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beanghostprincess · 1 year ago

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What’s so fascinating about shuggy that makes you go this wild? Aren’t shanks completely over this guy? And buggy just bitter? Am I interpreting it wrong?

I'm not gonna ask whether you want the short or the long version, because I'm gonna give you the longest, gayest version no matter what you tell me. So. Yeah. I think I'm kind of crazy about them but in a very normal way (I just lied on the internet). I'm gonna answer your last three questions before actually getting into the subject of why Shuggy makes me go so wild:

(Spoilers: manga ch.1082 and that Wano flashback)

Shanks being "completely over this guy" would be a very simple way to put his feelings for Buggy into words, I think. Although the fandom exaggerates the way he feels for him (turning into obsession and just complete depression) for fun or for angst purposes (I must say I don't really dislike it and I do believe Shanks still holds Buggy close to his heart in this way, and if we talk in a shippy way, he's definitely the clingy one) I think Shanks isn't completely over Buggy. At least not in the cynical way some people say. I think that after parting ways, Shanks accepted Buggy leaving him. I don't think he quite understands his reasons (he never will, tbh) but accepted his decision. I think he tried to choose the more mature way (not that he had other options) and moved on. But moving on doesn't mean forgetting or being completely over someone, because I wholeheartedly think that even if Buggy isn't on his mind 24/7, he's still one of the most important people in Shanks' life and story. Buggy is there in the back of his mind like a catchy song you can't get rid of, you know? It itches sometimes, too, but Shanks can't do anything about it so he just lives with it. To Shanks, he would gladly reconnect with Buggy and go back to the way they were in the blink of an eye, but he knows it can't be. I think Shanks has moved on but the second somebody mentions Buggy he goes into nostalgia mode and thinks about their times together back when they were just kids with endless dreams aboard the Oro Jackson. I think Shanks has more things to worry about than his past to be the way the fandom portrays him, but that doesn't mean he has completely forgotten about it and doesn't want Buggy back. Because he definitely does.

Buggy is- He isn't just bitter. I don't think you can say Buggy is just bitter when Shanks' decision was what determined his whole life. Leaving the thing about the map and the devil fruit aside (which also affects the story but we know his resentment isn't really about that) Buggy has every right to feel the way he does towards Shanks. Perhaps it's just that I find this pathetic clown to be very relatable, but I will always be both a Buggy apologist and defender. I'll probably get into a more detailed version of this later, but Buggy isn't just bitter. Buggy is rightfully frustrated at how his life ended up to be without Shanks. "But he's the one who left Shanks"... Is he, though? He did leave Shanks physically, but Shanks was the first to break the relationship. The thing about Buggy that I absolutely love is how his character portrays envy and jealousy into a... I wouldn't say healthy way, but at least not a damaging way to Shanks. Despite fighting all the time, they obviously loved and cared for each other. Being best friends and the youngest of the crew, always together in both the worst and best of their moments, etc. So Buggy, even though he lived as Shanks' shadow, that isn't why he's resentful towards him. He could be angry about that, right? Just bitter Roger chose him to keep his legacy alive instead of him. But no. Buggy chose to follow Shanks instead because he trusted him. Because he thought "Well, I might not be able to follow my dream, but Shanks will do it for us as our captain's legacy". Which makes sense because they were so damn close. They're always together. Like. Just watch/read the Oden flashback. Their presentation was even together, lmfao. And when they talk about them, they mention them together. The whole thing about Shanks not going to Laugh Tale to take care of Buggy? It's just- It's just so obvious that they were best friends and intended to be together forever. Buggy was willing to follow Shanks until the end of the world until Shanks hesitated when asked about following Roger's steps (Buggy doesn't actually say he'll be in Shanks' crew, but the way he reacts to Shanks' words makes me think he would've accepted to go with him as a co-captain until... Well. Yeah. That happened). And like, I get it. Shanks knew they were too young. Shanks knew they needed to grow up and live more experiences as pirates before going to Laugh Tale and for the One Piece. For Shanks it's just a little pause before they actually fulfill their dreams. But for Buggy? For Buggy, his whole world is crumbling down because the person he trusted the most literally told him he wasn't going to follow their dream. For Buggy, Shanks doesn't take the role of Roger's legacy seriously enough, so it's unfair. It's unfair that he had to leave his dream behind for him. It's unfair that he trusted him. It's unfair that Shanks didn't believe in himself. It's unfair that their captain died. It's unfair that now Buggy has to be completely on his own, with no ability to swim and no map to follow because Shanks also ruined that for him. So, yeah, Buggy is a bit more than just bitter, and rightfully so. It's classic miscommunication because obviously, Shanks wasn't going to give up on going to Laugh Tale, but Buggy takes it that way. And he also sees it as Shanks doubting himself and the dream and it's unfair that the one who got the straw hat is the one to hesitate, and the one who didn't get anything is the one who wants to fight for their dream. Buggy is more than just bitter. I know it's played for laughs, but his grudge towards Shanks is deeper than that.

You are not interpreting it wrong, tbh. I think the fandom just exaggerates their behavior and in canon you pretty much have to analyze the characters to fully understand them. If you're not a fan of these two characters, their whole relationship can feel like "Oh, they were just friends in the same crew" even when it's way deeper than that. Although I think chapter 1082 (my favorite chapter ngl I've read it so many times google instantly shows it to me when I look for the page where I read OP) explains what I just said pretty well from Buggy's POV.

So now onto the real question, what's so fascinating about Shuggy?

I'm gonna be honest with you, before writing this I have to say that I have a tendency to love these types of ships. Soukoku (BSD) and Satosugu (JJK) are no exception and they follow the same "former BFFs/partners who turned into enemies and are very very gay". The reason I like these three ships so much is probably because of personal experiences I'm not gonna talk about, but somebody mentioned something very interesting about lesbians/sapphics relating to these ships because we always have this experience about having a really close girl bff that we have a crush on, but since we don't acknowledge the real feelings, it ends up in a very toxic way that leads only to resentment and nostalgia. And, you know, as a lesbian who has been through that I can confirm wholeheartedly that this is why Shuggy is so important to me (considering Shuggy a ship for the lesbians in my heart </3)

Leaving that aside and the fact that childhood best friends to lovers is like my favorite trope, I just think their characters are so perfectly written. And it's surprising because they barely have scenes talking about each other or being with each other (Marineford is Shuggys' Roman Empire atp, although I will always remember that first flashback in episode 8 in the anime. That changed my life fr). But their story is made with so much care and love for the characters (it's obvious Oda likes Buggy a lot) that you can feel it. At least I do. Because although not having many scenes they've completely taken over my heart and soul.

Shanks is a very complicated character due to lack of information and the fact that we know he hides something deeper, but he is, after all, a symbol of hope and dreams. At least for our main character. Shanks is the main reason why Luffy becomes a pirate and there are so many parallelisms between them that I can't count them. I find it so ironic that the symbol of hope and freedom Luffy follows is actually somebody who crushed somebody's dreams and hopes. Talk about irony, right? And then we have Buggy, who's the complete opposite. With Buggy's first appearance (and honestly all of his scenes until the Wano flashback and chapter 1082) we think he's one of the bad guys. And yeah, all of them are like that because they're pirates and yadda yadda. But I'm talking about "bad guy" as in "bad bad person with no hopes and dreams and that is just interested in being feared and powerful". And he is a failguy. A very funny one, too. But he's so much more. And the fact that this comedic relief character that's always played for laughs when it comes to his own misery turns out to be the one who has the biggest of dreams and the biggest of heartbreaks about it? It just shatters my heart.

Shuggy makes me go wild because of Buggy, mostly, ngl. I wouldn't like Shanks this much if it wasn't for Shuggy, probably (I love him a ton outside of his relationship with Buggy, but you know, it makes things a lot easier). I like Shuggy because the topics the ship touches are very emotional and angsty and they crush me completely. Buggy living in Shanks' shadow? Buggy wanting to follow Roger's steps and following Shanks instead because his self-esteem disappeared the moment his captain's legacy ended up on Shanks instead of him? The trust he had in Shanks? The way Shanks hesitates and the way Buggy refuses to follow somebody like that? Buggy running away on his own because he gave up his dream for somebody who doesn't even treat it the way it deserves? It's just heartbreaking. Especially if you have in mind that they just lost the man that raised them.

Buggy then becomes somebody that people make fun of and ridicule, and they don't even think about the possibility of him being part of the crew of the king of the pirates. And when they find out, they can't believe it. They don't talk about this much, but I think that it must hurt so fucking much to be seen this way. He was just as important as Shanks. Roger loved him too. And to this day, being Shanks' shadow still haunts him. I love the angst Shuggy has. It breaks me and I love it.

Then, (and this is something I adore) with the creation of Cross Guild, Buggy has the chance to get out of Shanks' shadow. He's surrounded by two guys who only think about money and stability and business and... It's boring, isn't it? It's not flashy! And I think he has this realization of "this is my chance to prove I'm worth something. This is my chance to actually go for my dream. Mine" because these two idiots keep talking about boring things instead of following their dreams and aspirations and bigger things! And it just shows how much Buggy truly cared about Laugh Tale and the One Piece and how much he has had to wait for it. And this has nothing to do with Shuggy, I just really love this fucking clown.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I love Shanks making Buggy lose the map and eat the devil fruit. Because, okay, in retrospect it feels very stupid because it was a simple accident. But just hear me out- Even though it was an accident, Buggy lost his ability to swim for powers he didn't want. He lost the ability of independence, because what's a pirate on his own if he can't swim? He lost his individuality that night, and we see him depend on others constantly throughout the show. And Shanks mentioning that Buggy is a great swimmer? Oh, fuck you Oda for making me cry so early in the show. Then, the map. He lost his individuality and then he lost the only thing that led him to a future with treasures and his dreams. Then again, losing his independence because he couldn't just go on his own without a map. Fucking great. The fact that Shanks jumps to rescue him the second Buggy starts to drown haunts me at night, too. They're just so-- Ugh.

But Shuggy is not everything about Buggy's resentment and angst. And it's not about Shanks missing him and wanting his best friend back because he doesn't know what happened for him to run away so easily.

It's also about unconditional love, and I am so passionate about that. Shanks care and love for Buggy is something the fandom exaggerates but... These people are not wrong, tbh. Shanks gave up his dream to go to Laugh Tale (postponed it) to stay with Buggy and take care of him because he was sick. Shanks is a very selfless person all the way, and when it comes to Buggy it seems that he doesn't hesitate to put him first (in serious situations. Their usual arguments don't count. They're just stupid, and love to argue and fight like the divorced couple they are). And besides, this happens right in the same episode after Toki gets sick and Oden wants to take care of her but she forces him to follow his dream and leave her behind. Like- What the actual fuck. Ah, yes, parallel the main couple in the Wano arc. I'm sure that's not romantic at all. The difference is that Shanks stayed. And god, does that hurt. Especially when he says they'll go on their own one day, because it shows he cared about Laugh Tale too (I mean, ofc, but from Buggy's POV it's just different).

To end this I also want to say that, leaving the whole deep analysis behind: Their personalities just match. They're funny to watch. They're cute. They have an angsty story behind them. They won't stop arguing like little kids but they care for each other still. They are chaotic. They're just... Perfect for each other.

Hope you liked my tiny essay about them because I could've kept going on and on and on about it, but some people (like me, sadly) have to wake up early tomorrow to work instead of just posting about gay fictional characters (somebody please pay me to do these things and I'll stay on tumblr 24/7).

#TL;DR: they're very in love and angsty and i love childhood bffs to lovers #they make me go insane as you can see #i am so not normal about them #one piece #red haired shanks #buggy the clown #shuggy #shanks x buggy #buggy x shanks

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aita-blorbos · 1 year ago

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(Cw mild brief descriptions of gore)

AITA for knowingly sending my son into a death trap?

I (61M) have owned this rental location for animatronics for several years ago, and have been using them for experiments for a while since one of them killed my daughter and got the restaurant shut down. Now, recently they've been becoming increasingly aggressive towards me, as I give them controlled shocks to keep them in line, and they're partially made from the souls of five children I murdered. And so, I can no longer go down there.

So what I did is asked my son (26M) to head down there, telling him that he could put his sister (died several years ago) back together. What ended up happening was the animatronics down there fused themselves into one being, scooped all of my son's organs out, and wore him as a skinsuit while his body rotted away, before leaving his corpse on the sidewalk. He died, of course, but came back to life, and proceeded to send me a voicemail threatening my life.

Now, I know I do not come across well here. But you must understand, there was much on the line for me. Did I know my son would most likely die if he was sent down there? Of course! He's always resembled me, after all. And was I the one to cause the deaths of the souls haunting the animatronics, including my daughter's? Absolutely. But I am a scientist first and a father, and had I not been able to keep my experiments going... knowledge is an immensely meaningful pursuit. You expect me to give that up, for what?

And my son isn't blameless either. You see, when he was fourteen, he played a practical joke on my other son, and caused his death. And to send me, his father, a threatening voicemail because he's angry I didn't tell him everything is simply disrespectful. Why, that voicemail prompted me to take apart the other animatronics that had the dead childrens' souls, and they proceeded to corner me, making me fear for my life! I went into the suit that I used to kill those children because of their threats, and it painfully slaughtered me, causing me to bleed out slowly and painfully! How could anyone side with him for that? All this grief I've been given, all because my son decided to threaten my life after I sent him into a deathtrap.

Now, of course, I am still alive. My body is bleeding out and barely functional, but one thing you must know about me is that I am an immensely determined man. I refuse to succumb to something as menial as death. Even if it did take me for a moment, even if it took me for several years, I'll never let myself simply fall into its jaws. No matter what, I'll always come back.

This brings up the fact that my son is still alive, and functionally immortal, all thanks to me! Granted, his body is rotting away and he's become a shambling corpse that's just barely keeping itself together, but he is still alive. And my death was far more painful- his organs getting scooped out only hurt for a moment, while I've been left with sharp pieces of metal and electronics piercing my entire body as I bleed out. He has the nerve to think he's entitled to hunt me down after I caused his painful death, while MY death was far worse?

And so, I return to the question I asked at the start of this post. I knowingly sent my son into a deathtrap, and he proceeded to send me a threatening voicemail. I truly and honestly do not think I was in the wrong here, but I find your feedback extremely valuable. AITA?

(Fandom: FNAF)

#aita #am i the asshole #unreality #child death

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she-karev · 10 months ago

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The Doppelganger (Maya x Carina Funny/Sweet Imagine)

Previous Part Here

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: Four of Four

Fandom: Station 19

Ship: Maya Bishop x Carina DeLuca

AN: Hey guys I hope you all are having a great Pride Month and I hope you enjoyed my story so far, comment down below and tell me what you think.

One Shot Requests: If you guys have any requests for more Maya x Carina content please share.

Summary: Maya and Carina are in bed and talk about Mia.

Words: 1005

June 6th, 2023

Maya is sitting on the floor of the living room playing with Liam. She holds up a Bluey doll and speaks in high pitched Australian voice.

“Now fly Chunky!” Liam giggles at the voice causing Maya to join in, “You’re an alright mate Liam, everybody knows it especially your mama’s.” The front door opens, and Carina enters the house in her casual clothes. She enters the living room smiling at her family who look back at her with smiles, “Hey babe how did it go? Did Mia have her baby?”

Carina kneels down on the floor and kisses Liam’s head, “She did, she and Spencer are with their new baby boy right now. Five pounds, 14 ounces and they already named him David after Spencer’s father. Their sons were debating which one is gonna teach him to play baseball when I was leaving.”

Maya chuckles and pulls Liam to her lap, “Wow three boys can you imagine?”

“Well, I can I already love our little boy so much and I am just fine with you teaching our sons how to throw a football while I make lemonade for you.” Carina smiles at the thought, “Of course I will teach them the different surgical specialties they should consider.”

Maya chuckles, “Wow you’re determined at keeping the doctor family tradition alive. Not that I wouldn’t mind, if at least one of our kids is a surgeon we’ll be set for after retirement.”

Carina chuckles, “That is very positive thinking bambina, now that we’re both home how about we get Liam ready for bed?” Maya nods and puts Liam in her arms before standing up and following Carina to the bathroom. They give Liam a very playful bath where he plays with rubber duckies while his mom’s shampoo and wash him. He gets slightly fussy when they drain the tub, but he calms down as Carina puts him in his pajamas while Maya gets his crib ready. Carina sings to him in Italian and gently rocks him, this lasts for a few minutes until Liam starts to fall asleep. Maya smiles at the sight of her pregnant wife singing to their son before she puts him inside the crib. Maya covers him with a blue blanket and kisses his cheek, Carina kisses him too and Maya turns on the nightlight that projects blue light and stars all over the room. They stand by the door and whisper good night to Liam before closing the door.

After showering and putting on their PJ’s the wives get in bed ready to fall asleep. Maya is lying in bed staring at the ceiling with Carina next to her closing her eyes. The day that they had where she saw a version of herself married to someone else and having three kids has her mind running scenarios. It’s not something she would consider doing ever but it has her innocently asking herself what if? She turns to her wife and asks her this question.

“Can I ask you something?” Carina groans lightly but opens one eye indicating yes, “Did you really not see a resemblance between me and Mia? Because I saw some, but I didn’t think we were the exact same like the others did. How did you not freak out when you met her?”

Carina grins and props one hand up on an elbow smiling down at her, “I saw a similarity, I’m not blind but I know that no matter how much you look alike there will never be another Maya Bishop in this world. The woman I love and married and have children with, she is one of a kind. She is the same tough, beautiful, determined woman who made my world turn upside down the moment I asked her if I would buy her a drink while she tells me the story of how she carried a discarded nose into an ER. There is no one who would give me that experience.”

Maya grins smugly, “Yeah I am pretty unique, aren’t I?”

“You are and that is why I didn’t see you when I was treating Mia. What she has on you is appearance and that is it.”

Maya props her hand up on an elbow, “Yeah but it makes me wonder what if? Like what if Mia decided to join the fire department here and suddenly met this gorgeous Italian woman in a bar one night? Would things be exactly the same and you two would be married and pregnant raising a baby? And what if I went to UCLA on a track scholarship instead of competing in the Olympics right after high school? Would I have met this geeky and cute physics major on the field one day and ask him for coffee? Would I be married to him and having three boys after a gorgeous OB examines me? Would things be the same as they are now if me and Mia made different decisions?”

Carina inhales and thinks for a moment, “I think life goes the way it’s meant to, and we’re meant to be led to our fate. We’re meant to live the life we’re supposed to live. And the life I have with you right now, I wouldn’t want that with anyone but you bambina.”

Maya grins at her wife, “Me too, there’s no one who would give me this family and the love I didn’t even know existed. You did that for me, and I am so thankful I wouldn’t change a single thing in my life if it meant I didn’t meet you.”

Carina smiles, “Ti amo.”

Maya squeezes her wife’s shoulder thankful she knows Italian, “I love you too, come here.” They kiss so tenderly it feels like their souls are physically touching. After they kiss Carina cuddles up against Maya who wraps her arm around Carina’s back pulling her toward her. Maya and Carina cuddle up to each other as they let the night take them in a blissful sleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

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whiskeysmulti · 6 months ago

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Written But Never Sent (A KHR Fanfic)

Fandom: KHR Ship: 0027 (Enma/Tsuna) Word Count: 1,017 Prompt: Written But Never Sent Event Host: @flufftober

Tsuna couldn't believe what he'd heard as the truth of the Vongola and Simon families was revealed when the keys were opened and the memories of the first bosses were revealed. They'd been friends the whole time, the Simon only went into hiding because of a threat from Daemon to begin with that nearly cost their lives. Primo had never betrayed them, it was all a lie.

Now the battles were over with and the broken bond between both families was well on it's way to being repaired and the years of trauma and isolation on the Simon ready to begin the healing process, Tsuna sat down at his desk at home, he owed Enma a proper apology at least. But how do you apologize for something that happened nearly a hundred years ago that hadn't been the accused's fault to begin with? How do you explain to them that you had been allies the entire time, you were told a different story than they were, they had just been lied to and used as pawns by one person who had good intentions but did the wrong thing centuries ago. Tsuna had to write a letter.

"Dear Enma,

I'm sorry that your family was lied to for so long. I'm sorry that the Simon family spent years in isolation because one of the Vongola couldn't be trusted because he'd misunderstood his loved one's final wishes."

The more Tsuna thought about it, Daemon couldn't be blamed either if he was being honest with himself about this, grief can make a man do crazy things, but grieving your soulmate can make you do bad things too. Daemon was merely a victim of pain and suffering and simply misunderstood his late loved one's last wish for the Vongola to be made much stronger. Tsuna continued writing.

"I hope we can somehow put this behind us and our families can once again be good friends. I never wanted to become a Mafia Don so I never considered you merely an ally, you were always someone I wanted to be friends with. I saw the same pain in your eyes that I always had. And instead of feeling pity, it made me want to befriend you even more. Because I know how lonely it can get. I don't ever want to see someone else suffer that same pain, I'm reaching out to you in the hopes we can make amends someday at least. The Simon family shouldn't have to live in isolation and fear, I will restore that bond with you again if it's the last thing I ever do."

His convictions and determination would drive Tsuna to do whatever it took to restore the broken bond between the Vongola and Simon. He'd vowed then and there to protect Enma and bring his heart back to the light and keep it there no matter what or how long it took.

"I will do everything I can to protect you and bring your heart back to the light. It's unfair what happened to you and your guardians and the generations before you. I promise that as long as I am alive and still capable, you will never go through that again. I can't heal the suffering you've already been through, but I am damn determined to prevent it from recurring again. You didn't deserve to go through that Enma. I know your predecessor thought it was for the best, but I can see the pain in your eyes and I'm determined to save you no matter what the hell I have to do about it. You deserve love, you deserve another chance. I want the same thing your first boss wanted, for us all to laugh together again in a world that's safe for you guys. Let us put these differences aside, Enma-kun and laugh together once again. I want to be your friend and be there for you always, you will never be forced to hide again."

There wasn't much else to say, Tsuna had poured his heart out in three short paragraphs. Now all that was left to do was sign it and get the envelope ready so it could be mailed to Enma. However, when he got up to go get the envelope, Tsuna didn't expect what would happen next.

He wouldn't even have to mail the letter. Enma and his guardians had stopped by for a visit. There would be no need to mail it now. Fate had determined it was better off not sent and would be easier to just hand deliver it in person apparently. "Enma-kun! So glad you're here. I was just writing a letter to you! Ah, there's so much I wanted to explain but never could and I finally got the time to sit and think and actually write a proper apology note to you." Tsuna bowed in respect. "Please accept my sincerest apologies. Let me get the letter, it's on my desk."

Tsuna rushed upstairs and found the letter, he quickly grabbed the pen and signed it before rushing downstairs to hand it over to Enma. The letter wasn't exactly sent, but more like hand delivered this time, it still should count, shouldn't it? Because it was Tsuna's words that made all the difference right now.

A tear ran down Enma's face as he read it. He felt so bad for how he'd acted before, falsely believing the Vongola were horrible and had caused all the Simon's suffering for decades when they hadn't, the first Simon boss had simply gone into hiding to protect all of them, putting the family's sake first as any good leader would. "Ah, apology accepted, Tsuna. Let's go get lunch together, this time as friends." Enma suggested.

Tsuna nodded in agreement, he was pretty hungry and Enma had just forgiven them and accepted the letter, things couldn't be better right now. "Sure, Enma-kun. What are you in the mood for? It'll be my treat." Tsuna ran and grabbed his wallet, the letter safely delivered now, the two could move on and start over, as best friends this time.

#flufftober2024 #whiskey writes #KHR fanfic #prompt: written but never sent #ship; 0027 #ship; enma/tsuna

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leprosycock · 1 year ago

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please explain what you see in athf 💀

i know this is going to sound insane before i even attempt to make my point but: if you were to take all these very intriguing very real very human characteristics from this incredibly nonsensical surreal universe and put them into the bodies of people, no matter how unattractive, they would have a much bigger fandom/fujo presence than they do. but instead you have to work with the flash animated fast food bodies. so fucking like okay yeah whatever. but i am god's chosen fujoshi. i'll make it work. and i do!!

shake is a deeply fascinating character, horribly insecure and violent and selfish and bitter and mean and bigoted and sadistic and a possible psychopath and determined to destroy the life of his brain-damaged manchild roommate for no reason other than the fact that it thrills him and adds a spark of demented joy to his miserable, frustrated, angry, sexless existence. fryIock is more or less a tortured artist, definitely a tortured scientist, stuck forever in squalor with shake and their illegitimate son because he cannot and will not leave. he's canonically fostered a codependent relationship with primarily shake that's so destructive that no matter what shake does, fryIock won't ever leave because they feed on each other's misery and need it to keep each other alive. sure i know there are plenty of episodes where one dies and the other continues to live his life in continued apathy and boredom amid whatever current chaos has befallen the earth, but there's a reason why they always return to form. i personally choose to believe that it's true love <3

#LISTEN. IF THE ART STYLE WASNT SO UGLY IT WOULD HAVE SO MUCH EASTERN FANART #THEN YOUD ALL SEE #bunnyvommit

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lillyontheborder · 2 years ago

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Laughter.

// Okay so this is the first writing prompt to kind of- show more of Lilly and how she is human. If you would support me that would mean a lot, I really want to fit into this fandom and not in a way that makes my character seem overly perfect, I think I have been stressing about that lately.

Anyways thanks for supporting and enjoy

Writing 1/?

"I don't want to die yet. I don't.... no I... this isn't fucking fair!" Lilly screamed out, collapsed on the floor during a game. The timer was running out quick and she had no idea how to help. It was a clubs game... yet she barely helped out, letting others do the work while she helped when they gave directions.

She hated herself for it.

She wasn't like these people. She couldn't step up when someone needed a hand, and she was too scared to sacrifice herself for the greater good. She wasn't athletic, she wasn't smart, she couldn't read people. She didn't have any skills that would come in handy when playing games like this.

"Come on! We have to keep trying! We still have time!" Another player shouted, trying to help Lilly up.

She slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Keep trying what? What am I supposed to do?" She cried. "I'm fucking useless. I can't help you guys."

A girl walked up next to them and glared down at Lilly, scoffing and shaking her head. "Seriously? Seriously. This is what you're doing? Having your own fucking pity party? We are all working our asses off to save the entire group, and you're over here crying about dying. If we live and you survive, I'm going to be pissed. The least you could do is try to help us. Let's go. Leave her here." The girl said. The guy next to her looked at Lilly with pity before walking off with the girl.

Lilly could go help. She could stand up right now and be a better person. 'Hey. She's right. I should go help them and apologize. I can do better. I'll help the group as a whole instead of thinking about myself.' Is what she could have done. But no. Instead she lay down, her head swirling with the same thoughts that shouldn't have mattered in a world like this.

They hate me. They'll hate me forever. Gosh I'm so stupid. And useless. Why am I here? I hate this. Yet... I don't want to die. They hate me. Everyone hates me.

Sure, these thoughts could cause someone to pity her, or feel sympathy for her, but they shouldn't. Why? Because no matter how sad the thoughts were, they all were about... herself. Everyone hates her. Everyone hates me. I don't want to die. For Lilly, people disliking her was worse than dying. However, both were pretty bad.

The average human being would be like Lilly in this kind of situation. Crying, praying, and soon, giving up. However, those that made it out alive tended to be a little more. They were given an extra pinch of salt while the rest were left with food a little less seasoned. Lilly wanted more salt. But didn't everyone? Salt could be... hope. Salt could be... determination. Salt could be... perseverance. Salt could be... strength. Strength comes in many forms. Not just big muscles.

Lilly lay there, tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't get herself to move. Her limbs felt like heavy weights.

Huh.

Without light pollution... the sky looked really beautiful. So many stars. One thing movies always discussed was how big the universe was... and how small that made her. All humans were really small. According to 2021, the earths population was 7.8 billion people. Yet here Lilly was thinking.

About.

Herself.

Lilly's pathetic nature gave her a reality check on just how selfish humans can be. How scary death is. Just how many out of the 7.8 billion people were here? In the borderlands? How many helped others? How many lay on the ground, looking at the stars, waiting for the work to be done for them?

A happy tune interrupted Lilly's emotionless state. She didn't need to look away from the vast sky to know what that meant.

"GAME CLEAR. CONGRATULATIONS."

She lived. Thanks to the sacrifice of other people. She lived. She didn't do anything. She lived. And only thought about herself. She lived. And slapped away the hand of the one trying to help her.

A laugh. "Haha... hahahaha.... HAHAHAHAHA!" Lilly bust out into laugher.

It wasn't happy laughter.

#aib oc #lilly #writing prompt #lilly devlopment

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timdrakeinorder · 5 months ago

Text

"I'll come back for part 2 after work" well it's been over a month and I'm unemployed now, whoopsies

I am once again banging on the walls, begging the dc fandom, movies, cartoons, etc to give Harvey Dent more attention. He's SUCH a fascinating character! I'm so bored of Joker, man. Two Face is way more terrifying to me because he's much more grounded. There's also the tragedy of being a close friend of Bruce's that he failed to save. He's the murderer of Jason's father! He's been rehabilitated at least once and we see multiple times that there IS a chance for Harvey to be Harvey again, to live a good and honest life. The real tragedy is that it never sticks. Harvey can never escape this. I'd love to see more Batman media that explores the idea that Batman and Two Face are two sides of the same coin (pun absolutely intended) and they are both "cursed" to be what they are

Another fun thing here, Two Face has no idea that Tim isn't Jason. I haven't read enough of Jason's robin era to know if they have more development, but Two Face was Jason's first rogue! Jason went absolutely ape shit on him and just barely saves his life soon after. I also absolutely love how much the scrap metal Harvey is using looks like a crow bar, it adds so much more weight to this

I think Two Face starts puzzling out that this isn't Jason here. He can't put his finger on what's changed yet, but he's on the path

This nearly brought me to tears! This scene mirrors Jason's death so heavily, but Alfred was here this time! He could save Robin this time! After how hesitant Alfred was to let him do this in the first place, I can't imagine he didn't feel great responsibility and guilt here

They care about each other so much it makes me sick!!!! I'll say it to my dying day, Alfred deserves more credit than he gets for Tim's training, he had Tim's back from day one!

god </3

The guilt complex and need to self-sacrifice came pre-installed, Bruce didn't need to do shit but teach him how to hit good

He's only 13!!! He feels so much undeserved responsibility for these two. He's just a random civilian kid who knows too much, and they're highly trained vigilantes who have been doing this for 10 years plus! I don't even know how long Bruce has been Batman at this point, but ALPOD happens soon after the nightwing comic where he says it's been 10 years since his parents died

Bruce still hasn't even met Tim!!!

Dammit Tim, why are you like this?

God I miss the way comics used to use color, this is so tasty!

Alfred and Dick teaming up to talk Bruce into letting Tim be Robin! Tim isn't even advocating for himself to be Robin yet!!! Bruce is stressing out so hard right now and they are NOT helping

And here's where Alfred advocating for Tim to be Robin really starts to make sense. At this point, being Batman is Bruce's slow burn suicide, nothing Alfred can say or do will make him be more careful. Alfred's priority will ALWAYS be his boy, no matter what. And if having a Robin is what keeps Bruce alive, then so be it.

Tim is so little against the looming shadow that is The Batman but he's holding so strong. He's so determined

I think THIS is where Tim really starts endearing himself to Dick. I think he sees a lot of himself and, painfully, a lot of Jason in Tim. Dick is just as dedicated to Bruce as Alfred is

Cue Tim shifting strategies bc hunting down criminals matters to Bruce infinitely more than his own life ever will

Aaaaaand hit the image limit, part three incoming (in less than a month this time)

Batman #442 (My thoughts)

Alfred has known him for ONE NIGHT and he already gets Master Timothy status. It's unreal how fast he got endeared to this little shit. Alfred and Tim's relationship is so underrated and I will never stop saying it! In a way, Alfred mentored him before Dick or even Bruce did. Alfred has such an important role in teaching him how to be a support for Batman, and accepting how dangerous what they do is as someone on the sidelines

Alfred is so strong, he really doesn't get enough credit for how hard being Batman's guy in the chair, emotional support, nurse, and father is. He could lose his son every single night and he just has to sit at home and hope for the best

Right of the bat (hehe) Tim has SO much respect and appreciation for Alfred and it's really nice to see.

Hey look, it's the profile thumbnail!

It's like Tim can't physically restrain himself from jumping in to help when he sees a problem. He's so worried

This is where we get into one of my biggest gripes with fanon, the "tim forced batman to make him robin" thing, and also a bit of the "bruce was irresponsible and chose to endanger a random civilian child" thing, although the 'are robins child soldiers?' discourse is too heavy for me to get into.

The biggest problem I have with it is when Dick and especially Alfred are portrayed as being against the decision and forced to accept it by Bruce

As with a lot of fanon, it's rooted in canon and then horribly exaggerated. Tim talks Alfred into taking him to save Bruce and Dick, despite multiple attempts to talk him down both in the cave and in the car. Tim followed Dick all the way to Haley's circus to try and talk him into being Robin, if Alfred didn't drive him the little shit absolutely would've found his way to the fight anyways the second the man turned his back. He's extremely stubborn. And, as established in earlier installments, Batman has been reckless to the point where it is VERY likely he'd die out of his own lack of self-regard any day. I really can't blame Alfred for having a moment of weakness here. Bruce means more to him than anything in the world and Alfred can see that in Tim.

This is also where we get into the "did Tim stalk the bats and take pictures of them regularly?" fanon discourse. I definitely don't think there's canon support that he was following them every night on patrol as an extremely young child (he didn't even figure out their identities until he was 9. I've seen writers make him as young as FOUR trying to follow them and as a big sister to a 4 year old, y'all are insane) That being said, I think his use of the word "followed" could be interpreted in a few ways. It would be a perfectly valid interpretation that he means 'followed' in the way one follows the news, as in keeping track of. However, he does have A LOT of pictures of Batman and Robin and, in my opinion, a lot of them don't look like newspaper clippings. Plus Batman and Robin are rarely caught on film, I don't think the newspapers would catch them often enough for Tim to build a collection that big.

Tim also knows when Titans meetings are, where Dick's apartment with kori is and the fact that they're together as well as knowing what angle to peep through the window at and where to view both the tower and that apartment stealthily. He knows where Dick's New York apartment is, he knows how to get in, he knows how to get into Dick's safe.

He DID manage to follow Batman to that fight on the dam and photograph it.

I think that's too much evidence to completely dismiss the idea that he's followed them before

And here's the real kicker about the 'Tim forced them' thing. TIM DID NOT GO IN WANTING TO BE ROBIN! TIM SEES THIS AS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO BATMAN'S SELF-DESTRUCTIVE VIOLENT SPIRAL!

Tim is selfish. He is stubborn. He's reckless. He wants to help no matter the risk. He sees a problem that affects him deeply out of a VERY parasocial relationship and demands to be able to fix it no matter what anyone else has to say about the matter. And he's a 13 year old boy with a heart too big for his chest. Tim was made to be robin

(coming back for part two after work. we're still only on page seven and I have MUCH more to say)

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mithrilhearts · 2 years ago

Note

For the writer asks, all questions with a 2 in them, please. :-)

Alright, okay, holy shit lmao this is gonna be a big one. AND I AM UP FOR THE CHALLENGE!! Thank you Fizzy!!

Throwing this under the cut as there are a LOT of questions.

2. Do you plan each chapter ahead or write as you go?

I already answered this one here!

12. how does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

I think every writer loves feedback. All we want to do is yell about our stories with people - that being said, not everyone has the time to leave a comment and I understand that. However, I feel engagement is super important to keep a fandom alive. I try not to get stuck on that though - I feel like I get a decent amount of feedback, and then there's some fics that receive little to none. It's just how things are. Feedback encourages me to work faster on certain pieces, and a lack of engagement makes me feel like I can be slower on others.

20. Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

Yes. I use various headcanons, phrases and themes throughout my stories. It's how you know they're mine I guess lol - I always include blueberries in some fashion, I always describe Bilbo's hazel eyes meeting Thorin's blues, fireflies and freedom, etc. I love fluff, hurt/comfort, etc. So I like to stick to my wheelhouse and use styles/phrases I know that work.

21. Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

idk @sunnyrosewritesstuff, would I?

22. Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

I won't do reader inserts, or change from 3rd person pov. Those aren't my wheelhouse and I feel uncomfortable trying to do those. As for tropes, pregnancy fics, love triangles, a/b/o, and I'm sure some others, they just aren't really what I'm looking for as a writer.

23. Best writing advice for other writers?

Don't compare yourself to other writers - no one does a fic just like you. You may have a similar concept, but no fic is exactly the same because no author is exactly the same. Also, stats do not determine what is a good or a bad fic. Do not obsess over them, they mean NOTHING.

24. Worst writing advice anyone ever gave you?

See above and reverse it.

25. What fic do you wish you got more of a response on?

Probably my TRSB fic from 2022, Between Vices & Virtues. It's a 40k multichapter I worked very hard on over the course of 2-3 months and it just feels like it didn't do as well as I'd hoped. I love it anyway :) which is what matters.

26. Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

Where The Shadows Lie, definitely. It's a crackshit fic, as I call it. But Fuck Thy Neighbor is creeping up on that list as my very fun rom-com fic lol

27. What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

The planning and actual writing is my favorite part. My least favorite part is the summary/tags/title lol honestly, my bane!

28. On average, how much writing do you get done in a day?

Some days are better than others. Some days I write 0 words, others I can pump out nearing 3k. It depends on my mood.

29. What’s your revision or editing process like?

I go through my chapter/fic with spelling/grammar in mind. Then once all that is done, I read it aloud (most of the time) to check for flow and what not to make sure it sounds right to my own ears. It's pretty simple, but time-consuming.

32. Name three of your favorite fanfic writers.

I love so many writers???? But the first three that came to mind were @i-did-not-mean-to @sunnyrosewritesstuff and @ahufflepuffhobbit

42. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

So, I am a very slow reader. But the last thing I was working on reading was a WIP by @theladygreiwolf, already, I definitely recommend it, but it's not ready yet 👀

52. Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Yes. I try to respond to as many comments as possible - I do this because I like to engage with other people about xyz story. I also want people to know how much I appreciate that they took the time to leave a comment, it's the least I can do in return!

62. Thoughts on cliffhangers?

I love cliffhangers. I use them now and again in my own works!

72. What order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

Chronological 99% of the time. I think there was (1) whole case where I wrote the end of a chapter and then went back to do the beginning. I was in the mood to write that content, and it had to come out or I'd explode.

#ask game #raz answers #fizzyxcustard #PHEW this was a lot!!#but I did it!!!#thank you so much!

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makeste · 4 years ago

Text

BnHA 326: What’s up Kids, It’s Me, Your Old Pal Stain

Previously on BnHA: Ochako shamed the U.A. Clown Mob into letting Deku go back inside his own fucking school by giving them an hour-long speech about how not to be humongous dickheads. Kouta and Gigantic Fox Lady saved the manga by being the only ones brave enough to give Deku a hug. Shouto was all “man, all this togetherness sure does remind me of that promise you made that we would handle Touya together which you immediately bailed on, doesn’t it, Dad.” Aizawa was all, “for the one and a half people out there who thought that my losing an eye and a leg might actually make me less sexy, I’m very happy to prove you wrong.” All Might was all, “[standing outside the U.A. fortress alone in the rain talking to someone or something??].” Like seriously, what was up with that though.

Today on BnHA: All Might is all “here I am in Kamino having a belated mid-life crisis because Deku abandoned me and I’m a terrible mentor and everything sucks and I hate myself.” Stain is all, “don’t make me come over there and give you a ten page speech about why you’re still the goat while menacingly holding you at swordpoint the entire time” because idk if you knew this guys, but Stain is pretty crazy actually. Anyway so he does that, and then All Might gets all emotional, and then the lady from chapter 92 shows up and gives All Might’s statue an encouraging pep talk, and then Horikoshi is all “and it even stopped raining lol can you believe this shit I’m not even a little bit subtle,” and he really isn’t. But I still got emotional anyway, because seeing people reassure All Might that everything he’s struggled for his entire life hasn’t been in vain just got to me okay. Horikoshi knows I am weak to the All Might feels and he just goes for the jugular every time, that bastard.

lmao. “in the neverending downpour, All Might is...” yeah, thank you, glad we’re getting right to that then

“All Might is driving 95 mph in his busted ass car in the pouring rain, is what he’s doing.” huh

so basically a day or two after his adopted child refused to accept the handmade bento that he packed with love, my man is out here acting like he’s got nothing to live for anymore. this sure bodes well for certain prophecies on which the clock is still ominously ticking down

his fucking face though omg. is it weird that I’m kind of hoping more people ambush him just because I think it’d be funny to see them get their asses kicked like the last bunch

(ETA: or maybe he will just stand there openly not giving a fuck and basically daring them to stab him!! get it together please All Might.)

side note, “anti-hero supporters” is such a strange way of saying “people who hate heroes”, which I’m assuming is what they actually wanted to say?? this makes it sound like it’s a group that really loves antiheroes. “these Hannibal stans have been a real menace lately. time to go deal with them”

ha ha ha, fucking ouch

are you really gonna do it Horikoshi you bastard. are you really going to let that be the final encounter between the two characters whose relationship you once described as the vertical axis of the entire fucking story. are you really gonna?? huh??

huh

you’re telling me you were driving 112 mph and you still didn’t get there in time. you’re losing your touch old man. lol Todo’s ice is almost fully melted already, how late were you

(ETA: so apparently this is taking place after the end of chapter 325, meaning he went to U.A., hung out for a bit, saw the kids come back with his bedraggled half-dead protégé in tow, watched as they shamed the civilians into some long-overdue character development, and then was all “welp, time to go argue with the hero-hating faction or something because I’m feeling useless.” and Edge just let him go, just like that. though to be fair I have to imagine it’s pretty hard to say no to All Fucking Might.)

also belated lol at the fact that the kids were all “yeahhhhhhh we are definitely not gonna touch that thing, let’s just leave it here, he doesn’t need it anyway.” probably the right call to make since they couldn’t get a hazmat team on such short notice

fuck. ha ha ha fucking ouch part two

All Might please put that thing down before you get gangrene. also yeah, you dropped the ball, good for you to acknowledge it. nobody’s perfect and you did your best. but yeah you could have handled a lot of things completely differently. but I still love you

is Horikoshi really putting this flashback here. are you serious. what kind of fucking sadist

look, I swear I’m not one of those people that runs up and down the street shouting “DEATH FLAG!!” at every third panel lol. but this shit screamed Death Flag when we originally got it, and it’s screaming DEATH FLAG!!! even more now. like with the capital letters and exclamation marks and all. and that’s just a fact. I don’t like it but that’s how it is

ffkdjslk

“DID YOU READ THE SIGN??!” Horikoshi asks while zooming in maniacally because he thinks we’re blind or something. lol what

-- though actually, it only just occurred to me that this sign is actually written in English. I never really paid attention up until now and had been assuming it was written in Japanese and translated by the scanlators, but the writing here is clearly part of the original image. anyway so maybe that’s why he’s zooming in?? just to make sure everybody pays attention lol

okay fuck this

see, this is the whole problem right here. once again All Might is all on his own. Deku’s self-destructive angst spiral was fortunately brought to a grinding halt because he actually has support from his friends and family and teachers and classmates. but All Might never had that same kind of support, and it’s made all the difference between the two of them, and not in a good way. Katsuki wasn’t wrong when he said All Might and Deku were both cut from the same cloth. but now when it’s All Might’s turn to go all “I WALK A LONELY ROAD~~” once again, there’s nobody in sight

just, after forty plus years of him carrying this torch, I just wish someone would finally come along to let him know he doesn’t have to. all those things that he wanted to say to Deku are also things that he needs and deserves to hear himself. Aizawa was making a little progress there, but now he’s got his sad zombie cloud boyfriend situation to deal with, and we can’t expect him and his perfect hair to solve all our problems. someone else has gotta step up

oh my god

“you rang?” never mind I take it all back sob

omg why am I laughing. shit

this man truly has the best PR game in the series. we were truly convinced he was gonna suddenly become a good guy and defend All Might against the other villains or some nonsense. as if this wasn’t the same man who decided on a whim that Iida Tensei deserved to be paralyzed, and that his fifteen-year-old brother deserved to die for daring to be upset about it

lol even All Might is all “I genuinely never saw this coming” lmao

just want to say, for the record, I have always harbored a very sensible hatred toward Stain. feeling very vindicated right now. good job Past Me

adsfklwkfsdwgkj

ffffwefjslkg. ghsdlkg. dsfkkkslkjldwkjrg

STAIN: heard you talking shit old man

ME: smh that’s what I thought you’d say you dumb fucking Stain

STAIN: how dare you talk about All Might that way

ME: gljfljgk

(ETA: in hindsight I have no idea how I didn’t clue in sooner that he didn’t recognize him -- or, well, ~didn’t recognize~ him, to be more accurate lol. I think it was the whole “is that a slight against the heroes?” thing that threw me. Viz’s translation makes it much clearer that he’s offended on behalf of All Might specifically, not heroes in general. anyways.)

sob. so All Might is all “yeah I don’t blame you for not recognizing me in this sweet leather jacket”

good thing he still knows how to do this party trick

A+ reflexes on Stain’s part presumably pulling the sword back a few inches to keep this dumbass from impaling himself with his whole pufferfish routine. can you imagine if that was the gruesome death Nighteye foresaw. and he was just too embarrassed to say anything

lol anyways guess I was wrong about Stain everyone

way to fucking go, Past Me. you really biffed this one

oh wait

Stain sure is one wacky rollercoaster ride

oh fuck me lol I forgot how much I did not miss this

(ETA: “this here is the sacred ground where All Might gave up the last of his power and turned into a shriveled old man!! please ignore the part where I admit to knowing all about that, and yet pretend not to recognize said man when he’s standing two feet in front of me.”)

Past Me, I know we’ve had our ups and downs these past ninety seconds, but I’m really starting to think you were on to something. this dude has always been kind of insufferable. always acting like his high horse is a fucking giraffe when it’s actually a Shetland pony

dammit now he’s got All Might going off on a depressed monologue

oh my god my heart

shit

why the fuck does that hit so hard. he became a hero because he couldn’t bear to just sit back and let bad things happen to people who didn’t deserve it. I mean that’s basically the same as every hero ever, right? so why does it still hit so fucking hard every single time though. what is it about seeing someone so determined to stand up for other people and fight on their behalf. it just never loses its impact no matter how many times I see that determination mirrored in so many of my favorite characters

“I wanted to make the world a better place.” omg. but you did, though. like seriously, I feel like people are always dogging on him for not being 100% perfect, and fandom really doesn’t give him enough credit for everything he still managed to accomplish. this man came of age at a time when Japan was by all accounts a total shitshow, and singlehandedly managed to bring about an era of peace that lasted for four fucking decades. can you imagine having peace for that long?? that’s longer than I’ve been alive. shit

and he gave people hope. he inspired them and protected them and made them feel safe. and no, he couldn’t save everyone, because he’s only one fucking dude (and also because the whole time AFO was also out there desperately working to undermine him so that he could keep preaching his narrative of “heroes are bad actually”). but you know what he did do, is inspire multiple new generations of heroes who, if they can all manage to work together, will finally be able to accomplish everything he never could

so yeah. forty years of peace, and inspired the “that’s how we all became the greatest heroes” generation -- that’s a fucking win in my book. talk about having a net positive impact on the world. lol anyways now I’m all fired up and ready to fight anyone who tries to talk any shit about you, All Might

“but what if I talk shit about myself” okay listen up All Might I’m gonna need you to try just a little bit harder to work with me here okay. please calm down and stop blaming yourself for every single bad thing that’s ever happened in the world. do you remember that time Bakugou was blaming himself for Kamino, and you gave him a hug and told him it wasn’t his fault, and that he was only a boy, and that even though he was strong, even strong people can struggle with the burdens they place on themselves, and that you were sorry for not seeing that earlier? do you remember all of that? that’s what I want someone to tell you too, dammit. anyway please stop breaking my heart please and thanks

wtf

are you dead All Might

I don’t even have the slightest idea what’s happening lol

oh snap did he grab him so they could hide??

hold the fucking phone. don’t tell me this person in the background with the umbrella is here to actually do something decent??

oh my godddd

and here come the feels. oh boy. okay don’t mind me, I’m just gonna sit here sobbing over this fictional lady and her simple act of kindness in this weekly shounen manga that I care about way too much

FUCKING DAMMIT AND HERE’S A SECOND HELPING

DON’T MIND ME, I’M JUST GETTING DISPROPORTIONATELY EMOTIONAL OVER THIS WOMAN’S DETERMINATION TO HONOR A MAN WHO SACRIFICED EVERYTHING TO SAVE HER AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. I’M JUST HAVING SOME FEELS OVER HERE ABOUT HER HEARTFELT, DOESN’T-EVEN-KNOW-ANYONE-ELSE-IS-WATCHING FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE THAT COMPELLED HER TO COME OUT HERE AND MAKE THIS SMALL BUT POWERFUL GESTURE. I’M JUST OUT HERE GETTING ALL PROFOUNDLY WORKED UP ABOUT STATUE MAINTENANCE AND THE HUMAN RACE. NEVER MIND. JUST IGNORE ME AND CARRY ON

holy shit. I was not even remotely prepared. you can’t just do that to me. you can’t just leave all these death flags on my lawn and then suddenly shift gears to show me the best of humanity in a chapter where I was expecting the worst. that fucks a person up lol

OH ARE WE STILL GOING

my heart. you see that, All Might. your legacy is so much more powerful and meaningful than you think

...has. has Stain actually been giving All Might a pep talk this entire time

I give up lol. this dude is a fucking enigma

YAYYY

it may just be a metaphor panel, but I’ll take it lol. I missed them. nice to see the traffic light trio front and off-center. I know the whole “this is the story of how we all became the greatest heroes” thing had left some questioning whether certain characters would continue to play a central role in the narrative, and hopefully this will help to ease those concerns just a bit

anyway, so idk if it’s getting a bit chilly down there in hell, but damned if Stain didn’t just give an actual decent fucking speech

I have to say, earlier when I was whining about All Might not having a support squad, I really was not expecting Stain to be the one to come over and pat his head and reassure him that he made the world a better place

-- okay LISTEN

YOU CAN’T JUST COME INTO MY HOUSE AND HIT ME WITH THOSE ALL MIGHT TEARS AGAIN GODDAMMIT THIS ISN’T FAIR. my god. first 317 and now this

holy fucking shit

“I’m just gonna pretend like I haven’t been stalking him for two days and didn’t see the entire Deku bentogate thing go down, and then I’ll give him the whole big speech that I rehearsed, and then I’ll turn around and be all ‘BUT IF YOU’RE A TRUE HERO’, and then I’ll toss him the super-secret AFO wifi password that I stole from Tartarus. god I’m such a badass. fucking give myself chills”

so basically what you’re telling me is that this whole time my “what’s up kids” characterization of Stain from this shitpost has actually been 100% accurate. just want to make sure I’m understanding this right. okay then

“and then I’ll dramatically spin around and be all NOW COME KILL ME BITCH”

it must be so much fun to write Stain. drawing this coked-out maniac who talks like a chatbot that was trained to speak by reading Alan Moore monologues. that must be a trip

anyway so All Might is still crying, the awesome lady from chapter 92 is admiring her handiwork totally oblivious to the batshit insanity going on fifty meters to her right, and it’s finally stopped raining lol

“THE RAIN WAS A METAPHOR YOU SEE” yes, yes, we got it lol. thanks for that Horikoshi. don’t think we needed any help putting the pieces together on that one but I appreciate the effort

so that’s the end! and as I mentioned in another post, I had the count off by one chapter, but next week should be cliffhanger week! so break out your U.A. Traitor bingo cards, friends and fiends. either that or something else happens that I’m completely not expecting at all. which, based on my success rate with Stain predictions, I’d say is more than likely lol

mmm but anyway, so now that the Hug Deku 2021 campaign has finally come to an end, what’s it gonna take to get a hug for my struggling bento-preparing jacket-rocking world-weary death-flag-waving husband who is the worthiest man to ever live and deserves the fucking world, goddammit

#bnha 326 #all might #yagi toshinori #stain (bnha)#bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha

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tmntxthings · 3 years ago

Text

so, I just watched the new tmnt movie on netflix! i had not watched any of the (26?) episodes… pretty much went in blind!

I am shell-shocked to say the least (pun intended hehe) like W O W. The roles in the team are switched?? I’m used to Leo being the caring, leader and Raph being the cocky/impulsive one

Their roles definitely aren’t just straight up reversed, the more I watched the more I saw what Leo could possibly be like if he never had that pressure Master Splinter put on him, and that Leo put on himself to be a great leader. It would mean he never really learned to care about the team, because that’s what leaders do, he’s got more of a spunky, sarcastic personality, honestly he cracked more jokes than Mikey! Maybe that’s what disappointed me the most, Mikey’s role as the hilarious, no matter the tense moment was kind of given to Leo in most cases here. Donnie was pretty consistent though with what I’ve seen in other tmnt movies/shows, a know-it-all with the stats to back it up, crazy wiz genius with out-of-the-world technology, nerdy and we love it

I don’t know how to feel, on the one hand, I would have loved to see what I’m used to. Not saying to stick with the same ole lines, just nothing wrong with Raph threatening to go off on his own and being all aggressive, competitive(ready to diss but also super protective)/Leo knowing and saying Raph ain’t going anywhere and that we do this as a team, being all mature, cautious, determined (yet he’s still a teenager who isn’t all-knowing and relies on his brothers just as much as he leads)

On the flip side of things, I ended up really enjoying the way the movie turned out at the end. No deaths (thank god! there were a few jump scares… SPOILER ALERT?) major character development for Leo, coming to terms with his responsibility as a hero and as a brother in a team, beautiful ending that had me wanting more <3 I started watching the first episode of Rise of the Turtles but ended up here on tumblr to see if anyone else had a similar or different opinion from mine???

What do you guys think? I find that any tmnt content is pretty much better than nothing c: it keeps the fandom alive and it’s been so long (at least for me!) Any and all thoughts are welcome, don’t be shy ;D

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multi-lefaiye · 3 years ago

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To Be Careless - Flash Fiction Friday

[Image Description: A banner with diagonal slashes of pink and orange over a grey background. Black text in the center of the image reads: “#FFF167 LEAP OF FAITH” / End ID.]

Finally participating in @flashfictionfridayofficial again!!! I really love the prompt for this week and wanted to give it a shot :> I hope y’all like it!! I took a bit of a loose approach to this prompt, I think, focusing on my OC Sol and their lack of trust in others after everything they’ve experienced. Here, the ‘leap of faith’ is their ability to trust anyone but themself. Might not be what y’all intended, but I hope you like it!!

Fandom: Original Work, inspired by the game Biomutant

Words: 984

Content Warnings: Semi-graphic descriptions of violence, including specific mentions of blood, broken bones, and fire; mentions of murder and death, as well as implied/referenced kidnapping; in general this is a whole thing about trauma and a lack of trust.

“Be careful.”

These were once the most important words in Sol’s life.

They first heard them when they were just a kidling, tottering around their parents’ paws. Their caretakers told them time and time again to watch their step, to tread lightly, and to always keep their wits about them. However, young Sol never listened, always brushing off others’ concerns easily. The world was too big, too exciting, and too full of endless possibilities for them to spend time being careful.

They didn’t know the world could hurt them, then, and they trusted the creatures around them to catch them if they fell.

This was a mistake that cost them everything.

They were nineteen cycles old when their fur was torn from their body, their bones shattered and their flesh torn by cruel claws. The world they had trusted had turned on them, and they paid the price for the trust they showed it in the first place. In the end, Sol was left a broken thing, alive only due to the cruel whims of an uncaring god and their own determination to drag their body out of hell.

In the aftermath of the assault that tore Sol limb from broken limb, Crane found them a. He was a gentle creature, all warm russet fur and shining blue eyes. Crane had known a life of hardship and pain, but instead of allowing it to harden him like it had hardened Sol, he chose to be kind.

With Crane’s strong, supportive hands holding them, Sol learned how to walk again, how to navigate a world that wanted them to hurt. They were no longer naive and careless, but Crane’s support gave them the confidence to try again, to take the leap of faith and trust someone once more. He would be there for them, no matter what happened.

Crane would catch them when they fell.

The two fell into a new life together, a comfortable routine cobbled together from the rubble of who they each used to be. They made their home in a cave, a tunnel beneath the cool earth lit by glowing moss and shielded from the elements, and they took odd jobs to support themselves.

“Be careful,” Crane would always tell them softly, pressing his muzzle to theirs, each time before one of them left for work.

“I always am,” Sol would always reply, bumping their head against his in turn. It was different, unlike anything Sol had ever thought they would have, but it was good, and it was theirs.

A few cycles into their new life, Sol and Crane had a son, and they named him Harvest. Having a child was another leap of faith for Sol, but it was one they took gladly. Raising Harvest was one of the most difficult things they’d ever experienced, but they wouldn’t trade it for the world.

However, nothing good in Sol’s life was meant to last.

All too soon, Sol’s new life was torn from them in a flash of fire, violent and all-consuming.

They were thirty-three cycles old when their home was destroyed and the one they trusted most stolen from them. Crane’s death was swift and brutal, his dark blood staining the earth beneath him as he fell. His eyes would never shine as he smiled at them again, now forever bound to stare lifelessly upward.

Sol felt a part of them die with Crane, but no matter how much it hurt, they kept fighting. The fire around them lit a spark inside them, and for the second time in their life, they dragged themself out of hell. With their son, only twelve cycles old himself, held tightly in their grasp, they fought their way out of the roaring flames.

After Crane’s death, Sol became a vicious, cruel thing, all sharp teeth and jagged talons, unwilling to let themself be hurt again. They never turned those claws or fangs towards their son, but they refused to trust anyone again. They’d been protective of Harvest before, but now they would burn the whole world to the ground if anything came near him.

Nothing would take their happiness from them again, as long as Sol had something to say about it.

“Be careful,” they told him, their voice low and serious, every time he left the den.

“I will,” he replied, rolling his eyes. He reminded them so much of themself, and they felt a pang in their chest at the thought of what might be awaiting him.

Only three cycles into their new life, Sol’s worst fears came true. In the dead of night, right under their nose, Harvest vanished without a word.

Sol searched high and low for him, the shattered remains of their heart hammering in their chest. They couldn’t lose Harvest, not after all they had done to keep him safe, not when he was all they had. The world couldn’t take this from them, not after everything.

For a time, Sol was overcome with despair, but it wasn’t long before the spark that had been lit inside them with Crane’s death became a snarling, crackling fire. They had decided long ago that the world would burn to the ground before they’d let anything happen to their son, and it was time for that promise to come true.

“Be careful.”

Those words had been said to them and by them so many times in their short life, and Sol was done following them now.

A few short months after Harvest’s disappearance, Sol took a leap of a very different kind as they threw themself headlong down the warpath. Their claws were sharp, their teeth were sharper, and they would never let anyone take anything from them again.

Trusting others had brought Sol their greatest joys in life, but it had also brought them suffering greater than anything they could’ve imagined.

It was time for them to strike back.

#flash fiction friday #multi's writing #heheoheo #i had a lot of fun writing this!!!#very happy to write again :3 #sol whitetail #biomutant rewritten #wahoooo #that's the tag for this at least

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riverdale-retread · 3 years ago

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Riverdale S6 Ep 22 (#117: Night of the Comet)

Here we are at the Season 6 Finale which is fittingly also the apocalypse!

Jughead is at “ground zero of an extinction level event” looking irritated and nothing else. This is highly entertaining to me. He died in a demon plague while his other dimension self looked on in interest (probably thinking- Ooh more material for the STORY!), was perfectly content in heaven and then got yakked out of it by Cheryl Blossom (whom he does not like). So his casual, I Am So Tired That I am Bored By My Exhaustion approach to this latest disaster in his disaster-filled life just fits.

So everyone is assembled in Archie’s house. Shout out to Cheryl and Heather for sitting with the exact same leg crossed pose. Tabitha looks very much like a Mater Dolorosa statuary.

Toni and Fangs, still looking like Minnie and Micky Mouse, report that the Serpents have been testing the weird magic dome into which they are sealed (Simpsons Did It First). Betty says a version of fandom commentary that has been making the rounds - that Riverdale the town itself is a character, whose sole motivation is to hoard all these people and keep them trapped within itself. Betty describes it as “a roach motel” because you can come in, but you can’t leave.

Veronica asks Jughead about his portal powers, but even those are limited by Percival’s magic dome. Archie asks Tabitha about her time travel, and Tabitha says the comet is their inevitable future no matter what. Kevin is confused about why someone else isn’t doing something, which is a very Kevin thing to ask, to which Heather patiently explains that Percival’s spell was very well wrought because he even took care of what the outside world thinks is happening with the comet. Moose, who was called in to help Kevin with Kevin’s issues, is now also doomed to die but he is being a perfect saint and not spending his time screaming at Kevin about how he’s ruined his life.

Archie, being invulnerable, and Not Baby Anthony, being immortal, are the only two who are going to survive being hammered directly by a comet. Toni mentions that she’s suggested to Archie that he take Not Baby Anthony into the Bunker when the comet hits.

Archie is determined to not be beaten by Percival. He’s so fascinating and kind of horrible. Archie is so focused on WINNING that even the prospect of everyone he knows being obliterated doesn’t affect his emotions. Heather and Cheryl offer to do consult other, more knowledgeable arcane powers to see what can be done, but Cheryl doesn’t believe this will work. She’s the only one who has the honest reaction - scoffing - when Archie says he’s going to try to find a way to dig their way underground out of Riverdale.

Alice and her two daughters are in their house having a lovely heart to heart. I’m sorry but I hate it. Alice is making her daughters parent her. Betty is being a total angel here. She looks at her weepy useless mother who has been such an agent of pain and terror in her life with kindness and understanding. Betty Cooper gives her mother the absolution and healing that woman does not deserve. By the way, this has been bugging me - did Polly ever show herself to Juniper?? Does Juniper know her brother and mom AND DAD that she never met and her grandgrandma are all alive again? Where is Juniper?

At the Babylonium, apparently all or most is forgiven between Reggie and Veronica. She’s head honcho and he’s her henchman again. He says he saved the giant portrait of Hiram from the fire at Percival’s. When confronted with it, Veronica’s very kind reaction is to smile about it, instead of chucking a shoe at him. She even thanks Reggie. The show misses Hiram, I guess, and maybe the Hiram actor has more power than the Jason actor, so he’s saved the indignity of a doll bearing his likeness being hauled around on set.

Next morning at the Diner, Jughead and Tabitha are sharing a basket of fries. This is how you know Jabitha has to be endgame. Jughead to my knowledge has never, ever shared a plate of food. Taken things off of other people’s plates, yes. SHARED? No. Jughead is chipper about being ‘taken out’ by a ‘magic asteroid.’ He was destined to die anyway so he is trying to find the good in having the end not be ‘banal.’ He also says that he’s accomplished almost everything on his bucket list, but before Tabitha can ask what that is, in comes trouble.

Alexandra Cabot wearing an outfit that takes body consciousness to a whole ‘nother level has a magically easy sounding (!) way for Tabitha to realize her long held dream of making Pop’s a franchise (that she alluded to when Veronica was in doldrums about her stalled life). Jughead prevents Tabitha from both outright refusing and spilling the beans about how they literally only have like, 12 hours left until the comet hits. Alexandra is going to be in town for another 10 hrs, which means she will die with them if nothing else changes.

Then we cut to Fangs giving a very unsanitary looking Serpent tattoo to the Not Baby Anthony at the Whyte Whyrm as Toni looks on. He hasn’t had to do the gauntlet, or the thing about shouting the rules at Tall Boy or getting bit by a defanged snake (WHY DID THEY MAKE JUGHEAD DO ANY OF THIS) so Anthony sounds uncertain when he asks if he’s really a Serpent now. His parents (who both look younger and less physically mature than he does) tell him he’s the hereditary Serpent King because of what they are. Everyone in this creepy little family is teary eyed, the show is playing sad music over it but none of this is earned and I want the comet to kill these three off specifically, please.

Heather and Cheryl summon Abigail Blossom, currently trapped in a doll trapped in a cabinet. The sheer number of candles that are lit can only be explained by the phoenix powers Cheryl has because I think even with two people working fast with a mechanical lighter, the first-lit candle would burnout by the time the final candle is lit. In any case, Abigail has a solution to the comet that Cheryl (and the Riverdale writers?) finds “Basic, but also Genius.” You’re a fire starter so just MELT it, because it’s ice. As to whether she can undo the binding spell trapping them all in Riverdale, Abigail says that she needs something more than freedom from the doll.

Cheryl goes to collect the “underworlders” trying to dig their way out of town using the mining tunnels and everyone is gathered now at Thornhill. “I may have divined a pathway through our little conundrum.” I love Cheryl’s syntax.

I am horrified and intrigued by the gloves that are attached to Chery’s long sleeved turtleneck. It looks so extra, which is very Cheryl. It also makes me wonder if she finally cut those nails, being a lesbian and all. Cheryl says that she needs something special from Toni later, to which she gets a very reluctant response.

And then we learn that essentially, Cheryl is a species of god. She’s the one that is keeping all the resurrected Riverdalers alive. It’s HER POWERS that is keeping their bodies on earth rather than in heaven. So when she uses all her phoenix powers to melt the comet, one or more or all of them might also throw off the mortal coil once more. (She doesn’t say this exactly but she should’ve.)

When Cheryl and Toni have their tete-a-tete in the sitting room, we are treated to the view of an overhang wall full of very weird art that I am hopeful a more hawk-eyed, technologically competent and knowledgeable fan will one day explain to me. One of the paintings is what looks like a giant black crow with a crown menacing a little redhead boy and girl pair. Cheryl explains to an increasingly speechless Toni that she and Toni are going to be sex vessels for Abigail and Thomasina whlie Heather will keep each of their souls safe in a jar. Cheryl wants to vomit every time she has to say the name FANGS (girl, SAME) but does point out this interesting technicality that it’s ‘not cheating’ if their souls are not in the bodies that are engaging in the sex. This is a metaphysical version of the bullshit “I was drunk and didn’t know what I was doing” argument but okay sure.

Archie comes home all dusty from digging in the tunnels all morning, followed by being told that he was being kept alive by Cheryl’s God Powers to discover even worse news: Mary Andrews has stopped by unannounced for a visit. Over pizza and beer, Mary says one of the reasons she came to visit was to tell her son she’s getting a divorce from her wife. It sounds amicable enough. I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life with Mary Andrews either. When Mary says that life is precious and so not to be wasted, Archie looks thoughtful.

Veronica’s absinthe absolutely looks poisonous, don’t you think? She’s talking to her dad’s portrait while day drinking, which is an interesting way to spend your last day on earth. Veronica is still quite Catholic. After expressing a sensible sentiment - she hopes she and her father that she murdered don’t cross paths in the afterlife - she feels guilty, so she gives the portrait a kiss. Veronica’s kiss is so toxic it literally burns an entire layer of paint with a sizzle. Damn. Then Archie fucking shows up and in his customarily brutal manner he asks Veronica to give (?) or sell (?) him a diamond ring with which he’s going to propose to Betty.

How can people like Archie when he does this sort of thing to people? Veronica looks miserable as soon as her back is turned, poor thing. The thing is, half of this situation is on her, isn’t it? Why not just say what she’s feeling - if not a full on confession, then pointing out that asking your ex girlfriend that you cheated on back in the day who has had to bury two male partners AND CAN NEVER KISS ANYONE EVER AGAIN for a WEDDING RING when she’s obviously alone one day of the apocalypse is something that is a terrible thing to do and send him packing? Why pretend you’re fine when you’re not? (Uh, self reveal.)

Thankfully the show is merciful and treats me with Jabitha cuteness immediately after. In the bright light of the diner as they clear a table, Jughead is trying to talk Tabitha into accepting the franchise offer, come hell or high water. Or comet. Tabitha isn’t sure. Then she says he’s trying to be Jack to her Rose and Jughead - of course- says he has never seen Titanic because he’s partial to “early James Cameron.” Such growth he has had, our boy, no? He doesn’t say it’s because he’s a weird weirdo! He also just says ‘early James Cameron’ rather than drop words like oeuvre. Tabitha’s favorite movie of all time is the Titanic. They HAVE to watch it, she says, and he looks so cute and adoring as he mimics her tone - “We *have* to?”

At Thornhill the ceremony is afoot! Souls look like glowing jellyfish. Heather really does trap them in a big jar. Thomasina and Cheryl get it on, complete with Kissing With Tongue! I don’t like Toni but I really do like the idea of someone like Thomasina even if she feels historically kind of impossible. They look very happy and very beautiful together. Heather, though, is having qualms about this.

Archie’s campaign to be my least liked character continues to succeed. After springing on the rightly alarmed Betty that Mary Andrews is continuing her path as Terrible Parent by suddenly appearing right this day to unload her issues on to her son, he suddenly proposes. Way to set the mood, dude.

Betty is startled, but apparently what Betty wants to be on her last day on earth is kind to everyone she loves. So she is that for Archie - understanding, helpful, hopeful, loving. Betty tries to relieve Archie of his Rescuing Hero complex. She also straight out refuses to marry him. Whatever Betty wants to do with life, it’s not being married to Archie. That’s interesting. Because she doesn’t say I Will Marry You When Everything Works Out (If It Does). What she says is, in the nicest way possible, This is a Shitty Time to Be Asking This You Piece of Shit. It comes out like this: “Ask me again after Cheryl melts that comet, and you and me and everyone else survives. Or we find another way out from Riverdale.” I mean, for Archie and Betty to get married all that really is required is for the two of them to survive, you know? But she is predicating it on everyone ELSE surviving.

In short, she is saying no, and forever.

Archie refuses to take the hint. Or maybe he’s just too dumb to pick up on an bald statement. He runs out of there saying, in a terrifying way, “I’m going to break through that barrier so I can marry you, Betty Cooper.” His eyes are blank, his face is empty and his voice is devoid of hope or romance or even much emotion. Archie has just decided this is what the next step is, so he’s committed to it, without joy.

Cheryl and Toni wake up in bed post coitus in underwear that’s very different from what Thomasina and Cheryl were wearing. Cheryl thanks Toni, and Toni says it was just to save the town. Cheryl has yearnings.

When Cheryl checks in with Abigail, Abigail is very happy, and shows her a pile of knots which have to be untied to undo the spell.

Drake has called Betty! She has wonderful news - or so she thinks. Director Wilcox wants the two of them - Drake and Cooper - to HEAD UP the Serial Killer division. Betty refuses this offer too. Drake insightfully asks if this is about Archie or because of her bad experiences with TBK. Betty says it’s neither. She is ‘moving to the light.’ She doesn’t want to be a hunter of hunters anymore. That’s very… interesting. Did Betty meet her DNA quota of killings or something? Is that why she doesn’t feel drawn to crime solving anymore?

Reggie and Veronica are making nice. Poor Reggie. His pattern of always being a step behind Archie after Archie has done his damage to Veronica continues into this last day on planet Earth. Veronica is so sick of everything that she’s decided to work on friendship skills, i.e. being friends with exes like a good lesbian, ‘dating a lot’ without getting into relationships which has been her pattern her whole life, and focus on her absinthe business (much like her first true love, the Rum business). She hands the casino over to Reggie, and offers to keep him company during the apocalypse. As friends. He agrees. Reggie is so cute though. He still finds Veronica hot and would so want to rekindle any sort of sexual connection, even if he is officially fine with being friendzoned by her. His shifty eyes over his teacup as he covers up his disappointment at being rejected was marvelous.

Even nicer, we are treated to Jughead getting weepy over Titanic. Oh they are so adorable, with their his n hers cozy blankets, and a well established movie watching set up (her head in his lap, all snuggled up). He loved it, which is good, but then Tabitha says to Cole Sprouse, who has done at least one photoshoot where he was styled specifically to highlight his physical resemblance to Leo Di Caprio that the character Jughead Jones is “cuter than Leo” and it’s kind of a lot and I’m both giggly and embarrassed for everyone at the same time.

Jughead says that he can’t die OR live with himself if Tabitha doesn’t make a grab for her big opportunity to take Pop’s into the franchise business, so without saying it in so many words, she agrees that she’ll try.

As a reward and a gift to them both, Tabitha takes Jughead with her on a time traveler’s epic date where she takes him through a timeline in which they both live into old age, happily married to each other, with a son that takes after him and a daughter that takes after her. Pop’s stays in business forever, they run it together into their old age, and I guess they just grow old in Riverdale in this blameless lovely life. They’re both crying at the end of the minute long experience. I love them. They kiss tenderly.

Meanwhile, Archie is bashing a barrier with a hammer while his mom comes to yell at him. Which is about the right speed for Archie. Betty told on him to his mom. This is very Archie, to be unable to accept or give tenderness to anyone OR THE TRUTH TO HIS MOM until he’s done a spot of useless violence. Mary calls it straight - “It’s not ok to be out here hiding from the world.”

Mary thinks that Fred would’ve fought to the end too, but adds that Fred (because he was smarter than Archie) would’ve come home to spend time with his beloved.

Veronica is talking to her Daddy’s ruined portrait and drinking alone. Her nonstop alcohol consumption concerns me because I’m a prissy puritan. But I am wrong and she is right apparently because Veronica sudden has a brainwave. She’s a dialysis machine (says Drake)! She stayed in Riverdale for a reason (says Tabitha)! She’s gonna go “save her friends!”

At the Diner, under Pop’s and Jughead’s proud gaze, Tabitha signs the documents to take Pop’s national. Alexandra is thrilled, but when she says they start ‘tomorrow’ all the Riverdalers simultaneously get sad . She asks what’s wrong, but before they can drop the bad news on her head belatedly like a ton of bricks they are all summoned to Veronica’s apartment.

Heather is such a good soul (and also has no choice at this point I guess, but no matter) because she is helping Cheryl untie all the knots to undo the magic holding the town hostage. With much sadness (for me especially, because I like Heather a lot, and I love how she calms Cheryl the fuck down at all times), Heather says that she’s going to be leaving after it’s all over. She says Toni and Cheryl are “Forever Soulmates.” Heather “saw” something and says Choni are “written in the stars.” In the middle of this sad moment, their phones chime, summoning them.

Betty has Archie in bed with her, which is the only place he really listens to women at all. Betty’s egotism can’t help but come through though, when she tries to reassure Archie that his long dead father (the one he betrayed and hurt all the time) would be proud of him. Fred would be super proud of Archie, according to Betty, because he “supported me, comforted me, loved me unconditionally.” I’d rather think that Fred who wanted his son to get out to the big world away from Riverdale by earning a football scholarship to university wanted something different from his son than being a good man to just one woman but sure. OK.

Archie FINALLY takes back his fail proposal, promising not to pressure her ever again. Betty for her part says that what she wants is to marry Archie after all, and he accepts her proposal. This is SO MUCH NICER than how Archie did it. They too are summoned by Veronica.

Veronica has a plan! There’s a way to ‘augment Chery’s phoenix energies so no one has to die,’ she says. She’s going to absorb everyone’s powers to give them to Cheryl. Poison = Strength = Superpowers are all the same, according to Veronica and Riverdale. Powers combine! She says she needs to share blood, “wound to wound, blood to blood.” She even has Percival dagger to stab Archie with (she thought this through). Does this mean the general concern about AIDS has died for good? I remember reading materials for a research paper once where a scientist at the height of the AIDS crisis, which is when they figured out that straight people could get and give AIDS to each other (before then it wasn’t treated like a worldwide crisis, yay straight people!), that children would never again be doing thumb-pricked blood oaths. Well we’re doing them again!

Cheryl refuses to be cut for any reason whatsoever (she must have keloid tendencies like me) and Veronica has thought of that too! She will transfer the collective powers to Cheryl with a kiss.

I mean.

I’ve said this several times before so I might as well repeat it. VERONICA LODGE WILL ALWAYS CREATE A PARTY EVERY SEASON IN WHICH SHE INTERACTS SEXUALLY WITH A PRETTY GIRL.

So we’re ticking that box in Season 6! Yay!

The in-universe justification for these shenanigans is (a) it’s not queer baiting if it’s saving the world and (b) fire trumps poison (this must be rock paper scissors logic).

WHO are they queer baiting by the way? Do they know they’re on a tv show? Because nobody present wants Veronica to get together with Cheryl, or for Veronica to be gay.

Jughead narration breaks in right as they’re all painfully cutting their palms to voice his worry that doing any of this might make it all go terribly badly. Invulnerability, aura-vision, mind reading, portal opening, and time travel powers get absorbed by Veronica.

When Veronica approaches Cheryl for her kiss, Cheryl looks EXTREMELY excited. I thought you said this was Queer Baiting, Cheryl! Did she literally mean I’m Queer and You’re Baiting Me? OH! Maybe she did! The way Cheryl smiles delightedly into the kiss confirms my suspicions. As I knew she must be, Veronica is a wonderful kisser. Cheryl looks high.

THEN THE BEST TURN HAPPENS.

Betty, who has also kissed Veronica (and in a different world and time also Cheryl but not in this universe), asks if it worked.

Veronica thought of this too. She points a gun at Cheryl, to everyone’s alarm. (Jughead the most). Cheryl can see her ‘threatening’ aura! Then Veronica, who apparently is a crack shot, shoots Cheryl right above her right breast. The bullet didn’t penetrate! Jughead’s the MOST REASONABLE PERSON: “Veronica is nuts! What if that hadn’t worked!!??”

Tabitha and Archie think about themselves - “I should’ve stayed in Chicago!” and “I guess that means I’m not [invulnerable].”

I love Cheryl Goddess so much. She opens a big portal to go confront the comet, and her exit line is TOODLES. Cheryl, please restart your cult!

Cheryl puts on a super hero costume change to confront the comet. She looks awesome.

And then, everything is ruined because we join the Fogarties in the Bunker and Toni starts singing at her scared son whose developmental status irritates the fuck out of me. Why is he so childlike in his fully grown man self body that looks like he could be Toni’s mom? They’ve lit too many candles.

Wonderfully, we don’t have to spend a lot of time with them. We jump to Jabitha’s apartment, where they sit as a family unit with Pop’s, having had their final diner meal, hands held together in prayer. Tabitha has a wonderful singing voice.

Barchie are in bed post-coitus. They call each other primal animals, which is not wrong at all. I hate this song though.

Veronica and Reggie are sad together, as friends. Kevin and Moose are holding hands, Kevin asking if he could make Moose happy, through song. Probably not Kevin. You suck.

And Cheryl is all alone, facing the terror by herself. This is a burden. So straight (ahem) dude Archie expended a huge amount of time and energy coming up with very upper-body dependant solutions, but two women are the solution: Veronica with her strategic thinking and capacity to synthesize everyone’s abilities into a joint solution, and Cheryl with her lesbian courage and fortitude. This tracks.

Cheryl is apparently thinking about Toni, and Heather is shown alone in the Thornhill house.

I really hate this song. It’s really very terrible and cheesy. JUST IN TIME, Nana Blossom, Heather and Britta (summoned for this purpose??) untie all the knots, to a gratifying WHOOSH sound as the dome is lifted.

So in the last few minutes some questions that I had are answered.

They show Polly with Dagwood AND Juniper. I guess they never told Juniper about her dad who was resurrected and then died again because he was killed by Aunt Cheryl. And Polly never grieved the second death of Jason, maybe? I don’t know.

The Andrews and the Coopers meet the apocalypse in the living room together. Jughead closes his eyes to the incoming comet while turning his face up to it, while Tabitha glares at it directly. Reggie and Veronica hold hands in her apartment, refusing to look at what’s coming. Kevin and Tom Keller hold hands with Moose in the Champagne Suite (I think?) to meditate their way through it. Cheryl can fly while she fights the comet. She’s frantic and weepy.

So what happened next? Jughead asks, flat and unamused.

We’re shown a goldfish in a bowl.

The last minute plan that Veronica put together and executed together with Cheryl worked, he tells us, but things look weird.

All of that did something “wholly unexpected and yet also utterly inevitable.” Calling it inevitable is the Riverdale writing staff telling the audience to shut up, as though that’s ever worked. Nice try, Jughead.

It’s looking very 1950s. Archie puts on a letter jacket, looks into Betty’s window, and she’s weeping under a poster of James Dean while Alice comforts her.

Jughead tells us they are in a “simpler time” before Jason Blossom’s murder, before the Black Hood. “Back to a truly innocent time.”

When Archie bounds down the stairs, the homosexual Mary Andrews is in pearls in a 1950s kitchen also weeping over the death of James Dean. For women like her the 1950s was absolutely not a truly innocent or simpler time.

“Somehow the year is 1955.” Jughead is in the Ye Olde Blue & Gold offices, wearing his crown-and-sweater costume from that 1950s style nightmare he had a while ago. He angrily operates a very old school typewriter.

“And I’m the only one who remembers what our lives were like BC. Before the Comet.”

Jughead looks pissed.

Dun dun dun! I’m very excited for what’s going to happen in S7, assuming this ending is supposed to be an indication of what comes next, like all their season finales have always been.

#archie andrews negativity #betty cooper negatitivy #anti barchie kinda #except i also think barchie are right for each other #jabitha #anti fangs fogarty #anti tangs #anti toni topaz #wow i am being negative as fuck #riverdale opinion #riverdale 117 #riverdale season 6 #Riverdale s6 #riverdale recap #riverdale episode recap

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undertale-data · 4 years ago

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[Image Description: An Undertale chat box that has “WHY FANS LOVE UNDERTALE” at its center. Next to it are a line chart and an Egg from the Dating Hub on its left, and a CRIME measurer (also from the Dating Hub) on its right. End I.D.]

[Image Description: a pie chart titled, “LEVEL OF LOVE FOR UNDERTALE.” The textbox on the top right reads, “On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the least and 10 being the highest, how much do fans enjoy Undertale?” From the top going clockwise, 12 or 0% chose 5 and below; 23 or 1% chose 6; 98, or 4%, chose 7; 325, or 12%, chose 8; 529, or 20%, chose 9; and 1664, or 63%, chose 10. End I.D.]

It’s clear from all of the data analyzed so far that fans who took the time to answer our survey love Undertale. It is unlikely that they would have taken the time to answer so many questions if they had not, and even less likely that they would have come across our survey in the first place. Naturally, it comes as no surprise that 63% of our responders gave their love for Undertale a score of ten out of ten. 95% gave their love for Undertale a score of eight or higher, and only 12 responders responded with five or below, a number so small that their responses had to be lumped together to be visible on the pie chart. Of those, only 3 responders gave their love for Undertale a score of 1, and based on those responders’ other answers, it is likely that they were only intending to troll. We are very fortunate that the vast majority of responders took the survey seriously, enough so that responses like this are barely a blip in the data.

Now, for our final analysis post of the event, we will delve into the reasons that fans love Undertale so dearly.

(Essay and highlights under the cut.)

There have been countless essays on the impact that Undertale has had on people’s lives. I can hardly add more on the subject than what has already been said, but I hope this summary can provide a brief overview of what stood out among the over two thousand answers given in response to this survey. That said, due to the sheer volume of answers, I could not read every single one in depth—however, I did skim all of them, and some that stood out or were representative of several responses have been highlighted below. If you would like to see what every fan who consented to share their response had to say, you may view the full list of responses here. Note that these responses have not been edited in any way. This document may take a long time to load, as it is over 100 pages long.

(Warnings for mentions of suicidal thoughts in the following essay.)

Several responders loved the theme of choices mattering in Undertale. Whether people played the pacifist, merciless, or neutral routes, they enjoyed how the game reacted to their actions. For some, it even made them consider their own morality. One touching response explained the impact that the theme of mercy made on them. “I realized that Mercy isn't something that's given to those who deserve it. Flowey didn't deserve it. I don't deserve it myself. Shoot, we ALL need Mercy in our lives.” Many fans left similar comments about how the themes of Undertale made them better people.

Undertale changed how its fans treat others, and it also changed how fans treat themselves. The theme of staying determined and the messages of hope in the game were a light to a very large portion of fans. I cannot list all of the fans who said that Undertale helped them out of a dark place, or that they would not be alive if not for Undertale. “DETERMINATION became a metaphor for not killing myself at a really rough time in my life and I’ll always cherish that. Undertale isn’t afraid to go to really dark places but at the same time holds on so tight to its hope.”

Undertale brought fans together in unexpected ways. Some said they met friends or significant others through the fandom. “I wouldn't have met my now husband without Undertale,” one fan said. A different fan who is non-native English speaking mentioned that the game and the fan community helped them to learn English.

It would be impossible to discuss Undertale without mentioning the fan community. Whether for good or bad, many responders mentioned the fandom in their responses. Overall the feelings towards the fandom seem positive, though many made references to “toxic” parts of the fandom without specifying which parts they consider toxic. Others rejected the idea of toxicity in fandom. One response said: “[SLAMS FIST ON DESK] I KNOW MOST PEOPLE SAY THE FANDOM IS TOXIC AND CRINGE OR WHATEVER BUT OH MY GOD. The Undertale fandom, both the UTMV and the actual UT fandom, has been so much fun to be a part of. I've met countless friends because of our shared interest in something related to the game! The art people create can be breathtaking and so inspirational, and the fanfics are so so good!! I've seen people write incredible things for this fandom and it's what made me continue writing!”

One thing that makes the Undertale fandom unique is the way it embraces various AUs. Some fans are tired of AU content, but the majority of responses show a love for the creativity behind AUs. “Roll your eyes at the 50th AU Sans all you want, it's encouraging people to step outside the boundaries of fanart and pushing people to make their own ideas! I mean, hell, it was how I gained the confidence to start making my own original content.” The lack of a judgemental atmosphere seems present in the AU community, according to the responses we saw. There is an interesting balance between AU and canon (sometimes referred to as “classic”) content that another responder pointed out: “The fandom helped keep the game alive all these years, with all of its AUs. Although personally, I always enjoyed AUs that kept characters as close to the classic material as possible (dancetale, outertale) I do appreciate the creativity of the fandom. They almost created entirely new stories with new characters of their own! If it weren't for those people, the Undertale fandom would have probably not been as active as it is now. I do feel like we're getting a resurgence of classic content now too! (In 2021)”

Regardless of the many AUs the fandom has created over the years, the original game of Undertale still feels like home for many fans. They wished they could reclaim the feeling of playing the game again for the first time, but even though we can’t reset time in real life, there is still a special feeling for fans each time they play Undertale. One fan said, “Even the best fics I've read can't capture that feeling of nostalgia/almost-"coming home" that comes with hearing the music and talking to the characters.” This feeling is one that can be cherished time and time again. In the words of another responder: “It always feels welcoming like home or like comfort food that I never grow tired of no matter how many times I go to it.” Others pointed out the strength of the found family trope in Undertale, which likely contributes to this feeling of “home” as well.

As mentioned briefly earlier, the music is part of what makes Undertale feel like home for fans. Even when responses focused on other aspects of the game, many would throw in a comment about the soundtrack at the end. One comment focused on the music said “IT'S SO GOOD like I will literally go through the entire thing over and over and not be bored with it. It makes my monkey brain so happy you have no idea.” Like with the game itself, the music has incredible replay value, an amazing feat considering most of the tracks use the same few motifs. “I think what I like the most about Undertale is how the music attaches you to the story,” another responder said. “They're simple melodies that stick with you throughout the whole game, and they can remind you of both good and bad times.”

If the music sticks with fans in their hearts, then the game’s lore sticks with fans in their minds. Even six years after the release of Undertale, fans are still creating new theories and digging up new secrets. The way the game breaks the fourth wall in particular intrigued many fans and has stuck out through all these years. The awareness that the game shows for the RPG genre makes it memorable. The game plays with the player’s expectations and turns them on their heads, all while reminding the player that they’re in a game. There are few other games that do this on such a large scale, so it’s no surprise that fans cite this as one of their favorite things about Undertale.

Lastly, the LGBT+ representation in Undertale has been a huge draw for fans. Especially in 2015, the sheer volume of non-cishet characters was unprecedented, as one fan pointed out: “It's practically unheard of to see so MANY from just one source, especially during its heyday in 2015-16. Hell, you can't even GET the true pacifist ending without helping two gay couples hook up. It's really nice to see all of them being accepted for who they are and not judged for their sexuality or gender, at least in-canon.” The LGBT+ cast including Frisk, Chara, Napstablook, Monster Kid, Mettaton, Alphys, and Undyne each connected with fans in unique ways. It’s clear how important this is from responses such as: “There are canon nonbinary characters 🥺. i have never seen representation of myself before.” “It made me gay and trans so thanks for that.”

Once again I am overwhelmed with just how much there is to say about Undertale. One responder really understood when they compared Undertale to an iceberg, explaining that there are so many layers to the game that there is something for everyone: “everyone can find something to enjoy in the lore/game regardless of what kind of fan they are! Being able to appeal to various types of fans—from simple happy shipper people to deep dive lorediggers—is the mark of the coolest games!” I would have to agree with them.

It’s been six years, and despite everything, it’s still you. Thank you for reading, participating in this survey, and above all, staying determined.

Highlights:

DETERMINATION became a metaphor for not killing myself at a really rough time in my life and I’ll always cherish that. Undertale isn’t afraid to go to really dark places but at the same time holds on so tight to its hope.

I think the coolest thing was having the opportunity to watch the AU community grow from its bare roots. It's nearly insane how big and complex it's gotten, unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Roll your eyes at the 50th AU Sans all you want, it's encouraging people to step outside the boundaries of fanart and pushing people to make their own ideas! I mean, hell, it was how I gained the confidence to start making my own original content.

i love how the lgbt rep is so naturalized... there are just gay people! and its nobodys business!

The music is my go to answer, but what I really really REALLY love is how the minor characters have so much personality to them when you talk to them. They aren't incredibly important to the overall story, but they're all so likeable and diverse that you just can't help but like them immediately!

I think it was the first videogame I have played that broke the fourth wall that much. Of course there has been other videogames that broke it but just for one or two tongue-in-cheek jokes. The guilt of killing mama goat was also something intense as well that I appreciated as an experience and that I didn't think a videogame could cause on someone.

I love how no character can be seen as completely bad! Everyone builds up Asgore as some horrible villain, but he turns out to be a 'fuzzy pushover' who's broken and just wants his family back by the time you meet him. Then you think Flowey's an irredeemable killer who engineered the suffering of the monsters across many timelines, and he is... but he also used to be the kind and beloved Prince Asriel Dreemurr, traumatized by his death and subsequent rebirth, projecting his best friend onto you.

The fact that choices matter in the game. Your first playthrough and getting the golden ending for the first time. I can never replicate those feelings again, wish I could erase my memories and replay the game from the start.

I wouldn't have met my now husband without Undertale.

(Toxic parts of the fandom aside) The community is possibly one of the kindest I've ever met. Cringe culture is completely dead, and I feel like I can be myself. I felt a very close connection to many of the characters, and I loved consuming content about them when I was in a rough patch in my life.

just everything, the whole game has just impacted my life so much. i know it sounds really lame, but when the game first came out, i would purposely put my hands in my pockets and sway slightly, like sans' idle animation. of course i dont do that anymore haha, but undertale still really impacts me to this day, and i wouldnt have it any other way :)

it made me gay and trans so thanks for that

I realized that Mercy isn't something that's given to those who deserve it. Flowey didn't deserve it. I don't deserve it myself. Shoot, we ALL need Mercy in our lives.

The thing I love most about Undertale is no matter how many times I play or watch a playthrough it always makes me genuinely happy. It always feels welcoming like home or like comfort food that I never grow tired of no matter how many times I go to it. Toriel still makes me feel all warm and cozy in her home, the Skelebros always make me laugh, and I still cry on the inside watching Frisk comforting Asriel. And on the flip side the No Mercy run still invokes the negative emotions in me as well. In short Undertale just feels like a second home to me and I always wish I could stay.

The reader inserts are my favorite way to decompress after a hard day

I think Undertale helped me discover my love for 8-bit games, and made me realize how IMPORTANT music is in video games.

the worldbuilding and character design are my favorite parts of the main game apart from the music! I’m also a huge fan of the random AU music- not for like underswap or underfell i like the stuff where someone makes a megalovania for a random au where gru from despicable me replaces sans as the character. i think its funny

Just... the vibe, honestly? Even the best fics I've read can't capture that feeling of nostalgia/almost-"coming home" that comes with hearing the music and talking to the characters.

there are canon nonbinary characters 🥺. i have never seen representation of myself before.

[SLAMS FIST ON DESK] I KNOW MOST PEOPLE SAY THE FANDOM IS TOXIC AND CRINGE OR WHATEVER BUT OH MY GOD. The Undertale fandom, both the UTMV and the actual UT fandom, has been so much fun to be a part of. I've met countless friends because of our shared interest in something related to the game! The art people create can be breathtaking and so inspirational, and the fanfics are so so good!! I've seen people write incredible things for this fandom and it's what made me continue writing!

There's a scene where Frisk (the player) is going towards what is presumably going to be their death. They will fight Asgore and he will use their human soul to break the barrier and free his people. The music, despite the player's impending doom, is... triumphant. You are not the triumphant one here, and yet, the score invites you to experience the monsters' joy and happiness as they tell you the tale of their subjugation. The monsters are going to be free. This is their victory, but they don't hate you or want you to die. They're just... happy. That scene has always struck me very deeply. I feel it represents the best parts of Undertale.

I loved how well thought out the Geno route was. It really made me feel like I was doing something horrible, and the characters were very obviously reacting to dire circumstances.

I dunno? I like Undertale for it's characters, story, music, secrets and many more. I am not good with Headcanons but I also like the neutral endings and how different they can depending on who you spare and kill

I was very bad at english before, i thought i couldn't progress because i was very shy and not confident. But my sibling and i wanted to have the best experience with this game so we wanted to play it in english. It's this game and the fandom which helped me to make huge progress in english !

THE SOUNDTRACK. IT'S SO GOOD like I will literally go through the entire thing over and over and not be bored with it. It makes my monkey brain so happy you have no idea.

to avoid writing an essay i will say one word. Mettaton

It is like Toby specifically made the games to fit the iceberg meme and it's awesome, everyone can find something to enjoy in the lore/game regardless of what kind of fan they are! Being able to appeal to various types of fans - from simple happy shipper people to deep dive lorediggers is the mark of the coolest games!

I love almost everything about Undertale as a game on its own. The music, the art and especially the characters and how they interact. They made me feel at home. Undertale means a huge amount to me. (I even got a tattoo of the castle when you and MK walk together!) The fandom helped keep the game alive all these years, with all of its AUs. Although personally, I always enjoyed AUs that kept characters as close to the classic material as possible (dancetale, outertale) I do appreciate the creativity of the fandom. They almost created entirely new stories with new characters of their own! If it weren't for those people, the Undertake fandom would have probably not been as active as it is now. I do feel like we're getting a resurgence of classic content now too! (In 2021)

the mystery. toby fox refused to give answers to anything and i think thats very sexy of him.

I just feel guilty for liking it so much when I'm in my 30's. But I recently got diagnosed with ASD, so I guess it explains things a bit. Many ppl consider Papyrus to be neurodivergent, and some adult fans are too, so seeing that makes me feel a bit better.

i think about "Despite everything, it's still you" everyday of my life.

I like how it's just as funny as it can be serious. All routes are this way. I laughed as much as I cried when I played the Pacifist route and then once I opened the game again and Flowey was telling me to let them be happy, I immediately turned off the game. I somehow felt bad.

The Found Family Trope

The True Pacifist Ending is just...man. And the fanworks about saving everyone even when the game doesn't let you? MANNNNNN

I think what I like the most about Undertale is how the music attaches you to the story. They're simple melodies that stick with you throughout the whole game, and they can remind you of both good and bad times.

there's honestly a LOT to love about this game, but i think one of my favorite things about it is just how many lgbt+ characters there are??? i can think of alphys, undyne, frisk, chara, mettaton, napstablook, monster kid, asgore, mad mew mew, the dress lion, the royal guards, and arguably even papyrus off of the top of my head, but im sure i'm forgetting a few from just undertale alone (there's even MORE in deltarune)!! it's practically unheard of to see so MANY from just one source, especially during its heyday in 2015-16. hell, you can't even GET the true pacifist ending without helping two gay couples hook up. it's really nice to see all of them being accepted for who they are and not judged for their sexuality or gender, at least in-canon.

[Image description: A wordcloud in the shape of the capitalized word UNDERTALE. The text is white on a black background, and uses the font found in the game. Some of the most visible words are: Game, Love, Music, Life, AU, Store, Friend, and Feel, which represent the most common words in the essays people wrote about their love for the game. End of ID]

#undertale #analysis #results #undertale fandom census

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flusteredloser · 4 years ago

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subzero - beverly marsh x fem!reader

it fandom week: huddling for warmth

content warnings: mentions of intoxication, smoking, swearing, fire, harmless threats, inhaler abuse, enemies to lovers, also i’m making bev tall bc i love tall gals word count: 3k

at the ripe age of ten years old, you knew you wanted to become a mother. the appeal of bouncing children in your lap, tucking them into bed, and the empowering feeling of calming tantrums down was something you naively believed was your destiny. now, ten-year-old you was never wrong, you knew that. but what you didn’t expect was for your dream to come true at eighteen, stuck mothering six drunken teenage sons during a hailstorm’s power outage.

“edward. kaspbrak. i swear to god, if you do not go to sleep right now i will knock you out with your own inhaler.”

eddie groans at your words, still teeter-tottering towards the mattress. richie was already in bed, practically dead for a past half-hour.

thankfully, he didn’t wake up from his comatose state when eddie gracefully slammed headfirst into the bed. you held your breath as the bed shook under eddie’s weight. drunken eddie was already a nightmare, what more, an even worse nightmare when catalysed with richie’s antics. mike was slightly more useful. after throwing up in almost every sink in the house, he helped carry a very tipsy ben up the stairs and they were now both unconscious down the hall. bill wasn't exactly a disturbance, but he was incredibly determined to show us that he could play the piano right now if asked, that his skills were only heightened after dark. (the fact that bill had never touched a piano in his life, or that bev's apartment didn't even have a piano wasn't stopping him). bev was taking care of them in the other room, and based on the muffled conversation, was still trying to coax bill to sleep. you and bev being the losers’ designated sober pair for tonight was the worst idea that had ever occurred to anyone. ever. the eight of you agreed. if you needed something done, you’d never leave the two of you to do it together. but stan had explained that the rotation required the two of you to pair up tonight, no matter what. you didn’t quite understand the necessity of it but in all honesty, you’d rather put up with bev’s clownery than upset stan further. speaking of, you glance at the lump on the floor, peacefully swaddled and engulfed in the massive duvet. you should probably check on stan’s breathing later.

now, though, you still had one child left.

hearing the sound of an air pump go off from the bed, you walk back to eddie.

“but i’m so cold and i’m not even tired,” said eddie, his inhaler still jammed in his mouth.

“eddie, the power will be back in no time, and if you keep pumping that shit in your mouth, you’re never going to feel tired,” you sigh, taking the aspirator away.

“no, but seriously.” eddie continues, his eyes filled with sleep-deprived mania. “i swear, i’m like wide awake, i don’t even need sleep right now, it’s technically the morning and nO WHAT THE HELL-”

clutching the pump in your hand, you watch the white vapour shoot against eddie’s face. nothing but eddie’s exasperated coughing filled the room.

“i told you, i’m not afraid to use this.”

“i thought...you said...you were going to...knock me out with it,” eddie questioned between coughs.

you narrow your eyes at him, “you keep this up and i will knock you with it.”

“wow, you really are gonna make a great mother someday.” you let out a deep groan, turning to see where the new voice came from. leaning against the doorframe with a lit cigarette between her fingers was bev in all her smug glory.

“you know, after dealing with kaspbrak tonight, he makes you look like an angel,” you roll your eyes.

“hey!” you hear a muffled voice from under the blanket.

“go to sleep, pretty boy,” bev chuckles, some smoke escaping with her laugh, “i know it’s hard after seeing her troll face but you have to try.”

you rolled your eyes again at the two giggles in the room, shuffling around the bed, carefully stepping around stan’s body. you continue to walk past bev and into the hall.

the house was silent. no one lived here anymore but bev since you guys graduated, and since mr. marsh stopped residing here, the apartment had an almost peaceful quality.

walking past the guest room, you grin at the sight of mike, ben, and bill entwined together on the floor. oh, how much tamer this group would’ve been compared to the menaces next door.

you snatch your backpack from the living room sofa and dug through the pockets anxiously. searching against the walls of your bag and still finding nothing, you began to feel more and more nervous. “fucking hell, where is it,” you whisper. at this rate, you weren’t sure if the thumping in your ears was from the sound of sharp hail hitting the windows or your heart beating in your throat. you stand up in a deeper panic, aggressively patting your pockets up and down.

“you know, as entertaining as this is to watch, i almost feel bad.”

“bev..." you sigh. "i am not in the mood."

“why? too busy looking for your pack of camels?” you hear the sound of a familiar cardboard flap opening, “personally, i’m more of a marlboro girl but i mean, these work too.”

you spin around and storm up to bev, snatching the lit cigarette from her lips. “that’s mine?”

she smirks, “you left your backpack open, it was practically an invitation.”

“an invitation for you to go through my shit?” you hissed, dangling the ignited end near her face.

she snatched her cig back and mockingly dangling it back near your face, “yeah, a formal invitation for me to smoke off this monstrosity of a temperature. what do you want, an apology too? i can write you one asap, let me find bill’s notebook-”

taking the cig back once more, you snap. "you’re such an ass, bev.”

she grins, following closely behind you. she could feel the heat radiating off of your body, and she secretly hoped you’d accidentally stop in your tracks so she could run into you. in the name of transferring body heat and what not. shaking off these thoughts that were hijacking her brain, she makes a kissy sound, “c’mon, you know you love it.”

“mmhm sure, bev. because i’m really into girls stealing my shit.”

pinching the flame from the cig and dumping it in the tray, she leads the both of you into the supply closet. she chuckles as she leans against the doorway, leaving you feeling trapped in the tight room. you knew she was laughing because you insisted on going in first and now that you were the one having to get the stuff, but you didn’t quite register that the things you needed was on the top shelf. up high stood a high stack of blankets. and they looked like they could singlehandedly cure the subzero temperature.

clearly, you must have been looking up at the blankets for a moment too long because bev gave up and leaned forwards to grab the stack. the sensation of her flushed against your back was enough to make you dizzy, not to mention how absolutely warm she was. and of course... it was bev.

bev. the girl who you rolled your eyes at every day, the girl who taunts you at any given minute, the girl you would, and had, risked your life for. you guys never talk about neibolt, but sometimes you catch yourself thinking of what could have happened if it went south. if you hadn’t grabbed her in time, and if you didn’t switch places just before pennywise launched at you... absentmindedly tracing the scar down your stomach, you think of the absolute lack of regret you feel to this day. you always had this joke that you wanted to kill her, but how much of that was true?

“darling, did the cold already go and rot your brain?” bev faux-pouts, “not that there was much to begin with, but i’m still worried.” the stack of blankets was now under her arms with one stretched out as she began to wrap it around herself.

never mind. sometimes you did want to kill her.

by habit, you went on your tip toes in order to get to bev’s face, but she was already crouched a couple inches from your face. trying to keep your racing heart under wraps, you choke out a semi-convincing “don’t make me murder you, beverly.”

she grins back your serious face. "aww no, i couldn’t let you do that. the knives and other weapons are also stored up there.” she teases, slinging her arm around your shoulder and dragging you to deliver the blankets to the boys.

"oh, fuck off." you shove bev's arm off of you and walked back into richie, eddie, and stan's room. true to your word, you kneeled down to the floor and gently rolled stan’s head towards you. placing your two fingers against his pulse point, you giggle to yourself at the absurd action. if it wasn’t already obvious that he was indeed alive, he groans under you, but you shush him in time. lightly stroking his curls, you whisper. "i’m just checking up on you, stan,” placing the second blanket onto him. he groaned back.

quietly tip-toeing towards the bed, you tossed the other blanket over richie and eddie. “i swear, these guys would be dead already without us.” you laugh to yourself.

a dim light flickers from the living room and casts a light across the hall. you shut the door behind you as you leave, going into the living room to see bev on the sofa, engulfed in her own large fleece blanket. the only thing peeking out was her face and hands as her she alternated flickering her lighter's warmth on her fingers.

without thinking, you plop by her on the sofa. “whatcha doing there, you pyro?”

“it’s getting so fucking cold,” bev half-heartedly jokes. you can see her eyebrows are furrowed in concentration, but her voice was so contradictingly soft it made your heart melt.

you extended your open hand to her and she stared at it. “blood oath part two? promise to never be sober again during a powercut?”

“i wish, and shut up. don’t play dumb with me, beverly.”

you notice the slightest tinge in her cheeks as she places her hand along with her lighter in yours. you immediately recoil at her freezing fingertips and the lighter clatters to the ground. bev rolls her eyes and shifts away, “first you want to hold my hand, secondly you’re acting like i have fucking HIV.”

“firstly, smartass, i’d still hold your hand if you had HIV-”

“aww-”

“because it’s a blood-borne pathogen so unless you bleed or shit or lactate on my hand, i’m safe.”

bev’s face scrunches up. “how romantic.”

“now shut it and give me your hand already.” you say, placing your palm out for her again.

now bev is the one rolling her eyes at you for a change. she gives you her hand, much slower this time though, careful not to have you pull away again. not having you pull away? why was this something she was considering?

immediately, bev felt the heat from your skin radiate against hers’, instantly igniting her skin in goosebumps. she instinctively gave you her other hand and you take with a soft smile.

“now...why the hell are you built like a goddamn radiator.” bev grumbled, rubbing her hands together under yours.

“well, i don’t see you complaining, do i?” you raise your eyebrows.

“i’m not mad...it’s just that it’s not like you need it,” bev says between chuckles, “you’re like five feet tall. not exactly a lot of surface area to heat up.”

“you’re such a dick, bev. you’re losing your hand-holding privileges,” you side-eye, pulling your warm fingers away.

she gasped, “oh, don’t you dare.”

“yes, i do. it’s not like i’m dying to feel your freezing hands on me, bev.” you desperately try to make the statement sound as sarcastic as you can, but it ends up coming out much shakier than expected.

even in the dark, you can see the glint of bev’s mischievous grin. “oh really? you don’t want to feel my freezing hands?” “is that a trick question?” you sigh exasperatedly, “because if you as much as-”

suddenly, you feel bev’s ice-cold fingers press against the skin on your ribcage and you immediately squeal. you clamp your hand over your mouth at the scare, you try and contain the others sounds that escape you as she further presses her freezing hands against your warm skin. scrambling away from her grasp, you slap the back of her head.

“you stop that right now or i will leave you on your own porch to freeze,” you threaten through gritted teeth.

“mmhm, like you would.” she teases, continuing to press the pads of her still-cold fingertips into your stomach.

you felt your heart rate rise significantly, to the point that you were sure that your unknown warmness was actually due to bev making the blood pump 10x more than normal. every braincell swimming inside your head was on the brink of short-circuiting at the feeling of bev’s hands dancing along the edge of your bra. what the hell is she thinking?

after a couple more rounds of her threatening to freeze your midriff and you threatening to crack open a window, you both surrender and allow her keep her hands clasped between yours, resting atop your chest.

“are you not getting any warmer?” you groan, forcing yourself to snap out of your own feelings.

“hey, you’re the hot-pack here. do you think i’m feeling any warmer?” she goes back to press her freezing palms against your stomach.

“no, no, no, do not do that again.”

bev sighs, “then what the hell am i supposed to do?” she sits upright and tightens the blanket around her head. shifting away from you, she shivers her way back into the other end of the sofa. “i’m dressed in triple the layers you are, moved around way more than you have, i’m even wearing this gigantic fleece eyesore-”

“oh for fuck’s sake just come back here.” you roll your eyes.

bev moves about an inch closer.

you feel your heart constrict in your chest and you let yourself say it before you could think it any further, “i said, come here.” you lift one of your arms and gesture for her to come closer. scooting your body near to the end of the sofa, it was clear that the space you made was so she could easily crawl in next to you.

“are- are you... you want me to-”

you’re sure your whole face has gone red. bev she already can’t stand you so why not just make it even more awkward, huh? you bit your tongue gently, calming yourself down. if bev didn’t know that you offered to cuddle with her just because you could, then that was her fault for being so daft. you sigh, resuming back into your deadpan state. “yeah, i can’t listen to another minute of your whinging.”

“no, i heard you, i just-” she stammers, looking equally red herself. you feel a huge tiny sense of pride as you realised you’ve rendered bev speechless. beverly marsh. speechless.

“what are you waiting for?” you tease, “a formal invitation?”

having the upper hand for once was refreshing, if not thrilling. being the one to tease her and watch her become flustered was something you wish could happen more often.

bev’s face breaks out in the softest smile you’ve ever seen. she slowly makes her way over to you, shifting her body close to yours without touching you yet. “is that too much to ask for? a formal invitation?” you let out an unexpected genuine laugh at her silliness and bev giggles in unison. this was different than your default laughter made of semi-amusement and sarcasm. she rests her weight against you, her cheek gently pressing into your collarbone. her fingertips resume their spot against the flushed skin of your stomach and your own cheeks turn red again. there wasn’t a functional reason for her to do that anymore.

“stop that before i regret this, bev.”

“there’s no way in hell you regret this.” she grins, followed by the faintest whisper of an “i sure don’t.”

you were about to reply and perhaps mention how you’d be okay with her falling asleep in your arms, that you could tolerate such juvenile behaviour. you know, in the name of public health and safety, but bev beats you to it.

“just let me warm up here for ten minutes, alright. then you can let go and i’ll sleep on my side right after,” she rushes out.

that wasn’t how you thought it was going to know. your heart sinks slightly at her words but you try not to take it personally. what else could you do? it was almost like a wake-up call, reminding the both of you that this wasn’t normal for you and bev.

after a minute or so, you found yourself absentmindedly weaving your fingers through bev’s auburn hair, gently combing it with your hands like you did earlier with stan. “you have such soft hair,” you whisper against her hair.

you hear her mumble against the blanket indistinguishably and you find yourself closing your eyes at the vibrations of her voice against you. if only bev wanted to stay here like this and this feeling between the two of you could last more than the next ten minutes. you let your eyelids drift down momentarily, and you smile at the thought.

just a couple minutes later, your mind jolts back awake, and your heart sinks at the thought of having to wake her up so she could move to her side of the sofa and sleep. you reach over to feel the ends of her hair between your fingers again, grounding yourself to this feeling one last time before bev had to wake up. once you peel your eyes open however, you immediately shut them against the bright light shining at you. was richie planning on abducting y’all in the middle of the night again? gently prying your eyes open for the second time, you notice the light is shining from the window. you sigh in relief.

wait. the window?

your eyes shoot open fully. the hail had stopped. and it’s day time.

snapping your head down to bev, you take in her figure still fit snugly into your side. her free arm rests across your chest, her legs were entwined with yours. ...and her electric blue eyes stare right into you. your heart instantly jumps into your throat as you scramble for excuses, fuck, anything that would keep you from explaining yourself.

instead, she shifts her body upwards so she’s fit even tighter against your side, placing her face into the crook of your neck. her lips were right at your pulse point, sending your mind spiralling at the thought that she could probably feel how fast your heart was beating right now. her lips move against your skin, saying something barely above a whisper.

“you tell anyone about this and i’ll fucking end you.”

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