#but i don't want to put it under a cut b/c i'm selfish

[auideas]

Pool love

Well this is certainly the season for it -- pool love, coming right up!

(P.S. We're going to start including our favorite prompt within lists at the bottom, so make sure you read until the end!)

Chronically shy Characters A and B had been playing games with all the neighborhood kids since they were toddlers, but weirdly enough, they'd never actually spoken directly. The only time they'd uttered a word to one another was during games of Marco Polo in which they recognized the other's voice, loved it and its flirtatious tone, but never acted on it -- after all, they had never seen one another and matched the voice in the crowd, so how could they know they felt the same way about one another? Later in life, they wind up on a blind date and start speaking to one another, feeling a strange sense of nostalgia...had they met before?

"We had one chance to win the gold medal for either one of our countries; we were supposed to be Olympic champions, but you threw it all away just because of our petty rivalry!? You stupid, selfish --" Character A is cut off as Character B slams them against the locker, pressing their forearm at Character A's throat, then crowding their space until they could see the droplets of chlorine mix with the tears coating Character A's lashes. Character B drank in the sight. "Choose your next words wisely, bargain bin protagonist," they shakily breathed out. "I'm not above putting you in your place." AU

"I took a job as a lifeguard for the local pool this summer and there's this incredibly cute person who always brings the kids they're babysitting. I guess they don't like swimming very much, but they always bring a new book every single time; I don't know if they're a speed reader or if they're just showing off, but trying to keep up with their current picks is impossible. I've been trying to visibly read the same book as them for WEEKS now while on my breaks, but they never even look in my direction..." AU

Pool cleaners Character A and B had been in the business for a while so they'd seen some shady things, but nothing they'd ever cleaned had come close to their newest client. The black water seemed endless, the smell was putrid, and they could see some sort of steam coming from the surface even though the ambient and water temperature were the same. Their eyes grew wider and wider as they emptied the water and found some...strange objects...at the bottom.

"I've never been able to open my eyes under water -- it just seems scary, unsanitary, and unnecessary. What could I possibly want to see in that urine-filled cesspool? My friend, Character B, found this hilarious and made it their mission to help me crush my phobia over summer break. Soon they realized that I didn't want to because I was worried about other people being in the pool when I was opening my eyes, so they break into the pool after hours, dragging me along to practice. After an hour of psyching myself up, we both dipped our heads under. It took a few seconds, but when I opened my eyes, I found Character B pressing their lips against mine. The water around me suddenly felt extra cold as my face flushed deep red. Oh no...it must be pink eye, I have a fever oh no it's too soon how could I let this happen oh geez I'm so screwed--" AU

After one thing leads to another, some swimsuit mishaps in the locker room force Character A to borrow the spare swimsuit of Character B and needless to say...they look ridiculously adorable in it.

Dungeon master Character A decides that the best thing they could do for the final session of their five year nautical campaign would be to rent out a local pool and host their four players for their most immersive session yet. This was supposed to be some summer fun, but the final battle becomes intense. Characters B and C, party rivals, have a falling out and hold a one on one battle to resolve their differences. As things take a turn, play fighting in the water turns malicious and real. Rhinslow, the barbarian, struggles to breathe as Kaisili, the elf, chokes them beneath the chlorinated ripples in the pool. Character D, their dwarf party member, screams in disbelief and shock when they see Rhinslow -- Character B, their crush -- stop moving. Kaisili -- Character C -- reasoned that their turn would not be over until the Dungeon Master, Character A, said it was over. They'd rolled a natural 20 on their initiative, after all; they deserved this win.

[crashstanding]

HELLO FOOL. FOR THE OC ASKS (you don't need to answer them in the same ask!):

Nana: 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 22, 23, 27, 38, 40 E, F, G

Tony: 1, 2, 6, 11, 16, 26, 29, 30, 31, 42 A, C, E

and ofc my buddy

D: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 13, 14, 17, 22, 27, 30, 31, 35, 38 A, B, D, F, J

Uncommon Questions for OCs and their creators:

Oh lordy, Okay, putting this mess under a cut!

I am, in fact, a foole for not expecting to get any asks lmao

NANA

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

About three hours. As long as he can listen to someone else doing something (as simple as moving around or sleeping) he can actually sit still for quite a while.

4 - How easy is it to earn their trust?

Oh it's about nigh impossible to gain his trust if you didn't have it before everything went to hell. He keeps his cards close to his chest unless he's exploding. The somewhat exception to this is children, in that he is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt more easily than teens/adults

5 - How easy is it to earn their mistrust?

You can sneeze wrong in his direction and he won't trust you unless you rip out your liver and present it to him. He is very mistrustful, despite having that friendly persona

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

hummu... this one's harder for me, but I think it would actually be seeing children being silly. Makes him nostalgic for the childhood he's lost. It's bittersweet

10 - What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them?

"Are you sure that's what happened?"/"This is for your own good." (It haunts and clings to him until he's too warped to realize it)

14 - What animal do they fear most?

Does their "best friend" count?

20 - If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so?

You couldn't force them at gunpoint to explain this. Love is love is all consuming. There's no difference (Related, he's aro and doesn't realize this)

22 - How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?

Possessive, clingy, and fretful

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

Possessive, clingy, and fretful -

27 - What causes them to feel dread?

The thought that he's too selfish to live alone, that maybe what he's been doing for years wasn't the best thing, the idea of meeting their best friend in the afterlife and being found wanting

38 - What memory do they revisit the most often?

Teeth latched around his neck, just barely stopped. Too late to save anyone else, but he's managed to save himself... for now

40 - How sensitive are they to their own flaws?

Trick question!! Nana doesn't perceive his own flaws, and if he does? He fucks with his own memories to make it not happen! If he had to deal with how much he sucked, he'd kill himself

Creator section:

e - Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

Oh absolutely not. I think I'd simply explode from his rancid vibes and he'd explode from the fact that I'm a wretched creature <3

F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)?

"Oh my god, you're so fucked up you little freak. I want to study you in a lab - "

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

I HATE HIS FUCKING - GASLIGHT GATEKEEP GIRLBOSS SHIT. I HATE HIM. HORRIBLE. Something something cycle of abuse

TONY

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

37 seconds. She'll die if there's nothing to do, you have to understand this. They've always gotta have something to fiddle with or read or do.

2 - How easy is it for your character to laugh?

It's soooo easy <3 She's full of love and laughter

6 - Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

"Laws are more of a guideline, really..."

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

They just play along with whatever's going on. They'll figure it out... eventually

16 - What makes their stomach turn?

The thought of anything bad happening to their siblings, the thought of children in pain, deep bodies of water, hands in their hair, purple fire, eye trauma -

There's a lot. They just have a good poker face

26 - What is their preferred mode of transportation?

She has a motorcycle that she loves! Bonus: she likes trains but doesnt trust them

29 - Do they usually live up to their own ideals?

They try.

30 - Who do they most regret meeting?

You know, despite everything that's gone wrong in their life and things they wish they could do differently, I don't think they regret meeting anyone. Every person who has touched their heart has changed them in a way that makes them who they are

31 - Who are they the most glad to have met?

Every single motherfucker they've adopted into their little found family <3

42 - How badly do they want to reach their end goal?

this implies they have one

CREATOR SEGMENT:

A) Why are you excited about this character?

I made her for me. She's so so cool and full of love. Funny guy <3

C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story?

In their original story? Nah, they made their little niche as the protag easily! But with me trying to see if I can't take her out of fandom stuff into original stuff, she's giving me a lil trouble

E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

I think I'd be super awkward at first, but as soon as we find a common ground to nerd over, we'd get along well

D

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

About six minutes. This is because "doing nothing" to them doesn't include exciting things such as "watching a bug crawl" or "having a staring contest"

If you include those things, they can cap out at about 45 minutes

2 - How easy is it for your character to laugh?

Actually hard to get them to full on laugh, but you can get a huffed little giggle - like a "hf." noise - from them with prat falls.

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

Counting sheep actually. Or something like that - they think a simple repetitive thing until their brain shuts off. Counting Sheep, reciting a poem, pretending to play piano, all work

8 - What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child

Stop fidgeting/staring, start emoting/talking

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

They don't often ask for direct help from someone who's confusing them, but they do tend to try to observe things/find a book to research the confusing thing

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

Lime green. And no.

14 - What animal do they fear most?

I dont think they??? Fear animals??? D's brain sees animals as just like - these are fellow little guys, just trying to do their jobs. No need for fear

17 - Are they easily embarrassed?

Absolutely. But it's only things like complementing them or calling them cute that embarrasses them. Or being forced to try and speak

22 - How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?

Staring longingly at the thing they want. They're jealous of a child with a toy? stare at it. jealous of someone getting the last snack? stare at it. Jealous of someone getting a hug? Stare at them.

27 - What causes them to feel dread?

Being forced to be alone, being forced into company of others. Essentially being forced to do anything actually.

30 - Who do they most regret meeting?

How do you say you regret meeting someone when they don't have a name?

31 - Who are they the most glad to have met?

Evie and Ari, though their memories of them are few and far between. They're thankful for them for everything they did for them...

35 - How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive?

INTENSE LISTENING. And then researching the thing their friend likes so they can keep up with it, perhaps trying to acquire friend something of the excitement thing

38 - What memory do they revisit the most often?

Someone's hand in their hair. They don't remember who it was, but they liked it, being warm and the gentle scritch scritch of someone's nails on their scalp

CREATOR SEGMENT:

A) Why are you excited about this character?

THEY'RE MY LITTLE GUY OF ALL TIME. I WILL FUCKING MAKE THEIR GAME IF IT KILLS ME, BY GOD

B) What inspired you to create them?

God, its been... 12? Ish years since I made them. I'm not entirely sure but I think part of it was the feeling of walking home in the cold with the sky grey and the air smelling strangely of warm laundry. That's why I made their story anyways. Their actual design is inspired by Yume Nikki and some of it's fan games

D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?

Literally the only thing that's changed about them is their hair got fluffier. Hold on, I have art -

There we go, first drawing vs latest rendered one.

Bonus Chibi comparison. I kinda stuck with the same general idea for them, other than one redesign they had in like, 2017?

But I went back to the original design with added buttons, bc I liked the silhouette of the long coat better

F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)?

BABY BABY BABY THAT'S MY BABY OF ALL TIME BABY I LOVE YOUUUUU

J) Did you have to manipulate or exclude canon factors to allow them to create their character?

THEIR CANON WAS CREATED AROUND THEM AND EVERY AU I PUT THEM IN IS BENT TO SUIT MY WHIMS

[yourfavouritetragedy]

I was adding onto the DSMP Actor AU post, but it turned into Wilbur musician AU, haha rip me, and I only know SBI anyways so here’s a separate post. (It goes back to actor AU at the end.) It’s hypothetically still in the same universe though, and obviously inspired by it. If anything’s phrased weirdly, it’s cuz this was originally an addition to that. 

tbh I kinda adhered to their IRL careers too much compared to the OP but whatever it’s fine. 

Also frick the “Dream SMP” for not having a better title lmaooo

Wilbur is an indie artist really on the come up

Your City Gave Me Asthma was pretty good for a first release, popular with both new fans and fans of his acting.

He had starred in a short mystery/thriller-ish series that started off disguised as a normal sitcom: Chilly in Lincolnshire {Editor Wilbur ARG}

It had a prominent release because of Jack Massey’s involvement and previous fame, but production was abruptly scrapped before it tied everything up with a bow on top, so to speak. It’s still unclear if this was actually planned in order to tell the story the way they way wanted. 

Even before that, critics had mixed reviews, either applauding the storytelling and acting or calling it “irrationally confusing, an amateurish attempt to box unconventional storytelling into a conventional medium.”

Also SootHouse was a sitcom that achieved a cult following during the two seasons it ran before cancellation. Either you’re a fan or you’re never heard of it, and people constantly forget Wilbur was in it. 

(He was a few other old shows on his resume too. Wilbur always focuses on the newest project, so everyone always forgets about what he was in before.) 

Maybe I Was Boring EP was initially just bonus tracks on his website, but his fans liked it so much he gave it a wider release

In between, he had a few comedy songs go viral on youtube. Everybody was so confused when they realized it was the same Wilbur as musician/actor Wilbur. He laughed about it in an interview, saying “How many Wilburs do you know?” 

That’s when it came out that “Wilbur Soot” was actually a stage name. (”Ha, fair, only one.” “Make that zero-- my name’s not really Wilbur.”)

He kinda disappeared after that?? Didn’t do anything, really inactive on social media. It was semi-confirmed that he was both working on his mental health and prepping some stuff (music, auditions).

But anyways he just released a series of singles, combined into Digital Love {E-girl trilogy}-- he’s transformed his image yet again, but this time he does take ownership of all his past ventures.

The release of Digital Love bridges the end of SMP Earth and the beginning Dream SMP. 

But before that there was MCC and the other stuff.

They are shows where celebrities team up do stuff-- you know the type 

but Minecraft Monday is still inexplicably Minecraft Monday. Some Youtuber just managed to get all these up and coming celebrities to play a Minecraft tournament. 

And that’s where the Sleepy Bois (minus Tommy) met IRL so that’s where they meet here. 

SMP Earth, like Minecraft Manhunts, is also a former show they were on. I’m going to call it World Domination. Don’t @ me; I know that’s trash lol. 

They and the Dream Team met up because of their shared fanbases and were even talking a crossover, but it didn’t really work that well for the stories so they scrapped it

They make a non-canon cross over episode anyways {no IRL equivalent, I think}

Everybody loves the cons. Everytime there’s a con, five friendships are made and eight ideas are created. 

Techno backstory time

He’s done a lot of long running, though not exactly popular, serials and sitcoms: Blitz, Survival Games, and Sky Wars. 

Winstreak: 1000 {Bed Wars 1000 winstreak} was so popular they made a second season, but it never got as big as the first. He worked nearly exclusively with Hypixel Studios. 

He was doing lots of random content for their new Sky World universe {Skyblock} -- the small studio was big on experimentation -- , when a fictional documentary, The Great Potato War, went proper viral. 

They made two sequels WHILE he was doing those celebrity team challenge shows and then World Domination, and they were actually good sequels.

Got a reputation for being shallow and a sell-out, but he makes a joke of it so much he gets away with it and constantly self-promos.

Also a kinda scary to work with for the first time because of how single-minded he can get, but once you realize how socially awkward he is it’s okay.  

Now that’s he’s in a lot of stuff with worldbuilding, he practically has the wikis memorized. 

Tommy mainly did limited series and movies before World Domination, where he met the SBI.

He’d had been a fan of Wilbur for a while, and was super star-struck at first, but got over it really quickly in his Tommy style

He still is a total fanboy at concerts and whenever a new music video drops. “I’m friends with the guy! I know him, Wilbur Soot!” “Tommy, you’re famous too.” “Yeah, cuz I’m practically in the video!” “No--” 

Wilbur takes Tommy to one of his concerts and he’s so hyped the entire time, especially to go behind the scenes and on the stage. 

Sometimes he gets stressed about the pressure of being a child star, but Techno, Philza, and Wilbur promise to stand by him and they make him feel protected 

One time Wilbur’s drunk and almost hands Tommy a drink before swearing and going, “You’re a bloody child! You can’t have that! God, what would Philza think?” Tommy’s not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. 

Philza laughs at the story and actually lets Tommy try a little in a more controlled, responsible situation. Tommy texts his mum first, and then hates the drink anyways. (”This is rubbish! I am a man, but I’m not drinking this!” Techno: “Alcohol is disappointing. I drink orphan’s tears instead.” “Techno WHAT--”)

Philza had been the star of a zombie apocalypse show: Golden Core 

He did canonically die to a child zombie in the movie version. Yes, they made a movie version of the TV show, because the Golden Core franchise actually has had many other shows {other hardcore series}. 

Everybody tries to get the child zombie props near him because of that (they’re puppets)

He’s done a lot of other things, like in the original actor AU post, but none of them came close in popularity. 

He gives the rest of the SBI the knowledge he’s gained from being in the biz for so long. 

There’s also a running joke about SBI meaning “Spy Boys Incorporated” and them starring in a comedy spy movie

The fans would very much actually like this to happen. There’s so many fanons for it (maybe I’ll write one....) 

Back to the DSMP. Maybe I’ll call it Dreamland or smth. 

Wilbur constantly asks Tommy if he’s okay after any difficult scenes

Especially when they were hanging out together a lot in the exile arc.

All the brother scenes were cut because Wilbur kept breaking down and crying in them.

Sometimes people actually ask Techno and Tommy if they’re actually brothers. Tommy tries to go along with it half the time on the basis of “it’s be funny,” so there’s a subset of casual fans that genuinely don’t know. 

After Alivebur was killed off, Wilbur was going to leave the show to concentrate on his music

But he missed the SMP and hanging so much that he just showed up on set one day saying “I’m a ghost now,” and everyone just rolled with it

Alivebur was so popular that, seeing that Wilbur was willing, they decided to bring him back for Season 3. He’s been avoiding doing heavy scenes, but he still seems really invested and like he wants to come back to the show.

Wilbur talks with Techno about writing and lore a lot

it’s one the few times Wilbur actually seems like the older one

Wilbur attempted to get a D&D group going in the cast, but the show was already close enough, with the amount of improvisation they can get by with

Tommy’s Pigstep cover happened, but the background was Philza clapping barely in time with just Wilbur on bass instead (and of course Techno’s “BAHP”s)

It was a charity stream. They had put on their costumes (clothes only) for a previous goal. 

This one was simply called “We rap.”

Some people were almost disappointed that Tommy was the only one actually rapping, but he was so funny it made up for it. 

Okay I spent the whole morning on this and it got way too long but I think I’m finally out of ideas. sorry haha hope you enjoyed! ^_^

[erinlindsayy]

thinking about it... erin & jay left in similar(ish) ways but people only saw jay's departure as horrible and rushed. it's just frustrating to see because it's been made very clear by these stans that they can't separate their petty feelings towards sophia from the show. i agree that tracy does get unnecessary hate (and i don't condone it) but stans are constantly invalidating sophia too. idk... missing erin but i also understand why sophia has moved on.

ok so I have many thoughts and I am just putting them under a cut in case anyone cares to read

Erin & Jay did both leave in ways that felt rushed. Erin's entire exit storyline felt like it came out of left field, and she was finally making progress..., but then Jay just leaves because suddenly he's got a random ex wife?? And PTSD that had never really been explored--and a girlfriend who was willing to help him work through it? But no, it was ERIN who left Jay? Jay essentially broke up with her when he left, so of course that whole departure was bound to be a mess. The writers completely fumbled her exit, and it was extremely out of character for both HER and for Jay.

And then!! THEN!!! Jay goes and leaves Hailey without talking to her first--and this time, it's worse, because he's actively married to her (and remembered this wife--which, also--did he ever divorce Abby? he must have if he was able to marry hailey, but that storyline went literally nowhere which is infuriating)

But no! Jay isn't horrible! It's not him--it's the writers, it's the storyline that is flawed, not the character! Erin is still public enemy no. 1, the big bad, the selfish and manipulative bitch from apartment 407 (or whatever her apartment number is lol). She left Jay! She's so evil! Her exit was written perfectly, and nooooooo not rushed or fumbled at all!

NO. JAY LITERALLY LEFT HER!! HE DECIDED THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO LET HER IN, AND OPTED TO LEAVE HER WHEN SHE OFFERED TO HELP HIM, TO SUPPORT HIM HOW HE DID FOR HER, AND HE REJECTED HER.

Tracy does get hate, but the same people who defend her turn around and attack everyone else when they don't align with what they like/want/think. It's hypocritical. No one deserves that kind of hate. And also??? They're real people with real lives who don't even know we exist. And quite frankly, I don't care. I think the work they do is nice, and I like their activism and that they promote various things, but they're just people at the end of the day, and I'm not going to go out of my way to praise/harass someone when they're...,, just normal people (who happen to be known by a lot more people and have a lot more money, lol)

do I want erin back as a character? Yeah. I think she's got depth, and I think that we were finally getting to see her deal with more beyond her stupid mother, but then it all just got... ruined. But the fact that upstead shippers (and other people, not just specifically upstead stans/upton/halstead etc) keep saying toxic things about

A. her (sophia bush)

B. erin as a character

C. the people who: like linstead, erin, or sophia

is just frustrating. Me, as an individual, liking erin as a character, and liking linstead, doesn't take anything away from you or your life. Stop sending hate to people--actors and fans--because their likes and dislikes don't align with your own. Ship who you want! Like who you want! I love Hailey, and I love Erin! Awesome!

someone straight up called me delusional in my inbox once bc I really like linstead. And that's only scratching the tip of the iceberg as to the downright rude and offensive asks/messages/comments I've gotten about the characters I like and things I write. how is that acceptable?

anyways lots of rambling but oh well haha