#and oc as a person who has too many emotions lol

[jojo-schmo]

hi jojo! im just wondering but ive been wanting to make a comic for a little while but im not too sure where to start 😅. i really love your style of art and your forgotten land roleswap, and i was wondering if you had any tips for beginners?

Hello, hello! Thank you for enjoying my Forgotten Land Roleswap comic, it means a lot! <3

I'm very honored that people have been asking me for tips and advice. All of this is coming from a hobbyist who draws these comics purely for fun outside of my regular day job. Some of my methods would probably deal psychic damage to a professional, LOL. But I'm more than happy to share some things I've personally learned! :)

First of all, the book, "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud ROCKS. It literally gave me a new dimension to understand the medium of comics and how it presents ideas and emotions to readers! And I haven't even had the chance to finish it all the way! I'm very happy I own a copy and I recommend having one of your own if you can, but it's archived here if you want to read it :D

I also like analyzing other comics and thinking about how they get information across to me as a reader. It's helped me learn more effective ways to visually tell a story, like what to include in a frame, how zooming in or out affects the feeling from the panel, maybe building a scene by focusing on other stuff if someone is talking a lot... etc.

ANYWAYS-! Some other tips I've learned through my personal experience-

I had to overcome a lot of negative self-talk in order to tackle a huge comic project like this and stay committed. I was a pretty severe self-deprecator for most of my life so far, and getting help has allowed me to catch myself when I'm slipping back into those habits, look in the mirror, and go, "NO, JOJO! You pour your heart into what you make and that is a wonderful thing! You are appreciated and loved and you deserve to have fun making something you are passionate about!!" Some examples of the negative self-talk I catch myself in....

"I'm a noob at writing and making a story interesting... What's the point of even trying?"

When it comes to starting a project, whether it's 2 pages or 2000 pages, is to just jump in and start! It's okay to be a little insecure or nervous about your technical art skills, writing skills, etc... But writing a "bad" scene is better than no scene- because you can always edit a "bad" scene down the line, but what can you do with nothing? Nothing!! I also put "bad" in quotation marks because I am trying to use that term less, and instead call them "early drafts." or "works in progress."

The first Roleswap scene I fleshed-out was the first Bandee boss fight, in May 2022. I made this drawing on an impulse, getting my ideas down on the page without thinking about the technical stuff like comic panel borders. I consider it like a "pilot episode" almost, haha. The final project is going to be very different from how things play out here. But it got me interested in the concept and excited to see where I could take it, and I made the decision to commit to an entire game plot's worth of AU comics!!

Also, what's the point in trying you ask? The point is to have fun! Making a fan comic in my free time means I don't have restrictions like deadlines, nobody's telling me what I can and can't write, and I can make the story as long or as short as I want! I have full control, which means the world I'm writing is all mine to create! Yes, with a fan comic there is a pre-established world with existing characters. But a universe like Kirby has enough open-ended concepts for people to take basic concepts in the world and take them to whole new levels! I think that's why there are so many amazing fan interpretations of Kirby characters and OCs. The rules are so vague, you can just make up your own a lot of the time!! And it's a wonderful exercise to learn skills for someday building an original world with all original characters from scratch! Magical!!!

"I'm not good enough to make a comic. I don't understand perspective or color and other stuff. Anything I make will look bad.

I once read a two panel comic on here. I can't find it anymore but I remember most of it. First panel showed the artist looking at what they're drawing on their tablet, looking defeated and sad. "Man, I don't even know how to draw this....."The next panel was like them smiling and shrugging, I think rainbows and sparkles were coming out of their tablet, ".....I GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO DRAW IT SHITTY!! :D "

IF ANYONE KNOWS THIS COMIC I'M REFERENCING, PLEASE TELL ME AND I'LL LINK IT!!! Because it permanently and positively changed my brain chemistry.

No kidding, making the decision to just do my best even if it's not perfect, helped me a LOT. I was always waiting to "reach a certain level" to tackle a huge project because I felt like I'd never do it justice at my current state. Except I had been telling myself that kind of stuff for years and I still didn't start any projects!!

So the day I said, "Oh well! If I draw backgrounds shitty, then it is what it is! I'll learn from it and draw the next background a little better," Was the day I could commit fully to the project. I'll keep studying how to draw them better for my own benefit, but I won't let my skill issues stop me from even trying!

And for my limited confidence in full-color art, I solved that by making the comic in black and white with no-to-minimal shading lolol. Because I can only address one skill issue at a time before it takes me 25 years to finish this HAHAHA.

It saves a BUNCH of time to work with skill issues rather than against them! Because at least experience is gained in other ways, and who knows, maybe that new knowledge will help address the skill issues someday! So identifying your personal skill issues and deciding which one to try to grow stronger, and which one to work around, could help with big projects!

"Nobody will read this. I'm going to put months or years of my life into a dumb little thing nobody will even care about."

Learning how to draw for my own enjoyment instead of somebody else's was one of the biggest breakthroughs I ever made. Enjoying the feeling of being challenged artistically and just doing my best, even if it's not technically perfect, is the reason why I was even able to start this!

And just because someone doesn't directly like, comment or whatever on a post doesn't mean nobody saw it! I used to get really down on myself for the lack of engagement on my art on other websites.

I was a lurker for pretty much my entire teenage years and never posted my own stuff or commented much. But that didn't take away the fact that I really enjoyed the things I saw online. Those positive feelings were real to me, even when I didn't know how to articulate it in words. Granted, I grew up into a Words of Affirmation main, and I use words to tell people the positive things I think about them as much as I can! But I know not everyone prefers words to express themselves. So I think about the people that I don't know enjoy my work- that just because I don't see it doesn't mean I didn't make a positive impact on someone by sharing my stories.

THIS IS GETTING LONG-- UHHH, STORY TIPS!!

If you work best on technology, start building the story in a Notes app, or a Google Doc! If you work best with pen and paper, start a notebook and rearrange stuff as you need to!

Or if you're chaotic like me, a mix of tech and paper!! I bought a notebook with ring binding so I can remove and rearrange pages of drafts as much as I wanted to! Like here's two very rough concept pages of one Chapter 1 scene made months apart.

I'd say planning out the biggest basic plot points and then filling in between as I went was most helpful! I also have separate notes for character motivations, important story-changing events, etc... So I can have my own reference when I'm writing new scenes!

Okay this was a lot, sorry about the yapping! Hopefully it helps even a tiny bit. If you have any specific questions I'm happy to talk about my experience in the creation process! Or elaborate on anything I said above.

And finally, because I'm not a professional there are probably plenty of other tactics that could work better for some people. My ADHD probably doesn't help with the chaos of my process either, HAHA. But thank you for reading this far and enjoying the peek into the rainbow glitter and soap bubbles that inhabit the right side of my brain, heehee.

[leoneliterary]

i love how you write SO MUCH, youve inspired me in so many ways, and one of the mcs i made for your game has turned into a personal oc who i love DEARLY. do you have any writing tips, specifically on description? i love how you describe things and show not only emotion and actions, but the WORLD AND HISTORY of hashind itself! its all so amazing and im just RLLY eager to see if u have any tips i could use to improve my own writing

Aww thank you so much! This is so kind, and I don't feel like I'm equipped to give anyone advice, but here goes nothing!!

First, don't focus too much on emulating another writer's style. Some people prefer their descriptions short and punchy, others like them long and flowery. You can like to read all of them, but prefer to write in one specifically.

As for how I write my descriptions of settings, I lead with the sensations. If it's sunny, I think about the warmth that you feel on your skin, how the sun heats the rocks under your feet. Then I try to tie that with mood. The beginning of HAT is dreary and has an air of hopelessness, so the heat needed to feel stifling, dire, and oppressive. When the MC is an adult, Cusmo feels less large and looming and your character has more mastery of it, so I try to describe things as if the character is used to them, with minimal discomfort.

Writing world and history ties into worldbuilding. There are plenty of resources for how to do it online, but nothing beats actually doig it. Draw on real history or geography (always with respect and sensitivity of course) but also rely on your imagination. Some people create a world aound their characters, while others think of what characters and stories would inhabit the world they've created. You have to explore that for yourself.

Ask yourself if your characters are outsiders to the world or actively live in it. The MC in HAT knows Cusmo, but not the palace or outside Hashind. So I describe these places differently based on level of familiarity.

Finally, emotions are difficult. People may say show, but don't tell, and I say that there is a time for both. For a main character's internal thoughts, sometimes I just tell the reader. With characters like the ROs, sometimes I tell, hint, or show through mannerisms. It just depends on the scene.

Do whatever works for the story you want to tell, and learn to love and improve your writing style. Don't be disappointed if it doesn't look or sound like someone else's and take all advice (especially mine lol) with a grain of salt.

Thank you for the ask and I hope this was helpful!

[wisp-of-chaos]

OC Deep Dive tag🌊

Tagged by @melodicwriter thank you very much! I hope you don't mind but I have so many OC's, I let a friend decide on which to do this one for and their pick was Thjorn Herstekin who originated from a game and was recently re-purposed into a character for my asian arem AU and turned fron Norn to Hobgoblin lol

Anyway, let's start!

Phobias and other fears: I think it's not a real fear but he worries about others (especially strangers) to find out about his less than glorious past as a raider/bandit and all the horrible things he's done. He isn't too proud of his past and regrets it deeply but is on his way to make amends. (He's doing very well!)

Pet Peeves: People treating other people with disrespect and cruelty. And having his naps interrupted.

3 things you can always find in their bedroom: His two axes, his coat made of mountain lion fur and half-empty cups of tea. He always brews hismelf some before going to bed and never finishes them.

First thing they notice in a person: Their strance; if they're hostile or not (or pretent not to be). Also if someone is lying or honest. He has a thing for seeing the signs due to his past.

On a scale of 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance? Probbaly a 8 or 9. He got into fights often and had to kepe on going or die, so he knows how to bear and ignore pain until he and his friends are safe. Only really bad and serious things will have him down on his knees and wheezing.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure? He used to when younger but quickly learned to stay level headed and has only become calmer over the years. (A certain pair of drow twins still manages to trigger his FLIGHT response from time to time though)

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person? He doesn't remember his family but found himself a new one, which he loves dearly and will protect and keep safe at any cost. (Unless they act like total idiots and deserve some punishment/humbling. He will take care of them afterwards and offer comfort though)

What animal represents them best? Wolf.

What is a smell they dislike? He used to LOVE the metallic smell of blood but now dreads and loathes it. Also burnt vegetables and incense.

Have they broken any bones? Way too many to remember or count.

How would a stranger likely describe them? As a calm, friendly old uncle. He will offer tea and treats and either listen to you or tell you adventure stories and local myths. Will make sure you feel safe and comfortable and welcome.

Are they a night owl or morning bird? He used to be a bit of both in his youth; always stayed up late but was among the first to wake in the morning. Now, he likes naps and to sleep in.

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love? He isn't too fond of raw food (excluding vegetables and fruits/berries etc) and especially hates the hobgoblin custom of eating raw, bloody meat. He loves all things spicy though - and even more so when there's a subtle sweetness to it like some curries. An all time favourite of his is dried plum candy.

Do they have any hobbies? He is a skilled woodcarver and handpoking-tattoo artist.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises? Surprised, lol. But other than that, he would be touched and may even tear up a little. He also would be a little worried if the twins were involved and on the lookout for some "traps".

Do they like to wear jewelry? A little, I guess. He wears subtle earrings but prefers to adorn his body with tattoos instead of jewelry.

Do they have messy handwriting? Yes. He learned how to read and write at a later age and is still very insecure and embarassed about his wonky lines and unsteady hand.

What are the two emotions they feel the most? Guilt and regret. But since he changed his ways and joined the Banyang settlement, he is feeling a lot of joy and happiness and relief.

Do they have a fabric? Animal fur. Short and rough but warm.

What kind of accent do they have? A little of a "commoner" accent maybe? Not as clear and sharp as the upper classes. He knows a lot of their fancy words though and enjoys throwing them off by using them against them.

That was actually quite some fun! I haven't thought on Thjordin that deep yet but those questions were nice to consider for him! Big thanks to @melodicwriter for tagging me and @unaarista for chosing the boy! <3

I am tagging ... well, @unaarista @sumi-sprite @corvitine @des-no9 @tea-and-magic @1hoblet @tunarath @deadhornedgod @deletarius1893 @lesbianbreastmilk and @baldursghaik and anyone who I forgot and wants to do this!

[tunabesimpin]

🦚 TWST OC MITCHELL INFO 🦚

New oc alert! ^v^ getting more used to painting first and then lining so this came out more detailed than Tunas LOL

BASIC INFO

TAG : #twst Mitchell

Name : Mitchell / Mitty Class : 2-E (Student no. 5) Birthday : July 31st Age: 17 Height : 171 cm Dominant Hand : right Best Subject : Music Hobby : Idol Dislikes : Clutter & tight spaces Favorite Food: Potato Kabob Least Favorite Food : Spaghetti Talents : Dance (Ballet Specific)

Quick Summary: Mitchell or Mitty, is a micro-celebrity idol. Covering popular songs and trending dances, Mitty is determined to follow his childhood idols footsteps! Even though he couldn't join auditions to be in a group, Mitty has created a good following on his magicam and magitube accounts. As Flamboyant as he is, he still gets shy when complimented or meeting people he looks up to. Overall this peacock beastman is slowly learning step by step how to brainwash everyone to be his fan! (/j... unless?) ^o^

APPEARANCE

A peacock beastman with bright purply-pink hair and eyes. He has an ahoge that is not normal hair, turning blue towards the end. Above his left brow and below his left eye he has beauty marks. His overall body type is thin, toned and with hip dips. Very often Mitty applies red eyeshadow and lipstick as well as applying mascara and contact lenses to make his eyes appear larger. He has lobe piercings, but rarely wears earrings due to his hair covering or getting tangled easily. As for fashion he prefers deep reds and dark cool colors usually in lolita styles. For more casual looks he prefers loungewear like cardigans and loose pants.

PERSONALITY + BACKGROUND

As a child Mitchell was extremely influenced by anime idols and cute idol groups alike. Going as far as performing his favorite songs and dances in school talent shows. However, his obsession with making the crowd feel "awe-inspired" he often used his UM to his advantage. This didn't do well with many of his teachers and other parents... so surprisingly enough Mitty had many detentions in their early years. This record left him in dim lights for group auditions. Mittys mindset got a bit skewed and began to think... I will just have to try harder to rule the crowd! Overtime their hope to inspire morphed into wanting the world to love him (through mostly any means).

Upon entering NRC Mitchell had begun seeking attention online and decided a "debut concert" was most necessary. After the entrance ceremony Mitty went back to the mirror chamber, set up his phone camera and began to perform one of his favorite routines! Thus started his online career! While he is not as popular as others, he does have a few hundred supporting him and in his mind that's the first step to his domination!

Personality wise, Mitty is pretty dense when it comes to anything besides his interests and doesn't take no for an answer. No literally it will go in one ear out the other. Despite this he does take everything surprisingly seriously, ok not rejection, but everything else! However compliments? He will grin from ear to ear, go red and just absoluetly adore you! He can be a bit clingy when he's like this, but he's just happy some one likes him. When it comes to friendship though... well he's not a terrible friend, but he does tend to only think of himself most of the time... at least he will buy you things to make it up to you;; Just don't ask him for emotional advice too much he really isn't good at it. Overall he's a bit of an annoying person, but his shy and bashful bursts at compliments may be something redeemable.

Academically he is average. He does amazing is music but that's about it, everything else is passing at least. He struggles with history most due to his disinterest in remembering about people who aren't his idols.

In his free time, Mitty practices dance and song covers from his favorite medias. Posting them as often as he records and of course running to Cater for help very often. If they're not doing that, he's grooming his feathers or sewing new outfits. Occasionally he will tour around campus and invade dorms to take photos in his newest creations as well as show them off.

ABILITIES

UM- Focus on me! "Let me show you who's the main star!" -This unique magic allows Mitchell to take on his peacock beast-form. When showing off his beautiful feathers they act as a hypnotizing charm; causing dizziness, crossed vision, and luring people into a trance like state. If used with full force, Mitchell can force the afflicted to follow his movements. -Movement can not be fast or the afflicted will snap out of the trance. -strength of effects depends on the amount of magic used in this UM. Less input and you can expect a simple charm and lull effect, but with heavy input the effects will increase. -Small to medium blot manifestation; long term use at low levels is usually fine, but after a few hours blot formation rate will increase.

RELATIONSHIPS

Relationship chart to be made !

Notable Relationships:

Vil & Mitty : Mitty looks up to Vil and respect him so much! While he isnt into acting, Vils prowess and social media standing are impressive! Mitty is too busy fangirling and stuttering to speak to Vil casually. Vil doesn't seem to mind so long as it doesn't effect his work.

Cater & Mitty : Mitty joined the pop music club and immediately wanted to quit. It was quite contrary to what they expected. Cater and Kalim were quick to talk him into staying. Ever since, Cater has been a big help to Mitty in social media learning and Mitty may have taken to mimicking Caters speech online. Mitty says they're close friends, but Cater only see it as a casual friendship.

Riddle : Currently Mitty is trying to convince Riddle to form an idol duo. Riddle had been one of the first to "compliment" one of his dances, saying "Your dancing nice, however you are trespassing on Heartslaybl property!". Ever since, whenever Mitty visits Cater he doesn't hesitate to try and recruit the house warden. While Riddle does not hate him, he is often dumbfounded by Mittys inability to "read the atmosphere". It is not currently known why Mitty is obsessed beyond the nice comment.

Thanks for reading about Mitchell!! I did not realize until after i made his nickname Mitty that Mitty can mean "a fictional character given to grand and elaborate fantasies" and I think that's very fitting for him LMAOOOO anyways!!! Thank you for the support and time <3 !

[brujarojaxx]

Rant about why I dislike Kate Medrano.

Ok, a explication, if someone knows about Brujo Ari and his old art you would know that he used to draw a Noriaki Kakyoin with headcanons (more like an auto-insertion), thats was a hyperfemenine transmac autistic mexican-japanese teenager and now its a oc named Kate Medrano, a genderfluid mexican-american, again, autistic, with mommy issues and a enemy named Mary (before she was Marina, Jotaro's ex-wife and in the AU a girl who liked him).

Mary (Marina) and Kate.

Ok.

Starting with my rant.

First, her personality, even before, Kate or Nori was this type of anti-protagonist said by her creator. I think its cool having a protagonist that its no the average protagonists of teenagers movies or something like that.

I don't have problems with her backstory, I think, but I don't like that sometimes she is not able to see others, for example, in the story, its said that she and Mary were friends at first but after Mary didn't defend her at a party where a boy humiliated her, Kate got angry with her and decided not to be her friend anymore, I mean yes, it is logical, but after that she began to treat Mary as if she were the devil himself. Then, Kate makes Mary fall or something and holds her hand to help her up while she tries to hold back her mocking laughter. After that, Mary wanted to return the prank on Kate but it went wrong and she ended up breaking Alex's arm (the boy she likes and who I'll talk about later) and for some reason the school opens some kind of investigation to look for the responsible.

Now, who is Alex? Well, Alex was Jotaro, another mexican-japanese autistic (?) transmasc. My problems with him and Kate its that both lacks of emotional responsibility. In the story we are told that Mary and Alex were very good friends and that they liked each other (apparently Alex loves blondes) but with Kate's arrival at the institute, Alex became disinterested in Mary, but neither he nor Kate confessed, AND ALEX NEVER HAD THE NEURONS TO TELL MARY THAT HE NO LONGER LOVED HER ROMANTICLY. Then Mary only understood that because of Kate Alex no longer spent time with her (hence Mary also hates Kate).

It also doesn't help that Mary is the stereotype of the pretty, rich blonde girl with loving parents, lots of friends and good grades (something like Cher Howoritz). Because there really is no real reason to hate her other than her jealousy. xd

My main problem with these two is that they seem to think with their uterus because neither of them has emotional responsibility with the rest of the people around them. And something I hate is that Brujo Ari fans forget that they are both gray characters with a background, but many ignore the subtext between the two of them.

I don't hate Brujo Ari, actually, I like his art and Mary. But I don't have another place to write my opinion without being cancelled or something lol.

Edit: Now it seem that either a joke or something real, Kate now is something like a gatekeeper femcel and hates popular girls because he is not popular. (Also she sometimes she likes them too, because is a bi, obviously)

Edit 2: Apparently, their love triangle it's not longer canon, but I don't give a fuck, it doesn't make him better person.

[spookemsdukems]

.❀。• *BUILDER CHARACTER INSPERATION ₊°。 ❀°。

So I did the thing (Ty for the meme base Hani mwah kith fdsfdsf) FROM LEFT TO RIGHE BABEH

No-Face; Spirited Away:

Aside from the general off putting nature that is THIS character, the way it really reminds me of "Builder" is the scary smile and personality of adapting to so many different environments while never really fitting in. Which is quite similar to "Builder"

Frieren; Frieren Beyond Journey's End:

Frieren as a character has a hard time understand human emotions and how the short lived species of humans make an impact on her, and oh did they ever make an impact. The whole point of her journey- without getting super spoilery- is just kinda... understanding emotions and how special the people she knew and knows are to her? At least from my perspective ahsfsduif I dunno! BUT! I think that really fits with "Builder". She does not understand people, and emotions are often flying over her head, but her absolute desire to understand and care she could have for someone makes me draw the connection.

Ditto; Pokemon:

Ditto, the Pokemon that copies and mimics others but is never fully able to pass as the other. It is very... similar to my sweet baby "Builder"

Wall-e; Wall-E:

Wall-e is a simple lil guy, with the absolute dedication to doing his job cause it's all he knows, but he goes from a mindless little robot to a character rich lil man who likes lightbulbs and the pretty Eve and I think.. that is what "Builder" will become!

Kanna; Inuyasha:

Kanna was a creature created by an evil stinky man who says she has no heart. She's a blank canvas and only does what she is told. No emotions, no thoughts other than to listen. She is nothing... and she realizes this at a point and turns around the best she can with what time she has left. I think "Builder" has the similar mindset of 'Listen don't question' but will come to the realization that oh my gosh she is not who she pretends to be or thinks she is portraying. I dunno there was a line the character used that was like

"I have... I have nothing. I have nothing."

And that stuck with me

Shiro; Deadman Wonderland:

OK SO LIKE HEAR ME OUT?? "Builder" is definitely not like... sane? For lack of better words lol. She was raised in a similar way to Shiro and Shiro is definitely not the epitome of sanity wheeze. I mainly draw the connection between them with the view on romance and also how "Builder" would turn out in a 'bad end' sorta way?

HONOURABLE MENTIONS!!!

The Villager from Animal Crossing: The Mc has eyes that stare into your soul, much like her's!!! Tsuyu from MHA: The eyes and smile... Flor was oh so right lmao

THE MII CHANNEL THEME SONG: Cause that is 100% what is going through her brain at all times!

Violet from Violet Evergarden: I would have added her, but I felt like I added TOO many pretty ladies

WHEW ANYWAY if you read this all the way! HI congrazzles! Now you know some lore and thoughts that go into my brain! Also whoops I totally did this in reverse? Cause I made this OC before I ever thought of anything so wowie fun!

(❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡ enjoy!

[miru667]

How do you manage to stay in a fandom for so long? I'm always mario jumping from fandom to fandom every 3-6 months

Oh, so many reasons. I think I've answered this before but in a much more concise way so idk what happened here when I tried to answer again from scratch but uhhh I wrote a lot lol?? Long ramble time. 😂

I found this fandom at a point in my life when I really emotionally needed it, so I got really attached to it. I stayed because of the friends I've made in it and because of the OCs I got invested in, both mine and other people's, and every so often something invigorated my interest like a new roleplay I got to join or new concept art that got discovered.

I'm also just a really dedicated person (for better or worse) and I still have ideas that I want to get out there creatively. I don't get a lot of free time, and I rarely have energy for hobbies after work so my time passes slowly in the sense that I may still be in the middle of appreciating a thing, meanwhile everyone else has already sped through and processed it and moved on.

So I've gotta be really careful about choosing what to spend my limited time and energy on. It sometimes takes me a whole month to draw a piece of art that I'm proud of. It would be a huge waste of my time to spend so much energy on a fandom that after 3 months I think I might not care about anymore.

And like, if it's going to take me a month to draw 1 thing, what am I going to choose? Fanart of a character from a show that I just finished that I might possibly move on from in 3 months? Or art of my darling Audrey OC that I've been developing for years and whom I know will always bring me joy for the rest of my life? It's not a hard choice! Like I'm sure it's obvious by now but I really love my oc. It's gotten to the point that I look for her in every media I consume. I like characters because they remind me of her, and I like plots because they remind me of her. When I watch a movie and end up loving it, I'm not going to be drawing fanart for that movie, I'm more likely going to be drawing Audrey Grace in some way that's consciously or subconsciously inspired by that movie. I'm sure other people with beloved ocs can relate to that, too.

Back to media consumption: I'm constantly watching new things, shows, movies, letsplays, and I'm able to love them just fine, but I never participate in their fandoms (unless you count reblogging fanart as participation. I personally don't). I just don't feel motivated to and I feel like it's unnecessary. I shouldn't need to prove anything. You can appreciate media without engaging in fandom. In fact, I encourage it, because a lot of what I see in fandoms these days is just stressful, at least to me. And I don't want that stress. I'm much happier as a person when I don't have to read other people's opinions, discourse and drama over some show's themes or ships or whatever. I can just quietly revel in my own enjoyment of the show without being tainted by anything else, and my love for it is not any less valid than the person who's livetweeting their loud emotions while watching the same show and putting out fanart 1 hour after every episode. Bless them, though.

And I guess that's mostly what I do these days with the Onceler fandom, too. Appreciating it more quietly these days, I mean. It's just that...I have a fandom related oc so I draw her. And I have friends here so we do stuff together and we reference fandom inside jokes no matter what activity we're doing. If I encounter art that deeply moves me personally, I reblog it, just like I reblog art for other media on my sideblog. When anyone has a fandom history related question, I'm eager to answer because I don't want the past to be misrepresented or misunderstood. And also, since it's been over a decade, this fandom has long ago become my daily normal. I can do whatever I like but I can't really "leave" this fandom unless I delete all my social media and cut off all my online friends. And delete my memories of the past 12 years of my life as well. Just become a completely different person.

So I guess I can reverse the sentiment: I can't relate to people who hop fandoms every 3 to 6 months. 😭 All the power to you, but that's just not the way I happen to live my life, nor the way I engage with the media I consume! The Once-ler fandom was the one exception. It was special.

But who knows, anything can happen in the future. I'm not so proud that I'm purposely blocking myself from looking at other fandoms or anything. I just go with the flow! Right now I'm slowly making my way through jjba, an omori playthrough, a Plague Tale playthrough, and urusei yatsura season 2 (the new anime). Probably nothing will come out of any it except for a bunch of Audrey inspos, but again, who knows. XD I'm also going to an idkhow concert soon, and I've bought merch from their store already. Does that count as participating in a fandom? Maybe not. But now that I think of it, even if I "join" another fandom, it doesn't necessarily mean I'd leave the onceler fandom either, so maybe it wouldn't matter haha.

Thank you for the ask and thank you to anyone who's read my entire answer!

[an-artist-place-for-extra-art]

New Dsaf Oc cause yeee.

These images down below were made by @space-cores-adventures you know the person that made @welcome-to-roomba-fazbender Charlie the phone guy (and my ai “husband”/j)

Notes :)

Dagger Twila

A gen 2 Phone guy.

He was shanked in front of a Denny’s trying to get a coffee.

He went to work, still bleeding. His boss told him to put on the suit.

The location he worked at was very broke that the springlock suit was in parts.

Dagger put on the right leg of the suit and it went off from his blood.

Dagger passed out from the shock of the pain then died from blood loss.

He was taken to the factory to be turned into a phone guy. Which was mostly easy because most of his body was still intact.

For some reason his right leg was really messed up in the springlock failure so despite the patch up from the factor, his right leg is still weak.

He was given a cane with a phantom foxy headpiece for his weak leg.

Dagger has very bad anger issues.

Dagger’s location is very poor so it mostly attracts asshole kids and parents.

Dagger also has worst workers. (Mostly Dave)

Dagger doesn’t mind/likes Matt for being a good worker (still finds he creepy but with the colored corpse, he doesn’t mind.)

Dagger despises Ronaldo Cuisine. He just doesn’t trust or like him for his method on making pizza

Dagger is one of the few Phone guys Dave’s respects.

Dagger when angered too much, his lightbulbs would pop/explode. And if it’s Dave, he you use his cane to beat you.

Dagger’s lightbulbs can change color depending on what emotion he is feeling. He has to hide his lightbulb when he doesn’t want someone to know when he is lying.

Dagger has popped so much lightbulbs that he had to sell his suit coat to buy more lightbulbs.

Dagger hates the knife dagger or any knife because he was stabbed.

So for self defense against a Candy shooter, he has his cane also be part gun.

Dagger loves coffee and he needs it a lot.

Due to all his anger issues he has to go to the company owned therapist, Joshilyn Edwards.

He was give one of those pin saying how many days he wasn’t angry. He never got past 5 days.

Joshilyn Edwards

She is a gen 3 phone gal

Joshilyn is the company therapist to help with the phone guy/gal moral

Joshilyn is also the ears of the company. She is sorta the observer of most phone guys/gals to find any rogue phone guys/gals for the company.

Joshilyn has seen a few of phone guys/gals taken away by the Factory and she never sees them again.

Joshilyn tries her best to make sure others don’t get taken away. Especially Dagger, who has a few words about the factory and company.

Joshilyn is friends with Dagger, talking to him the most during work.

Joshilyn has give Dagger his pin and if Dagger gets though 7 days without being angry, she would give him a cookie.

Joshilyn enjoys her job cause she get to sit around and listen to all the drama of almost every Freddy’s location.

She has the aura around her that makes most people happy and put their guard down with her.

She had a fiancé but after she died her fiancé died in a car crash from being drunk while driving.

She looks at her ring whenever she feels tired or down.

Joshilyn really loved her fiancé and she would not love another person. (I mean unless I make someone lol)

[strawberrykisses128]

guh... a little nervous to write this post LOL These are my ocs!

Zoya Agapov is the guardian/parental figure of Viktor, they are not blood related but they consider themselves to be. She is extroverted, free spirited, enthusiastic, loving, and unapologetically acts like herself. she is boisterous and loud, and has a young spirit despite her old age. Though, now adays she needs more help doing tasks because of how hard it's become for her to move around, and having only 1 arm has contributed to that. However, she is still a strong willed woman who doesn't give up on things so easily, despite how hard it may be. She 71 years old, is 4'5, so VERY short and an amputee on her right arm. her body is fat, having a lot of excess skin in her arms and legs.

Viktor Agapov is the adopted child of Zoya, and is very happy with that fact. he has never been worried of who his birth parents were, because Zoya provides all the love he needed. He is introverted and reserved, a very quiet and almost socially inept due to not talking with many people in his life. He's always kept to himself, often writing or reading his books in his free time. though, he has a very kind and gentle personality, always remaining soft spoken and respectful to those he talks to. His best friend is Urania, who he slowly develops very deep feelings for. though, he feels too nervous to let her know that, so he keeps it to himself in fear of making things weird. He is 24 years old, is 6'0 and has a chubby and slightly bulky body.

Urania Panagos is the newest member of the household, being welcomed to stay by Zoya and soon becomes a permanent member of the home. Urania is a very thoughtful, emotional, highly empathetic, and caring person. she wears her heart on her sleeve, showing her care for not only people, but all things in the world. One thing Viktor and Zoya do not know however, is that she is actually an alien who disguised herself to come to earth and enjoy and learn what it is about and what beautiful things it has to offer. she was often thought of as strange or eccentric by others on her home planet. But Viktor and Zoya accept her as she is, and she truly feels at home for the first time in her life. Over time, Urania develops deep feelings for Viktor as well, but isn't quite sure how to handle it or what to do with it since she had never been in love with someone before, or loved anyone in this kind of way. So she hides how she feels in fear of accidentally saying something weird or it turns out she wasn't supposed to feel this way. She is 23 years old, and is 5'6. she has a thin body with a small chest.

Those are VERY basic descriptions of who they are, I don't think I could actually tell everything about them in just one post. but... if u have any questions don't be afraid to ask... wink...

[legacyshenanigans]

Questions for OCs

These were in my notes and I'd forgotten about them, can't remember for the life of me who/where I got the questions from, but I wanna do them for the boys 🐍🐺

What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?

Marvolo:

Quite a while, he actually rather enjoys doing NOTHING. it gives him time to just relax his mind.

Rowan:

Not too long, he likes a bit of relaxation, who doesn't? But he gets antsy fairly quickly, he doesn't like staying still, he fidgets a lot.

How easy is it for your character to really laugh?

Marvolo:

Totally depends on what's being said/done. He has quite a dark sense of humour, so anything like that, he finds extremely amusing.

Rowan:

Very easy, Rowan has a very simple and often dumb sense of humour.

How do they put themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?)

Marvolo:

He often likes to do some reading before he sleeps. Depending on...Activities..Happening before bed 👀

Rowan:

Rowan is the type who will just stay awake until he can't anymore, he'll often just drag himself to his bed, or ANYWHERE comfortable and simply pass the fuck out in seconds.

How easy is it to earn their trust?

Marvolo:

Not very, with the circles he's runs in and the kinda people he meets and sees. He knows how folk can be. Everyone is on their guard at all times, making it hard. But once he does have trust in someone, he keeps those people close.

Rowan:

It's not that easy for Rowan either, He prefers to make some form of emotional bond or a friendship before allowing his trust to people.

How easy is it to earn their mistrust?

Marvolo:

Quite easy depending on what's happend I suppose. Any form of betrayal is an instant trigger for Marvolo. He despises that more than anything, and is rarely forgiving of it.

Rowan:

Slightly more forgiving than Marvolo in many ways, but it's still rather easy to earn his mistrust.

Do they consider laws flexible?

(I think it's obvious that both Marvolo and Rowan don't give a fuck about the law haha)

What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

Marvolo:

As much as they may argue at times, a standard brotherly relationship obviously, spending time with Ominis doing something they both actually enjoy brings alot of nostalgic feelings from their better times as kids for Marvolo, and yeah, he enjoys it, though he'd never admit it.

Rowan:

Being in nature in general gives Rowan those feelings, out on the hunt, taking a walk in the woods, being in his wolf form prowling around, anything like that really, making things out of stuff like animal parts and woods and what not also triggers this feeling from being taught how to do these things when he was a kid with his parents. He likes the feeling, though it's bittersweet.

What were they told to stop doing most often as a child?

Marvolo:

Annoying Ominis (lol). And disobeying his father.

Rowan:

Worrying about and questioning his potential as a Lycan.

Do they swear?

(All the fuckin time lmao, both of them)

Do they lie? Does it haunt them?

Marvolo:

Marvolo frequently lies about certain things, to protect himself, and those he cares about. It doesn't haunt him.

Rowan:

I mentioned this on the emotions post i did the other day, Rowan lies about silly things mainly, like denying when he's broken something even though its obvious it was him, I wouldn't go as far to say it "haunts him" when he does those things, but he does feel a little guilty lying.

How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?

Marvolo:

Marvolo doesn't like being confused. He'll often just sit there and stare at the person with an irritated frown on his face, waiting for them to explain better.

Rowan:

Rowan seeks clarification. He's often confused, bless his heart haha. "Huh?" "What does that mean?" "What do you mean?" "Dumb it down for me".

What color do they think they look best in? Do they actually look best in that color?

Marvolo:

Black and Greens, and he absolutely suits it.

Rowan:

Red, and he does look rather good in red.

How do they speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in their mind first?

Marvolo:

It's usually on the spot, but he's very good with his words. He has the "gift of the gab" So he's very confident in the words he uses.

Rowan:

Rowan isn't a very good speaker, it's on the spot and mainly blurted out before he has time to think.

Are they easily embarrassed?

Marvolo:

Depends on the situation. Generally? No. But when he's caught during a fragile moment, he does, such as having a cute little moment with MC by other people. He gets a little flustered because that side of him is reserved ONLY for her, and he doesn't really like other people seeing it.

Rowan:

Not really lmao, Rowan is a no shame kinda person, he doesn't get embarrassed often, but talking to someone he really cares about in a romantic way can sometimes make him a little blushy, thus embarrassing him slightly.

What embarrasses them?

(Caught or generally expressing vulnerable feelings, for both)

What is their favorite number?

Marvolo: 6.

Rowan: 15.

How does jealousy manifest itself in them?

(Possessiveness, in both of them)

How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)? 

Marvolo:

If someone has something Marvolo wants, he'll take it. He will make sure he gets what he wants.

Rowan:

Mainly complaining and being moody about it haha. It makes him grumpy.

Is sex something that they’re comfortable speaking about?

(Absolutely, neither of them are shy when it comes to the pleasures of sex and talking about it)

 What are their thoughts on marriage? 

Marvolo:

Never thought he ever would have, until he met MC.

Rowan:

Isn't against it, but he also doesn't really want it for himself.

 What is their preferred mode of transportation? 

Marvolo:

Floo network, or he disapparates.

Rowan:

To be honest, Rowan just likes a good run (often in wolf form) or walk mainly, if it's somewhere far away though he'll allow Marvolo to disapparate with him but he HATES it lmao.

 Do they usually live up to their own ideals? 

Marvolo:

Marvolo is confident in pretty much everything he does, and always accomplishes goals, so yeah, I'd say he feels like he's lives up to what he sets out.

Rowan:

Sadly, no. But it's a personal anxiety thing for him. Even if nothing is wrong and he's perfectly fine, and can accomplish things well, he still feels that niggly anxiety telling him it's not good enough.

 Who are they the most glad to have met? 

Marvolo:

MC. She opened up his world in feelings.

Rowan:

Marvolo, because he gave him sanctuary and friendship when he didn't have anyone or anything for the longest time.

How do they feel about children? 

Marvolo:

Open to having his OWN children. But in general most children seem to find Marvolo scary lmao.

Rowan:

Hates kids. They put him on edge.

If someone asked them to explain their sexuality, how would they do so? 

Marvolo:

"I like what I like, that's it"

Rowan:

Rowan would say he's Bi.

~

[blindmagdalena]

Hiiii it's me again!

I just wrapped up a full-on binge of your series with Homelander and Layla, and honestly, I've got to get a few things off my chest about these two. I'll try to keep this short, but there's a lot to unpack, and if you're not up for the essay I'm about to write here, feel free to skip it. Starting with Layla's profession — genius. It just clicks, right? With a job like hers, it's totally believable that she'd cross paths with a guy like Homelander. That guy's desperate for any scrap of affection he can get, doesn't really matter if it's genuine or not. And in your story, it feels like we get a dash of both. It's refreshing because usually, OCs just snap their fingers and suddenly, Homelander's all about them, which feels a tad forced.

But Layla? She's different. Their first serious meet-up perfectly demonstrates her patience. And her smarts? She's ten steps ahead, seeing right through Homelander's act — you know the one where he pretends he's too cool for the room. Her ability to play him like a fiddle from the get-go, just by stroking his ego, is just so spot on. It's not just her cunning that stands out, though. Layla knows exactly when to use emotional leverage, she's insightful about Homelander's neediness, hence the booked meeting. She's not your typical 'strong woman' character — thank goodness we're not talking about those overdone, one-dimensional types that come off as watered-down male heroes. Love that she's profoundly intelligent, perceptive, and strategic in her emotional connections. She's an exemplary character not wedged into the role of being “strong” but one who utilizes her understanding and empathy as powerful tools.

I'm sold on her character (if you can't tell.) And I'm really going all out here because as I revisit the first chapters to talk about this, I keep finding new reasons to appreciate her more. I want to dive deeper into my thoughts, but I'm probably just rambling now, so I'll cut myself off. You've single handedly got me working on my personal oc again lmfao. Just a last note, it's cool to see an original character who isn't some superpowered being for a change. It adds layers to the world you've built that I'm just here for. I'm gonna read a few other fics you have linked about your ocs — I came for the x reader fics and stayed for the ocs LOL.

— 💌

you genuinely took my breath away with this! my heart is so full and warm, i could cry. i can't tell you how many times i reread this this morning! i'm very tender-hearted when it comes to my original characters, and i was quite nervous starting an oc fic, but this makes me SO happy that i did!

please don't ever apologize for writing essays like this, i honestly want to print this out and hang it on my wall. thank you SO MUCH for not only reading my fic but taking the time to send me such an incredibly thoughtful message about my girl Layla. it really does mean the world to me!!! and i really can't wait to get back to writing Eat Your Ego.

i'm really happy that she's coming across so well! i knew that i would have to be careful in how i wrote her for the fact that she IS human, and there's a very delicate balance to be had in interacting with Homelander. there's a tension there that yeah, one wrong move and she really and truly has no defense against him aside from her wits, so i needed her empathy and intellect to be sort of a super power of their own.

i was worried she would come across as omniscient or meta, so i tried to lean into the fact that Homelander's ego and power trips really do just have him behaving like the type of men she would regularly encounter in her line of work.

aaahhh, gosh, even responding to this i reread it a whole bunch. thank you so much, darling. i'm going to treasure this message! 🖤

[vividless]

Now I know a lot of yall might be wondering about missing files, and I just wanna say I am still working on it! It is, however, taking a bit to write chapter 3. So for now I want to show yall somthing new while you wait!

Bound By Chance!! (Cover art by rusty gloinks go follow them ^^)

Now, this story won't be coming out for a bit, but I love it too much to keep it a secret any longer :]

Bound By Chance is a fantasy romance story I've been developing for a long while, and I hope you like it!

Now, the basic plot is that the prince's soul gem gets shattered, and milo, our main character was in the right place at the right time and by some extremely miniscule chance he had a compatible soul gem. Now, they are on an expedition to find the material needed to fix the prince's gem.

The story itself is a lot more complicated, but this is the basic summary of the plot so yall can get an idea of what the story is

Now, with that out of the way, let me introduce the three main characters

Milo

Milo is a rather free spirited and kinda mischievous character who tends to act on his own accord and act on impulse often getting himself in troubling situations, but that doesn't stop him. He can be very charismatic and can often talk himself out of bad situations, although there are some times his talking is what gets him in these situations.

Milo is middle class of sorts. He owns and runs a farm of his own on a piece of land that his father had given him when he was old enough. Dispite being well off Milo is a kleptomaniac and steals things with little value or just things that are completely useless.

Milo is a half breed being half elf and half harpy. His magic skills are average, and his preferred form of magic is bard magic

Edith

Edith is a tough, hardworking person who will often come across as mean or harsh due to her realistic/pessimistic worldview. She can be quick to tell you if an idea is bad wrong or just plain stupid. (That last one is mainly directed at milo). Dispite this. She can still be a pleasant person to be around.

Edith is also middle class running a blacksmithing shop on Milo's farmland. Milo and her are good friends. How the two came to meet id like to keep a secret as well as other things about her past because story reasons. She is good at what she does and also masters many other different crafts.

Edith is an elf who possesses basic magic skills like milo. Her preferred magic type is fire magic.

Cecil

Cecil is very quiet and tends to do exactly as told. He doesn't seem to talk unless he is directly spoken to, so not many people know what he's like. He's rather good at masking his emotions, often seeming cool and collected or aloof and distant.

Cecil is royalty, specifically a prince. He leads the king's army and is quite good at it. He has led the army to victory every time and is considered a formidable opponent. He's spent his whole life under the training of his father in both magic, physical, and fighting aspects.

Cecil is an umbraling (a fantasy race I have made up), and his magic is very advanced. He favors spells of his own, making which are often different types of magic combined.

Thank you all so much for reading! I plan to do this with all of my other stories, too, so stay tuned for that, I can't promise it being soon as character designs and posts like this take time so just be patient ^^ . the reason I made this was I needed a small break from writing Missing Files, but I promise chapter 3 will be out as soon as possible! But for now, if you want to know anything else about these characters or any of my OCs, my ask box is open! So feel free to ask!

Alright, this is getting long, so this is the end of the post, lol

[ladysqueakinpip]

Hirmi: 💔✂️🧣 Amytis: 🎸🎒 🥀 Bodrum: ❤️🎈🥩

hirmi

💔 (broken heart) - Who has your character hurt most? Physically or emotionally? How did it feel? Do they regret it?

good question for him bc so much of his story revolves around the pain he's caused other people or the pain they've caused him.

i'd say this is a tie between either his parents, or his ex-girlfriend yulia LOL. his parents are mostly very very disappointed in him. they feel like he's lazy, unmotivated and think he's taken advantage of them. hirmi deeply regrets this.

yulia loathes him. she feels he hurt her emotionally (bc he didn't take her side in a petty argument almost 100 yrs ago LMAO) and also physically (this one was an accident - his lemur gouged her eye out when she got too close to him). hirmi is at worst inconvenienced by her pettiness.

✂️ (scissors) - Has your character ever cut their own hair? What about someone else’s? How did it turn out?

absolutely not. he's taking his pretty little head to a stylist LOL.

i do think it would be incredibly funny if, during one of the many midlife crises he has, he did the classic "I NEED BANGS" and tried to cut them himself in a manic frenzy state. it probably turned out terrible and he regretted it 0.1 seconds later. actually this is canon now.

🧣(scarf) - What comforts your oc? Is it an item? An action? A person? Whatever it is, how any why does it comfort them?

his horrible horrible violent lemur of all things is his emotional support animal. unfortunately he latched on to her during the worst part of his life and uses her to process the death of his friend. in hirmi's eyes, she gives his friend's death meaning.

amytis

🎸 (electric guitar) - What’s your character’s music taste like? Do they have one or two artists they play on repeat or do they have a varied and eclectic collection of music? Do they like mainstream artists or prefer underground musicians? What genres do they enjoy?

amytis likes acoustics! i feel like she would have a collection of random, calming albums, from soft rock to instrumental guitar, and she would just have those playing in the background of her home as she goes about her day. she's also teaching herself acoustic guitar and ukulele. she's not very good at it, though.

🎒 (backpack) - What items does your oc usually carry? Do they have a bag or just keep everything in their pockets? Do they carry a lot or a little?

her coat has big pockets, so i can imagine she'd be able to fit most of her belongings in there! she'd carry the usual things like her phone, wallet, and keys. i think she would also have a small, cute bag she would bring out with her on occasion, where she would carry a comb or brush, a small compact mirror, and some flavored chapstick.

🥀 (wilted flower) - How does your character deal with stressful situations? Is their fear response fight, flight, freeze or fawn?

she is very bad with stress. her default response is fawn. she tends to be braver in a group, and may opt for fight if her besties are alongside her.

bodrum

❤️ (heart) - Who is the most important person to your character? To what lengths would they go to protect this person?

if you asked him out loud, he would say alekah. secretly, it's definitely amytis. as he spends more time with amytis, she gets very good at twisting his arm. he would do just about anything for her, except die for her. i don't think he would die for anyone.

🎈 (balloon) - What does your character do at parties? Are they a wallflower or a party animal? Do they go with friends or alone?

bo would prefer to not go to parties at all. if he's there, it's because his friends dragged him along. he pretends to socialize for 30 minutes and then wanders off to find a quiet corner or sit outside.

🥩 (steak) - Does your oc have any coping mechanisms? Healthy or unhealthy?

the fact that the designated emoji for this question is a steak of all things is cracking me up. anyways, he does have coping mechanisms.

the unhealthy ways are either 1.) stress eating loads of processed sugar or 2.) taking it out on the people around him. he relies on 2 a lot during the beginning of his story/arc.

as he grows closer to amytis, he begins to rely on her support to cope with his stress. since they're moirails i guess i would consider this healthy for their culture??

[amuhav]

All the odd questions of the Edgy/misc OC ask meme for Loch please.

What memory would your OC rather just forget?

His one-night stand with Ash. Because Amir was right, Loch wasn't some stupid confused teenager anymore. He was a grown man who even drunk knew it was a bad idea, knew he wasn't in the right headspace to give more than that, knew he was in a rebound friend's-with-benefits thing with Alice only because he'd just got out of another relationship and questioning his sexuality and whether he was even capable of being a person in a relationship, with anyone. He knew all that, and still got drunk and did it anyway. He convinced himself they both knew what they were doing and one brief moment of pleasure would be fine, when it really cost his already spiralling mental health, and the trust and mental health of Asher. And even though they're good (mostly) now, he knows he can never take it back, and he can never change that it put Ash in that vulnerable position for someone like Finn to swoop in.

What is your OC's fatal flaw? Are they aware of this flaw?

Not communicating honestly with people. Not just Ash, but really anyone. He rarely lets anyone know his actual wants and needs, I guess because growing up they didn't really matter.

How far is your OC willing to go to get what they want?

I mean, depends. We know Loch has very specific lines he won't cross, but... he is still a Karaish, and all of them have a sort of built-in "the rules don't apply to me" kind of mentality lol.

What's one way your OC has changed since you first came up with them?

Loch was supposed to AroAce which is honestly hilarious to me now. I mean, he is very much not asexual at all lmao, but he is kinda still on the aromantic spectrum. He knows he's never felt any romantic inclination towards any women, but he's not sure how that applies to men, though to be honest, he's at a point now where it doesn't really matter. If it's not Asher, it's no one. I really don't think he'd ever have actually been with someone legitimately if it weren't Ash.

What is your OC's weapon of choice? Have they ever actually used it?

His words, and absolutely lol. It comes out more when he's drunk, but even sober push him enough and his tongue turns vicious.

If you met your OC, would the two of you get along?

Absodamnlutely lmao. Mainly because we're pretty alike, but also because it reminds me of the catty banter relationships I have with my friend's IRL, or some of my old work friends. Extra yes because he's a guy I could have that kind of friendship with knowing he wouldn't be catching feelings too so I wouldn't have to worry about it lol.

Does your OC have a faceclaim? If so, who?

Noooooope. All of Gen 3 happened before I really knew of the concept of face claims lmao.

What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

Made his parents emotionally absent af whilst still being physically present lmao. Like, there's so many specific events in his life I could point to instead, but him stepping in to parent his younger sibs is like, the root cause of most of his issues. But his parents weren't ever abusive, or even truly neglectful, and in their own way they are still loving parents. So it's kinda... complicated? Like, he loves them and can't hate them, and he feels any bitterness towards them isn't really worth addressing, and it's not like they can do anything about it now anyway. Like, it's not going to change what it did to him. It made him the person he is and that can't be undone, so why ruin that relationship now?

How does your OC behave when enraged?

He usually either gets bitchy or he lashes out, depending on the specifics.

Does your OC have any illnesses or disorders? How do they handle it?

~anxiety~. for which he currently takes meds and has been through a course of CBT.

What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

Vulnerability. He hates feeling it, and hates showing it. So he runs from it, or twists it into something else, like anger.

What is your favorite thing about your OC?

He's a lil bitch and honestly, I ~vibe~ with it lol. Especially now he's making that petty, bitchy side of himself more public. Like, there's a lot about him that drives me fuckin insane, but his cattiness definitely isn't one of them lmao.

[eveandtheturtles]

Started with a Kiss - Chapter 11: Long Lost

Summary: A new arrival from Cheryl and Kara's past brings back memories and new opportunities.

Pairing: Donnie x OC

A/N: this chapter has been co-written with @singinghands aka Kay Beta read by @thoughtfulraven and @thelaundrybitch y'all my true MVPs lol. Thank you guys.

This can be also read on AO3.

Comments and reblogs keep me going <3

Tag list: @madammuffins @tinkabelle19 @leosgirl82 @sharpwindow @raphsmuneca @m1dnyt3-w0lf @pheradream-15 @kikithedreamerwriter @fyreball66 @dilucsflame33

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A week earlier

With everything going on with Kara, the turtles, and her own life Cheryl was constantly on the move. Rarely a moment to sit down. Even then, when she got a text from a person from her and Kara’s past, she couldn’t ignore it. She texted him back and set up a meeting.

On Saturday, during lunch hours, she reached the bar and sat down heavily. She was in a rush to get there. Not every day you get a text from someone you thought would remain a memory.

<Hey, I hope I’m not too late.> She said to the ghost of her past, catching her breath.

Seth couldn't waste the gift his boss gave him. Some time off to make it up to New York and find his sister. 

By the time Cheryl had reached the bar, he had already been there for about half an hour. He wanted the time to prepare himself for the conversation; the text back and the years between Kara disappearing and now had brought back every emotion he had felt in a confusing soup he couldn't sift through.

Although, figuring out what to actually say was harder than imagining it. Leg bouncing from nerves and distracted by his own thoughts, he jumped when Cheryl appeared, blinking to clear said thoughts and return to the present.

 <No, not really.> After this long, thirty minutes was nothing. 

Cheryl sat down, watching him ask the question but also taking him fully in. God, she hasn't seen him since… since he and Kara were what? 12? 13? Before they both ran away, leaving him behind. She felt so guilty. He grew up to be a fine young man. There was an awkward pause as both gathered their thoughts and words.

So many questions crowded Seth's hands that he couldn't pick one. He still tried to continue the conversation. That's why he was there after all.

<You know- is she- is my sister- where- does she know about this?> He finally stammered out. The fumbling made him turn to the bar long enough to grab a napkin to fidget with, twisting the paper between his fingers.

<Um, no, no she doesn't. I will tell her though. I- she's in a difficult situation now,> she smiled nervously answering slowly. <Then again when isn't she?>

He had to try and keep some manner of calm but the weight of years since the last time he had seen either Kara or Cheryl had the burn of tears blurring his vision. Seth had never bothered learning how not to show his emotions. Even if part of him was angry that the two had just disappeared without a word, another was relieved that they were still alive.

Not actively crying, he didn't try to hide them. Cheryl knew about that habit anyway.

<Still getting into trouble, huh?> He tried to joke, thinking back on how many times he'd come home to find out she'd done something. He still didn't know how she had managed to get the whole roll of saran wrap past their parents. Or who gave her the idea. The memory had him fighting back a smile now that time has passed.

<Yeah, you have no idea,> Cheryl snorted, shaking her head. Really. He had no idea. A deep sigh, a moment of spinning the menu under her fingers and finally she signed again. <I- gosh, how have you been?> 

Even if they put past the fact they left him behind then there was also the fact they just… didn’t tell him about The Incident. God, it was probably 5 years since the last letter. Almost 12 years since they left home. They should have tried harder. She remembered Kara was talking about getting Seth to New York. The three of them back together again. It was right before Ryan fucked everything up.

<Okay, I think? Busy, most of the time. But who isn't, right?> What did you say to someone you hadn't seen in a decade, hadn't spoken to at all in half that? Awkward didn't begin to cover his clumsy response.

<Right.> 

<Can I hug you?> She suddenly asked.

He kept a close eye on Cheryl's face. Partly to gauge her mood and partly to see how she had changed over the years. Still, that sudden request caught him off guard.

He was already partway standing up even before he spoke, the familiarity more than enough. <Yeah, I- yeah, go ahead. But you pay for your own dry cleaning.>

The corner of his mouth quirked upward into a smile to punctuate the joke, Seth's hands were still as he waited. Nothing else needed to be said just yet, and even if he was upset at least Cheryl was talking to him again.

She smiled at the joke. <I can afford it,> she assured him then stood up and hugged him tightly. 

With the weight of his body, the texture of his clothes and whatever cologne he was using her brain finally caught up that he was real and this was really happening. Up until then, everything had felt incredibly surreal. She started to tear up. He was back. He was really, really back. Their little family could be together again. 

It wasn't much effort or thought on Seth's part to return the hug, the familiarity despite their both being older enough to not hesitate. If he was lucky, catching up with Kara would be similar. Just a return to the old routine.

Cheryl stepped back after a long while, wiping her tears with her palms and took a deep breath in.

<You want a drink? I want a drink,> she said, <You gotta tell me everything and- and I will tell you all that I can, okay?>

<They have anything I would like?> As long as it wasn't too sweet he'd be fine with it, which didn't cut out too much. Or Seth hoped it didn't. <And I will, long as you do.>

He trusted that she would, but the "all I can" addition worried him. It meant there were things she couldn't. And that unknown said enough.

<Well, I’m not sure what you like.> She chuckled awkwardly. They parted ways before any of them could develop taste for any alcohol. Cheryl’s stomach also decided to remind her she has been too nervous to eat anything before coming to this meeting. 

<I’m gonna order a lunch set with a bottle of prosecco if you’re into that?> She suggested. <They have decent pasta dishes.>

<Not sure I've tried that before.> Seth admitted with a shrug. <First times, right?> Carbs sounded good right now anyway, and with the first part of the conversation over he could use something to eat.

With that thought, he rubbed a hand over his eyes, trying to wipe away some of the tears still lingering before turning partly away from the bar. <She's okay now, right?> He asked carefully, hands held close to his body to make sure anyone else couldn't eavesdrop on the conversation. If they understood what he was saying, anyway.

<Oh yeah, now she is fine,> Cheryl replied with a smile. The need for privacy she got. She lowered her hands to a whisper as well. <We had a break-in a couple of weeks ago and she's staying with some new friends.> She wasn't lying, just omitting the new friends were mutated turtle vigilantes. And that Kara due to her criminal activities was down in the sewers with them serving as informant protection service to her. Or that there was an attempt to kidnap her. Or that Seth's sis was a scaley. She had yet to make fun of that… Too much stuff going on and too many things to catch him up on. 

She looked at the menu and called over someone to serve them. 

His relief at Kara being okay was short-lived as soon as Cheryl mentioned that there had been a break-in. Her having a safe place to stay was good, but… 

<What happened? Where is she staying?> Deliberately keeping himself to those two questions instead of giving into the urge to rapidfire everything on his mind, Seth's expression was serious.

The server walked up to them further stopping him, for now, but even as Seth turned the menu toward the person to point out what he wanted he was keeping an eye on Cheryl. Lack of contact aside, he was still confident in being able to read her expression.

Cheryl cursed herself a bit for worrying him. <We were in California at the time or at least on our way back to New York, so we didn't get hurt. Just a bit of a cold shower when we got back,> she explained trying to reassure him. 

She ordered her food and a bottle of prosecco for both of them. She waited for him to order as well before she continued. <Technically we could go back now but we are renovating and replacing what was stolen or broken. And improving security…> She desperately tried to think of a reason why she couldn't just take Seth to the sewers. <Don’t worry, like I said she's with a bunch of friends. They,> she took a breath in, <work in security? So she is safe.> To distract him more she added. <And she totally has a crush on one of them.>

Her last little tidbit of information had Seth leaning forward. It was novel enough for his sister that the chance to gossip wasn't one he would let pass. That being Cheryl's plan went unnoticed. <She does, huh? They need reminding that she has a brother?>

He was kidding. Mostly. Kara could take care of herself, he had no doubt there, but she was still his sister. You stuck by family when they needed it, regardless of how they became part of yours.

That and admittedly he was curious about who they were.

Cheryl giggled and snorted. Oh, the image of Seth trying to intimidate Donnie or Raph. Just too funny. She sobered a little quickly. Right. She sighed. 

<I hope it will turn out better than the last one,> she signed. <Donnie is a sweet guy if you are into that,> she still tried to joke. <But her last serious relationship wasn't great. It was really awful.> She looked at Seth, guilt painted on her face and slight shock as she realized she ran her hands without thinking.

Seth was close to protesting being laughed at, indignation on his face and hands up to begin speaking, but he paused to give Cheryl time to continue. The sudden seriousness on her face made that pause, that decision, easy.

Last serious relationship? He thought back, sifting through his memories of that time. There had been some mention of something before they disappeared, but Kara had been light on details.

<What happened?> When he asked that, the words were drawn out, hands again close to his body to keep it private.

Cheryl bit her lips. Kara was going to kill her no doubt. But… Seth was family. He deserved to know especially since… but it still wasn't her tale to tell. 

<I can't tell you much but it was bad. Really bad. Like a hospital bad.> She still shuddered and sometimes woke up from a nightmare where she was a second too late to save Kara. If they could only… <He made her cut contact with you, I barely managed to stay with her only because we still lived together.> Not that Ryan didn’t try to push for Kara to move in with him. Her blood still ran cold to think how it all would have turned out if he persuaded her to.

Something in his eyes flattened in anger, hands clasped on the table in front of him as Seth took that information in to keep from interrupting. His earlier humor was gone, and when he finally did speak he was looking directly at Cheryl's hands in order to see her answer.

<Where is my sister?> Ordered food on the way or not, he was still considering going to find her even before it got to the table.

Cheryl noted his change in demeanor. <She's safe,> she rushed to soothe his fury. <That disaster kinda ended 3 years ago.> She didn't want to keep him in the dark anymore but she was still protecting the turtles. <Listen, I will get you to Kara, trust me, just- god it all got so, so crazy recently.> She inhaled, trying to think. <I want you just to be a little patient while I organize the meeting okay?>

He didn't look happy about that, though after this long Seth knew a setup was necessary.

Liking the wait was another story. With a huff of irritated acceptance, he leaned back in his seat, keeping an eye still on Cheryl. <Just keep me in the loop?> She would, he had to believe that. Did believe that, but needed to ask anyway. <Whoever it was is totally gone?>

She winced. <Well, he was in jail…> It was the joys of penitentiary systems. If you had enough money that is. <I will keep you in the loop,> Cheryl promised. <I am going to see her tonight and talk with the others. Text you as soon as I have a date.> She tried to smile encouragingly. God, she was keeping such a great poker face for a bad game. Of course, Seth would meet Kara, there was no doubt about that! 

<Just… when you meet her and the guys. Uh, they are good guys. They might seem strange. But uh don't let their looks um overshadow their personality?> God, jumping through hoops like that was making her so stressed. Where was the waitress with the drinks?

<Long as they're better than the other guy, I'll be fine.> Seeing Cheryl looking around, the discomfort altering her expression, had Seth making himself slow down. This wasn't supposed to be an interrogation, even if he still had more questions.

<You've been here before, right?> He asked abruptly, giving her the chance to change the subject if she wanted.

Cheryl relaxed a little with the topic change. Right on cue their order of drinks arrived as well. She took the glass with her drink and sipped it slowly. Mmm, that’s better. 

<Yeah, sometimes we come here with Kara for brunch after uni,> she explained. <But seriously tell me, how have you been? I know you’re gonna tell all to Kara but I’m also curious. Where do you study? How’s… you know, your mom?> She asked. 

She was half curious about how her folks were too but on the other hand, she wasn’t interested at all. It was a weird feeling.

<State college back home, and- she's fine. Misses Kara, but all of us did.> Seth took a brief minute for an experimental sip of the wine to distract himself and pretend what he said wasn't wishful thinking. He wasn't so sure about the taste of the alcohol yet, a thought likely showing on his face.

<That’s… good,> she signed carefully. Her expression was neutral as her memories doubted his statement but on the other hand, she wanted to hope for Kara’s mom to have gotten over her grief… 

She chewed her bottom lip for a moment. Change of topic time. <You have any friends?> 

Cheryl's last question gets a silent snort of laughter and some friendly teasing. <Nooo, none at all.> Stretching the sign out on purpose, every attempt at keeping himself looking serious failed.

<Gasp! How dare no one be your friend!> She faked a shock on her face, her eyes, though, sparkled with humor. Then she giggled. <I’m glad things worked out somehow for you. I hope things will work out for all of us soon enough.>

Their food then arrived. Cheryl inhaled the delicious pasta smell. <Dig in!>

Present day

Cheryl didn’t plan on the whole thing to be a surprise but… it was gearing towards it. She didn’t know why she didn’t tell Kara about Seth coming to see her while they were drinking. She thought it would be a pleasant surprise but the closer to the event the more doubts she had. 

Either way, she was waiting at the mouth of an alley for Seth. When she texted the turtle group chat she made for the purpose of the surprise Raph told her Leo was MIA. That… she didn’t know enough to think of it as either bad or good. What did sink her stomach a little was the news that Kara was out with Donnie as well. Hopefully, they were going to come back quickly. It was like 8 pm already…

She looked up from her phone trying to spot Seth in the ever-flowing crowd of New York.

Being nervous was- understandable. Ridiculous, but understandable. He was only going to meet up with a friend. And his sister. Who Seth hadn't seen in years. Totally normal.

So were the crowds, but those were far less of an issue than the swirl of his own thoughts. Lost in his head, he almost missed Cheryl standing off to the side and out of the flow of foot traffic. He shoved his way through the people, fighting his way into doubling back against the tide. The glares and verbal protest he gets from bumping shoulders with some of the people are deliberately ignored.

One hand in his jacket pocket for now, the other was up in a weak wave of hello, once Seth pulled himself free of the crush of pedestrians.

Cheryl waved back with a smile as nervous as his although her anxiety had a bit of a different source.

<Okay, so,> she took a deep breath, her fingers wiggling as she gathered her words. <What you will see might be a bit uh, shocking? Or weird… I totally still have trouble believing it sometimes.> She tried to prepare him. <But… are you ready to see Kara?> She double-checked with him.

<Shocking?> Seth repeated, wanting more information than just that. So much of the conversation they'd already had qualified as that, and now there was going to be more? What had Kara gotten herself into, he wondered.

Still, he nodded his assent. <Yeah, but is she ready?> A gut feeling said she might not have been told, but at this stage, he wasn't going to turn back.

He wasn’t wrong.

Cheryl shifted a bit sheepishly. <I decided to make it a surprise for her,> she confessed. <She needs something good to happen to her, so…> She might regret her decision later but for now, this was it. <Anyway! The guys I told you she is staying over with? So uh,> there was no turning back, < One thing you need to know… they are mutant turtles. Like between 6 to 7 feet tall.> There, she said it. <And they live in the storm drain sewers.>

Seth winced; that might not go well after this long. But he was committed to following through despite that. Or at least he was until Cheryl kept talking, and that determination became a disbelief. <You're serious?>

New York had a reputation for being weird, sure, but not that weird. He'd always shrugged rumors like that off, assuming they were people being bored and wanting attention. Hearing someone he trusted repeating them… Then his brain caught up to another part of it. <She's been living in the sewers?> This question came with the earlier disbelief being exaggerated, mixed with worry.

Easier to focus on that more than the sudden reality shift.

<Yeah, yeah…> Cheryl regrettably confirmed. <She is really unhappy about that part. She's been down there for like… probably 2 months now. It's um, because of-, well, she needs to tell that yourself.> She decided not to get into the whole "police protection" bit. <It's kind of related to why our apartment got robbed.> She gave Seth a weak smile and quickly sent a text to the group chat. 

Suddenly the manhole cover moved, exposing the entrance.

<Ope, that's our cue,> she gestured to the hole. <Wanna go first or should I?>

Seth eyed the now-opened grate with suspicion. Then he looked between it and Cheryl with an expression of self-concern. <You first. And I'm borrowing your washer later.> If he got lucky, that would get everything back to normal.

Wrinkling his nose, something from their earlier conversation connected to this one was trying to get his attention but not quite landing yet. Concern over the imagined smell was more immediate for now.

She snickered. <It's not that bad at the lair itself,> she told him then dropped down to descend into the sewer system. 

As expected, Raph was waiting for them. 

"Where's Leo?" She asked him, both speaking and signing. 

Raph had to pause to think for a moment. "He's out," he said slowly, awkwardly adding signs. "Am I not good enough for you?" 

She chuckled and patted his arm. "You are, big guy. I just thought Mikey would be here or Leo. I know you're ooey-gooey inside but you are still scary."

Raph snorted and huffed a little. "Am not ooey-gooey…"

"Keep telling yourself that, Raphie," Cheryl joked and looked up, waiting for Seth to climb down.

Seth was glad she'd headed down before she saw him roll his eyes. As he headed down the ladder after Cheryl the only thought on his mind was the hope there wasn't anything on his hands when he reached the bottom. He didn't dare wipe his hands off on his pants either once his feet were on solid ground. The sound of voices behind him, unfamiliar except for Cheryl, had him turning to see just who they were.

And promptly he was staring. The sight of her standing next to Raph once Seth adjusted to the low light short-circuited his thoughts and blocked actual words. She hadn't been kidding, and he was uncertain how to handle that.

Cheryl had to look away to hide her grin at Seth’s startled face. If she hadn’t seen the drawings and heard the stories from Kara she would have reacted similarly when she saw Donnie in Cali. She understood Seth's reaction. But it was still so funny.

Raph on the other hand just glared, his arms crossed. “Whatcha looking at?”

<You?> Seth tried, the glare shaking him partway back from his shock. With Cheryl looking away she wouldn't be able to hear him, but he shot her a 'help?' look regardless. Worth a shot, if he got lucky. <Don't know anyone that tall, wasn't expecting that.>

The joke slipped out without being thought through first, an old habit Seth hoped he wouldn't regret.

Raph snorted and a crooked smile appeared on his face. <Nice save> He signed and said. <So, did you lip read or did you hear me?> He side-eyed Cheryl who stood there innocently, watching them talk.

It took Seth a second to parse the signs when the hands saying them only had two fingers, but when he did he was quick to answer. <I can hear. Go ahead and talk.>

The look of innocence on Cheryl's face was one he recognized and didn't buy, but there were more important things than calling her on it for now.

"Awesome, now let's get movin'." Raph didn't wait for them just marched forward. 

<Watch your step,> Cheryl warned Seth.

<If I slip, I'm grabbing your arm,> Seth warned, no actual bite in the response. He was careful to move closer to the wall as they walked, away from any chance of actually slipping.

Cheryl shook her head, amused. He and Kara were definitely siblings. <I’ll bill you the dry cleaning buddy,> she joked.

Letting himself get lost in thought for the moment, Seth was trying not to look like he was staring at the giant red-clad turtle, but the current situation was still bizarre enough that he couldn't quite help it.

And Raph felt it. His shell crawled with his instincts telling him he was being watched. He hated when people did that. Made him feel more of a freak even if he made peace with it ages ago. He was a giant turtle, get over it. 

The red-clad terrapin chose to take them the longer way home. The more complicated one, so the newcomer wouldn’t be able to find the lair too easily on his own; weaving through the tunnels, switching from the general sewers to the storm drains at one point. 

Cheryl didn’t talk much, just watched Seth trying to assess if he was okay. As for Seth, the silence of the walk there, if he had been paying full attention, would have been awkward. 

Or at least partly, the irritation in Raph's body language finally sank in as the young man pulled his focus away to a point just in front of his feet to stare at instead. By the time they stopped, Seth was grateful for it. 

The amount of walking was fine, but worrying about his footing made it more difficult than usual.

“Mikey! Are they back yet?” Raph called to the youngest brother as he entered the lair. “The company’s here.”

Mikey materialized immediately next to them. "What's up!” He said to Seth, excited to meet a new person. “I'm Michelangelo but friends call me Mikey! I hope you like pizza 'cause it's pizza night!" 

Seth didn't get the chance to react to the name being called before Mikey dropped in. The appearance of a second giant turtle short circuited him into staring again, this time at Cheryl in the hopes of her stepping in.

And this time she did. Mikey, while the sweetest (despite their beginning) and absolutely the most personable out of the entire quartet, was a bit much for the unprepared.

"A margarita for me and our friend here would most likely like something spicy, if I remember correctly," she said. 

Mikey finger gunned at Cheryl. "Gotcha."

Raph, impatient with the whole thing, pushed at his younger brother's shoulder. "Mike, focus. Are they back?"

"Who?" The orange-clad terrapin looked up, distracted. "Oh! No, Leo still's gone and Donnie’s tracker shows they're at the university," he explained.

While the turtles were distracted, Cheryl turned to Seth to check with him.

<Don't worry, they're friendly. Raph just at first seems this gruff. Mikey is a people person. If a little overbearing,> she tried to reassure Seth. <There's also Leo, he has a blue bandana, and he's more level-headed. Donnie wears purple. He's chill but also the tallest. Oh, and there's Splinter, he's sort of like their dad?> She explained. <And he's a rat. They’re all super chill.>

<A rat.> Seth repeated, still off-kilter from Mikey's sudden appearance. Raph, fine, he was used to that sort of personality (frankly, it reminded him of one of his professors), and that made all of this easier to deal with.

Mikey's exuberance on top of that tipped the scales from being able to deal with the world shift to being overwhelmed. Giant talking turtles, who lived in the sewers and were raised by a rat, who knew his sister, who she- when that thought occured, the recollection knocked him out of his stupor and he turned to Cheryl. <Didn't you say Kara… ?> He couldn't finish the question.

She observed the slow shift of his face as he most likely remembered that one piece of information finally resurfaced. Slowly, she nodded, solemnly. <Your sister's a scalie.> She placed (jokingly) a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Sibling impulse was the thing that took over in the background then. The more pressing mental issue still reconciling all of this with the world Seth had lived in just the day before. <How long until she gets here?>

Maybe he had time to get out of sight as a surprise.

Seeing the crisis of identity averted Cheryl relaxed. <I don't know, I'll text her.> She pulled out her phone and shot the missing scientist a quick message. With a small delay, Kara responded. <She says an hour. We can count it as… an hour and a half probably? Depending on what they're doing.> She told Seth, then forwarded all that to Raph and Mikey.

"You guys wanna play Overwatch or Fortnight then?" Mikey offered. "Pizza won't get here for a while longer."

An hour. He could manage that. Hopefully. The offer of a distraction helped, and Seth jumped at it. <Got anything else, just in case?> Rounds of both games, when he had the time to play them, could go pretty quickly or get repetitive. Variety would help with both of those.

Either way, they were a life raft of normal in all of this.

"Well, we got Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, Golf, Halo, Left 4 Dead, Overcooked…" Mikey started listing the games on his fingers. "Oh, we also have Among Us."

Mario Kart. He could handle Mario Kart. That was something normal to cling to. <First one's good.> Seth hurried to answer. It would be good practice for when he got home, not that he really needed any. His usual opponent now wasn't used to the game in the least.

“Great! Dibs on Peach!” Mikey shouted out and ran to get the gaming console going.

Raph rolled his eyes but there was a small smile on his face, which Cheryl caught. Softie. She turned her head to Seth. 

<Mikey is the master of Mario Kart but only got dethroned by Kara, if that gives you any motivation,> she said with a wink.

<Got beat by Kara, huh? Well, that should be a challenge.> Last Seth knew, the two of them were close in skill level. Came from years of mostly playing each other. He wondered how that had changed.

Seeing where Mikey stood in all of that would be interesting, at least, and easier to deal with than focusing on the other details of the current situation. <How far down that way?>

<Right over there,> she pointed to the entertainment area of the lair. 

There was a sofa, some beanbags, a giant flat screen with the game slowly booting up on it and a Frankensteined gaming console. Mikey looked up from the floor and grinned, waving the controllers at them. It seemed to be a bunch of mismatched ones from Xbox, PSP, and Nintendo and there was even an Atari one. 

Cheryl ran up to Mikey, jumping over the water canal that ran across the entire lair, separating sections of it. She picked her controller of choice and gestured to Seth to hurry up.

Unlike Cheryl who was clearly used to all of this, Seth was more cautious with the canal. Looking around first for an easier way across he sighed before backing up for his own running start. Privately, he felt making it across was enough of a miracle for now, but kept that to himself. 

<How many different systems did you find to borrow from?> He asked while eyeing the controllers before beelining toward one of the Xbox ones.

"Don't ask me," Mikey snorted. "That's all Donnie's doing. He's pretty awesome with tech! Like all electronics you see - that's Donnie's work. He's a genius! Literally." 

Cheryl shot a look at Seth and wiggled her eyebrows. She mouthed at him: 'Your future brother-in-law', teasing him.

Seth rolled his eyes with a snort of otherwise silent laughter. <Kara's gonna have a great time breaking that news to mom.> Taking that break to talk meant putting the controller down, but at least they hadn't started yet.

Donnie being the one that handled their tech was… Not entirely a surprise. Kara had always been interested in it. Meant Seth didn't have to worry about his own gear before she disappeared, not with her around to make sure it was as advertised or better. <Peas in a pod,> he half muttered, hands close to his torso to partly block them from view.

While Cheryl and Seth talked, Mikey finished setting up the game. The race started. Raph wasn't doing so well with his Bowser cart, Cheryl kept the close 2nd position while Seth and Mikey fought for the first spot. At one point Raph decided he had enough plus pizza was already there, so he went to pick it up. 

The hour and a half flew by in a blink of an eye. Raph dragged everyone to the kitchen to eat. They were in the middle of the meal when Donnie's voice sounded across the lair. 

"We're back!" 

And there stood Kara, frozen in place staring right at her brother.

<Seth?>

[ian-loves-fanfiction]

Well

I finally finished I See You, Sundrop! by @shirajellyfish

Slight spoily warning!

It is 1:14 in the morning as I write this (editing about a day later) and I have my first day of my senior year of high school tomorrow, but I just had to get all of my thoughts out while they were fresh.

I have never, never hyperfixated on a fanfic so hard. I've never read 400k+ words of a single fic in under a week. Somehow I managed to do that and have time to draw fanart (something I'm pretty sure I've only done once before for a fic, actually) and do my irl life shit.

How, you may ask? By continuously staying up into the wee hours of the morning :D (like 4-6am type shit, don't recommend it even if I think it was personally worth it).

I think I was so hyperfixated on the fic that I honestly didn't absorb the emotions like I should have? I felt things, surprise, excitement, a Sense of Impending Doom (/hj), but I don't think I really felt them.

I was probably a little more dissociated while reading than I usually am lol. I was so absorbed that some things barely registered. I am 100% going to have to re-read everything.

At one point I worried the fic wouldn't have a happy ending. Doesn't have the "angst with a happy ending" tag afaik and it got much worse before it got better. Saw a comment on one of the end notes and was reassured thankfully TvT. I'm very happy everyone is ok.

Love how the after ending note basically boiled down to "everyone is fine and Felix finally got some sleep" lol.

This fic was just. So good. Riley is such a dynamic character, so awesome and so cool. I really want to headcanon them as autistic (some of their behaviors just. They just. It's hard to explain, but if you're autistic too I bet you probably felt it, just a lil. They got the vibes /hj) but I know some authors can be kinda iffy about people headcanoning their OCs (which I get).

It was really cool to see an honest to goodness nonbinary character, a full character and not a self insert or y/n (no shade, I love y/n stories too). It was just cool to see a complete OC, and I love that it was all platonic, even if Sundrop did catch a little bit of feelings.

Honestly I relate so much to that, as someone who gains and loses crushes pretty fast. I'm happy it stayed platonic though and Sunny wasn't hurt or stuck pining or something silly. Plus his absolute embarrassment and mortification at his slip up was pretty funny. Might try to draw it, if I have any left over motivation (the bottom of this post sure is interesting hint hint).

Update as I'm editing this about a day later: I can't stop thinking about this fic. It was just so good! I already want to re-read it but I know I should give it at least a little time so I don't burn myself out. This fic was probably the best story I've ever read. Period. Even better than the published books I've read.

Honestly without spoiling any more than I already have, read it. If you like the DCA, read it. If you like cool nonbinary characters and great platonic relationships, read it. If you like a plot that sneaks up on you before hitting you in the feels like a truck, read. It. Do it. It's sososo worth it, I promise you.

If anyone has some good fics to read (completed preferred but actively updated ones work too) PLEASE FEED ME. Now that I'm done with ISYS I am desperate for more DCA fics. I've read so many and I n e e d m o r e.

Bonus fanart to celebrate my completion I guess(?), embarrassed Sun boy!

I guess I just really like drawing embarrassed boyos. Sorry if it looks weird, I've never drawn a pose like this before :P

Shira if you're reading this, thank you. Your fic was just fantastic. Also thank you for helping me get out of my art block! I had it for the whole month of ArtFight (sadge) but I'm so happy to have some motivation again. Thank you.