#and its a lot to take in. i have so many feelings about it and i know that so many other people go through this too

[thelawfulchaotic]

Being a jerk to someone part of a different group (especially a morally judged group) is a grand old human tradition.

If violence is infliction of harm, the words you use to inflict harm on people are violent words.

Honestly, folks, consider removing the judgment words from your vocabulary. Not only are they violent, but they’re nonspecific and counterproductive — they invoke defensiveness and hurt.

“Cis guys suck”

vs

“I feel anger towards cis men, *because of* specific behavior x and y”

“Down with cis”

vs

“The people I work with have difficulty understanding gender identity and it often frustrates me because i want to be accepted/I want it just ignored/I find it triggering”

Okay these sentences are a lot longer, yes, much less efficient, but they put the attention where it needs to be: on SPECIFICS. If your friend bro hears you talking about how guys keep manspreading on the bus and hitting on you while you’re listening to music, he won’t be like “wow this is unpleasant for me”, he’ll be like “ah these are things I do not do because I am not an asshole and I know I am still accepted here.”

It also places emphasis on what you’re actually feeling and why you’re actually feeling it. Name! That! Emotion! Many people have trauma and issues recognizing what emotion they are feeling and practice helps; besides that, you’ll be able to focus on what the problem actually is, and maybe think up something specific for a solution. Want Kyle at work to stop making a big deal out of every pronoun? This is not the same problem as Steve now refusing to be in the same room alone with you now that you’ve come out.

And notice in none of these have I said judgment words like “unacceptable behavior” or “being the worst” or other ways to judge. This is not because I have no opinions. It’s because judgment interferes with communication. It’s a tactically nonviolent choice. If you come in thinking of someone as More Bad than you, you will behave in ways that show that judgment, on purpose or not. Even people who do bad things are people and usually have some way they’re reachable. It takes a toolbox that very few of us are taught.

It feels real good to judge people. Judgment and social punishment are reinforcing — to the punisher. You feel good while doing it, so you do it again. It becomes a habit. It becomes a dogma. It’s a trap. Punishment never works, and if it briefly accomplishes its intended purpose, it always comes with a thousand more negative effects down the line. Alienation of your non-in-group friends. Entrenchment in your social groups. Echo chambers. And the inability to make anyone listen to you about anything important.

However, if someone is not engaging with you in good faith, tell them what they’re doing that makes you feel that way, tell them how it makes you feel, and tell them you will not engage further until they come to the table for real. Not punishment, just ending the discussion without any uncertainty.

Hot take but I really do think that some of y’all need to consider how/why/when/how often you’re making fun of straight people for being straight

I do it too, I’m not going to pretend I don’t make jokes about the hets, or the down with cis bus, or whatever

But I recently befriended a cis, straight dude and I have watched him be dismissed, degraded, and unambiguously insulted for the perceived “crime” of being straight — all in queer environments where he is allegedly “completely welcome” and surrounded by “friends”

This guy is not a toxic person! But I have seen him be made to feel so small and like his comfort and safety in those spaces are conditional on his silence and acceptance of being treated like a human dunk zone, and I think that some of y’all have had so much shit from straight/cis people that the second you feel like you’ve got an inch, you want to luxuriate in the perceived catharsis of bullying someone who— actually —doesn’t deserve it

And until he very, very carefully mentioned to me in private that it makes him feel bad, I didn’t even clock that I was involved in doing that, that it had become so instinctive for me to make casual jokes like that, and that— well meaning or otherwise —I had been contributing to an environment that made someone I really really like feel like shit

So, I dunno, I think maybe some of y’all should think about that too

[yandere-kokeshi]

Hey!! I know its kind of a weird ask but how would yandere dad ghost react to discovered that his kid has a terminal sickness.

— Yandere Dad! Ghost reacting to his kiddo being diagnosed with a terminal illness

Warnings: Yandere platonic behavior, huge angst, Teenager! Reader, details of being sick and death.

A/N: Not a weird ask at all!! I enjoy these types of angst asks 😭. Enjoy!!!

Dad! Ghost is… distraught. More than he can relate to any other word. He’s quiet, too quiet for anyone’s comfortableness. His throat closes up, eyes gone wide, brown pupils staring at the doctor, as he begins to feel his hands shake uncontrollably. Even if he held his wrist to straighten it out, like his life depended on it, it’d still shake in fear.

He recognizes it for what it is—adrenaline, the body's reaction to stress. He hasn’t felt this type of panic since he left home. What a fuckin’ joke. But life is, isn’t it?

His body just feels numb. A way too familiar feeling he had in his chest, just sitting there occupied before you came into his life. It’s unfair. Extremely so, but he just accepts it. He’s straightforward—asking how much time you have left with an unreadable expression. He doesn’t fight with the doctor or even try to negotiate if there was a cure—both of you know there isn’t one, and that’s the hardest part for him to accept.

Anger is the first of the few emotions he feels. Not at you, but rather at himself. He forgets to breathe, feeling his chest tighten at the thought of you leaving. Dad! Ghost prides himself on taking care of you. Better than anyone, better than how he was treated growing up. When he took you as his, he promised to care for you—dedicated to your health and safety. And now, he’s failed at the most important section as a parent.

The first thing he asks is just for a hug. He doesn’t force you, but you can feel the rawness in the question. The desperation. The loss of something of his yet again. It’s a tight embrace, his fingers digging into your back. He needs to feel you, living and breathing, accepting the fact that he won’t be able to at some point. He’ll be asking for them a lot, especially for the first few months when your health begins to deteriorate.

In a way, Dad! Ghost softens—way more than his usual softness toward you, almost where it’s uncomfortable. It’s another façade, a mask behind his regular fatherly ways, to hide his pain from you. Like a marble statue slowly crumbling away.

He lets you stay up way later, trying to make the best of it with you. The two of you watch all types of TV shows, laughing at the comedy. Getting your favorite takeout every week, eating it whilst watching some of his and yours favorites. Taking you to visit different countries and states if that’s what you decide to do—even if it’s out of his comfort zone. He takes so many pictures of you, living in the moment and trying not to think negatively.

He doesn’t tell the team about your diagnosis, but somehow, they know. They always do. It’s the signature distance he has with them—even Laswell messages are just left on read or answered late, a lack in his communication. They all mourn equally, being there for him, for you. But at some point, Dad! Ghost will just break without you here.

—

Masterlist || Reblogs, comments, and likes are very much appreciated!! Stay well!!

© yandere-kokeshi 2024 — Do not copy, modify, edit, repost, or use my works for ASMR readings, tiktoks, or other content.

[myebi]

art vs artist 2024 ✨ can't believe we're here!

i've been thinking about this year a little bit these past few days, with the holidays being under special circumstances for me. the past month passed quickly but very gently, which I'm grateful for all things considered. i think it's now safe to say that after some reflecting 2024 was one of - if not the - best year of my life. I've never experienced such a whirlwind of gratifying experiences in the span of twelve months: i met so many new and nice people, had my first con experiences in amazing settings and my first job opportunities in a field i wanted an experience in for a long time, traveled the world somehow, got 10x more attached to my characters than i already was - and I'm quitting the year with just as many projects as i did when i entered it. granted, new problems came up and still persist, but with every year that passes i get one step to catching up with the anxiety and fears that hold me back, and it's that one step that each time allows me to surpass fear and welcome something new. every leap of faith partially led to the beautiful things i experienced throughout the year like a ripple effect (partially). it's gratifying and humbling in equal measure. so cool!!

art wise, i'm a lot more satisfied with the direction my art is taking than i used to be in the past two years. i came up with brush settings that shifted my line dynamic and i discovered a new rendering technique i really enjoy that allows me to balance time-efficient with textured together. i think my art has been getting a lot more expressive and while sometimes it makes me feel like I'm straying away from a more sanitized, thought through illustrative style, maybe it's worth it for the feelings to be conveyed the way i want them to. i haven't gotten to a point where i'm experimenting with my shapes, compositions and palettes in a way that shakes up my habits in a good way, but I'll get there.

I've also come to realize while making the meme that i actually have very few finalized personal works to show this year! i made most of my personal work posts on a time rush (they usually were made for specific days). I've been working on a set of drawings that required some tweaking and a few days to sketch properly, but the result is worth it, I'm so proud of them!! i wanted to get them out before the NY but it convinced me that rendering had to take its time as well, i don't always want to rush things nowadays. being on a time limit and taking all the time necessary are both good drawing exercises nonetheless.

lots of rambling, but i had lots of thoughts. I'm so grateful that some people are still in my life as we inch toward the new year. to my moulin squad, to my tol staw, to all the new friends i made this year, to my kitty, to my family. i love you like the world. and of course, to all the people who follow my work from up close or from afar, thank you so much. to know i bring a bit of inspiration, thought and color into your day has a lot more worth to me than you can imagine. thank you for manifesting your interest and your support whenever you do!! 🙏

i hope you all have safe and healthy holidays 💛 drive safely and tell your loved ones you love them. my thoughts are with Ukraine and the people of Palestine.

[strwberri-milk]

hii can i ask u to write hc about boys when they say something in conversation that will hurt mc, for example when they will mention her appearance like rafayel in ebb when he said 'its round like u'. hope u have great dayy<33

Zayne, being a doctor, has lots of opinions about some of your unhealthier habits. He doesn't share them all the time because he never wants to come off as nagging but you don't need him to say anything to know that he's staring at you judgmentally. He averts your gaze when you turn to him but it's already too late.

You feel yourself becoming demoralised, whatever you were doing totally abandoned as you decide to leave. Zayne knows exactly what happened, cursing himself for not keeping himself in check around you. He just can't help but worry, wanting to see you take care of yourself. The second you try to leave he grabs your wrist, apologising as he tells you it's just because he loves you.

He promises to use his words next time. You sniffle a little, deciding to act a little immature as you tell him that the issue is that he makes it very clear what he thinks. You'd rather him just tell you rather than look at you judgmentally, Zayne unaware just how it looked to you. Generally, he keeps his expression neutral but whenever it comes to you he wears his heart on his sleeve. Or he thinks he does - you've just become so attuned to him that you know what every slight quirk of his brow means.

Xavier also does micro expressions that seem a little judgemental, generally whenever you say something he finds a little odd. He isn't sure if it's just because he's missing some context but when he does it one too many times in a conversation you begin to mutter an apology for boring him.

He's tripping over himself to try and correct you, wanting to tell you that it's not that he's bored, he's just struggling to follow the conversation. You confront him by telling him that even when he's following the conversation just fine he still makes faces at you sometimes. He's now forced to admit that he thinks he makes faces the more tired he gets, body subconsciously trying to get the conversation to end so he can go flop onto the nearest fluffy surface.

However, since it hurts your feelings he does his best to monitor himself, trying to be more active in your conversations. You can see how tired he is though, taking pity on him and telling him to go take a nap. You'll be there to infodump on him when you wake up anyway.

Rafayel says things off handedly, especially when he's not feeling well. Normally you can take it well but today you just couldn't, his passive insult hitting you hard. He watches your face cloud over, brows furrowing as he tries to understand what this sudden shift in your mood is attributed to.

You make it clear it's because of what he said about you, the one statement being the straw that broke the camel's back. You ignore him, not wanting to even look at him as you walk away from him. You try to cool off, your mind spinning as his unintentional words play over and over again. It takes you a while before you can even speak to him normally and when you seek him out he looks like a scolded dog.

He immediately perks up when he sees you, apologising profusely when you come back to him. Despite being mad at him, you also know he provides the most comfort so you crawl into his lap and begin to scold him. He takes it in stride, knowing that he messed up and promising that he'll take better note of your mood to know when he should and shouldn't joke with you about things like that.

Sylus has a sharp tongue like Rafayel but he sounds slightly more "serious" when he says those things. His voice doesn't lend well to jokes unfortunately, meaning that if you're feeling a little more raw one day then you're going to take his words seriously, just like today.

He doesn't let you run from him though - grabbing you and asking you what the problem is. You normally can take his teasing, returning it to him twofold. When you don't quip at him he knows something is wrong, waiting for you to use your words and tell him. He's patient whenever it comes to you thankfully, letting you take your time. You struggle in his grip a little, not wanting to tell him right away but the warmth he provides is just too good so you bury yourself in his chest, telling him that he hurt your feelings.

He coos at you sweetly, telling you how adorable you are and apologising by peppering your face in kisses. He hates making you sad and even if he doesn't overtly say it, you know he regrets it by how he's careful not to insult you if you don't start it first, using how you speak to him as a gauge before returning with some of his usual playful nips at you.

[softness-and-shattering]

For a long time I had an image saved in my phone, it was one of those written-over memes from The Wizard of Oz, "but are you a good witch or a bad witch?" except witch was swapped out with Jew.

"Are you one of the Good Jews (virulently anti-zionist) or one of the Bad Jews (bathing in Palestinian baby blood)?". Its never a valid question no matter what you put in the brackets and we won't play. We shouldnt need to announce our presence/guarantee our safety with a fifty page manifesto detailing the crimes of the Israeli government denouncing every single one in detail, plus pointing out and debunking a slew of popular antisemitic conspiracy theories like, say, shadow cabals and lizard people.

Neither should we have to open a discussion about how we can continue to belong to our faith AND culture AND history - because Judaism is an ethnoreligion not just a belief system- while being queer, and beg for understanding and acceptance to be who we are. To be in queer spaces devoted to celebrating our unique identities and to feel like its not safe to be all of yourself is real shitty.

And its also ridiculous that we cant ever talk about Zionism because you all have decided that it means at it core absolute hatred of Palestinians. No. At its core its an absolute love of Eretz Yisroel and Am Yisroel, and a grief of two thousands years of colonisation and exile by Rome. It has nothing to do with Palestinians at all, which did become conflict for obvious geographical reasons but its not ideologically insurmountable at all. Its not grounded in hate. And Im rethinking if I should even say this or not because I think its important, and because I know a lot of you who at best arent examining your biases and at medium-worst are just looking for people you can get away with bullying, could take this as a hair trigger to send me hate.

And I usually dont talk about this stuff for this exact reason. And I dislike it. There are so many good meaningful conversations to be had if we're stuck in our thinking about what the acceptable party lines are and what we have to say exactly to get by. And to be clear, if I say something bigoted or shitty, tell me. As a general rule. Dont come raging into my inbox, have some basic decency and Ill afford you the same, and a reply within my ability and capacity. I never want to be an asshole. I will always engage critical thinking about my own beliefs and ideas. I think this is enough caveat-ing for now. If you want to be a good and thoughtful person you always need to engage in self-reflection. If this post makes you angry, I suggest taking a break and thinking about it rather than immediately responding. Its not life and death, this is tumblr.

Jewish queer people deserve to be safe in queer spaces.

[im4rmy]

your first time together - jaemin (idol AU)

IMAGINE: he rents a room in a hotel to have a really nice dinner but your mind is somewhere else.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

• you sighed deeply to gain the strenght that seems to have left your body: you worked your ass off for 12 hours at the hospital where you were doing your specialization. but holy shit were you tired.

• you were used to long shifts, you loved your job and usually even 20 hours of work were easily manageable but today- even getting ready for your date with the most attractive man you ever met in your life was HARD.

• getting all dolled-up and choosing an outfit was one of your favourite activities and the idea of having a fancy dinner in an expensive hotel was great but your body was really struggling rn, in front of the location where jaemin was waiting for you.

• you took the elevator to reach the room jaemin texted you about and sighed again, getting ready to be charming and sexy for him. you liked him a lot tbh but of course you only had a few dates together and you were basically still strangers.

• jaemin opened the door of the room to welcome you in and the bright smile he gave you made your shoulders relax instantly. his presence was really comforting.

• "hi pretty" "hi jaemin, you look very handsome, as always"

• he laughed letting you in (to hide the butterflies that threatened to climb up through his throat) and taking your coat for you. "you're stunning, as always. i'm sorry, i know it looks very suspicious to have dinner in this room rather than the restaurant but-" "oh you don't need to explain, i saw the amount of people that are hanging in the hall. i like it here, it's more quiet"

• he smiled again and guided you to take a seat at the table. you looked around and- that wasn't just a room, it was a suite, with a living room and a kitchen and probably two or more bedrooms.

• the dinner was going on smoothly as always, he was funny and charming. you could listen to him talking all day long without getting tired, but tonight your body was failing you and your legs hurt so much it was distracting.

• "are you okay?"

• you looked up at him and smiled. "of course! um... what were you saying?"

• he didn't answer and looked at you unconvinced, but resumed his discourse nevertheless.

• "omg i'm sorry, hold on a second. i really need to-" you got up abruptly startling him and you shamelessly took off your black heels and exhaled loudly, letting your feet enjoy the freedom.

• jaemin looked at you with wide eyes, shocked by your sudden and weird change of character. you sighed and came back to your seat, giving another bite at your perfectly cooked steak. "you were talking about the shooting. what happened then?"

• he just stared at you for a while, starstrucked. then he tilted his head. "how many hours did you work today?"

• you blinked. "i told you" "i feel like you lied to me tho"

• you held his gaze for a bit, but then you collapsed on the chair and sighed in defeat. "twelve"

• jaemin's eyes widened. "WHAT?" he got on his feet immediately and walked around to stand behind you. when you feel his hands on your bare shoulders you flinch, but relax immediately after.

• "w-what are you doing?" "you need to rest, what the hell were you thinking? i would've never invited you here knowing how tired you are!"

• you know what he means but you decide to tease him, trying to focus while his hands massage your skin and above all... trying not to moan, for god sake. "are you saying that i'm not pretty enough when i'm tired?"

• he laughs loudly and you can't see him but you feel his gorgeous smile shining behind you. and when he leans forward to whisper directly in your ear, you swear your heart flips in excitement.

• "you're truly a menace... i should watch my mouth, don't i?"

• you want to answer but his said mouth finds its spot around your earlobe and every possible word dies in your throat. he continues his journey down your neck until his lips reach your shoulder. and you finally moan.

• "ah, here it is. i'm waiting to hear you like this since we met, baby" "you really need to watch your mouth, pretty boy"

• you grab his head and smash your lips together, he sighs in your mouth and caress your arms, savouring your soft skin with his fingertips. "you're exquisite"

• "you didn't even taste me yet" "omg can i?"

• you see him TREMBLE and the excitement dancing in his eyes makes your mouth and your core water. "help yourself, sweetie"

• he moans just thinking about it and gets on his knees instantly, settling between your legs. he caresses your thighs trying not to drool and he reaches immediately for your panties, taking them off and leaving you in only your short dress.

• he lifts up the hem of it and attacks your core like a starved man, starting to kiss and lick and suck right away. you moan and grab his perfectly styled hair in your fingers, pulling at it.

• "shit" "relax, let me hear your pretty voice"

• jaemin finds himself craving your moans and whimpers: you're very vocal and he happens to love it. but you'll soon find out that he... purrs. every time you touch him properly he purrs. he lets out such low and shameless growls that your thighs clench involuntarily.

• after a few minutes, you're sprawled on the first bed you found with his erection in your hand, his mouth sucking one of your breast and your bodies completely naked on each other.

• between a whimper and a moan, he speaks "you remember that night, when we first met?". you nod.

• "i said that i fell in love with you then. i wasn't lying. i'm in love with you, y/n. i fell on my knees like a dumb kid. you have me wrapped around your finger and i love everything about that"

• you smile and look at the way he's caressing your breasts while he's saying all of these things directly in your face and you're stroking his damn member. you're very sure that this man is one to keep close.

• "then make love to me"

• the look you both exchange is sweet and the kiss after that is the most awesome kiss you'll ever experience in your life. you're sure of that.

• and when your bodies fully interlock you feel your mind melting in the bliss of the moment: jaemin's skin is all over yours and his hands cherish your every curve and line.

• his movements are sharp and rhythmic but slow, he takes care in every gesture, every stroke, every thrust.

• you had sex with different men before (and you can tell he had women in his hands before too) and you enjoyed a lot of good sex, but this hits different: you never felt this intimate with someone, especially because this is your first time together! wtf? but your bodies feel so comfortable interwined together.

• him in you... his eyes looking at you adoringly and lost in all the sensations you're enjoying right now... his hands holding you tight... does it feel amazing? yes. does it feel exciting? yes. but above all... it feels right.

• you reach the climax when he presses your clit with his thumb without stopping his melliflous thrusts. and when your walls clench around him he curses under his breath and cums right away, riding your shared orgasm till the end.

• he sighs and throws himself next to you, pulling you towards him and letting you rest on his broad chest. when you hear his heart beating at an alarming pace you smile and caress his abs.

• "what if i call you every time i have a 12 hours shift?" "how often does that happen?" "every two days" "that's too little, i need to see you at least once a day"

♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤

masterlist

Taglist: @carelessshootanonymous

♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤♡♤

[megameatymatt]

Pretty Baby - Billie Eilish

“TMI, but self-pleasure is an enormous, enormous part of my life, and a huge, huge help for me. People should be jerking it, man"

Credits to @prttyribbons for the divider 🖤

Summary: Billie reminds you how pretty you are by touching you in front of a mirror

A/N: idk why this took so long for me to write cuz its nothing special btw tysm for all the love on my last fic i really appreciate it!!!! love you guys ok bye!🖤

CW: SMUT, insecurity, edging, fingering, Dom!billie. fem!reader, excessive use of the word pretty

word count: 813

Billie: purple

Y/n: Pink

You stand in front of your bed, staring at your reflection in the mirror as you try on yet another outfit. You've always had some insecurities about your body, but today, it feels like it's all you can focus on. You and Billie were supposed to go out today, but after two hours of searching for something to wear, you still can't find an outfit that hides the parts of yourself you wish weren't so visible.

After trying on what feels like the 100th outfit, tears fall. "Whats wrong with me, why can't i be pretty?" You whisper, eyes scanning your reflection in the mirror. After some time Billie walks in and sees you crying. "What's wrong babe? You alright"

You wipe your eyes quickly, but your voice cracks when you answer. "I just… I can't find anything that looks right. I feel—" you pause, the words hard to form, "—I feel like i'm not good enough."

Billie steps closer, gently pulling you into her arms. "But you are good enough, more than good enough." She pulls back and cups your face. "In so many different ways" she says with a smirk, her eyes glued to yours.

She spins you around, making you face the mirror. "in fact, i could name a lot i like about you." She says, hands snaking around your waist. "Bil-" you start, a hesitant smile tugging at your lips. Billie leans in, her breath warm against your ear. "But you're gonna have to take this off for me first." She whispers, tugging on the straps of your black dress.

Without thinking, you pull the straps down, feeling the fabric slide off your shoulders. Billie’s eyes follow the motion, her gaze soft and full of admiration. She lowers her hand, resting it lightly on your thigh as she kisses your neck and for a moment, the weight of your insecurities feel miles away.

Your pulse quickens, the intimacy of the moment replacing the self-doubt. "Bils..." you whisper.

She unclips your bra, leaving it on the floor, "I love these," she says as she squeezes your bare tits. she slides down your panties leaving yu completely exposed. "Fuck, you can talk all the shit you want about yourself but you drive me crazy"

She squeezes and traces your thigh as you sit on her lap. "Look at you, baby, you're fucking gorgeous" You look yourself in the mirror, Billie is completely infatuated with you. Maybe I am good enough, you think, a smile landing on your face. "Spread for me, mama." You do as you are told, and spread your legs, causing whimpers to escape your throat.

She takes her finger and swipes from down up, "So wet baby, you're so pretty" She takes her two fingers and begins to rub your clit. "Billie," you moan, reaching down for her hand. "uh-uh Y/N, just keep looking in the mirror, pretty girl." she takes her other hand and lifts your chin to make sure your eyes stay fixed on yourself.

without warning she slides both fingers inside you. "Fuck!" you cry out, your back arching as Billie's fingers plunge deep inside you. "you're so tight, baby," she says, thrusting her fingers in and out at a punishing pace. Your eyes flutter closed, but Billie insists you keep them open, watching your own reflection as she finger-fucks you senseless. 

"You're so beautiful", she breathes, her free hand cupping your breast, thumb rubbing your nipple until it's hard and aching.

"Your pussy is so fucking good when it's wet for me. Isn't it, pretty girl?" she says, breathless. She slides a third finger in, watching your face for a reaction." Say it, baby. Tell me how pretty you are."  Billie demands, her voice urgent. You can barely speak, your need for release building with each stroke."Billie.." you plead. "Do it, or i'll stop right now"

You whine as she slows down her pace. You thrust your needy hips against her fingers, making her pull them out. "say it" she says a lot more stern than before. you hiss, your need for release almost painful.  "Fuck- i- I'm pretty"  you manage, your voice strained. "I'm so pretty"  Billie's eyes blaze with hunger as she watches you through the mirror.

"And you better fucking believe it" she growls, her fingers digging into your hips. "Now come on, baby. Show me how pretty you get when you cum for me." Billie commands, her voice dripping with lust. She slides her fingers back in and continues to fuck you.

"Billie, I'm going to— I'm gonna—" "Come for me baby, let it all out", Billie encourages, fingering you harder, faster, pushing you closer to the edge. "Oh fuck- my god, bils' You throw your head back, your orgasm crashing over you like a wave. Billie smirks as she watches you in the mirror, "that's it, so pretty, baby"

[maniwannadiezz]

Thank you. You make me feel sane for hating on vivs art😭 (she did influence my art in middle school, but now I see all the issues with it)

no problem! I think her art had a lot of bad influence on newer artists simply because at first glance it’s appealing and people like you (and me) thought why can’t we just copy it and go from there? Welllll problem is that just copying an artist will lead to you consuming and producing the mistakes they make or not fully grasp why they exaggerated something the way they did. Unfortunately those anime hating art teachers held some truth in their words, just copying right off of another artist without fully understanding the rules of art will lead to getting stuck.

I’ve gotten “stuck” before, my art deformed contorted to the style and gave me a mess where the heads were too big and the proportions too wonky when I could have spent my time understanding anatomy and proper colouring techniques. Of course there’s nothing wrong with just wanting pretty looking art and nothing more but if you want to expand and not hit a ceiling it’s better to learn the rules before you break them. You’ll probably learn things you never knew you never knew! Find things about your style you never dreamed you could have drawn before and expand into your OWN person and your OWN artist, instead of being the vivziepop drawalike.

DECONSTRUCTING VIVZIEPOP ARTISTIC ISSUES WE MAY HAVE CONSUMED AS CHILDREN (if her art has improved I haven’t seen but I will give her the benefit of the doubt! So let’s just isolate this to the past for US ex hazbin artists to understand where our problems truly began)

Anatomy: Vivziepop has a habit of not properly following even the anatomy of her own drawings let alone anatomy rules at all. I had to bend and meld what I thought a limb may look like from its transition from in front to behind a limb (like the legs) since the lines didn’t properly match up. Arms change size, legs have no knees, one thigh thicker than the other and hands that have fingers which melt into the palms.

you could say it’s stylistic, but considering she’s ONLY ever drawing stylistically whether she liked to or not this bad anatomy has become a crutch and down fall. If she wished to draw more realistically I will assume she can’t or can’t anymore…

Here’s a draw over. You can keep the stylistic effects while keeping your anatomy at least somewhat readable, especially the hands 💀

Shading: shading plays a huge role in not only give us context to the image like where the light source is coming from but also the shapes of the body. the body is comprised of different shapes (cylinders for arms and legs, circles and ovals for head, different planes for the face) with shading like vivziepop’s we don’t know where the light is coming from but also the shading blends into the drawing as visual noise, or worse makes things look flat and lifeless. Her legs especially are shaded as if they are two pieces of paper sticking out from under her dress.

Colours: we all know her main appeal in art is her colours, but designing your piece by just how pretty you can make all the colours also is ignoring fundamentals in what makes your art from good to BEST. With too much of one shade your whole piece blends together in the eyes of the viewer. With not enough contrast in the right areas you will have a focal point that bounces around (like us her chest the focal point? It’s the darkest spot on the piece! Or is it all those eyes that clutter up the whole drawing with the random stripes in the back…. Ouch! I can’t tell what’s what!)

conclusion: I leave you and others with this quest, you wanna get better at art? Take a moment to critique even your own favourite artists. You can have inspiration of course but question their decisions before blindly hoping on the hype train. Or you could be consuming their own mistakes and end up STUCK, like I was, like many have become.

Give critiquing these pieces a try, deconstruct them, trace them (don’t post) see where the lines match up- do the limbs look as if they existed behind the limb or do they go to a void and come up the other side a completely different size? You tell me…

[stardustandash]

How many fics have you worked on since January?

Worked on about 55? I think? Its hard to calculate as I posted whumptober and febuwhump as individual stories but they exist in one doc each on my computer. I've worked on 6 fics that are either as of yet unposted, unprinted in a zine, or just lost unfinished limbo (I need to work on my merrin-focused post nur fic omg)

2. What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year?

I guess I've tried to play more with present vs past tense, and finishing multichapter fics before posting. Did try out a time loop for the first time during whumptober and had fun with that!

3. What piece of media inspired you the most? (This can be the fandom you wrote the most for, the one that spawned the most ideas, the one you thought about the most, etc.)

I feel like Star Wars is the pretty obvious answer, though right at the end of the year here comes Dragon Age with a steel chair after 4 years of not really being involved in the fandom

4. How many fandoms did you write for this year?

Seven, I think! Jedi Fallen Order & Survivor, The Bad Batch, Dragon Age Inquisition & Veilguard, FFXV, FFXVI, Horizon Zero Dawn & Forbidden West, and Twisted Wonderland

5. What ships captured your heart?

As a gen writer its rare for ships to catch me, but thank you Veilguard for giving me Rook x Harding, and M!Rook x Emmrich. (Not a fan of F!Rook x Emmrich sorry yall)

7. What characters captured your heart?

As always Cal remains number 1 in my heart. I love him so much, along with the whole Mantis crew <3 For new this year, I am bewitched body and soul by the Veilguard crew. The writers were cooking with all of them, they're all amazing!!

8. Did you write for any new fandoms or ships this year?

...Does Veilguard count lol? For new fandoms I wrote one FFXVI fic early in the year.

I've got two fics for Rook x Harding and one wip for Rook x Emmrich as new ships!

9. What fic meant the most to you to write?

That's a hard question!! I think I poured a lot of my own personal emotional anguish into a lot of the fics I wrote this year. It's been a rough year for many reasons, and writing out all that angsty hurt/comfort helped a lot

10. What fic made you feel the happiest to work on?

I think finishing 'what makes a family' was honestly one of the best feelings ever! And the fact that I still get comments on it from time to time about people binge-reading it.

11. What fic was the most satisfying to finish writing?

I guess I could go with the above, but actually completing whumptober was pretty satisfying.

12. What fic was the most difficult to write?

'i do not love the bright sword for its sharpness' is at the top of this pile. i think about it constantly but actually writing it is proving super difficult, and it remains unfinished...

13. What fic was the easiest to write?

The one for the Pabu Days zine!! I wrote the first draft in just over an hour, and it was about 1k too many words lol

14. What were your shortest and longest fics posted this year?

of the ones written entirely in this year, 'take a breath before the plunge' wins with its 11k words. If we count just completed this year, 'what makes a family' wins at just shy of 70k

The shortest was one of the whumptober fics, 'where flesh and metal meet'

15. What were your go-to writing songs?

The Horizon games' soundtracks! Less of a song list, but there's too many to put in here.

What was the hardest fic to title?

...all of them. Titling things is the hardest part of writing fics

16. What's your favorite title of the year?

Love and Blood Both Run Red, or maybe Cold But For Your Company

17. Share your favorite opening line

In some way, Tech thinks, it is poetic to die for his family.

From here, at the bottom

18. Share your favorite ending line

He turned, and came face to face with a skull staring back at him. There were holes through the skull, and though everything had been decayed by time, Cal could still see that the skeleton wore Jedi robes.

From then there was nothing

19. Share your favorite piece of dialogue

ooh i don't know! If its humorous then assume its one of my favourites

20. Share your funniest line

see above

21. What's something that surprised you while you were working on a fic? Did it change the story?

I think being able to slip back into old fandoms and characters for whumptober was a surprise. it didn't change the story but it was surprisingly quick to get back into things i hadn't touched in years

22. What writing programs did you use? Did you write by hand?

I use microsoft word for all my fics. which isn't great for longform fic and probably why i don't write too much of it

23. If you had to choose one, what was THE most satisfying writing moment of your year?

Again, actually managing to complete whumptober felt really good!! I've never managed to finish a writing challenge like that so it was a really proud moment

24. Did you do anything special to celebrate finishing a fic?

I don't think I've ever done anything?? Though I am thinking about starting a lil scrapbook of comments or smth like that

25. How did you recharge between fics?

what is this recharge you speak of? I am either possessed by ideas that demand attention or left in a drought of creativity

26. Did you create fanworks other than fic?

I do playlists for myself sometimes. I have ones for Cal, Crosshair, and Omega right now. I constantly wish i had the patience to improve my art skills to do fanart

27. How many events did you take part in? (bangs, exchanges, ship weeks, zines, prompt memes, they all count!)

4 if you count febuwhump and whumptober. I'm in a Bad Batch zine that's in preorders right now - Pabu Days, and participating in a fic/art exchange for new years for Twisted Wonderland

28. If this were an awards show, who would you thank?

firstly I'd like to thank my cat for being the one to hear me talk out plot points and details. I'd also like to thank @pennflinn and @breakfastteatime for being both supportive of all my j:fo fics as well as being inspirations themselves in that fandom! And the whole j:fo fandom at large for being awesome and supportive of each other's works. And I need to mention @fanfoolishness for joining me in not one, not two, but THREE! fandoms here!! As well, shoutout to @shadowcrow for yelling on my rook x harding fics! it's a small corner of the fandom but at least it's got you there!

29. What's left on your to-do list for 2024?

Finish this fic for the new years exchange, and get another chapter of Blood and Love Both Run Red up! Though it may only be one of those that happens...

30. What would you like to write next year?

I wanna finish bright sword and get that post nur Merrin fic postable! And since I'm currently consumed by Veilguard I wanna write more of that next year too!

A slightly revised version of last year's questions! Two ways to play: Reblog and have your followers send you numbers, or answer the whole list!

How many fics have you worked on since January?

What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year?

What piece of media inspired you the most? (This can be the fandom you wrote the most for, the one that spawned the most ideas, the one you thought about the most, etc.)

How many fandoms did you write for this year?

What ships captured your heart?

What characters captured your heart?

Did you write for any new fandoms or ships this year?

What fic meant the most to you to write?

What fic made you feel the happiest to work on?

What fic was the most satisfying to finish writing?

What fic was the most difficult to write?

What fic was the easiest to write?

What were your shortest and longest fics posted this year?

What were your go-to writing songs?

What was the hardest fic to title?

What's your favorite title of the year?

Share your favorite opening line

Share your favorite ending line

Share your favorite piece of dialogue

Share your funniest line

What's something that surprised you while you were working on a fic? Did it change the story?

What writing programs did you use? Did you write by hand?

If you had to choose one, what was THE most satisfying writing moment of your year?

Did you do anything special to celebrate finishing a fic?

How did you recharge between fics?

Did you create fanworks other than fic?

How many events did you take part in? (bangs, exchanges, ship weeks, zines, prompt memes, they all count!)

If this were an awards show, who would you thank?

What's left on your to-do list for 2024?

What would you like to write next year?

[frankthesnek]

Saw a tiktok this morning that really rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm still thinking about it... so rant incomeing!

The tiktok was talking about bad fanfiction reading habits. They were saying how they noticed they had this really bad fanfic reading habit that they wanted to correct next year. In the comments, a bunch of people were agreeing with them and saying they also had this bad habit and wanted to fix it.

What was the bad habit you may ask? Not leaving comments? Not leaving kudos? Not sharing the fics they liked? Oh, no no. The bad habit was reading shorter one shot fics. Excuse me, how is that a bad habit?

The reasoning for why it was a bad habit were things like: I read to fast so I end up reading a lot of little stories instead of one big one (yeah so?), it makes you spend too much time jumping between fics (why is more fics bad?), they take away from real fics (I'm sorry what?), reading one shots encourages bad writing habbits (excuse me, how?), I fall for the story but then its just done cause the author was too lazy to keep going (disrespectfully fuck you!)

I could not believe how many people were calling reading one shots a bad habit and justifying it in a that put a negative spin on that kind of story and author!

Don't get me wrong, having preferences is fine! I prefer things in the 4-12k range. Everyone has that sweet spot where it just feels like the perfect length, and that's okay. But to call out reading an entire type of fic (one shots) as a "bad habit" and "something to be fixed" is so rude and disrespectful.

When you say a fic isn't worth reading because of the length, that its not real writing, or its reinforcing bad writing habits to read it—what you are saying to the authors of those fics is, "you and your writing are not worth anything and the 3k words you gave me for free aren't good enough." That is not okay.

Having preferences is okay. Discounting fics because they are small is not. Reading one shots is not a bad habit, and writing one shots is not a bad habit.

[ii-meeple-confessions]

Honestly the way Mephone's contestants react to him in general and them realizing "Oh this guy is kind of messed up" is so funny to me. Because as much as Mephone tries to hide it through the host persona he pushes onto himself to seem normal, it really doesn't work.

Even before everything (This was in 2016, for reference! -- And this is one of my favourite things ever -- Fan, on his blog, wrote what is essentially a Mephone4 Fanfiction (The link is here: it's on his blog! If you care to read it in full..... https://www.tumblr.com/inanimateinsanityfan/150341850210/fan-blog-confessions-i-confess-i-forced-someone?source=share) (sorry the link doesn't actually work when you click on it) And one of the lines was: "M: Alright.  I just kind of have trouble verbalizing what I really want to say?  So a lot of my thoughts just come out as these little attacks." Continuing into "M: Yeah... they’re just so second nature to me, I say them to fill in the gaps... otherwise I wouldn’t really know how to chime in."

And I think its genuinely so funny that Fan read him that well. Be it fanfiction and projection or not, Fan is right here! Mephone has trouble verbalizing and complimenting others. (Probably because he himself wasn't often complimented by Cobs--) and it leads him to ruining potential relationships. He stokes flames of distrust between him and other people to keep himself safe and entertained, and then gets upset when he's all alone because he can't build meaningful relationships with people.

And people realize this really quickly. For another example, take Mepad. Who quickly comes to see Mephone is wrong in his judgement towards Toilet and in his treatment of the contestants. Or Suitcase, who comforts Mephone multiple times-- I'd have to lag my computer into oblivion to get the exact quote/s, but she's very keenly aware that Mephone isn't alright at that time, and she verbalizes that. The final 4 of season 2 AND season 3 all seem to be aware of Mephones mental health declining.

And again, he DOES try to hide this. When he's upset over Mepad quitting / doesn't know how to handle it, he jumps into his obnoxious host persona to hide his true feelings on the matter. He pushes and shoves and lights a ring of fire around himself, sacrificing his relationships in return for the safety of his host persona.

Right out of Meeple, some of his first memories of freedom, ARE of being a host. He was basically immediately (unknowingly) enlisted by Cobs to be a host. In escaping Meeple and the persona he had to take on to appease Cobs, he fit himself right into another persona. Another set of rules to follow on how to behave to, in his eyes, stay safe.

It fucks me up so bad because the entire personality he constructed for himself ruins so many of his relationships and thus sinks him into a deeper pit of loneliness. At its core, it's self-sabotaging, and I think it's clearest in "Truth or Flare" (S2 E15) when Mepad quits. I mentioned this before!! But GOD it hits so hard. The way Suitcase says she legitimately hates him and he justs stands there stupidly grinning "I'm a scamp for drama!" No sir you are a scamp for ruining your relationships!

All of this rambling is to say Mephones persona is really one of his undoings. Forcing himself into the mold of reality show tv host isn't... Good for him. And it becomes his safety net when it really shouldn't. It hurts me, to see him so earnestly playing it up when we see him interviewing Box. Trying to seem like a seasoned professional, unbothered, but perking up when complimented. But as the series goes on, that host persona becomes a much more angry and unlikeable person. Hardly any good comes from his insults and comments. And he ruins many of the chances he has to make genuine connections with people-- which is something he so desperately needs.

Sorry if this is a little unstructured! I didn't begin this thinking it'd get so long, so it's a bit all over the place. Can you tell I think about Mephone a lot? Anyways, good night! -2G Anon

.

[frannyzooey]

You, and this fic, own me.

This chapter had so much to give!!! I thought it was going to be pure filth and then you hit me with that ending, and I am fucking yearning for these two so goddamn bad (while also being so out of my mind aroused --)

There were so, so many good parts in this one, like the way my mouth fucking dropped open at this:

“Just another reason that maybe you should be inside that church, rather than suckin’ dick in its parking lot."

and THIS:

And so help you god, he’s wearing his tool belt. 

But THIS -- this took the fuckin' cake:

“Then play ‘house’ with me,” you purr, dragging your fingers through his hair. “You can be daddy,” you stroke down his cheek, over his lips, “I can be mommy. And you can try and put a baby in me.”

I was literally levitating at this line. ROCKETING TOWARDS THE MOON!! I was also so in love with how light and free and fun their fucking and teasing was -- the way they just slide into role play like it's no goddamn thing had me grinning ear to ear

Annnnnnnnnd then you hit me with the emotions:

The discordance stirs in your stomach. Right now, you’re actually witnessing the loving-husband-turned-infidel façade weave its way through his marriage. He’s asking her to leave…for you. To free up time to be with you. Under the guise of caring for her. 

You wish it made you feel worse. It just feels…uncomfortable to actually view firsthand.

I literally cannot even imagine what it would feel like to witness the deception happening first hand, and it's something that a lot of cheating fics don't explore? (and I should know 😌)...the way you treated this scene was literal perfection because you brought so much nuance to his emotions. He's being deceptive, but not a manipulative gross creep like this situation is often portrayed. He genuinely hurts....yet does it anyway. I'm obsessed with this scene because you're doing such a good job extending Joel, as a man, the same grace that people often give to the reader in these types of stories. They empathize with the reader feeling bad but doing it anyway, but they often villainize the man, or assume he doesn't feel as bad, ya know? Anyway, just me waxing on about your beautiful brain ❤️

I had all these amazing thoughts about your writing skills....and then they all leaked from my brain when I read this:

You: Yours is the only mouth I want sucking on these titties right now, daddy 👅

You fix your sweater and peer back through your peephole, just to see his face collapse in arousal, grinding the heel of his palm over the crotch of his jeans.

I know the desk fucking scene was so taboo and so filthy, but I felt so, so fucking soft when he said this:

setting the frame down in front of you before yanking your hair at the root and slamming his hand down next to the photo. “You stare at that girl while daddy’s tearin’ apart your slutty little asshole. Remind her that she deserves better than that piece a’shit.”

I live for this line 😭😭

And then this -- this -- was perfection:

“Baby,” he takes your face in his hands again, his expression edging on broken. On your behalf. “What has this fuckin’ monster done to you? My girl from the bar, she knew what she was fuckin’ worth. And she’d let you know it. She came first, and she didn’t apologize for it or accept anything less. What did he do to that fuckin’ girl?”

“Maybe it wasn’t all him."

I could literally envision the look on his face when she said that. What a fucking LINE, Katy and then to have it followed with her speech about how Jack isn't a monster, he's just a man??

The way you are out here giving the depth to this trope that it needs has me SAT and quite frankly, green with envy

This chapter was so fucking good 💀💀💀 ily ❤️

Good Neighbors | (joel miller x f!reader) (18+)

Part Three of Four

✧˖°✧˖°✧˖°✧A fic inspired by Fortnight by Taylor Swift✧˖°✧˖°✧˖°✧

Part One | Part Two

summary: your affair with joel heats up with a week of uninterrupted bliss. warnings/tags: [18+ MINORS DNI] no outbreak!au, age gap (joel is 48, reader is 32), joel x ofc (no sexual content), reader x omc (pitiful sexual content), infidelity, daddy!kink, fingering, unprotected PIV, unprotected anal, oral (m! and f!receiving), degradation!kink, praise!kink, brief roleplaying, unashamed sexualization of the term "kiddo", discussions of SA and domestic abuse, marital discussions regarding mismatched desires on having children, reader struggles with body image as a result of her abusive husband, unhealthy/toxic age gap marriage. this chapter is a much needed break from Jack. immersion notes: reader has hair, wears dresses/makeup, and is considered a "trophy wife" type. additionally, reader is specifically implied to be conventionally thin. apologies to anyone for whom this kills immersion for, but it felt very necessary in the context of the story. word count: ~11.6k a/n: wanted to give the lovebirds a little part that's primarily fun times before shit hits the fan <3 So there will be one more chapter!

Available Only to Registered Users on AO3

[zombyjuice]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓 —- 🍽️🍧episode one. lucy's first day back | next episode

IN WHICH- Lucy Cameron is finally back, and she has no idea what the Pouge's and their new addition going through and what adventure lies ahead of her. Theres people to choose from, gold to chase, love to run away from. what will she do?

Its already halfway through summer and you are just now coming back to outer banks for the first time in a year busy at the school your dad got you in that is specifically aimed towards animals, you being in the marine department.

You didn't except anything big not many people paid any mind to you thinking your strange for a kook, but first day back so many people were making uncomfortable small talk and giving gifts you'll probably throw in a corner of your room. You didn't even think your family would care that much, but I guess a year is a long while.

You and the family are now on the way to the midsummers ready for the party, you in the backseat having a short and concerning conversation with your brother.

Your eyes shoot everywhere trying to see if what your brother said so loudly caught the attention of your family in the car, but everyone seemed to be in their own world, and Sarah out of everyone was acting stranger than usual typing fast on her phone, not being very interactive, remembering her tell you about not liking topper anymore, which wasn't surprising just, interesting.

Your eyes widen and your face shoots right back to your older brother "you're doing what?!" a sharp whisper spills out my mouth "crack...? what never heard of it? I'm surprised. you know, usually people with holes," he stops waving his hands around and he points and pokes at your lip and nose piercing "in there face, knows what that is... crackheads"

---

As the Cameron family enter the decorated backyard everyone claps and cheers happy and big smiles. Lucy, had a long white cotton dress on with flowers embroided in it, once curly green hair now straightened  falling to the deep curve of her waist with a golden flower crown that matches her sisters green one and dewy glittery makeup to pull the look together, she awkwardly smiles and waves with Sarah, noticing her get pulled away by her boyfriend and you just followed behind your parents till you saw Pope and Kiara, she was staring at you with what seemed to be a distasteful look but once you looked her way her eyes shot somewhere else. This was confusing knowing where they last left off on, very close friends. Lucy, Sarah, and Kie they know everything about each other lucy and Kie being way closer having similar views on things Sarah always being the more out of touch one but that didn't take away from the fact you all loved each other.

So she's goes up to them.

"Heyy pope, hey Kie, haven't seen you guys in forever!" pope cheerfully smiles and hugs you tightly "Hi lucy man we've missed you," he looks to Kiara who looks like she wants to die, eyes staring everywhere else and lip curling "right Kie?" he nudges, lucys heart dropped and the air shifts feeling now tense and awkward a scoff slips from Kiara's lips, and she rolls her eyes "I'm leaving" not forgetting to roughly push past your shoulder, you scoff and move next to pope watching her walk away "is she being for real right now? like what the hell" pope sighs "you've missed a lot, her and Sarah are on sum rocky waters" he pats your back "but hey, try this, its fire." you turn and pope gets ready and tosses the shrimp thinking you'd open your mouth but it only slapped your straight face "rocky waters?"

--

"Can you believe this Midsummer shit, man?" john be sighs "Of course I can. Happens every year. No matter how screwed up the rest of us are." jj scoffs and shrugs "So, like, what's the plan, exactly?" they begin there walk towards the party "Okay, look I need you to get this to Sarah." John passes a note towards JJ as he tries to speed up, "oo! can I read it?" "No, you can't read it." "who's Vlad?" "God, do you ever listen?" "Hold up. are you macking Sarah Cameron? "Dude, would you shut up, shut up!" "Your macking Sarah Cameron!" "All right man! I'm doin it for everybody, all right?"

JJ goes quiet a devilish smirk raising "what!" he shakes his head "nothin. Thanks for bein a team player, bro. hey, hey! maybe i should mack on sum lucy juicy, you know, for us" he starts to laugh "whats funny is that you havent seen or spoken to the girl in a year" "yeah man, whatever, don't be mad when you see me posted up with her... whenever she gets back. you know that shits not funny! Shes a sensitive topic" john b scoffs "yeah yeah now would you stay still" he begins to help jj with his disguise.

---

"what are you doing out front, your parents are in there kid" one of the security guards say looking at me with a look of concern but doesn't leave his place on the stairs "oh nothing, I don't feel like being in there it's not what I expected" a sigh leaving my lips and I melt in my chair usually id enjoy going to a party with my friends at least, like a Keiger but I haven't been to one in a while, or to any party matter of fact the marine nerds aren't really party people. I feel like I poke out like a sore thumb in obx, now more than ever, and the one person I was excited to see somehow hates me, it's embarrassing honestly.

So i just settle with playing with my drink and looking inside the house watching everyone interact.

"I keep finding glasses way down the beach" like a dog my ears perk up and my back straightens to the familiar voice, but I don't act on it, I keep my head turned and just listen if its the voice i think it is i might just cry "Do me a favor. Try to keep 'em corralled, will ya? I thought you were security" the voice scoffs and you giggle to yourself, turning your head around as he turns the corner and go to follow him shortly behind.

From where your standing you can see him converse with pope and you can see how distress pope was you could tell something was wrong as the wheels start to turn in your head and the dots almost connect themselves you can now see his face, its beaten, and your heart skips an unwanted beat as you see him walk up to Sarah, you know why she doesn't like toper anymore and you know why everyone has been acting weird there's something going on with all of them but you don't know what or who.

You watch them interact closely and a smile you can't even tell is very apparent on your face. He's such a doofus. He shuffles around Sarah passing her a note, it must be from john b, wheezy told me about him and Sarah "flirting on the boat" but you didn't take it seriously. you watch as your crazy brother walk up to him and start to say something shoving him a bit and backing him u- Oh shit... your crazy brother.

"Well, here are the hors d'oeuvres. oh shit. lucy?"

TAGLIST!

@mariamadison6-blog

[zeestarfishalien]

My Graveyard Song

Chapter 15

[Hey...it's me. I'm not dead! *shows up 8+ months late with coffee from the local stand that runs off of caffeine and chaos* I am chronically slow and no im afraid it probably will not get better. We are getting closer to the end of the story. Love y'all!]

Jason takes care of the bill while Cass let's Barbara know they'll be heading her way. Danny fidgets, food forgotten in his anxiety.

He's kicking himself for not remembering about Jazz. Someone clearly important to Danny and in some sort of trouble the last time that Danny saw her. He doesn't let it slow him down and soon enough he's on his bike with Cass while Danny follows from above.

Babs, bless her soul and praise her endlessly, is all prepared with writing utensils. She has Jason’s set of programmable buttons which he just realized did not come to his place -she must have redirected it here- and the various programs she uses to find people open on her computer and ready to go.

~•~

Since Danny’s memory is vague, there are a lot of files to go through, and Barbara has given him free reign to poke around her little base of operations.

It gives him a reason to not pace. He takes an old broken laptop and starts deconstructing it meticulously. Keeping his hands busy, keeps the rest of his body still and allows his mind to run over endless possibilities without focusing too closely on the worst case scenarios.

Jason is off in the corner, helmet off, murmuring into his Red Hood phone. Danny is purposely listening to the hum of the many fans and the sound of the massive AC used to help keep the super computer cool. He really doesn't wanna eavesdrop, especially if it's about him.

The last piece comes apart in his fingers and he pauses just long enough to feel the buzz beneath his skin get louder and then promptly starts to reassemble the laptop piece by piece.

Judging by how his soul remains within his body, he's successful at distracting himself from the anxious energy.

"It's just putting it to good use," says a voice from the past. It must be something he's done before. Jazz, his mind supplies.

His hands stop.

Jazz said those words to him. He can feel the way her hair tickles his cheek as she leans over his shoulder in an effort to annoy him into listening to her. The gentle squeeze of fingers on his shoulder which contradicts her other actions.

In every inch of her body language there is, love, love, love...

A hand, gentle but less familiar, landing on his shoulder jerks him out of his head. Something wet hits his hand and he flinches, only just now realizing that it's his own tears. He's crying.

He sucks in air through his teeth harshly. The air shudders it's way back out of his body and with it bursts the dam holding back his emotions.

A sob tears its way from his throat. It physically hurts. The sob and the emotions both.

He barely notices how Jason’s attention jerks to him and the stilted words he says into the phone.

"Not them, but we are here," Cass murmurs in a low raspy voice. It's her hand on his shoulder. When she goes to remove it, Danny’s hand snaps up to stop it without thought.

Slowly he pulls her hand across his shoulder, to his face and presses his forehead to meet it part way. He probably looks pathetic like this, clinging to a near-stranger's hand and pressing the back of said hand to his face with such desperation. If he's not careful his ecto might decide that absorbing people is a great new thing to do. It certainly seems to like to do new impossible things every other week.

Or at least it used to. Before...

Will it again? Is he still the same as he was before? He's scared to change back. He's never stayed ghost and gone without air or food or water for so long.

Danny is scared.

He hiccups when Black Bat runs her fingers through his hair. They ghost along his scalp and the familiarity of it has his breath hitching into a sob.

He's a mess. His mind and body twisted and broken in ways he might never be able to repair. He's lost time, so much time... time in which anything could have happened to those he wants to protect. Those he failed to protect.

He barely realizes he's leaning into Black Bat's warmth until her arms circle him. She runs gentle hands in soothing circles along his back. She lets out a sort of chirr from the back of her throat which seems to surprise her.

He needs to know what happened to Jazz. He doesn't want to know what happened. He needs to know how long it's been. He doesn't want to know. He needs to know what's happening now. He doesn't...

His sobbing eventually peeters out into a buzzing whine from his core. Black Bat still holds him. She knows. She knows. She Knows.

She doesn't try to tell him, "It's okay," or any of the useless nonsense many people spout whenever someone around them is in tears. It helps that she knows.

He's not sure how long they stay like that, her crouched next to him, arms looped firmly around each other. Surely she's uncomfortable by now, but she shows no signs of it. He should go back home, with Jason.

(Jason is home now, what a thought that is)

However, whether he's at home or here, he'll be doing the same anxious waiting. At least here, he'll see the information as it comes in. No one can keep it from him in some effort to protect him or something.

(Call him paranoid, but he's pretty certain someone has done something similar in the past.)

His memories are still sparse and unspecific. He'd probably have to sleep in order to retrieve more and he'd really rather not. Sleep feels too much like being trapped again. He thought that was getting better back when he was still a dog, but maybe that's because he was never truly asleep. Even the thought of sleep sends hot jolts through his ice core, an uncomfortable feeling to say the least.

He's thinking too much.

Right before he moves to pull away, Black Bat relaxes her hold and makes it far easier for him to disengage. His core makes a sound not unlike a small stream running over rocks, "thank you, thank you, thank you."

She nods, and grabs the edge of her cape to send it fluttering in a way that she somehow knows conveys, "You're welcome. Safe."

He's not sure how she knows it but that's not all that important to him right now. He turns to the basket of gadgets and electronics to pick out something else to disassemble and cannibalize for parts to add to the partially assembled laptop.

~•~

Jason’s crimelord phone rings not long after they've arrived. Danny is already deconstructing a laptop in a nerve fueled fugue state. Every once in a while his edges do this sort of glitch that's more than a little concerning.

His caller ID says it's Bill. He accepts the call.

"What you got for me, Bill?"

"Ya know that insane amount of footage you asked me to look through for suspicious activity?"

Jason hums an affirmative. Danny doesn't seem to be listening in on Jason’s conversation. Good.

"Well I was startin' to think you was yanking my chain but I found somethin' you might qualify as suspicious activity. I've sent it over our server."

"What is it?"

"Some out of townie wackos takin' some weird coffin thing into the cemetery real late."

"You said they're from out of town?"

Danny’s sudden sob distracts him from the call momentarily, so his next words aren't thought through.

Cass waves Jason off. She'll handle it, she can read people and she's worked hard to learn how to put that to use helping people in distress.

"They had an armored white van, hoss," comes the reply, deadpan.

"Fair 'nough."

"Was all very villain lookin' n not the low key kind. Has a logo on the side, maybe you can clean it up n read it."

"Thanks Bill. I think this might be exactly what I was hoping to find. You can expect a nice bonus for this."

"Not a prob, boss."

Jason hung up his phone and shuffled over to the nearest device with server access. There's a series of codes and phrases he has to input before he has access to the server but once he has the file up, he sees the two clips time stamped hours apart. The first is short and shows the duo arriving in their suspicious as hell armored tank/van/motor home. It cuts off after they head into the cemetery with tools.

Jason doesn't want to see the other clip. He knows what is on there and he still doesn't want to see it. He clicks on it before he can chicken out. He watches avidly until the perps unload that horribly familiar metal contraption. It's there that his breath stops and his eyes lose focus. He double checks the date of the footage.

4 months...

Spooky, no, Danny was there 4 months before Jason died, 10 months by the time Jason was resurrected. It's been almost 6 years now...

God, Jason would have gone insane. It's a miracle that Danny is as put together as he is.

He sets his jaw before snapping a screenshot of the van and its logo. He shuffles over to Babs and passes her the tablet with the screenshot pulled up.

Jason glances up to find Danny in the middle of some sort of break down and Cass comforting him. It breaks his heart, but it's probably healthy for Danny.

She's quick to take in the new info and plugs in the tablet to her computer. She's clearing one of the screens and opening her photo cleaning program while the photo finishes uploading.

By the time the photo is cleaned and somewhat readable, Danny is back to reassembling the laptop, although Jason is fairly certain he just saw a piece of a walkie talkie go in there.

A sort of horrified fascination creeps up his spine the longer he watches Danny attach parts together that quite frankly have no physical way to attach to one another and have no business being anywhere near each other.

A tap to his side, finally pulls Jason’s attentions away from the technological abomination being built just across the room. His gaze jumps first to Babs and then, at her prompting, to one of the smaller screens.

Enlarged and cleaned up, the side of their van shows a very large stylized [f] with more letters tucked along one of the lines.

[Fenton]

Next to it, Babs had pulled up some related searches and specifically clicks on one that shows a family of four, two of whom are wearing bright jumpsuits matching the suspicious pair driving the van. The couple wearing them on this website also match the suspects from the surveillance footage in terms of body type.

Without a word, Babs highlights a specific name in the description underneath.

[Jasmine]

Specifically, Jasmine Fenton, the Fenton couple's daughter. As Jason scans the little "About" paragraph, he has to do a double take upon spotting the name, Danny. Further up their son is referenced as Daniel, but evidently he goes by Danny.

One coincidence is just that, a coincidence. Two coincidences and it's time to start looking closely.

Jason knows it's too early to assume anything, but he has a strong feeling that all answers lie with the Fentons.

Upon closer examination of Danny Fenton, he notes some similarities to Spooky Danny.

He points out the name to Babs and she quickly runs a search only to blanche at the results.

At the top of the list is an article detailing the disappearance and death of 15 year old Danny Fenton.

[bigmpregnm]

Enjoy the Ride - Part 3

[Story Collection] | [Part 2] [●] [Part 4🔴]

I woke up on Saturday, June 3rd, with a sense of dread on my insides, a feeling that had been my constant companion for the last few weeks. Four weeks had passed since the day I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms, struggling with morning sickness and permanent fatigue. I had informed Mr. Griffin about the symptoms, but since he was a busy man, he didn’t have the chance to take me to see a doctor. It had been 12 weeks now since the day Mr. Griffin “inseminated” me naturally, and I hadn’t confirmed the pregnancy yet. However, I knew I was pregnant; everything was there.

My hand rested instinctively on my bare abdomen, a gesture that had become almost permanent in the last few weeks. My belly had rounded out a lot over the past month, passing from a slight bloating to a noticeable curve that made my fading abs look distended. Laying in bed, I could see how much it stuck out from the rest of my torso—approximately 3 inches already. I had been eating a lot, so anyone would pass my belly as weight gain, but its firmness and roundness proved it was something else.

I glanced at Marco, sprawled across the bed beside me, blissfully unaware of the complicated mess his dad had gotten into. I reached for his forehead and brushed his hair, smiling at my wonderful boy. He pointed at my growing middle constantly, and I knew he’d start asking questions at some point. Questions that I didn’t know how to answer. I was his dad, and dads weren’t supposed to carry babies, but there I was, definitely pregnant.

I quietly slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake Marco. I quickly showered and waited for his babysitter to arrive before leaving. I had a doctor’s appointment to finally confirm if the impossible had indeed become possible and to confirm if I was pregnant with Mr. Griffin’s child or children. Once the babysitter arrived, I stood outside my building, taking deep breaths and constantly rubbing my belly.

Mr. Griffin had arranged for a car to pick me up, ensuring I arrived on time. The ride to the clinic was silent, and many thoughts crossed my mind. I hadn’t seen Mr. Griffin since the day we had sex, but his presence loomed large in my thoughts. He had been generous with the money, and I couldn’t deny that it made a significant difference in our lives. I had been able to buy new toys and clothes for Marco and enjoy a fancier life with my boy. Still, the idea of seeing Mr. Griffin again made my stomach churn with anxiety.

When I arrived at the clinic, Mr. Griffin was already there, looking as imposing as ever. I gasped when I saw his 6’6” frame and his massive muscles straining the fabric of his shirt and pants. He was an intimidating sight, but I remembered how sweet he was when we had sex and a smile spread across my face. He greeted me with a grin, but we exchanged no words as we walked into the clinic together. It was a different clinic than the first time, so I figured I was seeing a different doctor.

We didn’t have to wait long before a male nurse called my name. I followed him to the examination room, and Mr. Griffin walked closely behind. The doctor walked in about a minute later and smiled kindly at me before shaking Mr. Griffin’s hand. They talked about random topics, evidence they knew each other very well, and then their eyes fell on me, making me shiver and blush. The doctor made me step on a scale, and my eyes widened at the number. 171.8 pounds. I had gained 17 pounds in only 12 weeks.

“Adam, please have a seat on the examination table,” the doctor instructed, his voice calm and reassuring. “Mitchell told me everything about your condition, and I must admit, I’m surprised and excited to monitor this pregnancy if you are indeed pregnant.”

I shyly nodded and climbed onto the table, my heart beating fast. A part of me already knew I was pregnant, but as the official revelation approached, the room felt tiny, the walls closing in as my anxiety grew. Mr. Griffin stood off to the side, his arms crossed over his thick chest.

“He’s definitely pregnant, George,” Mr. Griffin said, talking to the doctor but looking at my bump, which was evident under my t-shirt. “Look at that belly, and it’s only been 12 weeks,” he added, looking proud.

The doctor smiled and focused on me. “Adam, we’ll be performing an ultrasound today to determine if the insemination was successful,” he said, carefully lifting the hem of my shirt to reveal my belly. He looked surprised as he stared at my abdomen. “This might feel a bit uncomfortable, and the gel is cold, but I’ll do my best to make it as quick as possible.”

The doctor applied a cold gel to my lower abdomen, and the sudden chill made me shiver. Then he picked up the ultrasound transducer, pressing it gently against my skin. He turned the monitor on, and I saw grainy black-and-white images I couldn’t understand. The room was silent while the doctor moved the transducer over my lower belly, looking surprised and excited. Then, his eyes widened, and his mouth slightly opened in shock.

“Is there something wrong?” I managed to ask, hiding my fear and anxiety.

“Well, Adam, it seems you’re pregnant. Congratulations,” the doctor said, his voice tinged with astonishment.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, relief and terror washing over me. Pregnant. The word echoed in my mind—a reality I had been expecting but was unprepared to fully accept. “That’s… great. Thanks,” I said, looking at Mr. Griffin.

“The thing is that it looks like you’re expecting sextuplets. I don’t know if having multiples was part of the plan, but all six of them are perfectly healthy for being twelve weeks along,” the doctor said, grinning in surprise.

My heart skipped a beat, and my mind was racing. “Six? That’s impossible,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. The room spun slightly, and I had to steady myself on the table.

“It’s impossible because you’re male. I mean, you shouldn’t even be pregnant. But here we are,” the doctor said, turning the monitor around to show me and Mr. Griffin the six shapes of our babies in my belly.

“This is incredible!” Mr. Griffin exclaimed, evidently thrilled about the news. “Six! This is more than I could’ve hoped for. I knew you were the right person to do this,” he added, looking at my belly and making me feel... special.

The doctor grinned and removed the transducer from my belly. “Adam, I understand this is a lot to take in. We’ll need to monitor you very closely over the next few months. You’ll need frequent check-ups to ensure both your health and the health of the babies,” he said, carefully cleaning the cold gel from my abdomen. “You’ll need to follow a diet high in protein and calories to support the growth of the babies. Plenty of rest is crucial, and avoid strenuous activities. We’ll also need to start you on prenatal vitamins immediately, and I’ll prescribe a regimen of supplements to ensure you’re getting all the necessary nutrients. Regular ultrasounds will be necessary, and we’ll monitor for any signs of complications.”

I nodded numbly, struggling to process everything. I wasn’t only pregnant—a freak of nature—but I was pregnant with six babies, which I didn’t think was possible to conceive naturally. The doctor asked me if I had any questions, but I had so many thoughts in my mind that I said I didn’t. I didn’t know where to start. I was terrified about getting a massive belly. I was scared about everything that lay ahead.

As we left the clinic a few minutes later, my mind was a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions. Mr. Griffin walked beside me; his excitement was evident. “We need to celebrate this news. Come to my apartment to discuss the next steps and prepare everything for your comfort and the babies’ health. You exceeded my expectations. I’ll give you the money we already settled in the contract, and extra money for producing multiples. I’ll cover all your expenses, yours and your son’s. We have so much to discuss,” he said as we walked to his car.

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to go with him. However, the promise of a better living arrangement for Marco and me was tempting. “I can’t be away for too long, Mr. Griffin. Marco’s babysitter is charging extra today, and I...” I began, but he interrupted me with his enthusiasm.

“You and your son should move in with me. I have plenty of space, and it will be easier to keep an eye on you. You’ll have everything you need, and Marco will be well taken care of. I’ll hire a permanent nanny for him, so you won’t have to worry,” he said, leaving me speechless.

Overwhelmed by the turn of events, I found myself agreeing, knowing that I had to complete the task I had signed up for without wasting the chance to live a fancy life with Marco under Mr. Griffin’s care. I was willing to enjoy the few fantastic parts of becoming a baby machine for Mr. Griffin.

Then, as we entered his car, he reached over and gently caressed my abdomen, a surprisingly tender gesture that made me feel a strange sense of comfort. “We’re going to make sure you and the babies are taken care of, Adam,” Mr. Griffin said softly. “I know we didn’t start on the best terms with this agreement, but I promise you won’t regret it.”

His touch and words eased some of my fears. Despite the daunting road ahead, I felt a flicker of hope. I was doing this for Marco and our future, but Mr. Griffin made me feel willing to go beyond the terms of our agreement. As he caressed my belly, he leaned to the side and kissed my cheek, making me blush. I froze for a few seconds, but as I saw his smiley face so close to mine, I couldn’t help but pull his face closer to passionately kiss his lips. He continued caressing my belly while we were making out, and my hands moved to caress his massive muscles. It wasn’t part of our agreement, but it felt fantastic.

****

We arrived at his apartment a few minutes later, and as soon as we walked in, our clothes flew through the air. We stood naked in the living room, and I approached to make out with him while caressing his muscular body. He reached around me and firmly grabbed my ass, making me moan. His strong hands sent shivers down my spine while our lips locked. I felt his hard foot-long dick rubbing against my belly, and I felt my body shaking in need.

I jumped and wrapped my legs around his waist, with my arms wrapped around his powerful neck. He carefully placed his hands beneath my butt to lift me up and moved me above his hard dick. He carried me to his bedroom while we continued kissing, and I felt his massive dick throbbing against my ass. His touch was tender and careful but so passionate at the same time that I was losing my mind.

He carefully placed me on his bed and got on top of me, casting a shadow over me. He leaned forward and carefully kissed my belly six times, one for each baby I had inside. He couldn’t stop smiling, and even though I initially saw him as a mean man, I couldn’t deny that he was handsome and sweet. I nodded, and he slowly lifted my legs to access my ass. I felt his dick brushing against my hole, and a moan escaped my lips.

He pushed his hips forward, and I moaned loudly as the head of his huge dick entered me. I gasped and groaned as I felt like his dick was tearing me in half, but it felt so good that I only longed for more. My body adjusted to accommodate the thick intruder as he went balls-deep into me. With his massive dick fully buried inside me, I panted and groaned in pain and pleasure. Even then, I couldn’t hide my smile.

His hips started bucking, and my thoughts collapsed due to the intense pleasure. I felt his big balls hitting my ass, and deep inside me, I longed to feel his seed filling up again. I reached for his deltoids for support as his pounding sped up. I couldn’t control my moans as Mr. Griffin’s dick rubbed against my prostate, making me shiver uncontrollably. My own dick was painfully hard while he fucked me, and a steady flow of pre escaped my slit, landing on my belly. I wasn’t even touching my dick, and I felt on the verge of a massive orgasm.

“I’ve heard that pregnancy hormones increase arousal and cravings for sex,” Mr. Griffin whispered as he fucked me hard and fast. I couldn’t form coherent words, so I only moaned out loudly. “I’ll gladly help you deal with that.”

His thrusts slowed down but gained strength, and my eyes rolled inside my head. My hips were numb, my legs felt weak, and my mind was blank. With a strong thrust, Mr. Griffin made my dick shoot cum all over my abdomen and pecs, overwhelming my mind and leaving me panting heavily. He grinned and shoved his whole dick into me, releasing a tsunami of his warm seed deep inside me. I couldn’t count his shots because it felt like a river entering me, making me feel fuller. He only smiled at me and leaned forward to kiss me, with his dick still buried inside me. I was already loving the results of my agreement with Mr. Griffin.

****

The weekend had been a blur of emotions, thoughts, constant caresses to my abdomen, and the intense sex session with Mr. Griffin. As Monday arrived, I walked into the office, my hand instinctively resting on my small but noticeable belly. Its roundness made it impossible to forget the six babies growing within me. It still felt like a surreal dream, but Mr. Griffin’s attention had helped me conceal the enormity of my condition, making me feel great about it. The fantastic sex had been a bonus in the process of taking in the news of the sextuplets.

The office was quiet as usual in a boring accounting department. I approached my desk, still thinking about Mr. Griffin’s dick rearranging my guts two days ago, and noticed something awaiting me. A box of chocolates sat neatly on my desk, with a simple note attached: “For a sweet start to your week.” The handwritten note immediately hinted at the person who left me such a sweet surprise, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Greg, the janitor, had been giving me small gifts and notes for about a month. Since the day I threw up all over his muscular torso, we had been talking, and I couldn’t deny I felt drawn by his charm and hotness. Our secret flirting had been a bright spot during the time I struggled with my pregnancy symptoms. He had noticed I was always hungry, so he often brought me candies, snacks, or big meals. My life was complicated due to my agreement with Mr. Griffin, but I was slowly falling for Greg’s charm and kindness.

I opened the box and immediately popped a chocolate into my mouth, savoring the rich, sweet taste. My hunger had been insatiable, so a box of chocolates was a great way to start the day. With the chocolate melting in my mouth, I smiled and headed to the bathroom to freshen up before starting my work. Part of the struggles of being pregnant was a constant need to pee, even though I was only in the first trimester, so a bathroom stop was a necessity for me.

I entered the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, taking a moment to observe my reflection. My belly, though small, was undeniably there, sticking out proudly in front of me. My shirt, which had fit perfectly a few weeks ago, now stretched slightly over my midsection. The fabric of my dress pants felt snug around my waist, the waistband cutting a bit into my skin. I couldn’t help but smile as I placed my hands on my belly, rubbing it gently. It was hard to believe I had six lives growing within me, but the belly proved they were there.

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t hear the door open. 20-year-old Greg walked in, his imposing presence filling the small space. I smiled when I saw his 6’1” and 286-pound muscular body inside the room with me. His thick thighs and enormous butt strained against the fabric of his janitor jumpsuit, showcasing a delicious bulge at the front. The top buttons were undone, unable to contain his massive pecs. The jumpsuit fit him like a second skin in some places, leaving nothing to the imagination. The more time I spent with him, the more I marveled at his physique.

We exchanged smiles—the kind that spoke without words. “Did you like the chocolates?” Greg asked, his voice a deep, soothing rumble.

“I did,” I replied, my hands still on my belly. “They were delicious, and... maybe we can share them over lunch? Nobody will notice if we sneak onto the rooftop like last week.”

Greg took a step closer, his amber eyes locking onto mine. Without another word, he leaned forward and kissed me. It was soft at first, a gentle expression of love, but quickly grew more passionate. I embraced the kiss, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. My hands remained on my belly, a silent reminder of my complicated situation with Mr. Griffin. Falling in love with Greg added another layer of complexity to my already chaotic life, but while we continued making out, he wrapped his powerful arms around me and made me feel safe.

“I don’t care if anyone notices, but... it’s funnier to hide,” Greg said, playfully reaching for my ass to squeeze it before moving his hands to my belly. “There’s so much to touch and rub. You’re getting better every day,” he added, making me chuckle. His words brought comfort, and his lips made me feel fantastic. I knew the future was complicated, but between Mr. Griffin and Greg, I knew I would enjoy what was coming.

...

[indigosfindings]

updates having beaten the game

i also mentioned in my ttyd liveblog that that game's Big Interactive Set Pieces (like the punis and the glitz pit) drastically reduce in number after chapter 3, but spm keeps them through almost every chapter--the underchomp, the dorguys, etc appear pretty late in the game! tbh i get the sense that in terms of structure spm was designed a lot more holistically than ttyd was--hence the insane degree of foreshadowing

i know ive said this like twice already but i really really wish that more exploration stuff was unlocked by the acquisition of new pixls & characters. like, they consistently allow you to access things to complete their respective chapter, & they let you reach the next heart pillar, & that's basically it. it's particularly disappointing considering that it would take very little--toss a block cudge can break somewhere in chapter 3, or have a treasure room in flipside that you cant enter until you have carrie, or even put a peach-related thing in 7-1. then again, in the absence of badges & proper sidequests, what would the rewards even be? more catch cards???

the Chapter Padding/Imposed Backtracking continues to exist, & as i said about ttyd i think that it works best when theres a sufficiently charming framing (eg the overthere stair fruit thing) as opposed to when there's a more flimsy & perfunctory justification (like the hags essentially telling you "redo (part of) this level twice")--it's the difference between feeling like a genuine Quest vs like filling a clunky quota. the dimentio tag thing is like halfway between these two points

the underchomp is kind of fascinating. it's shockingly in-depth (there's interactions for every pixl???) for being essentially a one-off set piece that railroads you to victory

catch cards are mildly interesting but theyre the kind of collection task that's just too herculean to undertake--like, i can only do completionism up to a certain point, & if completing the list is going to rely on a LOT of chance-based rolls then i might as well just install genshin

women really are written in Some Kind Of Way (the hags, luvbi getting in verbal slapfights with tippi & peach, etc)

it would have been really easy to just make the 3d environments be the 2d environments With Extras, so im really glad that they pretty consistently make you lose access to 2d objects and/or add additional hazards

i have found it beneficial to the game experience to just actively Never use hp plus or power plus

"block meal" is so fucking funny

the overthere levels might be the ones where my attention wanders most--tbh ive never really cared for heaven, just like from an aesthetic standpoint

i will say though, the overthere has what might be my favourite background in the game (and that's saying something lol)...... the many, many parallax layers of interlocking circles function almost as an interactive study in adaptive composition

the bonechill fight is a bit of a letdown in contrast to the buildup

i said this before, but i really think all of the "doubled atk" effects ahouldve been +1 or +2 instead, or otherwise all the enemies & bosses shouldve had 1.5 or 2x the hp

the scene where luvbi "dies" was surprisingly heartfelt--her spat with grambi & jaydes produces a sense of emotional authenticity that really elevates the scene beyond the sum of its parts in a way that i dont think any mario game has even really attempted since. yesterday i watched it 2017 for the first time and throughout all the hollow, vapid dead-brother scenes i was struck by how comical that movie's failure to illustrate earnest grief & family dynamics was in comparison to a ~3 minute cutscene from super paper mario

on that note, i really like how after that heartfelt scene when grambi is like "please...... take care of the pure heart............" luigi is like "okeydokey." girl read the room

i LOOOOVVVEEE when dimentio is like "oh btw count, have you ever heard the name 'blumiere'~?" like he didnt gain anything from that it was just pure cattiness, im obsessed with him

i like how the subchapters of castle bleck are themed around their respective bosses--o'chunks's level is a gauntlet, mimi's level is full of tricks & traps, dimentio's level has puzzles & illusions, and bleck's level is like a final labyrinth

castle bleck is pretty similar to the palace of shadow insofar as theyre both largely linear gauntlets rather than "true" dungeons, yet for the most part i like castle bleck a lot better.... i think it's probably a mix of the platformer style being better suited to that kind of level design + the strength of the aesthetic

the final bosses are fun, especially super dimentio. the theme is great, and i LOVE the idea that luigi is like The Ultimate Darkness In Universe & that's just something we're not going to examine further or ever talk about again

between that and negative zone the nintendo wii really was just spoonfeeding luigi to matpat huh

the ending still makes me emotional as an adult! i cant rule out that nostalgia/carrying over the sentiments & attachments that i formed as a kid plays a large part in that, but i dont want to downplay the execution of the scene itself--it's sincere & evocative, it pays off a LOT of buildup, it plays to the attachments you form to the cast, and the music that plays in the wedding scene is gorgeous

nastasia is probably the saddest character. if only she couldve fixed him,,,

replaying super paper mario, sporadic thoughts post-chapter 2:

very easy so far--& although ttyd was also easy, spm's gameplay is sadly substantially less rich thab ttyd's was

having said that the game design in spm is! unrelentingly charming!! the use of platforming as a framework for a varied stream of stage styles (straightforward levels, dungeons, towns, the entire 2-3 Situation) is creative in a way that imo predicts the sort of things the mario maker community later ended up making. chapter 2's set pieces in particular are extremely quirky (the rooms with traps, the rubee thing, the mazelike basement, the merlee game show lmao)

few platformers have boss fights that feel like genuine Combat, so that's pretty cool

i will confess that as a First Dungeon, yold ruins doesnt have half the sauce of hooktail castle--it's much more linear in layout, with far less of that zelda-y "explore & comprehend the space" principle that made ttyd's dungeons hit

in a similar vein, it's kind of crazy how tippi has like a fraction of the personality that goombella had. it's a bit sad for the character doing the vast majority of the talking to just.... not really have any opinions on anything

the momentum of the chapters likewise means very few npcs ever get to stick out. like, even the "first town crotchety old mayor" character was a total one-and-done, one dialogue and you never have a reason to speak to him again (mostly just speaks to the game structure, which is as mentioned a bold enough exercise that i feel i cant really fault it for that)

bringing up a menu to use items In A Platforming Context is not at all natural to me, so im finding myself just not really using them

this game is a masterclass in visual design imo. the npcs & enemies & pixls being made of primitives that reconfigure themselves into different shapes really elevates the interplay of 2d & 3d, the backgrounds/environments are extremely aesthetically satisfying (the Mathmosphere in lineland, the optical illusion in the sky in gloam valley, all of castle bleck), & i love how the constant "digital/tech" motif (eg the "dragging selection boxes to flip/teleport", the trees & shrubs looking like something youd make in ms paint, etc) is an ingenious progression of paper mario's core aesthetic design

dimentio is so fun

the inter-chapter dialogue flashbacks are surprisingly earnest? for such a tongue-in-cheek game where almost every line of dialogue contains a joke of some kind, those exchanges feel humourless & sincere. that probably contributes to the Space the game occupies in all of our memories lol

i ADOOOORE nastasia

likewise it was really interesting how peach's "escape" sequence after chapter 1 was (while, again, still extremely sardonic) aesthetically & narratively framed with such a sense of Hopelessness. that's not to say like "woahh this mario game is 10x darker than you thought!!!!", more that it's just not a space the series commonly ventures into

the Ancients stuff is being leaned into extremely hard lol. ttyd mostly teases at that kind of "mysterious rpg lore" thing peripherally (the riddle tower inscriptions, grifty, etc) so it's interesting how spm puts it front & centre in contrast, without ever sacrificing the sense of mystique

this game really highlights how interesting the wiimote is as a controller--pressing the A button while holding it sideways (ie removing your left thumb from the direction input to press a button) is something that i cant think of any other controller doing, & it projects onto that button a really interesting sense of, like, Valence

it's the kind of game that seems to beg for one of thsoe posts like "things that ACTUALLY HAPPEN in _____"