#a comfort game of mine~

[imaginariumwanderer]

Liar Jester and the Blind Healer

[morrriigan]

beautiful games i've played ➤ final fantasy x

"Die and be free of pain, or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands!"

[aftg-rot]

TW & CW As an audience we know about Andrew's self harm and self destruction in a small degree, we know what Andrew was willing to share with Neil. But to see how he uses it as a form of self regulation and grounding, to see how Bee is able to help him and how he listens to her, and to see how he feels that it is something he needs to hide!!

[falmerbrook]

Skyrim screenshot edits I made awhile back

[chrisrin]

JADESOL MOIRAILS!

[phoenixcatch7]

Loz fandom stop being angsty and give the daydreaming kids on big fun adventures with a cool glowing sword some actual whimsy and joy challenge

[ssruis]

Hello welcome to yet another post that was 1) originally meant to be a short thing but it rapidly got out of hand 2) caters to me specifically 3) is all over the place because I kept finding more things I wanted to talk about

The way rui approaches emotions is so fascinating to me bc like. He approaches everything with a very rational/logical thought process instead of an emotional one and he tends to either ignore his emotions or view them as an obstacle/hinderance.

(From his gleaming stars card story)

If he acknowledges that he’s upset or unhappy he tends to just go “oh well. What can you do.” & then berates himself for not wanting to be unhappy. I feel like a lot of that can be explained by his childhood alienation from his peers.

In RMD his reaction to his classmates refusing to take part in his play once he explained the tree jump stunt & them calling him weird is to blame himself:

Little Nene: Rui, what’s the matter? Did something sad happen?

Little Rui: Nene… No. That’s not it. I pushed my show onto everyone and bothered them.

(From RMD - TL by Arven Oven)

Which is pretty telling. To Rui, the issue is that he asked for too much, that he as a person is something that must be tolerated by his peers.

But ultimately he still has faith that he’ll find his people.

Little Rui: …That’s right. People like you, Nene, who would say that they like my shows, surely exist out there. I want to make my own shows. But as of now - I think it might be a little hard.

(RMD)

And he *did* keep trying to find people who would accept him for a while - Wonder Halloween shows that he continued to try to reach out even after the stuff that happened in RMD, but eventually anyone he got a little close to would end up leaving & reinforcing his idea that he was too different from others to form relationships.

(From Wonder Halloween)

I’ve seen some people say him giving up on forming relationships was due to the events shown in RMD, but I think it was more of a result of him experiencing the same rejection over and over again. The definition of insanity is trying over and over again when the result never changes, and despite what his peers may think, Rui is not insane. I think he gradually lost faith in his parents assurance that he would find people who accepted him - he begins pushing Nene, the only person who hasn’t left him yet, away.

Middle School Rui: I’m working on a solo project… but I haven’t found anyone else like you that’s willing to help.

Middle School Nene: oh, I see…

Middle School Nene: then would you like to join the troupe I’m in…?

Middle School Nene: I mean, uh…

Middle School Rui: hehe. It’s nice of you to invite me, but there’s no need to pity me. I’m doing ok on my own, and it’s for the best anyway.

(From Wonder Halloween)

Why he pushed Nene away is sort of left up to interpretation - To protect her from himself? To leave her before she left like everyone else? - but I think the assumption that her invitation is out of pity show that at least part of his decision to push her away was out of the belief that she, like everyone else, was simply tolerating him. If he assumes everyone hates him/is scared of him right off the bat, he can avoid getting his hopes up and being crushed when he’s inevitably abandoned. It’s not unhealthy or detrimental to forming relationships he’s just recognizing a pattern and using it to predict the behavior of others (blatantly wrong).

Zombie Plushies: We can tell you’re just pretending to be friends! Deep down, you’re probably scared and disgusted by us too!

(…)

Zombie Plushies: We’ll never fit in with them anyway…

Rui: …! (Never fit in with them, huh…)

(…)

Rui: When I look at them… I remember how things used to be.

(WXS world link, TL by Haruka’s penguin)

He rationalized his loneliness with “I’m just incompatible with other people” which

1) ow.

2) if he’s incompatible with other people, there’s no reason to get his hopes up because he’ll never find people he fits in with

3) if nothing is ever going to get better, he should be content with being alone. There’s no reason to be sad over a fact of life. It is what it is.

4) being sad over this is inconvenient, unhelpful, and a distraction from following his dreams (on his own)

5) inflicting himself onto others is a selfish desire and he should just keep to himself. “It’s for the best, anyway.”

6) he’s perfectly fine on his own. He doesn’t need anyone for his shows, and he doesn’t need friends.

By the time the WXS main story takes place, he’s already fully convinced himself that he’s better off alone, and that Actually It’s Super Beneficial For Him & His Shows And He’s Fine Like This.

Middle School Rui: Solitude isn’t as bad as people make it out to be.

Middle School Mizuki: huh?

Middle School Rui: In fact, it has had certain benefits for me. It’s given me plenty of time to see plays and to think over ideas for shows, for example.

(Kamikou festival)

Rui: hehe. Unfortunately, we won’t be doing a show together.

Rui: you see, I like to work alone and with absolute freedom to stage any show I want.

Rui: as long as my shows fill my audience’s hearts with joy, I’m perfectly satisfied.

(WXS main story) (“I’m perfectly satisfied” me when I lie)

I feel like it’s overlooked that the only reason rui joined wxs was to get nene in the group. I’m probably going to talk about his continued pushing of Tsukasa’s limits/suggesting insane stunts and over emphasizing how dangerous they are at a later date - and how that was (imo) an attempt to find the point where Tsukasa would hate and leave him too -

(surely this is too good to be true, Tsukasa/wxs will be like all the others -> wait he’s not calling me a freak and leaving ok I guess I’ll go full throttle on the insane shit surely at some point he’ll get tired of me -> he got injured because of me and he’s still here?? what the fuck???? Well now I care about him & this group so I need to pull back I’m not going to get a second chance)

(Wonder Halloween)

- but I would like to briefly mention that Rui literally suggests risking Tsukasa’s life right off the bat & when Tsukasa is like “?? I don’t want to die???” Rui just goes “alright I’m out of the group I guess bye. have fun nene!”

Rui: Don't worry, the device can be securely attached to the stage in a way that will keep the audience perfectly safe. Please make sure you don't touch it or you'll die.

Tsukasa: what about keeping ME safe?!

(…)

Tsukasa: I’m not going to risk my life on-stage!

Rui: but you said you’d perform any role I gave you to, quote, 12000%, unquote!

Rui: I'm afraid that I have no choice but to step down as a stage director. Nene, good luck working with these people.

(Wxs main story)

Unfortunately humans are a social species & emotions don’t follow (faulty) logic so rui *was* unhappy on his own and he *did* want to have friends. Which I’m sure he continued to call himself selfish/greedy for feeling. Rationalizing all of this was a way he could accept/make peace with being miserable (because it must be this way, because this is how it will always be).

Rui: I was the same a long time ago… I gave up on fitting in with anyone.

(…)

Rui: If they don’t understand me, that just can’t be helped, if they disagree with the way I think, that just can’t be helped… I would think like that.

Rin: Rui-kun…

Rui: - in reality, I really did want to put on a show with someone else. But people didn’t understand the shows I was making. On a subconscious level, I convinced myself it wasn’t going to work out and gave up on the idea.

(WXS world link)

(Wxs Journey to bloom animation)

This added scene from the main story animation adds to this - why he leaves WXS did have to do with Tsukasa yelling at Nene, but the reason he doesn’t come back after Nene forgives Tsukasa is because Tsukasa’s self centered attitude is something that antithetical to a belief that Rui thought he’d given up on a long time ago: great shows *can’t* be made alone, no matter how many times you insist that you don’t need anyone else. As much as he denied it, Rui *did* still want to connect with people and be accepted - not just for the purpose of making shows, but to have a place where he belonged. For the first time in years Rui got his hopes up, started believing in what his parents told him, and Tsukasa proved to him that he never should have done so in the first place. Unlike the other times, though, Rui is the one to walk away first. & then tsukasa/wxs do the whole “true feelings” show etc etc we know how the main story ends.

That being said, I think that Rui still subconsciously believed WXS would grow to hate him and leave because he would finally be Too Much. Wonder Halloween showed him that this wasn’t true (Which is why it’s so important that the zombie plushies in the world link performed potato ghost to connect to the other plushies - it’s the show that was performed when Rui fully realized that wxs was not going to abandon him.) but I feel like that only cemented the fact that wxs would keep performing alongside him, not that they were his friends.

Rui also very clearly did not process or evaluate how his childhood impacted him.

Nene: When you talked about the old days, you seemed happy.

Rui: fufu. I don’t mind it anymore because it was so long ago.

(His RMD card story - TL by Rubilia Heartfilia) (me when I lie part two)

After so long by himself, with shows as the only thing he had, I think that having a connection to people *outside* of shows was completely unfathomable to Rui.

Which is why he’s kind of incapable of realizing why the idea of leaving wxs hurts him so much,

(Curtain call)

why he doesn’t realize why he starts holding back in wonder Halloween or why he holds back on the cheer squad,

(Cheer squad event)

And why he’s surprised that wxs cares for him not just as a director, but as a friend.

(Festival bathed in twilight)

I make fun of him for taking a year to finally be like “yeah tsukasa-kun and I are friends” but I think it’s pretty reasonable taking his trust/abandonment issues into account. Accepting Tsukasa’s offer to join wxs (twice) changed his life drastically - he realizes that he can connect to others outside of shows, that it’s possible for him to form relationships with people outside of wxs. Rui just needed to make the choice to accept the outreached hands - not changing the parts of himself that people previously deemed too weird or strange (not that he was ever going to do that anyways) but changing his attitude of “it’s just impossible for me to be accepted.”

Rui: I had always thought that I could never properly understand everyone around me.

Rui: as I started doing shows at Wonder Stage with everyone, my way of thinking and feelings began to change.

Rui: now, I am able to understand and connect with someone without relying on shows, and I’ve come to value the beauty of laughing alongside others

Rui: that’s why — tsukasa-kun. Thank you for giving me the chance to change.

(…)

Tsukasa: but… it’s not only just thanks to me, y’know?

Rui: eh?

Tsukasa: think about it. No matter how many chances I gave you, if you had refused to change, you would never have done so, right?

(Pandemonium, TL by Tsukasa’s #3 fan)

This is also why he tends to berate himself for having the very normal desire to hold on to wxs. He’s never had something like this before, where he has people who accept and love him as he is. He’s never wanted to keep something as badly as this. He’s asking too much of them, he’s imposing like he did with his classmates in RMD, he should let them leave. It’s the mature thing to do. He spent so long on his own, he should be fine going back to that, isn’t it selfish and greedy to want more?

(Curtain call)

(Talking abt wanting to keep doing shows w wxs and his actions in OHE) Rui: Now that I think about it, I’ve been pretty selfish.

(World link)

Rui: (…When the time comes, even I, too, will have to move forward.)

Rui: (…Moving forward, can I do that?)

Rui: (…Geez, I really lack a backbone. When will the time come when I find myself satisfied with the way things are?)

(…)

Rui: (While working to make my dream come true, together with everyone, I will make their dreams come true. A way to do that - let me think of one.)

Rui: (fufu, how greedy of me.)

(Curtain call - TL by Arven Oven & Tsukasa’s #3 Fan) (fuck you ensekai)

I think that, in future events, he’ll (hopefully) come to realize there are more people who will accept him (& get more trust ranks. Please.). I think it’s an impossible ask for him to be completely fine with wxs going their separate ways some day (and the same goes for everyone else in wxs), but I think when the time comes it will at least be bittersweet and with the knowledge that he can find other places to belong & that his relationships with the rest of wxs is strong enough to withstand not being in the same troupe. Things can’t stay the same forever, but change doesn’t have to be bad. Etc etc.

[rubydubsnuby]

Something something draw your comfort character with Pim and Charlie something something

[energeticwarrior]

*in da club by 50 cent starts playing*

[gomzdrawfr]

finished two to do list so I wanted to reward myself with Dredge again by visiting my two fav places on the map :>

off we go!

[hassianlovebot]

My momma and I used to stargaze every night. She would often tell me that if I ever lost my way, all I needed to do was look to them. I miss her.

clean version and ref below!

i feel like this trend would go well with a few different characters actually ! jel and tamala especially

anyway thinking about hassian makes me cry :') i keep thinking about how everything that comforts him is also a trigger :')

i'm so excited for the elderwoods content i have no idea what it'll entail but i HOPE that hassian and sifuu get some good arcs with the elderbeast :') regardless of what (or who,,,) it is and if it poses an actual threat, i just hope they show up and are involved in the major quests there!

[boinin]

HioRin for 6, 17, 29, and 30

Hioriiiiiiin. They're such a lovely pairing, even constructed from crumbs 🥲 I just need them to nerd out about horror in canon, even once.

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

Rin above all is drawn to Hiori's calm kindness. Hiori has a presence that soothes Rin's demons and puts him on a more even keel. Yet Hiori has a spine, and isn't afraid to call Rin out when he's being a dick. Rin values that more than he'd admit.

Hiori sees through the edgelord to Rin's vulnerability. They bear similar scars, and when Hiori opens up to Rin about his parents, he's surprised by Rin's level of empathy towards his situation. Rin teaches Hiori that it's OK to rage and experience anger, rather than gloss over everything. Hiori also finds Rin adorable when he's flustered, and likes to tease him.

17. Who says I love you first?

He wouldn't say it aloud, but as for who'd show it first, it'd be Rin. Through his actions, he'd make it clear to Hiori how much he values him. Hiori has the emotional intelligence to realise what Rin won't say.

Then, Hiori would quietly say I love you one night as they're going to sleep. Rin panics, pretends to be already asleep, goes on to act erratically the following day, corners Hiori and asks him if he meant it, before accidentally revealing that he loves Hiori too mid-outburst.

From then on, they both say it at night, curled around one another as they're slipping into dreams.

29. One headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

The headcanon that they both had abusive childhoods and trauma bond as a result. 😭 Them getting together despite their hangups and healing by each other's side is a heck of a trope.

30. One headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Love the idea of these two being introverts together, comfortable only in the other's company, playing horror games and binge watching movies on their days off.

[wisecrackingeric-2]

Can I be mega autistic here and vent for a second and ask if anyone else is lowkey scared for whatever the next RE game is HSBWHDNDJ

[aikakyu]

six years worth of memories 🌱

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

“I know it itches, but you have to stop messing with it.” 

Miller and John

From this prompt list!

"You know, for all the things I was worried about happening on shore leave, this wasn't one of them." Miller chuckles even as his eyes dart to John's face. His hands are gentle as he spreads the cooling gel over the worst of the sunburn.

John sits patiently with a frown firmly on his face. There's gel on the top of his nose and cheeks, just visible enough to draw his eye down. Distracting.

"I thought you wore a hat?" Miller asks, his voice confused.

"I did." John states with a sigh.

"Huh." Miller was probably wondering how a human being went from white to burned in such a short amount of time.

He scratches absentmindedly at his arm. It's strange, having worked so hard to remember how to move without the armor that he can do it without a thought. Maybe the R&R everyone had been pushing on him had some benefits.

Except for the risk of burning in the sun. He knew he was pale, but this was ridiculous.

“I know it itches, but you have to stop messing with it.” Miller chides.

Of course John went to Miller rather than let Kelly or the rest of Blue Team see that 1. he had gone outside, and 2. the consequences of said venture. Miller worried about normal things like ticket prices and public transportation. He treated John like another awkward guy rather than a timebomb.

"You'll end up with a farmer's tan once it fades but it's not like the gear shows that off. We're gonna have to let the stuff dry before anything else."

John nods and looks at the gel on his arms and face. "Thanks."

"We should stick to something indoors. I heard there's an aquarium a couple blocks north of here." Miller says pulling up his wrist and the cheap chatter on it to look at his itinerary he doesn't know John knows he made. "They have a military discount! I mean if you want."

A grown Spartan has no right looking that sheepish.

"Might be nice seeing animals not trying to attack me." John says and gestures for Miller to lead.

"Oh. Yeah sure!" John can see the wheels turning in Miller's head as he struggles not to follow that line of thought. "It's mostly fish. Fish are calming. You don't have bad experiences with fish, do you?"

John opens his mouth to watch Miller deflate and then he smiles. "Fish are fine."

Miller lights up.

"Just no mushrooms."

[watermel0ns-dumb-cringe]

I think the rtc community really needs to talk about the themes & messaging of rtc more like HUH??? WHYS THAT SO SLEPT ON???

Like after I watched it with my parents we were just talking about the message & themeing for like an hour and. It really makes me think a lot.

I'm serious. It's a nice thing to keep in mind & depending on how you interpret it, it can genuinely bring a little more hope into how you think about things. What I mean is–

Is how we don't know what's going to happen in life. We can't predict anything. That was the entire point of the Cyclone — nobody knew it was going to happen. You've gotta appreciate what you have while you have it. Even if you've had a lot of bad things happen, and it seems like it's just getting worse? You don't know that for sure!! You can't predict what's going to happen in the future. Maybe something good CAN happen. There's no shame in being happy where you are right now. There is so much to be said about how easy it is to go through the motions of life without taking a moment to appreciate what's around you. life certainly can be wonderful, you just have to take a look around.

It's a good message to keep in mind. :]

I may not have been into the Uranium Teen Scream Trilogy for very long(the hyperfix has been going strong for about 3-4 months now🫡), but I absolutely love the themeing & messaging and how it's clicked with so many people from its rather recent uprise in popularity. There are like. Whole entire articles about WHY it's clicked & gained more traction as of recent years. It's awesome