#and it is not fun! especially when you don't care to talk about them in the first place

[brainrotbee]

Payneland Promptfest Day 6: Star-crossed

~

Edwin took a deep breath of the night air. He knew that oxygen would have no effects on his ghostly body but he still felt slightly calmer. He liked seeing the night sky too, especially from the roof of the office where the stars seemed close enough to touch. Normally the London smog would hide them, but the temperature was cold enough to make them visible.

"Up yours," he heard an angry voice yell. He turned and saw Charles climbing out of the window, holding up his middle finger. The person inside began to respond but he slammed the window shut before they could finish.He then crossed the roof and sat down next to Edwin with a huff.

"Why didn't you phase through the wall?" Edwin asked idly.

"Too angry," Charles spat. His jaw was clenched so tightly that if he were alive, Edwin would worry for his teeth. "I hate that second-rate Charles."

"I see."

Their alternate selves were creating quite the stir within the agency. Edwin didn't mind them very much--talking to the other Edwin could be quite pleasant--but Charles did not agree. He seemed to hate nothing more than his counterpart and the two were constantly bickering.

"My face doesn't look that punchable right?" Charles asked, flicking a pebble off the roof moodily.

"I wouldn't know. Punching faces is more your area."

This managed to make Charles smile. "He so bloody annoying," he continued. "Always acting stupidly happy. Always making snide comments." He shook his head. "He just got mad at me because he found out we killed Esther."

"Esther might not be evil in their universe," Edwin reminded him.

"Still, drives me mental." Charles sighed and leaned back on his hands. "I don't know how you to get along."

Edwins shrugged. "Shared experiences," he replied. Charles winced. "Still, it is odd to have them around." Edwin looked out at the city again. They were supposed to meet with a sorcerer at Oxford in the morning because they'd received a tip that he had knowledge of the multiverse. "I cannot wait to have the office to ourselves again."

Charles hummed in agreement and rested his head on Edwin's shoulder. "I agree. It'll be nice to kiss you again without having to worry about that Catholic nutter freak out on us."

Edwin tried to hide his laugh. It didn't feel right making fun of his counterpart when he was a perfect version of Edwin: strong, devout, untouched by Hell. "I think he would be too busy trying to break up the fight between you and the other Charles to care much."

"You're probably right." Charles looked behind them at the office windows. The other Charles was sitting on the edge of their desk--much like the regular Charles but with far straighter posture--and the other Edwin appeared to be speaking to him. They talked for a bit longer until the other Edwin poked his Charles teasingly in the chest with his croquet mallet. His Charles laughed and the other Edwin's normally serious face broke into a smile. "I don't know," regular Charles said. "They look like they're in love too."

"I'm inclined to agree with you there," Edwin replied. He secretly celebrated when Charles leaned on him again.

"Well, at least we know we're not star-crossed."

"Hmm?"

Charles shrugged. "If us happens in more than one universe, it has to be right, doesn't it?"

Edwin hadn't thought about it like that before. He looked back at the two boys, so far away from their home, and was suddenly grateful for their presence.

Shoutout to @technically-human for creating the reverse verse AU. You're my idol.

[twin-wxngs]

Woah, these are really creative and interesting ships! Like in a very good way, ofc, I haven’t seen much on these.

Sooooo….

What’s your thoughts on the trio (Dogday x Simon x Allister), Catnap x Toullie and Poppy x Bunzo?

Dude. Thank you, first of all, for sending this and being genuinely curious. Second of all...

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU WILL HEAR ME YAP.

1. Poppy and Bunzo! Okay, so at first when I was thinking about them, I was thinking of them as something platonic right? You know the whole deal with kids shows and having an animal companion, namely Dora with Boots, her cousin Diego with that Baby Jaguar, etc. But the more I thought about it the more I took a look at them aaaaand...

Thoughts of Jessica and Roger Rabbit came into my head. All because Poppy and Jessica are redheads. But using that lovely romance as a base, made me think the reason they work together is that Poppy would constantly stress herself out in my opinion. Bunzo however would see this and do what he's known to do, and make her laugh.

He's probably the only one that can tone down her seriousness and help her calm herself because she's busy worrying. It'd be this fun loving prankster that'd teach her how to look at the bright side of things. He makes her laugh, as Jessica would say. But I think Poppy would say that too and genuinely care and appreciate him for it.

And in Bunzo's case he probably did take one look at her and had an awooga moment, but instead of needing to impress her, which probably weirded her out, she just plainly tells him when they do start as friends that he just needs to be himself. And well, I can see it working out.

2. Catnap and Touille! Two tropes: Cat and Rodent. And then.. Yapper and Listener. I blame this guy for making me like it! @smilingcrittersthingig

But more on that, I like to think the part of Touille's character is that he's street smart and knows obscure things the others don't know, hence he's Bubba counterpart in that department, as they're both exceedingly knowledgeable in their own way. But the problem with Touille, like Bubba, tends to go on for a bit too much, that he never gets to talk about the things he likes around them and refrains from it.

But I can see Catnap being not only patient with him, but one of the only people that would actively listen to his rambles because he's heard it from Bubba. Unlike Bubba though, it would be different from what Catnap is used to hearing because it's not something that's brought up every day, especially if it's about your not too typical, obscure thing that can be used in an unconventional way, but still works. Touille has a collection of junk that he treasures in that regard that he doesn't show anyone, but I think he'd show Catnap.

Though I like to also think they started as enemies since they're in different groups, with Touille being a bit scared and attracted to said cat at the same time. But I can see Catnap thinking it's cute that he's scared too. He's a mischievous cat after all, and they like to "play with their food". So while he does scare him from time to time, it's ultimately lighthearted and he loves his little rat boyfriend.

3. THE POLY. LISTEN, I love all three of them. It originally started as SunCross and I still love SunCross a LOT, thanks to this idiot. @smilingcrittersthingig

BUT I FIGURED I'd throw a curveball. The reason being is that of Dogday's nature in comparison to the two Nightmare Critters. My thought process for this is Simon's greedy and selfish nature, compared to Allister who's laid back and lazy. I feel like Dogday would unintentionally get them both attracted to him when he decides to help them both get through their bad habits.

What attracts them is the way he acts. He has to be a leader, but people mistake this as him only being nice, but that's not the case. He's firm, he's to the point, and has to look out for everyone in the Smiling Critters as the Everyman, meaning he acts more serious than friendly. He's respectful, not friendly, but has a big friendly side. That soft side of his that helps the two slowly improve is what attracts them to him. And on top of that, it's how they treat Dogday that really puts the poor doggo in a chokehold.

Simon would proudly take him wherever he wants to go, buy him whatever he wants, and make it clear to everyone that this is his boyfriend with no shame, showing his love through material appreciation, but still meaning every word he says along with it, because what's the point of money if the one thing you want isn't made of money? At that point, it's something to be used to make that person happy. Although Dogday says money isn't everything, Simon at least thinks money can be used for something.. and if it can be used to make Dogday his, then he will do it. And upon him seeing him using his money for someone else other than himself would really make him appreciate it..

Allister meanwhile had a problem with his lack of effort and motivation, but I like to think a date would be where he tries to put everything he can into it, even if it's not much. He doesn't like all the attention, would pick a location just for him and Dogday to be alone. He'd prepare everything with a little help from say Bobby and/or Rabie to see what he likes, and would even get him a gift. And even though it's not much, he tried. The effort is there, and the doggo would wholeheartedly appreciate it. Although he didn't do much, he's trying. Dogday sees that and ends up just blushing hard.

So when it comes to choosing between Simon and Allister, he hits them with the "I choose both" and lets him hear him out on it, explaining that he can't imagine his life without either of them, because the two also taught him how to be himself, take breaks and relax, and share the obscure things he likes and knows how to do that he didn't get to show with the Smiling Critters.

And overtime, his love of the two would rub off on them and see the merits in the others (opposites attract yay!), with the three becoming a polycule. As a friend did say..

Simon with his two trophy boyfriends, Allister with the two people that he thinks are way too good for him, and Dogday with the two people that he helped improve, but helped improve him too.

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 91, Part 2

Pearkit is scared by everything happening in the Clan, but Icekit helps her have some fun in the snow.

[Image ID: Pearkit and Icekit run off to play while Trumpetspore talks to Puddlewhisper and Rattlepelt. Under Pearkit, it says + NEW SKILL: MOSS-BALL HUNTER. Under Icekit, it says + NEW SKILL: ODDLY OBSERVANT.]

WARNING: This edition of RippleClan's Promise contains discussion of an off-screen suicide. A non-triggering summary of the events can be found at the bottom of the update.

Puddlewhisper liked being a mother. No, not liked. Loved. She loved being in the nursery full time, she loved watching Icekit and Pearkit open their eyes and learn to speak, she loved her newfound son and daughter so much! It somehow made Lemmy's betrayal, her exile, and the three heartbreaking deaths of the last moon bearable, as Puddlewhisper could sit outside the nursery and watch her kits play in the new snow.

The snow had come back the night before. It began to cover the five Clans during the Gathering. Like the dramatic end to a grand story, the first flakes fell as Downstar explained Lemmy's exile and the murders of Potterypool and Lightningrunner. By the time RippleClan made it back to camp, the shipwreck was once again well-covered in snow. The walk back felt like a nightmare for Puddlewhisper, who attended to explain the happy news to her friends in other Clans. It didn't feel right to leave Icekit and Pearkit behind at the start of a snowstorm—memories of Tempestshade and Shadowdrop's situation flashed in her mind—but when she got back to the nursery, Icekit and Pearkit were asleep at Rattlepelt's side, cuddled up with the recently named Midnightkit and Valleykit.

Now, in the peace of the new morning, the four tiny kittens tumbled about in the snow. Midnightkit and Valleykit were only just starting to wobble around camp, only a few tail-lengths from the nursery, but Icekit and Pearkit were far more active. However, their interests were rather skewed from what Puddlewhisper expected.

"But I don't want to move away," Pearkit whined as she reached a paw toward the freshly ignited bonfire in the heart of camp. "It's cold!"

"And this is hot," Currentsmoke laughed, nudging the tiny molly away once more. "Very, very hot. I don't want you to hurt yourself." Currentsmoke plucked dry twigs out of a basket at his side and fed the flames.

"I just wanna touch it!" Icekit squeaked, eyes sparkling with the early signs of a firebug.

"No one is touching the fire!" Currentsmoke laughed, although a bit more tension leaked into his voice this time around. He was so distracted by the pair that he nearly put his head into the bonfire.

"Let's see if they reach apprenticeship with their whiskers intact," Rattlepelt purred. The furless artisan sat beside Puddlewhisper outside of the nursery, enjoying a little sunshine while her new sons played. She dragged out a chunk of the nursery's leather floor so her bare skin didn't lay on the freezing snow.

"Should I make them play with Midnightkit and Valleykit?" Puddlewhisper wondered.

"They'll be fine," Rattlepelt said. "It's not like my toms will remember today." Puddlewhisper nodded absently. She slowly sank into the snow, as though it would swallow her with one wrong move. She sat in a loaf and studied her kits. Her kits, Puddlewhisper kept telling herself. No one had seen Nimble since that fateful day. If she cared about them, Nimble would have at least come looking. She probably thought they were dead, putting the blame for Lemmy's burning path of vengeance on the entirety of RippleClan.

It seemed strange to admit, especially after the accident with Moontide and Cobaltchaser a few days prior, but for the first time that winter, Puddlewhisper felt… safe? Confident? Happy? Even though it hurt to know her other little sister was gone, Cobaltchaser got to run with Lightningrunner and their parents in StarClan. Puddlewhisper couldn't describe her feeling, but it was a sort of peace, a kind of security that had been absent since Potterypool's body first turned out along the Great Northern River. It was a release of tension rippling through her shoulders. It was a warmth in her chest. It was an assurance that her kits would grow up in a happy period of Clan history.

But with so many recent vigils, Puddlewhisper knew that was a lesser-seen feeling in the Clan. No one better embodied that idea than Trumpetspore, whom Puddlewhisper noticed creeping out of the warrior's den.

Puddlewhisper couldn't recall seeing Trumpetspore outside the den since Mosspounce's vigil. Puddlewhisper had stopped by the warrior's den a few times to share tongues or connect with her siblings, but every time she did, Trumpetspore was in her nest. Sometimes Paleseed or Slushtrail sat with her. Sometimes they talked with her, othertimes at her while she laid quiet and unblinking. Now that Trumpetspore stepped into the white morning, Puddlewhisper could see the weight of so many days spent nesting. Half of Trumpetspore's thin pelt pressed awkwardly to her side, matted and untouched. Trumpetspore would need the mediators' help with oil and a comb to handle that mess. Had no one shared tongues with her? Or had she refused all offers?

Pearkit's attention shifted from the glorious warm flames of the bonfire to Trumpetspore's surprise appearance in the clearing. Her little blue eyes bulged at the sight of Trumpetspore's mats and her drooping face. She backed away from the bonfire, keeping her unblinking gaze focused on Trumpetspore. Puddlewhisper's ears burned. She prayed Trumpetspore didn't notice. Icekit, however, did, and glanced between Trumpetspore and his sister.

"Pearkit, let's melt the snow!" Icekit quickly suggested. He trapsed away from the bonfire and plunged his muzzle into the snow. He breathed hard, breath fogging artound his face as though he could breathe fire. Pearkit immediately forgot Trumpetspore and copied her brother, smacking a chunk of snow until it melted under her paw.

"Trumpetspore!" Puddlewhisper called. Trumpetspore looked up, hackles rising for a moment. "Come share tongues with us."

"I need to use the dirtplace," Trumpetspore said, inching toward the dirtplace path.

"In a bit," Puddlewhisper said, scooting over. "Join us." Trumpetspore crept close. She slowly settled herself beside Puddlewhisper and Rattlepelt, her matted side facing the former.

"Once the weather warms up," Rattlepelt said, giving Trumpetspore's shoulder a few good licks, "you and I should go collect some clay. It's been a while since we've made a pot together. The clerics could use some new jars. It seems Gingerpaw has been a little clumsy."

"Maybe," Trumpetspore said. She rested her chin on the edge of Rattlepelt's leather mat. Puddlewhisper, meanwhile, studied the knots and mats in Trumpetspore's fur.

"Rattlepelt, do we have any oil?" Puddlewhisper asked. Her paw pated Trumpetspore's biggest mat.

"We should have a bit we can use," Rattlepelt hummed. She got up to check, but Trumpetspore batted at her leg.

"Don't waste oil on me," the black molly grumbled.

"It's for your own good, Trumpetspore," Puddlewhisper huffed. Rattlepelt squeezed around Trumpetspore and entered the artisan's den. "If you're not going to groom yourself, let us help."

"I don't want to share tongues with anyone," Trumpetspore whined, ears pinned back. "I always shared tongues with my brother."

"The mediators will do it if I don't," Puddlewhisper pointed out. "I think it will be less embarrassing this way." Rattlepelt returned, rolling a pot up to the pair. She settled the pot on its base and pulled off the leather lid, now glistening with oil. When Trumpetspore said nothing, Puddlewhisper grabbed the damp leather and rubbed the excess oil onto Trumpetspore's mats. The black molly shivered at the touch.

"Maybe you can think about it this way, Trumpetspore," Rattlepelt sighed as Puddlewhisper massaged the oil through Trumpetspore's mats. "We're just filling in for Mosspounce."

"What does that mean?" Trumpetspore muttered. She rolled her cheek onto the cold snow. "He's dead. I can't share tongues with him anymore. I'll never see him again."

"But you will," Rattlepelt reminded the grieving molly. "You believe in StarClan, don't you? You know Mosspounce is up in Silverpelt. So is Tempestshade, and Shadowdrop, and some of your old friends. They're all waiting for you. Some day, you'll get to share tongues with Mosspounce again. I know it will be nice to tell my sister all about my kits when I die."

"I…" Trumpetspore gulped as Puddlewhisper placed the sticky lid loosely on the oil pot. "I forgot about StarClan."

"I guess it's easy to forget our friends aren't truly gone sometimes," Puddlewhisper sighed, readying her claws. She carefully stuck her claws into Trumpetspore's biggest mat. She gently tugged at Trumpetspore's fur, coaxing out little squiggles of moss and foreign hair.

"They're in StarClan," Trumpetspore muttered, moving her head onto her paws. "They're up there… without me."

"It's only a matter of time till you see them again," Rattlepelt promised. As Puddlewhisper worked on Trumpetspore's mat, she looked back to her kits. Icekit and Pearkit worked together to melt down a circle of snow, revealing the sand underneath. They grew more and more excited the closer they got to their goal. Puddlewhisper couldn't stop herself from wondering, how long would it be until she joined her parents in Silverpelt? How long would her kits have to wait to see her again?

Oh well. The musings of life, Puddlewhisper supposed.

(Puddlewhisper: 57, trans female, codekeeper, thoughtful, keen eye, ghost sense)

(Pearkit: 1, female, kit, quiet, moss-ball hunter)

(Currentsmoke: 26, male, caretaker, loving, good climber, inventor and innovator)

(Icekit: 1, male, kit, unruly, oddly observant)

(Rattlepelt: 74, female, artisan, thoughtful, leather artist)

(Trumpetspore: 52, female, warrior, nervous, makes the best pottery, good storyteller)

Trumpetspore… she…

[Image ID: Rattlepelt talks to Oilstripe, saying "This isn't what I meant…" Under both of them, it says + CONDITION: GRIEVING.]

---

The waking nightmare began as a murmur, a flutter of soft voices muffled against heavy snow. The sound coaxed Rattlepelt out of a deep, dreamless sleep little by little. It barely reached her ears, and her eyes begged to stay shut. Yet the whispers and gentle pawsteps said to Rattlepelt, get up.

And so she did, albeit slowly. Midnightkit and Valleykit were hidden underneath Rattlepelt's fox pelt, which now laid sideways over her body. Slivers of moonlight glinted off the snow outside and gave the nursery a soft blue shine. Puddlewhisper slept a fox-length away, limbs dangling out of her soft nest. Icekit and Pearkit slept on top of one another, pinning Puddlewhisper's back leg. A heavy warmth hung over the queens and their adopted kits, a warmth that made Rattlepelt loathe to step out of her nest. But there was a twitch in her gut that continued to whisper, on your paws, come along now.

Rattlepelt tried to figure out why she was awake as she slowly twitched life back into her paws. Was it a late-night rush to the dirtplace? No, that wasn't what her gut told her. No, it was Wildclaw, wasn't it? She was supposed to join Rattlepelt in the nursery once she was relieved from guard duty. How deep into the night were they? Shouldn't Wildclaw have joined Rattlepelt by then? Those questions stirred Rattlepelt to life.

Rattlepelt carefully pulled her fox pelt straight against her back. She slunk away from Midnightkit and Valleykit, praying they wouldn't wake up. Rattlepelt rubbed her paws into the leather floor and braced herself for the chill outside. The snow bit her feet and her eyes burned at the sudden introduction of firelight.

The camp bonfire was small, a sign of conversing heat for a sleeping Clan, but still bigger than it should have been for a quiet night. Oilstripe stood silhouetted against the flames. The autumn leaves that adorned her fur glowed, light streaming through the thin material. Oilstripe spoke with Venturedapple, Scaleripple, and Vervaincough. Every face burned with a solemnity that made Rattlepelt nauseous. Vervaincough shook in just such a way that Rattlepelt knew it wasn't from the cold.

Scaleripple noticed Rattlepelt from the corner of his eye and quickly muttered something to Oilstripe. Oilstripe looked back at Rattlepelt. Her face was torn, just like the day she returned from the human settlement without Carnationspeckle. The ginger deputy whispered to her Clanmates. They each went in separate directions; Venturedapple left camp, Scaleripple slipped into the warrior's den, and Vervaincough jogged toward the medicine den.

"Oilstripe?" Rattlepelt whispered. "Why is everyone acting like this?" Oilstripe turned to her adopted daughter. Her breath was shaky, and she blinked wildly. Rattlepelt crept closer, unable to tear away from Oilstripe's fearful eyes. A moment later, though, Troutpool and Weevilsight burst out of the medicine den and scrambled to the camp exit. Honeybuzz, Estherfern, and Gingerpaw followed slowly, whiskers fallen and a basket in Gingerpaw's jaws.

"Is someone hurt?" Rattlepelt gulped. Oilstripe groaned, running a snow-soaked paw over her muzzle.

"I need to start at the beginning," she said. Her voice was coarse and rattled. "I, uh… alright. Estherfern had a dream. A clump of mushrooms, rotting under moonlight. She woke me up and said it was about Trumpetspore. She was out of camp and in trouble. I sent a patrol to go find her. They just came back, she's…" Oilstripe sat down. Her legs tensed with the effort. Rattlepelt waited. The bonfire crackled at her paws.

"She killed herself," Oilstripe said. "Trumpetspore killed herself."

Maybe you can think about it this way, Trumpetspore. We're just filling in for Mosspounce.

"The codekeepers are certain of it. No prints around her body, no scent trail. I don't know what to think."

He's dead. I can't share tongues with him anymore. I'll never see him again.

"Shadowdrop's spirit is here. He's nodding at me. The codekeepers are right. StarClan, I didn't know Trumpetspore's grief was this bad."

But you will. You believe in StarClan, don't you?

"The patrol brought her body back, but… how am I supposed to just bring her into camp? What do I tell the Clan?"

You know Mosspounce is up in Silverpelt. So is Tempestshade, and Shadowdrop, and some of your old friends. They're all waiting for you. Some day, you'll get to share tongues with Mosspounce again.

"Scaleripple is waking the mediators. Maybe they will know what to say. What I really need is for the clerics to make sure she's presentable. I, I should talk to Downstar."

They're in StarClan. They're up there… without me.

"This isn't what I meant…" Rattlepelt croaked.

Oh StarClan. StarClan no. She was trying to comfort her! That conversation had been just two days prior. Did… did Rattlepelt give Trumpetspore the idea? She barely thought about what she said! She just wanted to help! This was her fault!

"Rattlepelt? Rattlepelt, sit down."

This was her fault. This was her fault. Trumpetspore didn't need to do this! She still had a life ahead of her! She could have found a mate, had kits, mentored more apprentices.

She and Rattlepelt were going to make more pots.

Rattlepelt gave her the idea. It wasn't supposed to be a way out! She did it again! She caused someone's death, again!

"No, Rattlepelt, you can't blame yourself for this. Can you breathe, please? Woah, woah, don't fall over! Rattlepelt, can you hear me? I'm getting Paleseed."

Wildclaw was wrong. It happened again.

(Rattlepelt: 74, female, artisan, thoughtful, leather artist)

(Oilstripe: 95, female, deputy, charismatic, ghost speaker)

NON-TRIGGERING SUMMARY: Puddlewhisper and Rattlepelt helped groom mats out of Trumpetspore's fur. Trumpetspore had been violently grieving Mosspounce, so Rattlepelt tried to comfort her. A couple nights later, Rattlepelt woke up to find Oilstripe solemnly discussing something with a patrol. Oilstripe informed Rattlepelt that Trumpetspore died by suicide outside camp. Rattlepelt has a panic attack at this, believing herself to be at fault for giving misinterpreted advice.

SUICIDE HOTLINES

(United States/Canada) National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988

(United Kingdom) National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 0800 587 0800

(Australia) Lifeline: 13 11 14

[caffinated-squid]

i really liked your eltingville club character analysis’s!!! in the bill one you mentioned how bill was showing vulnerability in the intervention, do you think he was also showing vulnerability at the beginning of this fan this monster? considering how his friends weren’t around for him to belittle or reinforce his power to, i’d love to see an analysis from you for bills behavior in this fan this monster and how joe influenced bill. ty and keep up the good work!! <3

Thank you, happy that you enjoyed them! Regarding Bill in This Fan This Monster, I think it could be argued that it shows up a little bit in the beginning considering that Joe is probably the closest thing that Bill has had to a consistent father figure in his life. Focusing on this comic by itself, (the inclusion of the first comic makes it a bit more confusing) its mentioned in the hospital that his parents are divorced and while when it specifically happened is unclear, his presence is also absent in other Eltingville comics. (excluding the first) 

Bill’s mom probably did not play much of a role in his life as well, considering how much resentment they both have for each other, which can be seen though Bill’s mom preferring to get people to tie him up in a chair for hours to fix his comic obsession rather than just talking to him herself in The Intervention and accusing him of blaming her for the divorce in This Fan This Monster.

In summary, Bill is not on good terms with either of his parents and probably latched onto Joe because he appeared to care about similar interests. (though he just sees Bill more as a source of money rather than an actual person)

** From this, Joe probably influenced Bill's behavior the most since a lot of Joe's behavior seen in This Fan This Monster (saying customers have to be treated like idiots, that women don't actually like comics) reflected in Bill once Joe needs to leave for an emergency and in the Epilogue. (especially in his rant to Mandi)

** Though I don't think that Joe was someone that Bill would ever open up to regarding his personal life and issues, its idolization rather than an actual familial relationship at most

I would say that the beginning of the comic has a mixture of two things, Bill trying to appease and learn from Joe while looking up to him as somewhat of a father figure, but also constantly testing to see how much he can get away with, he is still just as willing to break rules if it means he has easier access to the things he wants. Though that appeasement definitely comes back in when he attempts to blame his friends for the destruction of the comic shop in order to still cling onto the power he just obtained.

On his friends not being around, I don’t think that Bill got better without them present. Although he is the leader of the Eltingville Club, Josh and Pete are there to constantly challenge his opinions which prevents his ego from going completely unchecked. With their absence, you can see Bill’s ego gradually become more inflated the more he is around Joe, getting worse when Joe temporarily puts him in charge. Joe ignores Bill a majority of the time aside from making fun of him for doing grunt work, which allows Bill to believe that he can get away with being an asshole because he now has a higher status, and with this higher status, he doesn’t need a friend group to control.

**I tend to see This Fan This Monster as Bills Icarus moment, in the sense that his ego rises over the comic only for it to come crashing down when he sets the comic shop on fire out of spite.

(Hopefully this answered your question/request! I have 2 other analysis essays I am going to write related to Eltingville, then I'll probably be done and focus on another topic of interest)

[rosesnbooks]

❤️Scorpio placements🖤

💋sun in scorpio: scorpio suns are complex and those with this placement vary a lot. i have no trouble figuring out someone's moon in scorpio but it gets a bit difficult when it comes to the sun. either way, they always have a strong presence and they don't go unnoticed. people tend to form strong opinions about them, whether good or bad. their aesthetics can be different, with some even leaning toward softer looks. the women can be really cheerful and soft, but persevering. the men tend to be more on the "man of few words" side while trying to upkeep a masculine demeanor. they tend to have a great memory and they form strong attachements with their loved ones. they can be either shy or outgoing, but one thing they have in common is that they remain a mystery to a certain degree. they are full of life and they are very curious, and intellectual. they are funny and they love humorous people too. they are interested in many things and they like direct people who are fun to be with. the toxic ones can be really mean and gossipy, while others can be attentive and interesting. they appreciate the beauty in small things in life but they also have high ambitions and aren't afraid to dream big. they are responsible and mature for their age (obviously not everyone but yeah). they are hidden romantics and they have a crush most of the time

💋moon in scorpio: sensitive people with lots of emotions they try to keep hidden. they are very careful who they open up to and people tend to drain their energy, or they simply get tired of keeping up appearances. they want to have people in their lives who make them feel safe and they want someone they can confide into. they try to be independent but they want to rely on others sometimes too. they crave to be understood but they also want to remain a mysterious persona. they also crave a lot of passion in their daily lives and romance. they need hobbies and people that make them feel alive. those who do not manage to find such things tend to become obsessive with love and..yk...because it can give them that high. nevertheless, they are very passionate and creative. they are intuitive and feel other people's emotions but their emotional intelligence depends on their personal growth and their ability to be open-minded. they are prepared to do whatever it takes for their loved ones. i have noticed that they can be hard on themselves and that they wish to be more detached because it seems less complicated. despite craving privacy, i think many of them like attention, especially from the right people. they are yearners at their core.

💋ascendant/rising sign in scorpio: these people seem intimidating at first. they could have a soft aesthetic and everything and still not be easily approachable because of their aura. and yet, people can't seem to stop gravitating toward them. they usually leave an impression even in the shortest of interactions and people want to know what's happening in their mind. they are a lot more sensitive than they look. when relaxed and confident, their demeanor can be hypnotizing and they can turn on their charm easily. i have noticed that they find a fashion style they like and stick to it religiously. many prefer darker colors or more neutral tones they can combine with similar shades. the textures can vary but I rarely see them in any flashing colors. their eyes have a specific depth to them and you feel like they're always out of your reach somehow. they are a bit shy with new people but once they relax they can be humorous and talkative. others may think that they flirt a lot more than they actually do, which can get annoying. i've noticed that they attract emotionally immature people and men who show signs of toxic masculinity. they really like music and their alone time. food is also important to them!

💋mercury in scorpio-these people may not be of too many words unless they feel comfortable with you and even then, they are not yappers (in my experience). they observe people to form strong impressions. they are not the biggest fans of confrontation because they know things could get out of hand, so if they decide to fight with you, you must have pressed all the wrong buttons; especially if you hurt someone they love. they are honest and they like to get straight to the point. they talk with passion regarding the things they like. many of them really like gossip and their tendency to form strong first impressions can be impulsive and incorrect at times, so they need to be a bit more open-minded and patient with people. they are true skeptics sometimes because they need to believe in something 100% before acknowledging it. they also like taboo/darker topics. they are interested in the human nature and value truth even when it is uncomfortable and painful. they know how to read between the lines and figure out the true meaning of someone's words, so they are not easily fooled. they are not interested in small talk, in fact it drains them. i think journaling is amazing for all signs, but scorpios could benefit from it especially. basically, any outlet that lets them express their emotions and creativity without shame or fear, is good for them. it can be hard to compromise with them sometimes, and they need to work on that.

💋venus in scorpio-they want partners they can trust wholeheartedly. they may get entangled in some affairs because of their passionate nature and a deep desire for love. when they find the right person for them, they are dedicated, loyal and borderline obsessed haha. their partner becomes a part of them. i've seen some people write that scorpios can cheat their partners if they meet someone who provides the passion that is otherwise lacking in their relationship. i think anyone can cheat, so i don't have the need to comment on that. they probably had some karmic relationships in their life that taught them, the hard way, the kind of partner that's actually good for them. they are not afraid of seeing their loved one's dark sides. in fact, that just brings them even closer because they feel like they got to know them properly and they feel less ashamed of their own darker characteristics. these people are really sensual and they make their partners feel desired and wanted. truly not for those with weaker hearts. once again, they can be stubborn so they need a patient partner with a strong character. they need someone who will be a safe haven for them; someone intuitive, kind, honest, responsible, and well-tempered. they want a healthy relationship, the kind that feels like true love. people who value their freedom and alone time a lottt are not the best match for them, as well as those who lack empathy and healthy communication. in regards to their style i think it is more varied than people may think. people always say that they are romantic but i think this depends on the rest of their chart althoough in general, they are.

💋mars in scorpio-these people are very intense. they can be stubborn and they dislike obeying authority. if they think they're right about things, they can find it difficult to consider other perspectives. they put their heart into everything they do and they dislike doing anything half-heartedly. once they lose interest in something, it is hard to get right back to it, which is why they tend to excel in things that interest them, while performing more on the average side on things that don't matter to them/make sense. they are strong-willed and no matter the obstacles and the dark periods in their life, they persevere and learn from every experience. i've written once that they tend to be either hypersexual or on the asexual spectrum, haven't noticed anything in between much (and i still stand by it). when they get angry they feel consumed by it, and the feeling can stay with them for a while. that can be really tiring. they want to resolve things immediately but they feel blinded by their emotions so they usually have to wait to cool off and think about things before giving a healthy response. they can say hurtful things and hold grudges for a long time. i feel like they are fully aware of all the darker aspects of their personality. they can be overly protective and possessive. but, their love is deep and strong, so people feel lucky to have them in their lives. people can depend on them and trust them with anything. they like taboo topics/darker topics and they are interested in spirituality; they even find comfort in it.

💋saturn in scorpio-i don't know anyone with this placement but i've heard a couple of things along the years. it is no secret that these people are afraid of intimacy and exploring their emotions. they are afraid of being too much and saying the wrong thing, which gets in the way of their personal and even professional life. they can be stubborn, secretive, and quick to judge. they are scared of relying on others so they deal with things alone. life has not treated them kindly and they underwent many transformations. they are strong individuals who can overcome any obstacles and they are very careful and observant. they don't rush into things and they are quite smart. their emotions and intuition provide a rich inner life and a big and loving heart that just needs to give people a chance more. they understand others because of everything they've been through and they can be someone's rock in difficult times. people naturally respect them and listen what they have to say attentively. i've read that they are often responsible with their finances and other reponsibilities. once they decide to work on themselves, a bright future awaits because they will realise their strength and invite wonderful people into their lives.

💋jupiter in scorpio-these people do anything their heart desires even when scared. they are careful, smart, passionate, and loving. they have most luck when they welcome change in their lives. that's when they grow as people and find many good things and people on the way. they use their intense emotions as a tool that guides them toward the truth, which is why they often make the right decisions and trust the right kind of people. they are magnetic and attractive. their wilpower is amazing and they have a great intuition. a lot of them are interested in spirituality and astrology. tarot may be something they are interested too. they have the ability to use their strengths for a good cause or for their selfish gains. this depends on them entirely. life can test them more than others which might seem unfair, which can lead someone toward a path of distrust and manipulation, or courage and honesty (and love, obviously). despite it all, some of them can be victims of manipulation (through media or the ones closest to them). people may learn what makes them tick and what they love and adapt accordingly, only to fulfil their malicious plans for them. i know someone with this placement who uses their intensity to get what they want and it can be morally troubling at times (e.g. using fear and power). they need to nourish their confidence and relationships with others in order to keep growing. nevertheless, they are interesting people you can't seem to forget

♡Thank you for reading dear! A little disclaimer: I am not a professional!♡

©rosesnbooks

[idksomething356]

My Littlest Pet Shop [au] tf x reader Absolute Territory pt.1

! DO NOT take this too deep&seriously, these headcanons are just for fun and for freaky freaks like me. This is my AU, so I am smashing everything I know together !

To fully understand what's happening here SFW + short story

You are a pet. Simply put — a pet. Time has passed since you first arrived on the Lost Light. Drift was the one who rescued you from the evil servos of Decepticons, who were ready to squeeze you like a stress ball and toss away your limp, soulless body. But for once, lady luck had finally smiled upon you.

Drift had actually planned to present you as a gift to his conjux, Ratchet — thinking that the always-busy medic could use a stress-relief pet to hold and lazily petting on the back or their little helm during breaks from work. He had no evil intentions, really! It was just that you were so small, miserable and terrified that you were facing a terrible death that he just couldn't pass by and leave you alone! Drift wanted to protect a creature so fragile and give it to his care. Of course, Ratchet immediately scolded his beloved and intended to return you to your shop owner.

But then — you clung to his digit for dear life, eyes full of tears, looking like a kicked puppy. You mastered all of your acting skills as soon as you realized these big bots ain't gonna keep you. And… his spark ached at this scene. Congrats! This old bot's feelings have been melted by your poor condition and tears.

So, you took full advantage of your current situation.

By the grace of Primus, Rodimus and half the crew had been to Earth before, so they understood your language. It was much easier to convince others to let you stay — especially once they realized you weren’t just some mindless animal, but a sentient, thinking being. Not without effort, but you've gotten everything you need for yourself from Rodimus; new clothes, hygiene items and your own separate, organized corner room with private bathroom. Once the red-and-yellow blob Rodimus Prime even chimed in on how expensive it is to keep a human pet. And quickly apologised for it under Ultra Magnus' stern gaze.

Things got a little awkward after that… yet still pretty chill. Because, at the end of the day, you were helpful!

Well, at least for being adorable, cute, little human, welcoming exhausted mechs back to the ship after long missions. All pretty to look at.

SWERVE

Your first ever close friend was Swerve! Oh, this guy not only loves humans but is also obsessed with your shows, music, and everything else. And he’s the funniest bot around! One of the Autobots who didn't see humans as little pets and really got into your kind as their equals. So, obviously, it was easy for you two to become close and hang out together at his bar. When you don't have much to do, you always find his company and you talk about something. And you're so open to him, not just his mask of perpetually cheerful bot, not just as a good bartender, but as a real person. Well, who better than you to know what it's like to be degraded to the level of an animal with no personality or intelligence? Right.

You often helped him with drinks as much as you could. At one point, you almost convinced him to buy you roller skates, a cute short skirt, and a blazer so you could skate around, clean the floors, or deliver energon to the minibots at their tables... Though, you both understood that being exposed to energon was extremely dangerous for you. So, in the end, all you really did was stay by the bar with him, entertaining mechs with your human stories!

However, he did end up buying you a mini skirt, a blazer, and even a few extra pairs of clothes…

RUNG

Oh, this sweet, sweet bot. So Gentle and patient with you! Maybe, that is a thing that you get along with minibots due to them being not so large and tall. Yes, Rung was much bigger than you, but at least you felt relatively safe, without the fear of being crushed suddenly and recklessly. You could say that for all minibots, if you think about it. What didn't escape your keen gaze tho, was the way that despite the smile so tenderly bestowed upon you by the Autobot, you sensed something deeper, even sadder, behind it. What's more, you've quietly become the second therapist for the Lost Light crew without expecting it. In fact, you were still happy to listen to mechs, to help them sort through their feelings or just simply be here for them when needed. Rung is not an exception to it, and honestly? He appreciate it. Very much. He shares his thoughts with you, often asks you about your past, and even showed you his model ships collection! Under very close watch. You even held one ship in your hands. Not for long, but still! For extra help, you would sometimes sit with Rung in his office and listen to him talk to his patient. Their chatter, which you couldn't understand at all, made you want to go to sleep often. What were you doing there anyway? Well, you played the role of an emotional support animal human. And he sometimes needs that kind of help too, at times even more private. RODIMUS Erm, this one is... defo something. The 'fuckboy' vibes you get from him are miles away! And that's not even your problem, Rodimus immediately started playing along and flirting with you as soon as you were aboard their ship. It was nice, as odd as it sounded, but you could easily tell it was just one of his personality traits and he didn't mean anything serious by those words. He loves attention — that's what you learned short after. Since you have plenty of time, you put aside your Cybertron history lessons (thanks, Ultra Magnus, again) and go pay a visit to see Rodimus. You'd think that since he's the captain of the ship, he'd be busy all the time. But in reality? Uh, 7 out of 10? You always wondered 'does he actually do his job?' Kinda...We're not here to discuss work, are we. He'll gladly welcome you into his quarters where you can talk or even help him with some business, more often than not related to real, necessary work, or watch some cool Earth media (cool stands for action movies). However, you quickly remember Ultra Magnus' very menacing faceplate and rush Rodimus to finish the important paperwork. And he's whining, making such a pathetic optic expression that you believe he's about to cry. No, he doesn't cry, just ex-vents and gets to it. At least it's not so boring doing it with you around. But if you really annoy him with reciprocal flirting enough, he'll first start to panic, and then…. you'll have to accept the consequences of your brazen flirting with your hands on him (he really liked the way your soft touch slid over his armour).

(I know Rodi is more than that, chill)

NSFW SOON

@kitschaosden

[someobscurereference]

Insane over the awakening trio again. We fought a war together, saved each other multiple times, and I know for a fact I can trust you with my life. We have never learned to socialize normally so we can't interact in a normal environment for five seconds without dunking on each other. I would follow you through time and space and abandon everything with you. You are the living reminder of every awful thing that have ever happened to me. Our traumas make us hurt each other at every turn. We're the only ones who know what lead to each other becoming Like That. Our jobs are barely in the same area and we don't even hang out that much outside of necessities. You are all I have left. I cannot fucking understand you. I am the only one in this entire world who has the ability to even try to.

x

[cacw]

I think online mutual culture is killing some of you

[kneworder]

did you watch tua s4 and if so what did you think :3

yeah i watched it

[orangeearlgray]

It's not even a joke anymore I need to see Mey Rin.

[anonyanonymouse]

🙈

[seaslimes]

Every time I see those posts about the AO3 F/F to M/M ratios, all I can think is:

Okay, excellent point. But what if you just wrote it?

Like. Yeah, man, I'm sure it's discouraging to see raw numbers talking about how your ship doesn't get the rep it needs. But when you get down to numbers... sometimes the difference within fandoms is less than 500 more M/M works than F/F works. That's actionable. You can fill that gap with a fraction of the people liking / reblogging posts about F/F erasure.

Sometimes the gap is bigger. It's like, 1000 more works are tagged M/M. 2000, or more. Yeah, that's a big gap, but you could make it one less. If every person liking or reblogging a post about the disparity of ship fics on AO3, that number would shrink drastically, or outright disappear.

IDK. I write F/F. I write M/M too, as well as M/F. But I write F/F, and when I see that sorta post. It doesn't feel like a call to action. It feels like somehow, in some way, I'm not doing enough when I post up fanfiction for free about stuff I like.

It makes me feel like I should stop sharing my F/F work, that it doesn't matter, that people don't recognize the effort or love or time that goes into it. Even beyond that, I feel discouraged about the work I have put out, because thousands of words written all about an F/F pairing are only seen in that raw stat format.

"There's X M/M fics and Y F/F fics." Yes, I know, and that has to suck. But look at how many people wrote F/F fics! Have you commented on each of those F/F fics? Have you given kudos? Did you feel inspired to write or draw because of those F/F fics? That's what fandom is for. That's why we create. If that's not inspiring you to "close the gap" on those stats, I don't know what to say.

[youremyonlyhope]

I'm not a "new musical theatre style music" person. Never have been.

Even when I was doing voice lessons, I'd steer towards the golden age or jazzy musical theatre songs. My voice teacher would have to drag me kicking and screaming towards adding anything new musical theatre to my repertoire. For a while, the most modern song in my book was I Know The Truth from Aida, and I wouldn't count that as new musical theatre style since I mean more the Pasek&Paul or Joe Iconis type.

And now I have an audition coming up for a small production of a show in that style and I'm supposed to sing a song in a similar style. And I'm looking at all my sheet music like... let me do some Cole Porter... or Gershwin... at least Sondheim please...

[sabraeal]

hii, I’m still the hakuouki anon, i do like sanan but I agree with you that he’s inconsistent and it’s a shame (the thing I actually disliked the most about his route though was kodo just randomly trying to redeem himself like he was talking about locking chizuru up for life then changed his mind?? lmao) Would be interested to know what felt groomy in his route if you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts!! your fave is yamazaki ofc but do you have any other faves? sorry for the rant, hope u have or had a nice day💗💗

I don't actually really care to talk about it, no! I've played his route twice, the last time in 2021, and didn't enjoy it either time, and that's enough for me. I don't really need to relive it through discourse.

Favorite routes is a hard question because I feel like when people ask, it's because they're assuming you self-ship, when I am really just here to make my dolls kiss 🤣My favorite routes are typically the ones where the MC vibes well with the LI, or at least there is a good STORY attached to it. So Yamazaki is my #1 because he's the one route where I feel like Chizuru is seen as a peer rather than like...precious cargo. But there's definitely a few others I really like!

Shinpachi-- the whole set up with them trying to do a whole big brother/little sister relationship that instantly falls apart because the lack of sexual expectation makes them emotionally vulnerable? Chef's kiss 10/10 trope, wish it didn't have the sulk cabin but what can you do.

Saito-- great slow burn with the perfect demi-panic for Saito when he realizes he has sexual feels for Chizuru. This was my favorite route until I played Yamazaki's a couple routes later

Kazama-- after bracing myself for an unapologetic villain fucker route, was pleasantly surprise to find out that his EB vibe is "dog who caught the car." He's got Chizuru and has no idea what to do with her, end up following her to the ends of the earth (aka hokkaido) so that she can have closure

Ryouma-- not actually a great fit for Chizuru, but him and Nakaoka are the best looking men in the game, and the spy vs spy romance Ryouma thought they were living vs Chizuru actually being oblivious was a JOY.

I also enjoyed Heisuke, even though his route overall didn't have the same pull for me the other ones did. Corgis in love vibes are impeccable, but I feel like Yamazaki's route did the whole "shinsengumi's worst soldier" with more emotional stakes, there's a whole chapter that is just retreading angst so that Chizuru and Heisuke don't get together too soon, which honestly would have been the superior choice. It DOES give us the BEST Kazama though, and Kazama/Sen, which kept me well fed through the last half of EB.

[wreckedhoney]

^^ "coming to the conclusion that positioning the "can people enjoy things that would be immoral IRL in their fiction" debate as a proship v anti fandom debate is akin to pretending that "should we have the death penalty" is a discussion that only matters in Death Note discourse"

not proshipper not anti but a secret third thing (person who has a career in the media and, through covering legislative politics, has watched "associating with problematic fiction or entertainment is an indicator of moral degeneracy" rapidly become a mainstream GOP position that they are encoding in legislation to target the queer community under the guise of protecting children, thus coming to the conclusion that positioning the "can people enjoy things that would be immoral IRL in their fiction" debate as a proship v anti fandom debate is akin to pretending that "should we have the death penalty" is a discussion that only matters in Death Note discourse — the extent and manner to which fiction affects reality is an issue that is immediately relevant to today's US politics, and to summarize my opinions on the matter in fandom terms would be to diminish the ways this debate is affecting america Right The Fuck Now. and i have stopped taking "this person is bad for shipping the wrong anime thing and being horny about it" in any sort of good faith ever since I saw it literally used as part of a GOP smear campaign against a transgender state legislator in an attempt to defend the right from backlash after they used their supermajority in the Montana house to prevent her from speaking on the floor. Anyway I think everyone on this site, especially Americans, could benefit from ceasing to think in proship v anti vocabulary and instead developing coherent political positions on the nature of fiction that do not directly align with current fascist political tactics)

[deathisamotherofbeauty]

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