#belated reply

[betterbemeta]

re @mousebrass

[context]

Sorry for the delay, I just needed some time to simmer my answer. (for frame of reference, I'm mostly referring to fallout 3 and fallout 4. not new vegas, and I don't know enough about FO76.)

When I said 'Bethesda's fallout will never say no to you', I meant in sort of a structural sense. The gameplay and the storytelling combine in Bethesda's fallout games to do nothing but affirm the player's forward motion.

They do this so well the storytelling is ONLY a function of the gameplay loop: a relay race that progresses with total blindness to what the player actually does so long as they hit the checkpoints that advance things along.

Forward motion is good, we need stories to progress and to get from one event to another, we don't want to run around in circles in a game achieving nothing. And we don't want to encounter a true dead end, or a frustrating 'sorry mario the princess is in another castle!' situation where we feel our prior actions were pointless.

BUT. Hear me out. Negativity, 'being told no', friction along the way, is important to an 'adventure' being more than just an endless gopher loop.

Lucy MacLean IS given objectives in her journey. But the narrative is not her personal facilitator; instead she can't proceed UNLESS she does these increasingly heinous uncomfortable things, okey dokey! She COULD choose not to do them, but she'd 'fail' or thinks she would. Her struggle 'drives the story' rather than styling her actions as intuitively synonymous with 'progress.'

In Bethesda Fallout games. It really doesn't matter what dialog options you choose, progress is inevitable. And blind. If you choose peaceful or guns-blazing approaches. Want to join the fascists? You won't encounter too much content that places pressure on you for doing that. Want to side with the scrappy underdogs? Done, it won't be that much of a strain on your resources. Take the evil option? Except for maybe a few NPCs that could desert you, you won't be constrained by that commitment very much.

It's 'the customer's always right', when that idiom exists basically to facilitate transactions and nothing else.

In fact, the one time in a Bethesda fallout game where meaningful pressure or negative consequences impacted you, in fallout 3, the ending was so unpopular it was retconned in a DLC. But it doesn't have to be this way; there are many times in New Vegas where you might feel conflict or constraints on your actions, a 'no' that makes what you actually choose to do feel more interesting. Like, enough times that I think anyone who's played it, could think of one (their favorite one?) right now. I don't even have to list examples, because the variety is great enough that different people can choose which one feels compelling to them.

Remember when I said we wanted to avoid scenarios where we feel futile, running around in circles, pointless, or obstructed? Well, after a while a lot of Bethesda games become that anyway even if they always take the player's side. People just... give up playing a save usually by level 30. Boundless affirmation towards forward motion, where all paths are THE path and you're the main character of reality, it sucks. it's why Lucy MacLean's wasteland experience will leave you wanting to play fallout and then sighing when you boot up the game that just got a 'remaster' and it's still mostly drudgery. When SHE hits 'quest objectives,' her world doesn't say 'yes! now go do...'

It says "oh, hell no. but you gotta... unless maybe..."

[zu-is-here]

Dream what do you like more your husband cross or peppermint candy?

[vickyvicarious]

About all the touching between Dracula and Jonathan... it all culimates on June 30, doesn't it. In case you want to talk about the climax of that saga

It seems there's now two instances.

The heavily implied feeding in Jonathan's room/bed. In his Old Man form, Dracula doesn't turn into mist or bat, so one way or another, he had to touch Jonathan to feed on him.

Jonathan again touching Dracula in his room/"bed". Pretty much immediately after. But this time he emphasizes how very repulsed he's feeling at the contact. "I shuddered as I bent over to touch him, and every sense in me revolted at the contact". Last time he had searched his body he didn't feel this way, but now he sees him as fully monstrous.

But also there's a potential different mirroring contact... Dracula's teeth on Jonathan's skin, Jonathan's shovel on Dracula's skin.

I've actually been meaning to make a post about this for ages. (Obviously. It's been months now.) And I think the final consideration has to include 25 June as well. Because that is when the reversals start to majorly kick in, and those reversals are a huge aspect of any touches going forward.

First, Jonathan's act of climbing the walls like Dracula proceeds right on the heels of Dracula first acting like Jonathan by wearing his clothes. And similarly to how Jonathan was unable to act while Dracula killed a child, Dracula becomes unable to act while Jonathan searches him for the key. I mentioned all of this in more detail in the post I linked above, so I won't rehash it all. But there's another comparison too: Jonathan bending over Dracula in his 'bed' while he is unconscious is a mirror at that time of when Dracula returned him to his own bed (16 May). Jonathan tried to search Dracula's clothes for the key, while Dracula undressed Jonathan. The first time Jonathan is touching Dracula instead, it's a reversal/echo in a lot of ways.

And that's relevant too for this final instance, culminating the castle's progression of invasive touch. While it's possible Dracula put a hand on Jonathan's shoulder or something while walking him back to his room on 29 June, if so it's another unmentioned touch. But, while I could absolutely see that happening, that particular scene might almost be worse if it doesn't have any touch at all, because then we bring back a horrible anticipation (fearful, on Jonathan's part; eager, on Dracula's) which is reflected in Jonathan hearing that he is 'Dracula's' tonight and praying while he waits to see what will happen.

Then we get to 30 June. We hear nothing at all about Dracula biting Jonathan, though I am convinced it did happen. And yes, he would be doing so in his human/old man form. Jonathan moves from the floor to his bed, so there's a strong chance that particular scene repeated itself once more... either before or after Dracula bit him. For reversal/mirroring purposes, I suspect that Dracula hypnotized Jonathan and helped/ordered him to bed first before biting him in his bed. And we don't know exactly what went down. We don't know how Jonathan felt about it. But I think it is likely a fairly direct contrast to the shovel scene... meaning, I think just as Jonathan emphasizes disgust in the morning, while being bitten I suspect there was at least some degree of pleasure. Similar to the "languorous ecstasy" with which he waited for the vampire ladies to bite him on 16 May. Of course, it would be mingled with disgust and fear, but if Dracula had control of his mind enough to ensure he didn't remember anything in the morning, then it's possible those emotions would have been somewhat suppressed or muted.

In the morning, while free of the direct hypnotic influence of a vampire feeding, Jonathan still is unable to remember what happened to him. And yet, as you said, he is absolutely repulsed by having to touch Dracula. Maybe this reflects a sense-memory even if he can't consciously recall what's been done to him. And he hates having to touch him... yet at the same time, he feels a "wild desire" to search for the key at any cost, and when he can't find it, a "terrible desire" to destroy Dracula. The only other time Jonathan uses that word in the castle is when he's describing his "burning desire" to be 'kissed' by the vampire ladies. Dracula says it several times though. Jonathan's desire to touch Dracula, first to take the key (which previously I've compared to Dracula wanting to bite Jonathan) and then to harm him when he can't find it, I think is indicative of another sort of reversal going on with Dracula's own desire/touching him to bite him that night. At the very least, even if you ascribe no relevance to that wording, Jonathan's shovel attack absolutely still echoes Dracula biting him. They both loom over the other one and pierce their skin/draw blood. The anticipation/building invasiveness is over with a final act of violence.

And while Dracula succeeds in biting Jonathan, he fails to turn him (technically the vampire ladies are the ones who don't do that, but I tend to assume it's something he wanted/ordered based on his line about hoping to see Jonathan in the castle again). Jonathan fails to find the key or kill Dracula, but does succeed in harming Dracula and escaping. Both strike a blow here but it's not quite the final one they wanted to happen.

So in the end, the touching culminates there with Jonathan echoing Dracula's touches, just as he did the other times he touched Dracula. But, and I think this is also really significant... while Dracula does far more touching overall, the whole saga concludes with Jonathan making the final touch. The reversal is completed. The dynamic at the beginning, where Dracula invaded Jonathan's space more and more while Jonathan was unable to stop him, is switched around. Jonathan is the one hunting Dracula, and he's the one who has to escape. If Dracula wanted to have Jonathan become a vampire, become a predator, then in a way it has come true here... except Jonathan is only interested in hunting Dracula himself. And since they both got out of the castle alive, that may become relevant later.

[animatedjen]

Do you think Cal and Merrin would have children?

I just want everyone to stay alive through Jedi 3 and maybe heal some inner trauma along the way?? We can think about everything else after that haha.

But to give you a real answer, I don't know. Their relationship with Kata likely plays a major role in the third game - and while they won't ever be her parents and don't need to be, they (and Greez) are still the most important people in her new Tanalorr family. Caring for and raising anyone, whether bio kids or found family, is always a meaningful act.

Romantic relationships in Star Wars don't have the best track record for, y'know, lasting (which is why staying alive is first priority!) so it would be impactful to see someone stay together and have a family, in spite of the Empire's determination to wipe them out. Wouldn't have to be these two though.

Also Potes has some very cute Merrical kids doodles ✨

[shadow-yato]

Jasper's friendship with Jackson and Holt is a really cute image

They could also provide some tips for Jasper, as they are used to werewolves.

The thought was so cute I couldn’t help but draw it myself!

Holt and Jasper bonding over being monsters, telling him wacky stories of his own werewolf friends and giving some tips

Jasper enthusiastically sharing his cryptozoology research with someone who cares, with Jackson knowing a little too much for just some human

[humming-fly]

*climbs in through the vents* Ey you got any more treats left

fucking hell my vents- fine take this cool arakawa sketch and get out

[bitterclan]

LATEST RIMESTAR ENTRY HAS ME GOING CRAZYYYYYYYY

big day for pathetic guy enjoyers

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

For a while I had a loose theory that Miles has fancied Richard Madden in the past since he liked a few of his rather thirst trappy Instagram posts (linked a few below) and honestly who wouldn’t fancy a gorgeous Scotsman? 🙃

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8uWXhFHPdi/?igsh=NnhsanUzOHowaXA2

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxnAmdjHkoR/?igsh=MXN3ZTNpanEyYWZjbQ==

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAPSkyg1EL/?igsh=MW5lOW11YzB5bGR0cA==

i think this was in response to my post here asking for ideas about which celebrities miles might have a crush on! i was totally unaware of this but 👀👀 many thoughts to think 👀

[marshmallowgoop]

I LOVED YOUR PART IN THE VOLUME!!!! IT WAS SOOOOOO PRETTTYYYYYYYY

Thank you so much!!!

I meant to post something for the last day of Repostober, but things got so hectic that it obviously didn't happen.

Though it's months later now, I hope it's not too late to say that Detective Conan Redraw got me to seriously think about drawing—and to actually seriously draw!—for the first time in years. My participation in the project is probably the main reason I attempted Repostober at all, and suddenly I was watching art tutorials again, wanting to try different styles....

While I can't say how much I see myself really drawing in the future, it was nice to get back into it, even if it winds up being only for a moment. I never did post a preview for my part, so here's a progress GIF of my page that I put together!

It's a sentiment I've expressed before, but I'm truly honored that I got to be a part of such a beautiful labor of love. If anyone hasn't seen it yet, I can't recommend the checking out the full volume—on Tumblr here!—enough! It's absolutely stunning!

[kevinsdsy]

I can and will, if you ask me to, write a whole analysis with detailed explanation on how WILDFLOWER by Billie Eilish is Jean Moreau's song. HIS song. I will be sobbing this from the rooftops, rolling in my grave begging to be let out.

PLEASE DO 🙏🏼 billie eilish has literally been one of my favourite artists since like 2016 and jean moreau is one of my fave characters SO PLSS SPEAK YOUR TRUTH ‼️

[dayseternal-blog]

Days which anbu!naruto fic were you thinking of???

ahhhh I meant to reply to this right away!!

uhmmmm....If I remember the context of this ask correctly, I think I was thinking of

“I Fell In Love With You Two Days Ago” by NotosK - Rated G, Canon-Divergent AU, One-shot. Hinata is recovering from an injury in Sunagakure, her father summons her back to Konoha after six months so she can finally meet her fiance, a foreign ninja that is thrice her age. the fourth Hokage assigns two elite ANBU to escort her back. Why is the one in the fox mask so familiar to her?

[animalinvestigator]

Hi, Hello, I just want to let you know your art remains a constant inspiration for me. Unrelated, what digimon partner would you give Paul from petscop?

hello and thank you so much ;-; im really touched to hear that. i hope i can keep making works that have a place in your heart and i am very grateful that they do.. best of lcuk with your own artistic endeavors and im very appreciative of your support and the time you took to share these kind words :3

as for your question.. i actulaly have had discussions about paul and belle playing the original digimon world games on the psx, back when i was playing it...those old 90s games feel really brutal to a mid 2000s gamer like myself.... .. i think he would get really frustrated because he wouldnt understand the evolution requirements and end up raising numemon over and over again on accident..and in the meantime, belle, who is older and more adept at problem solving , would have already developed the most efficient digimon training pipeline and worked her way up to perfect stage ........................ but little brother is just , permanently stuck with numemon as a partner.....he gets really excited every time its time for the rookie level to evolve...and thenn its just numemon again..Unfortunate child

as for if he had a digimon partner that wans't just what digimon he'd have if he played the games, i think definitely toyagumon :3 it just feels right.

hope you're well anoynmous thank you again ~

[vickyvicarious]

Obsessed with how Mina makes the crucial choice and starts transcribing the first chapters of Dracula exactly 1 month after the Harker wedding day.

*gasps* What? She does? Oh, wow, she does, that's. That makes me feel things. I have nothing at all coherent to say about it, but. Yeah. I love that.

[err0r-t4ken]

Light a match, and watch it burn. Let the flames lick and pop at the gunpowder. Stretching slowly at first, until it's eating and consuming it quicker. Going too fast to stop, not that anyone would want to stop something so gorgeous anyways.

That's how Wilbur felt. Like that little flame that starts oh so small, igniting and wishing to thrive in its shitty environment with a lack of safety. Not like flames that have built up chunks of dry wood. Like a trail of flames that has to build on itself to grow.

Fingers pushed a button, cursing how loud it sounded to shut the continuous falling lava off. Large bag in one hand and a rifle sat besides him. Sort of propped up on his leg. In case things went awry, it was a good threat.

He had a joyous, almost manical, smile on his face. Lips upturned towards the sun. Ah the gorgeous sun. Yet another flame alight in his life.

He was so excited, to be getting Dream out. Another poor soul like himself, who has been rotting alone for long enough.

Fingers pressed against another switch, and the platform below him began to move. He walked along with it. Steps light. Silent. Gaze set on Dream, a gaze filled with delight.

Rifle in arm now, he held it as though he were in color guard. Barrel leaning against his shoulder.

Once getting to the other side he set it back down and leaned it against the obsidian wall. Shifting his bag off his left shoulder to dig through it. As he did so, he spoke. A question:

"You ready to be out of here, Dream?"

The prisoner's head almost didn't raise when the lava started, he knew that it was just Quackity, coming back for another round. He'd stopped keeping track. His clothes were bloodstained and hung loosely were he sat on the floor like a discarded doll. He was listening to a voice again, it shouted in his ear words he swore he'd heard something tangable say before. Maybe it was a god. Maybe it was something darker- more mortal. He had no clue.

He almost didn't think to crowd back against the wall, listening to nearly unfamiliar footsteps. His eyes raising ever so slightly to look at the mans shoes, then up and up and up until he made eye contact with his favorite diciple.

In his excitement he nearly forgot the binds on his arms, he tugged them forward and let out a quiet growl at the feeling of them being pulled back to another unnatural position. Screw the Warden and his stupid fucking restraints. He was ready to bash Sam's head into the floor once he escaped.

Today.

He was getting out today. He looked back up at Wilbur, the realization dawning on his face as he thought that maybe this was what heaven looked like. Maybe this was the truth. That he was being saved by someone he had once deemed so much lower than him. In his eyes was a level of respect and adoration reserved for very few.

Of course he voiced none of that, he let out his adrenaline choked breath and cleared his dry throat. Maybe he could finally drink water once he was out.

"Took you long enough."

His eyes drifted briefly to the rifle on the floor but he ignored it in favor of trying to tug on his chains once again. "Got a way to get this shit off me before we get busted?"

[suosteacup]

KISAAAA my love! happy holidays & i'm so, so happy to have gotten to know you this year. :) wishing you the best in the new year & can't wait to talk more shenanigans with you. <333

[moonchild-in-blue]

Okay, I have booped, I have answered a good amount of stuff, I have handed out treats and tricks. It's very very late (so late it's early), so! I shall go to sleep asap.

In my heart I am giving you all a million gently boops with my nose and forehead and lips 💙 Happy Halloween everyone 🎃🦇