#and i ramble a lot about league now apparently

[jaybirdsandbabybats]

what the hell do you MEAN the new viktor "neither friendship nor love will stop what is necessary, jayce" line is getting censored in other regions because its describing explicit romance between them. WHAT DO YOU MEAN.

[too-much-tma-stuff]

No Body to Bury

This is a full dead spin off of another one shot I read about Danny being given flowers for his grave by a child.

-------

The Justice League had been working with Phantom for a while now, not consistently, but he showed up when they were dealing with something ~spooky~, and he’d given them a way to contact him. They called him in to consult, or to back them up sometimes because he was a bit of a power-house. At first they had thought the name was part of his shtick, after all his powers were ghostly enough and there was something satisfying about having a theme.

They had started to suspect something when the child citizen had given him flowers for his grave, and his delighted reaction. It could have just been a kid happy to get a gift, but it wasn’t, it was clearly more then that and Batman had had a flashback to one of Constantine’s crash course lesson’s on supernatural, the one on ghosts. Graves were very important to them, as were morning gifts like flowers and candles, whatever was culturally appropriate.

None of them knew where Phantom’s grave was, Batman had tried to find it, to find anything about the ghosts life and death, but there wasn’t much. Not before he became a hero in Amity park, so he could maybe guess that the other had died in Amity (if he had died), but there was no deaths that matched up with his appearance. The closest thing was a boy named Danny but he had gone missing years after Phantom showed up, and he’d never been declared dead officially. More was impossible to find, even after the GIW had been disbanded the information they had destroyed about the town couldn’t all be retrieved.

Since Batman didn’t know where Phantom’s grave was he couldn’t leave flowers on it directly which meant he had to actually give them to the ghost boy. It was a bit uncomfortable the first few times, and his kids made fun of him for being emotionally repressed but… it made Phantom so happy, and brought him closer and closer to Batman. He had already started to see Phantom as one of his kids, even if he knew he’d never get the ghost to come back to the manor. The gifts helped, he found that Phantom also liked to receive food, he even picked at it sometimes even though it seemed he didn’t need to eat. Sharing meals with him was a good excuse to actually talk some though, Batman would listen and eat his own food as Phantom picked at his and rambled about space, about recent fights he’d been in, and people he’d met.

Through all that Batman managed to learn more about the young hero, about what he valued, and what he did when he wasn’t being a hero. Apparently he spent a lot of time off world but exploring rather then being a hero to the galaxy. Batman had a feeling superman would be upset by that, that Phantom could be doing more good then he was and was choosing not to. But the ghost was clearly still a kid, or at least had been when he died, and he was plenty heroic, he didn’t need to be dealing with universal threats at maximum sixteen years old, Batman felt bad calling him in for the planetary threats, but sometimes it was unavoidable.

As they got closer Phantom started to let other things slip, that he’d had a sister, and a couple of close friends that he still watched over when he could. When Batman had asked if those people knew he was dead Phantom had fallen silent for a full minute and then changed the subject entirely, Batman hadn’t pushed it that time. If he had Phantom would have retreated, but as it was they kept having lunch together, and the boy let more and more slip. Including more stories about those friend he must have had while he was alive, it was during one of those that he let his name slip.

“So my sister said to me, ‘Danny you should-‘” his mind seemed to catch up with his mouth and he froze, Batman was still too but when Phantom started to fade from view he spoke up.

“Phantom, wait, why don’t we leave the tower and go somewhere private. We can talk secret identities, I’ll tell you mine too,” Batman promised, he thought it was the best way to make Danny feel better, besides he did trust Phantom.

Danny hesitated before fading back into full visibility and nodding, “Alright,” He agreed, looking very young and vulnerable. “Do you mind if I fly us down to earth? I’ll keep you safe from space,” He asked and Batman nodded, letting Danny grab his arms and phase them through the building and out. Danny flue quickly back down to the earth, the side facing away from the sun so it was the middle of the night, putting Batman down in the middle of an abandoned park, landing as well and going to sit on the swing set.

Batman followed, sitting down next to the young hero and trying hard not to think about Ace, another talented and powerful person who went through to much and died to young. Once he was sat down Bruce sighed and took off his cowl, showing his face to the other young hero. “I’m Bruce Wayne,” He said with a wry smile when he saw familiar recognition cross over Danny’s face.

“No way, that makes so much sense,” Danny cackled, which wasn’t the reaction Bruce was expecting. He’d ask about that later, instead he just gestured for Danny to introduce himself next.

“Danny Fenton,” the kid introduced, holding out his hand with an impish little smile. Bruce chuckled and shook it as if this was the first time they’d met instead of having known each other for nearly a year.

“I know that name,” Bruce hummed thoughtfully, back peddling a little when Danny tensed. “Sorry, worlds greatest detective and all, I did a bit of research on Amity Park when you joined us to see if I could track you down. I had ruled that out because your civilian identity didn’t go missing for two years until after you showed up as Phantom. Does that mean you’re not, well, dead?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck at the awkward question.

“Oh, no, I’m very dead,” Danny said with a bitter chuckle, pushing himself to rock on the swing a little. “But I didn’t die for a couple of years after I got my powers, not fully. I don’t think most people understand what it’s like to die twice,” He said, looking down, already pale hands going white around the knuckles with how tight he was holding the chains.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” Batman said softly, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees. “But if you want to talk, I’ll listen, and I won’t break your confidence,” Bruce assured, they sat quietly for a few more minutes before Danny sighed and looked away.

“My parents were.. well probably best classed as mad-scientists. I loved them and they loved me but they were obsessed with ghosts and with discovery, it was always a tossup which was more important. I would join them in their lab to get their attention, and it was often my job to clean up after them. I ended up being micro-dosed on this stuff they called ectoplasm a lot which probably helped when the accident happened. My parents were trying to build a portal to the ‘ghost-zone’, what Constantine calls the infinite realms. It didn’t work at first, not till I stepped inside it, then it opened and it electrocuted me at the same time as flooding me with that weird glowing green ooze. It killed me and resurrected me simultaneously but not properly.

“Instead of actually bringing me back to life it bound my ghost back to my own body so I became the ghost possessing myself. That’s when I started working as a hero, while I was still partially alive.” He paused, swinging for a moment while Bruce stayed quiet and still, trying not to think about what Danny’s homelife must have been life, or how much it must have hurt to be killed like that.

“After a while the GIW showed up, they tried to catch me, but my parents had been trying to catch or destroy me as phantom for years. The GIW weren’t nearly as competent as the Red Huntress, so I avoided and ignored them. But I started to take it for granted and dismiss them, I didn’t pay enough attention, and they finally got the drop on me. I don’t want to talk about everything they did to me, but it was bad, and it was to much for my human half,” Danny stopped again and bit his lip, there was a hitch in his breathing that told Bruce exactly why Danny was hiding his eyes.

“Danny died, but it turned out that being half human was sort of holding back what I was capable of as a ghost,” He snickered with a little bit of bitter, vicious glee. “They couldn’t hold me anymore, all their little devices got left on my corpse when they forced me out and I destroyed the lab. After that I just… couldn’t go back to my life, it’s not natural. I died, they need to grieve me. That’s- that’s how it works.”

“And did they? Did you… get a burial?” Bruce asked, because he hadn’t seen anything about it in the news. His fear was confirmed when Danny took a deep breath and shook his head.

“No, I didn’t leave my body in the wreckage. I was worried… scratch that, I knew my parents would cremate me to try and keep me from coming back as a ghost, because they didn’t know I already was one. And that would weaken my connection to this world. I need to protect people, it’s half my purpose, I need a connection to this world.”

“Where did you hide it?” Batman asked, his breath catching when he saw Danny’s eyes flash a dangerous red.

“Why do you want to know?” He growled, bearing teeth that were sharper then they usually were. “You gonna give it back to my family for ~closure~? Destroy it yourself to curtail my power? I know Constantine is scared of me, he’d like that.”

Bruce immediately held his hands up in a placating gesture, of course Danny would be protective of his body. “No nothing like that Danny, I promise,” He said quickly. “But I just remember from what I’ve been told about ghosts, having a grave is important and, if you wanted, I would like to see you get a proper burial. It’s your body, you should get to control what happens to it but if you wanted a grave, a funeral, we have a protected graveyard for fallen heros. You’d fit right in,” He said with a uncertain smile.

Danny relaxed slowly, his eyes going back to green and his expression turning contemplative, looking back down as he thought about the offer. “Maybe… maybe,” He murmured. “It would be nice to have a grave, I’ve been leaving the flowers near my body in the ghost zone but… it would be nice to have a grave. I can feel the longing, the instinct. It feels bad to not have… have that, have something.

“But… I am scared. Would you be willing to- if you do an empty coffin funeral and burial for me, I’ll put my body in it, once the coffin is in the protected ground I can phase my body into it?” He asked, looking up at Batman worriedly and it was so obvious Danny was just a kid, a neglected boy who had been unlucky enough to die violently twice.

“Of course Danny, however you feel most comfortable,” Batman assured. Watching as Danny took a deep breath, more out of habit then anything, then nodded firmly.

“Then, I would like that. I know I am still here in a way so it feels weird having a funeral for me but, I still died, and I’d like to be remembered.” He murmured uncertainly.

“Of course, I understand. We didn’t get rid of my son’s grave when he came back because he still died. Being brought back, in any way, doesn’t really undo that,” Bruce sympathized, finally getting a small smile from Danny.

“Thank you Bruce, you’re a good guy. Now… do you need a lift back to the watchtower?”

“Yes please,” Bruce agreed with a sigh, finally standing up and pulling his hood back on. He had a funeral to plan.

"When we do have the funeral, can you ask your son to come? I'd like to meet him," Danny asked and Batman hummed, not sure how to explain the complicated relationship he had with Jason now.

"I'll try," He agreed, that was the best he could do really.

Part 2: here

[katanablue]

I originally had a totally different idea for this but I think I may just do a part 2 hehehe. ALSO IF ANYONE GOT ANY GOOD 07 DONNIE FICS ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Warnings: NONE JUST DONNIE BEING A CUTE GRUMPY DORK.

Another day another long boring shift full of talking to idiotic people who don’t know the difference between hardware and software and explaining to one too many elderly people that ‘No, you cannot print out the Internet.’

He’s just finished a call, rubbing the space between his eyes as he feels his daily headache come on. He’s impressed that he’s managed to nearly finish his workday without it appearing until now. He groans low in his throat, debating on getting up to grab a glass of water so he can take a pill or just sucking it up these last 30 minutes.

He gets his answer when an incoming call rings through his headset, making Donnie roll his eyes hard and into the back of his skull. He inhales deeply through his nose to prepare himself, letting it out when he clicks on a key to answer the phone.

“Thank you for calling tech support, this is Donatello speaking, how can I help you today.” He doesn’t bother putting on his customer service voice, his headache dully throbbing now as he waits for the other person on the line to start rambling about their dumb issue.

“Hi, how are you today?” You say, giving the standard pleasantries before delving into your computer issue.

Typical, of course his last call would try to make small talk.

“I’m fine ma’am, thank you. How can I help you today?” He repeats it, resisting the urge to roll his eyes again and leans back in his chair, swaying gently side to side. He thinks about what he should eat after, his eyes trailing to the clock in the Lair that signifies in big red letters that it’s nearly 2 a.m. Not the latest he’s stayed up but today’s shift was particularly exhausting. Maybe it’s the full moon or something, ‘Mercury in Gatorade’ as Mikey would sometimes call it.

“Hello?”

Shit. He totally just fucking zoned out on you.

“Apologies ma’am, I didn’t quite catch that. Would you mind repeating it?” Great, he just extended this call by about 2 minutes.

“Oh, that’s alright! I’m dealing with an issue with my laptop’s ability to open programs fast. It’s taking forever just to open something and I’m not quite sure why.” You repeat your issue, quietly sighing as you aimlessly move your mouse around your screen, hoping that the guy on the other side will be able to help with you.

Donnie immediately knows what the problem could be; slow processing speeds a fairly common issue for him but thankfully an easy fix.

So he starts by asking the standard questions: do you have any programs that take a lot of space? Any tabs open that you aren’t using? Anything running in the background?

When you tell him ‘no, no and no’, that’s when he sits up from his chair and squints his eyes. If those aren’t the cause of your laptops slow speed then what could it be?

“Well,”

Ah, there it is.

“I do play a few games but those have never caused me problems before. Could that be it?”

Normally Donatello’s irritation would increase when the customer would ‘suddenly remember’ something that could be pausing their problem. You, however? Didn’t spark that within him for some reason. In fact, besides your calm demeanor, it’s the way you spoke so kindly to him combined with the fact that you also game apparently that has Donnie not wanting to snap at you.

“Like what?” He asks, being sure to keep it professional.

And when you list his all time favorite game among some others that he’s obsessed with, he has to practically force himself to not totally geek out. Sure he’s played some of the popular games nowadays like League or Valorant, but hearing you say that you modded some old PS1 games to play on your laptop practically skyrockets his excitement.

Which in turn makes his headache pound harder.

He’s unable to keep himself from hissing when a pang shoots right through his skull, knowing you heard it when you trail off your sentence.

“Are you alright?”

Maybe it’s because he’s had a long day or maybe it’s because this seems to be shifting into a migraine, but the concern and sincerity in your voice makes an odd feeling bubble in Donnie’s chest. Surely no one would ever be genuinely worried over an I.T guy, not when you have more pressing matters on your hands.

“My apologies miss, I’m just uh, dealing with a bit of a headache right now. Although I think it’s turning into a migraine.” He grunts through his clenched jaw, swinging carefully around in his chair as he searches for his bottle of Advil only to suck his teeth when he shakes the container and hears absolutely nothing rattling around.

“Oh no, I’m sorry! Do you want to go grab some medicine? I don’t mind waiting.”

The corner of Donnie’s lip twitches upward. He brings his hands to massage at his temples, the motions doing something to relieve the tension in his head but not nearly enough.

“I unfortunately just discovered that I’m out of medicine. But that’s alright, I’ll pick some up after this call.” He doesn’t bother hiding his sigh, settling back in his seat as he prepares to ask you more questions to help you out.

“What about any oils? Got any of those? Usually lavender or peppermint do the trick.” You put him on speaker and go to your Safari on your phone to begin looking up other remedies, wanting to assist this poor I.T man.

Donnie’s not quite sure why you’re trying to be helpful but at this point he doesn’t exactly care, the throbbing getting worse by the second.

“It could also be too much pressure, literally, around your head. Do you wear headbands or anything like that? Could also be your headphones.”

“No, no headbands. And my headphones have cushioning all around so not those either.” He responds, debating on texting Mikey to bring him the peppermint oil that April bought for Splinter last Christmas.

“Ah, a man of comfort.” You laugh, fingers quickly typing in your question into the search engine.

Donnie finds himself smiling faintly at the sound, a fleeting thought of ‘Wow, I want to hear that again’ passing through his brain.

“Well, I can’t use regular headphones for gaming. I’m also a fan of those games that you play.”

You blink in surprise, your scrolling faltering for half a second before continuing on.

“No way, really?”

And so you talk for the next 20 minutes about said games; reliving memories, talking about specific moments you wish you could experience again, the soundtracks, the characters. Everything.

For the first 10 minutes, Donnie kept reminding himself that he was just prolonging his work call, that he should drive the focus back onto your issue so he can hang up and clock out. But the more he talked to you, the more he said ‘fuck it’ and allowed himself this one rare moment of normalcy.

He also nearly forgot about his raging migraine, until it pleasantly reminded him that it was still present with a sharp stabbing pain behind his eyes.

It’s what snaps him back to reality, his face grimacing from the white hot torment happening in his skull.

“I’m so sorry, we should really get back to your computers issues.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

God, why did he feel so awful saying that? And why did it make his stomach twist when hearing just how disappointed you sounded? It’s something he’ll have to dissect later, not when he’s already 30 minutes past the standard call time for support.

“Let’s see what we’re working with here.”

This is one of the rare times Donnie wishes he wasn’t so smart with technology because in less than 5 minutes he solves your problem. He wishes he could just be a little average to talk to you more even if it’s computer stuff.

“Alright, you shouldn’t have a problem anymore. Anything else I can help you with?”

Please say yes please say yes please say yes.

“No, I’m all good. Thank so much Donatello!”

“Donnie! You can call me Donnie.”

Fuck.

“Just your friendly I.T tech support here to help you 24 hours a day.”

Double fuck.

Why did he say that? It’s standard spiel protocol but still, how utterly lame…

You can’t help but giggle at him, your cheeks hurting from smiling so much from this total stranger.

“Alright then, Donnie. I’ll know who to ask for if I ever need help again.”

He smiles and asks for your name, just so he’ll know who he’s talking to if you ever do call again. He repeats it back to you once you tell him, the word rolling off his tongue in such a way that makes you feel giddy and grinning like a kid in a candy store.

“Have a good night, please don’t hesitate to call back if you’re still experiencing technical difficulties.”

And by Darwin he hopes you do.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for "forcing" my best friend to break up with his boyfriend?

🧸

I (22 cis m) and my best friend 'A' (21 ftm) have been friends since we were 10 years old and I love him more than anything. He’s genuinely the sweetest, most thoughtful, and funniest person I’ve ever met. He means everything to me and we’ve been there for each other through the hardest times of our lives so far and I plan on staying until the end.

It’s always been us two. Btw, everyone mentioned here uses he/him pronouns exclusively.

A has been with his boyfriend (21 cis m) for about 2 years now, and from what he told me, things were going great. Even if I’m not too fond of his boyfriend. A few days ago, we got pretty drunk at a friend’s housewarming party. A and I live together, and as soon as we got home, he suddenly started rambling about how he wishes his boyfriend cared about him the same way I do.

Legit felt like I was in some dumb romance movie for a moment there. I felt a little uneasy and asked him to elaborate. In short, his boyfriend essentially treats him like a doll instead of a person with real emotions. He feels as though his boyfriend just uses him to get his daily fix of physical affection and sex, that’s it. The only positive thing his boyfriend can say about A is that he’s cute, which boggles my mind. It’s true but there’s so much more to him as a human being.

A is an incredibly talented artist, super kind, super emotionally intelligent, and has a plethora of interests he loves to infodump about. I’m trying my hardest not to make this entire post about how amazing he is. He’s helped multiple friends clean their depression apartments and took them out to get fresh groceries etc. because it’s basic decency to him. He has such a big heart and holds so much love in it for everyone in his life. Being around him is just so easy and makes life worth living.

He’s just an incredible person all around and every single person that has him in their life recognizes that, except his boyfriend. They’ve had issues in the past because they’re not sexually compatible, which led to some miscommunication and made A feel like he was coerced into things he didn’t want to do. He just did them to make his boyfriend happy. He does a lot of things for his boyfriend, actually. He’s constantly buying little gifts, remembering what he likes, and plans cute dates for them to go on. His boyfriend does none of these things.

I want to mention that A has bpd and avpd. He has an intense fear of rejection and will do everything in his power to appease others so they won’t leave him. I always take the time to reassure him that I love him for who he is and not what he can give me. Basically just making sure he feels loved. Keep in mind, his boyfriend is aware of this but he just gets annoyed when A seeks reassurance from him. His behavior has made my blood boil several times in the past already, but I always kept it to myself for A’s sake. If I was vocal about disliking his boyfriend, it probably would’ve caused A a lot of distress and emotional turmoil.

Still, I don’t think this relationship is healthy for A and I know him well enough to know he won’t break it off on his own. It’s just his combo of personality disorders that makes it impossible for him. I told him about my concerns and he agreed, but said he feels bad for his boyfriend since he apparently doesn’t have any friends outside of A. From my POV, it just looks like his boyfriend knows A is out of his league and is grasping at straws to make A stay with him out of pity.

This is where I might be the asshole. I got a little frustrated and raised my voice, which I severely regret. I don’t want to blame it on the alcohol but it definitely had a hand in it. I finally told him about all these grievances I have about his boyfriend, how much I dislike him and how A deserves so much better, etc.. At one point, I essentially gave him an ultimatum. It’s me or his boyfriend. I didn’t really mean it, it was just a heat of the moment thing I spat out. I would never leave him like that.

A started crying and begged me to calm down, at which point I realized how shitty I was being and immediately began apologizing. We hugged, I comforted him, and we spent the rest of the night cuddling and talking about how he could approach the breakup.

Now that I’ve sobered up I feel like absolute shit. I know it’s not my place to tell A what to do with his romantic relationships, even if I’m his best friend. Plus, I want to be 100% honest here and say I might have romantic feelings for A. I think I have for a long time, but I always wrote it off as intense platonic love. So I may be biased in this whole conversation about his boyfriend.

I didn’t say these things because of that. I genuinely think his boyfriend is a huge dick and full of shit, no matter how sweet and loving he pretends to be. It’s all in the way he treats A. He’s one of those guys that paint their nails (nothing wrong with that but you know the kind of guy I’m talking about), pretend to be feminists, and steal their romantic partner’s personality to seem cooler. He even asked A to stop taking testosterone because he didn’t like how hairy A was getting or some shit like that.

He’s pansexual but has only ever dated girls and started dating A before A began medically transitioning. There’s obviously nothing wrong with that and changes nothing about the fact that he’s pansexual, he just pisses me off when he criticizes A for being 'too masculine'. You can have a preference for feminine people but don’t make that shit your partner’s problem when they just want to pass.

I feel like A’s boyfriend just thought A would always stay the smooth, baby-faced twink he was before going on testosterone and now makes him feel guilty for looking like a grown man. Some people don’t know how to appreciate hairy tummies.

Sorry for making this so long but I just want to be as honest and informative as possible to get proper opinions on the issue. A is now dead set on breaking things off because he now knows that I actively despise his boyfriend and he always puts my opinion above everyone else’s.

Was I in the wrong for doing this or am I just protecting my best friend? I’m glad he intends on ending things but I feel a bit like a conniving snake considering everything. It feels like I’m taking advantage of his mental state even if I’m not doing it consciously.

[kravchikfreak]

I'm sorry if this ask is coming out of nowhere, but I have been looking for posts that talk about how S2 has declined in quality and there have been virtually NONE. Even tags like 'arcane critical' or 'anti arcane' don't show up even though I know there are posts that are tagged with them. I'm losing my mind. Has nobody else noticed this downgrade? The ideas could have been good, but they were not executed well and the whole thing reads like they wrote it really quickly without any real editing and then rushed to get it out. It feels hollow, like we're seeing a botched or unfinished version of what it was supposed to be. What kind of random ass shit is it that an enforcer comes up to Vi and says, "cait said good things about you," and Vi is just like wow you're right, I'm sold! Even though she already knows Cait has a high opinion of her and that wasn't the issue in the first place! Also who was that random homeless man? Why am I supposed to care about these people? Fans get defensive about the pacing and argue that s1 did a lot in a minimal amount of time too, but I don't think they realize that pacing has to do with making something feel organic. Vi's heel turn into becoming an enforcer was not organic. Viktor's two second goodbye was not organic. Both of these things could have made sense if they'd given these moments even just a little more effort or care. There were so many unnecessary scenes that could have been cut out to give more time to things that desperately needed it (like caitlyn's sad wordless montage about her mom. Why did it drag out so long? Her grief is apparent in every other scene. We did not need an entire abstract slideshow of her making various sad expressions.) There's also the animation. The animation is leagues above a regularly animated show, but if you look closely it is actually not as good as s1. There is less detail, the lighting of the background doesn't always match the characters, and there are moments where the lips don't always sync with their voices. These are minor things that I wouldn't usually care about, but for a multi-million dollar show like Arcane? Riot games recently laid off a whole slew of its creative team, too, and I wonder if they've been making similar cuts before that. It would certainly explain the drop in quality. I wouldn't put it past corporate greed to nerf one of the most groundbreaking animated shows in modern media if they thought they could profit more by cutting corners.

I'm sorry to ramble in your inbox as a random stranger, but it boggles my mind that there are so few people mentioning s2's flaws (not including rage bait, which is annoying because it only delegitamizes real criticisms and discussions.) I feel like I'm screaming in the void like is nobody else seeing this shit??

well hello there! first of all, "arcane critical" is what i was looking for when i was writing that post. gonna put it in tags now before i forget

secondly, i love asks! so no need to apologize. thirdly it's a bummer you went under anonym, i don't believe you get notifs for your anonymous asks, so unless you actually hang out on my blog regularly there's a chance you won't see me appreciating your thoughts and agreeing with you (expect for the animation part, cause for me it was great, i have no questions on that regard. but for each their own. i'm a big fun of the dragon prince first season's animation and still sad they get rid of their 13fps style, so...)

anyway, i got bored at the beginning of my rumbling that time and didn't get into some deep analysis but yes, the first season also had events to go fast and forward, but at the same time they made sense. it wasn't rush or dragged, every scene had a meaning and weight

YES to the burial scene. like i get it, it was drawn pretty and it was sad and grey for cait but my god how many hours can we watch vi going away from 317 different angles? i was actually shocked to see her at cait's, cause after 10 minutes of her hiding in the crowd and leaving before cait saw her i was legit sure the show tried to tell us they broke up for now and won't see each other for a while

and it all feels so odd, as if on the one hand writers had too little allowed episodes to work with their ideas, like they came up with all these important story points but had no more screen time to add actual story development between the points, cause the season is like 10 episodes too short to fit a full coherent story. but on the other hand they have too much unused screen time, like they wrote only 5 episodes but they had to make 9 so now we will just fill the equivalent of 4 episodes of free time with mute repetitive long scenes

who the fuck is that mute lizard cop? is he actually mute? or there were no budget on one more voice actor? what's his problem? why he always looks like he's mad at everyone? should i even care he's always displeased? does he even matter? if no, why he has so much screen time and close-up shots? if yes, why he has no meaning or story or character or name? i swear to god, in the first season that one future-junkie dude had more of a meaning and weight in his two minutes scene than these lizard cop and the new jinx's sister during two episodes

and it all would've been fine, really, if it was the first season, or one of these already bad shows that you don't really expect much of. but arcane was a masterpiece, and also we've been waiting for it for three years. so it's the feeling that we know how GOOD it can be, and the feeling that it just chose not to

w....wait... what if they also tried to do great? and failed to do good in the process

or maybe, as you said, just some internal kitchen shit. i never actually follow media creation stuff and staff so maybe that's just it. still not make it all better for me as a viewer who was too excited to learn at 1 am that the act dropped and stayed up until 7am to make sure to watch it before getting to sleep

HEY THANK YOU for giving me opportunity to rumble about it again

[thecheesemaster]

Finally posting my punch out oc! DRAMA KING! (Sorry about the length)

(His stats are in the alt since my handwriting is terrible)

He’s a retired actor/stunt double from the eighties to late 90’s. He starred in cheesy b-movies and had a mediocre career. At the age of 49 he went through a mid life crisis and joined the WVBA to have some sort of glory in his life. He turned out to be really good at it, earning himself the Major circuit champ belt and the fame he craved.

His main gimmick is his mask. When he’s been knocked down once and had half his stamina drained he’ll put it on to reveal a whole new move set (although the new move set is just his old moves either delayed or in the opposite direction). He’s tough in the beginning of the fight, but as it goes on his age begins to show. His attacks get slower and he tires out faster. Little Mac basically just has to wait him out to win

In title defense he sports a tragedy mask and inverted colors for his clothes and gloves. In order to get the upper hand he decides to integrate some old moves from his stuntman career. He can now grab an unsuccessful punch from little Mac and hit a multitude amount of time depending on how fast or slow little Mac breaks free of his grip

Relationships:

Glass Joe: They’re close enough to consider themselves friends. Joe finds Drama’s dramatic personality endearing and Drama finds Joe’s soft spoken nature as a reprieve from the energy of the Major Circuit

Von Kaiser: They’re conversations are held together by the fact they’re some of the oldest in the league and they ramble about “kids these days” but outside of that they don’t interact much

Disco Kid: He knows Drama since his dad used to watch a movie he stared in over and over again and Drama fought him once, rendering them acquaintances

King Hippo: Drama doesn’t know Hippo outside of the fact he’s apparently royalty. Hippo doesn’t care for Drama at all

Piston Hondo: (I forgot to add a line but they’re aquatinted) They never really talk outside of fights and the occasional Major Circuit get together, they just don’t have much in common

Bear Hugger: Bear had a lot of Drama’s movies on tape in his cabin. He finds Drama to be a great actor despite the cheesiness of the movies, causing them to bond quite well together

Great Tiger: They pretend to like one another but talk shit behind the others back. Tiger thinks Drama is undeserving of the belt and Drama thinks Tiger would be nothing in the WVBA without his magic

Don Flamenco: They HATE one another. Don’s furious Drama took his belt and Drama overheard Don calling him a “talentless old prude” in the locker room. They often fight one another both in and out of the ring, leading to the other boxers needing to break them up on several occasions.

Aran Ryan: They don’t like each other. Drama thinks Aran tries too hard with the cheating, and Aran just hates anybody who’s older than him

Soda Popinski: Drama has met Soda thanks to Bull, although they’ve never really held a conversation for more than two minutes

Bald Bull: Bald Bull loves Drama’s movies unironically, which lead him to develop a crush on the man. When Drama joined the WVBA Bull was the first to befriend him, which came as a surprise to everyone in the league. Drama finds Bull mild personality and hobbies outside of the ring charming and began to crush on the man too. However, they both are scared to admit their love so they’re stuck being friends for the time being

Super Macho Man: Drama is an old close friend of Macho’s dad, leading him to see Macho as a nephew of sorts. He’s always trying to spend time with him and nag him about the health problems that come with him tanning so often which annoys Macho, but he can’t come to dislike the man that had been in his life so long

Mr. Sandman: He doesn’t know the man well and doesn’t even know why he dislikes him. He just sees everyone in the WVBA as below his skill, which includes Drama

Doc Louis: He’s talked to him once before the little Mac fight and never again

Carmen: A girlfriend of Don is an enemy to him

Referee: Drama tries to be friendly with him in order to win his favor incase of a decision win, the ref humors him but he doesn’t let it effect his judgement

Little Mac: He’s friendly with the boy but is resentful of him taking his belt, he’ll stop at nothing to get it back

Edit: Forgot to add little Mac 😅

[bugs1nmybrain]

Bipolar!Shigaraki Tomura Headcanons

I'm writing it. Because I CAN

Before I start, I am writing these headcanons as someone who has been diagnosed with Bipolar Type 1 for almost three years now. I frankly could not care less if people don't think he has Bipolar Disorder, I'm writing this for my comfort and that of others who either have Bipolar disorder or just resonate with the idea that Tomura does.

and I'm also very aware of Bipolar Disorder being stigmatized as something that affects "bad" people. I'm not trying to suggest this, but that Tomura is someone who is neglected of treatment.

Warning: Bipolar disorder as title suggests (Tomura's symptoms relate to type 1 more), talks of depression, mania, psychosis, suicidality, etc, angst?

Tomura has never been given a formal diagnosis and likely has no clue that he has bipolar disorder himself. He doesn't know much about it, either, other then the stereotype that people with general mood swings are "so bipolar."

The doctor knows, AFO does too, but for them, they see it as more ammo for their arsenal to make sure Tomura's life is nothing but agony. He's never been treated with medications or therapy. Nothing.

Because he isn't medicated, his episodes are pretty strong. His manic episodes sort of blend in with his everyday behavior to a lot of people.

It's during this time that he finds himself planning out grand operations against the heroes. Some of his ideas seem unrealistic and not well thought out. They're more just ideas thrown around, and he jumps to gather people and means to carry out his goal before actually having a calculated plan.

He's up all night doing this. But if he's not, he's likely gaming. He huddles up in his room with multiple cans of energy drinks (as if he didn't already have way too much energy).

(semi-canon) will text his comrades at godforsaken hours either asking, demanding, or just rambling about stuff. If he gets an answer, the recipient often finds themself confused because Tomura just talks and talks and talks, and when he's in the heat of some plan or project he doesn't really stop to compose his sentences or even take a damn breath.

He impulsively buys things, like copious amounts of in-game purchases. Or DoorDash. If he's feeling reeeaaal bold he'll go for a whole-ass gaming console if he can, even if his current one is perfectly fine. Or assembling as many thugs as he can and feeling generous enough to overpay them when they definitely don't need the amount of money he's giving them.

You can see how when AFO was arrested, his lifestyle shifted in this regard.

Tomura is already an irritable guy, and so his mania can make it worse. He gets very overstimulated with all of his sensations that little things, like accidentally stubbing his toe, can make him mad as fuck for a good thirty minutes.

He also gets very paranoid about others. When he talks to people, he's already convinced that they are tricking him somehow and he'll read every cue he can to confirm it, even if the proof isn't even there.

Even when he's out in public and by himself, he thinks everyone is mocking, judging, and looking at him. That also comes with being the most wanted villain around, but that's beside the point.

When something finally goes his way, he is HAPPY. Sometimes the League will catch Tomura smiling his face off for no apparent reason (odd for him), and will ask what's up, only for Tomura to CACKLE back with, "ehehAHAH NOTHING!! THAT's just IT!"

They look at each other like, but just let him go about his day. They'll later hear him giggling to himself in his room, and sometimes talking to himself. He'll deny and just tell them he was on chat (his devices are not open and he is standing in the middle of his room).

Because he's not medicated, his mania can trickle into psychotic symptoms. Especially if he's going through more stress than typical. He hears voices that tell him mean things. Sometimes they're the voices of his dead family.

And because he doesn't sleep much, he sees detailed shadows and things moving that aren't. It disturbs him, but he accepts it and tries to just push on. But sometimes if he hears voices more than he'd like, he gets sad and has to grip his head and whisper "shut up shut up shut up" to negate them.

He's delusional, too. AFO's grooming and constant monitoring of his whole life have definitely emphasized his distrust of everything around him. Sometimes he'll think that the people he's gaming with online are secret hero spies trying to get him to reveal himself. He also has a fear that someone is watching him in every location, and he'll think that even the silliest things are cameras or microphones, or that those around him are also spies. Later on, it becomes paranoia that his master is everywhere.

Then comes the doom of depression

For Tomura, he's technically always depressed. But when he goes into a depressive episode, he's pretty lifeless.

He's complacent about his goals. Sometimes he'll get a tiny idea that makes his brain go !, but then he thinks of all the planning behind it and immediately slouches down on any nearby furniture

He'll lay in bed for a long period of time doing nothing. Sometimes he'll try to play a game on his phone but he gets bored quick.

Tends to eat more during this time because it's the only joy he can get. And he gets bored. He is SO BORED

Anhedonia is a bitch

His brain dwells and rambles, yet his thoughts don't make sense to him? He's constantly thinking about how fucked up his life is, how better other villains are, and how much he hates All Might and heroes altogether. He tells himself that if it wasn't for all of that he wouldn't feel this way (relating to the depressive episode).

It overwhelms him and he tries to sleep it off, but he's somehow so depressed that he's UNCOMFORTABLE. His itching gets bad.

He is very suicidal during this time and hurts himself to try and subside it. If you asked him his reason for living, he'd tell you "to see this world crumble." But he's too busy crumbling in his bed.

Psychotic symptoms can occur during his depression, too. Especially if he hasn't slept.

His lack of medication usually causes him to swap back to mania somewhat soon (2 months or so). He definitely has rapid cycles.

Because his condition isn't managed, his brain is sort of in an in-an-out stance when it comes to his literal sanity. He has moments where he can definitely be level-headed (he gets rrly confident when he notices it) but when his anger and stress fuel him more than usual, he spirals and quite literally sees red. Sometimes he can't even tell if he's dreaming or not. Often mistakes the date and day of the week.

:(

I might write a fic of the reader comforting bipolar tomura. I don't think I've ever seen a fic like that for any character.

[popawritter12]

Y͒a͒n͒d͒e͒r͒e͒! Sett x Neutral reader

Yandere character: Sett

Anime/manga/video game: League of Legends

Part: 1 of 2

Finished?: Yes

Clarification: Au of academy

('･ω･')('･ω･')('･ω･')('･ω･')('･ω･')

With each step I took, my grip on my books increased due to the fear of seeing it again. Every time the people around me looked at me with fear and pity, I knew something was wrong.

Everyone knew it, from the beginning they knew it. That boy, that person who was known for his use of violence and insults to him, someone who was the kind of people you detested from the bottom of your heart was… interested in someone.

When I saw him, I could feel the pride and hate he could emit just by looking at anyone, and whenever I talked to my best friend about it, we both came to the same conclusion; it wasn't good to run into him.

And now, God knows if it was on purpose or by accident, but the whole school found out that Sett, one of the most feared vastaya in the Academy, was madly in love ---Obsessed--- with me, more than once I found him following me and Talon around the Academy, which was so damn awkward for both of us that we decided to stop being apart of the group and go to social circles just so we wouldn't feel persecuted by that idiot.

---Did you forget your math work again? ---Talon asked me, as we both walked through the halls.

---No, I didn't sleep at all last night, so I decided to catch up on homework ---I answered, running one of my hands over my right eye.

He was silent for a few seconds, before we heard someone behind us let out a soft, discreet laugh.

---Apparently Sett has you bad ---Ezreal teased, patting my shoulder.

---Shut up, moron ---I answered jokingly, looking at the blonde.

---I'm sorry, I'm sorry (Name), but you know that normally everyone in this school knows how Sett is with you ---Ezreal continued joking, before giving you your personal space.

--- Aha, as if he doesn't want to hit me every time he sees me --- he teased softly.

It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to know that Ionians hate Noxians, or basically most of the world hates Noxus in general, and the fact that Sett lives on insulting his Noxian father just further reinforces the idea that this whole facade that he's in love with me falls apart.

Both Ezreal and other close friends helped me a lot to adapt to this place, I was surprised at the ease with which both Talon and I became close to him, but I wouldn't question the idea of why someone as social as him would talk to us either. .

But hey, I guess I'm just rambling…

--- And then Garen threatened to cut me in half if he did something bad to Lux, although I don't understand why he tells me that… --- Ezreal explained, before hearing how the doorbell sounds.

The noise marked the start of the first hour of school, in this case Ezreal would go to his Chemistry class and Talon and I to our philosophy class.

The blonde said goodbye to us, going straight to God knows where. While my best friend and I were leaving for class.

---I like to think that all this is a very bad joke, and you? ---I admitted, letting out a heavy sigh.

Talon hummed a "hm", not further speaking.

As talkative as a North Korean soldier.

---But well, I'd like to know why… ---That's when I found myself having to cut my sentence in half because Talon started talking.

---Don't trust Sett too much.

I looked at him confused, before letting out a soft laugh, as a joke.

---Don't tell me, Tal ---I joke, getting closer to him ---The man who has been following and harassing us for 1 month is someone to be wary of, who would have thought!

After joking, I could see Talon stop walking abruptly; apparently, we were already in front of our living room.

He grabbed my shoulder roughly, forcing me to look him in the eye.

--- The next time you find him alone, run --- He advises me, or maybe he orders me --- There's something about that guy that I don't fucking like.

I look at him, this time changing my tone to a serious one.

---Yes, I'll be careful, Talon ---Kindly accept ---Although I don't know, I don't think it's that bad…

Talon lets go of me, before cupping her face in one of his hands, letting out a heavy sigh, as if he's frustrated or disappointed.

--- I know Sett has something weird behind his whole façade… try to keep yourself safe, okay? --- He advises me again, and this time I do believe that he cared about me.

I smile at him, before gently taking his shoulder.

---I promise, Tal ---I told him, smiling ---This time I will keep my word.

He smiles slightly at me, so I guess he's calmer now.

--- Good thing you said "this time yes" --- he mentions as a mockery, before going to the living room.

I went after him, laughing and saying whatever, obviously before get scolded for being late to class.

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

('･ω･')

Extra (If this first part was not short)

A young man with reddish hair was walking calmly through the school, he himself was accompanied by a pale-skinned boy, who was confused about why Sett had summoned him to talk alone.

The young Lunari looked at Sett, intrigued as to why someone lively and outgoing like him was so quiet now, almost angry at that moment.

The moment Sett stops his walk, without moving, he presses his fingers on the palm of his hand, to the point that it was seen that he was tempted to break the bricks of the wall.

Without the young Lunari expecting it, Sett barely turns around to see him out of the corner of his eye.

---Hey ---Sett calls him, with a hoarse voice and with a certain tone of anger in his intonation.

Before Aphelios can answer or say anything, Sett frowns, showing anger at the idea of asking someone like him for help.

---Do you know where I can meet Talon?

The opposite of him remains silent, surprised by the vastaya's request. Anyone who knows a little about Sett knows that if he wants to meet anyone as he gives rise to, or even worse, a Noxian, it doesn't mean anything good.

---Or with Ezreal? You get together a lot with the two of them, don't you?

Aphelios steps back, even more scared.

—Or both, I'm not interested separately or together, I need to know what time and place I can meet either of them.

The young Lunari, out of nervousness begins to speak in sign language.

---Why are you supposed to want to know? ---When he finished speaking, Aphelios remembered something important: Sett didn't know sign language.

---That shit is none of your business, kid, now tell me.

Aphelios opens his eyelids to the fullest part of him, since when did Sett know something like..?

The vastaya approaches him, taking him by the neck.

—I want you to have one thing clear, Aphelios; From now on, both you and those two idiots are going to be away from ME (Name), are you clear?

Aphelios has no choice but to nod, not because of the fear of what could happen to him now, but because of how Sett would be if he confronted or tried to fight.

Perhaps in another context, he would have challenged him, but now he didn't have much of a chance of winning, he had no weapons, and no one to see them in one of the hallways that almost no one knows about the school, and Sett seemed quite ready to kill them. the first thing on your way.

[new-berry]

Okay there is some delulu under here. NUFC mad rambles .. like regular rambles, not special stories.

So people who don’t follow NUFC they are in a PSR hole, well they should be out of it now as they have sold two players Minteh to BHA (meh) and Elliot Anderson (sad!) to Wolves.

When they were trying to find a way out of the hole they apparently offered Anthony Gordon to Liverpool. Fell over for the fee and the player they wanted. It may be reserected depending on what happens in the rest of the window. (Let me say: I would be sad. But I was also sad over David Batty and Alan Shearer and dude… there have been plenty. I will be sad about Triopier in probably the next six weeks. I’m sad over Callum Wilson.)

Although the in no order, rose coloured glasses: a common comment is “wouldn’t AG feel betrayed / not supposed by club/ just seen as an asset. “ and actually I don’t think so. For one, the person who broke the story is someone who has interviewed him before.

Personally I think they would have gone to him and asked his if he was to be traded where would he pick?

Becuase he’s a lifelong Liverpool supporter. Like, I won’t stand in Bruno G’s way if he gets offered Real Madrid. It would suck if AG went to Liverpool I hate all teams that aren’t mine, but I would get over it and look at left wingers. I’m for anyone who gets their boyhood club. And I know that he has said in the past he needed to get out. But the Everton situation was poisoned at the end and he’s coming back an England international and a success. Like not with his tail between his legs.

I think it shows they know how valuable he is.

Also Isak to Chelsea, as long as we don’t fall for getting their offshoots dumped on us (we have Conor Gallagher at home he’s called Sean Longstaff) if they were going to pay 170 mill well, yeah. We can get a striker for that.

The thing is I get what people are really pissed about. We have all this money (let’s not front: Newcastle’s owners could fill St James with money and backstroke Scrooge McDuck style around it) and we can’t spend it.

Chelsea are owned by a hedge fund (which means they also have buckets of gulf money) but they have an “academy” which had about twenty branches and an industrial complex of players. Man City also an academy assembly line, it’s why NUFC is trying so hard to restart its academy. But I mean.

Can we not pretend that PSR is anything but protecting some clubs that have been earmarked as the favourites. Like it’s embarrassing to pretend it’s to protect some clubs from themselves or that it’s about a level playing field.

anyway, my other complaint is the injuries of last season continue to fuck us. Like Callum Wilson would have been moved in to a preferred club for him (don’t even say Saudi unless he wants cash, for one NUFC have to jump through hoops to sell there and for a second the “buy anyone for huge money” was as much a marketing ploy as anything else. They were the new gas station in town who offered rates 10 percent below everyone else to get you in the door.

They are not paying 150 mill to take Casemiro and Antony (the gross Man Red one) anymore. ) probably one of the slightly lower list Spanish or Italian clubs (where people who actually watch those leagues say he would be an adequate fit).

But he has to prove fitness. And Jamaal Lascalles probably would have gone to Betis but hey he’s injured. It’s just… transfer season sucks. But like it’s gets easier and you will always have new favourite players. You just have to do it every season, to mangle the Bojack quote.

But having to do it when the club has literal buckets of cash because man red has lots of international fans and it’s important for them to be in Europe so the super league doesn’t get successfully resurrected? Ug.

Everyone other club in England actually doesn’t want to be a supporting player to the victory myth of clubs that think they deserve it more.

It’s good that fans are passionate about keeping certain players. But the opposite of love is indifference (as another song goes). And the Prem can make as many rules to protect the sky six as it likes, but then you are piping cheering in. And wondering why kids these days would rather play Fortnite. / grumpy old lady rants.

[aroacewxs]

YAYYY i'm gonna share it with you soon then!! i need to make a few comments to make my vision more clear and i don't know if i'll be able to finish it today, but expect to receive a whole lot of rambling in the nearest future again hehe

i knowww and it makes me so sad ): but i don't want to lose hope. i need nene to have a dazzling-like event where she needs to remember her middle school relationship with rui to get a better grasp of her role... or something. you can argue that power of regret kind of parallels phoenix in a way (at least that was my first thought after i finished it but maybe i'm just too tsukasapilled lol), so i don't think it's completely off the table...

and hehe you're welcome!! i'm glad you enjoyed my little autism <33 i can give you a link to my playlist with my fav deco songs if you wanna too...

YESSSSSS OKAY! looking forward to it :) take your time w it, i'll be waiting!!

that's a pretty interesting comparison actually! i think there are some parts that parallel each other, the most apparent thing being that both of them realize they're in the big leagues now ... no more messing around! they don't actually know as much as they thought they did! #lockin i love nenekasa parallels i need to talk about their relationship more because the people saying nene is just a copy of tsukasa in terms of character development are pissing me off so badly. Smiles

also i think nene is the one whose character development consistently refers back to her slip up in middle school the most .. she did it in film wrap and not so explicitly in nene5 but it's definitely there! something something ... how for the first time in her life, nene's Need to Say Something and reach out to the other person (scramble crossing) is only making her seem naive . she doesn't know as much as she thought!! sometimes considerate kindness is not the way to go! i love it so much. the scramble crossing interaction was also in nene's pov as well, so if we were to get ANY crumb of new middle school lore it'd probably be from nene's pov (frowns a little bit. not that i'd complain but i need rui's loneliness in middle school to be in his pov for once or else i'll lose my mind)

okay shutting up now .......... YES i'd love to see your deco playlist!!!!! if it's spotify i need to follow you asap ❤️

[thesummerstorms]

So I didn't start reading comics as a kid.

(lots of rambling beneath the cut, though having just finished after writing, maybe the take away is 'N52 was not actually inviting as someone trying to get into comics for the first time'.)

At one point in high school I had some Green Arrow/Black Canary back issues my former step dad bought me when we went into a comic book store at complete random (he bought my then 9 year old brother Simpsons comics and then we never went back) but I was broke teen with no job who did not live in that area and did not pursue much further.

I didn't consider picking up comics until I was in college, and then I mostly started with Marvel because it was early days of the MCU and I saw a lot of the movies with friends. Other than Winter Soldier, I wouldn't say most of them stuck with me or were the best movies ever, but it did get me interested.

The DC movies on the other hand did not get me interested. The DC live action movies mostly sucked.

DC got my money, however, due to my childhood obsession with Dinah, specifically, from Justice League/Justice League Unlimited. (And her relationship with Ollie, I guess, but I wasn't super interested in him without Dinah.) PLUS my preteen fascination with the 2003 Teen Titans.

(That one was harder to carry over because as fun as the 2003 series was the characters were very different lol. They do NOT go into "Robin" and "Starfire's" full traumatic back stories or more adult characteristics in the 2003 stuff.)

So I just looked to see what my first DC purchases on Amazon + Comixology even ended up being and...

I clearly made my first attempts pretty soon after New 52? There is a New52 Batgirl book in the list right above Birds of Prey.... And then nothing DC for literal years.

So much Marvel and Star Wars, even a few non Big 2 things. No DC except rentals for the animated movies and shows.

I bought one digital issue of Green Arrow/Black Canary in 2014, and then DCdoesn't show up on my Comixology account until 2016 with Wonder Woman Rebirth.

Even though that whole time from 2014 on I was still buying the main SW comic, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Wicked + Divine. I was buying anything I could with Black Widow (the Rucka book was a favorite, and I also read whatever the series was called with Bucky as Cap, dating Natasha. I kept that trade for a while, too.)

Apparently I didn't even pick up RHATO (which I mainly read bc a) sale and b) bulk purchase until then c) what the fuck is happening to Starfire morbid curiosity means I need to see it end) until 2018.

But you could not like at any point call me serious about the actual DC comics (again, I watched ALL the animation) until I apparently bought every single volume or issue of the 2016-2019 Green Arrow run (I cannot REMEMBER any of the plot, but I definitely READ all of it) , which finally lead somehow to the 2009 Batman and Robin run (which I bought and read all of in the span of a few days in 2020), then DCeased and Justice League Odyssey.

And now I'm actively trying to go back to some of the older stuff + looking for current publications to read. (I want to like Titans but it's very very hit and miss for me. I read one volume of TT's Nightwing and gave up.)

But like, I just feel like I could have very easily been an "easy" new fan for DC to grab since I had literally never heard of Marvel before the MCU but grew up with all the DC characters. My Uncle is STILL Superman's number one fan, my ex-uncle (? Aunt's ex husband) would throw any DC with Batman at us that he could when we were kids.

But I bounced SO HARD off on New 52 that they literally could not get me actually hooked until 2020, even though I started buying comic stuff in 2014.

[unhingedwomandiaries]

Apparently there's this unwritten rule about not dragging your ex-boss through the digital mud. Something about "professionalism" and "burning bridges" and all that proper grown-up nonsense. But my former supervisor's message was doing my head in so much, I couldn't help myself. Like an absolute melt, I went and posted his bonkers ramblings on that antiwork subreddit. You know the one – where everyone's living their best revolutionary life between shifts at Tesco.

Needed to check I hadn't gone completely round the twist, didn't I? Like when you think you've seen a ghost in ASDA and need your mate to confirm it's just Derek from produce wearing a white sheet. And bloody hell, did that lot deliver! They were all over it like seagulls on a dropped chip, proper validating my existence with their digital pitchforks and virtual torches. Made me feel like I'd found my tribe of similarly wronged wage slaves.

But now? Now I'm feeling a bit dodge about the whole thing. Like when you drunk-text your ex and wake up thinking, "Oh god, what have I done?" Because letting the entire internet pick apart my boss's message feels about as classy as wearing stilettos to a funeral. And that's saying something, considering the internet's basically where dignity goes to die, innit?

Sure, those Reddit warriors were trying to help, bless 'em. Going proper nuclear on my behalf like a bunch of keyboard Justice League rejects. But fighting toxic with toxic is about as effective as using a chocolate fireguard. Just makes everyone look like they've got the emotional maturity of a sugar-rushed toddler.

This whole digital pile-on culture we've created is proper grim when you think about it. Like those TV shows where everyone's awful but you can't stop watching. It's just this endless cycle of people being horrible to each other, then patting themselves on the back for being horrible in the name of justice. Makes you feel a bit manky inside, like eating a dodgy kebab at 3am.

But what's done is done, hasn't it? Can't exactly un-ring that bell any more than you can un-see your nan's Facebook holiday photos. Suppose all we can do now is try to be slightly less of a twat going forward. Might not save humanity, but at least we won't feel like we need a shower every time we check our notifications.

Though I still reckon my boss is an absolute plonker. I'm just going to keep that thought safely tucked away in my brain where it belongs, like those embarrassing photos from year nine or the knowledge of what really happened at x's hen do.

[bravertzposts]

the loyalty part was about running off to rivals because there's no european football. i think i didn't make that clear enough though. but rivalries in the premier league are a big thing so it would make many people furious.

and the getting minutes part.... while he is our top scorer it's still only 9 goals (3 pens) and 1 assist in 50ish appearances this season. not exactly impressive. his inconsistency would bench him faster at real than anywhere else because they're very strict. which is also why clubs won't bid fees he is actually worth but chelsea would need a replacement desperately since félix is gone and mount is also definitely getting sold. it was communicated kai is in pochettino plans and they won't push him out actively. hence why they would demand good money. we won't rely on nkunku alone because he will need his minutes managed a lot after injuries.

arsenal already have 3 CAMs/10s. and are concretely linked to a 4th.

i'm a chelsea fan first but also a big fan of his as an individual and neither of these transfers sound like he's guaranteed more minutes than at chelsea. at chelsea he was almost the first on the teamsheet despite the 400 attackers (which will definitely be cut down too - so more opportunities). at real he won't be a priority (if minutes for the euros are on his mind... reports called him a hazard replacement which isn't exactly positive considering his shit time at real). they usually play a whole different system with no CAMs + are getting their loanee brahim diaz back. and at arsenal he'll not just compete with 1 CAM (one of which is odegaard who is a guaranteed starter) but 3 or maybe even 4.

i'd get a decision to leave on a personal level - because his progress has stagnated a lot and he's sometimes unrecognizable to leverkusen days - but i'm not convinced he'd get more time at the clubs he's linked to. maybe other more realistic options will arise in the next weeks... but it's also sad (to me personally lol) because we're getting the first GOOD attacking coach since kai's joined chelsea who reportedly likes him as a player and now he might be going..... i'd still prefer real over arsenal personally though. at least they have less attackers and his versatility could give him minutes on the wings or as false 9 too. but anyway. ramble over! sorry lmao

i don't mind the rambling, it's fine haha x

i got what you meant with the loyalty part, i just don't think that seeing it this way is entirely fair on him, nor do i think that it's something that'd be a deceisive factor for him. i think i agree on what you said about a potential move to arsenal, though. i didn't even know that he's been linked to them, like. just seems really random. i guess i could see arteta being generally interested in his potential and even able to utilise it, but i don't know if they'd be willing to spend a sum that chelsea would be satisfied with and i don't see why they'd be actively looking to fill his prefered position this summer, which is what you were getting at too, so that's probably just hot air? madrid, though - i dunno, i could really see it. it's not only eden, karim is leaving them too, so they will be looking out for someone who can play as a striker. asensio will be gone as well next season and kai has successfully played as a RWF in the past, so there's another open spot. plus, they've been reported to be generally interested in him for a while now and they have the money to pay a bigger fee. it just seemed realistic when that rumour was still going strong. which, apparently, it isn't anymore, so who knows if they've ever even been in contact with him or if that was just the typical transfer tea insanity...which is probably going to go on until the season starts...🫠

btw, don't get me wrong, i'm really not that opposed to the idea of him staying at chelsea (i might come off as an avid madrid fan, which... i'm really not, lol), i just get why he might feel the need for change (international competition, his stats...). but sure, that change might as well come from within the club and he'll definitely consider that.

[radiance1]

I'M HERE I'M HERE!

Also, may I suggest... fusing the two? Since mine was more about Superman's thought process, and since it did end with Superman thinking of calling the League, we could say that @hdgnj's happened more outside of Superman's thought process (which is kinda obvious) and following on Superman thinking of calling the League and then acting on it!

Ahem right so yes, it has been agreed upon that they both need help and can't be left to wander on their lonesome. Even if Danny came up with a brilliant plan for them to live, they can't just let these two go back to the streets.

Especially because he was fighting Superman live and managed to injure even if he was subdued in the end. Not just Cadmus, or Luthor, more than enough villains would go after them and try to take that opportunity if they went back to the streets.

Also I agree with them getting therapy! All of them! Clark needs it to work through his issues and feelings with the clones and we can already tell Danny is going to need it too. Match would probably need it to try and help with his violent reactions regarding what he thinks of as threats (and maybe the S symbol) and Connor would be needing to also work through feelings.

Also, I love @hdgnj's path because KSJDFSDKJ THEM THINKING THAT CADMUS TRIED TO MAKE MATCH AN ATTACK DOG? BECAUSE HE REACTS VIOLENTLY TO THE S SYMBOL? GOLD!

Also the bit about Connor thinking about all of the already terminated clones Danny referred to as 'siblings' and feeling guilty about them! Even though he knows he couldn't, wouldn't have known actually because Cadmus wouldn't tell him, know about them but still thinking if they could have been saved! And then Connor wondering if he could learn their made-up language sDKFHNSDK

Then Diana teasing Clark about missing their two heartbeats until now, and then noticing how Danny saw and prevented Match from attacking all of the S symbols he's seen! Which, in Metropolis, would undoubtably be a lot.

Also, love Danny's little rambles in his notebook!

I feel like Diana would be the one to take care of Danny and Match first, even though Superman would offer (he extends the offer to Connor as well), they both know that he's still feeling somethings about the cloning part and even further how Match reacts rather violently to his symbol. So, it would be safer for their caretaker to be Diana since she would have less of said symbol for Match to freak out over.

Of course, it left up to the boys' choice if they want to be under their care, of course. Match just stares when presented with the offer, before looking at Danny and letting out a questioning, if a bit weak because of his apparent fever (He didn't even know HE could get sick either), chuff. Danny's mind is sluggish from being sick, so he takes a few solid minutes to actually gather up enough mental strength to make a decision.

He... agrees. A bit hesitantly, his plan would go to waste but if it gets both him and Match off the streets and into a safe-isher place then he would take it. Though he will fall back on it if something happens.

When Danny and Match start getting better and more comfortable, I wonder how they'd react to Match just holding Danny upside down by his leg? Or like a kitten when he's actually annoyed? Danny climbing on Match, settling on his shoulder or sitting in the back of his hoodie? Or heck, just them play fighting or just playing in general? Like, Danny trying to scare Match and Match pretending to be spooked or something, or them just pawing at each other and baring fangs (enough to be seen as playful, because too much would be seen as a threat. Something they learned by watching animals) or something!

Food is another thing. Most of the time they've been living offa stuff they got from the bins because, you know, no money? So getting fresh, warm, delicious food would most definitely be a way to melt a part of their heart.

Diana feels bitter when she first sees it. To them being so happy over something as simple as food and then both of them, clearly wanting it, pushing a bigger portion over to each other thinking the other needed it more than them.

Match would definitely need help with reading and writing, though he's having an easier time grasping sign language, fortunately! It's a pleasant surprise that Danny doesn't need help with it, but Diana is kinda also crying a little over missing that bonding experience.

Connor is definitely trying to know his siblings and he's actually kind of thankful for their appearance! Not the circumstances behind it, but them popping up did help him start to bridge the gap between him and Superman! Even if it's kind of rocky. He's coping the noises they make and most definitely trying to understand their secret language!

Howdy @hdgnj & @radiance1 would it be alright if hypothetically a new thread was started? I'm starting to feel bad for the people trying to get through the pages of text on our blogs lol. HDNJ Reblog | RADIANCE Reblog

[I also understand if you would prefer just continuing from the initial thread]

So no matter what happens, it's pretty much agreed upon that the two need help. Along with the fact that they really can't just be left to wander, no matter how well they were doing.

(Bruce is having flashbacks to walking into Tim's stalker-shrine room when they look through the toddler's notebook) Because like, Match was pretty much live. A lot of people saw him, and a lot more will continue, so it's not even close to being safe. For all they knew? Cadmus might've thought they had died since they were already deemed failures. But now everyone in the knows not only is at least one alive, but nearly fought Superman to a standstill.

Probably could've if not for the fact that they're a half-starved teen- though the half-feral part probably helped with the can't predict what the Duck attack is going to be next.

(I wanna add more but if idk which to do if we go to the thread lol) (Also hi if ur just finding this, idk if it'll go anywhere but welcome to Radiance's prompt of tiny SuperWonder clone Danny)

[moreofthatdrowse]

New Interview: Scandinavian Music Magazine Gaffa

Alex Turner interviewed in Scandinavian music magazine Gaffa. 31.10.22

I’ve translated the interview (find it below the cut), but as with all laymen-translated interviews, take it with a grain of salt. The interview was obviously done in English, which the journalist then translated into Swedish words, which I in turn have turned back into English. When presented with a choice of words to use, I’ve tried to choose words I think Alex would use. Still, we all know Alex likes to take pauses and start sentences over, which is not at all apparent in the interview. You know how it is. I for one don’t in a million years believe that he rambled on about the World Cup as undisturbed as it’s made out to be in the last paragraph.

Arctic Monkeys Interview November issue of Gaffa 2022, by Jesper Robild

A Sci-fi Hangover in a Toyota

With the album The Car, Alex Turner is back on Earth. Gaffa’s reporter Jesper Robild travels to Los Angeles to meet Arctic Monkeys’ frontman, who takes his time and talks about getting a unique energy from the tournament fever.

When he steps into the minimal, presently closed hotel bar in his current hometown Los Angeles, Turner is equal parts rock hero and eccentric introvert. Stylish in way too many clothes with regards to the 31 degrees Celsius outside, and he chooses an astride position on a hard chair rather than to share the sofa. At the same time, he is slightly evasive, reticent, often dragging his fingers halfway through his hair and fastening his gaze at the floor when he for the tenth time takes 20 seconds to begin an answer in five different ways before sentences form, accompanied by hands that juggle his thoughts. Five days earlier, the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced. 

   “The football was cancelled. I think there was some Champions League match that needed to be moved because they didn’t have enough police officers. I can’t sum it up succinctly. It’s a unique situation. Unique.”

“I didn’t know it was going to be this record”

Four years ago since Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, three and half years without any concerts, and this is one of the first interviews he does after three years of silence. The new album The Car demanded a lot of attention. And time. 

   “I’ve started jogging every now and then, a couple of kilometres, which is an improvement. That kind of exercise has never been for me before. But mostly I’ve consciously devoted time to this record and things connected to it. I’ve spent a lot of time during the last six months on the shaping of the live show and a bit of film stuff that has to do with the record. When the tour in 2019 ended, I started writing music immediately. There was no pause at all this time, no period for me to try to be inspired. I didn’t know it was going to be this record, I don’t necessarily think I knew it was even going to be a record. I tried to deal with it very quickly, but it didn’t work of course, and here we are three years later.”

   Everything became clear with the first seconds in the first song, There’d Better Be a Mirrorball, something Alex returns to many times. 

   “When it comes to most of the records, there is a moment where I realised which direction it would take, and that can be quite thrilling. I had had the instrumental introduction for the song for a long time, and then this moment came about when I found a way to connect and transform it to more of a song. It doesn’t quite start as a pop song, but it gets there eventually. When I discovered that transition, a bit of how the lyrics would be, and the synth loop that is repeated throughout the song, I knew what the record would be like. What I didn’t realise was that it would take a further two years to find things that could work around it.”

“Obviously down-to-earth title”

The drummer Matthew Helders has said in an interview with NME that the album continues where the last one left off. But if a hotel and casino complex on the moon is as weird as it gets, a car would have to be the opposite. 

   “I at least present it like we’re back on Earth, but when I look back on the songs, there’s more of a sci-fi hangover than I perhaps realised. But there are no carton models of space hotels nearby. The title is quite obviously down-to-earth. After calling a record Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, you’re easily attracted to calling the next one The Car. 

   The album title is the easiest explanation possible to the lone Toyota Corolla that crowns the cover. 

   “It’s a photograph that Matthew took a few years back, and I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. I directly felt that if we were to package the record in that picture, it wouldn’t feel like such a bad idea. It’s as if the photograph gives permission to the idea that the record could  be called that. “The Car” were also two words that I realised that I kept repeating in the lyrics. And if you’re going to be a bit cynical, when you realise you say “the car” in three songs, you stand at a crossroads - either you go all in and call the record that or you find another way with the lyrics. And by laziness, I chose the first alternative. No, that’s not it.”

“The lyrics are part of something else”

No matter how little you care about lyrics, it’s difficult not to raise your eyebrows at Turner’s whimsical, almost dadaistic habit of wrapping his thoughts in slightly nonsensical metaphors. Unexpected words that call for attention are constantly recurring - just take a title like Jet Skis on the Moat. 

   “I know what you mean with lyrics passing you by. I feel like I don’t pay them much attention either. When I’m listening, that is. I don’t automatically think that I need to isolate the lyrics from everything else that’s going on in the song, from the other components: the music and the melody. I’m very interested in the relationship between those three things and think that they give each other permission to behave in a certain way. That’s how I think about it when I write songs. I don’t feel that you need to care about the lyrics when you’re listening. They’re part of something else. Sometimes, they’re in Italian or something and you don’t have to worry about it then. 

  In an interview with NME almost ten years old to the day, Alex talked about how he in the beginning of his career saw John Lennon’s I Am the Walrus as a sort of unattainable template for a type of song he wished that he could write. When questioned whether he has got closer to an imagined ideal, he begins with half a minute’s worth of silence.

   “It’s not like there’s an idea in the distance that I’m getting closer to. Again, it’s not about the lyrics but about the composition as a whole. There’s something close to what you’re asking about, but the instrumental introduction right at the start of the first song is as much part of what everything is about on this record as the words. I remember when I talked about I Am the Walrus. When I was 16 and heard those kinds of lyrics I naively thought that they would be easier to write because they didn’t give much meaning. But I quickly realised that it’s harder. I don’t know if I’m closer to being able to write a song like that now, haha. I think I missed that departure. But if we break it down further - the lyrics subscribe to the composition as a whole in that song. The words are in line with everything else that’s going on, the melody, the production… And I could probably draw a weak parallel between that and what’s going on in our records. There’s also a crumb of humour in that song that’s important not to forget.”

   Does it take courage to weave in humour?

   “It probably took some balls to declare that ‘I am the eggman.’ I don’t know if courage is the point… Perhaps it takes some courage to follow the instinct that tells you to go in a humoristic direction and sing it. It’s important to me to have a little humour amid all the heartbreak.”

   When we get onto more parallels to The Beatles among fans and media - something that six No 1’s on the British album charts have caused, not the least - Alex is very careful to not make it sound like he brought up the subject.

   “What are we discussing now? You’re saying that people sometimes compare Arctic Monkeys with The Beatles? I didn’t know that was common. I haven’t listened to them in a while. If I’m going to come up with my own comparison… They were a band who didn’t end musically where they started, in broad terms. There was an idea of experimenting with pop music, which I’m very positive about. I think the comparisons might have to do with that. It feels like there never is a risk if we were to stay in the same place, not even when we have tried to. The making of a record is something that lives its own life. Every time I happen to repeat myself nowadays, it doesn’t really work. 

Multitracks himself

15 years after the debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, and with seven albums under his belt - plus two with the side project The Last Shadow Puppets - Alex Turner is truly not stuck where he and Arctic Monkeys began. Garage indie and post-punky britpop has gradually evolved and has on The Car landed in a relaxed appearance with crooner vocals, cinematic strings, and a lounge ambiance equal parts noir as jovial. On his 30th birthday in 2016, Alex Turner was given a piano as a birthday gift by the band’s manager, which led to a shift in main instruments when it came to songwriting. But despite the guitar getting relatively little space in the soundscape on The Car, Alex Turner has given it more attention than the last time. 

   “It feels like I play more guitar on this record. And some of the songs were written on guitar. But I suppose that after having played more piano and having written more on piano, new possibilities arose, so it’s different now when I write on the guitar. Just how I think about how everything goes together is slightly different from when we wrote Brianstorm, for example, or something else from the second record. Perhaps it’s less about whether it’s guitar or piano and more about thinking in other terms as a band. Not “Everybody’s going to do this for 16 bars.” And I suppose that the song structures are more different now. It might not be apparent, but there’s that distinction in my head. Back in those days, we often put things together in a way very much based on the idea of the rehearsal room. Now I put it together more on the basis of the studio environment. 

   It feels like it’s easy to romanticise the rehearsal room. Do you miss that way of playing and writing?

   Yes. But at the same time, speaking of methods to look ahead, it’s something you can leave behind. My writing process the last ten years has been a lot about multitracking myself. That’s the biggest difference between the old records and the last two plus the last Shadow Puppets record. That I make demos of myself. That has probably changed things more than that there’s a piano in the picture. We’re rehearsing this weekend and it’s actually pretty exciting, it doesn’t happen that often except for before tours. We’re thinking that we aren’t going to look back, but I don’t know. It’d probably be fun to approach a new record like that someday. If you leave something, an idea or method, for long enough, it might become something else that makes things happen.

   It doesn’t feel unusual that rock dinosaurs around 65 do that, rehearse together and record live.

   “Haha, dinosaurs! Exactly, “just like in the old days. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Recording and the Euros

Arctic Monkeys aren’t quite back with any nostalgic devices just yet. The Car was recorded in the Suffolk countryside at Butley Priory, a building that was constructed to house Augustinians in the 12th century.

   “It’s not a place I was particularly acquainted with, still aren’t. It was just our provisional studio for a few weeks. It was a lovely experience. We hadn’t spent any time together for a year or so, and it was wonderful to be back together again.”

   It was only here that the other three members made their mark on the material.

   “I had my 16mm camera and spent quite a lot of time filming when we were all making the record. It was mostly to preserve the memories, I suppose, but I had worked on the songs on my own for quite some time, and bringing the camera meant that I had to take a step back sometimes. Everybody could contribute then. And when I was putting new film in the camera or something it created a buffer, perhaps not enough, but the others got a bit of space. 

   The recording during the summer of 2021 coincided with the European Football Championships that had been delayed since 2020. A component that enhanced the experience, and does that in many contexts. 

   “Some games were played during the day, and we had to take a break then, but I suppose that depended on how important it was to see Austria play, for example. Did they play?

   Yep. 

   And Sweden, too, right? Didn’t we face you? Or no, that was in the World Cup in 2018. That was a pretty stale match. It’s easy to become completely engrossed when those tournaments are going on, you become so invested. The World Cup is soon, I’m looking forward to that. It gives the band a unique energy, but it also shows in the environment. It’s been apparent when we’ve toured during the World Cup… There’s something about that tournament fever.

[astaroth1357]

Demigod MC Series: Hades

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades

Lucifer

Well… this is awkward…

He’s actually met Hades multiple times for business reasons (Underworld-Devildom relations are amiable if not a little odd. Hades was something of an uncle figure to Diavolo as a wee demon lad, which should speak for itself really). He’s a gloomy fellow and not much for chit-chat, but he never thought they’d end up taking one of his kids by accident…

He had to send a formal apology letter to the Lord of the Underworld immediately, but thankfully he didn’t seem very concerned for his offspring - if anything he appeared to think the Devildom would suit them nicely which was… concerning.

And he was not wrong. The darkness, demons, ghouls, and frights of the Devildom hardly seemed to faze the MC, if anything they fit right in. He’d dare say they were thriving if not for one thing…

They were So. Damn. Bleak.

Getting a smile out of this one AT ALL was rare. For once he felt the need to check up on someone constantly just to be sure they were alright... They’d keep assuring the House that they’re not actually as sad as they look but it’s hard not to assume…

He was a little mortified at first when they first met Cerberus cause… well they called him “Cerbi” and the massive demonic guard dog rolled over for them like a Golden Retriever! 

Apparently he and the Cerberus that they knew are from the same litter and they must have smelt familiar... He would have probably limited their interactions just to keep his dog on his side but after seeing the MC smile for once while they played with the big oaf well…

Cerberus got a new playmate and the MC got a massive, three-headed therapy animal. Win-win. 😌

Mammon

Do ya really gotta be such a downer all the time, MC…? 😔

He thinks they’re nice, like really nice. They’re always super concerned when his brothers attack him or when he gets injured, but he’s pretty sure it’s because they’ve seen people die before so…

At first, he had no idea why he had to be saddled with this depressing wisp of mortal but over time he started to understand that they weren’t all that sad. They had… Resting Gloom Face? Is that a thing? 

They also had a different way of seeing things. He could win the lottery and they’d tell him to stay inside so he wouldn’t get hit by lightning or if he pissed off the wrong people, they’d joke about him keeping his fingers and toes. Dark stuff, but not intended to be so… well morbid.

However, what he eventually found out that the REAL advantage to having a Hades kid in the Devildom was that nothing scared them. Literally nothing. Not even the ghosts - which to reiterate, are terrifying!

Cue Mammon getting dragged to horror movies nights with his brothers and pulling the MC along to be his personal security blanket. He’ll hold onto them for dear life as they just pat his head or something, watching and not even flinching at the jumpscares.

The first time the House had an unexpected power outage he clung onto the back of their shirt like a lost child while they calmly looked for the circuit-breaker...

If he could jump into their arms every time something scary happened like Scooby-Doo, he absolutely would. His brothers make fun of him, but after seeing the MC handle Cerberus like a puppy any time something frightens them they hide behind the mortal as well…

Leviathan

In some ways, he totally relates to their moodiness but come on! Who can still look so sad when watching The Magical Ruri Hanai: Demon Girl?? Ruri-chan can make anyone smile! 😠

When he first met the MC, he was a little confused about why they didn't find him intimidating at all. He even reverted to his demon form and showed his fangs but no dice! All they said was, "I've walked along the edge of Tartarus. You're gonna have to try a lot harder than that, buddy…" 

That was probably his first sign that the "human" wasn't normal…

After Mammon told him who their Dad was, things made a lot more sense. A child of Hades in the Devildom? That's ironic enough to be its own anime plot!! They certainly felt like an angsty protagonist at times. 🤷‍♀️

Truth be told, they could relate to each other in a lot of ways. You wouldn't think that an offspring of the Underworld and a demonic shut-in would have much in common but the one thing they share between them is that sense of never really fitting in.

Turns out that Hades kids are black sheep, even among other demigods, and Levi? Well, he's had trouble relating to others since his angel days. He and the mortal were like off-beat kindred spirits!

Which, I mean, you wouldn't get just by looking at them together. Levi being the impassioned super-otaku rambling their ear off while his somber companion would just go along with him quietly, but hey, there's more beneath the surface. Probably. 

Now if he could just get them to cosplay as the Lord of Emptiness with him… They'd be perfect! Perfect he says!!

Satan

Highly considered drugging their food with antidepressants for a while… 

This was before getting to know them better, of course, but for the first couple months he honestly couldn't shake the feeling that the mortal looked miserable! 

Now, he's one to particularly care for the comfort of strangers, but just looking at them like that every day would sour his own mood quite considerably. It was very irritating...

It was only on closer inspection that he realized there was something else at play, though.

The mortal was different - even for a demigod he imagined. They took to the Devildom easily and the realm almost accepted them right back!

The flora looked better in their presence, the hellish beasts that roamed the wilds would roll over for them, and they even seemed to be welcomed in by the never-ending shadows… 

It was fascinating. Like the effects of the Underworld were baked into their DNA and mingled with the environment around them… Two layers of darkness coexisting within one person.

I mean, what other creature - other than Lucifer - could ride Cerberus around like a pony??

Had they not been so kind, they'd probably scare him shit-less... Their potential power was too great to ignore. But after getting used to their gloom, at least they made for pleasant company. 🤷‍♀️

Satan likes them well enough, but even still he has to wonder just what they were capable of… you know?

Asmodeus

Oh. My. WORD. What a buzzkill!!!

Really, the new mortal was no good at parties or pictures for that matter!

Not because they looked bad, or even because he couldn't get them to smile, but because GHOSTS would always photobomb any pictures they were in!! 😫

One time he got a selfie with them on the couch and a creepy ghost child could be seen hiding behind the cushions so NOPE. No more photos with the mortal around!!

Aside from that, he couldn't say the mortal was all bad or anything…They were pretty friendly, despite their general look and feel. 

Though, personally, he thought they wore far too much black... Even in the Devildom, there's normally a pop of color, you know? Was that just the Hades dress code?

And you want to know the weirdest thing? Despite everything about them screaming "Doom and Gloom," they're straaaangely popular among the RAD dating scene…

Like. Not as some heartthrob, "Love'em and Leave'em"-type, but he's found that there's a LOT of his demonic classmates who think they're cute or have a crush on them in some way…

Naturally, he can see the appeal of the mysterious, moody demigod with a dark, troubled past. It's just the demigod in question is completely oblivious to it! 🤷‍♀️

He tried to give them dating tips or play matchmaker from time to time but eventually gave up when it was clear they weren't interested. Alas, students of RAD, this is one forbidden fruit that refuses to be shared…! Such a tragedy… 😔

Beelzebub

They remind him of Belphie… like. A lot.

The similarities were obvious. They had a similar feel, made similar jokes, and even the same somewhat dreary attitude about them...

If he were being honest, at the beginning there were times when he'd open up to them a lot more than he intended because he'd forget that he wasn't actually talking to Belphie…

Thankfully, he knew better than to try and treat them like his replacement or anything. They were two different people after all. But it didn't stop him from feeling extra protective around them for a while.

Besides, there was ONE thing that set them leagues apart from Belphie and that was the fact they were a shit cook. Not quite as bad as Solomon but uh… Actually no, that's a closer call than it has any right to be...

Apparently, Hades kids don't need to eat as much and when you hang out with shades and skeletons for most of your life, you don’t really worry about making food that's any better than… "Well, technically it's edible." 🤷‍♀️

Their food won't kill a person like Solomon's, but you WILL start seeing stuff you probably shouldn't. He tried their "soup" once and swore he saw the ghost of his mother… and he doesn't even have a mother!!!

He swears that if he ever sees the MC and Solomon working together in the same kitchen he's skipping town… Whatever culinary abomination the two of them could create would probably gain sentience and eat HIM instead. He's always figured he'd go out with Death by Food, but not like that!! 😫

Belphegor

Ever meet someone who’s like looking in a mirror? Yeah, he’s getting those vibes…

He never expected the "human" to be so similar to him, it was kind of uncanny.

Upon first laying eyes on each other there was a pause… then a squint… and then… a nod.

Honestly, their combined dry wit, dark humor, and pessimistic outlook played off of each other surprisingly well. Too well for him to hate, really.

Not that it mattered because they didn’t believe him for a second when he tried to trick them (they had dealt with loads of lying monsters before). He hated to admit it, but they had a good head on their shoulders and knew better than to trust a locked up demon…

And yet, they seemed to stick around with him anyway. Because of the good conversation or just empathizing with his loneliness was anyone's guess. 🤷‍♀️

Sometimes they'd come up and sit outside the door in comfortable silence… Or they'd talk about whatever:

MC: *sitting out by the attic with their back against the door* So what happens to demons when they die…?

Belphie: *laying on the floor on the other side, staring at the ceiling* Depends on the kind. If I die, I'll just reform later.

MC: Like a reincarnation?

Belphie: Eh. *shrugs* Maybe. Haven't died yet.

MC: You could die in there, you know.

Belphie: *throws a side glare* Well thanks for bringing that up…

MC: *shrugs* What? It's true. But don't worry, I won't let you. *small-ish smile*

Belphie: *stares at them wide-eyed and pink-cheeked before turning on his side quickly* Ugh… whatever…

They did their word, somehow. They eventually got the door open and let him out, but by that time the anger was gone and he was just happy to finally talk to them face-to-face...

And good thing too, because apparently it's not smart to fight a death-child in what is essentially their element - as he saw when they summoned an army of skeletons to kick Levi's ass when he cheated them in Devil Cart...

He would not have lasted in that fight... Dodged a bullet there.