#Operator head canons

[callmeoperator]

Then & Now

Micah always had a bit of a sweet tooth, and was known for having a stash of goodies that he was willing to share with pretty much anyone who'd asked. Now, he will still share what he has with others, but will not take food from anyone unless it is in a sealed, untampered package. No donuts in the breakroom, no fancy bakery. He's knows it's not a great behavior, he's gonna be working on it.

Micah used to occasionally go out with friends for a drink. He will still go out with people, but he's not drinking anything other than bottled water. (Both because of the previous thing, but he also doesn't drink alcohol anymore.)

Micah loves coffee and tea, but is currently trying to cut back on the caffeine intake. Caffeine isn't great for his anxiety.

[orokin-grub]

Mom, drop the cellphone.

[fedorah-the-explorah]

thinking about how carmen told gray that she was taught by a revolving door of nannies. and it's like. what does that imply? nannies are typically hired to stick around for several years. did the faculty keep changing them up to culture her? did they change them up for security? were the nannies other vile operatives? did she keep running them off? was she just that much of a menace to society? imagine you're trying to run a top secret organization but your bitch child won't stop running off her nannies and you have to keep hiring more people to come to your super secret island. i support her.

[bonefall]

How many cats have do you think have invoked a dark forest spirit for their boons?

Channeled-- but probably a lot. More than you'd think, and it's probably the reason that some cats are surprisingly in the Dark Forest themselves.

I plan to explain the difference when I get around to making a Dark Forest 101, but Invoking and Channeling are two very different processes

Invocation

To Invoke, you contact StarClan first to send you the cat you're seeking. "StarClan send me the strength of Stonefur. StarClan I pray that Thunderstar will serve justice."

This way, your prayer is not private. "StarClan" is aware of what you've requested, and can consider your entire life at your trial. If your request was evil or self-serving, it can be completely denied, if your prayers are benevolent, they can experience the emotion with you and amplify their collective power.

I like to joke with myself that it's usually like, "Operator get me Grandma I forgot what spice she puts in her soup 💀"

Channeling

Is direct. You're leveraging your connection to the individual spirit. A channel to them, if you will.

You will get the spirit you want, if you did it right and your connection is strong enough. For Spottedleaf and her absurdly high aptitude for spirituality, it was a success rate of nearly 100%. Though... I'm positive there is a way for the Wrong Spirit to pick up, or interrupt the call.

So, items are required for this. For Spottedleaf, tar-spot blight from sycamores worked like a charm. Batear likes bat parts. Hawkfrost goes for sparrowhawk feathers. Through simple logistics, some cats are easier to reach than others.

You can channel a StarClan Angel OR a Dark Forest Demon... but, a StarClan Angel might rat you out, so make sure you trust whoever you're trying to contact. You can't Invoke a demon, though, there is no "operator" to call.

[heyclickadee]

Operator Theory reveal where it turns out Omega (not suspecting anything about him) did try to talk CX-2 out of working for Hemlock during the trip over to Tantiss, and between being talked at by this little girl who makes his heart hurt, cutting off Crosshair’s hand, and being annoyed at Hemlock taking the controls for the dagger ship, Tech was having an existential crisis in a tube somewhere and moderately distracted while also having five bodies to live in at once. Hence why CX-2 was so much less effective and why the worst batch sucked at their jobs after that first fight.

[inamindfarfaraway]

Team Chaotix in Sonic Prime

My headcanons for what Vector the Crocodile, Espio the Chameleon and Charmy Bee are like in the Shatterspaces.

New Yoke City

Vector’s variant is called Missile (a missile is a vector, having direction and magnitude). He embodies Vector’s responsibility, practicality and seriousness. He was trying to make a difference as a teenage detective when the dystopian city appeared around him four years ago and it became clear that, with the Chaos Council’s control of the new justice system and law enforcement, the person he aspired to be would never make it. Of course he wants to fight, but the Council is brutal and their absolute power seems impossible to overthrow. He soon ended up with two children in his care, one only a toddler. If he got arrested, killed or roboticized, what would happen to them? If the three of them had the Council’s protection, on the other hand, as per the contract of an exclusive, specialized detective agency who would do whatever dirty work they were ordered to… he knows that those tyrants are the reason his kids have nobody else. He knows that the vast majority of people he leads the robotic police to don’t deserve any punishment, and none of them could deserve the cruel horrors they get. He knows that he isn’t a hero - that he may even be the exact opposite. And he hates it. But any money that keeps his family alive is money worth having, he’s regretfully decided. Big concepts like good and evil are none of his concern. He’s just trying to pay the rent. It’s too late to back out now, anyway. Now that the people are rebelling en masse and the Council is busy exploring the Shatterverse, he’s desperately waiting for things to stabilize and daring to hope against hope that some positive change occurs. And that the citizens don’t recognize the collaborateurs in their midst and turn on them.

Espio’s variant is called Trace. He embodies Espio’s stoicism and pragmatism. His ninja training was cut short - and his village razed and everyone he knew killed or taken prisoner - when the Chaos Council remade the world in their image. But he’s gained plenty of experience in stealth, deception, infiltration, espionage and combat working in the Chaos Detective Agency. Dishonour means nothing to a ninja. That’s what he tells himself, at least. On the outside, he’s reserved and aloof, a cold, ruthless foe. He will only show his family the slightest show of emotion. Internally, however, his repressed grief for his old family, community, home and life; guilt, shame and self-loathing due to his service to the Council; and years of accumulated trauma are brewing into a storm that he barely keeps contained under the surface. He’s afraid of his feelings burdening his teammates and distracting them from what’s most important: survival.

Charmy’s variant is called Sting. He embodies Charmy’s eagerness to be helpful and fighting spirit. He can’t remember anything except New Yoke and doesn’t understand much of how his society works, but he knows that his family’s work is very important to them being alive and wants to be a part of it. He does notice their stress and the general unpleasantness everywhere and can infer that circumstances could be improved. But their work being dangerous is all the more reason he should help! Teamwork makes the dream work, right? Danger just adds to the fun of stopping ‘bad guys’. He’s also terrified that if they leave him behind, they might not come back. So he kept breaking out and running away when Missile and Trace went on missions until they agreed to train him and let him join them. He revels in the thrill of action and finds people getting hurt amusing the way a six-year-old boy can, not emotionally connecting to anyone he’s told they need to catch and earnestly believing that their enemies must be in the wrong. He often imitates Missile when trying to be tough and intimidating.

Boscage Maze

Vector’s variant is called Reed. He embodies Vector’s optimism, lightheartedness and musical side, and tends to have his coarser manners too. He, the other two and Cream and Vanilla’s variants are in a different small tribe to the Scavengers and haven’t yet met them, so Thorn Rose didn’t banish them to the emergent layer; they are nomadic and moving toward the Scavengers’ territory. He’s cheerful and generous, always ready to raise the tribe’s morale. He can be immature and irresponsible at times, more focused on enjoying life and entertaining his companions than applying maximum effort to practical tasks. He’s highly resourceful when it comes to instruments and has invented drums and a reed flute. He loves to play them and sing. He’s also bold enough to flirt with Vanilla and the casual first stage of a romance is budding between them.

Espio’s variant is called Berry. He embodies Espio’s caution, wisdom and love of art and culture. Yes, that’s in this dimension. The tribe took him in after they crossed paths when he was eight, him having previously had to survive on his own for as long as he can remember. He’s mature beyond his years, highly knowledgeable about the forest’s flora and fauna, wary and prepared to defend his tribe from any threat using his carved flint blades and hand-to-hand skills. He used to find it difficult to relax, but has learned to unwind through playing a shamisen-esque string instrument Reed built for him and painting with plant pigments. While acutely aware of nature’s hazards, he can still appreciate its wonder and majesty and respects it.

Charmy’s variant is called Honey. He embodies Charmy’s innocent kindness, friendliness and trusting nature. He and Cream’s variant are best friends and adoptive siblings, since his parents entrusted their friend Vanilla with him when they left on an exploratory expedition in his infancy. They didn’t return. But Honey doesn’t mind. He has everything he needs right here. The one thing he can think of that would make his life better is a friend who can fly like he can.

No Place

Vector’s variant is called Bullion (because of precious metal and a male crocodile is a bull). He embodies Vector’s sharp intelligence, charisma, greed and courage. He left his home island in a modest but sturdy vessel, dubbed the Treasure Trove, to seek his fortune and established himself as a travelling merchant. Cunning, socially savvy and theatrical, he is willing to (if you insist on using such accusatory language) ‘scam’ customers and has an endless supply of get-rich-quick schemes. He and his crew live in a fiercely competitive, unpredictable environment full of pirates! Material wealth is essential! That being said, he isn’t all talk. He will brave high seas and stormy weather, chart uncharted waters and do business with anyone to obtain the best goods and things no other merchant is selling, and the genuine quality and rarity of a lot of his stock keep people endeared to him despite his rough edges and occasional bad deal. He takes pride in his competence as a salesman and seafarer and part of him is more fulfilled by honest work. Not that he’ll admit that. He’s very attached to his swashbuckling rogue self-image.

Espio’s variant is called Fathom (a measure of water depth and a verb for contemplative thought and understanding). He embodies Espio’s firm sense of morality and diligence. He met Bullion when the crocodile docked at his home island and, struck with wanderlust and needing a job to get by, Fathom offered to manage his finances with his advanced mathematical ability and do some manual labour. Bullion agreed, but it didn’t take Fathom long to figure out that he was both running a con and a broke mess. A weirdly likeable broke mess. In the aftermath of Fathom exposing the con, the customers angrily demanding refunds and the Treasure Trove being hastily undocked, they made a deal to support and protect each other, with Fathom promising to follow his boss’s lead on the strict condition that Bullion stayed on the straight and narrow. He’s a dutiful hard worker, patient and polite. He tries to remain calm and be civil to everyone no matter how wild things get. He grounds his crewmates, restraining their more energetic, eccentric and, most frustratingly for him, selfish and amoral behaviour. He knows they can be better. And when they are, it’s extremely rewarding. But they certainly test him - though he won’t deny that the motley crew all truly care about each other and would stick together through anything.

Charmy’s variant is called Dodger. He embodies Charmy’s mischievous, irreverent side. He was born to pirates and left at an orphanage on one of the larger islands, but could never follow rules or be satisfied with a simple, mundane life in one place. He wanted excitement, and usually made his own by causing trouble and playing tricks. He totally wasn’t lonely. One day he stowed away on a ship. His plan was to steal all the stuff he could carry on him and fly off. Bullion and Fathom, the sailors who caught him, took a liking to him and were hesitant to send him back to his boring, miserable old home once he explained his life before. They were nice and cool and made him feel wanted and like he belonged more than anyone else ever had, so he hung around. Bullion makes him do chores, but respects his pranking prowess and nerve. Fathom is a great listener and playmate, albeit sometimes a killjoy.

[aeons-domain]

[purplecatghostposts]

I know the Operator is an untouchable monster and a force of nature but… What if it wasn’t. What if it could touch, leaving chills and extreme discomfort in its place, making you wash the spot it touched over and over again but the feeling lingers for days, weeks, months, or even years?

What if it could speak? Would it be monstrous screeches, like glitching technology, or could it talk to you? Implant ideas in your head that almost feel like your own or maybe, it has a voice of its own, or is that just one it’s stolen? But it talks, and it gets hard not to listen when you don’t have anyone else around.

What if it wasn’t so distant? What if it got a little more hands on?

I love how it is but sometimes I think about that, y’know?

[tortoise-teapot]

i'm like a real good writer

[moe-broey]

Another thing I'm always thinking about when making any kid design of an adult chara is. My biggest pet peeve. You see it in the kid banners So Badly. Where the chara is just a smaller version of their normal design. Which can work okay for some characters, sure, maybe. But I'm transgender and had a whole bitchass journey about it. From being unaware of my appearance entirely, my presentation determined by my mom and my sisters' hand-me-downs. To ultimately over-compensating SEVERELY, leaning heavily into expected and acceptable femininity, praying that the perfection would save me. Hell, even when I finally allowed myself to be trans, I presented quite differently than I do now. It took me a long time to grow into myself, to find my footing.

So like. Regardless if I'm hcing the chara as trans or not, I feel like it's important. To capture them at different stages of life, and to think about how THEY'RE thinking about their presentation. Whether they're thinking about it at all, or if they're thinking about it A Lot. And if it's the latter, then Why? Is it something they have fun with? Is it something they're anxious about, for whatever reason? Is it sort of. Foreshadowy? Idk how to explain it. But best example I've got is how I'm always putting a little bit of queerness in Alfonse.

LIKE. It's about identity. It's about growing into yourself. Flashes of What Could Be. Snippets of something that was always there. Or maybe it's about something that was stamped out of you. Something you "corrected", yourself. It also speaks to your environment. The hands that molded you. And once you're outside of that grip, what do you do? What's your next move? Once again, it's about identity.

All of that said, this does present. A dilemma. If I, as the artist, cannot balance the tightrope of "This character looked different as a kid but is still somewhat recognizably themselves" vs "That's just a completely new character. You Ship of Theseus'd it" LMFAOOOOOO RIP 😓😓☠️☠️☠️🧍

[tiredassmage]

I think the fact that troopertyr ate shit twice playing the update today vs agent canon operative tyr being able to breeze through it like nobody's business a) is further data for my ongoing loveletter to stealth in solo play and b) says a lot about troopertyr somehow possibly being both more of a war criminal (probably) than actual imperial agent og and also exponentially by far the most soggiest incarnation of him and quite possibly the soggiest little guy i've ever made. dramatic ass shelter dog sighing on the couch while he looks like some cross between morty posing and family guy death pose.

but yeah. sure. the guy's a ex-republic specforce major. totally. whatever you say, boss.

i'd say fooling no one but apparently he fooled a lot of people because they wouldn't stop promoting him, i guess. akdnflsa;df (send him help. maybe a care package)

[sighdbh]

josh not being able to survive the violent revolution is absolute bullshit that makes me mad to this day, but what even is death in an android world? if you gave him enough blue blood and had spare body parts on hand, would be able to come back?

[creepypasta-fan-page]

“Ticci Toby Headcanons, Lyra Edition„

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~- ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

-:I feel like Ticci Toby would almost get caught by authorities for stalking. Except the person he is stalking looks a little too much like his sister and he develops an Obsession over this look a like.

-:Whenever Ticci toby started seeing Slenderman he genuinely feels like this is what he deserves for not being able to protect Lyra.

-:When Ticci Toby was a little boy. (Age 4-7) He would have to bathe with his mother or sister because he would either turn the water way too hot, way too cold or would have trouble bathing due to Tourette’s.

-:Now Ticci Toby has many blisters on his body from too hot of showers and his showering takes 30 minutes for just his body on bad days.

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

[spocks-kaathyra]

pythas... . . .. .... .

[jlf23tumble]

It's funny that you mention always you bcus today I saw the gold star Larries discussing it and saying it's autobiographical but Larry have never broke up ! and the line 'should've never let you go' isn't describing a break up but a struggle in the relationship that isn't anything to do with them having issues with each other but external factors like stress from their career. That if they ever needed time apart it wasn't because of each other, it's because they wanted to focus on themselves. Lol. They go back and forth on LOML a lot and say it is about Louis except for the 'you were the love of my life' part lol. That certain lines are about Louis and certain lines are about England. Cherry picking!

The coucou cherry picking of it all, the gymnastics, whew, truly olympic gold medal worthy!

[lgbtlunaverse]

this connects to some REALLY good writing advice i remember from @batshaped

Characters are contradictory, just like people are. What would it take for them to do the thing they've told themselves they'd never do, and how would they try to justify it?

Expanding a thought from a conversation this morning:

In general, I think "Is X out-of-character?" is not a terribly useful question for a writer. It shuts down possibility, and interesting directions you could take a character.

A better question, I believe, is "What would it take for Character to do X?" What extremity would she find herself in, where X starts to look like a good idea? What loyalties or fears leave him with X as his only option? THAT'S where a potentially interesting story lies.

In practice, I find that you can often justify much more from a character than you initially dreamed you could: some of my best stories come from "What might drive Character to do [thing he would never do]?" As long as you make it clear to the reader what the hell pushed your character to this point, you've got the seed of a compelling story on your hands.