#but YEAG i like him more now that hes not so cocky. i like a cocky character but its really easy to overdo it

[springcatalyst]

okayyyyy i like silvers more since he lost his leg LMAO

[maraariana01]

return of DAN THE CARTOON MAN !! YAYYY YAYY YIPPEEEEEEEE (<- he is the only one cheering)

so uh !!! hi remember this guy !!? yeag im just updating his "ref" for art fight, despite the fact that im most definitely not gonna be very active this year.

i also updated his info there and, since i never really talked about his "lore" here, im gonna do that now!! here's all the info i currently have on Dan !!! (copy pasted from af but shut up who cares its like 1 am)

• Full name: Dan ???

• Nickname(s): Danny

• Gender: trans man (he/him)

• Sexuality: pansexual

• Age: 21

• Height: 6'5" (1.95 m)

• Species: human toon/cartoon character

- - - - -

Dan is a tall man with blonde, short hair, blue eyes and fangs (although he is not a vampire. Or is he...? Nah I'm joking it's just a stylistic choice). He wears a white (with a hint of blue) t-shirt with text saying "HELLO!" on it by default but, being a toon, the text on the shirt can change depending on the situation. There is a magenta and yellow bowtie attached to his t-shirt. He also wears brown pants and magenta sneakers with yellow accents.

- - - - -

Being a cartoon character that basically came to life, logic doesn't usually apply to him. He can break an arm or a leg and he'll be just fine the next day. He can pull a comically large hammer out of his pocket. That sort of thing. However, he doesn't have "rubber hose" physics, for example, because he's a modern toon. So the cartoon logic that applies to him is generally that of more modern cartoons, or at the very least cartoons from the 2000s and forward.

Everything that happens to him and what he feels is usually exaggerated due to him being a toon.

He's weird, goofy and extremely energetic. He describes himself as "just a funnie little guy", but he does have a bit of an ego and can be a little cocky and arrogant sometimes. He means no harm, though. He just really embraces the cartoon part of his personality. Despite his attitude, he is also extremely squeamish.

Do not ask him about his mortality. He is unsure if being a cartoon makes him immune to death and he does not want to find out. He's totally not freaking out about it. (He is, he is absolutely terrified of the idea.)

Unrelated but he knows how to play the saxophone pretty well.

Also him and Springle are roommates and he loooves to be a little menace (affectionate).

[spotaus]

After *checks calendar* several weeks, I return to continue this chain!

Okay okay. I had to reread a lil to see wtf we left off on, but if I'm right this was about the whole Geno losing everyone's trust, so let's do a run-through on what you didn't expertly address during ur lovely drabble hehe-

Nightmare loves his plan of making a safe space! Initially it started as making a safe-space for himself and Ccino, but then extended to Killer. And then the people he kept hiring on to give them better chances. And then his other knights. And then Error. And then- Yeah, he loves his family and if he can do anything for them, it's give them peace!

And omg I forgot about having Dream intervene in this matter for the drama of having a lie detector (Night couldn't do it himself anymore, so he needs the one other person who knew how to do something like that!) and !!!! Gods Dream picking up on the context as the conversation keeps going and afterwards comforting Night? Oughhh. I'm gonna cry--- I love Dream getting hints of character development again too!! After everything he gets to improve :]

Their reactions are definitely a fun thing to touch on again later, but, yeah!!!

Cross in particular would be 1000000% furious. Someone even brings up their names (mostly Geno but also Reaper) he starts growling. Like, without even really processing it. His loyalty to his brothers is palpable, and now he refuses to let anything hurt them. He chose a side finally, and he'd rather die than stand on the sidelines again like he did so many times before. Even for something like a bad break-up (or whatever these guys have going on) he treats it very very seriously. Is he good at comforting people? no, not really. Is he good at fighting? Yeag. (Picturing that first while after Dust agrees to bridge the gap again and start talking to Reaper and Geno again, Cross regularly lingers close to Dust when they're hanging out. I also think at least once when he managed to catch Geno on his own (literally just going to the library or something) he definitely gave Geno a proper shovel-talk. After that he felt a bit better.)

Horror with his distracting and redirecting is so so sweet. That guy is so stable for the sake of watching out for his friends and family, and he knows better than to let bad vibes linger and consume someone, especially with Dust and what he's seen of the other. He's normally so stoic, the only time he's seen any emotion is.Well. This. Horror just nudges towards his happiest moments and remind him that, yeah, they're cool stuff beyond all the stupid drama things going on with those two losers. Let's much on some snacks and train some horses :]

KILLER!!!! I don't think I can say it any more perfectly than you already did. Killer in this point is in his perfect moment of self-concern. Dust was always the one who didn't humor him much, even their first meeting Dust didn't let Killer get to him with his cocky, know-it-all attitude. He had always been vocal before about when Killer pushed too far. Had he missed the signs this time? had Dust known? why was this so different and how did it backfire so hard? He'd just so so sad :[ AND you say it later, but Dust hating the way Killer is walking on eggshells? As much as Killer was annoying and bothersome and stuck his nose into everything, Killer was still an important part of his life, and Killer suddenly being careful and quiet and thoughtful... It was nice he realized something was wrong, but it was so unlike him. To Dust, that's not Killer. And he thinks for a fact Killer can't be blamed for this, because he saw how determined Geno was to get to him for answers. if he'd used any magic at all, even stood too close to Geno for a bit, the other would've gotten just as curious, if not more. SO yeag, these brothers need to have a talk eventually, once things settle a little. (OH. And the drabble. In the. The. Geno mentioning Killer was his main pipeline of information on Dust? Killer would disown himself from the family if he heard Geno talking like that, because. Well. He'd just been trying to hype up his big brother, not expose his secrets to the one freak who wanted to study him under a microscope??? Jjust thought that was such a good detail, haha! That Geno listened more to Killer than he ever did to Dust, all things considered.)

Dust is. Yeah I love him. Just like me frfr, he just wants to ignore it and move on with life. Not worth the drama, not worth the tension and the risks, just move on. He put a stop to it, even if it was a little of a close call, and that's all there is! (Just like how he never talked about leaving his family, he can never talk about his brief courting period with those two, easy as pie.)

REAPER!!!! My boy Death going through it because he took his eye off his partner for .5 seconds <3.

But so fr. He had so many good things going for him. Because, I mean, is his kingdom a paradise? Hell yeah, that was the point, but Nightmare's castle was something different. He felt at ease and comfortable with Nightmare's crew. Nightmare himself and Error already felt like his little brothers (the moment Geno revealed Error was his little bro Reaper was mentally adopting him, but the reveal of the courtship between them had Reaper evenmore-so mentally adopting Night. They're business partners, but also they can be family outside of that!), the Knights, upon seeing their youngest brother trust Reaper and welcome him and Geno, they were quick to warm-up to them. Some more cautious than others (I think the order would be Killer, Cross, Horror, then Dust) and of course there's Ccino, who never quite got close enough to be too friendly, but he was always kind and welcoming.

And then Geno went and manipulated people! which, yeah, as you said he totally takes part of the blame for not watching Geno for that, but he also trusts his partner! Geno is his own person, a grown skeleton who should know better, or at least read the room. Reaper is relieved that Dust called it off, but knowing what little he did about Dust, Geno must've had to push him way too far for him to do that. So, yeah, the sudden feeling of being shut out, untrusted by the people he'd grown to care so deeply for in what little time he had spent? Yeah, it stung, and he couldn't defend Geno's actions in any meaningful way that wouldn't land them in a situation of threat of Assassination from Nightmare's Knights. (Very capable Knights, btw. He would literally never say it outloud, but any of the Knights would have a very good shot at 1v1 with him. He imagined Dust or Killer could get him no problem if they managed to sneak up on him, and Cross could have a chance too. Horror, he imagined, might be able to shatter his spine before anything else could happen. Any two of them against him, and he might be legitimately done-for, so he is NOT trying to start conflicts lmao.)

And Geno... dear, sweet, manipulative little toxic man... We've talked very deeply about him facing his consequences so I wont linger on that. But. The idea of him not being any less loved is so so important as you said. Idk why but I'm just picturing Error stopping by after the meeting he's banned from in the drabble and, telling Geno absolutely nothing ofc (this is lowkey a test to see if Reaper will tell him anything later on and blame it on Error), but checking in on him in general. Talking with him, asking him about the magic studies. Like, just enjoying sibling bonding time still, while also vehemently refusing to let him break the rules because?? Night's his partner, why would he do that??? C'mon Geno, you know him better than that???? (Also Error is a smug little shit that likes seeing his brother in the adult version of time-out for once lmao. Ofc he wants to see Dust safe, he's furious about it, but some part of him feels justice has been served when Geno finally can't gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss his way out of his old tendancies hehe-)

Okay I think I'm done but. Yeag. The sillies mean the world to me <3

Important plot point for the New Age AU post-story dustedafterdeath plot- (realizing now slight tw for abusive relationship???)

Geno is a manipulative bastard who exerts his skill and prowess over others. With Reaper their relationship was balanced and became healthy thanks to Reaper actually being stronger than Geno. So all of Geno's manipulation was more like an angry chihuahua barking at Reaper. They got over that stage fast.

With Dust?? He doesn't realize he can't show his interest the same way. Doesn't occur to him that Dust is "lesser" than him in every situation. Royal Mage against a Knight, the Mage has more political power. Geno has direct ties to Reaper, who they need to keep happy for Night's treaty. Geno has more technical skill w/ his magic and Dust is sure the technique and control would be enough to best his own barely controlled magic. He's physically weaker, especially after his shoulder injury. So when Geno realizes he's caught feelings he feels guilty, but doesn't stop manipulating him?? Because Reaper was fine with it, so clearly that's how romance works right?

And it is (shocker) NOT how romance works.

While Dust is being low key pampered and spoiled by Reaper (Reaper recognizes the power dynamics very vividly and I'd sure to make sure Dust knows he can say No or Stop at any moment to anything, even hand-holding or escorting, and Reaper respects it) as Reaper compliments him and gives him gifts and asks how he's been. Geno is out here hyperfixated on Dust's latent magic and is getting his way to learn more no matter the cost (which, in this case, is faking romantic interest). And Reaper doesn't realize how intense Geno is bring because he *thought* Geno would know better. And with the fragile situation, Dust doesn't speak up.

So, ofc, it all comes to a head when Geno finally realizes he's gone too far, Dust completely shuts him out. And Geno is too proud to face his consequences and come clean to Dust about his intentions. Dust, usually quiet anyways, just moves on, though he's deeply distrustful of every pampering Reaper does for him now.

It isn't until 2 days later that Error is talking with Geno (y'know, brother gossip) and Error asks how it's going with Dust.

When Geno responds that his plan fell through, Error asks for elaboration, and Geno tell him the jist. Leas Dust on, then let him down gently. But he caught feels and Dust didn't seem to like the advances so he gave up. And Error knows his brother and knows that's not the full story. So they change subjects, and Error convinces Geno to go visit the woods on the edge of town to test a new weapon of his.

But once they're out there and alone Error reads his brother the riot act because he's so furious and disappointed!!! Dust of all people?? Manipulating him??? And when Geno tries to defend himself (digging a deeper hole and processing just how awful he was himself as he says it out loud) Error just straight up pulls him into combat. (And Geno, not wanting to accidentally hurt his brother but also furious + caught up in emotion, fights back.)

They beat eachother into the trees and the rocks and just tear into eachother, but by the time the Knights arrive to see what the problem is (the cats got word to Ccino, and Ccino sent Dust and Cross to figure it out) Geno is pretty much on low hp and Error is wounded but still standing.

Error spots the Knights and basically uses his strings to slam Geno to the ground at Dust's feet. And there's this moment of frustration and sorrow that seems to pass between the three of them, before Cross (<- unaware) asks what Error was thinking!

Error just says he'll explain it later and that they can go back now. Cross should carry Geno. Error would explain to Reaper (Geno flinched at that).

They return, and Error pulls Reaper aside to mutter some things to him. Reaper seems distressed and takes Geno from Cross, but doesn't even seem bothered at seeing his lover as roughed up as he was. He excuses them away, and Dust disappears into his room.

Error hunts down Dust and chills with him a bit. Error apologizes on his brother's behalf, and Dust seems just. Out of it. He won't say it's okay, because it's not, but he won't put pressure on Error because it's definitely not the kid's fault. So he settles on a tired laugh and thanking Error for beating up his big brother for him. (Error and Geno are on level playing field. As siblings, as Royal Mages, as partners to their kings. They are evenly matched in almost every way, so Error had the power to stand up for Dust, and Dust appreciates that.)

Amd after that little interaction, Dust actually realizes he's alright. He has people who will look out for him. Who will make sure everything goes smoothly. AND after joking with Error some more? He realizes Geno just. Has weird priorities. Weird ways of showing his affection. Dust decides he won't give Geno a second shot unless he bends and gives up his weird manipulation with Dust.

It takes a few days before Geno is done wallowing and processing, but he comes to find Dust (Reaper right behind him, supposedly to keep him in line) looking like a prideful lil wet cat. He says he's sorry, and that he realizes it was shitty of him, and that he will respect it if Dust wants him and Reaper to stop bothering him.

Dust clarifies and asks if Reaper was being genuine. (He was.) And he asks of Geno would be willing to give being genuine a shot (a hesitant yes). Dust does not push them away, but he does say he is going to inform Night. He also asks them to swear that no matter where the relationship ends, they will not take it out on Nightmare. (They agree.)

Like. Reaper, the romantic who is actually kind and wants to make lasting relationships *before* acting on his desires. Vs. Geno, the guy driven by desires who seems to stumble across romance by mistake every time. Both after Dust, most emotionally bottled skeleton they've ever met? Wild.

Geno is super toxic about his relationships and doesn't even notice in my aus ig. Goofy ahh. He eventually gets his conscience back. But it's. A struggle.

In the other au I have Dust guilt-trip him into being less of an idiot. In this one I make his brother throw him around like a ragdoll. (To Error, violence is often the answer <3)