In honor of the @rw-ship-showdown I wanted to write about Artihunter as someone who jokingly slapped them together pre-downpour and still thinks they are actually very compelling. Just not in the super soft love wins kinda way (Although I get why people like that more)
And the only way I know how to do that is talking too much so heres a far too long slug essay-
Obviously the slugcats don't offer a ton of characterization but theres not nothing to work with. Their stories, whether by their roles in it or the overarching themes do provide a backbone to work with. Even gameplay itself can provide a bit. (for some more than others)
Hunter, to me, is ultimately a story about selflessness. The goal is to revive Moon, which is very much an act of kindness from both Hunter and NSH. But the weight of that action is much more significant for Hunter- Hunter is deeply sick. They're on the clock, and for all their skill in combat none of that will ultimately help them to survive longer than their body can hold out. Moon is a close friend of NSH but that means little Hunter- Hunter really gets next to nothing out of helping them, and ultimately pays quiet a bit spending their limited time alive fighting to deliver that neuron so that someone else can live.
To spend ones limited days on helping another, in a game that very much stresses the unwavering cruelty of the world and nature- is pretty notable. (And you could even say that Hunter being the Hardmode of Rain World adds another layer to this)
And then we have Artificer. A storyline that very much stands out to people as more… villainous (so to speak) than the other slugcats. Artificer's story covers a lot of things. Trauma, violence, revenge, etc. Revenge is a bit of a selfish desire- That need to see someone hurt as they have hurt you. A punishment that ultimately does not fix whatever harm was done- but feels good to see because you were hurt and now those responsible share that pain.
Artificer's actions are founded in that need for revenge, their pups killed for overstepping boundaries they didn't know existed. Is it not fair for them to be angry at that, to punish the scavengers for their violence with their own? Why should the scavengers ever be forgiven when they and their pups were not? And that's how you get that loop- Harm for harm over and over.
The original action has been lost in a spiral of violence for violence. And here stands Artificer- their very spirit scarred. Not just because they sought revenge, but because they never ceased trying to scratch that itch for violence as an answer. Artificer only has two paths for their story- killing the scavenger king (Someone who, really, has little to do with the original 'crime' of the scavengers, but represents an important individual to them- as did the slugpups to Artificer), locking themselves as karma one for good and spending the rest of their life chasing creatures that no longer even fight back in a warped sense of closure- or to dissolve themselves in the acids of the void sea because they're too far gone to find any real peace.
They can't meaningfully recover from that state, not alone, twisting in on themselves. Even if they halt their actions, they've been using violence as a feeble defense against their own pain- violence that no longer has any real direction or basis. Artificer gets no real closure from killing the scavenger king. All they can do is continue the cycle, or try to scrub it away. No real peace in a prison of their own making.
So you have a creature, who even with a strict timer on their life- a body that will crumble to disease, spends its last bit of time on saving another. And another who was so caught up in the pain of loss that were eaten alive by their own anger, poisoned their own soul on such a deep level even self-proclaimed gods have no solution for them.
What peace can they offer each other? For Hunter, its only a fleeting moment of happiness- of selfish love, before their own body fails them. A bit of indulgence in something for themself. For Artificer, its a single, comforting thread to ground them again, something tangible to protect and care about again.
But thats a thread that will ultimately be snapped under the cruel indifference of the world. Hunters timer will tick down regardless of if it takes another with it. Its a tragedy- its doomed to end badly. Whatever good it offers to either of them to find each other will only provide the fleeting comfort of a band-aid that will be ripped away too early.
But all that can be worth indulging in anyway, if only for the moment. It doesn't change the ending, but the ending was never going to be happy.
Its can so yuri
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Missing Jenna Playlist
Summary: Without your girlfriend's comforting presence, you take to youtube to find any form of comfort. Luckliy for you, your girlfriend is a celebertiy with a lot of interviews to watch.
Warrnings: None, just fluff, and maybe some errors
Author's Note: Thank you for the love on my last fic, seeing how many of you enjoyed it has really helped me feel more motivated to write. So again, thank you and I hope you enjoy. 🩵
Word Count: 1255
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If anyone asked about your comfort playlist full of your girlfriend’s interviews, you’d deny it. Even as said playlist made an appearance in your watch history when she was away filming.
It had been a particularly hard time spent away from each other when you gave in and made the list. Jenna was so busy that she barely had time to call or FaceTime like usual, not that your conflicting timezone was helping any either. You weren't getting any sleep, realizing just how much your girlfriend’s voice and presence had on your ability to do so.
At first it was just one of her Wednesday interviews with Emma. Hearing both of them laugh and joke brought you back to the time you had a sleepover together while visiting Romania. It was comforting hearing her raspy voice coax you into a deep sleep. But it would always end too soon, just as you would start to drift off, they were saying goodbye and the video would end.
So you’d search ‘Jenna Ortega Interview’, a hundred options popping up. You had your favorites and your least favorites. The ratings mostly consist of how much Jenna talked in them and the ones you knew she was excited to have done.
One day after a week of not hearing Jenna’s voice from her phone calls you wanted your favorites to comfort you. But they were all scattered around, some from Wednesday press junket, Scream 6, her promoting her book, it was too many to just queue every time so you decided a playlist would be good.
It’d keep everything together, no random videos to play afterwards, just all your favorite interviews in one place. You only did it as a convenience, not because you were desperate for her to be by your side, or anything. Just, supporting your girlfriend while she promoted her recent work. Plus you were tired, and fewer things to select so you could fall asleep to the sound of Jenna’s comforting voice was obviously the better option.
Maybe the playlist started to see the light of day however. Not only being played on your phone as it sat on the mattress next to you. But as the days went on you’d play it on the tv as you cooked, cleaned, or read a book. It basically became your favorite form of podcast without even being one.
It started to become a routine, you’d come home from work, fix something to eat and watch a show you recently started, until you’d begin to miss her. Your fingers expertly pressing every button needed to enter YouTube and reach your playlist, as if it was second nature.
It was one of those days, watching Jenna and Melissa die laughing at something Courtney said, the sound of keys unlocking your front door catching your attention. You perk up like a puppy hearing the bag of their favorite treats being opened. “Baby?” You hear the voice you’ve been wanting to hear for weeks and shoot up from your seat.
Your socked feet against the hardwood making your trek to the door more uncoordinated than usual. “Hi, baby.” You say a little out of breath, a smile gracing both of your faces. “Hello.” She replies, cupping your face and pulling you down into a smiling kiss. You wrap your arms around her pulling her even more into you, your body buzzing with happiness. She sighs as she wraps her arms around your neck, tucking her head in the slope of your neck.
“I didn’t know you’d be coming home so soon.” Not that you were complaining at all.
“We got a week off of filming and I wanted to see you.” Tightening her grip around your shoulder you feel her relax as you start to sway side to side. “I’ve missed you so much.” You couldn’t be happier at hearing she felt the same.
“I’ve missed you too.” Just as you couldn't feel any more at home, your heart sinks as you hear Jenna’s laugh, but it wasn’t coming from Jenna in your arms. No, it was Jenna prompting Scream months ago. You can’t believe you forgot to turn the tv to literally anything else. Jenna pulls away confused, you try pulling her back into you but she pulls away fully walking towards your shared living room. This is a great time to have the floor swallow you whole, you think.
“Hey, why don’t we put your clothes up and get ready for bed. I’m sure you’re so tired and wanna sleep the rest of the day away. That sounds like a great plan, right?” Unfortunately, she continues on her way, towards the sound of her own voice. Your only comfort being the sly smile she gives you over her shoulder. She stops when she sees what’s on the tv and you sigh. You’ve been caught, and now you are gonna have to hide away for the rest of your life.
“Did this just come on by itself?” You nod not making eye contact with her. “Yep, it just came on. I guess it got recommended after I watched the roundtable interview.”
“Oh really?” You hum in agreement, your hands start to sweat as she looks back at you with a mischievous smile. “You didn’t just really miss me?”
“You don’t even know.” That wasn’t suppose to come out, but it made her smile grow bigger. Her fingers reach out and grasp the hem of your shirt. Her smile and eyes softening at your admission, she pulls you in, her big brown eyes looking up at you takes your breath away for the millionth time.
Your hand comes up and cradles her neck as your thumb rubs against her jaw bone. It’s quiet for a moment as you just take each other in. You lean down pressing your lips to hers. When you pull away her mischievous smile is back. “You missed me.” She singsongs, you lovingly roll your eyes. “Maybe a little.”
She pulls you towards the couch, pushing on your chest until you fall into its pillows. “It’s very sweet that you watch my interviews but I can’t watch myself.” She says as she lays on top of you and reaches for the remote. You're so caught up in finally having her in your arms that you don’t realize what she's about to see.
“You’re watching a playlist of my interviews?” She looks down at you, then back at the screen. “You made the playlist?” You groan, why didn’t you change the tv, why aren't the cushions swallowing you whole like you hope they would? Trying to hide your blush you hear Jenna giggle on top of you and her kissing your warm cheek. “Baby, you’re so cute. Do you know that?”
“Shut up.” You mutter feeling even more flustered at her words and kiss. That makes her laugh more. You feel her hand slide up your body and find its resting place on your cheek. Pushing you to look at her, she smiles down at you.
The overwhelming need to confess your feelings almost takes over but after a year of dating you wanted it to be her choice to say it without pressure.
“I love you, Y/n. So much.” Relief and happiness floods through you, she said it and she meant it. She loves you. You can’t help but surge up, capturing her lips in a kiss, and confess the same sentiment you felt since you met her against her lips.
“I love you too, J.”
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