#but it's a general verse with existing characters

[randomnameless]

I always appreciated them as two different things. What I THINK they mean is when it’s adapted in a way that actually disrespects what came before it. Cowboy Bebop is a genuine example of this, or the Monster Hunter movie. Unlike say the Wachowski sisters Speed Racer movie which is a cheesy honest adaptation of Speed Race with its own spin on some things…that people didn’t watch despite how great it is!

I've heard many things about the MH movie but haven't seen it, sadly (?) - I heard there's focus on a Diablos?

Maybe I was a bit too negative with this comment lol, but imo it's completely unfathomable to me to adapt something if you "don't respect" the source material?

Of course adaptations can't be a copy/paste and sometimes things are done to make a movie more acceptable/viewable for an audience, like Peter Jackson's Lotr where Arwen - well, just Arwen. But I don't think PJ "didn't respect" the source material. Ultimately, there's a difference between faithfulness (that can be edited/removed bcs a movie isn't 3 books) and the sheer "respect".

Like, for instance, you can wonder wtf happened and if the people really gave a crap about the source material or even respected it, I can think of Dragonball Evolution.

But back to Mario, if there is a movie based on the Mario franchise, I'd expect the characters from the Mario franchise, maybe the settings and nods to the games. If I want a discussion on capitalism, taxes, diesel or butternuts, I'm not going to watch a Super Mario movie. Of course a Super Mario movie can have themes and have a broader message than "and Mario saved Luigi and called it a day!", but at its core, it has to be a Super Mario movie, with mushrooms, Toad(s), Bowser, Luigi, etc etc.

but maybe it's a personal bias, i usually don't like live action adaptations...

[emeraldart]

TSE designs and notes (ft. Sammy)

[unproduciblesmackdown]

they're so right about the diction of course

they're also soooo right about the breath control from william "holds that 'again' in (acoustic) loser geek whatever for fifteen damn seconds and long enough live that other jeremys just gotta be cutting it down a bit when they perform it" roland like my god the consistency in every moment of these lines. that lowest note being such a crisp & cool spritz & he's sometimes holding it too & it just never falters like my god....the mass effecties are having a great time w/this too, hope it gets around to someone official seeing it, which gets around to will. simply going tf off once again lord....

and the extra mile

[usagimen]

          I’ve been gently encouraged to once more post what was an extreme labor of love back in the day, but, if you were around for DMC!Sayuri, she is back as the verse is a catchall for anything witchy. The information prior is so heavy, you could legit write a short book with the lore, to simplify it quickly here is the need to know. One, her magic is fueled by fear alone, the entity inside of her eats away at it, thus she is the constant food source any horror she feels will be absolved. It regurgitates itself outwards into shadow magic, she is able to distort the darkness with ease, the drawback is the blistering light can scathe her / drain her of energy. She is condemned to the darkness && an outcast of her kind due to her family siding with Sparda during his rebellion. Her atonement is through the act of remembrance by keeping the legacy of the legendary dark knight alive, thus her ironclad devotion to him, unknowing to Sayuri - she too is becoming a fable like so many she has written.

      She is a deeply isolated woman that is referred to as the final mourner, for most of her kind is gone, without the twins or those she was sworn to protect; she is useless. In this verse, she mimics that of a knight who will do anything to fulfill her oath, she is unwavering && steadfast while harnessing a hunger like no other for might. In reality, she is a scared woman that must cling to her devotion for it is the final shred of hope she has. The love she embodies is of purity && holiness, it is selfless without ever asking in return, hence despite her negative view upon herself she is regarded strongly as a bastion of hope.

       Her services are more mercenary work, while occasionally taking on larger contracts to retrieve relics or tomes from bygone figures, all of which are neatly preserved. In the heart of humanity, she is deemed the darkdweller, darkling, one who was able to thrust herself into the torrent of the abyss for the sake of others. As she ages, she becomes rather soft around the edges but still otherworldly in her method of speaking. One can create a Faustian pact with her, amongst the magical kind, becoming entangled with Sayuri is worth envy - she is generous in her power but is a firm hand that will not be bitten. A beauty with a mean smirk && nastier mouth, her resolve makes her a formidable figure but it is her defiance that sets her truly ablaze - the desire to live despite being spurned for it. 

         In the reboot variation she was once a part of The Order of the Sword working endlessly to help Vergil’s revolution. When she began to feel his intentions were not as pure as they came off, she pivoted, thus undermining him to instead create a pact with Lilith. From there forth, she was co-owner of the hedonistic club the demoness ran, after Lilith’s death, she becomes distant showing the two may have been friendly despite them metaphorically holding each other hostage. Her oath to the twins still stands in this world as well, although she is less inclined to help as her devotion to Sparda has diminished, almost as if she is pained to speak of his exile as it alludes to deep humiliation. This variation is more ruthless in a sense she is far more upset about her own being hunted down by Mundus, she is easy to anger && tends to be more reckless in her actions, though she is still a terrifying witch that scoffs at any astral magic. 

[shslpunkartist99]

I'm very tempted to reblog random stuff on here, but at the same time, I wanna keep this blog dedicated to questions and Punk FNF stuff

Still, the urge to reblog Leon Kuwata is strong

[thewriteadviceforwriters]

The Ultimate (short) Guide to Crafting Captivating Book Titles: A Writer's Journey into Naming Novels

Embracing the Power of a Book Title

Greetings, fellow writers and wordsmiths! As we embark on the magical journey of storytelling, there exists a crucial milestone—bestowing our creations with a name, a title that encapsulates the essence of our narrative. The quest for the perfect title can be as thrilling as drafting the story itself. In this guide, we will unravel the art and significance of titling a novel, exploring strategies, tips, and the creative process behind crafting an engaging and magnetic book title.

Understanding the Importance of a Book Title

The Gateway to Reader Connection

A book title is the beacon that beckons readers to explore the universe you've crafted. It's the first impression, a snapshot that encapsulates the soul of your narrative. A compelling title can captivate an audience, generating curiosity and inviting them to step into the world you've woven within your pages.

Reflecting the Essence of Your Story

A well-crafted title encapsulates the core theme, mood, or central conflict of your novel. It should resonate with the narrative, teasing elements without revealing too much, leaving a trail of intrigue that entices readers to delve deeper.

The Art of Title Creation

Embrace the Journey: Start with a Working Title

Begin with a placeholder, a working title that captures the essence of your story in its rawest form. Let it evolve and grow as your narrative does. This title might serve as a guiding light until you uncover the perfect one.

Exploring the Heart of Your Story

Consider the central themes, characters, or pivotal moments within your book. Delve into the emotional core of your narrative and unearth words or phrases that resonate with its essence.

Utilizing Literary Devices and Techniques

Explore metaphors, alliteration, symbolism, or even poetic verses. Experiment with wordplay, juxtapositions, and contrasts. These literary devices can infuse depth and intrigue into your title.

Testing and Refining Your Title

The Power of Feedback

Share your title ideas with trusted friends, writing groups, or beta readers. Gather feedback on their impressions and the emotions evoked by the titles. Use this input to refine and narrow down your choices.

Alignment with Your Target Audience

Consider your intended readership. Does your title resonate with the genre and expectations of your audience? Ensure it's not only enticing but also aligns with the preferences of your potential readers.

Finalizing the Perfect Title

Distillation of Essence: Keep it Succinct and Evocative

Aim for brevity and impact. A concise yet evocative title can linger in the minds of readers. Often, the most powerful titles are those that say much with few words.

Research and Avoiding Clichés

Investigate existing titles in your genre to ensure your title stands out. Steer clear of clichés and overused phrases, aiming for originality and uniqueness.

Embrace the Artistry of Title Crafting

Crafting the ideal book title is an art in itself. It's the literary cloak that shrouds your creation, inviting readers into the tapestry of your imagination. Embrace the journey of titling your novel with the same passion and creativity you pour into your storytelling. Let the title be a herald, whispering the promise of a remarkable journey that awaits within the pages of your book.

As you venture forth, remember, the perfect title awaits—a key to unlock the hearts and minds of your future readers.

Happy writing and titling!

This comprehensive guide aims to take writers through the journey of creating an impactful and engaging book title, emphasizing the importance of a title and offering practical strategies to craft one that truly resonates with a novel's essence. If you need further insights, examples, or specific advice on any aspect of titling a novel, feel free to delve deeper into each section. Happy titling!

[yellowocaballero]

i very much enjoy the extremely scientific analysis of the naruto verse in which there are three genders, aka naruto, sasuke, and Woman.

AM I WRONG? AM I WRONG? pulls down projection screen and plays powerpoint

Obviously let's give room for nuance. A ton of Naruto characters don't fall into these gender norms. This does predominantly apply to the rampant proliferation of the three-person dynamics that were assigned by the government and dictate your entire life. And, like, society. It does not end. Gender isn't a biological factor in Naruto, it's a social dynamic constructed entirely by your homoerotic tension with other men. And there are so many.

Madara (S), Hashirama (N), Mito (W). Izuna (N) and Tobirama (S) - tragically, Izuna died before women could be invented. Sarutobi (N), Danzo (S, horrifically) - see above about women not being invented yet. Jiraiya (N), Orochimaru (S), Tsunade (W). Yahiko (N), Nagato (S), Konan (W). Obito (N), Kakashi (S), Rin (W). Shisui (N), Itachi (S), that little deeply unimportant girlfriend (W). Um, fucking, Naruto (N), Sasuke (S), Sakura (W). Even - even, fuckin, Rock Lee (N), Neiji (S), Tenten (W).

And what do they all have in common????

(OT3. They're all OT3s. Is what I'm saying).

There is some room for alternative gender expressions here, like being butch or femme. Naruto gender expressions: teacher, otouto, woman who you can't even tell is woman gendered because she has no backstory but you just have to kinda assume that she has a polycule-based backstory where she was Woman Gender. I feel almost as if 2/3rds of the Rookie 9 are liberated from this. InoShikaCho just doesn't fit (their chaotic cousin energy is just too strong and Ino's too much of a lesbian). Hinata's too busy being defined entirely by a different throuple's N to have codependent dynamics with her own N and S (and I'm hesitant to even say that, since I actually don't know if Kiba and Shino have a codependent rivalry - do they?).

I get, like, the reason for all of this. Curse of Hatred. Cycles. N and S Genders being sourced from demigods or something. Narrative parallelism. Sympathy points. It's not the bad guy's fault he's evil, his N and W gendered counterparts died :(. But an extremely strange side-effect of this is that all of the male characters are, like, Just Naruto or Just Sasuke. But the vast majority of the female characters are - like, completely defined by the men in their lives - but also they are more likely to be a unique person. Mito, Sakura, and Rin have actually nothing in common. Writing so sexist it creates more interesting characters?!?!

Unironically, this is why I'm always saying that Sasunaru is the ship of all time, nothing will ever top it, you will NEVER do it like Sasunaru, etc. Every important relationship in the series is meant to evoke Sasunaru. (Notably, none of the explicitly romantic ones. But we're beyond such paltry understandings of the most iconic pairing of all time as fundamentally based in romance. We're operating on a higher level than that). This unbroken chain of toxic yaoi has culminated at the end point of Sasunaru, and it exists to parallel Sasunaru and define their relationship by the dysfunction of generations of tragedy. That's why Naruto has to consciously break the cycle and free them from the generational hate - it was the only way to save Sasuke. This is also why I'm always saying that Sasunaru is the point of Naruto, and that the entirety of Naruto is about Sasunaru. Come back to me when your work has invented new genders in the all-encompassing pursuit of toxic yaoi.

This also means that the only truly gender non-conforming individuals in Naruto are its mightiest heterosexuals: Minato (W) and Kushina (N). Truly insane. The N/S/W configuration is the societal norm, it's bonkers to make a major good-aligned male character a wifeguy. By Naruto standards Minato and Kushina are the only queer couple.

[rwrbficrecs]

We’ll Invite Something In by @smc-27 (book-verse)

@dot524: This is a fandom favorite and for good reason. In this canon divergence AU, Alex is President, Henry is out, and they never got together in their 20s. Instead, they encounter each other in their late 30s and a very different type of relationship ensues. They still hide it at first, but there’s a lot of living that they both have done and need to work through. I really enjoyed the character dynamics here and how the premise changed both Alex and Henry, making them bolder and more mature. Definitely read this one!

Eyes Blue, Like the Atlantic by bleedingballroomfloor (book-verse)

@dot524: A Titanic AU! Adapted by an excellent writer, this one has suspense, action, romance, and intrigue. There is a MCD (Main Character Death) in here and some other tags to be aware of, but also vibrant scenes with dancing, chasing, art, and formal wear. I really enjoyed it!

Clean Slate by @smc-27 (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: This was just so excellent. I devoured it in no time, couldn't put it down. I love the way Alex just slips into Henry's life like a silk glove even though Henry has his hesitations. There's abslutely no angst at all other than "you're too young for me" "no, next question" I love it. I love Henry finally feeling young for the first time. I think that is something that Henry generally feels after meeting Alex, like he's never been able to, no matter at what point in life he is. ANYWAY I'm talking about Henry way too much again for a rec. Read this.

Most People Exist by @sprigsofviolets (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Henry, 30, is a nurse on a cancer ward. From the very first moment he feels an intense connection and attraction to his newest patient, the one who has a brain tumor and is named Alexander Claremont-Diaz. - The tags say it all: "Falling in love, Slow Burn, Angst with a happy ending, Hurt/Comfort". After reading this story I am a whole new person. I laughed and cried, had butterflies in my stomach, I felt it all. Hands down one of the best fics I've ever read!

after hours by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@na-dineee: How much can happen in a few hours? stutteringpeach: Hold my beer. 😅🤝 Reading this was truly a roller coaster ride, my stomach was doing somersaults non-stop: On his last evening in New York, poet Henry meets bartender Alex and the two spend the night together - in true "Before Sunrise" style. To sum it all up: enchanting, sweet, phenomenal, iconic!

No. 1 (Royal Red and Blue) Oil on Canvas by @captainjunglegym (book-verse)

@zwiazdziarka: This fic is so twisted and surprising in the best way! The summary did not prepare me for all the action that comes after the initial relationship drama and I'd really like to fawn over it some more but I don't want to spoil the fun of figuring out what really is going on and what are characters' motivations. Just give it a try.

Meet the Parents (series) by @14carrotghoul (book-verse)

@dot524: I really enjoyed these thoughtful character studies of Ellen and Oscar. The two short stories are a series of canon vignettes from Oscar and Ellen’s POV. These glimpses of the Claremont-Diaz parents add heart and depth to the RWRB canon, giving insight about how Ellen and Oscar think about parenthood, power, family, and each other.

Leave The World Better Than You Found It: A BONES AU by @treluna4 (book/movie-verse)

@myheartalivewrites: I really enjoyed this FirstPrince meets procedural TV show fic! With Alex as Booth and Henry as Brennan, they learn to work together, solve crimes--and fall in love, of course. Plus take down a very satisfying book villain.

No Laughing Matter by @inexplicablymine (book-verse)

@suseagull04: This fic is absolutely hysterical- a must read if you need something to cheer you up! It's also very relatable for anyone who, like me, has said things they've regretted in all the best ways!

in summer air by @acdsbff (book-verse)

@na-dineee: I need a vacation and vitamin D - maybe that's why this series (both POVs are covered 🥰) captivated me so much?! It is set on a Greek island, where Alex, just cheated on by his boyfriend, meets hotel owner Henry. What follows is a whirlwind speedrun romance against a beautiful backdrop. Really therapeutic for the heart on dreary days!!

here is a map (with your name as a capital) by @alasse9 (book-verse)

@dot524: What an incredible surprise to have this entire 50k story drop at once. In this canon divergent story, Alex and Henry start getting to know each other in Rio, when Alex helps him recover from a panic attack. Their friendship, and later their relationship, is a delightful slow burn with funny moments, heartbreak, and steady support of each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this start to finish — the characterization of both Alex and Henry is on point and I really enjoyed how the writer changed some of the scenes from the book while keeping key callbacks. A delight.

Claremont 2008 by @happiness-of-the-pursuit (book-verse)

@suseagull04: This friends to lovers AU is done so well! Having Henry and Alex meet as kids means we get years of their friendship before they even start dating, and it gives every aspect of their relationship so much depth through this entire fic. It also gives some events only referenced in the novel a completely different perspective, which makes them even better!

keep me in the moment (don't it feel so real?) by @anincompletelist (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: I absolutely love everything that comes out of Sarah's magic little fingers and this was no exception. Alex and Henry are best friends and pinning over eache other unknowingly and an accidental lil discovery turns their relationship upside-down (for the better) absolutely recommended. I honestly loved it so much.

you know i can't be found with you by @dumbpeachjuice (book-verse)

@heysweetheart-writes: This was SO much fun. Alex was RELENTLESS and I absolutely love an older Henry. It was also very fucking funny. 10/10

the great duck fiasco by @alexclaremont-diaz (book-verse)

@suseagull04: A spy AU, dating apps, and Alex's Texas roots combine in the funniest way possible- definitely read this if you want a good laugh!

[adamworu]

Kaworu and Rei still remain as the most interesting characters in Eva franchise to me after all these years. Their knowledge derives in the metaphysical. That one can and does exist beyond physical means. That everyone dies twice. When life first leaves the shell and when the last soul speaks your name. It makes sense too. How the characters most versed in identity are those not allowed to fully to exist in peace. Kaworu exists within a cyclical narrative that dooms him to never being allowed to live or die in his own means. Someone versed on the cycle but trapped anyway. Is it any wonder then, why Kaworu thinks of life and death as identical? Rei from start to finish always been a vessel of forced maternity and general baggage. She is treated as spare parts. Rei likens herself to flowers but only ever perceives them for use or lack thereof. They exist but many aren't 'needed.' Their existence and visage are strongly controlled. Always under someone's thumb. Is it any wonder then, why Kaworu and Rei stand in front of Shinji in End of Evangelion aside from Shinji's representations?

They're both well versed. They're powerful beings that have existed beyond time and space yet still are very much trapped by an undercurrent of forced stagnation within Eva.

Knowing is suffering.

[brykp]

THEORY: Lucifer Morningstar in Hazbin Hotel... Might Actually Be a Star

I was thinking of what Sera said to Charlie when she was first welcomed into Heaven... "Greetings, Daughter of the Morningstar"... or, did she enunciate morning-star? This is a real thing in the world that exists for us people on earth, in fact you can walk outside and see it very early every morning --- it is the last star shining in the sky. Tangent oncoming, but it gets back to the main point ----- Lucifer means "light-bearer", or, "light-bringer", because it calls forth the rising sun. In symbology, this has been interpreted as a man holding a torch. In Hazbin Hotel, we not only see Lucifer literally can produce fire from his hand, but this has been passed down to his daughter as well. They're light-bearers --- literally. Also, that is precisely what stars do... they produce light! Now let me advance to next bulletpoint of this post... Vivienne Medrano ALREADY used a "living" object, that can terraform into a more active form, in this web show. And that is none other than Kiki, the literal key to the hotel. She turns into a cat-semblant body.

On the same note, Vivienne Medrano is no stranger to humanoids or beings naturally being another thing. This was a primary feature of her extinct webcomic, Zoophobia, where every animal naturally has a humanesque form they can convert to whenever necessary. For example, Jackie is a great macaw (this isn't the parrot's true appearance, this is a format she takes alternatively):

Now, I know Lucifer is snake-coded, but I couldn't help but acknowledge how well-versed Vivienne Medrano seems to be in demonology and religion, to an extent, based on some videos from YouTuber cartoon analysis channels. And (I'm going to repeat, excuse my drawling), it is a common fact that the morning star.... in the sky... can be seen every morning. Hence, Sera uttered; "Greetings, daughter of the morning star". So, here's the next bulletpoint --- the acknowledgment of celestial bodies as sources of worship (astrology) is a key point in this universe. Stolas, a major character in the same world, studies and is a sort of regulator of the celestial bodies.

That's his whole schtick. Plus, he is royalty in Hell, so astrology is probably a no-shit presence of fact among the general population in Hell. On the the next bulletpoint: YouTube theorists and fans of both these web shows in general have expressed how they think Hazbin Hotel + Helluva Boss take place somewhere in 'outer space'. From the Pride Ring alone, we can see other celestial bodies IN the sky, like Heaven and a weird moon with a copy of Pride Ring's Pentagram on it. While I don't think the Hellaverse is in outer space exactly, I really think it's code for 'the heavenly realms'. Now on to the next and probably most important fact... now, what might the Pride Ring be? What does its parameter resemble? (Btw, follow this person on Tumblr and X, they are a great Lucy fan artist):

Not to mention the pentagram (which is also, coincidentally, and non-coincidentally a star-shape) floating right above it. What is a meteorite? A falling star. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is my final say on this? I might say Lucifer is... well, a fallen star. He may or may not be a literal star in the show, but this is a huge probability in the Hellaverse considering it IS Vivienne Medrano's brainchild. This is my headcannon now... that because these are the heavenly realms, the most powerful beings/ characters can and do exist likely in alternate/ first forms in the same existential plane. Charlie is half human and half angel... or further, half star. Also, this means Lilith fucked a star. (And Eve too, oop.)

[ladyloveroll]

(These are my ACTUAL notes from my friends birthday party full of people who absolutely did not know who the fuck Itachi and Kisame were or how pairing names work or what a ship is.)

Writing kisaita (on and off) for 15 years

Never get tired of the ship

Excellent, friendly people in the fandom to keep making content (Cynni)

Presentation is less about the specific ship and more about the general qualities that make their ship S-tier. You may find this echoed in your own OTP, IDK.

Powerful, badass characters who can kick anyones asses no problem, as depicted where they are casually taking a stroll after Kisame (who still has his little fo-hawk) casually takes down the four-tails

Kisame is noted as the ‘tail-less jinchuuriki’

Itachi is clearly a fucking powerhouse, we don’t need to debate that

Working with strong characters means you are more easily able to portray their weakness and explore that side of them since that rarely gets screentime

Auxiliary, not main characters

Main characters are harder to write because they spend a lot of screen time accomplishing their goal and doing Plot

Auxiliary characters are more malleable, and morally gray ones especially so

Depicted here are Itachi and Kisame, separately, being ordered by their villages to kill their own people. They carry this order out, but do not particularly like it. Nor are they particularly loyal to their own villages, despite carrying this order out. It’s hard to say where their loyalities lie.

The answer is WITH EACH OTHER OBVIOUSLY

Any ship that has a timeskip has LOADS of canon-verse material you can work with, especially if it feels like the characters have changed or their dynamic has changed.

For Naruto especially, WTF are Kisame and Itachi doing for three years? Clearly neither of them are out capturing jinchuriki. They aren’t seen lounging around Amegakure or Akatsuki headquarters. They are just traveling the world. Probably doing hits. Probably hitting on EACH OTHER WOOOOOO

Long time skips mean a few thing: 1) Canon divergence, 2) Canon compliant, 3) pre-time skip, 4) during time skip, 5) post time-skip; and that’s not even the AU’s

They clearly haven’t made any other friends during this time either so lots of relationship to explore

The Naruto franchise is notorious for retconning. Probably because Kishimoto (the writer) was pushed to create at a pace that was impossible for any sane or healthy man to keep up with.

Fanficition writers can take advantage of this poor writing by interpreting the character in a lot more ways than if the character was solidly written.

There are a lot of different ways Kisame is written, and accepted as so

Itachi less so but we don’t have time for that

Retconning allows you to take a writers mistake and turn it into utter brainrot that ten other people (me) will reblog every 3 years

This one is kind of specific, but if you like angst then OH BOY this ship has a lot of potential for it

Any OTP that involves an angsty edgelord and a sadistic tagalong can indulge in either EXTRA ANGST and be able to balance out the angst with humor

The KisaIta ship has 4 great themes about it:

Redemption

Acceptance

Forgiveness

And Existentialism of course

Dynamic:

Sharkboy / lava girl

Edgelord / goof

Leader / follower

Maybe old? / a touch too young

Respect for each other

S-tier OTP because of strong themes and repeatable dynamics

Kinkfest here we come

S-tier OTPs must be able to withstand an intense variety of smut writing

Powerful level = able to handle pain and dish out pain

Body things? = more positions

The Shape of Water was one of the single best thing to happen to the KisaIta 18+ fics because (even though it existed before the movie came out) a lot more readers were into it now

Also, Kisame makes this ship work more than Itachi. He is fucking DEVOTED

at this point I was running out of my 10-minutes (THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO PUT ME ON A TIMER) so i just backfilled the rest of the presentation with fanart and memes i like

Why do I like KisaIta?

I mostly write smut

They’re great at smut

I also like angst

They’re always great for angst, either character

Also look at them they are hot AF

Beefcake service-top vs. ‘shaped like a katana’ masochist

Healthy dose of hurt-comfort

They’re extremely flexible to write and so there’s a lot of stories you can create

thank you for not reporting me to the powerpoint police

[priceseyes]

this is a post for the cod fandom, specifically towards ghoap shippers because what some of y'all are doing is DISUSTING.

firstly, let's make something VERY clear: ghost x soap is NOT canon and it never will be canon. in fact, their relationship is PURELY platonic yet some of you guys always want a romantic relationship to happen whenever there's a male friendship. are you allergic to platonic relationship's or something? because they do exist.

with that that said: STOP ATTACKING CONTENT CREATORS AND THOSE WHO HAVE AN OC WITH EITHER GHOST OR SOAP (or any other 141 task force member). STOP ATTACKING BIPOC OCs ESPECIALLY AND STOP SPREADING HATE TOWARDS THOSE WITH COD OCs IN GENERAL.

what you are doing is VERY disrespectful and I dare I say, immature. you are not giving creators a chance at having a safe space nor are you letting them have fun pairing an oc with a character in the COD-verse, especially when they want to pair them with either ghost or soap.

please stop attacking these OC creators and stop using oc discourse on them.

just be kind and respectful to everyone in the fandom, let's not spread hate.

[chocodile]

Apologies if you've answered this somewhere: for your Amaranthine 'verse, are there any "hybrid" animal folk? On one hand, kwillow's Theo has a rat and a stoat as parents, but Theo himself is a rat (with his mother's coloring, but still a rat). On the other, Ambroys very clearly looks like a cross between a horse (father) and Something Else (Celestial mother). In the middle is Hayden's one night stand with the cat barmaid, which resulted in a child with a bunny's snout/tail, a flatter catlike face, and bunny ears a biiiit too wide and pointed to be 100% "bunny."

I'm super curious about the genetics of it as well as the social aspect (i.e. is son considered a bunny/cat/both by his peers?). It's one of my favorite bits about anthro worldbuilding!

Hybrids exist, but are pretty rare!

Typically, children will just inherit their species from one parent or the other. Hybridization is very unusual and typically is limited to one or two very minor traits--like the child of a rabbit having slightly longer ears, the child of a weasel having a noodlier build, the child of a carnivore having fangs, etc. In almost all cases, the dominant species of the child is very clear, and the hybrid traits tend to be very recessive--rarely preserved beyond one generation.

Particularly in the Western Kingdom, though, hybrid children do have a reputation for being unlucky, an ill omen, or even outright cursed (depending how superstitious the person you're asking is). There are a few reasons for this… the simplest is that hybrid traits are sort of a "birth defect" that can sometimes present along with other health issues. Though not all hybrids are frail and sickly, any concern about a child's susceptibility to illness was a huge deal in rural peasant villages that already tended to have high childhood mortality rates.

Over time, the perception of hybrid children = ill omen became warped and exaggerated. Western Kingdom folktales sometimes cast hybrids as vaguely supernatural trickster characters, such as tales of mysterious changeling babies whose hybrid traits eventually revealed them to be half Infernal.

For this reason, the actual frequency of hybrid traits is probably greatly under reported… anyone who can hide or ignore or lie about their hybrid traits probably will. Though most Western Kingdom superstitions fell away after the collapse of the old kingdoms, some degree of stigma in Post-Fall society remains. No one seriously thinks a sheep with fangs is half Infernal anymore (most don't believe that Infernals and Celestials even exist), but it will still probably be passively assumed that a hybrid is less fit for difficult labor, among other things.

Half Celestial and Half Infernal offspring work a bit different… they're always technically "hybrids", but specifically hybridize in such a way that they take the form of mythological creatures (unicorn, dragon, cockatrice, etc). I'll let Kwillow talk more about this when she discusses Ambroys' mother since she's been the one working on this section of the lore, but Half Celestials are most certainly seen as a blessing. Half Infernals… well, fear of them is part of the reason hybrids are stigmatized in the first place, so suffice to say they have it rather rough. How severe the stigma is varies across cultures and tends to be worse in the rural West, better in cities, and pretty much completely absent in much of the Eastern Kingdom.

In the Post-Fall present day, nobody believes Celestials, Infernals, or their offspring exist anymore... aside from those who know about The Kingdom of the Sun.

Also, once in a while, a hybrid is born whose traits are so blended that their parent species are difficult to determine. These very unlucky individuals are referred to as "chimeras" and tend to have shorter life expectancies, among other things. We may be seeing a character who fits this description eventually. :P

[isawken]

fun fact. david arquette bought the rights to bozo the clown in 2021.

fun fact 2. he intends to use this power to create some kind of "bozo-verse". a multiverse of clowns

fun fact 3. this actually fits perfectly within the Bozo Mythos and makes as much (if not more) sense as the proliferation of the multiverse in the MCU

(im just including this image because it think the tonal dissonance between the two chosen pictures in that header is fucking hilarious)

so i'm sure most of the people reading this post are zoomers or millenies. and idk about y'all but by the time i came around to human consciousness around 1998 or so, Bozo was part of a long-gone television era, one that belonged to the boomers and Xers before me. i was vaguely aware of him as a residual pop culture entity but never really encountered him myself.

well, as it turns out, there is no true one Bozo.

Bozo the clown was originally created as a character in a children's book in 1946. a voice actor portrayed him in a read-along record to said book and became so popular, Bozo was promoted to Occasional Television Star in 1949. he maintained his popularity and in 1957, the rights to Bozo were sold to a new owner, who decided to syndicate the clown. and this is where the Bozo-verse came in.

because the new owner made Bozo available to lease by smaller local television networks, that meant that dozens of studios across the American continent had their very own Bozo. dozens of Bozos!! from Detroit to Rio de Janeiro to Ontario to Mexico City and several other locations in between, an insane amount of Bozos existed at the same time from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s. and within those dozens of Bozos, some would be portrayed by half a dozen actors during their runs. each were unique, distinguished by their varied performances and variation in costuming. some Bozos lasted longer than the rest- the Brazilian Bozo notably lasted until the early 2010s. but of course, along with the death of the clown as a cultural that started around the 80s, Bozos started falling off the air left and right.

i, Known Clown Appreciator, am genuinely happy that david is wanting to help rehabilitate the clown to a new generation of potential New Clown Appreciators. and i'm not saying he has to, but i am saying i think the world could really use a Spider-Verse style Bozostravaganza of a movie. i think the people are ready and willing to get sillay

[pinkelotjeart]

So so me and a bunch of guys were talking about the silt verses ‘modern day’ au in which gods don’t exist cus I was thinking of what jobs characters would have if they didn’t have to deal with all this shit. (This is very much a fix-it kinda thing) So here’s the current job headcanons

- Carpenter: a mortician

I feel like this is self explanatory.

- Hayward: an actor

very much based on his line in chapter 43, but just in general I think he’d smash it. Plus he needs to be anything but a cop.

- Paige: social worker, and something in activism

she has the skills and wants to help people, she’d do great.

- Faulkner: artist

okay HEAR ME OUT. There’s the detail about Faulkner having nice handwriting, and how that makes him being great at drawing prayer marks. I think you could translate those skills into painting and stuff. (Also Rane and Faulkner are happy and friends in this au because the last word told me so)

- Shrue: probably still a politician

- Val: we landed on twitch streamer ( @/cemeterything made a post about it . )

Chuck harm would probably be a podcaster or something and he’d collab with Val frequently. I also like to think Val has a dnd actual play podcast where she’s the DM. Also despite this au being a none god au, somehow Val retained hers within our headcanons.

- Rane: theather tech (big shout out to @/mx-information for the idea.)

I really like it because it means Rane is part of a theater show, making sure everything runs smoothly without being center stage. Which that just makes so much sense for their character.

But yea, if anyone has other fun ideas of what characters would do in a better godless world, I’d love to hear!

[vluisasantiago]

When it comes to crossovers in the Slenderverse, do you like those big events that drastically affect the plots of both series in question (i.e: EMH and MLA), or do you prefer the tangential cameos, like the ones DarkHarvest did with EMH and WhisperedFaith?

I’ve been having this conversation a lot lately!

Obviously there are outliers to the point I’m about to make, but—I think that the function of a crossover has been shifting in the ‘verse for some time. It started as traditional contemporary narrative essentialism: If the crossover does not directly influence the plot of one or both stories, it’s often seen as unnecessary. The Legacy series more often than not subscribed to this way of thinking, and a lot of the works of the 2010’s followed their lead.

But this new wave—generation, whatever—of creators seems to be overall departing from this idea. As I’ve said in other spaces, the Legacy concept of the “virus”, made popular in The Andersen Journals, bakes in the necessity of individual plot; isolation becomes essential in a world where you live in fear of spreading a horror, harm, or trauma to others. Most of the crossovers in those bigger series feel like events, for that reason.

But the new kids seem to often see the Slender Man, as well as their own characters’ processes, as a shared experience, rather than a virus. It’s a thing they all have in common, and can find community in. A crossover, therefore, is less essentialist in newer works. The world is smaller than we realize; we are more likely to pass through another series—pass by another stranger—in the most mundane way possible, because even strangers live with monsters we don’t often ever see.

I think there’s value in both as metaphor—and both of them actively existing to refute the other is a wonderful thing. It feels like an interplay of experiences. It’s just another reason why this format is so fucking wonderful as a vehicle for artists to hash shit out.