#Xander 02

[xander-voight]

The dull hum of fluorescent lights filled the cramped room, casting a clinical glow over the surroundings.

Xander was slouched against the cool metal of his chair. His gaze was fixed on the lone clock hung on the wall; his fingers drummed against the table in time with the seconds ticking by. It was nearing 6 AM. Soon his phone would buzz with text after text from Gemma inquiring over his whereabouts.

Not that he would be able to read them.

He’d been sitting there for the better part of an hour – waiting. His personal belongings had been taken before he was unceremoniously thrust into the interrogation room with a gruff A detective will be in shortly sent his way.

If he were a sane man, he would feel nervous. He’d been caught unaware. Found in a stolen car at a drop-off location with his backpack filled with incriminating evidence.

But he was relaxed. His head lolled back, and his eyes closed – yielding to the exhaustion he felt.

Tired eyes peaked open as the door swung to reveal a detective on the other side. He walked in and sat himself across the table in the only available chair. Xander slowly lifted his head and straightened in the seat; the metal of his chair scraped loudly against the linoleum floor as he shifted forward.

The detective sighed and popped open the folder in front of him before clearing his throat. “Let’s start from the beginning, Alex,” Detective Bishop began, his voice low and authoritative. “Tell me what happened.”

Xander’s gaze flickered between Detective Bishop and the two-way mirror behind him, his reflection cloaked in indifference. “Like I already told the officers,” Xander muttered and raised his shoulders in a shrug. “This is just a misunderstanding. Classic case of wrong place, wrong time.”

The detective leaned forward; gaze fixed on Xander and his expression unyielding. “You were found inside of a silver Lexus. Officer Danes made contact with the registered owner who verified it was stolen sometime after they returned home – around 1 AM.”

“I was walking by and I saw it parked there. The door was wide open, and no one was around so I got in to see what was up,” Xander explained slowly, his tone measured. “I didn’t know curiosity was a crime.”

“So, you were just a concerned citizen,” Detective Bishop offered in faux understanding. Xander nodded his head in agreement, muttering a quick “Yeah, yeah – exactly.”

“Tell me, do you normally carry around a bunch of key fobs?” The detective's voice trailed off as his eyes skimmed over the details outlined on the sheet. “And it says here you had various tools on you?”

“I’m a mechanic,” Xander countered. “I always have tools on me.”

“You had what appears to be a signal manipulator,” Detective Bishop interrupted, his tone rising in volume to drown out Xander’s explanation. “Is that a normal tool for a mechanic to use?”

Xander’s mouth opened to answer, but the detective quickly cut him off. “If you ask me, none of this looks good for you, Alex.”

Silence filled the room.

Xander hesitated. His eyes narrowed slightly for a beat before he finally grinned and leaned forward. Detective Bishop raised an eyebrow, prompting Xander to speak. “I think it’s time I talked to a lawyer,” Xander uttered with a laugh. He leveled the detective with a stare – questioning. “I get a phone call, right?”

The detective gave him a second look before standing. With a brief nod of his head, he headed out of the interrogation room leaving Xander in the quiet once more.

+

“Hello?”

Xander sighed.

“Hey, uhhh… it’s Xander. I don’t have a lot of time, but can you be a good brother-in-law and break it to Bea that I need her to call up that lawyer we know? And uhhh… you think you can get to a bank? I might need some bail money.”

[teatimewithgiles]

Anthony Head: He’s [Joss] very generous and knows exactly what he wants. We’ve only had terse words on a couple of occasions, one of which was when I brought something to a scene. Basically there was an episode we were filming which was coming up short so they added this scene where me and Xander were looking for Buffy, and originally it was someone saying “oh we must find her” or something like that, so we’re filming this scene where we find Spike and one of the executive producers called David Solomon who was head of post-production directed it, and basically the dialogue amounted to “Have you seen Buffy”….”No” came the answer, it was filler, and I thought what can we do with this. So I’m walking down this alley and I thought I know, I’m going to step in some dog-shit. Cos basically what I’d learned in class was you can bring life into the scene and the scene will take care of itself, you concentrate on something while you’re talking the dialogue and then the dialogue doesn’t sound like it’s something off a page and it sounds more like part of life.

So as I’m sitting there, we find Spike and I’m sitting on a bunch of garbage cans and I pick up some paper and wipe the crap of my shoe.

And it worked, I suggested the idea to David Solomon who was directing it and he said “yeah sure if you want”, so I did it and then I got this call from Joss saying “What were you thinking?”, so I said “oh I was just trying to bring a bit of life into it” so he said “My show is not about shit!” so I said “oh sorry” and he said “well you’ve painted me into a corner now and I’m gonna have to edit around it because I’m not having you wiping crap off your shoe, what was wrong with the scene?” and I said “Well I just think it was a bit boring”. Anyway when it came to it they cut around it by basically shooting me in close-up and just using all the close-up shots so you don’t know what I’m doing, but I am preoccupied with something. So actually as it happens it works, because I’m not staring at Spike asking him meaningless questions I’m concentrating on something else which happens to be crap on my shoe, so it actually worked.

Interview with Anthony Stewart Head 02/03/13

[gleamingtempest]

DRDT - Death Order + Case Predictions

CW: Descriptions of Death, Murder & Suicide All discussion, analysis & speculation regarding this project would not be possible without the incredible efforts of the Danganronpa: Despair Time creator & his team. Please support the series by watching & enjoying it. This is a compilation of broad, disordered thoughts + predictions I have regarding the progressions of the DRDT story. : ) I hope you find them insightful. There will be spoilers for the released chapters of the story so far. Please be cautious.

Death Order

Chapter One - 14/16 (1)

Chapter Two - 12/16 (1)

Chapter Three - 9/16 (1)

Chapter Four - 7/16 (1)

Chapter Five - 6/16 (1)

Chapter Six - 6/16 (0)

Kill Chart

Min kills Xander

Levi kills Arei

J kills Veronika

Arturo kills Hu

Ace kills Arturo

David kills MonoTV

Foils (Isolated)

Xander - Min

Teruko - Charles

Eden - Arei

Nico - Ace

Hu - Veronika

Rose - J

Arturo - Levi

Whit - David

Chapter One (01 - I)

Major Parties: -> Xander -> Teruko -> Min -> Charles

Case 01 Summary

Motive - Ending the Killing Game

Xander tells Xander to kill Teruko

Xander plans to kill Teruko

Xander shows Teruko kindness

Eden shows Teruko kindness

Xander confides in David

Xander shows David kindness

Xander attempts to kill Teruko.

Xander frames Charles.

Min saves Teruko.

Min kills Xander.

Trial Begin

Teruko breaks down

Min is executed.

Teruko self isolates

Chapter Two (02 - II)

Major Parties: -> Arei -> Eden -> Arturo -> Levi -> David

Case 02 Summary

Motive - Secrets

Arturo exposes J's secret

Arturo harasses J

David suggests Sharing Secrets

Arei shares her secret with David

Arei implodes

David shows Arei kindness

Arturo threatens Eden

Arei saves Eden

Arei confides in Eden

Arei progresses

Levi eavesdrops

Hu attempts to kill Ace

Nico saves Ace

Hu frames Nico

Ace condemns Levi

Levi regresses

Levi plans to kill Arturo

Levi confides in Arei

Arei condemns Levi

Levi kills Arei

Trial Begin

David breaks down

Levi is executed

Arturo self isolates

Ace breaks down

J regresses

David self isolates

Chapter Three (03 - III)

Major Parties: -> Arturo -> Veronika -> Hu -> J -> Rose -> Nico

Case 03 Summary

Motive - Cash

J plans to kill Arturo

Arturo is outcast from Group

Rose self isolates

Veronika harasses Arturo

Arturo condemns Veronika

Veronika is outcast from Group

Nico exposes Hu

Nico condemns Hu

Hu is outcast from Group

Hu confides in Veronika

Veronika shows Hu kindness

Veronika progresses

Hu progresses

J attempts to kill Arturo

J accidentally kills Veronika

J frames Hu

Arturo condemns Hu

Arturo kills Hu

Eden breaks down

Trial Begin

Arturo frames Hu

Arturo is exposed Hu's killer

J frames Rose

J is executed

Arturo is punished

Rose breaks down

Eden self isolates

Chapter Four (04 - IV)

Major Parties: -> Rose -> Nico -> Ace -> Arturo -> David -> Charles

Case 04 Summary

Motive - Traitor

Rose self isolates

Ace is exposed as the Traitor

Killing Arturo is now a Free Exit

Arturo breaks down

Ace is outcast from the Group

Arturo breaks down

Arturo confides in David

David condemns Arturo

Arturo regresses

Arturo plans to kill Everyone

Teruko shows Eden kindness

Charles plans to destroy MonoTV

Charles works with Whit and Nico

Rose confides in Nico

Rose joins the plan

Ace implodes

Nico shows Ace kindness

Ace progresses

Ace finds out about Arturo's plan

Arturo attempts to kill Everyone

Ace kills Arturo

Trial Begin

Ace cannot be Executed

David implodes

Charles, Nico & Rose attempt to destroy MonoTV

Charles' plan fails

Nico is held accountable

MonoTV attempts to executed Nico

Ace saves Nico

MonoTV accidentally executes Ace

Nico breaks down

Charles breaks down

Everyone condemns David

David exposes Teruko's secret

Chapter Five (05 - V)

Major Parties: -> Charles -> Whit -> Teruko -> Eden -> David

Case 05 Summary

Motive - Loved Ones

David plans to kill Charles

Charles self isolates

Whit follows Charles

MonoTV broadcasts the Loved Ones Killing Game

The group remembers Mai Akasaki

Teruko creates an escape plan

Teruko works with Rose & Eden

Eden shows Nico kindness

Rose shows Nico kindness

Teruko shows Nico kindness

Nico progresses

Rose progresses

Nico joins the plan

Eden finds out about David's plan

Eden condemns David

Eden shows David kindness

David progresses

David & Eden plan to destroy MonoTV

David & Eden plan for David to kill Eden

Teruko tries to save Eden

David accidentally kills Teruko

Teruko is revived by Eden

Trial Begin

David & Eden frame Charles

Charles is falsely convicted

MonoTV is forced to end the program early

David destroys MonoTV

The Killing Game attempts to execute David

David dies before the execution ends

Eden implodes

Chapter Two (06 - VI)

Major Parties: -> Teruko -> Eden -> Charles -> Whit -> Xander -> Mai

Case 06 Summary

Motive - Ending the Killing Game

Teruko shows Charles kindness

Charles progresses

Teruko & Charles plans to End the Killing Game

Teruko & Charles work with Whit, Rose & Nico

Teruko shows Eden kindness

Eden rejects Teruko

Trial Begin

Whit is exposed as the "Mastermind"

Whit "kills" the idea of Mai Akasaki

The truth behind the Killing Game Show is revealed

Teruko believes she has to die

Teruko implodes

Everyone implodes

Eden progresses

Eden shows Everyone Kindness

Teruko progresses

Teruko condemns The Audience

Whit condemns himself

Whit attempts to executed himself

Charles stops Whit

Charles condemns Whit

Charles shows Whit kindness

The Killing Game Loop is ended permanently.

Teruko, Eden, Rose, Nico, Charles & Whit survive

Epilogue - Survivors

-> Teruko Tawaki - Ultimate Lucky Student A Person. The Protagonist. She survived the Killing Game, in spite of everything. -> Eden Tobisa - Ultimate Clockmaker A Kind Person. Sharing Grief is what ended the Killing Game. Kindness is strength. -> Rose Lacroix - Ultimate Art Forger A Beautiful Person. To connect with others & share human experience; this is what art is. -> Nico Hakobyan - Ultimate Pet Therapist An Innocent Person. They refused to take responsibility for the actions of others; they are not responsible for anyone other than themself. -> Charles Cuevas - Ultimate Chemist A Pragmatic Person. Letting go of the past is how we move forward; we are not our pasts nor our futures. We are a totality of ourselves. We are real people. -> Whit Young - Ultimate Matchmaker A Broken Person. Grief changes the world, and people are changed by Grief. He will never be the same person he was - but he is still alive.

Thank you for Reading. : )

I hope this was insightful to someone. Please be well & support the creative team behind Danganronpa: Despair Time. 👋

[ashenprofessor]

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: Rua

Pronouns: they/he

Birthday (no year): 02/10 (I share my birth with Kaze and am also a twin!)

Where are you from? What is your time zone? From UK, GMT

How long is your roleplay experience? however long Byleth has been in TOA

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? tbh, I'm not even sure. Just found TOA somehow despite not really being a tumblr user and yeah... here I am.

How were you introduced to TOA? see above answer

Do you have any pets? Yes. A black void cat who's mine and family dog.

What is your favorite time of year and why?(Season, holiday, general period) Autumn because the temperatures mean can snuggle up with games/book/videos but not freeze your ass off. Plus autumn colour is so pretty.

What is your IRL occupation? Structural Engineer

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? I like fantasy and sci-fi books, playing boardgames and rock climbing.

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Kingdom hearts, Professor Layton, Persona, Yakuza (Like a dragon), Pokemon, Final Fantasy, lot's of games really 😅

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: Dark type. Lycanrock (Duskform)

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! I'm a black belt in taekwondo, I like to crochet and I've just started learning drums.

How did you get into Fire Emblem? I bought Awakening after watching a top 10 3ds games video where it was described as 3d chess. Played a bit then got very invested in Fates as it was releasing. Bought my copy birthright with first ever paycheck.

What Fire Emblem games have you played? Engage, 3Houses and 3Hopes, Fates, Awakening, Echoes, Warriors (started), Fire Emblem Binding Blade (Currently playing)

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: first was technically Awakening but I didn't finish it till 2023. First finished was 3 houses. My favourite? Either fates or 3 Houses.

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! Byleth, Shez, Kaze, Dimitri, Xander

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! Dimitri for his story arc. And eyepatch. And later hairstyle.

Any Fire Emblem crushes?

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays?- Awakening:- Fates:- Three Houses:- Engage:

Favorite Fire Emblem class?

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? Ninja or tactician.

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? (Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, Church of Seiros, Those Who Slither in the Dark, unaffiliated civilian, other - for example Almyran) Blue Lions

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Boon: Reason Bane: Heavy Armour. Budding Talent: Gauntlets

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? (Firene, the Kingdom of Abundance; Brodia, the Kingdom of Might; Elusia, the Kingdom of Knowledge; Solm, the Queendom of Freedom; Lythos, the holy land of the Divine Dragon; Gradlon, the desolate land of the Fell Dragon)

How do you pronounce TOA? T-O-A

Current TOA muses: Byleth

Past TOA muses? Chrom, Shez, Dimitri

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Byleth. Don't think I could ever drop them.

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? Mostly with MC as less anxiety of getting the portrayal or lore/canon wrong. I do like Lords too.

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? I wish I could write a soft/tragic character which people would love/protect. Or a complete arsehole but I always feel bad being too mean.

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? I've really enjoyed writing pokemon AUs and word count challenges.

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? Maybe some other type of AU which aligns with other interests like Persona/KH/ Camp Half-blood etc.

Favorite TOA-related memories? Just the love and support from everyone here and the fun we all have together hyping each other up. Plus Lore events. Especially Unscripted 2022 where Shez became a K-pop idol in dance offs while Byleth was in a apocalyptic future. The dichotomy was hilarious.

Present or past tense? Past tense is what I default to writing but my dyslexia means I can swap part way through sentence! Third person.

Normal size text, small text, no preference? Normal text as easier to read.

Got any potential muse delusions to share? If I could handle 2 muses I would love a Shez rerun

[lndsarchive]

World Underneath - 02 Snowy Stairs

01.Die In Spring | 02. Yesterday Once More | 03. Undying Tree | 04. Gone | 05. Snow Depth

01. Die In Spring

"It doesn't matter if the annual salary is in the millions or if the research lab is top-notch. Without me, Carter, could Xander Sciences have come this far? What truly drives the development of science is not experiments, but ideas! I'm such a person, and so is Zayne. That's why you need him, right?"

Laughter echoes in the conference room.

Carter stands up, leans on the table, and tosses the contract back to the executives. "If the medical genius Zayne valued these things, why would he accept Akso Hospital's invitation? Can a hospital offer more than our research institute?"

"What do you suggest, Dr. Carter?"

"I didn't get my doctorate degree." With a smile on his lips that can send chills down someone's spine, Carter glances at the institute director asking the question. "Give me the file of Cabin 607's patient. Let me try."

--

After a round of New Year's fireworks, 2048 officially begins.

During the year Dr. Carter decided to quit school, this area of Empyreal Ring Park was just a newly abandoned construction site. The property owner declared bankruptcy, and it turned out they had invested in the emerging industry of Protocore technology in Skyhaven. The homeowners formed a group to defend their rights on the construction site. Carter and Zayne happened to pass by and saved an elderly man who had a heart attack.

After the ambulance took the man away, they sat down in a restaurant for a late-night snack, discussing the trending topic of the time: the ethics of applying Protocore technology to revive dead cells.

At dawn, the door of the restaurant opened again. Zayne headed in the opposite direction in the morning fog, and they never saw each other again.

Now, vibrant plants have replaced the construction rubble, and Empyreal Ring District has been revitalized with the resurgence of Linkon City. However, Carter believes that no matter how the world changes, Zayne will remain the same. He knows this is the path his stubborn junior will take every day for his morning jog.

As he strolls through the park, a familiar voice is heard from behind a bush.

"But you're a doctor. Please save Pilot!"

"…He already passed away."

Following the voice, Carter finds Zayne squatting next to a crying child by a bench. The boy pulls at Zayne's arm. A stray dog lies motionless in front of them. It's not breathing.

"Pilot always played with me. I even bought it cookies."

"Pilot knows. He's very happy," Zayne murmurs. He gently pats the child's head.

"But I don't want Pilot to die…"

Carter laughs to himself and walks over to them, Protocore in hand. "Hey, kid. Pilot can live again with this."

He casually joins in on the conversation. Zayne looks up, his softened gaze turning cold at the sight of the Protocore. He stands up and stares at Carter's smiling face.

"Death is part of life. We can't change that."

_________________________________________________________

02. Yesterday Once More

"You're still cold-hearted, Zayne. The dog also counts as a life, and the poor kid is heartbroken."

Carter follows Zayne to the restaurant they visited all those years ago, which is now a fast-food restaurant.

He squints and looks around as if admiring its rebirth. "If someone wants a life to continue, how would you know if you can't bring it back? Shouldn't you try first?"

Carter remembers the frightened look in the child's eyes when he brought the Protocore close to the stray dog. "Then again, you're right. Most people don't even want to try. Tell me, is the natural law an unshakeable moral boundary? Or is it just a comforting phrase people use?" His voice drips with sarcasm.

"I thought I made that clear," Zayne says. He places his phone on the table after ordering breakfast. "I see you haven't changed at all, Carter."

"No, no, that's where you're wrong. Xander Sciences has given me a lot of opportunities." Without allowing things to be dismissed, Carter takes out an elegant-looking business card from his bag and slides it across the table toward Zayne.

"If you had kept going, maybe you would've already broken free from the shackles of the natural law," Carter says. "Zayne, your talents are wasted at Akso Hospital. Xander Sciences doesn't want to see a genius like you be forgotten. The Evol technology you're insisting on is so last year. No one wants an artificial lump that needs to be charged in their heart now. Protocore tech is the golden brick that will pave the way to the future."

Carter is confident. The Xander Sciences Research Institute's logo and the research he's in charge of will easily catch the eye of top experts worldwide.

Zayne doesn't take the card. Instead, he shifts his gaze to the window. "Hold on to that brick then. If you drop it, your foot won't be the only thing that's hurting."

Carter shrugs. He knows moving this iceberg wouldn't be easy. The business card is an opportunity for Zayne to reject him. He brings out his trump card.

"Take a look at this. It's a case from our project, a very rare condition."

Carter sends the meticulously prepared medical record of Cabin 607's patient to Zayne's phone. Zayne doesn't move, so Carter reaches out and accepts it for him.

"The patient's heart surgery is scheduled for next week. His other organs are in such a terrible state that he may not survive the side effects of the treatment. We're at a loss. Why don't you take a look?"

Knowing Zayne can glean insights from abnormal data in the medical record, he doesn't provide any more details. As expected, Zayne looks away, furrowing his brow in barely disguised displeasure. "Are you unsure of what to do? If that's the case, Xander Sciences wouldn't have kept him until now."

Smiling, Carter nods. "That's why we need you. My skills are nothing compared to yours and Dr. Noah's. I can't be as meticulous and efficient as you."

The restaurant owner brings out a bowl of sweet tofu pudding and places it in front of Zayne.

Carter laughs again. "Dr. Noah thinks highly of you, you know. He would mention you to me and Will all the time back then. It made us really curious about you before we met." Eating a spoonful of his hot and spicy soup, he continues, "You may not like Xander Sciences, but the patient is innocent. Just like that dead dog. He also has families waiting for them. Take a look, Dr. Zayne. It won't violate your medical ethics."

_________________________________________________________

03. Undying Tree

The person Carter has been waiting for still hasn't stepped through the doors of Xander Sciences even after Cabin 607's patient is brought into the operating room. Five hours later, the less-than-successful surgery forced him to confront the gap between him and a genius once more.

They worked on the theoretical model of this research back in school. He even outperformed Zayne on this front. Yet when it comes to applying it, things never go smoothly.

Where does he fall short compared to Zayne? He desperately wants to know what Zayne discovered and why he stopped researching it.

"Dr. Carter, Dr. Zayne is here."

Carter stiffens at the news. He quickly raises his head, masking his frustration. By the time he swivels around in his office chair and stands up, his usual, confident demeanor is back.

--

Xander Sciences's life pods look like enormous capsules with countless, intertwined tubes connecting them to the surrounding equipment. Red tubes sucked away death while the blue ones injected new life. The daily cost of one device could burn through a month's worth of resources in a regular hospital's ICU. Xander Sciences has fifteen of these.

Outside of Cabin 607's glass window, Zayne stares at the patient who's soaking in the liquid, shriveled like a skeleton.

"Familiar, isn't it?" Carter walks up to the cabin's exterior, crossing his arms and admiring the ward that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie. "You're late. His heart regeneration failed, so we had to put a new one in to keep him going."

"How did you perform the surgery?"

"You'll know everything if you join us, though. Actually, you won't struggle with this conundrum. You might be the one most familiar with it."

Zayne being here means there's hope. Feeling he has the upper hand, Carter teases him. "Remember the project we worked on for several years at school? The same one you stopped. I brought it to Xander Sciences. Now it has a name: X-Heart."

Zayne frowns. "Have you conducted animal experiments with it?"

"Of course we've completed all the standard procedures. Otherwise, I wouldn't have invited you. When he was admitted, he only had less than six months. It's been two years now. This is what I offered him, and he's happy to be a pioneer. But I get it. You're the genius here. I only implemented a genius' great ideas."

After a moment of silence, Zayne speaks again. "Have you seen William since then? He died at Mt. Eternal. You were closest to him in the team."

Carter doesn't understand why Zayne has to bring him up. After some thought, he guesses Zayne wants to bring attention to his death. "Mt. Eternal, huh… The view's good, but there was an anomaly with the Wanderers a few years ago—"

Before he can finish, Zayne gets up and leaves. Carter quickly follows him. "Wait, aren't you here to join us?"

Zayne keeps walking, pulling out his phone. "I'm here to warn you. Hiding a Trojan horse in the medical record you sent can easily get you arrested."

Carter watches as Zayne walks further and further away, unmoving as always. His painstaking efforts are apparently worthless in Zayne's eyes. In the empty corridor, Carter clenches his fists, unable to hold back his words.

"Zayne, I'm giving you an opportunity. You better consider it! Our job is to save people. If we can control life and death, why shouldn't we?!"

"Don't you remember what we thought every time a surgery failed? Give me another chance. I could save him if I had another chance! This is the 'chance' we've always wanted!"

"There is no we," Zayne replies.

"Do you remember how happy everyone was when the experiment worked? It was like a message left by God, and now we can finally respond! Zayne, do you believe in God?"

At the end of the corridor, Zayne finally stops and looks back at him, his hands in his coat pockets.

"You're crazy."

_________________________________________________________

04. Gone

After leaving Cabin 607, Zayne walks to the elevator. The sound of rolling wheels comes from an unassuming door next to him. Through the small window, he can see a hallway. A metal cart used for waste disposal passes by. There's a lifeless hand poking out from under the white cloth.

"Make way."

A simple-looking couple blocks the cart.

The masked researcher sounds exhausted and tries to push the cart forward. "Isn't this what you agreed to when you accepted the institute's donation? Once they select him, we have full usage and disposal rights. He's gone now, so there's no need to play the part of a dutiful parent."

The woman tightly clutches the cart's iron rails. She's almost kneeling. "But he's our son… Please let us see him one last time. We promise we won't tell anyone…!"

"Just so you know, he came straight from the operating table. He doesn't have a heart anymore. Do you still want to see him?"

"...!"

"Excuse me," Zayne says as he opens the door. "Could you leave him with me for a moment?"

Over the past few months, Zayne has become well-known at Xander Sciences, so the researcher recognizes him. All Zayne wants is a clean room and a set of surgical tools. The researcher hesitates. It's a favor that can be easily granted.

"…All right, but no more than half an hour."

After a while, the young man who had lost his heart finally appears before his parents in a clean, intact state. The father presses his forehead against the wall, his hand tightly clutching his chest as he bites his lips. The mother bends over the bed, her head buried deep in the white sheets.

Moments pass, and then Zayne hears her muffled sobbing.

"Son, we've come to say goodbye…"

In the surveillance room, Carter watches the whole thing through the screen. A smirk plays on his lips as he opens the comms.

"Zayne, do you remember what we discussed before? We talked about it for a long time. In this era of technological advancement, why must we face death?"

On the screen, Zayne slowly turns to the camera. Unfortunately, he's just too far away for Carter to see his expression.

"My perspective hasn't changed. We will face death eventually, one way or another." Then, Zayne glances at the couple. "Just not like this."

_________________________________________________________

05. Snow Depth

A few days later, Zayne officially joins Akso's Evol-Cardiac Medical Research Lab as its principal investigator.

The night before, Carter sent him a congratulatory message and told him about the death of the patient in Cabin 607.

"His name was Felix, only 45 years old. He helped a lot of poor students during his lifetime, giving them a comfortable and affluent life. He also allowed them to participate in our great experiment near the end of their lives. What a shame. Despite Xander Sciences sparing no expense to keep him alive, he still passed away after two years. But don't you think this is just the beginning?"

Zayne doesn't reply.

Unsatisfied, Carter sends another picture.

It's a failed attempt at resuscitating a patient in Cabin 607. He lies on the floor outside the life pod, a cluster of black crystals blooming on the left side of her chest like a magnificent dahlia.

"Zayne, if the person lying on the operating table was your lover, would you let her die?"

After that message, a thought hits Carter like the first drop of rain falling outside the window.

He suddenly understands.

Why go to such great lengths to persuade Zayne? What he really needs is not a like- minded colleague, but a pair of hands. Ones that can carry out God's mission and allow for God's descent.

Zayne's hands.

Carter remembers that Zayne became a doctor because of a girl. A person like him wouldn't join Akso Hospital for no reason. He has to be taking over Dr. Noah's work. If he can see which cases are being transferred from Dr. Noah to Zayne, he can find that girl. That's his trump card… And he thought so highly of Zayne. As long as he has that mysterious girl, he knows he'll always have those hands.

In an instant, countless thoughts surge into Carter's brain like bubbles in a soda can.

Maybe that girl is even more interesting than Cabin 607's patients, considering how Dr. Noah and Zayne seem to be unable to help her.

Maybe her value to X-Heart would far exceed that of Zayne's.

"Zayne, you should know you're rejecting a path to life's truth. My answer hasn't changed either. I've always believed that death is just a small obstacle. It can be overcome in due time."

Happy, Carter tosses his phone onto the carpet and spins in place

His horizons have expanded now that he's changed gears. He pours himself half a glass of red wine in celebration and raises it to the highest point of the city lights as it's soaked in heavy rain.

A toast to humanity's greatest dream.

In a dimly lit study, Zayne reviews the patient records Dr. Noah transferred to him. He sees a name he knows all too well.

He recalls the conversation he had with Carter back in med school. They sat across from each other at the restaurant. Zayne had stared at his senior as he was about to eat.

"Even if we can avoid death, we still need it," he had said.

Now, Zayne rubs his temples. He stares at the name for a long time.

Then he takes off his glasses, leaning back slowly in his chair.

As if time and space intertwined, Carter's indignant voice rings in his ears and questions him once more.

"Wouldn't you use everything in your power to prevent your loved ones from dying?"

Of course he would.

Zayne answered this question countless times in his heart. And no matter how many years have passed, his answer still hasn't changed. He would do everything he could to prevent her death and save her. But the night is long. The fog is dense… If the end of the road is truly what's left… Zayne closes his eyes.

At least, he still has another option. His last one.

And before the storm arrives, he only hopes he can walk a little further on this rugged path.

He could also hold her hand and resist the avalanche-like onslaught of selfish wishes together.

[septnautical]

Hybrid Creation Logs

RR-001 and SE-002

(AN: Hello friends! I’m getting back into writing stuff and while rereading older stories (and fixing a lot of stuff like how I used to write Henrik’s dialogue, yikes!) I realized I absolutely hated how little info I gave in the original creation story of how the boys were made and met- they didn’t even have their designation numbers back then!! So!! It’s revamp time!! Starting with Chase and Jack and - a bit more from the white suits too :3)

————————————————————————

To: Grant Xander, 4546B Xenobiology Research Team 213

From: Xeno Research Division

Subject: RE: Experimentation Grant

Proposed: Experimentation of humanoid -fauna hybrids using DNA from dominant species of 4546B and DNA samples from deceased Altera crew member, Sean Mcloughlin.

Status: APPROVED

Good luck with your experiments, team. We look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor. Please send regular updates and logs.

-Alterra Xeno Research Division

———————

Notes from Dr. Cynthia Goodall, regarding growth of Rabbit Ray human hybrid RR-001:

12-10-2226

It has been about 8 months since RR first emerged from his egg. He has made tremendous progress and his growth factor has been outstanding. Despite it only being months… mentally the subject is processing information and even speaking to other scientists at the level of a 4 year old human child. It is extraordinary to witness. That means mentally each month he is maturing about half a year. We are providing him enrichment and lessons to help accelerate his growth. Vitals are all good and he is quite active. No predatory or omnivorous traits to be seen so far- despite the extra fauna we have supplied in his tank. He actually likes to race the other fish and has even been found singing to them, despite low exposure to his mother species. Perhaps linked to instinct? Further research required on that point…

However, I am a bit worried. For the past couple weeks he seems to be more tired and lethargic. We make sure he has exposure to the sun through the top of the tank and artificial sunlight is provided. So, not a seasonal issue… again maybe further research is necessary. I hear there’s already talk and work being done on another hybrid… perhaps that might give me some answers.

———————————

Notes from Dr. Grant Xander, regarding growth of Sea Emperor human hybrid SE-002:

05-15-2227

It has been 3 months since SE-002 emerged from its egg on 07-02-2227. We didn’t think it could be possible… that’s why we tried with RR-001 first. A more readily available DNA to procure. Though, the sea emperor population has increased exponentially since 4546B’s rediscovery about a century ago.

However- we should have tried this much sooner… SE-002 is a marvel. The fauna it interacts with seem to love and adore it, much like a king with his subjects. The whole tank has been more energetic and lively, with SE-002 playing and laughing throughout the day before tiring itself out to collapse into a sleeping heap. Usually the other fish circle around it.

It has been documented the Sea Emperor while held in the Primary Containment Facility seemed to be able to pacify predator and prey alike within its tank- to see a similar phenomenon with a half human is unlike anything we have seen… we are unwilling to try to see if SE can truly pacify a predator at the moment but perhaps after more growth from the subject. It is healthy and happy.

It seems to be growing in the same manner that RR-001 had. About half a year or so within a month mentally and physically- at least by human standards. By now, SE-002 mentally seems close to a 2 year old child. Maybe younger… unlike human toddlers though- they are not helpless. It seems the hybrids are able to swim almost right away- and find food quickly. Though, it seems they do need help at the beginning- they very quickly learn what they can find themselves provided it’s planted for them in the aquarium. Until about 2 weeks after hatching- it seems the hybrids behave more like their mother species- i.e. fish-like. They had a vacant far off stare and were driven by food and providing for their needs. They had trouble gripping things with their hands and would often run into objects with little grace. At this stage, a small personal aquarium is the safest option. Then, there is this… spark. It's like the human part of their brain has caught up and starts to develop milestones much like a human infant. Imitating smiles, babbling, gaining control of their hands, eye tracking. Thank god that Alterra has mastered the childhood development programming that we all grew up with on our own planets- they have been essential in ensuring we can provide correct education to the hybrids as they mature. We are not childcare providers… I don’t think any of us quite expected this experiment to result in… something so… human? Ironic, I know. I think we all expected something a bit more… easy to document and understand. And perhaps it is- just from a parental perspective instead of purely scientific. It was harder to understand what exactly we were seeing when observing RR-001… until one of our crew had a child. Then, we started to see the connections, even if the hybrids are growing more rapidly than human infants do.

I do hope this accelerated growth has a plateau however… Maybe human maturity? Perhaps, they will be like Terra canines- growing at a fast mental rate within the first years then stagnating after adulthood. We can only hope… if the hybrids grow so rapidly and it only leads to faster expirations… then this experiment might be considered a failure and waste of resources. I don’t want that to happen. I believe this project has so much left for us to discover…

Especially with SE-002. Even if it’s been a century since the curing of the infamous Khaara bacterium- it is still present here on 4546B. Just- much less deadly and easy enough to cure. Like the common cold, really. However… we saw in the Sector Zero Levithan… Khaara has a chance to survive and mutate- which we are all well aware of. History could very well repeat itself as we put ourselves into the grand roles of the ancient Architects. So… SE-002 could be the key we need should any disaster strike. Once stable enough, we should be able to see if he can provide any Enzyme 42 samples like its mother species.

Personal notes: …I’ve started to call him Jack… Jackaboy. I can’t help it. He looks so much like him when he was younger. Almost makes me miss home. But, I can carry a piece of my Jack with me this way. It’s unprofessional, I know. Unnecessary attachment… but SE-002 has an irresistible charm to him and zest for life. Just like Jack. I believe my brother would be honored.

—————————

To: Grant Xander

From: Cynthia Goodall

Subject: Hybrid Interaction, Urgent Matter

05-08-2227

Grant,

I am deeply concerned for the well-being of RR-001 at the moment. Subject is showing signs of depression and is not as active as he once was. I believe SE-002 is showing signs of being healthy and active. Perhaps we should combine our efforts and house the hybrids together for observation and socialization? I believe this could negate any negative impact from perceived isolation. Many fauna here are highly social, especially the rabbit rays. I think RR-001 could really use a friend. Please advise.

- Cynthia

——————

To: Cynthia Goodall

From: Automated Response Line

05-08-2227

Hybrid Tank integration: APPROVED

-Grant Xander

————————-

Xander walked down the bright white corridors of the lab, holding SE-002 in his arms. The little sea emperor had his arms wrapped around the scientist’s neck as he observed the base with wide curious eyes. They sparkled as they passed windows showing the ocean beyond, bright with fish and glowing fauna. It wasn’t too different from SE’s tank but…. It was so big. It seemed like it went on forever.

“Hey Xander? Where are we goin’ again?” SE-002 asked.

Xander chuckled, “I thought I told you Jackaboy! Today, you’re going to meet a new friend. Someone who could really use someone as energetic as you.”

“Oh yay!” Jack smiled wide, “I like making friends! Is it more fishies??”

“No, lad,” Xander laughed, “It’s another hybrid. Just like you.”

Jack gasped, his eyes widening and sparkling. “Wooahhh! Really?? Someone just like me??”

“Well, he’s a different kind of fish but… very similar.” Xander smiled. “In a way… you two are like family. Brothers, really. I think you’ll like him. You two can be together from now on.”

“Yay yay yay!!” Jack cheered, bouncing up and down in Xander’s arms. The scientist shook his head with a laugh, “Save some of that excitement for RR, Jack!”

Soon enough, Xander strides into the main lab that housed RR-001. Dr. Goodall looked up and beamed at seeing SE-002. She walked over with a bright smile.

“Hello Xander! SE-2! My… look how big you’re getting!” She cooed. Jack shyly hid behind Xander’s neck but did attempt to wave.

Xander chuckled, “You remember Dr. Goodall, don’t you, SE?”

Jack shook his head. Cynthia smiled. “Well that’s alright. I’ve only really seen you in passing. But, I watch over RR-1 so… now that you’re joining him- we can all get to know each other better, hm?”

Jack looked a bit nervous and clung tighter to Xander, digging his little fingers into his white coat. Xander pats his head. “I’ll be around too, Jackaboy.” He whispers. “You don’t need to worry.” Jack slowly nods.

Cynthia gives him an understanding smile then gestures towards the hatch at the end of the large aquarium tank in the room. “Ready to meet RR, SE?”

Jack nodded again and smiled, his tails flicking to show his excitement. “Yes…!” He says quietly and the doctors smile. Dr. Goodall opened the hatch and Xander gently lowered Jack into the water. He smiles and ruffles Jack’s hair, “Go have fun, lad. I’ll see you later, okay?”

Jack beamed, “Okay! Bye Xander!” And then the little sea emperor rocketed off deeper into the aquarium to explore.

RR-001 was lying in the sand in a hidden corner of the tank, hiding behind some of the long creepvines. He was too tired to go swimming around today… he was hardly getting any sleep. And there was this- hole in his chest. It ached. More than the needles and small tests the doctors did on him. But… different somehow. He didn’t really have a word for it. And he didn’t want to deal with Dr. Goodall’s attempts today… she had been trying so hard to make RR act happier. Saying he wasn’t himself. Maybe he could see that… but he just didn’t have the energy. She did seem to mention a… surprise for him though? He couldn’t remember what… maybe a new fish for him to attempt to eat. He didn’t really like eating them though… made his stomach churn.

Suddenly, the vines he’s hiding behind are split apart by hands and a similar looking face to his pops into view.

“There you are!” The doppelgänger shouts with a smile. RR screams in turn and backs away, curling his tail up as close to him as possible, squeezing himself between the rock and the glass of the tank.

“W-W-Who are you?!” RR squeaks in a trembling voice.

The other hybrid grins, his teeth sharp but his expression is friendly. “I’m SE-2! But I dun really like that name. Xander calls me Jack and I like that sooo much more! So you can call me that!!”

“…j…Jack…” RR repeats. “Okay uh… h-how did you find me? I… I thought it was really good at hiding…”

“You were!” Jack laughs, “But I could hear you over here.”

“Really?” RR says with a tilt of his head, “…I didn’t think I was making any noise-“

“You didn’t tell me your name!” Jack interrupts, spurring forward to sit on the sand in front of RR. The rabbit Ray mer tries to scoot back again but he’s out of room. He looks at Jack with wide eyes.

“Uh… I… I’m RR-001.” He says slowly. Jack makes a face, raising an eyebrow.

“Your white suit doesn’t call you anything else?”

“…white suit?” RR asks.

“Oh- that’s what I call the doctors sometimes. Especially if I dunno who they are. They all wear white all the time!” Jack laughs.

RR finds himself chuckling too. Then his face falls. “…my ‘white suit’ hasn’t really called me anything. She gives me… nicknames? I think she called them? Like sweetie and love and stuff but… I don’t think those are… names. Usually, she just calls me RR.”

“Well that won’t do!” Jack exclaims, “s’not fair for me to have a name when you don’t! Besides- you don’t look like an RR to me… that’s a dumb name!”

RR makes an offended noise and slaps his tail against the sand. “Well! It’s the only name I know! M-Maybe I think Jack is a dumb name!”

“No you don’t. You think it’s cool. You’re kinda jealous.” Jack says simply, looking at RR with a strange, almost knowing expression. RR finds himself shivering. “H-How do you know that?”

“Mmm… I can feel it. Coming from your head, like- you’re saying it but not through your mouth.” Jack shrugs. “Dunno how I do it. I just know. So! Let’s think of a real name for you!!” He smiles brightly.

RR looks at the other hybrid nervously and curls up some more. “I…. I dunno how to… do that though…”

“We can figure something out! C’mon!” Jack says, grabbing RR’s hand and pulling him out of his hiding spot. RR makes a noise of protest but is eventually pulled out into the light, squinting his eyes and covering them up with his other hand. Man… how long had he been hiding in the dark…?

“Woahhh! You’re so much bigger than me!” Jack exclaims, looping around RR to look at him. “And your tail looks squishy!!” He pokes it and RR exclaims and pulls it back. “Hey!”

Jack’s head pops up under RR’s wing, almost looking like he’s wearing it as a hat. He giggles and nuzzles around in it. RR finds himself laughing without meaning to, pushing the other hybrid away. “Ah s-stop! That tickles!”

Jack pulls back up and giggles, swirling his tails around. “Sorry!! I just haven’t seen anything like ya! You’re a… a… oh what are they called?”

“…a rabbit ray.” RR supplies quietly, “that’s what Dr. Goodall says the RR in my name is. Rabbit Ray, RR. The 1 is because I was the first. That’s why you’re 2- you’re next.”

“Oooh!” Jack nods, then flicks his tails towards RR and giggles. “Well! I’m a Sea Emperor! Xander tells me they’re really special and junk. But, I dunno- you seem pretty special too!”

RR finds himself flushing. “You… you really think so…?” He asks, fidgeting with his hands.

“Yeah!” Jack says enthusiastically. “You were made first! That’s super special! That makes you my… brother- I think Xander said!”

RR’s eyes widen, a light coming into them that wasn’t there before. “…a… brother? Like… a… a family?”

Jack grins more and nods, “Yeah! That must be why we look alike, right? Xander and his brother also look alike but I’ve only seen pictures on the PDAs-“

RR finds himself laughing dazedly. “Y-Yeah… I guess so…”

Jack smiles at him and then twirls to look at the tank. “Alright then! Let’s look for your name then cuz I ain’t calling my brother a dumb letter name!”

After a few seconds of looking around Jack hums and then turns back to RR. “Before I came here, what did you like to do? Like- your most favorite thing to do!”

RR flicked his tail and played with the end of one of his wings. He eventually shrugs. “I… I like to swim fast- race with the other fish and try to chase them…”

“Oh! I like that!”

RR looks up and cocks his head, “like… what?”

“Chase!” Jack exclaims with a bright smile. “I think that sounds more like you than RR!”

“C…Chase…” RR tries out. It feels weird but… right. Slowly he smiles warmly at Jack, the biggest smile the tinier hybrid at seen from him.

“Yeah… Chase. I… I think I like that too.” Chase says. Jack yells in excitement and goes to tackle Chase in a hug. Chase startles, stiff in it as first. But, slowly he experimentally wraps his arms around Jack and… oh… that… that felt really good. Suddenly, his eyes feel wet and he makes a choked noise.

Jack backs up and then looks at Chase with concern. “Oh no! Why are you crying??”

Chase wipes at his face and looks at his hands in confusion. “I… I dunno…” he then laughs, “I think… t-they’re cuz I… I’m… happy…?” He laughs a bit louder and pushes his hair back, “y-yeah…! That feels right. I… I’m happy.”

Jack grins and grabs Chase’s hands, “Good! That’s really really good! C’mon! We can play now!” He starts tugging Chase through the water. “I wanna see how good you are at chasing, Chase!” And Chase can’t help but laugh and follow after him.

The two played all day long, Chase more lively and energetic than the scientists have seen in months. So, when the ocean water dimmed around the base and the lights turned off in the lab- the two were exhausted.

Chase swam over to his usual sleeping spot and splat down, ready to curl up in the warm sand and pass out. But, then he startles as he feels Jack crash down next to him and then sleepily curl up into his side, under his wing.

“Uh… Jack? What are you doing…?” Chase asked quietly.

“Gettin’ comfy….” Jack yawned, pressing his face into Chase’s side.

“Oh… um… why here?”

Jack blinked opened an eye and Chase now notices that they kinda glowed in the dark like his tails. Jack snorts out a tired laugh. “The fish in my tank never let me sleep alone so… I'm not gonna let my new brother sleep alone. Seems too lonely…” He yawns again and closes his eyes. “Dun wanna feel lonely again…”

Chase feels a grip on his heart and… that ache in his chest that had been so persistent seemed to fade. He chuckles softly and curls up so his wing is properly over Jack like a blanket and curls his tail around the tinier merman. “Okay…” He suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness flow through him as he looked down at Jack’s tiny body, how he breathes softly and relaxes into the sand. If there were predators around… he wouldn’t be safe.

Chase finds himself scooping up Jack to rest against his chest as he hugs him tight to himself. Jack is mostly asleep but just hums with a slight smile and curls some of his tails around Chase’s waist.

“…I’ll protect you, little brother.” Chase whispers, pressing his cheek against Jack’s hair. “We don’t have to be alone anymore…”

[ask-the-goldengate-spider]

Xander: We Just got onto the helicarrier. From what we can tell these only host JARVIS.02- Smarter than the one in your average Stark Phone but not the personal smart AI that Tony Stark has himself. Which is good, we should be able to skim some of the data we need off before we're noticed... Gonna have to sift through it all but Scott is down to help us with that- it was his bug in anycase. But first blending in... Mimic wants corndogs.

[th3-0bjectivist]

     Dear listener, every now and then I enjoy posting music that is absolutely, 100% pure batshit. So, allow me to submit a tune by a Japanese expatriate duo that is equal parts brilliant and bat guano, that being Cibo Matto. Right off the bat, I don’t know if I could possibly recommend a group that generates music that is more absurd, but at the same time completely hypnotic in tone. During their genesis in the mid to late 90’s, their music was originally heavily centered around the subject of food. That’s right… food. And with songs entitled ‘Know Your Chicken’ and ‘Beef Jerky’ in their earlier musical efforts… needless to say, I had a little bit of trouble connecting with their discography at first. This tune, Sugar Water from 1996’s Viva! La Woman, was my first sample of CM’s tunes and was delivered to me by way of Season 2 Episode 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Screw the haters, that show ruled! Years later, I keep going back to this tune and this group’s catalog if I’m feeling mindless and in the mood to chill. In over two and a half decades, this duo managed to crank out a grand total of three full length albums. While they’re not a household name, they did at least try to shed their food-centric underpinnings and create a handful of records that varied in structure, theatrics, and themes. While CM’s music never really sold big in the U.S., it sold even worse in Japan. However, to their credit, I keep coming back to their catalog because it’s just fun, catchy and good in small doses… sometimes in a so bad its good kind of way. And don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t post batshit music if I personally didn’t like it. This group produces tunes that manage to be endearing, entrancing and artsy. For that reason, I have been won over for many years by their Shibuya style, which is a hell of a lot more thoughtful, original, interesting, humorous, and vital than any ‘modern’ (see also ‘dumbed-down’) corporate radio-friendly music. If you need a little bit of escapism or if you’re just in the mood for something different and even better than modern chillout/chillwave, smash play and enjoy!

     It was the episode where Buffy is being a twat about dying in the previous season and is teasing Xander with a sexy dance at The Bronze. If you understood any part of the previous sentence, how’s it feel to be with me in nerd-virgin hell? Image source: https://www.npr.org/2014/02/02/267029140/first-listen-cibo-matto-hotel-valentine

[a-ghostiee]

Everything I found in the new DRDT MV

SPOILERS AFTER THE CUT PLEASE DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER THESE THINGS FOR YOURSELF

We’ll start with the footnotes. I found nearly all of them, the exception being [8] which I couldn’t find. I will provide timestamps for each, and try my best to explain what it means.

[1] (1:22) - It is talking about solving the crossword, meaning that J would go by Julia and Xander would be Alexander. It’s also saying that David isn’t in the crossword, yet Teruko is. I will go into more detail on the crossword later.

[2] (3:02) - Arabidopsis is a thale cress plant; Drosophila melanogaster is a fruit-fly; and E. coli is bacteria. I’m not quite sure how these link, though.

[3] (2:18) - Literally a quote from Title 17 of the United States Code; which talks about Copyright.

[4] (1:47) - This footnote is attached to a bit of text in the background that says “subtract 4, add to tetraphobia.”. Tetraphobia is the practice of avoiding the number 4, which is mentioned in the description.

[5] (3:10) - As it says in the description, this part of the song has been mistranslated several times, so there is no reliable translation for it.

[6] (2:02) - The little 6 can be found next to the hands that look like this: 🙏. I assume the previous hand gestures were referencing a specific prayer, but I’m not sure.

[7] (2:41) - I’m gonna be honest, there isn’t much to work with here. The footnote in the description isn’t much help and the little 7 appears to be attached to the word “mind”

[8] - I couldn’t find [8] in the video, however, I googled the quote from the description and it comes from Alice in Wonderland.

[9] (2:08) - Again, the footnote in the description isn’t that helpful. This time, its attached to “sing a degraded copy”. The phrase “degraded copy” is in pink, so it’s probably important (maybe), but I really don’t know.

[10] (2:01) - The bit in the description mentions that “10 in Roman Numerals is X” and footnote 10, can be found on the right of the big, pink X in the background. Maybe the footnote is hinting that only 10 people will die in DRDT, because the pink X is very similar to the dead portrait Xs.

[11] (1:32) - Now, this one is probably the most interesting, because it says that ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ doesn’t exist. Given that this video centres around David, we can assume that this is most likely talking about his sister that he mentioned in Chapter 2 Episode 10, Diana. She fits the amount of letters perfectly. As for why this footnote is attached to “suspicious gaps”, I’m not quite sure. All I know about the gaps, is that there’s four of them.

[12] (2:02) - This part of the video shows that one person received 16 votes, and no-one else received any. This fits in with the description talking about majority vote (YTTD ref? /hj)

[13] (2:40) - Now this one is definitely next to something that’s been encoded. It seems like it’s been encrypted into Base64, but when I put those letters and numbers into a decoder, I got utter nonsense. It could have been encrypted several times, or it could just not be Base64, I’m still trying to work that out. The symbol in the description appears to mean correct as well, which fits with the placement.

[14] (3:52) - This appears to be at the end of a long chain of numbers, split into several parts. If you look at the equals symbol in the back, you’ll find the little 14. The hint in the description says “word length of 256″, which I could easily link to ASCII. ASCII is a form of character storage which only has 256 possible characters. Again, I’ll figure out what all the numbers mean, and translate it into something readable at some point.

[15] (1:48) - Not quite sure what to say here. The 15 is attached to the word “happiness” and the description talks about “ignorance is bliss”

[16] (2:50) - This is found on several screenshots(?) of a music sheet, which is “Entry of the Gladiators” by Julius Fucik.

[17] (2:01) - Probably the first footnote I spotted, I think I noticed it during my first watch, when it premiered. The description is right though, “Democratic-ly” isn’t a word.

[18] (3:04) - This one can be found with the dandelions (weed). I don’t know what the description is talking about though, the flowers are beautifully drawn ^^

[19] (3:42) - This one’s quite interesting because it’s part of a conversation. Not quite sure what it’s about but I’m pretty sure one of the mystery people is David.

[20] (1:53) - The description mostly explains that the 5 stages of grief are kind of outdated because they can be classed as reductionist, only considering nature.

[21] (3:49) - Again, another pretty simple one that I’m not sure I need to really explain.

[22] - This one is literally on screen for barely a second right at the very end, just before the video stops.

Now, I’ll move on to discuss the YouTube comment type things that appeared on the screen at around 1:09. These are in the order of when the appeared on screen (i think lol).

1.  “ ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ is like the byakuya/nagito/kokichi of the cast.” - This is probably talking about David, given the personality he showed during Chapter 2 Episode 11. Also, David has the right amount of letters. 2. “lets play spot the komaeda.” - Again, most likely about David. 3. “I like that  ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ is a protagonist who also plays the antag[onist]” 4. This one is likely about Teruko given how she’s our protagonist and can be quite antagonistic at times. (*cough* pulling a knife out on several people during Chapter 2 *cough*) 5. “mm  ⚪⚪⚪⚪ anyone?” - Not sure who this is talking about because there are so many people who have a four-letter name. (Levi, Whit, Arei, Nico, Rose and Eden) 6. “⚪ and  ⚪⚪⚪⚪ totally swapped places” - Ok, this is definitely about the J and Arei swapped theory. 7. “ ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ will obviously die in ch5″ - Could be talking about David again, but there’s something later in the video that might suggest otherwise, which I’ll talk about later on. 8. “I just hope ⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ doesn’t go crazy and kill in chapter 3. That would be way [too] predictable.” - Arturo 100% 9. “Everyone in the comment section is a fucking idiot” - Now this one’s kind of mean, but also very interesting. This could be David telling us we’re all wrong, or the creators.

At about 1:22, a crossword shows up briefly, as mentioned during [1]. I like crossword type things so I took some time to solve it. After this crossword shows up, there are several bits of text, which are matched with a roman numerals, so I matched those phrases up to the roman numerals from the crossword.

Across:

I. Alexander IV. Arei - “Right now, why do you cry?” VI. Arturo - “mind exercises 1234” VIII. Nico - “even if I try to think, idk!!! (lmao)” IX. Levi - “look aside from that, give me the usual medicine” - I wasn’t sure what was going on here XII. Eden - “But you’re in my way, aren’t you?” XIII. Teruko - “or” / “To be or not to be” XV. Whit - “Remaining ignorant, isn’t that “happiness”?” XVI. Hu - “Go and cry.”

Down:

II. Rose - “Ego cogito ergo (terbatus) sum” III. Charles - “If you doubt brittle things are broken.” V. Ace - “Right now, why do you go insane?” VII. Julia - “Do it like that, let’s live together” X. Min - “Democratic-ly”  XI. Mai - “God is dead” XIV. Veronika - “Things like substance of the arts”

And to finish off this post, I’ll talk about anything extra that couldn’t fit anywhere else. I’ll provide timestamps as well, lol.

(0:37) - Text says “I am a cat” before the word dog quickly covers the word cat. This could be a reference to how MonoTV looks like a cat, but insists they are a dog.

(1:00) - Text that is very briefly on screen says: “I did love you once so you should not have believed me.”

(1:04) - The person on screen looks like she could be Mai? Not really sure here, but she seems important.

(1:05) - Text at the bottom of the screen says “I’m guilty as charged. Sorry, we’re not there yet.” This could be a reference to how David says “I’m guilty as charged” in Chapter 2 Episode 11.

(1:28) - Text in red says “I hate the things that I love, and I love the tings that I hate.” This could be a reference to the photos of Mai and Teruko.

(2:02) - “Voting results: Everyone will be executed. There is no such thing as “victory” in a killing game.” This does not look good for the DRDT cast.

(2:22) - This looks like Xander. It looks like its from before he got his eyepatch, but that could just be the angle. If it is from before, does this mean David knew Xander before the killing game but lost(?) those memories.

(2:38) - “Note to self: put something here” Maybe something will be added to the video later?

(3:00) - “portrait of someone dearly loved” with an arrow pointing to the photo of Mai Akasaki. Maybe David loved Mai before something tragic happened?

(3:00) - “portrait of someone dearly unloved” with an arrow pointing to the photo of Teruko Tawaki. I think Teruko has something to do with whatever happened to Mai and David hates her for it. I think David was the person at the very beginning of the very first episode of DRDT, he’s the only person that I think has a motive. You can also spot a fork in the background of the MV and at the beginning of the prologue.

(3:04) - There’s a QR code on the books to the right. I haven’t been able to scan it so I don’t know what it leads to yet.

(3:06) - The supporting cast list has Mai Akasaki scribbled out and what looks like “Ms Naegi”  cut off underneath it. On the right of the screen, there was faint text that says: “(i.e. these are the only characters who make an appearance.) which could mean that Arei, Hu and Ms Naegi are in the video. This is a stretch but maybe Hu killed Arei. Probably not, though.

(3:10) - It looks like Xander is the one holding the gun here.

(3:20) - No, that’s wrong!

(3:44) - The lyrics here say “I’ll disappear” and David disappears from the chair, leaving what looks like splattered blood. The words “Chapter 3″ flash on the screen, though its cut off. David dies in Chapter 3 maybe?

Thank you for reading this extremely long post; I’ll reblog it anytime I get more information.

[nesisamess]

i am GUESSING that one of the points of the drdt mv was to overload us with so much information that it is hard to pick out what is important and what is inconsequential… that being said, here are a few things i noticed/am hypothesizing (also this will contain spoilers for the mv AND for chapter 2, plus fair warning that most of this may be nonsensical if you haven’t watched the video <3)

first off: the wingding translations at 0:36

so i translated it and… it’s just a rickroll. that’s it. huge L moment for me when i realized

next: the girl at 1:05

her hair is too different to be Mai and she doesn’t look like any of the female students, so I ruled that out. My first thought was that she was David’s sister, Diana, but i’m a little unsure of this theory because I’m not even sure Diana is real (this relates to note #11, since the amount of spaces match up with Diana’s name, but i’m not sure since i couldn’t find the 11 in the mv itself)

the crossword puzzle at 1:22 aka #1 in the description notes.

(note: sorry for my very crappy drawing lmao)

you can see that if you adhere to the note in the description and use their proper first names, it fills in perfectly. However, instead of having David’s name anywhere in the crossword, instead we have Mai. The description says to “exclude our protagonist” (in this case that would be David) so this makes sense.

I honestly know next to nothing about Mai (i’m unsure if information about her is out there and if so where to find it), so the importance of her being included might be lost on me.

Also: Each of the characters has a roman numeral attached to them so this might relate the roman numerals that pop up throughout the video? Idk, just something to think about.

at 2:02 it shows the same sort of voting thing that we saw at the end of chapter 2, however this time all 16 votes are voted towards one person. we know this couldn’t be possible for any future case as too many people are dead, so I wonder if this is just representative and doesn’t actually reference any real game event? this also relates to #12 in the description. it was at this point when i realized they were out of order, since I saw 15 and 17 beforehand

at 2:23 Xander shows up, along with the lyrics “if something is important, then it’ll break and disappear” which makes me heavily question how David actually feels about him. Beforehand, I figured that David was lying about looking up to Xander and was just saying that as a part of his whole fake persona, but I’m starting to question if he was telling the truth even maybe a little bit. this could be talking about something else, though, like Xander’s importance to figuring out the mastermind or something like that.

at 2:40 it shows this string of letters and numbers along with ‘correct’ at the top and ‘incorrect’ at the bottom. the note it relates to, 13, has a character that also means correct/positive

Throughout, there are many references to literature and the such, but one of the few that I recognized which was mentioned a few times: No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai (Speaking of, it’s an intensely interesting novel and I highly recommend checking it out and also researching some of the history behind the author)

Now, in the novel, the main character seems handsome and charismatic to others, but both he and the narrator of the beginning and end book describe him as inhuman, troubled, and disturbed. He is able to keep a facade when underneath, he feels intensely alienated from society and others. It does, honestly, remind me of David in some ways—people want to follow him because of his charisma, but in reality he is not who they think he is. I should probably leave this part short, since I could most likely write a whole thesis about No Longer Human, but there are a ton of parallels between Ōba Yōzō and David if you want to do more research into No Longer Human.

A few miscellaneous thoughts:

I have absolutely no clue what the various items at 2:56 relate to. My first idea was that certain items related to certain characters (Ex: the broken clock is eden’s, the hair clips, megaphone, and fan letters are David’s, and the portraits for the corresponding people) but I also think these items could all just relate to David in some way (If so, I find the materials for a noose and the serpent incredibly interesting)

It’s weird that Hu was included in the credits along with the other characters we might expect. I didn’t think David held much stock in their ‘friendship’ at all, but maybe it was more important than I originally thought?

I decided to not try and dissect the lyrics as I believe that would be better done by someone who has a better understanding of Japanese than I do

In total, I could find the pieces that relate to 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, and 15-21. I considered that the roman numerals could be the numbers in the description also, especially since note 10 mentions roman numerals, but I doubt it since there are numbers which double up as both normal and as roman numerals.

and last but not least, the morse code at the very end. It translates to:

“You still believed in me despite everything I’ve done. But that’s just fantasy, isn’t it? I simply chose to believe that you did. After all, I’m incapable of being someone without you.”

this took an hour to translate only for me to scroll down the comment section and see someone already had translated it :,)

ANYways this is really really interesting, even though it is very ambiguous. Is the speaker David? If so, who is he speaking to? If it is David, this leads me to believe that his “breakdown” might also be an act, and he might still truly care what other people think of him. It also brings up a lot of questions, like who is he speaking to??? fr i want to know. I just know this boy has Trauma and I want to Know It.

if you saw anything I missed or I made a mistake somewhere please tell me!! I wrote this from 1 to 4 am because Hyperfocus and i watched the video probably 5x over on .25 speed (not including repeating certain sections). I know there’s a lot of stuff I didn’t include, I probably didn’t because I wasn’t sure of the importance or I didn’t want to make this too long (failed on that goal but oh well), but if you have another perspective please share!

[trio-of-all-time]

ULTIMATE TRIO SHOWDOWN MATCH UPS 💥💥💥

ROUND 1A (05/02)

1. Sora, Kairi, and Riku (Kingdom Hearts) VS Carter, Sadie, and Zia (The Kane Chronicles)

2. Hunter, Willow, and Gus (The Owl House) VS Josie, Valerie, and Melody (Riverdale)

3. Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman (DC Comics) VS Mike, Stan, Bill (IT)

4. Axel, Roxas, and Xion (Kingdom Hearts) VS Kotori, Honoka, and Umi (Love Live! School Idol Festival)

5. Professor Layton, Luke, and Emmy (Professor Layton) VS Marc, Steven, and Jake (Moon Knight)

6. Draculaura, Clawdeen, and Frankie (Monster High) VS Platinum, Diamond, and Pearl (Pokemon)

7.  Kazuki, Rei, and Miri (Buddy Daddies) VS  Starscream, Soundwave, and  Megatron (Transformers)

8.  Buffy, Willow, and Xander (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) VS Adagio, Aria, and Sonata (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)

ROUND 1B (05/05)

1.  Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (Star Trek) VS Adora, Glimmer, and Bow (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

2.  Yor, Loid, and Anya (Spy x Family) VS  Mio, Yuuko, and Mai (Nichijou)

3. Joker, Crow, and Violet (Persona 5 Royal) VS Josuke, Okuyasu, and Koichi (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

4. Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi (Jujutsu Kaisen) VS Yu, Chie, and Yosuke (Persona 4)

5. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) VS Huey, Dewey, and Louie (DuckTales) 

6. Nancy, Jonathan, and Steve (Stranger Things) VS Sugimoto, Asirpa, and Shiraishi (Golden Kamuy)

7. Ayaka, Ayato, and Thoma (Genshin Impact) VS Wirt, Greg, and Beatrice (Over The Garden Wall)

8. Daichi, Sugawara, and Asahi (Haikyuu!!) VS Eren, Mikasa, and Armin (Attack on Titan)

ROUND 1C (05/08)

1.  Shadow, Rouge, and Omega (Sonic the Hedgehog) VS Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

2.  Henry, Charles, and Ellie (The Henry Stickmin Collection) VS Minho, Thomas, and Newt (The Maze Runner)

3.  Anne, Sasha, and Marcy (Amphibia) VS  Tighnari, Cyno, and Collei (Genshin Impact) 

4. Terra, Ventus, and Aqua (Kingdom Hearts) VS  Yukimura, Sanada, and Yanagi (Prince of Tennis)

5.  Hiyori, Yato, Yukine (Noragami) VS  Izzy, Noah, and Eva (Total Drama)

6.  Sam, Dean, and Castiel (Supernatural) VS  M.K., Mei, and Red Son (LEGO Monkie Kid)

7. Rey, Poe, and Finn (Star Wars) VS Trailblazer, March 7th, and Dan Heng (Honkai Star Rail)

8.  Xie Lian, Mu Qing, and Feng Xin (Heaven Official’s Blessing) VS  Sweet, Cap'n, and K_K (Deltarune)

ROUND 1D (05/11)

1.  Denji, Aki, and Power (Chainsaw Man) VS Martin, Tim, and Sasha (The Magnus Archives) 

2.  Narancia, Mista, and Fugo (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) VS  Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

3.  Shiver, Frye, and Big Man (Splatoon 3) VS Jolyne, Ermes, and Foo Fighters (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

4. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog) VS  Kaz, Inej, and Jesper (Six of Crows)

5.  Jessie, James, and Meowth (Pokemon) VS Amy, Cream, and Big (Sonic the Hedgehog)

6.  Yukari, Ran, and Chen (Touhou Project) VS  Danny, Sam, and Tucker (Danny Phantom)

7.  Josuke, Yasuho, and Rai (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) VS Cecil, Kain, and Rosa (Final Fantasy IV)

8.  Manny, Sid, and Diego (Ice Age) VS Rindo, Fret, and Nagi (The World Ends With You)

have fun voting! propaganda post submissions and reblogs are welcome and encouraged, and may the best group win >:)

[redthreadoffate]

fandoms + ships

dc comics

bruce / diana

clark / chloe

dick / barbara

dick / kory

gar / raven

oliver / dinah

tim / stephanie

digimon

adventure, 02, tri, last evolution kizuna, the beginning, 2020 remake

tachi / sora

yamato / mimi

takeru / hikari

daisuke / ken

ken / miyako

ken / hikari

tamers

takato / juri

jianliang / ruki

ryo / shaochung

frontier

koji / izumi

harry potter, fantastic beasts

harry / hermione

ron / hermione

neville / luna

george / katie

bill / fleur

james / lily

remus / tonks

scorpius / rose

newt / tina

jacob / queenie

marvel

bruce / betty

bucky / sam

charles / moira

clint / bobbi

frank / karen

grant / daisy

howard / peggy

kareem / kamala

marc / layla

matt / jessica

pete w. / kitty

peter p. / mj

phil / melinda

reed / sue

scott / jean

stephen / christine

stephen / clea

steve / natasha

steve / sharon

t’challa / nakia

tony / pepper

tyrone / tandy

vision / wanda

power rangers

mighty morphin’, alien, zeo, turbo, in space, lost galaxy

jason / emily

zack / trini

billy / kim

rocky / penny

adam / katherine

tj / ashley

carlos / ashley

phantom ranger / cassie

zhane / cassie

leo / karone

damon / maya

kai / kendrix

mike / emily

lightspeed rescue, time force, wild force

carter / dana

chad / kelsey

joel / angela

wes / jen

lucas / katie

eric / taylor

cole / taylor

cole / alyssa

danny / kendall

merrick / alyssa

merrick / shayla

ninja storm, dino thunder, spd

shane / kapri

dustin / marah

hunter / kelly

cam / tori

conner / kira

ethan / angela

trent / kira

tommy / hayley

jack / ally

sky / z

bridge / syd

sam / nova

doggie / kat

mystic force, operation overdrive, jungle fury, rpm

nick / vida

xander / madison

leanbow / udonna

mack / rose

will / ronny

ty / rose

theo / lily

dom / fran

ziggy / dr k

samurai, megaforce

jayden / emily

mike / lauren

antonio / mia

troy / gia

orion / emma

dino charge, ninja steel

ivan / kendall

calvin / sarah

levi / hayley

beast morphers

nate / zoey

dino fury, cosmic fury

javi / amelia

izzy / fern

super sentai

tokusou sentai dekaranger

hoji / jasmine

sen / umeko

mahou sentai magiranger

hikaru / urara

other animanga

other tv/movie

to be continued...

[mcgnagallsarmy]

Spuffy style Reading Challenge - #14: Adult Fanfiction Challenge

Themes:

01 - Winter:

Promise of Frost by Eurydice

When a snowstorm strands Buffy and Spike, they are forced to turn to each other for strength, especially when a missing Giles, mysterious visitors, and way too much magic threatens to turn it into a not so very merry Christmas. Set mid-S4.

02 - Time:

Timelines,Schmimelines by bookishy

When Buffy’s sent back to her first year of college to retrieve an artifact for the future, she ends up on the day of the first inaugural Christmas Party at Casa del Xander. Or, time travel meets its greatest match, and that match is alcohol.

03 - Oaths:

The Halloween Series by spike_spetslayer

Buffy and Spike make an unbreakable pact during their first real confrontation in Season 2.

04 - Hidden Places:

Smoke and Mirrors by Rikki_oko

Season 4, goes AU after Hush.

05 - Starlight:

On The Steps by MillennialCryBaby

They had to stop meeting like this.

06 - To Sea:

Sirens by bookishy

When a deadly sea creature comes to town and puts Buffy's usual Scooby crew out of commission, she's left with no choice but to rely on the junior varsity team . . . which is unfortunately just Anya and her thankfully ex-magical-fiancé Spike. The worst thing, though? It really puts a cramp in her plan to avoid him until memories of Willow's wedding spell fade. Set in Season 4, between "Something Blue" and "Hush".

07 - To Sky:

Just Breathe by Passion4Spike

After being ripped out of heaven by her friends, there’s only one person who can help Buffy cope with a life that feels like hell in a world that’s just too much to bear, a world that she wants desperately to escape: Spike.

08 - Sacrifice:

Meet Me at Midnight by Dusty

A story about the stolen midnight hours of season seven.

09 - Fire:

Embers by Dusty

Spike's the best boyfriend. He fulfills all of Buffy's fantasies. All of them.

10 - Ritual:

Ritual Confessions by bewildered

Buffy learns of a surefire way to defeat Glory. SPOILER ALERT: It's a smutty way.

11 - Forest:

A Warm Welcome by MaggieLaFey

Nineteen days after “Chosen”, Spike is spit out of the amulet in Angel’s office, and two months later he becomes corporeal. It takes him longer yet to find the courage to contact a certain slayer, who won’t be too happy about the wait. But will she forgive him and use this opportunity to finally start something new?

12 - Omens:

To Save a Lady by slaymesoftly

Spike hasn't had his little revelation about his feelings for Buffy, and she, of course, is clueless. Riley has had his surgery and begun his macho identity crisis. Riley has temporarily gone back to Iowa and Spike and Buffy have been working together all summer.

[gleamingtempest]

Ming Jeung - [DRDT] Character Analysis #02

Welcome

Hello. : ) This is a part in a series of analysis' by me where I will be individually outlining the negative experience, core belief & stated belief for every main character in the Danganronpa: Despair Time cast. Danganronpa: Despair Time is not a complete text yet so these analysis' will not be exclusively based on text from the project. All segments of these posts which cover parts of a character's story which has not yet covered in the text. Speculation will always be marked by the indicator [X] when it occurs. The purpose of this series is ultimately to provide my own individual thoughts, feelings & speculation on each character with actual text as my basis for building those actual thoughts, feelings & speculation. I hope you are all able to find it useful. Please be well - and enjoy. 🙇🏻‍♀️

*Note: This post was written at the time of 7/9/2024. At this time, the latest DRDT episode release was Chapter 2 - Episode 11. Every post in this series will be redone after the full release of the series.

Negative Experience

Ming Jeung

-> Negative Experience: The most prominent traumatic events or event experienced by the character in their past, which primarily informs their core belief & stated belief in the main story.

Negative Experience Min Jeung was born into poverty, though was not in it for a long enough period to have vivid memories of living in poverty. Submitting herself to the full authority of an institute which commodified her willingness to obsess over competence & diligence as a student before she was old enough to have vivid memories of her life is how Min Jeung managed to escape this circumstance - for both herself and her family. Fatalistically, she accepted this role without question for years because if she did not, there would be future for her or her family. Inadvertently this trapped Min in a role wherein she could not see a future for herself.

Core Belief

Ming Jeung

-> Core Belief: The Core Belief is the unconscious belief held by the character which informs their external & internal beliefs about themselves & the world, or, their "stated belief."

Core Belief

A lack of personal identity or personhood - humanity - is what defines Min's characterization & trajectory as a character. "In order to live I must submit to fate. Resistance is death; not being." Min is not allowed to be human - she lacks substance because substance lacks the ability to reach her. Min is trapped, both by the world and herself. She cannot be allowed to believe there is hope, because the very nature of her role as the Ultimate Student confines her to an identity predetermined before her personality had even fully developed - before her personhood was given the opportunity to exist. Min is nothing because Min cannot be anything. Min is not human.

Stated Belief

Ming Jeung

-> Stated Belief: The external & internal ideology or belief which the character actively & consciously applies.

Stated Belief

Min is able to justify this wretched existence by believing that she is saving her family. For herself and for her family, Min can justify her suffering because the alternative is so awful that accepting is unacceptable. Even if Min cannot be human, she can be more than that - she can be a martyr. "I wanted to save you... I wanted to save them. I can't save myself - so isn't this the best choice?"

The impetus behind Min's choices is that of justification of human suffering because others would be hurt if it was not accepted. "I can be hurt if others aren't, so it's okay." Min does not regard herself as human, so she allows herself to do awful things to herself if it means that she can be a savior. Still, Min is, doubtlessly - human. Even if she can lie to herself, she cannot lie to her humanity. Min's defining action in the story is killing Xander in order to save Teruko - and then, betraying everyone by choosing to fight for her own life in the class trial. Even if she chose to ignore it for her whole life, to justify her own suffering for the sake of others, even if Min chose to be selfishly selfless - in the end, she was human. In the end, she was somebody; Min Jeung.

Design

Ming Jeung

-> Design Philosophy: In order to analyze the designs of the Danganronpa: Despair Time cast I would like to establish my method for identifying significant elements of their design to outline & analyze. -> The order I will look at the designs through will be: [Color] -> [Clothing] -> [Story]. Color will usually consist of discussing three prime colors used for the design however their will be outliers to this rule. Story will often be speculative, since we're early in the text.

Color

The three primary colors in Min's design are red, magenta [pink] & white. The primary color is magenta while white and red are the support colors. Magenta, or pink is futility; death. It is the color of blood in the Danganronpa universe & representative of performance in a cyclical manner - the commodification of humanity for the sake of profit, regardless of human suffering. Min's eyes are pink because at her core she has internalized that she must be the Ultimate Student. She can never be anything more because to be anything more would be to betray her own core belief about herself - that she is not human. Whit is broadly just a neutral blankness, which indicates a subdued, complement nature & silent acceptance of fate without resistance. Resignment. White is hollow & empty - just like Min's day-to-day life. Red is the counter or challenging color of this design - if Min is not human then why did Min act on the most human desire of all, both in the past, to have been put on this path, and in the present, to end her path - try to live, regardless of what that takes. Red is passion, vigor, determination - will to be, and to thrive, and to succeed - humanity. Clothing

Min wears school uniform with a taupe vest over it and a red tie. Her skirt is a darker version of the color of her vest & her vest is a more neutral version of her eyes; this could be considered "taupe." Min's hair is a dark desaturated version of her bright red tie, which rests in the center of her design, between her taupe vest and underneath her face. Min's bangs rest over her eyes, which are vivid and bright but concealed from the world. Min's eyes are white & pink - empty futility. "Despair." Story

Min's diamond pin is the same pin worn by a character from the creators other fangan which they have been working on at the same time as DRDT. This character also has Min's eye color & works for XF-Ture Tech, the company which funded Min's family under the premise that she would become the Ultimate Student.

[X] This is the same agent who told Min she would fund her family if she became the ultimate student. Her involvement in the Mall Killing Game is related to the creation of the Killing Game Show & is the Killing Game Teruko was referring to.

[X] Min & this person are related but Min does not know this.

[X] XF-Ture Tech is responsible for the creation of MonoTV, the Killing Game Traps & the executions.

Final Speculation

Min Jeung

-> I Wanted to Save You

Min Jeung herself will not have any major involvement in the creation or orchestration of the killing game, but her connection to XF-Ture Tech will be significant again.

Min's connection to XF-Ture Tech resulted in the creation of the Killing Game technology.

[sortahawkward]

tag game! via @falbet 🥰

Three ships:

Albel/Fayt - (Star Ocean: Till the End of Time) the og ancient ship that will never die for me (even if the fandom did).

Laslow/Xander - (Fire Emblem: Fates) Everyone moved onto FE16 but I'm stuck here :] but I enjoy my many FE ships through the ages and this one is my enduring favorite.

Fenris/Hawke - (Dragon Age 2) my favorite of the DA ships, also an enduring fav. Fenris helped make me trans :D

First Ever Ship:

Ken Ichijouji/Hikari Yagami from Digimon 02. Really I just adored Ken (my original heel face turn villain with character development) and the pairing with Hikari was the most popular behind Yolei (who I hated). I even wrote fic for it once. Albel and Fayt were my first gay ship :D

Last Song: This was super stuck in my head so I jammed to it. Need to buy the mp3.

Last Movie:

I saw Avatar 2 with my parents and had a good time seeing the critters and worldbuilding and speculative biology. Yes yes I know the issues of depictions of appropriated indigenous culture but I'm too tired to have that debate with my parents. They were very hyped to see it as they also loved the first one so I settled back for a chill fun time at the IMAX theater. I actually teared up as the movie started since it was the first movie I saw in theaters since the pandemic and it hit me hard how much I MISSED seeing stuff in theaters ; ;

Currently Reading:

Currently reading Snow White With the Red Hair manga with my fiance :D and I just finished "Winter's Orbit" which was gay sci fi. Now searching for more gay goodness to read.

Currently Watching:

Been watching lots of educational youtube with fiance. Some favs are: Tasting History with Max Miller, Bernadette Banner, Evan and Katelyn, Adam Ragusea, Cinema Therapy, Studson Studios, Rowan Ellis, Hello Future Me, Rachel Maksy, Fall of Civilizations podcast, Shaun...etc There's a lot of shows I've downloaded to watch when the brain gets in the mood to, like the Dragon Age show and Sandman. One day...

Currently consuming:

I've been playing a lot of random city building games, like I finished Airborn Kingdom and now I'm playing Pharoah: A New Era. Pharoah is very good and in-depth but it's a buggy new release, which is frustrating here and there. I enjoy the egyptian history though. I've also been modding and replaying gay Skyrim.

Currently craving:

More time!! 40 hours a week at my job doesn't leave much for writing and creating myself :[. Also I crave a new fandom or something, and fic to read...feeling kind of listless and I think I've burned out on my tales of vesperia kick. Maybe it's time to reread some old fic favs? Or time to scrounge up some RP I really wanna write.

tagging: @beanbakery @pompadoriangray @hallowedlore @sharinalein and/or anyone else who wants to do the thing, consider yourself tagged :D no pressure ofc

[youngbloodhqs]

EVENTO 1 - VALENTINE'S DAY @ THE BAMFORD'S

santa monica é uma cidade conhecida por muitas coisas, mas não é lá um lugar exatamente romântico. não tem a pont des arts como em paris e muito menos as fotos de casal nos pontos turísticos em nova york. além disso, as pessoas só se lembram que é valentine’s day na última hora, deixando as lojas, bares e restaurantes lotados.

por isso tudo que alexander bamford, o fearless leader desse grupo de ajustados e desajustados queria, era uma noite tranquila no anexo de sua casa com uma pequena confraternização. o anexo, por muitos anos, havia sido o lugar mais frequentado pelo grupo. tinha algo na mesa de ping-pong, no aparelho de arcade e na mesa de sinuca que tornavam o ambiente simplesmente… aconchegante. sofás eram distribuídos por todo o espaço, e um belo aparelho de som fazia sucesso com os melhores hits através dos anos. havia sempre uma tv enorme de última geração, trocada constantemente, e nela assistiram muitos filmes, esportes e qualquer besteira que os entretivesse. e é claro que não podia faltar a cozinha americana, com armários estocados pela sra. bamford, geladeira, pia e microondas.

os dezesseis compraram docinhos decorados, um barril de cerveja gelada e os melhores petiscos… e a temática? nada mais justo do que i hate valentine’s day, para um grupo que só tinha um casal de verdade (que ia muito bem, obrigado). o que xander e os outros não imaginavam era que de alguma forma, a notícia ia se espalhar e mais de cinquenta pessoas iriam aparecer, todos os estudantes da área, desesperados com a proibição de festas nos campi das universidades. e além de tudo isso, entre os convidados que não haviam sido convidados, estava a famosa dona anônima (ou o famoso dono anônimo?) do perfil santa monica secrets, fazendo reports sobre tudo da festa.

pra melhorar, a equipe de líderes de torcida da universidade da california, grande fã de xander, resolveu passar na festa. aproveitando a data, para arrecadar uma grana para uniformes, as garotas decidiram fazer um correio elegante. pode ser uma piada, pode ser para infernizar a vida de alguém, ou pode ser uma declaração de verdade para um amor ou amizade. o que importa é que essas garotas são insistentes, e elas vão te infernizar até você pagar dois dólares (sim, tudo isso!) e enviar um correio.

enfim… você está pronto pro valentine’s day nos bamford? eu certamente não estou!

INFORMAÇÕES OOC

oi, pessoal! obrigada por lerem até aqui, e sejam bem vindos ao primeiro evento do youngblood. algumas informações: 

a duração do evento será de amanhã, 19/02, até 27/02. não sei se uma extensão será necessária, mas se for, é só me falarem que eu articulo isso. se preferirem encerrar o evento antes, também é super tranquilo pra mim! o importante é vocês estarem confortáveis. 

estou postando o evento com algumas horas de antecedência pra vocês começarem a se preparar, usando as horas de hoje para papearem em ic sobre a festa e etc. 

o evento vai começar direto na festa, a partir da 00h01 do dia 19/02 (virada do dia 18/02 para o dia 19/02, caso tenha ficado confuso). será por volta de 21h00 em santa monica (de verdade? não, na cabeça da mod mesmo). então a partir da virada do dia, vocês podem interagir sobre a quantidade de pessoas que os personagens estão vendo chegar, alguma preocupação sobre isso. ou talvez eles curtindo muito a multidão de gente depois do ban de festas que eles estão passando. podem também fazer interações deles tentando encontrar a pessoa por trás da santa monica secrets, e claro, não esqueçam do correio elegante.

e falando nele, as mensagens do correio elegante devem ser enviadas no blog de extras, via ask. se for um correio anônimo, manda no anon. se for correio com identificação, pode mandar fora do anon. porque serão publicados no formato de ask mesmo, e aí eu vou marcar o @ do tumblr de quem está recebendo. 

ainda sobre o correio, quando imaginarem seu personagem recebendo, pensem numa pessoa mesmo do squad de líderes de torcida dando risadinhas e levando um papelzinho em forma de coração, bem bonitinho assim! também né, dois dólares o negócio, tem que ser assim mesmo. tentem mandar pra várias pessoas, mesmo que seja só algo bobinho!

lembrando que, apesar de serem um lindo grupinho meio co-dependente e grudado, nem sempre eles estarão 100% juntos na festa, então usem e abusem de chats privados ou dos group chats. 

atenção (com voz do boninho no bbb): nesse evento, vocês não precisam parar as interações antigas. podem continuar respondendo, não tem problema. mas se quiserem pausar e continuar depois do evento, também podem.

ufa! por fim, sigam o blog da santa monica secrets também, porque vai ser estreado durante o evento. 

qualquer dúvida, já sabem, chefia! ask, chat, servidor ou me chamar direto no disc… pode tudo. divirtam-se!