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zetto-protection-squad · 8 months ago

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Fun conversation topic: What would be your peak SELF INDULGENT version of TOME?

I started thinking recently about how the RPG is a big outlier in the TOME franchise (is it accurate to call it a franchise?) because I feel to me personally that the "you die in the game you die in real life" elements were what really hooked me on to begin with. However, the RPG itself has some nice elements to it; the more in-depth game mechanics, RPG Flamegirl by herself, etc etc...

However, I'm never a "Fuck Canon" kind of fan; moreso a "I love this, but how would I make it better?" kind of fan.

Even so, I think it's important to understand the difference between if a piece of media does something poorly versus if a piece of media simply didn't do something you didn't enjoy. Such as, TTA Flamegirl is a poorly written female character, BUT me not enjoying RPG Alpha doesn't mean that he is inherently poorly written. Remember, there is inherently a huge difference between the creator's intention with their story, and what you as the audience PERSONALLY want from their story.

That being said, the questions stand:

What would be your peak SELF INDULGENT version of TOME? Which plotlines (TTA/2011/RPG) would you want to encapsulate the most? Which versions of each of the main 7 would you want to explore this plotline?

I've pitched this concept to my friends (Thank you for your support @d-buggers-org + @mechcity-skyline !), but some wanted to see this as a public prompt so here you go!

Remember, I'm writing all this from a place of love! I NEVER want to say "Fuck Canon"; I simply want to gush about my favorite elements from each TOME variant, and daydream about what will satiate my own self indulgence for a series that means a lot to me :]!

Under the cut would be my own personal "P.S.I." version of TOME (will refer to it as "my PSI-TOME for short throughout this essay); so get ready for TOME, [insert Mod Blue's real name] version!

Which plotlines (TTA/2011/RPG) would you want to encapsulate the most?

I'm going to immediately start out the gate with the controversies BUT...

TV TOME Adventures.

Like I said in my intro, it was TOME (2011 in particular)'s "you die in the game you die in real life" plotline that really hooked me onto the series!

However... something about the air of TTA alone is very different than 2011. I think it feels much darker, plotlines such as the forbidden season 4, Ericho's mind being trapped in the gang, Kirbopher1111's descent, Motherboard's corruption and the shadow clones??

Maybe it's because it's a longer series, or maybe, by my own account, "I am a dramatic bitch", I think I would love to see a lot of the TTA plotlines polished to be feasible for a more advanced series. They are the building blocks for the franchise, after all!

Overall I think it would be interesting to explore TTA by itself, and its full potential when working with its building blocks; cutting the fat where you could tell it was initially written by a random teenager and polishing the interesting concepts presented in TTA that aren't in 2011. I also think me wanting TTA's plotline in particular is an interesting conundrum when taking into account my other question...

Which versions of each of the main 7 would you want to explore this plotline?

Now, this one actually gets complicated!

I'm mostly going to yap about why I think they'd be a perfect pick for my PSI-TOME plotline, but @d-buggers-org actually brought up a great point about how you could choose between who you want for plotlines BUT steal another version's character design! So I'll mention whose design I'll steal in the midst of which plotline/character arc would be better as well.

So get ready for a ride...

ALPHA:

TTA Alpha.

While I do have a soft spot for 2011 for reasons I may get into later, I am and have always been ENAMOURED with TTA Alpha in particular. I'm not a huge fan of "shy character becomes more confident" plotlines (truthfully I don't even know if I can explain why), so TTA Alpha in particular sticks out better to me!

I think he comes across as a somewhat brash, almost arrogant person at the beginning of the series, but one who slowly gets worn down by the heaviness of the plot over time, until he presumably "gets his spark back" by season 4 (Chris mentioning one of season 4's final episodes being a fight between Alpha and the literal God Of The Internet to prove that Alpha is proof that the virtual world is protected by good hands). He comes across as cocky at certain moments, but in a fun way! He's also very captivating while angry, and even though Chris himself doesn't like the 3 hour infiltration mission... I rather enjoyed seeing Alpha in particular have to directly lead his friends into danger, him and Voltarius having a back and forth conflict of who has the upper hand over who.

I think overall, TTA Alpha feels like a real teenager to me. Maybe I feel like the shyer Alphas of 2011 and RPG come across as more trope-y to me than TTA? I may have even posted about how TTA Alpha reminds me of Sonic specifically in Sonic Frontiers, my favorite video game of all time... but either way, that's how I feel! TTA Alpha would be my pick for my PSI Alpha.

Also, I wouldn't be too mad at keeping TTA Alpha's designs as-is lol. Maybe just remove the lizard tail and also steal 2011 Alpha's season 1 outfit for him BUT keeping TTA Alpha's season 2 + 3 + 4 outfits :D

ALSO ALEJANDRO SAAB IN THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF TTA EPISODE 60 IS MY PERFECT VICTORY; I NEED ALEJANDRO SAAB IN MY PSI-TOME <3

FLAMEGIRL:

RPG Flamegirl. (SPOILERS FOR THE RPG INCOMING, FYI)

Now, I think I speak for a fair chunk of us will admit RPG Flamegirl is the best Flamegirl has been written. Heck, probably the first time Flamegirl didn't feel like "THE GIRL" of the group!

Now, I initially didn't like RPG Flamegirl in the demo; but with the context of her full character in the RPG? She singlehandedly fits SO PERFECTLY with the higher stakes I enjoy from each series... but I feel kind of bad she's stuck in the one TOME variant that doesn't have those sci-fi high stakes I fell in love with. She's one of those rare characters I see in media that I swear I'm gonna hate the entire time, only for their character arc to showcase the OPPOSITE. (FYI, those awards are also gifted to Ling Yao from FMA and Weiss Schnee from RWBY <3)

I love that she's still learning to be a leader of her guild. I love that she has blatant trust issues that make her friendships fall apart, and she learns to grow from it to make sure she's not in a constant cycle of platonic break-ups. I love her raw determination, and I love how she very much ISN'T perfect and struggles with that. (And also, she's Filipino and voiced by a Filipina actress! Filipino pride :D)

If I'm particularly stealing the elements of TTA, I think you can easily interweave RPG Flamegirl into that sort of plotline. Maybe her sister was impacted by the virus at some point? I think RPG Flamegirl in particular ABSOLUTELY has the will and strength to take down the hacker organizations; She obviously does the same even if the hackers aren't directly harming people physically through the game.

As for design?

...

To be honest, 2011 Flamegirl with RPG Flamey's personality would be god tier. I love the demon aesthetic she has, and it's a little less busy on the eyes than RPG Flamey's outfit.

NYLOCKE:

...

...I could go both ways! (Both 2011 and RPG Nylocke.)

Now, I would like to elaborate that I'm not the biggest Nylocke fan, so I'm very much not the person to ask when it comes to which Nylocke is better, or go onto rambles on each version of Nylockes' character arcs.

But I don't hate him! I've been in the fandom for 10 years at this point, and growing into adulthood I really appreciate who Nylocke is as a character. He is really the heart that holds the group together, and really makes everything feel okay when he's at his best. I'm not sure if you could argue he has this big massive character arc, but my point is that you don't NEED him to change so massively because he's everyone's rock in the face of adversary.

Truthfully, not being a Nylocke stan, I personally don't see much difference between 2011 and RPG Nylocke outside of the circumstances they're in; that's exactly why I could go with both of them in my PSI-TOME. I think, like I said, being a steady rock in the face of adversary would be EXACTLY what my PSI-TOME would need, being reminiscent of TTA's darker elements.

As for design however, RPG Nylocke 100%! I think his silhouette cements the "big support" character he needs to be, his palette is more pleasing to the eye, and his cape's back!

KIRB/ZETTO:

...I'd like to hope y'all remember what my blog is about because it is ABSOLUTELY going to be...

2011 Kirbopher/Zetto.

What else can I say? I love him. He's an integral part of my childhood, my adulthood, my writing, my personality, my interests??

I've mentioned before that TTA Zetto is sort of the "common ancestor" for what would evolve into two separate paths; 2011 Zetto, and RPG Zetto. I think where TTA Zetto falters is Chris attempting to have both cakes; the Vegeta redemption arc, and the ever-intimidating adversary. RPG Zetto is a perfected version of the latter; I'm scared of him, to be honest. He's an asshole with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I would say I'd punch RPG Zetto if I saw him in the streets, but he'd probably doxx me on his Reddit account.

2011 Zetto is a perfected version of Vegeta. PERIOD.

His dual identity made TOME (2011) SO SO captivating. He alone raises the stakes, directly links the main group into the main conflict (but even spicier, AGAINST HIS WILL!). I'm in love with all of his issues and he's personally the most relatable person in the entire cast.

EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM IS SO CAPTIVATING! My favorite episode of TOME (2011) is Episode 10, because it's the first time we see Zetto's mask crack and he starts showing emotional vulnerability!

His dual identity with Kirbopher also helps "declutter" the main cast a bit more, and gives Kirbopher himself a lot more meat to his character! TTA Kirbopher15 is fine, but kind of works like the Joey Wheeler to Alpha's Yugi; but more people remember Kaiba and Yugi than Joey and Yugi. RPG Kirbopher works well without the higher stakes of TTA as just Alpha's friend.

However, with my PSI-TOME having TTA plotlines specifically BECAUSE I love drama and darker plots...

It'd be a crime to say 2011 Kirb/Zetto WOULDN'T be my pick for my own PSI-TOME!

2011 Kirb/Zetto is just SO STELLAR of a character that he just HAS to be there for my PSI-TOME.

(Heck, he was my awakening for loving the SHIT out of characters with dual identity issues.... lots of my dual-identity faves come from obscure webcomics BUT I literally just finished reading Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde because it's THE "dual identity conflict" novella of all time so uh... yeah 2011 Zetto flows through my veins at this point)

As for design...

No, yeah. I'm keeping 2011 Zetto as-is; obviously TTA Zetto just has a sleeveless version of Vegeta's armor, and RPG Zetto captures the "big douchebag" energy so well that I don't think I'd want him NEAR 2011 Zetto. I'd jokingly say perhaps I'd steal RPG Zetto's hair, though... I've always struggled with drawing 2011 Zetto's hair 😭😭

RPG Zetto's scarf and tattoo is kinda cute tho. Something to consider, maybe.

Kirbopher himself is funnily enough a different story. Personally, 2011 season 2 Kirb is my favorite of all the Kirbs! But I also like RPG Kirb's design over 2011 season 1 Kirbopher too... Also something to consider!

NOW...

GAMECRAZED:

Truthfully? All of them, in one big mega-Gamecrazed.

Much like Nylocke I don't think I have MEGA huge opinions on GC as a character, but in terms of plotline? All of them could work in my PSI-TOME; I think there's elements behind each one of them that could work/could be fun exploring as one giant mega-GC!

I'll just get this out of the way that I could also go for either 3 of their designs; I'm not too strong on one over the other, since I think it's fair to say their silhouettes are generally the same (well I used a pic of TTA's Redemption but still)

That being said, onto plotline:

1.) I love TTA Gamecrazed starting off as just a normal teen coping with his parents' divorce with his little brother, only to be sort of "awoken" by virus power and singlehandedly being able to talk down Motherboard from her own corruption.

2.) I love 2011 Gamecrazed secretly being an AI built to stop hackers by the game's main AI, only to learn about what love is through befriending the main cast.

3.) Gamesoft is just a cutie pie... I love that the RPG was willing to tackle her being trans, and I love that the concept of GC with a little brother was brought back! Truthfully out of all "shy" characters, I definitely prefer her as a more introverted/softspoken person over 2011/RPG Alpha's shyness.

So here's what I've been thinking:

Maybe PSI-TOME GC starts off as a normal teen, perhaps also coping with their parents' divorce but overall having a generally normal human life with a little brother outside of the game

At some point PSI-TOME GC gets involved with the development of a hot new video game, but virus stuff happens and they're now somehow interwoven into the game, maybe their mind is trapped or they are now "transformed" by something within the game that makes them technically no longer human

Motherboard uses GC, whether they be a shell left behind by some fatal accident within the game/Motherboard fusing with GC's mind after a traumatic accident, as a shadow, and learns about love through her experiences as GC + their little brother

Somehow this is a trans allegory

Like, it is 4am. But also imagine...

Food for thought once again. I'm just daydreaming, at the end of the day! But I truthfully believe there is something to be done by using elements from ALL versions of GC to make one big mega-GC to be within my own PSI-TOME.

That being said, I do prefer Motherboard by design instead of SOFDTI (or the RPG's 'Prisoner', especially because Prisoner in particular leads nowhere without the context of an RPG DLC or sequel)

I think "2011 Motherboard" concept art is just gorgeous; especially that top right doodle showing exactly how GC is her shadow. I do prefer humanoid designs hence my neutrality towards SOFDTI's squishy fairy design, but also I am also very much a women enjoyer ♥🧡💛💚💙💜

RURI/KIZUNA/TIGERLILY:

...

Kizuna over Ruri, but I could go both ways perhaps...

No shade to Tigerlily stans! But hear me out...

I think overall for my PSI-TOME, Kizuna is the better choice. Obviously she's made MUCH more important to the plot and conflict in 2011 than Ruri is in TTA; and she's such a girlboss as well. I think her Riza Hawkeye dynamic with Zetto is beautifully done, especially with the A2Z movies giving her a much more hopeful ending and wrapping up their relationship in a neat little bow. She's such a professional in her hacking, and she is a formidable antagonist within TOME (2011); she also has my favorite voice of the franchise! Imogen Fox if you're out there... your performance as Kizuna has been a gay awakening to a LOT of people.

But, after seeing @artlasllm's "Ruri is a Twitch Streamer AU"... I think Ruri also has something to her character to explore as well. I think she's an interesting addition to TTA that would've been quite compelling if explored more; is she the "things IRL I should be taking care of" that TTA Zetto talks about in episode 60? If they've been dating long before Zetto's redemption arc, why hasn't Ruri seen Zetto in a while when they meet back up in-GAME in season 3? Zetto himself rarely talks about her in comparison to Ruri talking about him, she's such a ride-or-die gf that I'm wondering how far Zetto has really pushed that mentality within her. Maybe perhaps she is directly abandoned by Zetto; Zetto fading into obscurity as a prodigous teenage game developer, and Ruri becoming popular only for being a let's player.

I think both are very valid catgirls to explore more within my PSI-TOME; I think I prefer Kizuna for direct plot reasons, but I think I wouldn't be mad at exploring what could be done with Ruri as a character.

That being said, on a funnier note: I've been told you can probably have both of them, since they're so different from one another LMAOO. Some highlights from a brief conversation with @d-buggers-org about including both or maybe ALL of the catgirls include:

Ruri/Zetto/Kizuna polycule at Netking Software's development team (Zetto and Ruri as both beta testers, Kizuna still as head bug checker)

Throwing Tigerlily in the mix with Ruri, Kizuna, and Tigerlily within the plot as a former clique of high school friends, perhaps maybe quite Heathers-esque XD (FYI Kizuna would be Chandler, Tigerlily would be Duke, Ruri would be McNamara)

Kizuna could and would doxx Ruri, from a professional hacker to a simple streamer 😭😭 on the reverse side, Tigerlily would look Kizuna dead in the eye and take selfies with whatever creep shows up at her house after getting doxxed by her

So yeah. Kizuna is a little complicated of a topic for my PSI-TOME, because you could argue that the differences between all of them mean that you could probably have multiple of them within anyone's PSI-TOME as different characters!

I think for simplicity's sake I would say that I do prefer Kizuna to Ruri in regards to who I would choose for my PSI-TOME, but if I were able to juggle both Kizuna AND Ruri in my PSI-TOME, especially with Kizuna as a professional hacker and Ruri as successful gaming streamer? I think I would love to explore both of them.

MISC:

So what else could I say about MY PSI-TOME?

Well, first off, a lightning round of Netking Opinions:

I would choose (MOSTLY) all of the 2011 Netkings over them all, with a few changes and exceptions; I think at the very least, Webmaster, Bitshrum, and Kindarspirit are the best in 2011 continuity, with Rubirules in 2011 being my favorite Rubyrulz/Rubirules/Rulerruby design

I'm not sure whether Rubirules or EXE would work as the true Hacker Boss in my own PSI-TOME, because I was fine with either of them when comparing TTA and TOME (2011)! So simply, I could go both ways!

However, I love Queen Rulerruby... regardless of if I'd pick Rubirules to be my PSI-TOME hacker boss, I absolutely want him genderbended to be the lovely Linda Young-voiced gemstone queen that Queen Rulerruby in the RPG is. God, that'd give off such wonderful Yzma vibes 8) <3

Regardless of EXE/Execk being my PSI-TOME hacker boss, I think I'd at least choose TTA/RPG designs over 2011. I think he looks a little plain and normal in 2011, so I'd def try to pick TTA or RPG's EXE/Execks for a liiiittle more oomph :D

NOW, MORE RANDOM PLOT LINES!

Seeing RPG Flamegirl having to deal with the fallout of 2011 Kirb/Zetto's reveal... I think she would NOT hold back in regards to holding him accountable for his actions. Honestly with the context of them being in the TTA plotline, maybe there's more time to explore the fallout of Zetto's dual identity within my PSI-TOME's Purple Flame Arc

Yoinking the 2011 Design for the D-Bug Dragon, but TTA Kajet for the yellow streaks in his design

Not particularly sure if D-Bug Dragon is a virus like in TTA, or an antivirus like in TOME; the general concept of the flame going haywire and making someone comatose would be the same, however. I do definitely think that in my PSI-TOME, perhaps it was built by the hackers, or at the very least Kizuna unfortunately roped into working on it with Darkeyes...

Obviously 2011 Zetto doesn't have the same genuine bloodlust that motivated TTA Zetto to start the hacker organization; I truthfully believe he does the things he does out of paranoia of him but more importantly other people getting hurt by the virus, which I think would motivate Zetto into starting the hacker organization with Kizuna

Oooh, when Archy/Ericho get trapped in the game... I think it'd be spicy to keep 2011 Rockoon as part of my PSI-TOME, a former hacker now desperate to avenge his innocent friend, alongside the horror of the main cast finding out that he's trapped as an AI within the game...

Elaborating more on the "Ruri/Zetto/Kizuna polycule" pitch... I imagine that Ruri and Kizuna act as shoulder angels on Zetto's shoulders; Ruri representing a normal carefree life, but Zetto abandoning it to run the hacker organization with Kizuna... where Kizuna herself has issues surrounding the morality of the hacker organization that she has to deal with (AND I WANT THEM TO END HAPPILY <3)

There is the potential question of asking if Kirbopher still "dies" within my PSI-TOME, since Kirbopher's "death" is a huge symbolic metaphor for Kirb/Zetto as a character... 🤔

This entire PSI-TOME concept is under the assumption that season 4 would be a thing.......... because my PSI-TOME absolutely has Xirra and Darkeyes 🥺🙏

Heck even outside of my PSI-TOME concept, Kizuna and Darkeyes feel like they have parallels in regards to their shared hatred towards technology, their involvement in building the D-Bug Dragon... perhaps in my PSI-TOME, Darkeyes would be a dark reflection of what Kizuna almost becomes...

Would it be easier to say that this entire post is probably just fanfic fuel and I've accidentally written a fanfic the entire time I've written this section of my post, and I only now realize that at the end of this entire essay at 4 in the morning? Maybe. But I don't write fanfic so ig these are the best crumbs I'm gonna get 😭😭

Legit, if you've read this far, thank you so very much for indulging me in my little daydream! This entire post is open to more conversations about what YOUR personal PSI-TOME would be, and I'm hoping that my little yap-athon here is inspiration for you all to play around with! I would love to hear what your personal PSI-TOMEs would be!

#blue.txt #terrain of magical expertise #TOME #TTA #tv tome adventures #TOME RPG

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twothpaste · 2 years ago

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Giegue/giygas for the ask game, maybe?

First impression: I learned about Giygas through internet osmosis long before I even thought to play EarthBound. All the usual "ooooh this game is secretly sooo dark" and "he's ack-chewally an aborted fetus, see, oooo" kinda shit. I remember it giving me the impression Mother was way scarier and edgier than it turned out to be. (I played games like OFF and Yume Nikki first though. So by the time I got around to Mother, it was very refreshing to play somethin bright & uplifting at its core, lmao.) (In retrospect, I kinda wish Giygas wasn't among the first things every prospective player is told about the EarthBound. Going into the Giygas battle blind seems like it would've rearranged my brain molecules, and I wish I'd gotten to experience it like that.) I forget when exactly I learned about Giegue (I didn't get to play M1 blind either), but I'm pretty sure my first impression was honestly pretty neutral? The imposing presence of a huge alien spaceship, 8-bit sci-fi machinery, and a barely legible creature in a capsule was pretty wicked to see for myself the first time though!

Impression now: Giygas is a big triple decker chocolate layer cake worth of metaphor & symbolism. The existential horror of growing up, the fear of losing who you fundamentally are in the process, the horrific inhumanity adults are capable of, the hopelessness of coming to terms with the world as it is, and so on. Not really a character per se, but the quintessential globular slurry of adolescent angst Ness & pals've gotta contend with. Giegue is a bittersweet little story about a broken family. An internal conflict between vengeance, familial love, and maybe where one's obligations lie? Cool antagonist for sure. I wanna like him more than I do (M1's cryptic hands-off approach to storytelling is hard for me to sink my teeth into 😔). I've speculatively written (and drawn a comic for the upcoming zine 😉) about how Giegue became Giygas, and read some good fics on the topic. In the canon we're given, though? There's really so little binding them together narratively or thematically… I have a difficult time reconciling the two, in the context of the games themselves. Mother 2 in general feels more like a reboot than a sequel - and there's hardly if any "lore" weaving Giegue & Giygas together - so Itoi's choice to declare they're one and the same just seems kinda odd to me. C'est la vie. Fan creators make do.

Favorite moment: The Giygas battle, but like, before he goes sicko mode. When he's bound to a chamber of wires and innards, reflecting Ness' face back at him, and it turns out our fervently raving buddy Porky is actually the one in "control". The atmosphere is so intense and unnerving, such a bizarre yet captivating way to ramp things up. There's like, this sense of stomach-churning dread, as you begin - if only scarcely - to realize the alien overlord you were expecting is an entity far more powerful and personal and helpless and incomprehensible than you ever could've imagined. I mean. You know, because the internet spoiled you when you were 11. But in the bigness of the moment it still makes my mitochondria itch on a primal and cellular level. /pos. Love it.

Idea for a story: My favorite Giegue thing is the vague implication (??) of whatever the hell George did to to him. Y'know, whatever made him hate humanity so much. Whenever I see fan content speculating on how George might've experimented on him or mistreated him I do in fact Feel Somethin' There. (I have been a sucker for angsty-creature-in-a-lab stories from the time I saw Mewtwo Strikes Back in kindergarten all the way to Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 a couple months ago, and I don't suppose I'll ever be sick of 'em.) The conflict it introduces between George and Maria is intriguing too. Like, her husband's treating her dearly beloved child like a science project? Trying to extract the secrets of PSI from his oversized alien brain?? You know if this kinda shit went down, those two were on a caliber of divorce drama the world has rarely seen.

Unpopular opinion: I really like Giegue design interpretations that're freaky and grotesque and biologically unfamiliar. When the beast isn't just mammalian in nature. Truly out of this world.

Favorite relationship: A mean-spirited but otherwise ordinary 13-year-old willingly aligned himself with the alien emodiment of all things evil. And the alien embodiment of all things evil willingly let the kid be his right-hand man. And I'm normal about it. EarthBound tells us basically nothing about how Porky n' Giygas' partnership in crime came to be, but speculating about it sends me into a shark frenzy. Porky seeking power over the world that wronged him, at literally any cost. Giygas weaponizing a child's worst, most vengeful impulses. Porky ultimately usurping Giygas, at least in terms of agency. Witnessing the absolute horror his "master" becomes, and simply sidestepping out of the universe itself to dodge the mess he brought about. I like to imagine there was a period where Giygas was still cognizant enough to maintain a rapport with Porky - and that the two of them fucking hated each other. Both of 'em using the other as a means to an end, assured in the conviction they're the one with the upper hand. And they're kind of both wrong. Bloaw up da worl.

Favorite headcanon: Giegue/Giygas speaks (telepathically?) with a rural midwestern accent. Courtesy of the fine folks who raised him. Other aliens probably think it's weird and mondo cringe, but are too intimidated to say so.

#aw jeez i had more to say than i thought i would #thank you!!#ask tag #2thtalks

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ofedzed128 · 1 month ago

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So, since it's been minute with tumblr here, I'm about to share my 4 Earthbound OCs with you which I will post in 2 sets, starting with my 2 PSI Users and then posting about my 2 Non PSI Users, it should be easy.

For some context: These 4 OCs are for a hypothetical mother story that takes place in the future of Mother 2 with that same future that was said to be plunged into devastation according to Buzz Buzz. That is until the chosen four defeated Giygas and thrwarted his plans once and for all, ensuring a good future for all of humanity, this future is known as the 2000s. All the characters we once knew and love had gotten older as various things in their lives changed as well for better or maybe for worst. Even the chosen four of the previous times had grown up alongside everyone else and they don't usually have the time to join up and see each again as frequently as they once could. Therefore, in order to ensure that the world doesn't fall to darkness, a new set of 4 heroes, 2 girls and 2 boys at the start of their late teens, will rise up to defend the world from the forces of evil.

Now with that short explaination out of the way, let's meet our new heroes! (Well, my take on them at least)

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The leader of this group is 18 years old, she likes to play baseball and loves to do ballet and is born and raised in Onett.

Say hello to the tomboy of beauty and grace, her name is Maryann, a spunky and artsy teenaged girl. She's a third year student in a high school in Fourside with an impressive set of psychic powers. She got those powers after braving a fever that lasted for a whole week when she was young and she would go on to train with her powers with the help of a friend of hers. Though she finished her ballet classes 2 years ago, she still dances during her free time and is adamant with trying to become a professional dancer once she graduates. Here are some fun facts about her: she has a pet dog, who's a female Australian Shepherd, named Jena, her favorite food is sandwiches, her favorite thing is "Classical" stemming towards her favorite guilty pleasure of classical music, an odd favorite for a teenaged girl like her, but not odd enough for a girl that took ballet classes, she likes listens to orchestral or symphonic tracks of music as well, and likes to ride with inline skates.

Here's a link to her doc!

Credit to the Something about them picrew by SODAPVNK for helping me bring Maryann to life.

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Our next member hails from the neighboring town of Twoson, he's a teenaged boy with impressive culinary skills and a green thumb to boot.

Allow me to introduce you all to Peasley, the kind heart of the group and a brave and strong boy who was born with psychic powers from day one, he's a very close friend of Maryann as they both go way back. They first met when they were in Polestar Preschool at the age of 2 and started hanging out with each other at the age of 10. The both of them share the most fondest of memories with one of them seeing Peasley help Maryann train with her PSI powers and having fun with them all while Paula supervised them to make sure nothing bad happens. At the start of high school and near the end of middle school, Peasley started learning how to cook for himself with help from his parents from time to time, he also started a small garden later on in order to grow fresh ingredients for more cooking. Here of some fun facts about Peasley: he has a pet just like Maryann, but it's a Ragdoll Cat named Zurk, the best thing he's ever made was an apple pie forged completely with what he had on hand, Peasley has a skateboard that he likes to ride and is really good at riding it, him and Maryann are regulars at various skate parks.

Here's the link to his doc!

Credit to the Dress-Up! picrew by rileysheadixon for making Peasley into existence.

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Alright, that covers the characters that have PSI, now I just have to post the other 2 characters that don't have PSI later on, so enjoy these two for now.

#mother 2 #earthbound #earthbound oc #ocs #original character #picrew

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crazycatsiren · 2 years ago

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Okay, so I had a question about a book series that is NOT THAT book series. It’s a different one. But I have some struggles with it and I wanted to run it by someone. Hope you don’t mind - I’m sure you get tired of being the person everyone seems to go to. Apologies.

So, there’s this book series my mom read to me as a kid at bed time. It’s an older one that I don’t really hear talked about at all, has to do with unicorns. It’s a really cute story and recently I reread them for nostalgia. I loved rereading them, but I ran across something that made me pause. The word “g*psy.”

Now, I know now that I’m older that that word is offensive to most Roma people (I hear that some groups reclaim it, but it depends on who you ask), but I’m wondering if just the use of the word means the entirety of the books are racist? Because honestly… the characters portrayed and labeled as g*psies, besides some of the obvious stereotypes (it is an older kids book, so it has them wearing lots of colors and bells), they’re the good people? It shows them as real characters, with thoughts and feelings, it shows them being oppressed by the rich white lord villain, it shows them having to band together to help each other, to free a wagon when stuck in the mud in the rainy season, being super accepting of everything coming their way. They were the good guys, throughout the entire book series.

And I guess I’m wondering… is it still bad to keep and read books like that? I understand that THAT book has harmful stereotypes and cruel caricatures. But the series I was reading didn’t seem to have that. It just seemed to be using an admittedly racist and offensive word.

I don’t want to be one of those people that puts nostalgia over real people’s hurts. So is there a line? It is an older series, and the people portrayed and labeled as g*psies are not bad or just a plot point. But the word used IS racist. I guess I’m just trying to wrestle with everything. Is it possible to enjoy a series like that, even just quietly? Or should all series’ like that be rejected?

Here's the thing: times change, languages change, words change, people and things change.

Not trying to sound like an old woman but you probably haven't been around long enough to see it all. Back when I was in high school, "retarded" was not only acceptable but also normal. History books and history teachers all said "Indians" instead of native Americans. Less than 10 years ago, when I was teaching elementary school, "gypsy" was the right word to use when it came to teaching children history. Fleetwood Mac has a song called "Gypsy" that came out in 1982.

You're going to come across old literature and media that are frozen in the time period when they were written/produced. When slurs weren't really a thing. Just keep that in mind, and be mindful. Fleetwood Mac is still one of my all time favorite bands.

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ohandcounting · 1 year ago

Text

The Book That Will Try And Eat Your Hands.

The year is 2X1X, and 30ish years before that, a new type of book had been made: The Living Book™

The Living Book™ is not actually alive, it is just a format that lets books do things that books could not normally do. Like have voice acting, videos, or even sections where you have to play a game. (This isn't going to be about Homestuck.)

A new Living Book™ released, and a lot of people are talking about it. It's wearing inspiration from another well known Living Book™ on its sleeve: "psi kid 2" A Living Book™ you've never read, but one you know enough about to know you would enjoy reading if you did. So you decide to buy the one everyone's currently talking about:

"HoleBound"

A story about a kid who falls into a hole, and is stuck underground. It's primarily about the great characters met during the story, and its unique interactions with them. Then you get through the prologue, start reading the first chapter and...

The book starts trying to eat your hands! Someone in the book looks you dead in the eyes and says "YOU MORON!" It obviously can't eat your hands. It's not even strong enough to hurt you, let alone damage you. But dang! This might be really funny and definitely makes reading the book way harder! It's common place to just watch someone else go through a book like this, and plenty of people do. Tons of them just to see people's reactions to what happens in the book.

Maybe you read it yourself, maybe you don't. But you know this for a fact: You loved it, it's one of the best things ever written. When you get to the end, a character addresses you directly. They tell you: "I know how to get an even better ending, one where you could even get the book to stop trying to eat your hands." So you do it, follow their instructions down to the letter.

It! Is! Amazing! You're crying tears of joy, even getting to go back through the book again without it trying to eat your hands! It is fantastic, all of the characters are grateful you finally got the book to stop trying to eat peoples hands.

Then, a compartment in the back of the book pops open.

Out of it falls supplies to seal the book closed. It's the only way to make sure they'll stay happy, reading the book again risks the book trying to eat people's hands again. You will never be able to enjoy this book again, or any of the magnificent characters you got to meet within it, but it's the only way to truly end things.

Tears fill your eyes as you do, but...Finally, it's over.

You aren't really satisfied though, it was such a good Living Book™! Surely there's plenty of things other people have written about it! so you look it up and

People are eating the book. They. Are.

EATING!

THE

BOOK!

LITERALLY

This isn't just a clickbait thing either. The chapters of the book are wildly different from what you read, as the characters within are reacting to people EATING THE BOOK. This is the ONLY way to get specific information on the backgrounds of the characters you love so much, it even gives unique information on how the world works. This ends up being so popular, that there are multiple entire fanworks that are Just About Eating The Book. In fact, there's so many now that there's even an Eating The Book Multiverse for just some of the fanworks about eating the book.

You ask a friend about it, and they're like "Oh yeah, it's absolutely my favorite part of the whole thing. I 100% recommend eating the book, but if you can't this guy has a great video on it. He even sealed his book, so you get to watch him rip it open too." You might even look at them like they're insane, but at the end of the day: It is just a book.

It IS just a book.

No one in there is actually happy the book is sealed, they're just written to act that way. They are not real.

You are now sitting in a room alone. Looking at a sealed book. Remembering all of the good times you had with it, all the characters that made you laugh. All the tears you shed fighting with it, the time spent sealing it closed. You would wipe away your memories of it to experience it for the first time again in an instant.

Asking yourself just one question

Am I really going to eat the book?

. . .

This is effectively what it felt like to play Undertale when it released.

#Undertale

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airasora · 1 year ago

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I'm... Let's say extremely close with a white passing Rroma person (if I said exactly how I'd be disclosing who they are and they don't want that). Sometimes genetics are weird; they have green eyes and a similar skin tone to Quasimodo, and reddish blonde hair. Some of their siblings look like Esmeralda or Clopin. They also explained to me that unfortunately, a likely explanation for Quasimodo's og appearance is that the man we see with his mother isn't his biological father, and that he's the product of a gadje (non-Rroma -it is not an offensive word as far as I'm aware, it's like "goy" meaning "non-Jew") sexually assaulting her. Historically it's the most likely explanation. (As evidenced by latter attitudes toward Esmeralda; Frollo may have been the only one to go insane over her but she's definitely regarded as an object of lustful desire by most).

Florida.Florian on YT and TikTok is a Rroma person who makes really informative videos about his people and culture. Several of them are about HOND and one of them touches on the issues (historical and racial) with the "Jehan fix", after precisely mentioning how Quasimodo's appearance unfortunately lends itself to the stereotype you mentioned. I'd highly recommend giving it a watch as I'm really not qualified to speak this far out of my wheelhouse any more. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that you like it, not at all, just that you probably want to be aware of the background that that kind of story has, based on what I know about you as a person (basically, not racist, open minded, and someone who wants to learn). Plus the channel is just plain enjoyable, he's very good.

Personally, I always thought the intention, accidental harmful stereotypes aside, in the design, was so Frollo could further "other" Quasimodo from his people. After all, we see he's trying to raise him to be as racist as he is but while being aware that his mother was Romani. If their typical skin color and features are something else he doesn't share with them, it's another weapon in Frollo's arsenal to explain why he saved him and why he's different from those horrible evil g-psies, the same way his deformity others him from everyone else. I'm thinking especially of the scene where he accuses both Esmeralda and Quasi's mother of being incapable of love, and the Rroma people at large of the same, while at the same time stating that a poor soft-hearted deformed child had no chance to not fall in love with the evil witch. Could also explain why Quasimodo talks about his own people as "them" and parrots Frollo's rhetoric, despite being fully aware that he IS part of "them".

No matter how you put it, this story in its most original form is already VERY problematic to say the least. Yes, this is my favorite Disney movie and Disney stage musical, but that doesn't mean I'm a big fan of its original source. When you create stories like these, there's unfortunately bound to be prejudice, presumptions and historically problematic or incorrect information. I'm not claiming that HOND is good Roma representation, not at all. I like it as a fictional story and that's it.

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harperfrogspad · 2 years ago

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Partners Chapter 3: Waves

Note: In the story they use “madamoiselle” for all women, but in French it’s only used for unmarried women. Once married they use “Madam”, even if widowed or divorced. So I will use Madam for women who are or have been married.

It was a week after Lou and Kay had been out with Lou’s friends when Lou was headed to meet Kay outside the AC building at the end of the workday. Kay has been with Martin all day while Lou had been training her Psi abilities. She had trained hard and bright setting Sun hurt her eyes. Lou closed her eyes against the light, but didn’t stop walking and ran right into someone. Opening her eyes she saw Stone right in front of her.

“Lou?” he grabbed onto her arms.

“Oh, Kay,” she said, closing her eyes again. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you alright?” He said, concern in his voice.

“Yeah,” she said, annoyed. “I just strained myself. Again.”

“I can see that,” he gently guided her into a shady corner.

She was finally able to open her eyes and look at him. “Hey.”

“Hi,” he stoked her cheek.

“How was your day?” She asked.

“Fine,” he said, still concerned. “How about we go to my place?”

“Oh yes?” She raised an eyebrow at him playfully.

“It’s closer than yours,” he clarified.

“Uh-huh,” she said, smiling at him.

“I don’t want you driving too far like this,” he explained.

“Ok, whatever you say, Stone,” she teased

He smiled, but said nothing.

They walked to Lou’s bike and then rode to Kay’s apartment. Once there, Kay did as he always did and fed Lou, and then they cleaned up together. Lou was washing the dishes that Stone brought back from the table. After his last trip he put the dishes down and wrapped his arms around Lou’s waist, resting his head on her shoulder.

“Thank you for your help,” he whispered in her ear.

Lou smiled as she kept washing. “It’s the least I could do.”

“Mmhmm,” he placed a kiss just behind her ear.

More dishes were shifted as Lou’s smile deepened. Kay left another kiss a little lower on her neck. This game continued until the dishes were done, then Lou dried her hands, and turned to face Kay. Their lips met and their hands were on each other. Lou hands went to their favorite place, Kay’s hair, while his hands played at her waist. Their kisses grew more intense by the second, Kay’s tongue teased Lou’s bottom lip making her kisses move over his mouth more wildly. Lou ran one hand down his chest, slid it up under his shirt, and slowly trailed her fingers over his toned abdomen. Keeping pressure on the back of Kay’s head to hold his mouth on hers, Lou then started to undo his belt. Once the belt was out of her way, she undid his pants and snaked her hand into his underwear. Kay didn’t object, but moaned slightly against her mouth as she gently stoked him; it didn’t take long for him to become hard in her hand. Stone slipped his hands under Lou’s top and ran them up her sides. That’s when Lou flinched and pulled away from him quickly.

She swore as she rubbed her side.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked, worried and already knowing the answer.

“No,” she said, still wincing. Then she looked at him. “I mean, yes, but…” She sighed. “It’s not your fault.”

Stone took a step closer to her. “What happened?”

“Training,” Lou said simply.

Kay touched her hand so very gently, the look on his face even more concerned.

Lou squeezed his hand, then she pulled up her top to show him her bare side. There was a large bruise on the very bottom of her rib cage.

“Holy shit,” Stone said, bending slightly to get a better look. “What the hell happened?”

Lou smiled at his cursing. “Rubber bullets.”

Kay whipped his head back up to look at her. “What? They were shooting rubber bullets at you?”

Lou nodded. “They are training me to catch bullets. And well, I didn’t catch very many at first, when they fired around me,” she sighed and rolled her eyes. “The instructor said that I’d catch more if I was afraid they were actually going to hit me. And damn it, if he wasn’t right, after a few hit me, anyway.”

“A few?” Kay was horrified. “How many hit you?”

“I didn’t count,” she looked at his worried eyes. “But you have my complete permission to find and count them all yourself,” she spread her arms out, smiling seductively.

Kay shook his head just a little before scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to his room, where he gently sat her on his bed. He put his hands on the bottom hem of her shirt, “May I?”

“I already told you that you could,” her voice was soft.

Stone took her top off as gently as he could and yet she still winced. Once her shirt was off he saw three more bruises on her. “Shit,” he swore again.

Lou snickered at him, watching his attentive eyes move over her body. Aside from the large bruise on her left side, she had another just below her right collarbone, one on her upper left arm, and one half visible on her right hip.

“There’s more of them on my legs,” She told him, watching him, what she believed was, rage internally.

“Lie down for me, please,” he asked, his voice was calm, but there was a storm in his eyes. “I’d like to see how bad it is.”

Lou knew that he wasn’t upset at her, so she did what he asked and laid back onto his bed. Stone came closer to her, kneeling in the bed beside her, and gently placed his fingers on her side. He then slowly walked his fingers along her ribs towards the bruise, carefully watching her. As his fingers got closer to the center of the bruise Lou began to wrinkle up her nose, a few more “steps” and she flinched, gasped, and put her hand on his.

“Shh,” he hushed her. “I’m sorry, I know it hurts. Try to bare with it.”

He began moving his fingers again, it hurt, but Lou did her best to stay still for him. Closing her eyes she put her hand on Kay’s arm and squeezed it.

“Almost done,” he told her, “promise.”

Stone’s fingers moved back and forth over the center of the bruise, Lou’s breathing became rough.

“I know,” he said sympathetically, watching Lou’s face contorted with pain.

Just as Lou thought she couldn’t take anymore, Kay took his hand off of her, and placed it on her shoulder gently.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I was checking to see if you had any broken ribs. You don’t, but they are bruised.”

“Delightful,” she said, sarcastically.

Stone lowered his mouth to her exposed belly and kissed it, Lou took a sharp breath in, not prepared for his tenderness. Enjoying her reaction, Kay continued to kiss her bare torso, before undoing her belt and removing her pants.

“Son of a bitch,” Stone said looking at all the bruises on Lou’s legs.

Lou laughed, then put her hand on her side and winced. “Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you swear so much,” there was amusement in her voice.

“You look like someone beat you,” he complained.

“I know,” she said. “If it makes you feel better, only the one on my side really hurts. So long as I don’t touch them, the other ones are fine.”

“Only a little,” he ran his fingers gently from her collarbone down her torso, across her thighs, and back up.

Her body trembled under his touch. Kay watched as the look of pain on her face was replaced with pleasure. Wanting nothing more than to replace all of her pain with pleasure, he continued to tease her body with gentle kisses and tender touches. Lou was fully open to him, not trying to hide any part of herself from him. Stone easily felt her desire, it fueled his. He knelt down onto the floor in front of her and pulled her closer to the edge of the bed. She was lying naked on her back, with her legs bent over the edge of the bed and her feet still on the floor. Stone slid one hand under her hip and wrapped his arm around her leg holding her in place before he lowered his mouth between her legs. The moment his tongue slid between her folds she gasped, grabbing the bed with one hand and his hair with the other. Stone licked her slowly, as she cried out with pleasure, pulling at his hair slightly. He continued running his tongue along her hot center as she thrashed on the bed, his strong arms held her in place.

“Kay,” she called to him, breathlessly.

Raising his head from between her legs, a satisfied smile on his face. “Yes?”

Trying not to curse at him, she said: “I need you. Inside me. Now.”

Stone chuckled, sensing her mood, he stood up. “Right now?” he teased.

“Damn it, Stone,” she swore.

He laughed as he shifted her a little farther up on the bed, rolled her on her good side, and pressed her one leg against his chest. He didn’t waste time, he entered her slowly, enjoying the mix of frustration and pleasure she was feeling. He started with long, slow, deep thrusts as she moaned with each one. Lou grabbed his hip and tried to pull him into her harder with each movement, while arching her back. Amused by her need Kay ran his hands down her flat belly, lower, and lower until he found her most sensitive spot. He moved his thumb around in a circle, gently teasing her, he was was rewarded with her pure, uninhibited moans. Kay could tell that she was already very close. He knew it wasn’t going to take long to send her over that edge, but he was enjoying watching, and feeling, her so much that he wasn’t going to stop.

“Kay,” she barely managed to get his name out, she knew she was close too.

“Shhh,” he hushed her, picking up the pace.

Lou thrashed on the bed, driven nearly crazy with pleasure. Her one hand still gripped his hip, the other one flailed until it landed on his chest and he caught it with his. He held her hand tight to his chest as her body took over, she succumbed to the bliss, and she was left trembling and breathless. Stone held still while she tried to calm herself down and get her breathing under control. After a couple moments, Kay shifted away and came to lie next to her on the bed.

His voice was completely calm when he asked: “how are you?” He brushed a loose hair away from her face.

Her only answer to his question was a tired whine and to put her hand on him, letting her emotions do the talking.

Stone enjoyed the emotions that flowed freely from her, as she snuggled up against him. They laid together quietly for awhile before Lou’s hand started to wander. She ran it over Stone’s chest, down along his toned abdomen muscles, and lower. He made a deep, throaty sound as she explored.

“Lou?” He tried, and failed, to sound completely calm.

“Hm?” She feigned innocence.

“What are you doing?” His voice was less calm now.

“Well,” she said, too sweetly. “It seems to me that someone didn’t get enough.”

“Mmhmm,” he smirked.

Lou quickly rolled up on top of him. “Yes, and I plan to do something about it.”

“Oh yes?” It was his turn to feign innocence. He put his hands over his head, letting her have control.

“Yes,” she said, leaning down to touch noses with him.

Lou shifted her hips over his, teasing him, as she placed a kiss on his lips. Then she sat upright, putting her hands on his chest, and rubbing her sex up and down his length. Kay tipped his head back into his pillow, eyes closed, and let out a soft breath. Lou smiled, pleased with the effect she was having on him. After a little more teasing she easily guided him inside herself, watching Kay all the while.

“Mmmm,” he breathed with pleasure.

As good as it felt to be completely in control with Kay beneath her, Lou was fully focused on him. She had the disadvantage of not being an empath, but she watched him closely for any hints. She lifted her hips up off of his slightly and then lowered then again, and again. Kay exhaled each time she sank back down, he opened his eyes and watched her smiling down at him.

“You are so beautiful,” he said tenderly.

“So are you,” she quipped back.

His smile deepened and then he chuckled.

“Especially with those dimples,” she said touching his cheek affectionately.

She leaned down and kissed him briefly, and then sat back upright. He moaned as her leaned down and back up, stoking him more. She grinned as she changed her movements to be longer, deeper. Clearly enjoying it, Kay pressed his hips up against hers each time she pressed hers down, increasing the pleasure for both of them. Lou wanted to prolong his enjoyment as much as possible, but it was difficult with him helping.

“Kay,” she said, her voice laced with pleasure. “Behave.”

He chuckled. “Am I not?”

“No,” she nearly whined. “I’m trying to-“

He pressed his hips harder up into hers and she was unable to keep talking as she moaned.

“I’m completely aware of what you are trying to do, mi amor,” he said. “And if that’s your goal,” he put his hand in her hair and gently pulled her close enough for him to kiss her neck, then he whispered in her ear. “Then do it faster.”

She whimpered, but did what he said and shifted her hips against his faster. He kept ahold of her hair, keeping her close as he leaned his hips into hers even more. Kay groaned, tipping his head back slightly, his other hand found its way to her hip. Lou watched him closely, he was close now, his hands gripped her more tightly, he touched his nose to hers. The pace turned out to be too much for Lou, she could feel herself losing control again.

“Kay,” she tried to warn him.

“Hush,” he said, pulling at her hip to encourage her to move even faster. Then he kissed her.

Lou came hard while moaning against Kay’s mouth, he didn’t stop his movements and soon he arched up into her one last time before relaxing back down onto the bed, breathing hard. Lou laid on his chest, heart beating wildly, trying to calm her breathing. Kay hugged her and kissed her forehead.

“You are wonderful,” he whispered, then he gently shifted her off his chest and onto the bed next to him.

Lou kissed his shoulder, “so you keep saying,” she teased.

The smile he gave her warmed her very soul, and she looked back at him with pure bliss. It was then that she realized how right he was when he said they needed more than just sex. Her emotions caught his attention and he tilted his head at her. Her smile deepened.

“Empath,” she said affectionately.

He reached out and tenderly stoked her cheek, still smiling. “You’re tired, go to sleep.”

Lou chuckled softly, “always knows what I need.”

His smiled faded just a little, his eyebrows knit together slightly.

It was Lou’s turn to stoke his cheek. “‘Always’ used to scare me,” she said, looking deeply into his eyes. “But not with you. With you it’s… comforting, safe.”

His smile widened again, he hugged her against his side, and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad.”

They laid snuggled up, gently caressing each other until they fell asleep.

Later on that day Lou was on duty in the Prior’s office and about to switch places with Stone. He had been working on his skills and then he was going to take over so Lou could go to a class. As Lou was just listening to some music the Prior had given her to try when her phone vibrated in her pocket, she ignored it. Shortly after it stopped, the phone began vibrating again, this time she pulled it out and look at who was calling. The name on the phone gave her anxiety: Mom.

“Monsieur Prior?” She stood up and approached him.

He looked up at her, “Lou?”

“Do you mind if I step out a bit early?” She couldn’t keep the concern out of her voice.

“Of course not,” he looked at her closely. “Is everything all right?”

“My mother is calling, she doesn’t usually.”

“Of course, go ahead,” he said.

“Thank you, Monsieur Martin,” she said before she turned and left quickly.

Martin watched her as she went.

Lou dialed her mom as she stepped out of the office and she started pacing around the waiting room. Kay was already there, he immediately knew that something was off, he watched her carefully. Danielle’s attention was drawn by Lou’s pacing as well.

Ann Reed answered. “Oh, Lou!” Her voice was weak. “I don’t know what to do. They said I can’t help me, but no one else will either.”

Lou put her free hand up as of her mother could see her. “Ma, Ma, calm down and tell me what happened.”

“Oh, Lou,” she sounded close to tears. “He came back, and he broke in.”

Whatever Ann Reed had said after that Lou didn’t hear.

Stone, who had been watching her closely, saw all the blood drain out of Lou’s face and her sway a bit. He was at her side immediately, holding her by her elbow, and helping her into a chair. Danielle came over too.

“Sit,” Kay said as Lou sank into a chair.

A male voice came over the line bringing Lou’s focus back. “Mademoiselle Reed?”

“Who is this?” Lou’s tone was harsh.

“Andre Blanchet. I’m the doctor in Les Loges.”

“Is it bad?” Lou asked.

“Your mother has several cuts and bruises, but the real problem is that she has a compound fracture of her right arm.”

“Okay,” Lou’s brain was moving slowly.

“I haven’t treated her, she claims you can pay for it?” The doctor asked.

“You haven’t… why?” Lou went straight to angry. “Not at all?”

“She has no insurance and no money,” he said matter of factly.

“I’ll pay for it, just do it!” Lou’s anger reached Kay, he shifted closer to her without touching her.

“I can’t without you being here,” he was completely calm. “I need proof of payment before treatment.”

Lou wanted to kill this doctor until she realized that many would act the same. The emotional pain, frustration, anger, and guilt culminated until something snapped inside her.

“I understand,” she said in a detached, almost broken voice. “I’ll come as soon as I can.” Then she hang up.

Lou lowered her phone slowly to her lap and just stared down.

“Lou?” Kay’s voice was soft and gentle.

She didn’t respond or even show any signs that she had heard him.

Stone shifted out of his chair and knelt in front of her. “Lou, look at me.”

Lou’s eyes slowly rose to meet his. “Oh, Kay, what have I done?”

Danielle sat down next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Tell us what happened,” Stone said offering her his hand.

Lou took his hand in hers. “He came back,” her voice was soft.

Kay could feel the tangled mess that was her emotions: fear, anger, frustration, anxiety, contempt, and guilt. “Who?”

“Tyler,” her voice cracked slightly.

Kay closed his eyes, her pain and guilt overwhelming him for a moment. “Lou, this isn’t your fault.”

“Of course it is!” She snapped at him. “He broke her arm, compound fracture. They won’t treat it.”

“They won’t treat it?” Danielle asked, surprised.

“She has no insurance or money,” Lou said bitterly. She put her face in her hands. “This is all my fault.”

“Lou,” Kay started.

“It is!” She raised her voice at him, but didn’t raise her head. “You know it is!”

“You didn’t make Tyler into the man he is,” Kay told her. “He is responsible for his choices and actions, not you.”

Lou raised her head to look at Kay, and her heart jumped when someone over his shoulder caught her eye.

“Monsieur Prior,” she said, surprised.

Kay turned around and saw Ivo Martin sitting behind them. Even Danielle was surprised to see him there; no one has heard him come out of his office.

“Danielle?” Martin said.

“Yes, Monsieur?”

“Get a medical transport ready to go to Les Loges.”

Danielle rose immediately, smiling, and went to her desk.

Lou’s mouth moved, but no sound came out.

“I won’t be going anywhere so you two are free to go,” Martin continued. “You can ride in the transport out to get Madam Reed and then they will bring her to one of our hospitals here.”

“Monsieur,” Lou began.

“No objections, Lou,” Martin said. “I will take care of everything.”

Lou just stared at him for a moment before saying: “Thank you, Ivo.”

Martin smiled slightly. “Is the least I can do. After all, you saved my life.”

Danielle returned. “Everything is ready.”

“Go,” Martin said. “Both of you.”

Kay stood. helped Lou to her feet, and then they headed towards the elevator.

They stopped by Danielle as she gave them all the information they needed. Lou took Danielle’s hand. “Thank you, Dani.”

Danielle smiled, “of course, Lou.”

As they were walking passed Danielle’s desk Martin called out: “And Stone.”

Kay turned back to look at the Prior, “Monsieur?”

Martin paused looking at Lou. “Take care of her.”

A tiny smile formed on Stone’s face. “I will.”

Lou and Kay were riding in the back of the medical transport on its way to Les Loges. Lou’s anxiety was only getting worse the closer they got. She and Kay were sitting close enough that their legs were touching, but Stone would have been able to feel her emotions even if they weren’t.

“Lou?” His voice was soft.

“Hm?” She slowly turned to look at him.

Stone hesitated for a moment. “I could help you calm down, if you want.”

She tilted her head at him. “What? I’m not-“ she stopped herself realizing that she really was worked up. “How?”

“The same way empaths calm a crowd,” he said.

She still didn’t understand, but she trusted him and wasn’t enjoying her anxiety. “Okay.”

“Yeah?” He sounded slightly surprised.

“Yeah,” she confirmed.

“Okay,” he held out his hand to her, she took it without hesitation. “Ready?”

Lou nodded, and then she felt a sense of calm wash over her. It was like someone had lifted a heavy weight off of her shoulders. Her mind went blank, like she couldn’t remember why she should be worried. And then it stopped, she remembered everything, but she still felt calm. She stared at Kay.

“That was…” she shook her head still not quite believing what he’d done. Stone looked a bit nervously at her. “Incredible. Thank you.”

Kay smiled, “you’re welcome.”

Lou sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, still holding his hand, and drifted off to sleep.

Stone woke Lou gently when they had arrived. The paramedics moved quickly getting everything they needed. Lou and Kay hopped out of the back and got out of their way, but before Lou could follow after them Kay stopped her.

Grabbing onto her elbow and gently pulling her aside the transport; a serious look on his face.

“Kay?” She looked at him, confused.

“You will not, under any circumstances,” he said in a tone of voice she’d never heard from him before. “Go to see Tyler, is that clear?”

Lou stared into his eyes. “Is that an order… Acolyte Stone?” She mimicked his serious tone.

“Yes, it is, Initiate Reed.”

They stared at each other for a long while before Lou swallowed hard, blinked several times, and nodded her head.

“Understood,” she relented, knowing that he was not only right, but looking out for her.

“Good,” Stone’s voice was much kinder; he let go of her and gestured for her to go ahead. “Go, I’m going to talk to the officer in charge.”

She just nodded again not meeting his eyes.

Lou hurried into the doctor’s office where the paramedics had gone to collect her mother. She found them loading her mother onto their gurney.

“Mom!” Lou came up to Ann and hugged her the best she could.

“Lou!” Ann held her daughter with her good arm for a bit longer than Lou expected.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Lou told her. “Everything is going to be alright now.”

When Lou finally pried herself free of her mother’s grasp she saw that Ann was crying.

“Ma,” Lou took her mother’s hand. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“Lou, I’m so sorry,” Ann sobbed. “It’s all my fault.”

Anger flared in Lou, but it wasn’t aimed at Ann. “No, it isn’t!” It’s Tyler’s and no one else’s.”

Her mother smiled at her as the paramedics started pushing the gurney out to the transport. Kay was waiting for them when they got there. While Ann was loaded into the transport Lou and Kay stepped aside.

“I spoke to the officer in charge,” Kay kept his voice low. “He is going to be sent to a labor camp far away from here.”

All of Lou’s stress fell away and she hugged the empath. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do it,” he said hugging her tightly.

“I know,” she said, still clinging to him. “But thank you for everything you done.”

“You’re welcome,” he kissed her temple. “C’mon, let’s go before they leave without us.”

The ride back to the city was quiet, Ann had fallen asleep having finally been given pain medication, Lou and Kay sit close together, talking quietly, while the paramedics focused on Ann. Kay told Lou everything he has learned from the officer. Apparently Tyler’s main goal seemed to be to damage the house rather than to hurt her mother, but when Ann tried to stop him, he attacked her. So now Lou had the added stress of having to fix up her mother’s house. Kay was told that it wasn’t livable right now.

“That’s just fucking great,” Lou said, leaning on to her partner, putting her head on his shoulder.

“It’ll be okay,” Kay said, leaning his head into hers gently.

The rest of the day was spend getting Ann settled into a hospital, the Prior insisted on a Center hospital, so Lou picked the one closest to Kay’s apartment. After Ann had been treated and was settled into her room at the hospital she shooed the partners off, saying they all needed rest. Kay’s place was in walking distance from the hospital, so they walked there. For the first time since they met Kay had to really talk Lou into eating, she was so emotionally drained that she wasn’t very interested in food. After Stone was content with the amount of food she’d eaten, he cleaned up. He was finishing with the dishes while Lou was out on his balcony, smoking. He joined her when he was done.

“How are you?” He asked coming to stand beside her, but not touching her.

Lou shrugged, “I honestly don’t know, Kay.” She took a long drag from her cigarette and blew out the smoke. “It’s like I feel so much all at once and nothing at all at the same time.”

Stone smiled softly. “That’s understandable. You’ve had a trying day, it’s normal for your emotions to be a bit mixed up.”

Putting out her finished cigarette Lou turned to look at him. “Kay…” she paused as he turned towards her. “I… I don’t know if I could have made it through today without you.”

“Nonsense,” Kay brushed a hair away from her face, smiling. “You are a incredibly strong woman, you would have been fine. But I appreciate the sentiment all the same.”

Looking into his dark eyes Lou smiled, “well, it was surely easier with you there. I didn’t feel alone.”

Stone smiled deeply. “I’m glad.”

Lou stepped closer and hugged him, leaning her whole body against his. She buried her face against his neck, breathing him in. Kay kissed her forehead, holding her tightly, yet gently.

He could feel that she was very tired, but he still asked: “are you ready for bed?”

“Definitely,” she answered quietly, but she didn’t let go of him.

Smiling, Stone waited for her to be ready to break the hug, but she still hadn’t moved after another minute or two. “Lou?” He finally said.

“Hm?” She reached up and kissed the underside of his jawline. “Sorry.” Then she pulled away from their hug.

He caught her by the waist and kissed her. “There’s no need to be sorry.”

Then Stone put his hand on the small of her back and gently propelled her towards his room. Once there they got undressed and crawled into bed together. Kay laid on his back and Lou snuggled up against his side, her head on his shoulder. Trying to go to sleep Lou’s brain couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened and what was going to need to happen now. All of her tangled emotions were becoming more intense.

Kay could feel the storm of emotions keeping Lou awake: anxiety, fear, anger, frustration, guilt, worry, despair. He stroked her hair with one hand and held her arm, that was draped over him, with the other.

“You know,” he spoke quietly, “emotions are like waves; they ebb and flow.”

She raised her head to try to see him in the dark, he turned his head to meet her gaze, they could just see each other.

“Sometimes all we have to do is ride the wave out and the feelings will pass,” he continued. “Other times we need to give in to them.”

“I don’t understand,” she looked at him in earnest.

“Stop fighting your emotions,” Kay told her frankly. “Give in, feel them. Once you feel them, they will go away.”

She stared at him, tears began to well in her eyes, and then she broke into sobs. She buried her face against his chest and just let the emotions flow. She entrusted herself and all of her emotions to him, letting him into the eye of her hurricane. She continued to sob as he held her, stroked her hair, and spoke soft, encouraging words to her. Her tears ran out faster then either of them expected, but she still held onto him.

Kay kissed her head. “Thank you for your trust, Lou.”

She kissed his jawline. “I’m still not sure you’re real.”

He smiled and kissed her again.

“Thank you for being you,” she said and then kissed his bare shoulder. “And just… everything.”

“You’re welcome, mi amor,” he said.

And then they both drifted off to sleep.

#rc kay stone #romance club psi #rc fanfic #rc kay/lou #rc psi #kay stone

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thegatesofinfinitespace · 2 years ago

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If Psi ever were a deity, Sam would offer up lots of fun things: a whoopee cushion, a gum mini taser, a jar of the realistic chocolate rocks she's made... lots of items that can be used to prank people.

But most of all? I think Sam would just come by to offer up her time as a friend to him--maybe by coming by to tell him a funny story she may have heard that day, and listening to him if ever he had one to share. She can't afford anything fancy after all ;;

If my Muse was a Deity, what Offerings Would you Leave at Their Shrine?

Simple things. They're childish, fun, little simple things that embody what they meant to each other. Pranks, jokes, comfort in the teasing and humor. Not just comfort. It's easier to hide your feelings when they're masked with a laugh.

But that's not the intention. It's the silliness of it, the bafflement and joy, the companionship that came with sharing a fit of giggles. He likes all of them, can't pick a favorite. They are presents between siblings, that is what they feel like. Familiarity in a way only family, found or no, could share.

He appreciates them.

More than that, it's time that Psi appreciates. Paying in cash and luxurious items, they were not things for him, something that Verse had learned long ago. What the X coveted were experiences, memories.

Sitting, laughing with the girl who chose to smile and reach out with an open hand, instead of hiding away in her pain, that is the greatest tribute of all.

#iiguess #[Headcanons: Psi]#((ajdfahfa Sammmmm ;;;;#;x terminus

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deastrumquodvicis · 8 hours ago

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Dark Genesis: the Birth of the Psi Corps (review)

TLDR: 3.5/5

I’m a big Babylon 5 fan, always have been. Tie-in novels have always been a favorite genre. When I heard that the Psi Corps trilogy was well-done, and, importantly, canon, I eagerly loaded book one onto my Kindle and finished it in two days, a typical speed for me. As I understand it—though please correct me if I’m wrong—these stories were seeded from the B5verse series bible, and info was intended to trickle out during the original plans for the Telepath War and Crusade’s later seasons.

The good:

It’s canonical, and it’s always interesting to get world-building that was never committed to screen. The slow emergence of the Corps and what it meant felt very much like a dark reflection of Marvel’s X-Men—a group of people with a recently-awakened genetic mutation being persecuted by, in this case, “mundanes”, given classification based on the strength of their power, and eventually given a home where they could use their gifts without shame, and with an anti-group picking up strays and carrying out rebellious, almost terroristic, acts. I suppose that’s not all that much of a surprise with JMS having written the outline, though not the book itself. It’s also interesting to see non-unified pre-EarthGov components, and hints of the construction of EarthDome itself along with the Psi Corps facility. Definite reflections on how Byron’s group saw themselves, and the mistakes they wanted to avoid. Getting first contact with the Centauri was cool, including their opinions on the telepath thing (and Narn-bashing, because, yep, that’s the Centauri).

The bad (or at least the disorienting):

The book took place over something like seventy years. We see four generations of the rebels, and the birth of the fifth, while we get two should-have-term-limits men in power in charge of the Corps and its creation. Yes, the book is divided into four parts, but it became hard to connect to either group and feel for them, even if you don’t hate the Byron arc of the show. It also became hard to keep track of who anyone looked like, because it was an extremely dialogue-heavy, descriptive-light sort of book, and trusted the reader to keep track of who initiated the conversation (very little in the way of “dialogue,” Name said, and it didn’t take a teep to see his mood had soured, instead more “dialogue.” “Dialogue?” “More dialogue.” “Even more dialogue.” “But dialogue?” “No, dialogue.”) The rebels used code-names among themselves, particularly in the first two generations, but the EarthGov types used their, well, government names, and it was hard to know when Blood, Mercy, Monkey, and so on, were being referred to. That got better as the generations went on. But no one really had a distinct voice without descriptors, and rarely was a physical feature mentioned except when the characters were first introduced, at which point, you didn’t know if they were major characters or not. And I really didn’t care for the ending with the baby, it cheapened the whole thing into almost George Lucas (derogatory) levels of retconning. A true “seriously?” moment. And it didn’t feel like Babylon 5. In fact, if it weren’t a worldbuilding puzzle piece for B5, my rating would be lower.

Other:

The Corps uniforms—gloves and badges—didn’t have a clear introduction. I think the badges were only mentioned once, gloves twice. I suppose the author expected the reader to remember Talia’s (iirc) explanation. Some familiar surnames popped up, and an explanation that because the telepath gene travels on the mitochondrial DNA, the daughters take their mother’s name, felt like it was a bit of an excuse to have a Ms. Alexander around. I get what they were going for, but still. The fact-finding trip to Venus was also a bit mixed, and while I enjoyed most of what came out of it, there was something that happened that had me going “really? Like, doesn’t that kind of contradict the plot point in the show with Lyta?” And why are our main rebel telepaths all P12s or P5s? Granted, there was a P0 and a P8, but almost everyone in the rebellion was P12. Would have been nice to have a P10 or a P3 or something, with only the matrilineal line of rebel leaders hitting P12, and more inspiring if none of them reached double-digits. (I know, the baby at the end needed to be P12 for Reasons, something something Psi Corps breeding program being validated, but variety is nice.)

And guys? The cover is so ‘90s.

#book review

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splinter-cat · 2 months ago

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Do you ready books often? (And do you have any book reccomendation?)

Unfortunately I don’t read often, I’ve struggled with reading for like 15 years now due to my ADHD. I often miss it because I used to be one of those “reads a book in one night” kids. My "to read" list gets longer and longer each year because I add to it more than I actually read off of it, haha.

That said, I have managed to read a few things over the years that I’ve loved! Long post so it's under a cut:

Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

Goodreads link here!

Obviously I have to start with the series I've done the most fanfic for, haha. Bitten is about Elena Michaels, the world's only known female werewolf. It follows her as she navigates accepting having become a werewolf and her place in her pack and with her mate.

The series itself follows Elena for the first two books before switching to another narrator, the witch Paige Winterbourne. A few more narrators crop up during the series, each with different powers and romances. Occasionally the series returns to earlier characters, like how books six and ten return to Elena. There are also a ton of short stories and novellas taking place before, during, and after the series, and if you like the werewolves there are plenty of stories following them.

The series still has some of my favorite werewolves I've read about, which is why I like writing in the world so much. It's pretty much what kick started my werewolf obsession, haha. Unfortunately the series is extremely hetero- and cisnormative, so even when queer characters are (rarely) introduced, the writing isn't the best (hence so much of my fanfic being queer lol). But the main characters are still a lot of fun to read about and the plots are full of suspense, mystery, and magic.

So, if you like werewolves and witches and vampires, I recommend this series! Just go in knowing it's a strictly het romance series.

Fae Tales series by Pia Foxhall/not_poignant

Found on AO3 here.

Okay, so really I would rec anything by Pia, but I wanted to start with this one.

The first part of the series is Deeper into the Woods, which follows the Seelie King, Gwyn ap Nudd, as he seeks healing from an Unseelie waterhorse, Augus Each Uisge. It's a shorter introduction to the characters and Augus' healing-through-BDSM methods.

The next part is Game Theory, which follows Gwyn after he has defeated the former Unseelie King, Augus, and imprisoned him. It's an amazing enemies-to-lovers story with a captor/captive dynamic where it's not always clear who really holds the power.

After that the series goes for another million+ words of political intrigue, epic fantasy quests, and another amazing enemies-to-lovers dynamic with Mosk Manytrees and Eran Iliakambar. If you like long, character focused stories of trauma recovery, found family, and BDSM, it is absolutely worth checking out!

(To give you an idea of just how much I love this series, I've styled multiple ball-jointed dolls as some of the characters from it!)

Falling Falling Stars by Pia Foxhall/not_poignant

Found on AO3 here.

Technically, this is a sequel to The Spoils of the Spoiled, which I also recommend (it adds context to a lot of FFS, too). But this one in particular has one of my favorite MCs of all time, Efnisien.

Falling Falling Stars follows Efnisien ap Wledig through a long path of trauma recovery, finding himself outside of what others wanted him to be, and learning to live with the ways he badly hurt people in his past.

If there were ever a manual on how to write a good redemption arc, this would be the absolute best example to use. It is such a thoughtful, soft, and comforting story, even though it touches on some very dark themes. To me, it's hot chocolate and marshmallows in story form.

Chronicles of City M by Lissa Kasey

Goodreads link here.

Hidden Gem follows Misaki Itou, a psi who works at a brothel in a post-apocalyptic city, and his shifter love interest, Shane McNaughton, as they try to solve a series of murders in the city. The subsequent books also follow their friends with various abilities and the relationships they form while still returning to Aki and Shane.

I first read this series during quarantine in 2020, which seems like an odd time for a post-apocalyptic story to be feel-good, I know, but this series focuses on the city and the people rebuilding after everything that happened in the past. It's a story of trauma recovery (seeing a pattern in the stories I like? haha) and hope, even when it seems like humanity itself might be wiped out.

How to Raise an Honest Rabbit by Amy Lane

Goodreads link here.

Another sequel story, this time to The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters, but this couple was one I really enjoyed.

How to Raise an Honest Rabbit is about a former con man, Jeremy, who finds a place he might be able to stay for good in the form of working for an alpaca farm and fiber mill in a small town. There, he meets Aiden, who is determined to make Jeremy stay even when every instinct tells him to pack up and run at the first sign of trouble.

Rabbit is a much angstier story than the very fluffy Winter Courtship Rituals, but the setting still makes it a very comfy story to me, and I deeply enjoyed the characters. Once I can get around to reading again, I'm looking forward to continuing the series and seeing more from them in Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair.

That's all for now!

I thought about including fanfiction in this post, too, but it's already quite long, so I might do a separate post later. I also have a very long to read list that I can post some secondhand recs off of if anyone wants it, it'll just be less detailed recs since I haven't finished the books yet haha.

And if anyone wants manga or TV show recs I can also provide those. :D

#book recommendations #I'm not very good at writing book recs but I hope I got across how much I enjoyed these works

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