#and you can be in them and still have classes with people that arent in them

[soularsss]

Drawing Likeness: with Tem!

okaay since a few people actually showed interest in me sharing a bit of what I've been doing to figure out how to really capture likeness, specifically Temuera Morrison, I figured id do my best to write it out

I am also going to entice you with some of my recent clone art! (oooh some of it is unreleaaasedd)

I am putting the whole thing under the cut because I have a feeling its going to be long:

Read more!!!

a couple disclaimers before we start

-This is not some definite post about how everyone should be drawing clones, nor is it in any way claiming that this is the right way. This is just my musings as I stare at a mans face for way too long and try to replicate it

-I am inexperienced. As kind as you all are to me, drawing real people is relatively new to me, capturing a persons identity through their features is difficult for anybody, and I am no different. I have watched many a video on likeness and had my share of classes, but If im being honest, i rarely put it into practice successfully. So there'll probably be errors in this post or things i will come back to in a few months and wish I had said/done differently

ANYWAYs you guys get my vibe im just here to ramble and today we are rambling about mr copy paste. I am doing this for Law, my clone boy, because I plan on delving further into oc fanart and I want to put effort into representing him correctly!

SO LETS BEGIN

Before even deciding what specific pose of a person I want to draw, I tend to grab a bunch of references and compile them like so

(all of these can be found on my pinterest)

Why so many? Well, we are about to delve into facial features, so when we are dealing with photos we have to take into account that there are an abundance of circumstances that will influence how a persons face will appear, some of these include:

focal length: All of these are taken on different devices, and focal length can play a big part in distorting faces

age will play a part, your face changes a bunch throughout your life!

lighting, while not as major, can muddy the waters and make it difficult to interpret facial planes and features

SO, to make sure we get a proper grasp of what's really going on, I like to make sure we have lots of options to compare and contrast with.

Next up! What I like to do is block out the main facial features with colour on different layers, the features I block out usually are the general face shape, eyebrows, eyes, nose and lips. But what you are looking for is the defining features of a person, so that could include other things! Maybe a scar, or some particularly prominent cheekbones.

I dont have any rhyme or reason when it comes to picking my colours, all that matters is you can see all the shapes clearly.

Now I may be biased, because Ive been staring at these for 4 hours, but notice how it still looks like Tem? :D

Anyways, now we can break these parts down, and you'll see what I mean about compare and contrast:

We'll start with isolating the facial shape, putting all these next to eachother you'll notice they arent exactly the same (partly because of my shoddy work) But the distinguishing features run through each shape! Namely the very soft rectangular shape I sketched out in the bottom right there. Along with his soft, wide jaw structure.

I did the same for the rest of his features!

You'll notice I highlight the prominent shapes and ratios,

When drawing anything, it is important to start from the very base shapes and build up.

When drawing something you want to look like someone, those shapes relative to other shapes is what makes it look like them.

I didnt use the same technique with his eyes and lips, but I wrote out some helpful info for them! More importantly for his eyes.

When drawing eyes, I find the most important part is where exactly I draw the creases, (along with the overall shape of the eye itself) it is important to understand where those will present themselves with hooded eyes.

NOW, with an understanding of his facial features in place, lets take a detour to colours:

before I start, a couple things to note:

-Temuera morrison versus the clone troopers in the animated shows:

While I love the animated shows they don't exactly stay close to their source material. Im going to link here to an excellent post discussing whitewashing specifically in relation to the clones.

Temuera is Māori, of Te Arawa (Ngāti Whakaue) and Tainui (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rarua) whakapapa, and also has Scottish and Irish ancestry.

The Māori people are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand (Aotearoa). Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia. Māori people often vary in skin tone, Skin colour doesn't determine ethnicity. There's often a correlation but it's not a requirement.

But that is a tangent! What we are aiming for is to stay true to Temuera.

Bringing back my reference photos from before, Ive colour picked a buncha values and theyre all over the place. Why doesnt this work?

Similarly to earlier, you have to take into account the photos themselves. Many things like lighting, colour grading (when it comes to filmography) and makeup, can alter how a skin colour presents in photo.

You can attempt to get true to life by swatching from certain places on the face. Here I've tried to pick some photos with good lighting, and I've also tried to avoid overly lit/shaded areas.

Tem has a very warm, tan skin tone, Instead of colour picking I tend to try and replicate it myself, but I do often bring in references to make sure Im staying true to the source!

a brief intermission to talk about colour theory, something I myself struggle with alot. Often, when putting in flat colours without a background, I will forget to make sure the colours i intend to use will work with the skin tone i have picked! (something that is apparent in older works of mine, not just in relation to clones, but in general, the colours I end up with stray largely from their original sources and it is something I am doing my best to keep in mind and improve in! Although I don't think i am nearly experienced enough in the topic to say I have succeeded yet lol.)

anyways back to Tem :))

Now we can put all of that into practice! Things to keep in mind when drawing out a piece next to a reference like this:

the distance between the eyebrows? how far down his face does his nose go? Basically just, in relation to eachother, where do all those shapes we found earlier, sit?

The screenshot above is from before I did it myself, but instead of directly tracing from the reference, a handy trick I use it to complete your sketch first, and then overlay a traced version to see where your inconsistencies are! Alternatively, you could move your sketch over the image, but I didnt do it that way so!! uh!! im sure it works exactly the same!!!!

When it comes to a final illustration, or any sketch that isnt a direct study, of course you can push and pull and stylise! You'll see below that I'm not exactly 1:1 to my reference photo either.

The important thing with stylisation, or at least my own personal understanding of stylisation is that you need to thoroughly understand the thing you are stylizing! "You need to know the rules to break them" and all that. While shapes, lines and rendering can change, when it comes to drawing someone, and making it look like them, you have to make sure to keep their core features true to source. Caricature can capture a persons vibe whilst drastically exaggerating features, but it will only look like them if you KEEP THOSE FEATURES!!!! SHAPES!!! AHHH!!

But that is just my perspective on the discussion of style versus realism, please dont take is as Law, I dont know what Im on about half the time!!

anyways, after fixing your sketch, add local colours!

I rexified him because why tf not! But this is where you can go crazy with that clone personalization!

And then here is a very very barely rendered version (if you guys want me to explain how i RENDER that would need to be a completely different post, and I havent had anyone ask about it yet so who knows! maybe one day) But I digress, hopefully you learnt something new through my ramblings! It has certainly helped me organize my thoughts and I have also found some areas I would like to focus more on in the future to improve my own art!

TLDR: In order to understand an object, be it a face or a building or literally anything, you have to break it down to its simplest forms, understanding LARGER shapes will help you immensely in the long run

If you guys like this sorta content do let me know! I'd be down to do similar things for armor/anything really, I am very anti gatekeep so really anything at all you want to know! Send me an ask :))

also if you see a spelling mistake.. i don’t know how that got there

[rosenclaws]

Hi! I really, really love your writing, especially these headcanons.

This is gonna sound really weird but could you write Logan with a reader who struggles with friendships and making friends? And general loneliness?

I'm struggling with feeling like I have no one right now and I just would really like to read about Logan loving on me and making me forget that for a bit

HI!! of course I can. we don't really talk and im so ass at responding BUT my dms or inbox is always open if you need someone to talk to <33 I really understand where ur coming from this was literally me all through college. I didn’t make a single friend bc I commuted and I felt so lonely. Also dofp and trilogy logan can be read more platonic so if u arent happy with it i can redo them!

Origins Logan -

I think that Logan isn’t great with making friends either. He’s not super interested in making friends so he’s very content being alone or being with you. But he notices a small sadness in your eyes sometimes. How you never seem to go out with people or the way your voice falls when he tells you he’s going to the bar after work with some work friends. He wasn’t sure what it was at first but then he saw you tucked away with tears in your eyes one night and decided it to get to the bottom of things.

See making friends is hard. You try. You really do. But no matter how nice you are and how much you try to reach out it just never works out. You never told Logan about it. Fearing he’d laugh or think you were lame. But it breaks his heart to see you so sad. He puts you in his lap and assures you that he’s there for you. He’ll be your boyfriend, your best friend, your support system. Hell he’ll even be your enemy if you wanted him to be.

He takes you out to town more in his free time encouraging you to join that book club you see flyers for or maybe that running group. Of course he won’t push anything but he just wants to see you happy. Whatever you need from him he’ll be. Because he loves you and he’ll be by your side through it all.

Trilogy Logan -

It’s stupid. At least it feels stupid. You live in a mansion with people just like you. Yet somehow you just feel lonely. You didn’t grow up here. You came very late in life and your powers didn’t warrant a spot on the team. In fact you swear the only reason Charles let you in is because they needed an art teacher. You’d sit in the kitchen at dinner by yourself while everyone was chatting around the counter. You would take walks when the students and staff played games. You were never invited to go out afterwards. Hell you aren’t even sure anyone else knows your name.

Until Logan came along. You knew him, of course you did he was The Wolverine after all. But you swore he never even gave you a second glance. It was your birthday and you were once again alone. You debated on going to the store and buying a cupcake but before you could make a decision Logan made it for you. A cute pink box sat on your bed with a card in very proper handwriting. The card just read Happy birthday signed by Logan of all people. It was your favorite flavor too. You confronted him and he just shrugged. He had always seen you but he was a lone wolf kind of guy. Still he liked you and in the spirit of…teamwork? He reached out. Logan was more than the grumpy man you thought he was. He was funny and had a sharp tongue. But he was sweet and a big softie. Only you got to see that side. He was your friend and slowly he made you feel seem. Made you feel loved. Now you have someone to exist in silence with and you’ve never been happier.

DOFP Logan -

I think it’s similar to trilogy Logan in the sense that he sees you when you feel like no one else does. He’s observant and the man can see that you don’t talk much to anyone. At a staff event you stayed quiet in the corner. Your face had “get me out” written all over it. A look he knows too well. He doesn’t know what draws him to you exactly. He thinks your smart and the kids love your class so why hasn’t he seen you around more.

The truth is you hated these events because you want to be apart of the fun so badly. To talk and laugh and befriend the people everyone seems to idolize. But no matter how hard you tried you just faded to the back. Making friends isn’t as easy as asking someone if they like ponies or the color purple. So when Logan. The Wolverine of all people walked up to and talked to you. It was bizarre. Not that you were complaining but fuck how did he even know who you were?

You start to overthink everything with Logan. Are you too clingy? Too forward? Should you ask if he wants coffee when you asked him yesterday if he wanted an extra donut? Eventually I think he asks you about it and you confess that making friends isn’t easy for you. Logan doesn’t think you’re weird or a loser for it. He understands shit happens and things aren’t easy for everyone. He is not a people person either and making friends is low on his skill set. But he likes you a lot and he’ll happily be your friend. Maybe more if you’re interested. He’ll be whatever you want him to be.

Old Man Logan -

Logan notices you’re just a little off. That you aren’t as happy as you used to be. A part of him is worried it’s his fault. He’s gone so much working and when he’s home he’s exhausted. He tries to take out on a nice date every other week. Something that you’ll remember for a long time. He’ll by you flowers he thinks are pretty from the store. They aren’t the most expensive but you don’t care. Was he not doing enough? I think he hides his worry until one day he finds you teary eyed laying on your bed and he can’t hold it in any longer.

It feels silly to tell him. He’s got so much on his plate and it’s not his fault he has things to do. He takes such good care of you and loves you. But you’re lonely. You go to work you come home and that’s it. You have Logan but you don’t have any friends and its starting to weigh on you. You try but people can be mean or they already have friends. You feel like theres something wrong with yoj. Logan frowns as he reassures you there’s nothing wrong with you. Absolutely nothing. Making friends ain’t as easy for some people and that’s okay. He would pick you up in his arms and cuddle you. He makes an effort to be the person you can always come to. Texting you things in between his rides. He’ll let you blow up his phone with everything you’re doing. He can’t always respond but he promises he reads it. When he comes home he’ll listen to you talk, ask a few questions and smile when you do. It can be hard but the loneliness isn’t forever and Logan will be your beacon for as long as you need him.

Worst Logan -

Wade has a lot of friends and sometimes it can be overwhelming as hell. So sometimes Logan just fucks off for a little bit. He enjoys the quiet more than the noise of people. That’s where he meets you. You live next door but he’s never met you. Not even Wade really knows who you are. You’re quiet and reserved and seem to stumble on your words. But Logan likes you. You’re much more tolerable than Wade for long periods of time. Sometimes you show up to ask for help or to drop off something but you don’t stay long.

After a while Logan asks why you don’t come to dinner or any of Wade’s parties. That’s when you tell him the truth. You aren’t Wade’s friend and that sometimes your jealousy gets the best of you when it comes to hearing how much joy and life comes from his apartment. Wade is friends with just about everyone but for some reason he never bothered to befriend you. You’re lonely and despite your small attempts to become closer they never went anywhere so you kind of just gave up. Until Logan came along. He was nice and he looked at you and gave you the time of day.

Admitting to him you were lonely was hard but he understands. He was the same way for years. All his friends had died and he had no one for a long time. He never wants to be that lost again and he won’t let you feel that way anymore either. He listens and he tells you that things might feel bad now but it will get better. He can’t tell you when but he’s there and he hopes his company can distract you even just for a little bit. Wade was appalled with himself for not introducing himself sooner once Logan brings you to a Sunday dinner.

He doesn’t force you to talk to anyone or suddenly expect you to be amazing at making friends with these strangers but he is there when you look back. Offering a smile that encourages you to open up just a little more. And if things feel like you’re losing it again, he’s right there to comfort you. He’s just a wall away and there’s no where else he’d rather be than with you.

[mysicklove]

"Well look at you! Say, "meow", Lord Sukuna!"

Said curse blinks at you a couple of times, before using his hands to touch the white, fluffy cat ears placed on his head. "Is...this what humans do for entertainment? Pretend to be animals? I think it would be more appropriate for you to dress up as cattle, considering-"

"Yes, yes I know, you hate humans, i've heard thousands of times," You cut off, quickly smacking his hand away and fixing the ears. "Now look cute — I am going to take a picture!"

Sukuna doesnt move from his position on the bed, just staring at you with a blank face. He crosses his upper sets of his arms and waits for you to be done, slightly amused by your actions, but not enough to give you the satisfaction of his change in facial expressions. Still, you coo at him and tell him to get in different poses for you, but he just continues to stay in place and stare. You arent very suprised, considering it was rare for him to actually listen to your demands, the stubborn thing.

"You arent acting cute at all," you pout, and Sukuna just shrugs, raising his eyebrows. His lower hands trace the skin on your upper leg, and he continues to watch your antics.

"Have I not been taking care of you appropriately?" He asks, slightly narrowing his eyes. "I give you food, water, and even sex. I thought that is all your species needs to live happily?"

You cock your head to the side, blinking at the way he seemed to be in deep thought. "What are you talking about?"

"Uraume!" Sukuna interupts, pulling you closer until the white ears nearly graze your skin. His servant appears less than five seconds later, walking into the room. "My Lord," they bow, before waiting for a command.

You can see the way they look appalled at the cat ears, and are burning daggers into your skin for daring to put him in something so degrading — your class as a human meant that you were the lowest on the totem poll in Sukuna's domain, but still you managed to have the master of it wrapped around your finger.

"Bring me something from a feline descent."

"Of course, My Lord."

"What? No!" you pipe up, but Uraume is already gone. You turn back to Sukuna who was taking the cat ears off, discarding them at his side. Then he pulls you into your lap, ignoring your struggles.

A large hand pets at your hair and Sukuna says, "You should have asked if you wished for a companion."

You cover your eyes with a groan, pulling gently at the skin on your face. "I dont want a companion, Sukuna," you complain, accidentally dropping his title. But, he doesnt seem to mind, continuing to trace your skin with his palms. "I just thought it would be funny to see you in something cute considering who you are."

He blinks at you for a second, before frowning. "I didnt find it funny."

"Yeah, obviously. The only jokes you find funny are about murdering people. Now look, Uraume is out searching for a kitten."

Sukuna doesnt seem to care, instead picking up the cat ears and asessing them. Then he places it on your head, while you narrow your eyes at him. But, the curse cracks a grin, scanning your face. "You are right, this is entertaining."

A breathless laugh escapes you and you shake your head with a whine of complaint. "This doesnt help the "Sukuna's pet" rumors."

"You are my pet human."

"We are dating."

"You can be my lover and my pet."

You push at his chest in complaint, and he rumbles out a laugh. Then you take off the ears, and put it back onto his head. Suprisingly, he lets them remain there, only looking at you with amusement.

A minute goes by, and you hear a familar voice. "My Lord, the cat as you requested."

You immediately twist your body to look for the kitten, excitement getting the better of you. But, much to your suprise, a full grown tiger stands in the middle of Sukuna's chambers, unusually tame.

Your eyes widen in shock, but Sukuna meerly chuckles, before leaning down to your ear and saying, "Is it cute enough for you? A pet for my pet, how humerous."

And after that, you decide to never bring out the cat ears again. Nor mention anything relating to pets — your pride couldnt take the wicked teasing from your lord.

[harukyuu2]

Hello, a request, please from the Furin boys x reader, the Furin boys discover that their girlfriend buys Sanrio plushies that look like them (they put an image of Hello Kitty's friends and the Furin boys, but according to me Ume looks like Cinnamonroll, not Kitty)

Hellooo! I loved this collab tbh so here it is !! ALSO RHANKS FOR ALL THE LIKESSS i love y'all

♡ Pure fluff - Female reader !! - Hello kitty replaced by Cinnamonroll <3 - Small revision

☆ Characters - Haruka Sakura, Hajime Umemiya, Suo Hayato, Nirei Akihiko, Kyotaro Sugishita

!! You were the literal definition of what TikTok calls a "Sanrio Girl." It was almost like you were born to live and breathe it! TikTok is freaking out over the hunt of a limited-edition Hello Kitty purse from the 2010s? Yeah, it’s just sitting there in your wardrobe. People are debating the existence of a discontinued Sanrio character that only three people in the world probably know about? You’re definitely one of them. That being said, your boyfriend had no idea about your little... obsession. You kept it pretty low-key in public, and he’d never been over to your place before. But lately, you couldn’t help noticing some uncanny similarities between him and one of your Sanrio plushies! So, you finally invited him over for the first time, ready to reveal your little collector’s hobby—and to prove your point about the similarities between them!

◇♡ ~ H A R U K A S A K U R A

• He was STUNNED.

• and confused too- how did you sleep on that bed packed of plushies?? Was that even your bed? Or a bed for the plushies...?

• dont think he didnt notice you like cute things but this- how arent you broke from so much things??

He tensed slightly, his brows furrowed and cheeks flushed, as you grabbed a plushie and held it up in front of him, comparing the two with intense focus to confirm your theory.

"The fuck-"

"Shut up, im thinking!" - Haruka grumbled at that answer with a small blush but listened to you

• When you compared them, he inmediately huffed embarassed of your decision, didnt you have something better than a dog?? was that supposed to say he was an animal? He isnt too good with this weird comparations you make..

"Why are you comparing me to a DAMN DOG!? is it- IS IT MY HAIR!?" - You smiled softly at his words and camed slightly closer explaining yourself before he explodes from embarassment.-

"Basically yes, but did you know that Pochacco sometimes is clumsy and sticks his nose where he shouldnt?" - She leaves a small laugh and feels happy that he is still hearing her even if she is basically talking about a topic people consider for a younger audience. - "Just like you the other day! You decided to see what was happening with Anzai even if you could just shrugged it as a problem of him only" - She smiles sweetly at his boyfriend who frowns even more, a tight line on his lips and a blush that almost emanated heat. He can bark all he wants, but you know in the inside he has a good heart that doesnt bite-

"Im not clum- i dont- ugh, im just doing what the captain of the class is supossed to do!" - He growls but shuts himself with her small kiss on his lips, rubbing his neck embarassed he surrenders. Maybe if he buys you more cute things you'll shut up about it? he isnt trying to spoil you of course !!

• If you’re worried about him finding it weird, don’t be. He might make a passing comment about you having too much stuff, but deep down, he doesn’t think it’s weird at all. If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters to him! Honestly, he’ll probably start thinking of you whenever he spots something with Pochacco or Hello Kitty. Just don’t expect him to learn all the names—his brain isn’t built for keeping track of all that!

• now, if you call the Pochacco plushie "our son"... you just made him stop working for the rest of the day. He will scream its not but in the inside he will like it

• if you convice him to bring atleast one of your Pochacco's plushies to his house so he sleeps with it when youre not there, he wont refuse but at first he will say its stupid. After some days, he isnt sure if you made a spell or something on that thing because now he cant sleep without hugging it when youre not around. he wont tell you that tho

☆ H A J I M E U M E M I Y A

• He will be excited to know your hobby even if he didnt understand at first what it was, a serie? a collection? a game? yeeeaah! it doesnt matter, if youre happy he is too. • He would tell you all the plushies you have are like his vegetables, their little babies! You two made the deal that now he has to take care of your things not getting dust if you arent around while you will take care of the plants not dying • When you compare him to Cinnamoroll, he hums looking at the plusie sweetly, how could he deny something to you? He was curious where did you finded them similar tho, it seems you love this plushies a lot. "You think so?" - Umemiya leaves a small laugh and grins posing with the plushie close to his face- "He has my haircolor!" "Yeah! But Cinnamoroll is a bit calmer than you… Still, you two totally look alike!" you say, happy to see that your boyfriend seems comfortable and not at all weirded out by your hobby. • When you tell him that Cinnamoroll is a dog and not a bunny HE IS SHOCKED. He will make a dramatic act apologizing to the plushie ngl he seems more eager to take care of it than you • When you ask him if he wants to bring it to his house, he shakes his head saying - "If you ever miss me and im not here, think of that little guy as me!" - He will accept a white shirt of Cinnamon tho, he wouldnt be embarassed to use it • Just imagine the heavenly kings seeing Umemiya talking about a problem of the town while he has a cinnamoroll shirt, he isnt even picking up why Hiragi has a different frown than usual ☆ S U O H A Y A T O • To be honest, he would be kinda surprised, but he wouldnt show it that much. His quick reaction is just blinking amused and smile to not worry you about him finding it weird "Oh dear, why have you been keeping this hobby as a secret? Its kinda cute..." - He says peeking around your room and taking by himself one of the plushies that called his attention, Kuromi. "Ah, Suo! that is-" - You were about to talk explaining the similarities between them but someway he is more fast than you. - "You sleep with this plushie? Hm...could it be that it reminds you of me?" - He ask on a certain mocking but lovely tone. When you ask him how does he know, he just shrugs it off and calls it "Boyfriend instict" • He would be totally fine with your little hobby, he just thinks about it as another thing to tease you about and see your cute face twitch a little. And also as an idea for future gifts "Why are you comparing me to a little jester bunny, love? Hm? Am I really that mocking to you...?" - he asks dramatically, letting out a small laugh.

• He’d love listening to you ramble about Sanrio for hours—he doesn’t mind you talking his ear off while he sips on some tea. Sometimes, he’d even try to argue with you about a fact (even if your version is correct) just because he enjoys seeing you get a little annoyed. Though he’d kiss you right after to make it up to you! • Just like Umemiya, he would let the plushie with you, so he can tease you about it when he remembers it in your usual morning walks together. "So, how was the night with my mini version? Did you sleep well, sweetheart?" ☆ N I R E I A K I H I K O • Just like Sakura, he was surprised to see your big collection of Sanrio things. What he would probably do the first time he sees this, is take out his notebook and quickly take notes of it so he has an idea of next gifts for you • When you tell him he looks like Pompompurin and show him the plushie, a blush creeps onto his face with a nervous smile, leaving him visibly embarrassed. He wouldnt deny it, but he'd definitely wonder why you think that. When you explain its because of his hair and his golden-retriever-like personality when he gets excited talking, he’d only look more confused.

• Yapper x Yapper type of relationship LITERALLY. While you ramble about Sanrio and Pompompurin similarities with him, he would yap you about Furin, a perfect balance between you two! • He would also find pretty funny finding similarities of sanrio characters with people of Furin, like a form of combine your two favourite things! "So hear me out on this one- Sakura looks like Pochacco!" - You say to Nirei with a convicing smile, showing him your plushie of Pochacco, Nirei just gasp and takes notes of it nodding at your such expert level of analysis. • Nirei would gladly accept you giving him Pompompurin to take care of at his house. He’d probably even send you random photos of Pompompurin in different spots around his place every hour Nirei: "Look! Purin is preparing himself to sleep" *one attached image* - Such a silly dog, you two go to sleep for tomorrow <3 • Such sweet parents for the plushie ngl ☆ K Y O T A R O S U G I S H I T A

• Yeaaahhh, he isnt seeing your vision on the similarities...what does he has to do with a blue penguin called Tuxedo Sam? • At first, he wouldnt understand your obsession over Sanrio, but he wouldnt question you about it ever. After all, his grandma teached him to be a gentleman and he wouldnt want to make you two angry! "So, i think you look like this little guy!" - You said to him directly since Sugishita isnt a fan of overly complicated or unnecessarily long explanations. He blinked, confused, as he grabbed the plushie without thinking much about it. He didnt really see your point, but he didn’t want to upset you either, so he did his best to say something nice. "I-I like it! This penguin is... good!" - You sighed, crossing your arms but smiling at his effort. "Don’t force yourself, dummy..."

• If you start talking about Sanrio and your reasons for thinking he’s similar to Tuxedo Sam, he’ll probably just nod along to everything you say, even if he gets lost after your second explanation. Honestly, he might even fall asleep—but dont blame him, thats just something he tends to do! "Soooo, i thinked of Tuxedo as you because he doesnt like intruders and problems just like you with people that want to fight Umemiya! and...Are you awake-?" - If you get angry at him falling asleep he would try his best to make you feel better once he wakes up. • He wouldnt bring the plushie to his house, but a random day without you noticing he would take the size of the plushie to make custom outfits for Tuxedo. That would probably make you happy right? He asked his grandma for help pls like it

[zeropro]

What are your thoughts on transformers prime and transformers one?

TL:DR I liked both! TFP was my first Transformers show that I watched all the way through and TF1 was a lot of fun! Opinions on Starscream under the break pfpfpfpfpfpf

Prime was literally my first Transformers experience (Okay that's not true, I did see the first Bay movie when it came out but lets not talk about that). It's really good! My favorite character was Ratchet, I loved that he's just a tired, grumpy, racist old man and he's a doctor. Knock Out was the best thing to come out of TFP and he really should be in more stuff. Really would have loved a fourth season but it wouldn't have been the same without the children around. I liked what we got!

Prime has an excellent Starscream, Steve Blume does an amazing performance with both his deep conniving gravel and his high pitched terrified sputtering. So much character in his animation too, especially in later seasons, and an incredibly compelling character arc. Prime Starscream is not a good person, but I would burn the world for him, and I like the small moments in the show that hint at something in his character that could be turned to good, but circumstance always works against him in that regard. He's just so pathetic, but also competent and dangerous, all the best qualities of a Starscream and a very unique design!

Transformers One was quite good, I was worried because of the trailers but I was surprised by how well executed it all was. None of the characters were annoying, and making Optimus Prime originally one of the oppressed class alongside Megatron was a good move. The scene where Orion gives Dee the sticker is so cute, I simply cannot. The ending felt a bit rushed but what can you do, it wasnt so bad that it's a problem for me.

I would have loved just a little more Starscream in the movie! Like, I knew he wasn't really gonna be in the movie much so i was prepared for it to be little more than a glorified cameo, but I loved a lot of what we did get and I feel like it was missing just a little bit more! Like, the whole High Guard turned rogue backstory he has is great, implies some honor to his character since he didnt keep serving Sentinal when the guy turned Cybertron over to the Quintissance. I think it's hilarious that Starscream is so much older than Megatron. Like, they gave us a lot of food to make headcanons out of, but then the rushed ending kind of left me with no real reason given for him and the rest of the High Guard to go with Megatron without a fight. Like, I think the reason given was that, because Megatron beat him up that one time, and then killed Sentinal, and since the High Guard became a might makes right society and hates Sentinal, I guess thats why they are loyal to him now. And I guess the one line where Starscream is like "all hail megatron" is supposed to indicate he's 100% behind Megatron now and not just a spur of the moment thing. And I guess them following his command to destroy the city is why theyre being banished. But like...idk, every other plot point was well established and properly played out, and the whole decepticons thing just didnt really feel like enough, and i kind of feel like it should have been more clearly communicated considering its an entire one side of a two sided war? I feel like we werent shown the high guard doing anything egregiously bad besides attacking people because megatron told them to.

Like, there's nothing in the movie to suggest that Starscream and the High Guard arent still loyal to the Primes. So when Orion comes back as a prime, like a proper prime, with the matrix and everything, which everyone knows will make the energon flow again, I'm surprised Starscream didnt at least try to make excuses or worm his way into avoiding banishment? My headcanon is he wanted to kill Sentinal as bad as Megatron and so when Megatron finally does what he failed to do for 50 cycles, he's like aite im ride or die for this guy. Maybe 50 cycles of living in the wilderness doing nothing but scout and pit fight all day changes a guy and they dont wanna live in a society anymore. Why dont they accept Optimus as the new prime? They helped him and Elita save their friends, and unlike Sentinal Optimus has the actual Matrix this time. Idk mang. Woulda liked a bit more.

Transformers One, not my favorite design for Starscream. The head vents going wide at the bottom look weird to me, and his legs are so long and flat.

Thems my opinions!

[velvetvexations]

this whole "who passes easier" debacle reminded me of an experience and since the other side just wants to play the anecdote game and call it universal truths, ill throw mine on the pile

(this story shared with the full permission of my friend, who has been graciously joining me in disbelief at the discourse)

when i was in university, in one of my classes we had to work in duos, and when it came time to pick partners, this quiet dude ive never spoken to beelines over to me. we work together for the semester, it goes well, class ends. we're both busy so communication lapses

about 3-4 months later, this girl bounces up to me on the campus and i have no idea who the fuck it is. like im thinking who is this cis girl and why does she know my name. as you can probably guess, yep, my lab partner. she says she gravitated towards me in class bc i was a visibly trans guy, and working with me helped her Realize Some Things. a month after class ended she started E, and two months after that she passed so well that i, someone whod seen her 3x a week for several months, didnt recognize her

its been about 6ish years since, i still dont pass despite surgery and hrt and shes been completely stealth for years on just E, and we're still close friends

now i could extrapolate from this story that its insanely easy for all transfems to pass, but that would be absolutely insane right? shes one girl, who was, in her own words, insanely lucky. and i think if we can realize that just because my friend didnt struggle to pass, it doesnt mean all transfems dont struggle to pass. and if we really use our brains here, we can see how this may also mean that just because You(general) know transmascs who could pass easily, or hell even if you Are one, that that doesnt mean that experience can be extrapolated to all of them

and this story is really threefold bc beyond that, so much of the transmascs have it easier take is based on being stealth. maybe i dont want to be stealth? me being out and proud helped a girl find herself. i want to let my trans siblings know that we're here, that they arent alone. and i want to talk about the reality of living like that instead of being told that the struggles dont happen, and if they do, its your own fault for not being stealth and everyone else doesnt have these problems so it doesnt matter

ive got one of my closest friends in the world bc she saw a trans guy and immediately recognized me as her community, and its sad people seem so determined to convince people that our experiences are so different she shouldnt have bothered asking me to be lab partners that day

sorry for the wall of text. i have a lot of feelings and it was nice to let them out

Thank you for sharing, anon. <3

[harmonicpearl]

Something i don't know how ppl still dont understad is how OBVIOUS it is that no Mark is gonna outtake the other, no love (neither for Gemma nor Helly) is gonna outgrow the other. And it's not only a matter of if that is possible (it is, its a tv show) it's a matter of narrative and thematic ideas.

The writers have briliantly gave Mark and Gemma a 5-year marriage and Mark s and Helly a half life relationship (because even if they are very young they have known each other for a huge portion of their concious life). This balances the stakes and validation for each Mark, and makes their battle so interesting, because they are literally equally deserving. And since they are equally deserving, having one of them "win" would be contradicting that claim. It doesn't matter if you as an individual have a preference, as liking one of the Marks more (hell, i myself like one of them more, that's human) but ethics dont work like that, ego death doesn't work like that either and obviously the show is trying to say that. This opens two crucial themes to discuss:

First things first, this impossible-winner situation is the fucking dramatic drive of the show. I wouldnt phrase it as Helly and Gemma because they're characters in their own right, but Mark's relationship with Helly and Gemma is there to represent a battle of the ego and conflicted desire. I really think the show chose to make this a romantic conflict because, yeah who doesn't love romance, but most importantly because we are so monogamous as a society that it was the clearest way to show how these two Marks are different people. We can't fathom the idea that you can love more than one person romantically at the same time (it doesn't matter if it's true, it's the predominant thought of our society). And i think they use this aknoledgement of how society works and they were so right to do so because look what everyone is talking about. That's why im so really shocked that some people are trying to bend the laws and philosophy of this show to theorize which Mark will win or which love will he choose at the end. Neither will, and both will. And simply because narratively, thematically, thats the only coherent choice. One of the Marks "winning" or Mark choosing completely either Helly or Gemma, would destroy the very points this show is trying to make. The love for Helly needs to be a rightful pushing force just as equal as the love for Gemma, just as Mark S needs to keep existing as a foil to Mark Scout. The show is trying to say that (to put this coloquially) doesn't matter how shitty or brief or undeserving your life is to a system or to others you are deserving of human rights, freedom and autonomy.

Which gets me to the second point: This goes both ways. Because even if Mark Scout belittles Mark S's experience, lumon did the same to him when they kidnapped Gemma and lured him into severance. They are both being used. After all, i very much think this is a postmodern show dealing with the residue of modern capitalism. This is a show about the problematic and complex relationship between revolution vs establishment. A modern show made in the past century would have framed this as a straight up victim vs victimizer problem but this is different. Capitalism creates this micro-power relationships. Corporations expoit the white collar worker and the white collar worker exploits the cleaning lady. And even if they are both clogs in a machine, the white collar worker and the cleaning lady may have different ideas on how a revolution should play out, or even if a revolution should occur in the first place. And sometimes revolutionaries can have disregard of the lower classes in the name of grater good. With all the shipping stuff (that i also fully enjoy) we forget that THIS is also the conflic that's taking place between Mark Scout and Mark S. Even if they clearly arent aware of all this shit at the moment.

Even so, they, again, are equally deserving of happiness and compensation. And to put Mark Scout in the position of opressor and opressed at the same time is amazing. They both need to win. But how can they both win? Will they both win? And how would a win-win situation look like? This is why i think severance really is something else. I'm at the edge of my seat because i don't have a fucking clue how they will resolve this. But i trust this show to be better than simply make him choose one of his loves or make one Mark overrule the other. They won't do that, mark (jk) my words. Both Marks need to truly work as one, to understad the other's struggle and see it as equally valid and well, negotiate. Just as the white collar worker will have to negotiate with the cleaning lady if they truly want to make an impact should a revolution actually happen. Both Marks need to understad they are not the real enemy and even more, that the real enemy is the cause of this friction in the first place, a friction that only diverges them from the real goal. Helly's and Gemma's love is only the cathalyst to put in motion this conflict. A GREAT choice because just as the Marks, they too will have ideas of their own on how to navigate this situation, yes, but they will also have a say in the innies vs outies vs lumon conflict and well i think these four are gonna surprise us.

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

I just want you to know I was reading Shifty Goes to College again and I started giggling over how convoluted Shifty's family tree is from an outside perspective

There's:

Dad who sends care packages with exploding robots, thought Shifty would grow into an murderous monster, showed Shifty how to check phones for spyware, was thought dead after sea monster attack, but actually just made a robot copy of said monster

Ma who made a sea monster to stop illegal fishing that tried to destroy their boat and was thought to have killed 'dad"

Criminal uncle who was nearly sacrificed by witches, recommended Shifty trap Jon in a conversation by jumping him, taught shifty how to check for hidden cameras, taught shifty 'bowling tricks', attacked child who tried to dump blood on Shifty

Pops(possibly just another name for Dad) who rescued said uncle from the witches and then gave them a lecture, has a bunker with walls made of bedrock, found an ALIEN CRASH SITE THAT PROVES SHAPESHIFTERS ARE ALIENS

Brother Tate, who defended Shifty at the chicken blood birthday party, got delivered by one of 'Dad's robots(possibly the most normal guy in Shifty's family)

Uncle Ford(possibly same as first uncle?) Who can magically summon people

Also his parents are at least upper middle class because theyre easily able to fund his whole lifestyle, but probably not overly rich because they don't know any famous people with the last name Mccorkle

His poor friends must have some kind of red yarn posterboard where they try to figure out what the hell is happening in the Mccorkle family tree and why they're all so bizaare

Shifty's non answers arent helping either. Doenst ever care to elaborate or explain who anyone is, and didnt think to even mention that McCorkle isn't his real last name, because why would he.

Darcy and Marcy are the most likely suspects to own the red string board. Every conversation updates the board and totally rearranges everything. Who's Dan? No one knows. Shifty mentioned him off hand once as the guy who builds walls around their house and taught him how to throw a real ax. Shifty says Dad built a spy network around their house but also took out all the locks? Why does Pops have a magical archive of lost tomes? Is he building robots or are these two seperate people? Shifty out of habit refers to Ford as mom once and now there's a potential fourth parent or his ma was the one who lost him down the drain when he was a baby. Carla is his aunt but also not married to anyone in his family or related as far as they can tell, so she must be a family friend except he used to share a room with her? in his house? And still lives with his parents? But might also have two seperate houses, so are they divorced? Shifty says no but who knows whats going on. They find one mention of a Carla McCorkle in their search and she's so untraceable its basically useless.

Every interaction is a roller coaster. No one knows what he's going to say next. No one knows how all of this connects. Tate is so normal but they also met him stepping out of a flying exploding delivery machine and refuses to elaborate.

[gamblersdoll]

𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓵𝔂!-1

the hero system was fucked, to say the least.

youve interned at the hawks residence for some time to know that, yet, it still surprises you to the very day. the amount of villains whos been locked up but yet have somewhat a valid— no, a good reason of doing what they do. whether its to feed their families, feed themselves, help their parents because they cant do it, or simply show the fact that there are people in need but labeled as villains… whether by their mutant quirks or ‘unfit’ quirks.

you couldve been one of them, since you were labeled as a villain since your quirk first activated. even your own mother acted as such.

“gorgon, you ready?” tokoyami asked, bringing you back into reality and making a small pat in your back.

you give a soft smile, tilting your head and nodding. “yeah, lets go.” you say, smoothing out your hero form and patrolling around for hawks–meanwhile he chats it up with endeavor.

you were graduating soon from yuuei high… shit, time went fast. ontop of that, you were about to be a hero. something you desired since in the womb. but, something did feel sort of … off. as in your mentor.

he had been avoiding you sometimes, and you knew it. because he didnt do it with tokoyami, he casually talks with the kid most of the time. but with you? it was short and dry. especially when it was only you two since tokoyami had classes still.

and its like he wouldnt even look at you.

“hawks? can i talk to you?” you pull him to the side, apologizing to endeavor, yet he grunts a ‘i was done talking to him, anyway.’

“whats up?” he asks, he has that dumbass stance that pushes his hip’s forward but he leans backwards. oh well, you werent here to talk posture. you folded your arms, and he folded his too.

“why are you avoiding me? arent you supposed to be mentoring me and teaching me things to be a hero? how am i supposed to learn if youre just going to focus on one person but not both that you took in?”

“its in your head.” he deadpanned, adjusting his visors and looking down at you. “you think im avoiding you when im not. just relax, little one.” he reassured, patting your head and smiling.

you feel some sort of relief, yet, still confusion and suspicious. you nod, turning on your heels and walking back to patrol area, his eye twitching. he excuses himself into a secluded alleyway and readjusted his pants, along with clutching at his chest. more importantly, above his heart.

you catch on too fast, extremely too fast. it makes a good spy or undercover agent, but now? it was bad.

he steadies his breathing, rolling his eyes back and exhaling. fuck, do you understand how intoxicating your air was? you had to have known. yet, you seem so oblivious. he pulls himself together, getting back to the group and unfortunately, groupies started to form.

‘can i get an autograph, mr hawks?’

‘please sign my tits, im your biggest fan!’

‘are you currently in a relationship?’

the last one stuck out to him, paparazzi swarming him and endeavors’ kids. but his eyes looked for you, bingo.

his eyes rest on you, somewhat of a glare but a trained look onto you. his heart beats faster, but his head is brought back to reality and he puts on that usual poker face.

[thatneoncrisis]

what do you think about the overlap of remmick and john, as two characters who were fucked over by colonial powers just to end up BEING colonial powers

OOOOOOH good question intriguing question i LOVE shit like this thank you

very long going under a readmore

i think the nature of theirs stories have made it so they are both participating in the systems that cannibalized their people, homelands, language and resources, but they go about it differently just bc of scale

remmick is like, one guy. a vampire yes, one who can do vampire hivemind shit, but hes one fucking guy. he was getting his ass beat by those indigenous vampire hunters, the damage he is capable of is on a person to person scale. he actively benefits from white supremacy as he is white passing, theres still lingering anti catholic and immigrant sentiments in the US during the 30s but for all intents and purposes he can "go stealth" in a way john cant he can reap the benefits of exploiting more at risk communities. his goal is also small fries- gluttonous and sadistic yes, but most charitably he wants sammy so he can see his family again since vampires are locked out of heaven

john. has committed a genocide on a scale unknown by man. he then proceeded to ressurrect a fraction of the population, all from his own home country, and then actively gatekeeps or destroys or manipulates any information about the world pre resurrection. his goal is also just blatantly the most petty vindictive shit on the planet. no, it is by no means reasonably to hunt down the distant descendants of people you were mad at, people who literally dont even benefit from the evils committed by those original guys anymore, bc you cannot stand the idea of any of them possibly being happy or alive. ultimately i think john represents a corrosive power fantasy. he has the power and tools to reshape society in any way, and he just replicates the one that actively fucked up the world in the first place. theyre all speaking english, they doing feudalism, the main religion is basically different christian sects, they terrorize non house settlements jsut bc they have the manpower and resources to do so.

i think this is an area wherein the locked tomb being understood as "raceblind" is kneecapping its ability to dig into this sort of shit. race as we understand it is jsut another invention of these kinds of world powers turning people against one another so there can be a steady supply of second class laborers, someone who is lesser than so there is no chance of meaningfully arguing why they do not get to reap the benefits of the imperial core (the people who make that core function in the first place). why do slaves need human rights if they arent human, ect ect. im not saying tlt would automatically be better if like, gideon was literally a slave (shes not, there is a material difference between chattel slavery and indentured servitude), but the way house citizens understand and interact with civilians on other planets is so.

we see it through individual lenses of ideology, pal wants to help everyone on new rho bc he values all life, pyrrha wants to cut and run bc she values the people close to her, crown is empathetic to the suffering of others but still clearly has other priorities. new rho is given to us via selective clips, a literal childs eyes. we understand this is a place with the exploitation of sexual labor, the teachers FIRST THOUGHT upon meeting pyrrha and learning thats not nonas dad is that shes pimping out a girl she thought was 14. this is horrifying, but i always go back to the sixth, where its some great honor to be designated to the informal sex soldiers in their military where they just go out and fuck other bored recruits in the reserves.

its goddamn bonkers when you think about it for longer than a minute- their society is still suffering the slow collapse of dwindling numbers, how long until they expand whos allowed in the gene pool out of desperation? how long until they find its easier to have some desperate non house citizen, wither through material coercion like money or transport, or more insidious means? the cohort has the power- it is The Power, and i dont really believe in a situation where a bunch of dorks raised on huckleberry finn are able to keep this kind of rot from festering. theyre the most morally rigid house, beyond like the eighth or whatever, but they still have child soldiers and use dead bodies for indefinite labor. i may trust palamedes and camilla but i do not trust "the sixth" to be better than the standard john has set. kind of a blessing everything started imploding before they could get to that point, if it hasnt already happened

uh anyway sinnners is more able to blatantly dig into these kinds of dynamics by banking on the audiences existing ideas about racial tensions and communities. the brothers made their club as a safe space for their people, and extended it to people who have already established a bond or face similar treatment. im sure the chows didnt have a place to cut loose in a town like that, id easily buy they were the only asian family there, let alone specifically chinese. it was a space that could recognize those differences but understand what was important, what this would mean to people who really had nothing to look forward to than labor for people who barely consider them human

i think this makes marys mistake sooooooo compelling. shes a white passing woman in a room full of her black friends and acquaintances. she said her mother practically raised the boys, she must be acutely aware of how differently she is treated. she keeps pushing stack about why he didnt pursue her, as if extreme racial violence is something that is easily overcome via the power of love. if he does truly love her, which i think he did, i really would understand the choice to leave her be so both of them arent under scrutiny and, you know, possibly lynched. i think mary is kind of emblematic of liberal dream of a post racial world. where you can jsut plug your ears and say I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE really loudly and then act confused as to why black* people may be apprehensive to a bunch of random ass creepy fuckin hillbillies want to party with them so bad. like remmick tries puling that card too, he chastises them over building a place that is supposed to be "inclusive" but will not allow people who could VERY EASILY disturb that peace inside. he keeps trying to put the ball in their court, prey on them being the better person, when its jsut the fact of the matter that they have no reason to trust his intentions. but mary i feel has this urge to appeal to them, to prove that racial divides arent necessary, money is money ect. and while i dont believe in self segregation as a long term solution, it is quite frankly deeply ignorant of her to keep pressing the issue. and then she gets them all killed. lol. also fun fact i didnt know that was fucking Hailee Steinfeld good lord. *including the chens i have to keep tossing in qualifiers well be here all day

so uh tlt and sinners understand the kinds of drastic shifts in personhood being the product of systematic exploitation and assimilation entails. its monstrous it cannot produce anything only take, recreate, and or eradicate. the slogan "kill the indian spare the child" especially comes to mind, the belief that western ideals and thinking, literature, fashion, language, government and economy are the only true way to be human while anything else is like, a hedonist corruption. something striking that stood out to me was remmick compelling his new congregation to dance with them, forcing them all to step in line to his music, relive his glory, in stark opposition to the earlier scene of them all dancing their own way to the same song with sammy. by contrast john uh. he doesnt even do that. hes kind of united by an identity of being kiwi and not maori. thats the way i read it, everything in his new world IS just neoclassical bullshit. i think about how harrow and gideon dont even know what maori IS as like, a concept. and something that really connects with me as a black american. the people i idnetify most strongly with did not like. exist as a group over 500 years ago. i dont know what it is to be west african, i cant speak the language i dont know the culture ive never set foot on the continent. who would i be if the transatlantic slave trade didnt happen. who would harrow and gideon be if they got to grow up in aotearoa. and thats something that solidifies the divide between john and remmick. remmick can only find ways to manipulate the system in his favor, john just made it that way from the start, to uphold some distant ideal of what he remembered the world to be

i think both stories treat the structures and mechanics of colonization and resource exploitation as a sort of disease that will inevitably eat its host and die. johns empire is not sustainable- he keeps killing planets, keeps displacing their population, his houses have notable population crises, having PAPER is a fucking luxury and their most powerful members are quite literally fueled by death- what happens when theyre out of people to die. rimmick is a vampire, it is very notable that vampires arent like zombies, theyre not brainless they cannot afford to turn the majority of people on earth into them or they fucking run out of food. what remmick was doing, not just killing those people but explicitly converting them, puts more and more strain on his ability for each on of them to survive if they ept multiplying at that rate. would they have stopped once remmick got sammy? whos to say. i sure as hell dont believe him

[angy-grrr]

spoilers for chapter 429

idk if you guys remember but ochako does have parallels with All Might, specifically as the side who saves. It’s not that he feels the same for them both or something like that, they serve to represent the type of heroism he naturally goes to; his friend is not his love interest, from his perspective she’s out there having a crisis over not being able to save her, and Izuku reminds her that she is a hero bc she is his hero -she saved him multiple times, and she should be able to feel like a proper hero.

This conversation is not about the nature of their relationship, is about heroism; Izuku relates to a conflict between being a hero who saves and failing to save someone, and doesn’t want to see Ochako ending spiraling because she couldn’t also fulfill that role as expected. She’s his hero not because he loves her romantically -he’s a nerd I’m sure he would be way more nervous and blushing if he was confessing anything he thought was romantic- but because she’s able to go and do what All Might does to Izuku, save him physically and emotionally.

He knows she hides her feelings in order to not be a burden, yet he doesn’t talk about his own feelings outside of his guilt in heroics -what does he feel about losing OFA? About his own failures? About the people he personally lost? He can’t talk for others and claim Ochako is everyone’s hero, but he can speak for himself, and that’s his personal perspective -she is a hero to him, she’s his hero. And then the class appears to make sure she’s able to get support and understand she’s not alone, and she’s important to them too.

but Izuku doesn’t get support. Izuku cries a little and talks a little about himself, but he doesn’t get supported. If this was meant to be romantic, I don’t understand why he would hold back what’s inside of him.

the end of the chapter reveals that boy is going to be helped by that woman who regretfully ignored Tenko, and they both witness it and are happy about it while hearing izuku inspired that change, and iida wonders what’s up with them -this is the conclusion to their relationship. In their hearts these two are saviors who struggle to be heroes who save others, and they are happy there are appearing more people who want to be heroes like them. Heroes who save. Save like All Might.

That grandma for example, interpreting the narrative as what I think is intended, would be that boy’s All Might; she’s his hero.

Izuku and Ochako are heroes who save, and Deku is here to remind her at least she did save him many times, that she is still a hero because she is his hero. I don’t believe is meant to be interpreted as romantic, not that Izuku sees that phrase as it neither -after all, he said he does want to be like All Might and feels good to imitate him, but he doesn’t love him.

Ochako’s All Might hair moment, the parallels with Toshinori telling him he can be a hero, the trying to save from black suffocating quirks, the we can do it and do your best…

Do I need to remind you heroes arent a romantic thing for Izuku Midoriya?

[3liza]

seriously though from my experience dealing with other rich middle aged men I can tell you this right here, what we are witnessing right now, is the root of much evil in the world.

guys like Matt own and run everything that's privatized and larger than a certain level of scale. these guys get put in a steel tunnel from childhood onward into this weird little knotted ball of insecurity and entitlement, with no time spent during their youth in developing any interpersonal skills at all that aren't "talking slightly too loudly at a corporate party". I've worked as a domme, and a ton of these guys start hiring dominatrices when they get to Matt's age because they're unable to maintain anyone's attention without paying for it anyway and are so crippled with insecurity they can't be honest with women in their lives if they have any. this doesn't help them much because inauthentic human connection makes things worse. exposing even mild, normalized fetishes make them shut down and lash out, but it's not just a sex thing, it's their whole lives. I've watched so many of them hit their 40s, have a bunch of money and a little power, and realize all the poor degenerates they've spent their lives treating like a spectacle or a fantasy are the ones actually having fun, and who other people actually enjoy spending time around. this is pure speculation on my part, idk anything about his personal life and am not trying to find out. the posts are enough to diagnose a dozen extremely pressing problems he will have to painstakingly deconstruct in $10,000 Ayahuasca retreats to get anywhere.

and I wouldn't be so critical about their personal failings as a class of people if they didn't make those failings everyone else's problem. they are fully aware they are fucking up but have always been able to get immediate gratification by standing still and screaming until someone brings them exactly what they need. they know they could use their money to put people in houses or feed them, they deal with this by just not thinking about it. no one has ever genuinely liked them and they're aware of this, often including their own parents. they are frustrated with women. they have zero creative outlets and no skills. even if they have relationships they don't fall in love or experience limerance. all they do is make money or handle money, they are incapable of performing real labor and are alienated from the concept of labor itself so they invent weird orthorexias and compulsive exercise schedules to feel like they're performing labor. a lot of them develop substance problems because it alleviates some of the crippling inhibition and self doubt, but that causes more problems. some of them are narcissists or sociopaths which helps them cope with the extreme isolation but a lot of them arent, and just constantly afflicted with the same problems people get in solitary confinement or being the pariah at a high school. any of them could opt out of all this crap at any time and simply choose not to. these guys are ruining everything.

[vonbabbitt]

My Final Statement on Discord Drama (Why I'm Not a Mean & Evil For Turning Away Discord Asks)

hello jason. we are going to discuss this one final time and then never again.

from now on, i will be giving zero attention whatsoever to discord drama asks. i will not be posting about them or replying to them in any way. since people are sending me asks now acknowledging that they arent supposed to be sending me discord drama asks but are doing it anyway, i want to make a statement on this explaining myself so people dont just think im being mean and avoiding responsibility for moderating my discord server. please hear me out on my reasoning.

this is my personal blog! this is the first thing i always say when this comes up so lets keep it that way! this is my personal blog, regardless of how much tetro content i engage with here. when im on my personal blog enjoying personal time, i dont want to be dealing with work. you can call that me avoiding responsibility, but i dont think its unreasonable to want time to myself outside of work where i dont have to deal with the tetro discord server. this is exactly why we have a ticket system!

we have a ticket system! the server has a ticket system. this is THE ONLY PLACE to report discord server drama, because this is the only place the whole moderation team can access your complaint! there is no reason that i specifically have to be the one to review your complaint and not a different moderator. we have a moderation team for a reason. you do not know me, i do not know you, and there is no reason you need to bring your complaint to me PERSONALLY. if you think there is, and theres a specific reason it needs to be ME who answers your complaint, there is a solution: ask for me specifically when you open your ticket!

if you go outside of the ticket system, we cannot discuss anything with you. im not having a conversation about moderation on my public blog where everyone can see it, especially if youre naming specific people in your complaint. its unprofessional and invasive. if you go through the ticket system, we can talk! i can let you know what came of your complaint and what we're doing as a team to help. the ask i got this morning was complaining about an issue that has already been discussed with the parties involved, which they would know if they had gone through the ticket system instead of my ask box.

i encourage you to try just communicating with each other. ive received so many complaints in my ask box from people who i know for a fact have made no attempt to discuss their issue with the parties involved. i know im a kindergarten teacher, but we are not toddlers! in fact, even in my kindergarten class, when my kids come up to me and tell me another kid is doing something they dont like, i tell them to tell the other kid they dont like it! and this is the same advice i will give to you! talk your issue out with the parties involved! "but von babbitt, im afraid of confrontation." im sorry to hear that, but im not such a fan of confrontation myself! this is why ive got a moderation team and a ticket system! and when i have to do my job, i do it anyway. with all due bluntness: i think its inconsiderate and irresponsible to come running to my personal ask box and demand i fight your battles for you without making any attempt to do anything on your own, including any attempt to use the server ticket system, which we have set up for the exact purpose of solving your problems for you.

im allowed to just say no! the main issue is the fact that ive already asked people to stop and theyre still doing it anyway. i said no, and that means stop. its a very very very very simple ask. stop sending me discord drama asks. ive asked you to stop. if you know it makes me upset, and you choose to do it anyway while acknowledging it makes me upset, why would i want to help you??? why would i feel inclined to break server rules and go out of my way for you??? youre being purposefully rude and inconsiderate towards me.

i hope this helps to clarify my stance a bit. im sorry if this comes off as harsh but im really really sick of this and id really like it to stop. ive put every measure in place to allow people to easily report things without coming to my personal blog. thank you for giving me the time of day and i hope this is at least something people will keep in mind

[apenapaperandadoofus]

Yes, I agree with you. Some things can only be truly understood when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Xie Lian was spoiled in some ways and doted upon by his parents; he was a prince. But I’d argue that there’s also something to be said about how Mu Qing and Feng Xin treated Hong Hong’er, and how the “one cup of water and two people” question ties into not just class inequality from above, but also how even those beneath the social hierarchy can internalize class bias. The system affects everyone. Xie Lian was kind and humble, but he also used to say, “I want to save the common people.” I saw a post suggesting that “common people” referred to those beneath the crown, and while his belief in saving everyone was sincere, he was also overconfident and self-righteous in thinking he could carry the burden all on his own. He had heart, but not experience. He was only 17. The Xianle arc shows his complicated relationship with the crown and with himself. Honestly, I liked Jun Wu’s prince arc more in some ways. He was more mature when things hadn’t yet spiraled out of control , or maybe the situation was just different. Civil wars are much harder to write about. I admired Xie Lian for not wanting to unleash the plague on the Yong’an people, but at the same time, I felt frustrated with how things unfolded. Yes, it was Jun Wu’s doing he wanted Xie Lian completely isolated but Xie Lian also had little to no experience as a prince, since he spent most of his time cultivating and disliked how his father handled politics. During those years, he began to understand why people steal, why they drink...swear, how everyone has their own life and path, and why sometimes, people must separate. And yet, even through all of that, we have Hua Cheng someone who would stay for him even after death, even when his soul was on the verge of destruction, just to stand by his side eternally.

If you ask me Mei Nianqing is a character who, like many elders, won’t easily listen to the younger generation because he sees them as naive. It was also Xie Lian who vouched for Mu Qing. The thing is, MNQ is a Guoshi, and even as a prince, Xie Lian’s role was technically beneath that. In many Asian cultures, your teacher or guru holds the highest status. You can challenge their ideas, but you can’t use your authority against them.In some ways, I do think Xie Lian could’ve done more. But from his position, he saw the problems as linear. He believed that if he, as a prince, took people under him and used his status or eventually became a god things would be resolved. I give him credit for standing up to his father, the king, and questioning him. But in reality, issues like these are much deeper and more complex. One person alone can’t bring about change. These kinds of problems require society as a whole to come forward and address them together.

He learned the true meaning of his stance on “one cup and two people” by distributing his own luck to those less fortunate after his second banishment, and he refused to take off the two shackles that brought him misfortune because they reminded him of Wu Ming—a ghost with no name, his last believer—who destroyed his own soul for Xie Lian as a result of Xie Lian having once thought of taking it out on innocent people for things orchestrated by White No-Face.

BTW, it was nice talking to you, and I really like your posts about your mom reacting to TGCF , they are my favorite. I wish I could also share this type of stuff with my family, especially my mom, but it’s just hard for me. People here still aren't very open about these things. Have a good day!

Oh yes! There’s also the fact Mu Qing is also in his way classist- everyone in the book, in Xianle, seems to place importance on class, like XLs father, they seemed to grow in that environment.

Like I said, I think XL is a case of both- he sometimes does things he doesn’t realize arent helping the cause but that’s mostly bc of ignorance- while I do think he has a really optimistic look to change the way people view the whole class situation, it’s a bit wonky since he hasn’t experienced being of a lower class or station, so maybe what he thinks could help could actually cause more harm.

I really wish we could have learned more about Jun Wu! If he was a lot like XL when he was a prince, but got to live a bit longer (I think? I think JW ascended younger but he spent longer as a god didnt he? Correct me if I’m wrong) I wonder how he had matured as a god, and what his choices then would have been.

I think his story is really tragic- obviously it doesn’t justify what he did to XL, but imo the heavens back then totally deserved to be turned into sidewalks pFT. I think it’s so sad how someone who clearly cared so much for his people was practically driven crazy by not only heaves, but because of the betrayal of his people themselves.

I know some people don’t like that Jun Wu didn’t get killed (I’ve seen some) but I think (not to justify his actions btw) that eventually the prince he was got buried behind the hurt and evil exterior. I think the Jun Wu that wanted to save the common people is still there, just like when XL was white no face, but buried underneath the hate, and sadly, unlike XL he wasn’t able to have someone place a bamboo hat on his head, or a Hua Cheng to show him otherwise.

Which thinking of it like that- because we saw it with XL, which was kind of what Jun Wu went through, I think it’s tragic because Jun Wu clearly just goes fuck it we ball, and buries it all out of anger. So I hope, even if it was late, that after being sealed in mount tonglu, being with MNQ slowly unburied the starry eyed prince from before- or rekindles the flame. Once again, not justifying his actions and I don’t think I’d like him to reconcile with XL, far too much trauma there, but I hope he personally gets to grow and become at peace. While he can’t undo the insane damage he did, he at least won’t do anymore? Lmao. I just hope he regains his love for humanity, no matter how long it takes. After all, even he was shaped by the terrible heavily officials before him (again not justifying mass genocide -the old heavens deserved it tho- or traumatizing XL) but he was kind of driven to that madness also by being around terrible, greedy people, and facing betrayal by the people he’d worked so hard to protect :(

Maybe it’s because I’m someone that can’t forgive easily (cough Hua Cheng cough) but I give SO many props for XL for not destroying Yong’an. Obviously it’s easy for me to say “oh I would have ended it all!” But yknow just like XL with the lower class when he’s a prince, I can’t 100% say I know what it would feel like ahshs

But seriously I remember admiring XL so much- I was angry for him and at that moment when I first read I was still angry (since I read everything in one go the 100 swords and everything else’s feelings hadn’t had time to fester lol) so I was like “crap no! Destroy them! Get your revenge they deserve it!” But then XL did it- and most would see it in like…such a Mary Sue way? Like in movies where the hero can kill the villain but doesn’t because “oh the goodness of my heart I would never go to your level because I’m so kind and righteous” and it’s kind of annoying bc you KNOW a normal person wouldn’t do that and that it’s because the author doesn’t want the audience to think the MC is evil! Or has any flaws!

But with XL it feels natural. I didn’t think oh the author did this because XL is such a Mary Sue and is ALWAYS so kind like a Disney Princess (I do think he’s a Disney Princess lmao) but you actually see him crash out before- you see him get mad and that’s what makes the forgiveness more bittersweet because you might be mad- but you see why XL at the end doesn’t destroy Yong’an- it’s not because the author was afraid to show XLs bad side- in fact MXTX shows us all of humanities flaws with her chats characters in a realistic way that I love because I feel like media nowadays is afraid to have characters that have flaws, that have ugly sides, just like we normal people do.

I love seeing XL at his kindest moments because they mean more after seeing his angriest ones. The kindness he shows is ten times more meaningful and significant because you have seen him be angry- you have seen him make mistakes and let his feelings consume him. But that’s what makes him so lovely- because you see it all and what shapes him, and you understand he’s just someone who had to grow up too quickly and was set up to fail, but is still kind.

And I love that’s what HC loves about him because people see flaws as something ugly- when they’re what makes us humans. Obviously we can work on ourselves, but we will have flaws no matter what, no one can be perfect. And the fact MXTX makes them gods, when usually religions make their deities be such perfect beings (except the Greeks I believe which is why I loveeed reading about them when I was wrong, the gods seemed like what I would think actual gods would act like- prideful, overconfident, etc etc) and MXTX shows even they have flaws which aaaaa I looooove

I actually did not know in Asia teachers or guoshis were held to such a high status actually! I thought even if he was the teacher, since XL was a prince he would have more power but it doesn’t seem like it, that’s so interesting! Then it makes more sense as to why maybe XL couldn’t directly speak to him, or change his mind so easily, I understand! My apologies for not knowing before! I still think since like you said, he stood up to the king he wouldn’t be afraid to step up to MNQ, but maybe there’s the fact XL was in a bad place with his father and Guoshi at the time took a more parental figure whom he respected.

And of course, I loved talking to you too! Feel free to message me or drop an ask about whatever you want to talk about! I love needing out over books and media, even if sometimes views don’t align I love reading and even arguing (respectfully) the points of view! I hope I was able to correctly articulate my thoughts haha, sometimes words be hard 😭

It really sucks you aren’t able to share something you like, I hope you’re able to someday :( if you want, you can talk to me, I’d love to hear you out 🥰

I’m happy you enjoyed my mom’s silly reactions, they made me laugh and I’m glad it made others as well!

Have a great day! Sending you tons of hugs 🤗

[nilefreemans]

I'm... stuck, on a differnt fic that I'm writing for a friend, so I'm putting up this drabble to like shake the cobweb

so idk here some buddietommy vampire/witch/werewolf au

***

Eddie comes up to the unassuming cabin, set deep in the woods, and thinks, not for the first time, that what he is doing is possibly the craziest thing he's ever done.

And that was saying a lot in his life.

The reward though? That was what was pushing Eddie to travel hundreds of miles from home with very limited information.

The money was good, almost too good to be true, but Eddie needed it.

He had found the advertisement on a curse breaking forum that he often took to when he needed some quick cash. Hundreds of comments had said that it was a skam, that no one could be foolish enough to believe it.

Some even said it was a hunter's trap.

Eddie could understand the skepticism, he himself felt it as well, how could you not? But the more he thought of it, the more something was just pulling him to the post, to the people asking for help.

Eddie has always had good instincts.

When he reached out via email and hadn't heard anything for a month, and just when Eddie was starting to believe that the whole thing was a hoax, he recieved an email.

It was a simple email. It had coordinates and a reciept for a round trip plane ticket to northern California.

There was no more information, and Eddie probably thinks that they were protecting themselves.

He pulls up the truck, parking it on the rough driveway. The cabin wasn't very large, maybe three rooms total, but it looked well taken care of. The forest around them was thick, the shadows vast throughout, but Eddie couldn't help but admire it's beauty.

Magic hummed through the woods around him and he could feel it dance along his skin, inviting him in.

There's movement near the porch, and Eddie stills, waiting to see who he was dealing with.

Or what.

A man comes out, tall with bright blue eyes and a birthmark kissed on his brow. He looks strong, like he could take Eddie down in a fight, and there was an air of power that sat around his shoulders.

The magic around him was old, and it moved slowly, as if slowed down by time.

Vampire.

Eddie has met them before, had even served with some in the Army, but Vampires had a tendancy to stick around with their own kind.

He braces himself, but the man surprised Eddie by smiling. There's relief clear on his face as he bounds down the stair case towards Eddie, his movements arent rushed or predatory, but instead welcoming.

"You came!" Closer Eddie can see the beinings of the man's pointed canines and feel how old the magic is around his skin. He's old, but not the oldest vampire Eddie has ever met. "I was afriad that maybe you would think this was a skam."

"Thirty thousand dollars feels like a skam," Eddie says, his voice incredulous. "Almost all of the comments was calling you out, some even said you were a hunter."

The vampire winces.

"I didn't want to give too much away," He confesses and despite the light tone of his voice, Eddie can see the hint of desperation in his eyes. "A lot of witches won't help a vampire."

"They have their reasons," Eddie agrees. He watches the vampire for a moment, the air around him is old, but he was frozen in time at the same age Eddie is now. He looks youthful, and the part of Eddie that has kept him alive for so long tells him that depite being a vampire, the man isn't a danger to him in this moment.

"I won't deny that," The man conceeds and he dips his head. "Even coming out here to see if you can do anything to break this curse is something more than I could hope for. I'll give you money for that, I promise."

"You paid for first class tickets," Eddie says. The experience had been surreal but Eddie had enjoyed it. "The least I could do is give you more information on the curse."

His brows furrow as he looks at the vampire and his magic reaches out and curls around... nothing.

"You aren't cursed," Eddie says, confused. The vampire nods his head.

"Yeah ah- my husband is," The vampire explains and his hand goes to his chest, bringing attention to the chain with two gold rings that Eddie had missed earlier.

"Where is he?" Eddie asks, looking around. He doesn't sense anyone else, but he couldn't be sure with vampires. There were stories of some that could completely hide themselves from magic, a cautionary tale for witches.

"He comes and goes," The vampire says. "I can't really- he doesn't listen very well anymore," He says and there is pain in his voice as he says it. "But he always comes back to me, eventually."

The vampire huffs then, and when he looks at Eddie he has the welcoming smile from before. "I feel silly, not knowing your name," He holds out his hand for Eddie then before offering his name. "Evan Buckley," He introduces. "People call me Buck."

"Eddie," He says, giving no last name. He's surprised that Buck had given his fully, there was power in a name, especially with witches.

Buck must actually trust Eddie.

"Well,Eddie, why don't I show you in," Buck says. "If you need to do any spells to feel safe, you're more than welcomed to." He says, and Eddie guesses Buck can feel the enchanted charms in his satchel.

The charm around his neck is the strongest though, blessed by his coven and carries the love of his son.

Even if Buck had wanted to attack him, Eddie could hold his own.

"I made up the guest room," Buck says. "And I went grocery shopping. I wasn't sure what to get-" He laughs nervously as he leads Eddie inside and Eddie just blinks at first. He's never been in a vampire's home before.

He never imagined it would be warm like this.

There's a mattress on the ground in front of the big fireplace, covered in blankets. A small couch sits next to it. There's a TV that looks like it's at least twenty years old and shelves filled with books and movies, all in VHS tapes or DVDs.

The kitchen is homey looking, big enough to actually work around with but nothing modern. Eddie knows some vampires still eat even if they don't need to, he wonders if Buck is one of them.

Buck shows Eddie to his room. It's small, but the bed looks clean and comfortable and he sets down his bags and follows Buck back out.

"I know your husband isn't here," Eddie starts. "But I wan't to know what we are dealing with." He says and Buck nods his head. They sit at the small breakfast nook and Buck gives Eddie a bottle of water that he accepts.

"How old is the curse?" Eddie asks, its the first thing he learned about breaking curses. You need to understand the power of the curse and the age of it. Curses festered like a wound, the older it was, the harder it was to get rid of.

"Twenty four years, eight months, 11 days," Buck says and Eddie's eyes widen and Buck's smile is self depricating. If the curse was this old, he had to know how impossible this might be.

"Buck-" Eddie starts, and stops. He's struggling for words, this is something that could be too big for him.

"I know-" Buck sighs, and Eddie can see how this has weighed on him, how even if his body hasn't aged, his soul has. "I'll tell you anything you want. Whatever you need you can have."

"I can't promise you anything," Eddie has to clarify, he wouldn't feel right if he didn't.

"Its still more hope then we've had in a few years now," Buck smiles saddly. "I appreciate your honesty. We've had a lot of false leads. They've taken our things and run, but at the end of the day, that doesn't matter to me. Wealth isn't an issue."

"Where is your husband?" Eddie asks and Buck looks outside the window, searching for something. Whatever he sees makes him smile though and Buck stands and gestures for Eddie to follow him. They go to the back porch where Eddie can really see the great vastness of the forest around them.

"He probably heard you coming up the road," Buck explains. "Stay on the porch though just in case. Some days are good and I know he's there, but if he's not-"

Eddie nods, understanding that there's some danger here.

There's movement in the trees, something big and Eddie doesn't know what to expect but there's a few spells at the tip of his fingers, ready to protect himself.

"Hey beautiful-" Buck says softly and the shadow comes closer, and it parts the foliage as it does.

It's a wolf.

Eddie was not expecting a werewolf.

As the wolf steps closer, Eddie takes a step back. It's massive, with dark fur and blue eyes. His head bowed is easily at Eddie's shoulder and he can feel the magic coming off of him.

The curse is twisted in it, an ugly feeling that is intertwined deeply with the werewolf's own magic. It's dark and ugly, angry. Whoever cursed him was angry.

"Tommy?" Buck asks, and Eddie can see that's hes bracing for himself for something, and Eddie thinks back on some of Buck's previous comments, sees the two rings around Buck's neck-

The whole picture is coming together.

It's a bleak one.

Tommy stops, and he sniffs at the air, looking every bit the apex predator that he is. The forest around them was completely silent, and Eddie held his own breath.

Tommy steps forward and touches his nose to Buck's outstretch hand.

"Hey you," Buck says and he sounds so happy as he pulls Tommy's head into a hug, scracthing behind his ear and kissing his snout. "You came just at the right time. We have a guest."

Tommy woofs softly, pushing Buck away with his nose to get a look at Eddie.

"He's my Tommy," Buck says to Eddie, and gestures him to step forward. "Tommy, this is Eddie, he's going to try and help us."

Eddie holds out his hand like Buck did earlier, palm up, and Tommy lays his large snout in his hand. Looking in his eyes, Eddie sees a lot of pain and worry there, but he also sees a little bit of hope, the same that he can see in Buck's.

"You're stuck like this, aren't you?" Eddie guesses and Tommy slowly blinks his eyes while Buck pets at his neck.

"For almost twenty-five five years now," Buck says, voice thick and Tommy turns from Eddie and pushes his head into Buck's shoulder, and whines saddly.

"At first I got to have him again on the full moons," Buck says. "We had some hope, traveling around the world, trying to find anyone who could break the curse, but then the last few years, he hasn't been able to change back."

"I'm loosing him," Tears fall from Buck's eyes. "I don't know how much we have until he's gone completely."

Eddie understood then, that he was their last hope.

[beesmygod]

Hello bea, I am planning on getting a steam deck, and want to play the Dark Souls series for real.

What’s the best way to git gud? Are the remasters universally terrible? Do I just start at 1? Help me twisted guardian of Dork Souls

hello friend pablo. congratulations on taking a chance on the dark souls trilogy. this is a long answer covering many things, sometimes even the things you asked.

BUYING THE GAMES: make sure to get them on sale! i think the prices are, frankly, absolutely bonkers. these games are so, so old and they still want 40 to 60 dollars for them?! they reliably go on sale every steam sale for a less hair-raising price.

if you end up disliking the dark souls gameplay, theres always sekiro, which is pretty different. or even elden ring, which is the slickest and most accessible to new time players.

REMASTER QUALITY: the remaster of ds1, which is the only version available, is actually good; my complaints about it come down to aesthetic choices i dislike that no sane person should care about. it comes with the dlc (you may have to look up a guide for this once you get deeper into the game).

ds2 has a huge problem: there are two versions, and no one can agree on which is better. they are also significantly different in weird ways, like the enemy placements and the amount of enemies. i would suggest "scholar of the first sin" edition, since it should include the dlc.

i dont like ds2 and have never finished it. the movement changes turned me off bad. i do not usually recommend it to people and it is not required to understand the gist of 3.

ds3 has only the one version. ashes of ariandel is fromsoft's worst dlc, imo. ringed city is fine. you might as well get them if they arent included.

people who love ds2 tend to hate ds3, and vis-versa. i liked ds3. its fine.

GAMEPLAY TIPS (GENERAL):

learning to parry is always worth it

dont use ranged weapons

use a guide when youre really stuck, utilizing collective knowledge is the backbone of DS games.

sometimes its better just to run past enemy mobs than try to fight them

its ok to die. its ok to lose souls. easy come, easy go.

it is always better to learn not to get hit than it is to pump points into HP.

the games are esoteric and opaque by design. [defensively] its bad on purpose!

use your upgrade materials on your weapons first and foremost.

NEVER, EVER EXHAUST YOUR STAMINA. PUT YOUR SHIELD DOWN WHEN NOT USING IT.

read item descriptions

being heavy is almost always worse than being unarmored

GAMEPLAY TIPS (DS1): ds1 is showing its age quite a bit at this point. start here, because going back is pretty difficult.

pyromancy is broken in your favor. pyromancer is a great class choice for a first time player

you gotta do a lot of running around in this game. like a lot of hoofing it to and fro. sorry.

getting the curse status effect is one of the worst things that can happen to you in this game. when you meet the npc who sells the curse breaking item "purging stone", buy one.

each summon adds a huge % to the boss' health. summon wisely.

look up what each stat does before putting points into them. some are basically worthless and every point counts.

talk to npcs repeatedly until they start to cycle through dialogue.

there are stretches of this game that are tedious and intentionally aggravating. it was novel and exciting game design back then to be told to fuck ourselves.

some starting gifts are better than others. its worth looking up instead of guessing, unless you want the authentic experience

didnt play da2 sorry boss. cant help ya here

GAMEPLAY TIPS (DS3): remember ds1? its that but faster and with way more quality of life updates.

all the stats do different things now so you have to look it up again

theres fast travel in this one immediately and the tedious bits of 1 are largely absent here, barring the ashes of ariandel dlc.

pyromancy is no longer broken.

unlike ds1, you can join any covenant with no consequences

and of course you can always ask me/commiserate with me here!! good luck, chosen undead!