#and what exactly sparked that

[yardsards]

thinking about the fact that i was so socially awkward as a teen that the school wanted to me out of class to attend "social skills classes" once a week (to which i attended one and demanded i be removed from the program cuz it was just me and about a dozen equally uncomfortable probably-autistic kids who also probably did not want to be there, being forced to do icebreaker activities by deeply condescending special education teachers)

how did i not receive an autism diagnosis til i was nearly an adult and specifically advocated for myself to be taken to a professional to get checked out for autism and adhd???

[naffeclipse]

A sort of mad scientist AU where Y/N is, of course, a mad scientist. You suffer from chronic illness and you are desperate to make your experiments work but you struggle without help. You refuse to take on a human assistant out of a desire to not be treated as lesser--as if you can't conduct great, horrific experiments like the other crazed scientists. You stubbornly set yourself to work without any such succor in your tower and the days pass, wearing heavily on your soot marked hands and aching, waning body.

A solution appears right at your feet one evening while rummaging around for some material in the grimy streets (dead animals, toxic waste--the usual to carry out unethical tests) and discover two abandon animatronics in the back alley, left to rot and turn to rust. There's close to zilch hope for the two but you're not a mad scientist for no reason. You drag the endoskeletons home before prompting collapsing for a day or two after overextending yourself and paying the price.

Once you get your strength back (and cursing your weakness) you turn all your effort to cleaning and preparing the endoskeletons. The celestial model of the animatronics would be helpful in your work, no? One after the solar ball of gas which beams heat and light onto the world and the other after the gray rock which brightens the night and tugs on the tides. Sun and Moon. You solder wires and revamp the servos. You hold and handle the limbs and heads of the animatronics as if they were sleeping. Soon, they will wake.

There's just one problem. They need a spark. Not a bit of ember from fire or the first crack of electricity from a splitting fork of lightning. A spark of life. And you contain such material within yourself. It's dangerous to lord over life and play god, but you need them.

The night storms when you prepare the animatronics with their chassis open, lying down on tables. You are steady despite the buzz in your veins in the face of the most dangerous experiment you have conducted yet. With these two are your side, there will be many to come. You spill your blood, split away two pieces of your pulsing core, and set two tiny sparks of life from your beating heart into the animatronics. Your head spins with pain and hope. The hum of servos whirling to life touches your eardrums. A great rumble of thunder shakes the tower. Your vision is slowly swallowed by darkness as you start to collapse but before you fall, two glowing pairs of eyes open.

When you wake, you're in your bed, in the dark, and your chest is bandaged. You hardly have the strength to touch the blood-stains soaking into the gauze but a silver and blue hand stops you. Red eyes pierce you at your bedside, a dark personage holding your wrist. Standing on the other end of your bed is a tall figure with ghostly pale optics falling over you. Dread fills your marrow at what exactly you brought back from death. A raspy voice raises a question. Who are you?

The animatronics. They're alive. They want answers, and you are more than willing to supply them. You give a very detailed, breathy response about how this all came to be, and when you propose that they become your assistants in your endeavors, they silently share a glance and nod in unison.

Though you fear you got off to a rough start with them putting you into bed after making sure your heart was still beating, they prove to be everything you want—and more. They have no desire to return to whoever tossed them to the street and left them as scrap metal, and you finally have extra hands to hold together metal contraptions and nimble fingers to set the exact scalpel blade size you need in your hand when cutting into a carcass.

They do not infantilize you in your sickness, much to your aching relief. Sun, however, is poignant in reminding you that pushing yourself past your energy capability, such as walking into town and dragging back a metallic frame for a killing contraption, will result in you needing a day of recovery. Moon sharply remarks that willingly subjecting yourself to an overnight of experimenting with beating hearts and lightning strikes will most likely cause a pain flare, but they never stop you. They never decide for you. They see you—not the unending illness clawing at your edges and leaving its marks on your flesh.

Though you learn to manage yourself better—for science, of course. You request Sun's assistance for lifting heavy plates into place before you bolt and screw them down. He's all too cheerful to lend a hand. When it grows late, you allow Moon to lead you to bed before the fire in your muscles becomes a roaring inferno. He tells you softly that he's been recording the number of good and bad days you have, and that your flare-ups don't appear as often when you have a full night's rest. Your assistants are pleased—with the improvement in your experiments, of course.

It's rare, but sometimes you'll catch an odd sentence or two from Sun about where they were before, and how much nicer it is here. You give them much. You don't shout or throw things at them. He lays a hand over his chassis and smiles. Moon will look at you sometimes, and when you ask why he's staring, he says that you have never raised a hand to them. It's strange. He thought all mad scientists were the same. He's glad to be wrong.

You're glad they're with you too. Your science has never been madder and you don't lay through bad days alone anymore. You don't like talking about your chronic illness. The discussions you've had in the past with peers and professors revolved around how you're handling it and what it's doing to you today. Can you still do your work? It's not mad or experimental or new—it's just sad. Other people think you're sad and pitiful, and you would rather die trying to conduct a hazardous experiment than ever stop to tend to yourself.

Sun and Moon learn to take your mutters and curses in stride when another flare-up hits. They ask questions occasionally, wondering how long you've lived with this and if it would ever be cured but they seem to already suspect the answer. Sure, you've tried several times to manufacture an antidote to whatever poison sits in your veins, but such endeavors have only ended with you waking up, lying in your own vomit. They don't give you pity, not like the others have. No, Sun holds your hand between his large digits and asks if you've eaten anything yet. Moon touches your shoulder when you stare out of the circular window in your tower and asks if he can walk you to your bed.

They need you, and they know what great work you're doing here, crafting weapons of mass destruction, simmering glowing liquids, and putting together new creations—not like them, no. Nothing compares to your assistants.

[bortmcjorts]

[ID: a drawing of pye from outer wilds, standing with her writing staff. she's wearing an orange nomai space suit without the helmet, and she has a light brown face with curly darker brown fur. end ID]

figuring out how i want to draw the nomai, so here's a pye since i am obsessed with her !!!

[coquettejohnny]

2000s outsiders au where instead of elvis it's justin bieber

[skyward-floored]

It's funny I remember getting into lu and not caring all that much about Wind-- like he was fine, or whatever, but I didn't see the appeal probably because everything I saw him in aside from the actual comic had him cussing every five seconds but at some point he started to grow on me. I guess it was around when I started writing Castletown, and now he's... honestly one of my favorite Links. He's spunky! He's fun! He's smart and mature and often doesn't get given enough credit but he's also still a kid!! He loves his sister and grandma and killed a man and is a pirate (a nice one) and he's just. skrunkly little guy. love him.

[amelikos]

It's interesting how the episode highlighted the themes of inheritance and passing on the torch through both Amethio and Liko receiving something (a Terastal Orb, meant to make Amethio stronger, and an adventure log, meant to guide Liko further) from Hamber and Diana respectively.

Roy got his Ancient Pokeball from his grandfather, Liko got her pendant (now turned Terapagos) from her grandmother, and Amethio got a Terastal Orb from Hamber (he is probably not related to him but still an elder figure in his life).

To a lesser extent, because Nanjamo isn't as old as the grandparents figures, Nanjamo is a kind of "senpai" figure to Dot in terms of video making and being a livestreamer and the episode highlighted that too (since she asks Liko and Roy to take care of Dot for her). Dot looks up to her and Nanjamo is clearly happy to see her making friends.

Either way, that's why the situation with Amethio feels different from Liko and Roy to me because his setting intentionally goes against the themes set up for them. In their cases, they are given options and gently pushed forward. Liko and Roy had Diana and Friede protecting them against Rayquaza in HZ033, Amethio was alone. Liko and Roy come out of their training against Diana feeling much more optimistic and realizing that they still have potential to grow, while Amethio comes out of his own training aware of his limits and feeling like he is not enough. Liko and Roy are encouraged to follow their own dreams, while Amethio is trying to fulfill someone else's wish. Rakua is Gibeon's wish, not Amethio's.

I really wonder what direction they'll take now, especially since Amethio is encouraged to continue on his current path (a path fueled by frustration and hastiness so far).. His scene in the opening mentions running towards his own future.

[starfall-isle]

I’m just a ten cent copy

Of people far more advanced than me

[seaofreverie]

GUUUYYUYSSSD !!!!!

‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

KIMONO MY HOUSE VINYL!!!!!!

Also funny story which is that when my brother took these to the cashier he said something like "oh... Sparks... they were here one year ago"

[chaos-has-theories]

For the FURTHER record, you could also make a gorgeous Beamont/Villeneuve fusion Girl Genius Beauty and the Beast AU.

There is a castle with invisible servants (Castle Heterodyne). There is a monster on a hill (the ancient Heterodynes). There are two princes between which the lady thinks she must choose, even though she can keep both (Gil and Tarvek). One is good with words; the other isn't, and that one isn't fully human either.

It gets tangled up of course by AGATHA being the Beast, but don't you think that's beautiful?

[sysig]

Party (group) party (celebratory)! (Patreon)

[fallingyams]

(Sorry my Op.5 hype is off the charts: super long post up ahead with a bit of analysis into why Sherlock says the things he does to convince William to live)

Can I just say that Morimyu Op. 3 does a fantastic job at setting up the confrontation between William and Sherlock?

William sings, conflicted, about whether he can still find forgiveness. His mind is set on dying (alone), but there's a part of his heart that wavers.

AND THEN. AND THEN!!!!! SHERLOCK MEETS HIM IN DURHAM AND TELLS HIM

A crime is still a crime, no matter how noble the intention. He cannot forgive killing others and using the deaths of people, even despicable people. (Which is beautifully contrasted against the Jack the Ripper case btw). He will catch the Lord of Crime and punish him for his actions.

It's at that point that William turns a bit sorrowful and resigned (and Shogo's expression is so!!!! SO!!!!! wow his despair is palpable) almost as if he's thinking to himself 'as expected, there is no forgiveness for someone like me' and probably solidifies his idea that death is the only suitable recompense for him.

--

ANYWAY back to the manga itself

His sorrowful condemnation:

I think that it's precisely because of this, the only person whose forgiveness can change his mind is Sherlock.

It doesn't matter that Fred or Louis or what any others think. They can call him a good person all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that in his mind, he is already condemned.

(Besides that, his accomplices are all evil because their plan is inherently evil to him. Their words hold little weight. A sinner can't save another.)

That is, until Sherlock tells him this.

And suddenly his entire worldview is upended. Because all this time, he believed there was only condemnation to be found for someone like him.

Sherlock, his righteous actor in the stage of London's crimes, has deemed him worthy of redemption.

And if the one good person thinks that William can be saved...

But no! How can believe that? William James Moriarty is the devil incarnate. He is stained. His sins are unforgivable, no matter what Sherlock says. Murder is unforgivable, right?

So Sherlock flips the script.

He reminds William that HE is also a criminal and murderer. (It's a perfect crime in the eyes of the law, but William knows the truth)

He becomes the mirror reflecting William's image so that William can come to the realisation that they are all capable of good and evil.

The greatest evil is capable of good.

The greatest good (Sherlock - in Liam's eyes, at least) is capable of evil.

And if William can still think of Sherlock as good despite this,

And if William can forgive Sherlock for murder...

Then why can't William himself be forgiven for murder?

I think, in some ways, here Sherlock also confesses that he has lost the mandate or the right to catch William as a detective on the right side of the law.

He's not standing there as someone catching a criminal.

They're now standing as equals. Friends (or whatever you call that tension they have going on LOL), rivals, equals.

It's no longer "catch" in the criminal sense, but to "catch" a falling friend. A trust fall, if you will.

(It just occurred to me that the whole chapter is just a trust fall exercise on a large scale LMAO)

This changes the whole trajectory of what William believes in. That seed of doubt has been planted in him - that he could, perhaps, still find forgiveness.

More importantly, that he has Sherlock's forgiveness.

And that is what allows him to live on.

[eldritch-araneae]

Bumblebee Week Day 4 - Secret

I've been here waiting for the longest time I can't believe it's real You lose the battles that you never fight Can't hide from what you feel (Come on!) No more compromise This is do or die And now you've crossed the line You'll wake the beast inside No more compromise This is do or die I'll warn you one last time You'll wake the beast inside!

Song: Sonic Frontiers OST - Break Through It All

[dumbstupidfandomblog]

Man. I just can't help but imagine Critical Role x Baldur's Gate 3 drabbles or a fic or something of that some sort. Idk, I just think it'd be really funny and also a chance for some really cute scenes. Especially with the Mighty Nein.

Now obviously there'd probably be SO much mistrust between the two groups, but just imagine if you will(possibly very minor spoilers under the cut):

Caleb and Gale(and maybe Essek) talking about wizard stuff and cats.

Jester introducing everyone to Artagan. I think Astarion would either like him or fucking hate him.

Karlach, Yasha, and Beau just working out together. Buff lesbians

Fjord and Wyll bonding over shitty patrons. If it's post Ukatoa then Fjord giving Wyll some hope about his situation. I just think it'd be sweet.

Caduceus and Halsin. That's it. I think they'd talk for literally HOURS, just drinking tea and talking about random shit and their respective circles 'n such. ALSO, I'm just imagining them sort of gossiping about and spilling their respective party's secrets to eachother. They'd be silly lol

Jester overhearing the whole convo with Astarion and Tav(if there's a tav in this??) about him not being able to see his reflection and immediately getting to work drawing a portrait of him. As soon as she shows and gives it to him, he's his usual sorta sassy self about it but he absolutely cherishes it.

Also I feel like Astarion would see different bits of his own past in some of the Mighty Nein, specifically Caleb and Yasha, and it'd piss him the FUCK off.

Jester and/or Molly reading the groups fortunes just for fun, the Oracle of the Moon Deck has some cards that would make the groups fortunes REALLY INTERESTING. Maybe Molly also pulls out some of the old circus tricks for fun.

On the topic of Molly, I think Lae'zel would have this very confusing respect for Molly? She'd find them really foolish at first and not think much of them, but I think she'd then see them actually in combat and be impressed with their skills.

I feel like Nott/Veth would just start mothering some of the bg3 party. Like not heavily, but a bit similar to how she does with Caleb. I could def see her pairing up with Astarion to steal some shit. Maybe King joins in if he's there.

Jester giving some of the group tattoos. Not everyone would get them obviously but I could definitely see Karlach and I suppose Tav going for it.

Nein Sided Tower shenanigans. That's all.

[lotrmusical]

I just came here to say that after following you for a full year and seeing how much you love to the LOTR musical … I just bought tickets to go to Chicago to see it!! I’m SO EXCITED 🥹

BEST NEWS EVER i hope you have a magical time!!!

[sfarxuri]

their counter parts were ready that time, have to plan something else to catch them off guard doofus!

[licantropa]

first picture is from the wiki and the second is a quote from the Reddit story Visions of Men and Gods (Martha and Ianite Talk) linked but unfortunately unviewable.

The Tree of Katsir was NOT feeling her.

I think Ianite plaguing Dagrun makes sense from a ‘it was to punish Spark for leaving’ angle, even if she wasn’t conscious in making the decision, a part of her probably wanted Spark to pay. Especially, because that’s what she does to the Tree, what she wants doesn’t happen and then she starts a fire. Spark doesn’t stay and she plagues the town.

Also, her coming out of a relationship (from her perspective) and then almost immediately finding another who worships her so much that he built a town for her? Spark’s intent at the beginning might not’ve been romantic, but I think Ianite certainly wanted it to be and probably was the one who did most of the pursuing.