#and I think this was a pretty important plot point

[lynxgriffin]

(completely different anon) i just talked about the ut dr sans thing with my sister a couple of hours ago so forgive me lol (it’s also really late). but i really really really dont want it to be true. if it’s true i need it to be. actually obvious in the game. as in, it becomes a plot point OR sans does mysteriously disappear at the end and maybe some npcs comment on it. but like… i think it’s mostly fatigue for me. i love sans in undertale! does he need to be from deltarune to be an already complex character as he is? not really!

also, ik that ppl do lump them together, and you can argue it’s shorthand, but i watched a “ranking” theory video that came out before 3+4 in preparation for said chapters, and the youtuber had the sans one as like. 9/10 but placed the papyrus one (basically same theory but with papyrus) as something like 4 or 5/10. why wouldnt they be a package deal? does sans suddenly have this thing in undertale where the papyrus we see is NOT his “true” brother, but he tries to treat him the same? hypothetically, if the machine COULD be fixed, would he leave that papyrus behind? would he bring him along and suddenly have 2 brothers? this is of course under the assumption that it’s ONLY sans…which more ppl fixate on. there might be SOME evidence for papyrus specifically, but it’s “minuscule” and therefore almost…dismissed? not talked about often? and from the “man who came from another world” perspective, it’s only one man and not men. is it because papyrus isnt threatening?

i also kinda hate how the fandom has been running with this theory, ngl. saying it’s pretty much canon when we dont know the full story, or how ppl who dont believe it are just deniers. which could be true! it’s not like absolutely all the evidence can be dismissed! but being so firm in it…idk. it rubs me the wrong way. esp since sans is NOT that important in deltarune currently other than to be someone that toriel enjoys spending time with compared to, say, asgore (does not have a mandatory scene until the end of ch 4, with absolutely no connection to kris (sans said he had just moved in!). it would be pretty tragic for toriel if she loses her friend, too. is she forced to accept that he wont come back? would she forever hope to see him again one day, not realizing that it wont ever come true bc of the unfixable machine?

i would hope it will be explained more in the upcoming chapters, but the idea of only the skelebros being the only ones “important” enough to get this kinda treatment is interesting yet odd. what needs to happen in the story for them to suddenly be transported? what if, at the end of the story, you can just…say they moved away? what if they actually stay in town? will the fandom suddenly say they disappeared after the credits roll and the story ends?

anyway. sorry. i just need toby to grab me by the shoulders and show me it’s true (which…well, may not happen lol). maybe im being too stubborn. maybe it doesnt need to be as plot relevant as you said. but i really dont get why ppl want that theory to be true other than…… it’s sans undertale! the most popular guy from it! unless im missing something…?

I'll be honest and say I was never super crazy about Sans even in the Undertale days! Like, he's cool and funny and all, but personally I was always more invested in Alphys and the Dreemurrs. So I can understand the fatigue around the skelebros being mysterious and important again!

At the same time, I think it would feel rather strange if we had all these clear connections between Sans and Deltarune's universe and then just...nothing happened with them. I feel like those connections exist specifically to give retroactive context to how and why Sans acts the way he does in Undertale, rather than to have a huge impact on Deltarune's main story.

To be fair, there's a whole ton we don't know about how this would have happened in the first place...was it an accident, or did Sans do this intentionally? Is it his machine, or was it just used by him? Did he bring Papyrus with him? I'm personally inclined to believe yes, just because I think that's simpler and makes more sense, but I think the reason why people doubt Papyrus coming along is because we have tons of evidence towards Sans being from Deltarune, while knowing absolutely nothing about Papyrus as he is in Deltarune. Heck, we don't even know if that's his name for sure! Getting some answers to that would probably go a long way towards that plot point feeling like it works well or not.

I think if you're going into it with the idea that everyone in DR is doomed and just Sans and Papyrus escape because they're still the special bestest skeleton brothers, then...yeah, I'd be pretty cheesed off if that happened, because they haven't earned that in DR. But like I said earlier, I don't think it has to end up that way. Heck, you could tie Sans bailing from the universe into some of Deltarune's bigger themes about stories and predetermined outcomes. Rather than Sans being a special escapee boy, he's a cautionary tale about leaving a story early because you think you know exactly how it's going to go, and that you can outsmart it. Instead of actually being one step ahead of the story, he ends up robbing himself (and potentially his brother) of a much better outcome.

I don't know, I just feel like there's gotta be something there with all these clear connections, but also a way to handle that potential plot moment properly that doesn't take away from who and what Deltarune's story is actually about.

[artisanscribbles]

Some Oathbound Thoughts

There's a larger post regarding the Order that's still percolating in my head but while I was drafting that post, something occurred to me:

We have very little in text proof that the Shadowborn are as big as a problem as the Order makes them out to be- But do you know where they seem to gather and most attacks happen: The 4 Legendborn Chapters.

This made me start made me start to think about what we know about magic in universe, and also what we know about the Shadowborn.

The Order makes the Shadowborn out to be this huge problem, but Valechez, Patricia and every Rootcrafter we meet treat them as a problem and certainly something to be cautious about, but a known factor.

And none of the Rootcrafters spend their lives at battle-ready mode waiting for the next attack. It's just the Order that does that. But everyone else acts like the Order is the much bigger problem and danger of the two.

But Scions and Squires have been being called ever since the Order's inception to handle all these demon attacks? And we see there is truth to this: The Shadowborn are Undeniably Attacking the Legendborn.

Which begs the question: Why the Order and not the other magic users?

And then it hit me.

The Order of the Roundtable has been around for at minimum, per William, at least 60 Generations. Like with Vera, the spell is somehow bound to the bloodlines. But Vera's bargain is tied to The Shadow King - He cast the Mark and as far we can tell he's been maintaining the Magic required for it to Work. With me so far?

So this begs with question: With Merlin (as far as the text informs us) 100% Dead

WHAT'S POWERING THE SPELL OF ETERNITY?

IT CAN'T BE ARTHUR. EVEN IF MERLIN ANCHORED THE SPELL TO HIM ORIGINALLY LIKE THE CHARM BRACELET (AND WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THIS BTW, EVERYONE IN THE ORDER THINKS ITS THE CASE AND EVERYTHING THE ORDER THINKS IS IMMEDIATELY SUS) CANONICALLY ARTHUR PENDRAGON DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE MAGIC TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE HE CANNOT WORK AETHER (proven by that scene in BloodMarked)

Arthur Pendragon can use the abilities gifted to him by Excalibur and Merlin's original spell, but he can't power it himself. But SOMETHING must be- because as per Sel, aetheric workings can only last so long as the caster can maintain them and live, as as per Valchez and Patricia, all that Power has to be coming from SOMEWHERE EX.1 Bree's whole existence.

Which brings me back to the Shadowborn and the Shadow King's whole deal:

I think Merlin's spell wasn't supposed to last past the OG Table's death. Not originally anyway. Arthur and the Knights were supposed to win decisively and then the portals would be closed forever. And Bree's Bloodwalks seem to support this.

But then, The Table Captures the Shadow King's Crown, and we now Know that is an extremely Powerful Object- but we don't know what happened to it.

Just before Bloodmark's final kicks off, we get the last Arthuriana themed lore drop of the novel- And that is that the last place we saw the Crown was in the OG Table's possession- but not broken and destroyed. IN fact the text seems to support they couldn't destroy it- SO WHERE IS IT? NO ONE IN ORDER HAS EVER HINTED AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING- IT'S VALCHEZ THAT FIRST TELLS US ABOUT THE SHADOW COURT TO BEGIN WITH.

And then we remember Morgaine Had A Plan to use the Crown somehow. Now, of course, we don't get to hear exactly what that was because Bree had some shit to work out, but I think its important that we know about that it because it provides a reason for the concentrated Shadowborn attacks on the Legendborn and also a reason for the King to still be kicking around. The Shadowborn harry the Order so hard because the original War never stopped, it just changed.

The King seems to a bit like Sauron - separated from his Crown, he's a shadow of himself (excuse my bad pun), still powerful, but limited in scope. There's no reason for a long game otherwise. But if he were trying to get his Crown back? Because the Order STILL HAD IT?

Well, that would re-contextualize a few things, wouldn't it?

[vulpinesaint]

kind of unfortunate that so many fantasy epics are also war novels because i will be honest i just do not like war novels that much... the grand clashing of forces is compelling obviously but it requires characters to talk about so much practical battle strategy and while i can get my brain to comprehend all these fantasy maps and kingdoms and borders and battalions and front lines and army movements it takes up. so much space in the book. feels like i'm fighting a war of my own trying to get through it sometimes

[despair-tea]

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Outdrawn

f/f contemporary romance

two cartoonist who’ve been rivals since uni, and now have competing webcomics online, have to work together on the relaunch of a cult classic at the comic press they both work at

they both struggle with art-related physical and mental health issues, and complicated families

[arrow-guy]

i think people have forgotten the art of vibes-based enjoyment. not everything has to be explained or perfectly planned out or morally correct. sometimes it's okay for a book or movie or show or whatever to just be fun and sometimes that's all a piece of media should be. just fun for the sake of fun

[astromechs]

have not been doing a lot of actual fic writing lately but happy to report that thanks to mainlining bridgerton, i have been doing a LOT of brainstorming for the eventual rebelcaptain regency au

[arolesbianism]

It's so miserable making side characters for a story and getting attached because now not only are you obsessed with a guy that only exists in your head even if they existed out of your head they'd still be basically just in your head. Like no you guys have to trust me they're so deep and intricate no none of this stuff ever comes up you just have to believe me and like them as much as I do

[chloeapplepi]

i need abled people to shut their mouths and never speak on kabumisu absolutely ever

[moonfromearth]

- Scary movies are so easy to survive. They never think to just move out or call the cops or something.

Day 4 - The Outcast

"Responsible and level-headed, they're often perceived as a 'Debby Downer.'"

from @windbrook's Slashed Challenge.

[acaciapines]

every so often i get a horrible little thought in my head that says but what if you DID adapt all of toh season one into your daemon au.

and every time i beat that god damned thought back with a stick. but do know there IS a section in my notes document that is me REALLY wanting to adapt a few s1 episodes dkjgdfg.

bc like. i made the right choice. the stuff i was/am still most excited to write is all s2 + s3 stuff--but like. agony of a witch? young blood old souls? the intruder?!

it would be me writing like 250k more words of entirely setup but that doesnt mean i dont think about it!

[dapperrokyuu]

Read ~60 chapters of Chainsaw Man today, WHEWWWWW-

[vonkarma2]

bullshitting oc lore wrt what the afterlives are like the first one you wake up as a furry with no memories in an ancient rome slash wild west type society but also everyone is subject to mind control from a giant tree on occasion. but like its a recognizeable world in which you can live. when you die in that you are reincarnated into a 2 dimensional white void of shape and color and turn into waves and circles that disperse across an endless plane and eventually fade into nothing and also linear time does not exist because everyones souls are turned into art on a canvas observed by some inexplicable third (?) dimensional entity. but tbh I havent put much thought into what the fourth world is like maybe I should make everyone reincarnate into like 2003 canada where you have to live as a minimum wage gas station employee who gets shot in a robbery after a year and thats how they move on to the next life. anything can happen

[consumer-o-content]

“Dramatic Irony Should Have Limits: Why The First Arc is the Most Infuriating Piece of Media Ever Created” - an essay on why reading the first arc makes me want to rip my hair out and roll around on the floor

[caffeinated-chicken]

V and Sentinel portrait :)

When I actually take my time with procreate pieces I think the end result is pretty rewarding. Although I remember when I watched the show I was confused as to why V was friendly with the Dino now and then I realized after like my 5th rewatch that it was probably only the red eyed sentinel because it was the only one that seemed to prefer biological blood to oil. I love how no matter how many times I rewatch this show there always seems to be a rather important plot point that I completely missed lol

[ventingmyopinions]

All these people saying ‘shut up that joe and nicky didn’t kiss! Let gay relationships just be wholesome! I’m gay and you don’t need to see them tongue to know they’re in a relationship! stop objectifying gay characters!’ you don’t get it. Youre entitled to your opinion but I don't think you get it. It’s about the Vietnamese antagonist being demoted to henchman so a well-known white blonde actress can be the main antagonist (an original character) instead. It’s about another original character being introduced whose only contribution is to be the wise asian man trope. It’s about the toning down of the two most disgustingly romantic characters to the point where they barely touch eachother, when they were previously on screen spooning in bed, holding eachothers faces, and yes, kissing. Specifically kissing in a van surrounded by homophobes that they then murder in some pretty top tier comedy. 

I’m not upset because i was wanting to get my rocks off. Im concerned because these were decisions that were made, and in the era of almost every movie needing corporate board approval, you need to question why these decisions are being made and who’s making them. Why can’t we show our two gay characters kissing in their only intentionally romantic scene together? Why can’t the vietnamese character be the main villain she was originally set up to be? Why has the new asian character presumably spent his immortality amassing knowledge, and not fighting like everyone else, with no explanation?

At the end of the day it was a bad movie. Plot holes everywhere, rough acting, Madame Webb style dubs. But I still think it’s important to acknowledge the slideback that’s happened here and it's okay to be upset about it.