallel park and it was SUCH a hard road to do it on#this is in boston. so death be upon drivers. also it was during st. anthony's feast. in the north end. iykyk#and we helped her get in there (one of my friends tbh stood in traffic for her)#and we cheered when she finally parked. she got out and she was crying and laughing and was like#''that was the hardest thing ive ever done ur so sweet''' and meanwhile we were PARTYING#just stone cold sober but like YEAH GIRL YOU DID THE HARD THING FUCK YEAH!!!!!!!!!#i've been bullied for so much lol i am immune to most insults at this point bc im like#girl when i was 12 i'd already heard every insult and good lord were they specific. just plain ''crazy'' aint it
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self-made north star
#art#coyote#coyotes#printmaking#linocut#linoleum print#traditional#traditional art#my art#i've had. so much shit going on lately artwork-wise and i've been scrambling to get like. five different things done this past#week i am TIRED and i have to teach every day this week i will be a fine paste come monday#when i can finally take a day and. not do anything. good lord#on the bright side my stuff is coming out well so. could be worse#i love youuuu lino prints#this one's big bc i was like. i want a coyote shirt but i know the vibes i want so. i will make it myself#i've been too busy to print this on clothes yet but. i will. by god
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i lied i had like atleast one more weston thought to expell from my brain, before i miss this boat entirely. we're heading to green lands woooo
#god i had a fever this entire morning and afternoon so I think it was my inability to do anything that finally pushed me to finish this#seriously it took a month... disapointing#more disappointing is that i didn't have the time to tear up the internet in order to find what a professors break room looked like in 1899#if there was such a thing#really tragic#ah yea welp im very glad it's out there atleast. I want to release all of my black butler stuff so badly but guh...#tragedy has struck and i have been inspired to finally make a person project of my own#so that's taking a long time#but not to worry after like 5 years and some pondering i know well that black butler will always be one half of my brain#coooool#anyway i got more dorky stuff coming I hope??? wasn't lying before I am thinking of the midfords#and ill pray i can find the strength to get everything done soon#hope my rants are more tasteful after months of absence if ur still here#kuroshitsuji#black butler#kuroshitsuji fanart#fanart#sebastian michaelis#digital art#animation#animatic#video#weston college arc#black butler anime#black butler agares
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Part 1
#legend of zelda#skyward sword#echoes of wisdom#loz echoes of wisdom#loz skyward sword#legend of zelda link#loz link#Echoes of Heroes AU#Since it finally got a proper name#Also hi- hello-#spoilers for echoes of wisdom#that were completely unintentional#because I am not joking when I say that I had the story-line for this based off of trailer info only!#and then I played the game and realized my fiance and I were just a little TOO on the nose with some things#I received positive feedback in terms of a comic for the new AU#and unlike lost woods I'm going to try and make it more of an ongoing story#or...something#i'm still figuring it out#anyway please enjoy!#Echoes of Wisdom Link is called Echo by the way#ALSO TO THOSE WHO SENT IN REQUESTS I AM GETTING THEM DONE JUST VERY VERY SLOWLY#EoH comic
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hguyughhghghhhhhhhhggggghhhhhghhhhuhhehghdhehgghhghdhdhhhgtydhghdhghhhhhuughghygghjy
bonus:
ik pc was wearing legwarmers in the other drawings just ignore it i got lazy
#i finally have a free day to draw but i need to finish making a bunch of conceptual maps for tomorrow and gghg7ghywh i am so fucking done#i want to be motivated like this BADLY#my unwavering fear of failing is the only thing thats driving me to get shit done and i desperately want something other than that#btw i didnt draw the first pic with a bg in mind so it looks kinda shit lmao#also i wanted m!corrupted!syd to have black and strawberry blonde hair but he kinda ended up looking like redacted from 14dwy and im crying#degrees of lewdity#dol#sydney the fallen#sydney the faithful#my art#[ ❀ ]
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💘
#this might be the most scribble thing I post here yet bahahahahahahahahahahaaha#I still like how the hands turned out even though I didn’t finish them😇#but it’s pretty messy and the hands might be the only part I like🥲#but since this blog is my art journey documentation here you are#I was pretty busy today so no good art but maybe tomorrow we’ll see#I am preparing things to FINALLY answer my asks🥹#& if you tagged me in anything I actually have been meaning to respond!!!!!!!! my notifications are the WORST and so confusing on here😵💫#and I’m technology grandma…#hope u all have had an amazing day !!!! 🫶#my brother in law has been fishing and catching SO MANY sargo#(sargo = sea bream for the animal crossing playing English speakers😙)#AND ITS LITERALLY SOOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS !!!!!#i cook it in the weirdest way possible#you just have to gut the fish and cut off its fins etc#then you put it in a wet salt bed and cover it up…cook it for 30 min…AND VOILA ITS DONE !!!!!#I don’t add any spices…NOTHING…and this fish literally has the taste and texture of crab covered in butter#LIKE…😳 it might be my favorite food/fav thing to cook these days bc it’s so easy and fresh caught fish is just delicious😫#well that was my grandma cooking show of the day👩🍳#now you know how to cook sargo a la sal 👩🍳#also going back to the drawing🥹 I just love these two so much…#I love thinking of sweet moments…most of my angst is confined to writinc😆#the chapter I’m writing right now is SO ANGST DEPRESSING (sorry Eloise)#it will get better…I promise…#hogwarts legacy#hogwarts legacy fanart#hogwarts legacy oc#hogwarts legacy mc#eloise babbit#sebastian sallow#sebastian sallow x mc
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They were right this would make a pretty sick cover.
#dndads#dungeons and daddies#my art#dndads spoilers#scary marlowe#tw eye horror#cw eye horror#cw eye imagery#you cant belive how fun making this was#it accidently became kinda trans flag colored but im not complaning#also went to a vintage market kinda thing today and bouht myself a vintage pocket watch (very cool makes me wanna make an 19th century suit)#and some vinyls (random ones cause i wanna make a bag out of them) and a lighter (kinda wanna engrave “this too shall pass” onto it ngl#could also engrave a web on it but i am supercticious enough not to bring cursed things/things made to look cursed into my house#(that's probablly quite silly though)#anyway i had a lot of fun and i hope you had too :)#oh and i have yet to finish the new episode (but i did get to listen to malevolent s4 finale and i hope to get some art done for it soon )
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the fact that you start the Tabris origin by literally stepping into your mother's shoes. the fact that what you get is a wedding outfit and your mother's worn boots, kept carefully intact for years, tucked away for this exact moment. the fact that you then immediately take the path she never could, leaving behind the alienage and the wedding and following Duncan (who would have recruited Adaia first, if not for baby!Tabris) to what ought to have been death.
And Then!! instead of fighting and falling as she did, cheating death and becoming the fighter she always intended you to be instead??? Reliving and simultaneously subverting the story of her life??
#okay no i'm not done actually#the way it feels like destiny for you to die on the alienage's behalf (soris is still in the dungeons in other origins when you get there)#and not only is that fate averted by duncan's presence#but what feels like the fate laid out for you by adaia's death is shifted too#this makes the ultimate sacrifice ending so much more awful imo#because it almost feels like a final destination-esque reckoning#you thought you escaped? no. this city will eat your bones and spit out a golden savior#who tabris actually *is* was always irrelevant and i am!!!#eating this#excuse me i am just writing baby arianwen and adaia right now and i am Feeling Things#i just!!! her boots!! is anyone listening? is this thing on?? her *boots*!#*buries face in crossed arms and sobs*#dixeram#dao#tabris origin#warden tabris#arianwen tabris#adaia tabris#oh shit oh god i just realized also#you free adaia from the dungeon in leliana's song right#and then in turn escape from the same dungeon#and when imprisoned at drakon's rise you break free from that too?#now it's tastier if you free yourself from the dungeon but#the possibility of leliana freeing you from there as well?? not the same dungeon but the same danger??? ouch. ouch!
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Cipher's Personal Portable Portal Part 2
Here's the link to the first one! This picks up immediately after.
About five minutes later, with several pages of his notebook filled out and still frantically scribbling, Dipper decides this was a great idea.
Bill’s explanations are startlingly detailed, if delivered with little context and a lot of assumptions of prior knowledge. Like listening to the instructions of a master, skillfully explained at a damning pace that makes keeping up a challenge.
No wonder Bill was able to make the phone if this is the level he’s working at. On the staircase of skill, he’s sitting near the top, waving tauntingly to anyone below him over the railing.
There’s a kind of excitement, too. Not just on Dipper’s part - even Bill, amazingly, seems happy that Dipper’s keeping up, until he’s practically trying to outrun him.
And failing. Bill picked the wrong subject if he wanted to test brains. Dipper’s going to give him a run for his money.
The discussion continues longer than he expected, both lively and rapid. Demonic knowledge never seemed like it would have *that* much kick to it. At some level, Dipper kind of expected it to be primal and instinctual - but instead of delivering magic with brute force, Bill talks in high-level theory. Still practiced with more power than a human could manage. But clever.
He jots down that in his notes before he forgets. The difference between a regular demon and a really dangerous demon likely has less to do with raw power, and more on how they use it. Not so different from people, then.
Dipper pauses as his wrist starts aching from notes. It gives him space to think, and grimace.
Curiosity is great and all. But he has got to be cautious here.
Bad ideas have wrecked older, more talented magicians than him. He knows the lure of knowledge, and how easily he could be suckered into some kind of trap. Demons are simultaneously a great source of creative knowledge - and awful, in terms of tricks.
Learning one spell, though, and one he’s already mastered the normal way, probably isn’t going to hurt. And it has been a while since he’s talked to someone like this.
A person not bored senseless by talking spellcraft. Someone who keeps up with the conversation, fully engaged, without needing a primer. Who doesn’t think that ‘good enough’ is actually good enough, when you could do it better and cooler.
Their entire conversation might be more worrying, actually - if Bill wasn’t kind of a nerd.
Clearly he gets a kick out of teaching, if the enthusiasm and exclamation points are any indication. All his insights are precise and sharp, his concepts clever -
And he doesn’t dismiss Dipper’s weirder ideas. No, he has opinions on them. Loud ones.
Said opinions are also less-than-moral. But it’s weirdly fun to argue the details. Dipper quickly learns that enough nitpicking and ‘bet you can’t’ taunts turn the more explosive concepts into usable ones.
With such a strange conversation partner, it ends up going places he never expected. Teaching merges into tangents, into strange stories from Bill himself, and arguments about magic.
Eventually it leads into stories about Dipper’s own exploits. With more detail than he’d usually go into. The last time he talked work with someone, they left early and unmatched him on the app - but Bill’s clearly interested in magical freelancing. The pull is hard to resist.
So there I am in the pouring rain, covered in god knows what with an angry cannibalistic gryphon tied up in the ditch, when Jacob Jensen steps in front of the whole crowd and thanks his ‘helpful assistant’. For pulling off the plan HE put together.
And it’s not like I could say anything, the silence spell was still up.
HA HA HA HA! Oh man, you’re a walking comedy of errors. How does one human even get into this kinda crap? It’s hilarious!
But seriously, you shoulda cursed the guy. Not the kind of thing you should let your rivals get away with, kid.
Dipper rolls his eyes at the text. Another immoral solution, provided by an immoral being. He’ll ignore it, just like all the others.
Arguably he shouldn’t be talking to a demon about, like, literally *any* of this. Keeping the details of his life close to his chest. But it’s like Bill can do anything about it, either to make it better or worse. He’s a bajillion lightyears and a dimension away.
No, Bill, for like the fifth time, I don’t hex people. Even if they deserve it. Though in hindsight, I should have kept the dispelling spell charged.
Aha! There’s your problem! Not the skills, but speaking up about ‘em! Try some showmanship! Competence isn’t everything. Hell, compared to a great sales pitch, it’s basically nothing.
I guess. My great-uncle’s great at that stuff, but it never really took.
Sounds like you need a hype man! Someone who can get the word out about your talents. A guy who could bolster your rep. Hell, you could be a real star! Everyone could hear about your hero junk, including in their DREAMS. In fact - I might even have a deal, just for you!
Dipper snorts. He saw this coming a mile away. A demon would, of course, try to sucker him into a bad deal. It’s their entire thing.
He doesn’t take it poorly, though, despite the danger. Bill’s own sales pitch is clearly an off the cuff reflex, rather than a real swing at it. Like Stan pitching an ‘extended warranty’ to a customer, even when they’ve already bargained him down on the price of a souvenir.
Uh huh. Let me guess. I sell my soul, then your ad is going to be, like, ‘HEY! Hire this guy or you’ll find snakes in your bed! In your socks! In your wheat and wheat byproducts! Save yourself from snake terror and do it today!’
There’s a suspiciously long pause before the next reply.
Look, it doesn’t have to be snakes. There’s plenty of critters you can stuff into a cereal box.
The telltale tone of a conman who knows his pitch was shit. Dipper smirks.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll handle my own advertising. You’ve already taught me a few things about having a massive bloated ego.
Ha ha! You’re sassy company when you get worked up, human, it’s pretty hilarious! Like a hissy kitten or a dragon cub! Including all the sharp bits.
Dipper forces the smile off his face, frowning again. He’s not a kitten, for one. No matter how he sneezes. And two - that was barely a compliment, and only if the receiver is already weird.
Bill might be clever. He has his own strange charisma. Definitely a type of fascinating, intelligent monster - but he’s also evil and a jerk.
Still. He figures he’ll keep talking to the guy. It’s not like there’s too much danger, what with him literally being in another dimension.
Besides, how long has it been since he’s talked to anyone but his great-uncle about magic, in this much detail? Longer than Dipper can remember, that’s for sure. For all that Bill’s a demonic dickwad, anyone who wanted to learn complicated spells would be lucky to talk to him.
A thought strikes.
Dipper looks up from the demon phone. Darting a glance to his notebook, then back at the artifact.
Strange magic. Impossible spells. The scene of the crime, with this object buried under bits of the destruction.
The culprit was there, in the museum. And that fire he uses. It defies most known magic physics, powerful and weird. Not to mention the giant anvil incident, or the animated water tower, and half of the really weird curses, all of them requiring magical knowledge and power -
Where did Dipper’s target learn his special spells?
Thinking carefully about his words, he types out a quick question. Very casual, avoiding details that might lead to suspicion.
Speaking of company. Has anyone else talked to you recently?
Nah, it’s been a few centuries. You humans are usually pretty boring!
Grimacing, Dipper sighs. That’s a bad sign for his theory. He presses further.
So there ISN’T actually a group of people, quote, ‘craving your infinite knowledge’? A bunch of guys you’re feeding secret demon information?
Hey!! Of course I’m in high demand, I’m fantastic. But I’m ALSO not passing my number out to every mortal who wanders by, jackass. I have standards! High ones!
Dipper mulls over that statement. He’s only known Bill for a few hours, but he’s sure that teaching a human how to cause tons of chaos on Earth? Is totally up his alley.
And because he’s known him for hours, he thinks that was actually true.
Changing the topic, or filling the chat with distractions. Anything that would lead Dipper down the merry trail of another topic - all of that would be very demonic, and very suspicious.
Confrontation of a question, and one Dipper didn’t know he was asking, is a different story.
Bill’s not lying, surprisingly enough. He’s annoyed, because Dipper implied he was a… loose woman. Demon. Whatever their equivalent is.
Letting out a disappointed sigh, Dipper runs a hand through his hair.
If he’s the first human to talk to Bill in hundreds of years… Then the target didn’t ever have the phone, much less conveniently drop it at the scene of his crime. He came by his power in some other dishonest, evil way.
Welp. It was worth a shot, even if it was one in the dark. Back to square one, then.
Though what Bill said does bring up another question.
That’s funny. You’ve spent a lot of time talking to me.
Yeah, yeah, I’ll admit it - You’re fun enough! Silence is only golden when I’m in it, and even then it gets boring.
I mighta picked someone less goody-two-shoes personally, but you got brains, kid. That’s rare.
This time, Dipper allows himself to smile. He’s not so paranoid as to turn his nose up at an actual compliment.
Same to you. For a demon, I guess you’re not as awful as I thought you’d be.
Ha ha ha! Oh, cutie - I’m worse! A real bad boy, as you mortals say! Ten bucks says that’s your thing, am I right?
Warmth builds in Dipper’s face. That’s - He shuts his eyes, rubbing them briefly.
Okay. He must be interpreting that wrong. These beings are super weird. And Bill’s a jerk. Besides, he’s probably some… multi-eyed flesh tangle, or giant cockroach. Maybe even an abstract concept.
That was just a condescending comment from a condescending being, devoid of any human meaning. Best not to read too much into it.
For lack of a better response, he texts back, Shut up.
Never! Too bad I gotta run for now, but I know I’ll be hearing from you. You’re a curious guy! Just filled to the brim with it!
And I got plenty of ways to satisfy.
Dipper starts typing a response, but the keyboard's gone. The last bit of Bill’s message slowly fades until the screen goes dark again.
Okay, it’s - whatever. So Dipper didn’t get the last word in. He didn’t need to anyway.
Dropping the demon phone, he pulls the flat hotel pillow over his face. If he doesn’t see the damn texts, maybe they’ll stop lingering in his head.
God, if this is what the slightest bit of attention does to him, he’s really got to download the dating apps again. Or talk to his family more than a phone call once every few days. Talk to real, actual humans.
He’s just been on the road too long, is all. When’s the last time he had a conversation with someone that wasn’t about work? Much less a person who’s kind of. Way more confident than him, and pretty smart, with a weird charm in his tone..
Dipper slaps himself on the forehead, dragging a hand down his face. He makes a ‘blguh’ sound, reminding himself not to get distracted.
That conversation did last a while, though. Night has long since fallen. No major magical mishaps have occurred to drag him out of this shitty bed. The brief respite comes as a profound relief.
Dipper yawns, rolling onto his side.
Weird extradimensional conversation aside, he’s got a big day tomorrow. Doing important stuff. Solving this mystery. Finding the man responsible for all the trouble, and making sure he never manages it again.
If he can manage it. If he can find him in the first place. If he doesn’t get burnt to a crisp in the confrontation, or run out of money on a dead-end endeavor, or look like a total idiot by finding a guy but it turns out to be the wrong one, making him start from scratch.
A thousand possibilities of failure. A billion ways things could go wrong. Dipper shoves his face into the pillow, and tries to quiet his own thoughts.
Eventually, tossing and turning, he manages a restless sleep.
The next day’s surprisingly quiet. No major magical incidents, no screams in the streets. A pretty calm day, all things considered.
As always, Dipper goes through the motions, setting up his ritual circle and sitting in mediation. His senses creep into the thin net of magic, searching for any movement like a spider in a web.
The only way he's found to keep up with the culprit is tracing the energy of his incantations, and following the leylines like they’re a roadmap. They vibrate like a plucked note on a string, right before each incident. Tracking such a vague line is a stretch for most magicians; even Dipper’s gotten turned around once or twice.
Problem is, he has to wait until the culprit’s already cast his magic to be able to follow his trail. By the time he catches up to the jerk’s location, nobody’s been there to pin the blame on. Even the few witnesses he’s spoken to have little to report.
The upside is that said reports are very consistent. The descriptions are of a blonde man, fairly tall. Wearing a too-big smile along with too-formal fashion - and nobody is ever sure how he got in the place or out again.
It adds a few hangups, but the similar description helps Dipper’s theory. It’s the same person, every time. One or two people might agree on a few details out of sheer chance. Nearly two dozen, all with the same image, is proof.
Now if only someone knew where to find the bastard.
There are cases and monsters that are ‘more important’, he guesses. In body count, at least. Single digit deaths - even if they’re weirdly creative ones - doesn’t sound super cool on a ‘monster hunting’ resume, considering what others can, and do, get up to.
That doesn’t mean this criminal isn’t a big deal, though. Somehow, the major magic they're doing has ripple effects. One of their ‘minor’ incidents can stir up enough latent magic in the area to lead to half a dozen smaller events, weeks or months later.
Somehow, this jerk is causing more flat-out chaos than every other monster combined, by a factor of five.
Dipper knows. He’s done the math.
He sits in intent focus for a long time; a half an hour when he checks his watch after. The tracing spell is intact, invisibly waiting for something to stumble over its tripwire.
Nothing has, though. Wherever his target holed up for the night, he hasn’t moved on since.
Maybe the plan is to pull something else in town. Or maybe one of those artifacts he melted exploded right in his face, leaving the jerk recuperating, or even dead. That would serve him right.
Either way, Dipper won’t know until either a body is found, or the guy makes a move. The odds of stumbling across the culprit are pretty low.
Dipper leaves the circle set up, just in case. A couple quick cantrips later, and it’s connected to his watch. If there’s any movement, he’ll know in a heartbeat.
Though if he’s being honest? He hopes there isn’t, at least for a while. Running around in this criminal’s footsteps is a job in and of itself.
God, it’d be nice to have a vacation one day.
Dipper stretches as he steps out into bright sunlight. For the last week he’s been constantly on the move, driving on backwoods roads and through tangled cities and just. Staying up too late. Wondering what the mysterious criminal is up to. One uninterrupted if restless night’s sleep has helped his mood.
When this is over, he’s going to go ahead and take a full week off. Maybe a month. Let himself lounge around in bed without a care, in a place he doesn’t rent out night to night. Long, luxurious showers where he doesn’t have to spring out at the next notification, or figure out how to get where he’s headed next. Something nice and calm and…
Well, not totally free of chaos. Dipper could have taken an office job somewhere, or worked in the government, if that’s what he wanted. But maybe a year or so at less of a breakneck pace. Fewer massively dangerous monsters.
That reminds him. Dipper pauses at the hotel entrance, patting his pockets.
Yep, one regular phone, one demonic. Good thing, too. If anyone else got their hands on that artifact, it could spell total disaster.
He breathes it in slowly, before feeling a pang of hunger that comes with an audible growl. Skipping dinner yesterday, probably not his best choice.
The good news is, in a morning surprisingly full of it, is that there’s a diner in walking distance. It isn’t even expensive.
Dipper holes up in a booth in the corner, relieved at the lack of other customers. More peace, more quiet. The waitress fills his coffee without comment, and the bitter burn of it makes him feel more human after the first two cups.
There’s a quick beep from his phone. He puts down the coffee, reaching for his pocket - then pauses.
It wasn’t his regular notification sound.
It was weird.
Dipper checks over his shoulder, a paranoid instinct. Again it’s quiet, not early enough for the early birds and not late enough for lunch. And hell, even if most of the diner wasn’t empty, it’s not like anyone cares about a person texting. Nobody can tell who or what he’s talking to.
He pulls the artifact out. The scrawl on the screen has their old messages, plus one new one.
Hey! Bored again! Whatcha up to, kid?
Dipper rolls his eyes.
Bill is many things - demon, weird, intelligent, astute. Total jerk. Surely he has better things to do than text the mortal that ended up with his weird-ass artifact. If he knows what phones are, surely he has internet.
Still, he writes back. Maybe more boring stuff will get on Bill's possibly nonexistent nerves.
Pancakes. You?
Booo, that’s lame! I thought your life was more exciting than this! At least say something about crazy syrup flavors, I’m dying here.
Sorry, no dice. Normally my job keeps me pretty busy. but I have a nice, boring day off today. Assuming nothing goes wrong.
Now there’s a topic! We covered the problem-solver bit earlier - but I know you’re not just doing BASIC stuff, because spying on you isn’t working as great as I’d like! What kinda wards you got up? Go into extra detail! It’s totally safe!
Suddenly checking over his shoulder doesn’t feel like enough paranoia. Dipper scoots a little further into the diner booth, hunching over. It’s not every day he remembers to put up those protections. Now he doesn’t think he’ll ever forget again.
Don’t think they’re doing you THAT much good, anyway! I know what city you’re in!
Dipper sits up straighter.
Aha. ‘City’, Bill says. Not ‘neighborhood’ or ‘building’, or even ‘the backmost booth in that crappy diner’. Bill might have the broad strokes of where he’s located, but it’s far less specific than he’s letting on.
Wow. Totally not suspicious, Bill. Definitely letting my guard down now.
Can’t blame a guy for trying!
Entertain me, then. It’s not like you got anything better going on, you said so yourself! Spill the beans, kid! How ‘bout starting with a name?
Giving out his name should be safe-ish. Technically it’s a nickname anyway, so there’s not too much awful stuff Bill could pull.
It’s Dipper.
What, like a hillbilly’s tin cup?
Like the constellation, dumbass.
Ol' Ursa Major, huh? And here I had pegged you for more of a twink than a bear!
How does Bill even know those words? Where would he - actually, Dipper doesn’t want to know. Bill probably ate someone’s brains, or picked it up in some wet dream. Whatever gross method a ‘dream demon’ uses to learn about human life.
I don’t even know how to respond to that, so I won’t.
What about you? What are you up to?
Today, not much! Normally I do whatever’s fun at the time! Making nightmares, eating childhood memories, robbing interdimensional banks, texting cute guys, that sorta thing. A few other extracurriculars when I get the chance.
Dipper blinks a few times. He has to set the phone down, rubbing at his temples.
Why does his imagination have to be overactive at the worst times. He really has to get out more. Better yet, he should put this phone down, pick up the other, and start swiping right on whoever’s nearby.
Before he can even begin to formulate a response, Bill texts again.
Right now, though, I’m waiting out a multiversal cosmos disruption. Kinda like being stuck inside during terrible weather! It’s a real drag staring out the window watching the debris fly by and not even being the one who caused it.
Wow. Rampant destruction! Sounds like a totally ethical hobby.
Ethics, shmethics! What a totally human hangup. Don’t you ever have any fun?
Dipper spends a few seconds thinking how to respond. Of course he has fun, he’s got the most fun-loving sister ever, and he’s…
Okay, maybe the last time he met up with someone for ‘fun’ was Mabel. And technically it’s been almost a year since they’ve been face to face - but he still does stuff on his own! Occasionally.
Other things are more important. He can do ‘fun’ stuff later. Once this particular case is over, he’ll actually have some time for it.
Another beep catches his attention.
The silence speaks VOLUMES. Jeez, is it all work, work, work with you? You didn’t seem like that big a stick in the mud!
I’ve just. Been busy.
Busy NOT HAVING FUN!!!
Yeah, well. Some of us have stuff like ‘bills’, that aren’t you, to pay. And reputations they’re building.
The advertisement deal’s still on offer, btw! Take it up anytime!
No thanks, and a little go fuck yourself.
HA! Gosh, you’re cute. But we were talking about FUN, here! You gotta have some hobbies, right?
Nothing as exciting as ‘rampant chaos’.
C’mon, kid, I’m asking. Indulge me. Movies? Games? Bloody revenge? And as for chaos - don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. I got PLENTY of tricks in that vein and they all RULE. Ever thrown a building on someone who annoyed you?
Dipper thinks back on the trick Bill showed him yesterday. The change and redirection. The power required…
It’s an exaggeration. Has to be. Or more likely, knowing demons, it requires some horrible sacrifice - but Dipper can see how others would find it tempting.
…Okay, I’ll admit it sounds cool if they’re unoccupied, but seriously, I’m gonna pass.
Eh, you’ll change your mind. I’m always gonna be around! You’ll take a deal one day!
Shut up. Anyway, I like puzzles? And spells and magic and stuff. But you already knew that.
And…???
And mystery novels, and action movies, and, uh. Dungeons, dungeons and more dungeons, which yeah, I know, nerdy. Honestly, a lot of nerd stuff.
I bet you’re gonna start typing ‘nerd’ in allcaps then backspace once you read me owning it.
A few seconds after he sends that, the typing dots appear, then disappear. Dipper smirks.
Whatever, NERD. I bet you’ve been ‘too busy’ with your boring ‘job’ to even kill some player characters in a fantasy game! Didja cast your character sheet in a fire and ritually burn your d20 when you gave up ALL joy in life?
….Okay, it’s been a bit, but fuck off.
Also, ‘nerd’. Says the guy who knows what a d20 is.
I know everything, kid! Doesn’t make me a nerd like you!
Says the guy who does advanced magical calculus
Oh, please. Big shot talking here. It comes with the territory!
Dipper sits up straighter. Now that’s a blatant lie. ‘Big shot’ or not, nobody delves that deep in theory unless they’re paid to or they like it.
Dude, I could copy/paste you having OPINIONS about Ergot’s Transition Theorem from YESTERDAY.
Total nerd stuff.
Bill’s furious response comes with a warmth under Dipper’s palms, and a faint blue flame on the screen - though not nearly as hot as yesterday. He snorts, watching the typing dots as they last for over a minute.
They bicker back and forth, quick and easy and - Dipper has to admit it - kind of fun. Bill’s ego is huge and he loves insulting people. Maybe he doesn’t have many people insult him back, because he keeps being surprised when Dipper has a retort.
So far - and it will be so far, by Bill’s own admission - talking to a demon doesn’t seem too dangerous.
Whatever else Bill might want, his main motivation genuinely seems to be entertainment. Nobody texts randomly about technically mundane stuff unless they're bored. Or continues the conversation unless they're enjoying it.
It's clear, under all the bluster and ego, that Bill's truly excited to have a new person to talk to. Someone who shares his interests, who can keep up a conversation, intriguing and combative in equal portions…
Yeah, Dipper sees how that would be enough to keep talking to some random weirdo. Even if it’s not a great idea.
Bill also seems to be angling for something. Dipper can’t tell what it is. It’s just a sense he has, from an odd turn of phrase here and there, a couple indiscernible metaphors.
He’s still frowning at a sentence - it came through in odd symbols instead of English - when the next line comes in.
So I take it you’re NOT dating a whole bunch of cute guys, gals, or other assorted entities, then using their heartbreak to power your motorcycle?
I’m like, 99% sure you can’t actually use heartbreak that way, and I don’t have a motorcycle. Also, no, not seeing anyone.
So if you’re trying to use a boyfriend or whatever to get to me, you’re out of luck.
Ha! Your lack of love life isn’t a problem, sapling! The opposite of one, in fact!
Dipper raises an eyebrow. Every time he thinks he knows what Bill’s up to, he finds another way to be bizarre.
Another statement it’s probably better to ignore. The questions are constant. And he doesn’t have to answer all of them. Honestly, it’s a better idea not to. Demon, after all.
But if Bill’s going to interrogate him, it’s only fair to flip the script.
I think it’s MY turn to ask questions.
Sure, why not? Go for it!
That was easy. Perhaps too easy.
Dipper narrows his eyes, but his mind races with questions. Ones he’s never had the chance to ask, things that couldn’t be found with rumors or books or even deadly personal interactions.
Getting honest answers from an extradimensional being is the type of thing scholars would have fistfights over.
Dipper, though, is handling this super well. He only has to delete a half-dozen sentences before he decides to keep it short.
Tell me about being a demon.
Like, where do you even live? Do you have a house? A den? Do you live in groups, or is this a solitary thing?
Do you guys even HAVE love lives or were you just trying to egg me on about being single.
Pfft, not ALL demons sit around in caves waiting to snag anything nearby. You must be talking about those low-level chumps! I’m way more important!
See, you’re talking to one of the top dogs in the whole biz. An infinite being of pure energy! I got a penthouse at the top level of my own terror pyramid, the realm of the mind under my thumb, a cool group of henchmen - AND I’m single and ready to mingle!
Taking that with a huge dose of salt, Dipper scribbles it down in his notes. At least half of that must be bragging. Major demons don’t just ‘hang out’ with humans, they devour them - but it’s interesting to see how Bill sees himself.
What’s it like over there? Actually, where the hell are you? Hell?
He finally asks! I thought I’d have to bring it up! And no, it’s not hell - it’s WAY weirder than that!
Dipper holds the demon phone a little further away from himself, suddenly wary. Even though he’s only known the guy for like a day, he senses the floodgates opening.
Bill’s going to brag.
I’ve got full reign of the liminal space known as the Nightmare Realm. The whole vast unconscious squished like a ripe eyeball under my thumb, AND it’s a pretty wild place to be! It’d blow your tiny mind if I wasn’t saving that for myself!
Like last week, there was this party, y’see? So I was at the bar, and - And there it is.
Demon information. Right from the source, and best of all: absolutely free from any so-called ‘deals’.
Since Dipper asked indirectly, the facts come in the same manner. Less of a list, more of a longwinded story told from the perspective of someone who always thinks he’s the main character. Dipper has to glean them through Bill’s stories for the details, rather than being instructed. But that, in turn, ensures that they’re actually true.
Well, mostly true. A significant portion of his notes get marked with a new little notation symbol he made up, just for Bill: Probably Exaggerated
Dipper’s hand cramps trying to keep up. Syrup is smudged in his notebook, making the pages stick together. He licks his thumb trying to wipe them off, then just puts tongue to page instead.
Still, it goes on for long enough that the torrent eventually slows. The more minor details repeat; the stories become less ‘what the fuck’ for demon power and culture reasons, and more ‘what the fuck’ for Bill-related ones.
Also, he’s absolutely bragging. To an extent that quickly evolves from ‘annoying’ to ‘obnoxious’, right around into ‘make fun of this guy’.
That part ends up entertaining. Bickering over whether or not Bill is a ‘big shot’, or ‘super cool’. He might portray himself that way, but there’s got to be more to it.
Unfortunately Dipper can’t argue on the cultural level - but he can match Bill’s level of sheer annoyance. People have always said his pedantry is irritating? Fine. Here’s a perfect target.
They go back and forth, over and over again. Dipper pulls as much semantics as possible to undercut his opponent’s ego, poking holes in every definition Bill tries to twist in his favor. Citing examples, where he can, where Bill could be interpreted as the massive freakin’ dork he actually is. And while he’s only about ten percent successful, it still feels like a victory.
After a particularly nice jab, that has Bill sending >>>:( without any additional text, Dipper sits back in the booth with smug satisfaction.
Nearby, the waitress clears her throat, startling him out of his triumph. With a raised eyebrow, she drops the check, giving his empty plate a pointed look.
By now it’s lunch, and his seventh refill of coffee's cold. He didn’t realize how much time had passed.
He hunches over the phone, feeling faintly embarrassed.
Look, I gotta go, but, uh. It’s been nice. Talk to you later.
Aww, what a shame. But hey! When you wanna start a conversation - tap three times on the screen, then whisper my name like you’re telling a dying man you’re the one that poisoned him!
Dipper frowns at the screen, then rolls his eyes. Yeah, that tracks. Contacting a demon would have to be in the weirdest way possible.
He shoves the phone back in his pocket, paying and leaving the diner. He’s well aware that talking to a demon is a terrible idea. That Bill could trick him, somehow, or have a nefarious plan. After only a day, there’s no way to tell what this is building up to.
But until then, Bill is useful. Smart enough resources will come in handy. Dipper will just have to keep an eye out for his real intentions, and not lose track of what he is.
Today , though, he can forget about all the chaos and the chase. Enjoying a quiet, peaceful day under a bright and cheerful sky.
This, like all things, won’t last long.
#writing is hard#Portal AU#Forgive me my love of bickering; there is So Much of it in this goddamn fic#I am at the very very end of writing this finally and it's Stupid Long#As in 40k#But I expect to have the whole thing done this month and in the meantime you get chunks as I edit#I hope you enjoy!!! I know it's very silly#But it seemed like a good premise/excuse to try something longform and also practice things I'm not great at like chatlogs and action scene#Ignore the me from the beginning of this project that thought 'oh yeah just a quick short smut'#That person was a fool and a moron who knew nothing
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Decided to redesign my own redesigns of the Trix once again, because I support women's wrongs <3
(old version here)
here's also a speedpaint where I talk a but more about them: https://youtu.be/CPxklymWu8I
#winx club#trix#digital art#character design#winx fanart#clip studio paint#i'm so glad to finally be done with this lol.#don't get me wrong. I'm happy with the designs now and I'm so glad I can close this chapter but man am i tired#feels good to finally put a lid on the winx brainworms i got infected with years ago at this point. off to bigger and better? things#or at least different things#anyway I'm really happy with my Stormy. she's my fave out of these despite me having no clue what to do with her at the start.#or maybe i just like red. much to think about
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How is your hand doing? Is it still bleeding, at all?
#This is a bit of an unusual one i think#I couldnt get it off my mind.#Short one also. like a certain someone... /j#Its sweet. that they sent an ask to check on it. I wouldve never thought of that.#Plus it definitely shows him that you care more than barely surface level. Which fits into the whole “drill it into him” thing-#i want.#every time he asks something along those lines. and you answer to tell him you care. he gets it a little more.#If you go back in YGM! his behavior towards you is different and out of everything thats changed#that goal has stayed the same throughout everything#His shift in behavior as you talk to him and build a relationship#you have no idea how crazy i am about this if the tags paragraph wasnt a very small peek into it#[you've got mail!]#spamton#spamton g spamton#deltarune#deltarune spamton#deltarune chapter 2#i think drawing hands has finally clicked for me while i was working out the first hand pose on paper#obviously the paper sketch looks a little better cause of ygms style but YYIIPPEESS i think i am Starting To Get It !#Woawie youre all done for when i get hands down better
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Beautiful Nightmare 🖤
#the time to draw Nightmare has finally come#but I really need to stop staring at it and finally post it. no more changes. brain stfu for a sec please i need to get things done#ok ok so the image of handsome mr nightmare with clawed hands stained in shadows was sitting in my head for a long time#and I finally got into the mood to draw it and then I didn't finish it in one sitting and new day new mood right#so his expression softened a bit compared with the sketch but I hope he still looks playful and sinister at the same time#and I couldn't resist giving him sharp little teeth for extra bite xD#actually I feel like biting something right now. am i going feral? perhaps I should make myself a dinner. maybe. yes#ughhh#ok alright so#mayhem art#nightmare#dreamling#dream of the endless#morpheus#hob gadling
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killer being like "yeah i know every single little thing about horror and dust" (because he watches them as a part time hobby (freak) (find something better to do)) and then he acts surprised when they do something that he wouldnt expect them to do in his little predetermined absolutely perfect concept of them
like what do you MEAN horror licks spoons clean when he's using them so he doesn't have to get a completely different one for the main course and the dessert. what do you MEAN dust has a lisp even though he speaks fluently and uses even more complex words than killer himself. horror knows how to sew and he often patches up their things without either of them noticing?? dust always wears oversized and clothes that cover him up just because he finds it comfy?? what??? out ra geous???? these guys have small little quirks to them that killer doesn't already know about???? killer immediately wants to know more. so he can expand his internal profile of them of course. not for any other more endearing and sweet reason. not at all,,,,,,,, (:3)
#AASHSHAHHHHH this one is so cute....... this thought. thank you brain for making this thought#it's like killer's experiencing sonder (except he's not aware of his own complexity of life because of his own derealization/personalizatio#actually i dont think this deserves to be a side blog post. this is too damn CUTE#at first the 2 were probably weirded out by killer watching them and now they probably dgaf...... killer comments less than youd expect#but now theyre used to his shit so they do all these tiny things that killer gets to pick up on and learn more about them#its so interesting...... killer can do as much reasoning as he can to try and find a logical reason for why they do these little things#but in the end if the real reason is just because they wanted to or they felt like it then how can killer comprehend that?#how can they just do that so easily and choose to do things based off a whim instead of having a calculated precise reason for personal gai#he wouldnt realize it on his own but noticing those little things coming fron horror and dust who used to be like him could help with the#everything is just a game and i am simply an avatar and the ultimate goal is the win aka be the most powerful#for dust and horror theyve already turned their consoles off. theyre out of their games theyve finished. their goal was just to beat it#(like if horrortale finally got the good ending it deserves because of aliza horror would have finished#if dust beat the player and due to extreme boredom (ITS GOTTA BE EXTREME EXTREME) decides to leave to explore the multiverse)#in killer's eyes theyve achieved their goals. but killer's still playing his game. maybe he IS the game. but eitherway he's not done#like they r. so taking into consideration how other versions of himself act when theyre finished with the game could he act like that 2??#did HE also finish his game and he never realized it? should he be basing these ideas off dust and horror when theyre kinda not the same gu#killer would find so many hoops to jump through to justify getting rid of the everything is a competitive game idea but there would be smth#IDK im just rambling. i gawt this idea from me imagining them fight. ya you wouldnt believe this sweet thing came from trio abuse :3#killer psychoanalyzing dust and horror is one of my favorite things eva. horror would HATE IT (if he were aware#and dust would totally be freaked out and keep to himself incase killer's planning anything against him#but uaaaghhh pretend this isnt canon this is triglycercule's ideal little world where they explore the mv and have fun#killer watching dust and horror sleep because he doesnt feel tired while theyre all in bed#and he's just picking up on how theyre positioned. how they breathe. the little things.......... djdjshahahaaahsushdjwbdsn ssosooooo cuuut#tricule hc#killer sans#horror sans#dust sans#murder time trio#utmv#dare i say mtt poly. ok i dare say it. but like lowkey he'd do this whether theyre together or not...... killers just weird like that......
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It's sort of inevitable in D&D, especially in a game with a lot of calls to the idea of fate and a lot of complex parental relationships, that you'll touch on breaking cycles, but man do Imogen and Ashton seem to be lined up to be some of the most clear examples of it: Imogen, suddenly leaving her home, trying to learn about herself and stop her nightmares and get rid of her powers, becoming frustrated when information is scarce, even flirting with the idea of joining the Vanguard when it becomes an option...but deciding against it, staying with her friends, even finding a different way to ease the worst aspects of her powers will still retaining what's good. And Ashton, also broken and of burning purpose, also seeking power they believed themselves to be owed, but, in theory, fated not to deceive and destroy but share their gifts with someone else and use it to end a cult of personality rather than start one. They are both one really bad experience away from becoming their parents, but they have the opportunity and the information not to make the same mistakes.
#also. any old kingdom books fans in the house thinking about...sealing that which was once sealed with remnants. bc i sure am.#anyway. what this is getting at is like. ashton and imogen's appeal IS that they are VERY close to their shitty parents#but have the power to choose differently (and in imogen's case have done so)#critical role#imogen temult#ashton greymoore#i'm SO ready for Rau'shan based on the hints i think it will be a FUN fucking trial to get the spark.#edited to include a clarifying final sentence bc people were doing the uwu they're so GOOD thing again#i HATE the uwu they're so good thing. what are you all. Calvinists.
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maybe it's lust cat noir! can't you just let a girl have her kink?!
#miraculous ladybug#mlb#mlb caps#marichat#i'm behind on the show and hadn't really engaged on a full fandom level yet#but from what little i'd seen i didn't get why there were distinctions between the ships when they're all the same people#but now i've seen this ep and ummmmmmm i get it now lol#it was easier for her to access her love for cat noir when adrienette started to get too real bc cat noir is like a fantasy#even though they are also partners lol#it just makes sense#and also it's just ummm hot lol#*disappears into the floor bc i am like mari and hate talking about these things*#ok i'm not done ranting about this and this is why i'm making this sideblog lol#it's also very sweet that he finally loves/chooses mari over ladybug or thinks he does#the normal girl with a normal life#and is trying to be chill and professional with cool and capable superhero ladybug lolol#AND ok finally last thought#in general i appreciated that he worried so much over the ethics of it all#bc it is pretty unfair#and an uneven power dynamic seemingly from his perspective since he doesn't know she's ladybug too#but also that's what makes it so intriguing............#i've been living under a rock but#i feel like this isn't really explored in other superhero stories i've seen#and applies to general celebrity fan relationships too#I'LL STOP NOW#/rant
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