#but the story and feel was so very different from most of those

[livrary]

Okay so, a lot of people say you can also just comment a heart or „kudos“ and those are absolutely valid options and great comments to receive, but I still want to make a case for writing longer comments.

I know they are hard, it’s not always easy to come up with something to say! But I promise you it’s also going to change the way you experience the fanfic and make not just the author‘s day, but most likely yours too!

First of all, commenting can take some practice. Like I said, it can be difficult, but starting off you can always go with a very simple „I loved this, it was so (insert adjective like cute, funny, romantic, scary)“

You can also just copy and paste a line or passage from the fic and quote it back to the author, telling them how much it resonated with you etc. The chances are high the author spent a lot of time formulating that sentence and will be over the moon to hear somebody liked it!

I know in high school we all roll our eyes at analysing the colour of the curtains or whatever, but these details do matter a lot of the time. The thought and effort the author might have put into their story are worth the thought and effort to read it with intention!

There‘s a fic I follow that updates quite regularly and I leave long comments on it. Reading it with the intention to comment makes me notice little things I would otherwise probably miss and it makes the reading experience insanely enjoyable.

And I love getting an answer from the author, because every single time they tell me how delighted they are each time they receive an email telling them I left a comment. And how nice it is to follow my thought process and see how their foreshadowing etc pays off. Once, I had a tough time coming up with a comment, so I mostly just said something about the chapter vibes (very different to the rest of the story) and the author was so happy about me noticing that, they actually revealed a little hint at the story’s direction to me in their answer! It was so fun.

If you read a lot of fic, you obviously won‘t have the time to comment like this on every work. I would be a huge liar if I told you I comment on every single fic I read. Short formulaic comments are great too. But if you want to make somebody else‘s day and enjoy yourself along the way, try to engage with the fanfic and write a personal comment, something that makes it clear you read this particular story by this particular author. They won‘t be annoyed at you and even if your comment feels boring or repetitive, it truly isn’t, I promise.

"Ao3 should allow multiple kudos" "I want to be able to leave more than one kudos"

COMMENT ON THE FUCKING FIC

I SWEAR TO GOD NO ONE COMMENTS MUCH NOW WHEN THE ONLY WAY TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR A SINGLE CHAPTER IS COMMENTING AND I AM NOT HAVING THIS BULLSHIT BE LIKE TIKTOK WHERE NO ONE EVER COMMENTS POSITIVITY

FOR FUCKS SAKE JUST COMMENT ON THE FUCKING FIC YOU DON'T NEED A MULTIPLE KUDOS BUTTON YOU NEED ACTUAL WORDS

TRUST ME ON ANY WEBSITE OR APP I POST COMMENTS AND WORDS ARE 10X BETTER THAN ANY PLAIN LIKE AND WORDLESS REBLOG IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING LEAVE WORDS

COMMENT

ON

THE

FUCKING

FICS

[localfandomenjoyer]

Whats Zeus and Perseleia's relationship like?

Complicated.

Before I elaborate, let me clarify that I don't disagree with Rick and many other authors casting Zeus in a villainous role. It has made for some very compelling stories (seriously, there are so many talented writers and artists in this fandom). That said, in many myths, Zeus is lauded for his sense of order, justice and hospitality. Hesiod in 'Works and Days' refers to his judgement as true and perfect, for instance. This is why anything I make will give his character a more positive spin. If Perseleia can be have a positive relation with Poseidon, whose source material generally presents him as an equally if not more prolific rapist and adulterer with significantly less redeeming qualities, why not Zeus as well?

While there are years if not decades where Perseleia avoids him out of disgust for his actions, she has been through more with Zeus than any of the other gods. They have each seen the best and the worst of each other - things most could only guess at. I touch on this briefly in a oneshot I wrote, but Perseleia witnessed and aided Zeus at his most vulnerable, making her the only person in existence he feels completely safe with. There is no fear of disappointing somebody, showing weakness or providing leverage to a political rival around her. Perseleia knows more of his secrets, regrets and fears than anyone else, even Rhea.

They end up depending on each other quite a bit. One key difference between the Athenide and Kronide AUs is that, for better or worse, Perseleia Kronide is front and centre in the pantheon. She is under pressure from all sides, which makes Zeus an indispensable ally. For his part, he depends on Perseleia to be an advisor, confident and diplomat, maintaining the peace with Poseidon and Hades. This constant back and forth keeps Olympus running.

I'm still of two minds when it comes to them being romantically involved, despite how well-received the idea has been. Such a marriage would naturally be complicated and imperfect. Each of them is painfully aware of the strategy behind their union - Zeus secures political legitimacy by marrying Kronos' heir, Perseleia gains authority to protect those she cares about - but there are things I believe they could genuinely appreciate in one another. Mythical Zeus was protective king who interceded on behalf of the weak more often than not - all things Perseleia admires. It's also worth noting that the Ancient Greeks actually saw him as a good husband, at least by the cultural standards of the time for kings.

Anyway, sorry for the wall of text, but I hope whoever reads this finds it interesting. Share your thoughts with me in the comment section.

[fleurdels]

CRIMSON LACE, 𝔦

• ELLIE WILLIAMS – series [ ongoing ]

☾ chapter 1 → chapter 2

note ❅ heavily inspired by peaky blinders ‎⋆ word count – 2212

SYNOPSIS ☆ Trapped in silk and expectation, you were raised to marry, to obey, to stay silent. Ellie Williams was none of those things. Feared, sharp, and untouchable — she was everything forbidden. A gangster, a killer.

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WHEN A LIFE MARKED BY LUXURY & COMPLIANCE MEETS A WORLD RULED BY VIOLENCE & CONTROL, NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME.

cw – gangster！ellie x female！reader ⋆ misogyny ‎⋆ misogynistic views ‎⋆ men ‎⋆ no use of Y/N ⋆ eventual smut ‎⋆ the 1900s ‎⋆ violence ‎⋆ homophobia ‎⋆ reader cheating ‎≠ ellie ⋆ mdni ‎⋆ guilt ‎⋆ angst ‎⋆ cursing ‎⋆

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1939 : Post War — JACKSON

In the small town, rags and riches existed side by side. Though they never truly touched. Women wandered the cracked streets, half–naked and worn down by hardship, while men lay passed out in their own vomit, forgotten by anyone who might have cared.

(Like birds with broken wings, they flailed helplessly against a world that refused to catch them. Hungry and desperate, they reached for something more, something beyond the empty lives they were stuck in, though it always seemed just out of reach.)

Though you, the darling girl, were far from that life.

Silk, jewels, and fine luxury were woven into your very being. A lifestyle handed to you, one you, a woman who reveled in vanity and charm, eagerly embraced. But beneath that sweetness, you were like oil, smooth and fleeting, honeyed yet impossible to hold. And no one in town ever knew.

"Yes, Mama. I promise, it's all taken care of."

You were a beautiful woman, bound to uphold an image — to marry a man who will protect you, or a wealthy one, for women are not meant to live without their support. . . their canes: men.

Ridiculous, you thought.

You sat across from your mother, tea resting untouched by your side, silverware neatly poised as you picked at your food. Sleepiness tugged at your eyelids, heavy against the weight of the documents and plans spread out before you — an event meant for new beginnings, the union of man and woman through marriage. You had never wanted to vanish over anything before, but this. . . yes, this was different.

Your parents had planned the wedding since you were practically a child, binding you to a man they called a friend.

You had no say, only the constant refrain that you needed a husband to live a good life. You were obligated — or forced to obey. But deep down, that hollow emptiness in your chest. . . it ached every single day.

You had never quite understood the fascination your friends had with men. The way they whispered and laughed about them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

That feeling never came to you. But there was something else, something quiet yet certain, in the way your gaze sometimes lingered on women. Very unmistakably captivating.

"You look dreadful, child. Fix that. Your fiancé is arriving. Go on. Clean yourself up. Don't you make him wait." Your mother's unwavering voice pierced the room, ringing in your ears.

And without a second thought, so used to waiting for your mother's subtle dismissal, you nodded at once and quietly excused yourself to your room.

God, finally.

────────────────────────

Dresses had been thrown carelessly across the room, draped over chairs and pooled on the floor like discarded costumes. Messes cluttered every surface. Hairpins, gloves, powders left uncapped. You had long since given up on making yourself look presentable.

Now, you lay on the floor, a newspaper in hand. A habit you hadn't even realized you'd picked up. There were always prints tucked here and there in your room — on the nightstand, under your bed.

You silently skimmed through the pages, holding the paper up high before you. News of the war, the scars it had left on the people. Gangsters and disasters. Women's fashion — skirts, hats, and blouses. The same stories repeated day after day throughout the year, though with slight variations each time.

As you turned the page, your lips pressed into a thin line, reading with a calm, distant intensity. You saw her.

A woman, sharply suited, her face set in a hard, serious expression, a cigarette pressed to the corner of her lips. Her hair was half pulled back, and two figures walked close beside her.

Ellie Williams.

Feared and vulgar. You had heard the whispers, warnings from mothers, curses from fathers, that a woman like that was dangerous. She left conflict in her wake, pain trailing behind her like a second shadow. Quiet, yes, but dangerously so.

You remembered reading once how she'd wiped out an entire organization, erased it until nothing but ash remained. When you'd asked your father why anyone would do such a thing, why someone could be so ruthless, he answered plainly. . .

"Because she's cruel. The devil incarnate."

(Maybe that was true.)

So you merely nodded, and that was it. You never brought her up again.

But now, you're lying on your stomach, staring at a picture of her, brows drawn in thought. You find yourself thinking about how she managed to make a name for herself. Perhaps not by the most ethical means. . . but still, how'd she have that edge?

Your moment of wonder was suddenly shattered by a loud knock on the door, followed by your mother's voice near screaming, "Come on out, girl! What's taking you so long? John's here, and you're still stuck in that damn room."

With a roll of your eyes, you grabbed the nearest dress to your left and buttoned it up. Hair done and all, you stepped out of your little nest.

"Yeah. Coming, Mama!"

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"There you are. . . How's my favourite girl doing?"

John Walton, your fiancé, stood framed in the doorway. He's neat in a tailored suit, hair slicked back with precision, hands resting in his pockets like he owned the world. He was a vision, honestly. And yet, something in you hesitated.

You offered him a small smile — practiced, as he stepped closer and wrapped an arm around you. When he lifted your hand to his lips, the kiss was light, almost adoring. Still, you had to fight the urge to pull away, to wipe his touch from your skin.

Instead, you breathed through it and said, "I'm alright, John. Thank you."

"You ready?" John asked.

And quite honestly, you hadn't fully grasped what you were doing with him today. But as the maids handed you your bags, it dawned on you. You were indeed going to spend a few days with him. Your mother had insisted it was a good idea. To get to know him, she said. Though you couldn't understand how she thought it proper — unmarried, and yet together. You figured it was because she trusted you.

You nodded again, wordless. It was strange, really. Being around this man made your stomach twist in ways you didn't care for. It wasn't butterflies, not like what your friends so often described. No, it was something else. Unfamiliar. Unsettling. Something you couldn't name.

(Save her. Save her. Save her. Save her. Save her.)

Your mother entered then, smiling sweetly at John. She had never smiled at you like that, not her own daughter, and for a moment, you nearly laughed. She embraced you, arms delicate but voice sharp in your ear. Whispered warnings: "Don't mess this up. He's a good man. Do whatever he asks of you."

Your father was too busy to care, buried in matters far more important than you. Maybe he had forgotten he even had a daughter. Or maybe he believed the burden of a man's work had romanticized him into something greater — so much so, he forgot your very existence.

At last, you gave your mother a small wave goodbye, took John's hand, and stepped into the car. The exhaustion from your earlier conversation with her finally caught up to you, wrapping around you like a heavy blanket.

John was saying something about his work — how he's trying to expand, trying to build something bigger. You weren't really listening. His words floated somewhere above your head, lost in the hum of the car and the ache behind your eyes.

────────────────────────

You were stirred awake by sunlight flashing across your eyes, and by the sound of John calling your name — more than once, by the sound of it. Your back ached from where you had slept, stiff and sore, so you stretched slowly, blinking against the light.

"I need to meet a friend here, dear. You want to stay in the car or find a place to grab a drink?"

Still hazy from sleep, you took a moment before answering.

"Oh, no, I'll go somewhere." You waved a hand dismissively. "And. . . where will you be?"

John glanced around, eyes sweeping the street. His gaze settled on a building across the street. You followed his look — it was a bank.

"Right there, in the bank. Don't worry, yeah? won't be long," he said.

You eyed him warily. "Won't be long" for him never meant the same as for you. You knew it probably meant hours. He worked like your father did, always tied up with business, never on a schedule you could count on.

"Yeah?" you frowned. "Well, I'll look around here then. We'll meet back here, right?"

John smiled, a genuine smile. "That's right, my dear. Clever girl." And without warning, he kissed your temple. The last traces of sleep fled from you. You hadn't expected it.

You returned an awkward smile.

"Be careful. Run to me if you need anything, aye?" He gently touched your chin. And John meant every word he said. A man of his word. Always thorough, always sincere.

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After John left, you slowly wandered through the bustling streets. There were more people than you'd expected, and yet, somehow, fewer you knew. It was nearly a two–hour drive from home, if you recalled John's words before sleep claimed you. You hoped no one recognized you here.

You glanced at the trees lining the sidewalks. People gathered on benches, laughing, chatting. You watched their lives drift past as you walked and walked.

Eventually, your legs grew weary, and your throat parched. Just then, you spotted a sign swinging gently in the breeze.

The Tipsy Bison.

You stepped inside without hesitation. You needed something to take the edge off. . . alcohol, preferably. The bar wasn't crowded, thankfully. Most folks were still tied up with their work. You silently thanked God for the quiet.

It was a barmaid who welcomed you to the table, her smile warm and unbothered. You returned it — a small, unfamiliar gesture. There was something strange about sitting alone in a place you didn't know, unchaperoned. Your mother would've had a fit if she knew where you were, a bar, and without a man to accompany you.

"Whiskey, please," you said, voice steady.

She nodded and disappeared behind the counter. You sat quietly, grateful for the hush. There was something comforting about being left to your own thoughts. No chatter to mind. No eyes to impress.

Moments later, the glass touched your table. You thanked her with a soft nod.

But then, just as you were halfway through your drink, fingers resting lightly on the glass —

"You don't look like you're from here."

A voice sliced through your calm. You sighed, shoulders stiffening, and took a breath. Slowly, you lifted your head and turned toward it.

It defied your predictions.

You nearly choked on your drink — because what in God's name. . . For a moment, you weren't sure if your eyes were playing tricks on you. But no. You knew that face. Knew it damn well. The same one you'd seen printed across the front page of every paper, staring back at you as you sipped your morning tea, as you pinned your hair into place.

You must've taken too long to respond, because she shot you a look, one brow arched, unbothered. "Surely you know it's terribly rude to stare, darling."

Whatever force had jolted you back to awareness, you blinked hard, sat up straighter, and tucked a loose strand of hair back into your bun. Still reeling slightly, you found your voice.

"I apologise. You just look very. . . familiar."

She watched you — or at least, you thought she did. Her expression was unreadable, distant in a way that made it hard to tell what she was thinking.

"Mmm," she hummed, almost amused. "I get that a lot."

Now it was your turn to study her. Her eyes were green — sharp, deliberate.

"Yeah? And why's that?" You didn't even know where the sudden boldness had come from. It couldn't have been the whiskey. You'd only had one glass.

You kept your gaze on her, steady now. And you were sure of it — the Ellie Williams. The infamous Williams.

She looked more alive in person than she ever had in print. You realised the photographs never captured her fully, not the sharpness of her features, not the weight she carried in her posture. And God, she was beautiful. The kind of beautiful that made you linger too long on women. She was the embodiment of everything you had once said in jest but always meant.

(If you were ever to lose yourself to someone, it would be a woman like her.)

Ellie Williams was sitting beside you now at the counter. She offered a grin — aimed somewhere past the liquor bottles, but you felt it land on you all the same. And when she finally turned to face you, you swore your heart lurched. A faint smile played at her lips, eyes locked on yours.

"Guess," she said.

[manytoonepoet]

Hiya! I'm not the same anon who brought up the shipping thing with Aglaea and Cipher. But I was very interested in their perspective and your perspective while answering them as well. So I hope you don't mind that I add on a bit with my own thoughts (feel free to ignore if it gets too long haha)

Admittedly, sometimes I feel as if I might be a hater or just anti-ship, but recently I've been reflecting and realise that it's not the ships I'm against. It's that it feels like it's being forced onto me. Anon also mentioned shippers going into non-shippers' posts to "spread their agenda", and if you don't agree, you're a hater and you're blind to what's implied in the story.

I think this might be the fundamental problem. Why can we not live with notion that people have different understandings of the dynamics between characters? Why must something be "canon" because you believe there was evidence of it? Keyword being "believe", because nothing is canon unless Hoyo explicitly states it.

You mentioned that moment when Phainon said "it's a date" to Mydei and oh wow I got kinda peeved when a lot of people seemingly reduced it to evidence that their ship is canon. A date doesn't just have romantic connotations, it's a promise to meet again. And in this context, it's a tragic and bittersweet promise between two comrades made during a time when neither can live a truly peaceful life but probably wished they could (also on a similar note, Mydei telling Phainon "I wish you could come visit my library". Same thing.)

Really long rant, but it just feels like romantic connections seem to be prized above all other types of relationships. Why? I got no clue, but it just seems that way. God forbid people be friends and comrades and family without wanting to kiss. Anyway, just my thoughts, because it feels rare to see posts like this and I just wanted to share my perspective as well. Thank you for reading all that haha!

Hi, Anon! Oh, I most definitely agree. As for why? Well, from what I've personally seen, it's usually either self-projection or aesthetic pornography. Or both. Many of these people claim it's a plea for representation, but really, it's a demand for attention. If it were truly a plea for representation, then why reduce a character to a dynamic such as "a gay sub" or "a daddy dom" and more? If it were truly a plea for representation, then why reduce a character to their potential abilities in bed and the size of their genitalia? If it were truly a plea for representation, then why reduce a character to such a skin-deep degree that a series of forcibly pasted labels will be the only thing you can see? Is this how you truly want to be represented? In such a dirty and carnal way? I understand that there might be people who will be triggered by these questions, but these are questions I have to ask, and you should too. All of us should.

Going back to Phainon and Mydei, these two are one of the many examples of what will happen if we don't consider those questions above, and I must say, I couldn't be any happier than I already am now that I've seen someone who sees the moment when Phainon said "It's a date" as a farewell and a promise between comrades, not lovers. Because, you see, that phrase can and is used to mark another meeting between two or more people, and even if one would argue that the bond between them is beyond friendship, that doesn't mean that they're lovers as well. As I've initially said in this post, a platonic bond between Mydei and Phainon is possible and is experienced by real people. Romance is not the end-all be-all to every relationship, same-sex or otherwise.

Friendships. Romantic Relationships. Families. All of them are important in their own way, so to argue that this person's view of the two characters' relationship is wrong because there's no way the bond between them is platonic is simply fallacious. So there is no use in arguing because one, a person has the right to their own opinions, and two, until there are no official statements made, nothing is canon.

[ultranumb-mask]

Collateral // Part 3

paring: John "U.S. Agent" Walker x You summer: The aftermath of John's confession, his escape to avoid hearing your answer, how each of his new teammates began to notice the impact it had on him word count: 1,189 warnings: angst!, you're not part of Thunderbolts team. They know you but your relationship with them stays out of the narrative since we focus on John's side of the story more

part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 is on the way

˙·٠•●Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ●•٠·˙˙·٠•●Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ●•٠·˙˙·٠•●Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ●•٠·˙˙·٠•●Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ●•٠·˙˙·٠•●Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ●•٠·˙

John never speaks about it. Not to Alexei, not to Yelena, and definitely not to Bucky. But something inside him has shifted, and everyone on the team can feel the change. He is still sharp in the field, still ruthless and precise, following orders without question, being the best cover for his teammates even at the most unnecessary times.

Bob notices the change almost immediately. Not because John said anything — he didn’t — but because the shift is quiet, subtle, and therefore unmistakable.

The sarcasm vanishes first. Then the unsolicited pointers during training sessions. Walker still checks in, still made sure Bob had enough of everything he might need giving his situation — but John does it from a polite distance that felt… unfamiliar. As if he is drawing invisible boundaries where there used to be none.

And maybe, on some level, Bob appreciates the space. He isn't always in the mood for Walker’s big personality, the loud opinions, the casually brutal honesty. But the silence that replaces it isn't peaceful. It is wrong.

It isn't just that John has changed — it is that he is shrinking. Retreating inward in slow motion, and pretending no one noticed.

And Bob did notice.

But knowing something’s wrong and knowing what to do about it — those are two very different things.

He thought, more than once, that maybe he should say something. Pull John aside. Ask. Or at least try. But every time he came close, the words fell apart in his head. What if he made it worse? What if he said the wrong thing, touched the wrong nerve, stepped into something that wasn’t his to fix?

Bob didn’t come from a world where people talked about their feelings. He barely know what to do with his own, let alone someone else’s.

So instead, he watches John drift farther away. And tells himself that maybe silence is better than stumbling into someone else’s pain uninvited.

Yelena, on the other hand, isn't one to let silence sit too long. She doesn't say anything at first. There is no sharp comment, no teasing jab, none of the barbed humor she so often uses as both armor and invitation. Instead, she simply watches—quietly, steadily—from across the quinjet, observing the way John moves like a man trying to disappear into the rhythm of survival. He no longer fills silence with idle remarks, no longer offers his dry observations during prep. Even the sharpening of his knife has become mechanical, almost ritualistic, as though repetition might dull whatever else was gnawing at him from the inside.

It isn't until a week later, after a long day in the field and a quiet return to base, that she finally slides into the seat beside him, her body dropping into place with the familiar weight of someone who didn’t ask permission to take up space.

“You’ve lost something,” she say, her voice devoid of its usual edge—low, almost conversational. “Or someone.”

John doesn't respond, doesn't even glance in her direction, doesn't bother to explain to her how wrong she was. How can he ever lose something he never actually had? Ridiculous. She lets the silence stretch, then added, in the same calm, cutting tone, “If you’re trying to get yourself killed, you should just say so. Might save the rest of us some guesswork.”

John doesn't argue. He just gives her that faint, fractured smile—the kind people mistake for agreement when it’s actually just absence.

“I’m still operational.”

“For now,” she says and walks away without John’s even noticing.

After another mission, one that ended with John returning late and bleeding from a cut just deep enough to need stitching, Alexei tries to make light of it—tries to play the part of the loud older soldier with too many stories and not enough filters.

“The great American weapon returns,” he announces with theatrical cheer, hands spread wide. “Stoic as ever. Very cinematic.”

John doesn't so much as glance at him. He walks past without a flicker of expression, his focus narrowed to the hallway ahead.

Alexei’s smile falters, left hanging in the stale air. He exhales a breath and mutters under his breath, mostly to himself, “No humor left. Dangerous man.”

Bucky never asks what was wrong. He simply watches—unobtrusively, but not without understanding. They aren't friends, not in any way either of them would name aloud, yet there is an unspoken recognition between them, carved out of the same kind of damage. They both know what it is to fall too far, to be remade into something they don't recognize, and then to walk the rest of the road with that weight chained to their name.

It is on a rooftop in Morocco, during a long stakeout under a wind that never settled, when Bucky finally speaks.

“You know pain doesn’t make you a hero,” he says, keeping his eyes on the skyline. “I tried that trick. Doesn’t work. Just makes you quieter. Better at hiding.”

John doesn't flinch. His eyes remain on the scope, finger still beside the trigger guard.

“Good,” he says after a pause. “Then I’m improving.”

Even Ava begins giving him space, exchanging silent glances with the others, receiving the same silent "we have no idea what's wrong with him" in response. She understands, perhaps better than most, what it looks like when someone stops trying to stay alive and simply starts enduring. When every movement is precise, efficient, controlled not by training but by apathy so sharp it resembles discipline.

He is still good. Too good. Because men who no longer care if they come back often make the most reliable soldiers. At least for a while.

At night, when the others are asleep or decompressing, John sits alone. Polishing gear that needed no polish. Checking mission logs he already knows by heart. Running. Always running. Because to stop would be to feel. And to feel would be to remember. And memory, above all, was the enemy. Because remembering meant you. The way your eyes looked that night. The words he wished he hadn’t spoken. The ones he still hoped you’d say. And the silence that followed.

At first, you don’t notice the quiet.

It’s easy to mistake absence for coincidence in a place like this rotating missions, tight schedules, debriefs at odd hours. People disappear and reappear like weather patterns. You learn not to ask why, most of the time.

But John’s silence doesn’t feel like weather.

It feels like something missing from the air itself. Like a missing weight on the opposite side of the room. Like heat from a fire that used to be burning and isn’t anymore.

You tell yourself it’s better this way. Cleaner. Simpler. How could it be anything else? How could you possibly expect anything to grow out of what was supposed to be a functional partnership between two strangers? Yes, you spent days with him as your only companion — but for operational reasons. Yes, you understood each other — but only on the battlefield. Yes, talking came easy. Silence, too. But that doesn’t mean it was anything more. Does it?

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a/n: was it obvious I tried to shift my personal focus on Bob to check if I'm not completely hopeless with Walker and how I failed? Yes, so there 2 or 3 more chapters coming and I hope this haunting feeling will let me go for good. thank you for reading, liking, giving your advice and thoughts!

[hanalyrata]

What's the story behind the ghouls and their piercings?

For ones I've designed? Oh god this post is gonna be 90% Alpha isn't it.

So, my first ghoul I designed was Dewdrop so I'll start there. My first few designs were kinda based off taking like an average of how everyone else draws them, like what's the most common features people seem to share as HC.

Because of that, Dew only has ears, helixes and nipples. I do sometimes put a tongue piercing in there when I remember but it's not really something I wholly HC him with.

Swiss, men look hot with tongue piercings sorry, so he naturally got one. Industrial is my favourite ear piercing so he ended up with one of those naturally. The prince Albert? Idk, wanted a cock piercing for fic purposes and it stayed part of his design.

Rain only has his tongue and that's the same "men are hot with tongue piercings" thought. I also feel like Rain would be a little more conservative with piercings (this is also why Mount has none) than some of the others.

Phantom, oh Phantom is my favourite for his choices. My brain sort of went "baby bat, fangs, what's the closest piercings he could have that look like lil fangs because he'd want to keep that feature when glamoured". Angel bites it is. He has a few in his ears too, I'm tempted to give him a few more in them, really make it nice and decorative.

Aether, didn't think too much beyond what I see some of my old punk friends from back in my goth era used to wear. It was almost always like eyebrow and nose and a couple dotted in the ears. Aether's my lil punk rock boi and I love him.

Ifrit, as I was designing Ifrit I actually put a bunch of dots and ring shapes all over his face to see what fit. So that's how he ended up with everything that he does. The nipple piercings, my only excuse is "nipple piercings are sexy", I went with rings to make him different to Dew, we've discussed the tongue. I wanted to go different for once on the ears, so that's why he's the only one with tunnels. Note he still has an industrial because favourite ear piercing. Was still in my cock piercings are hot era (still am) which is why he has a PA and lorum.

Alpha, I decided Alpha is my absolute pain kink weirdo goth bad boy as I was designing him, so he ended up with a lot. I didn't want to overload him, but also wanted to make it obvious that piercings are his thing (he is the abbey piercer afterall). I saw the eyebrow horns on Pinterest and centered it around that. Just whatever fit his face he got it. I might add more. Funny story about the cock piercings. So, the first time I learned what a frenum ladder was, I was about 13. I spent most of my early teens in the library, gobbling up whatever crime/thriller books I probably shouldn't have been reading at that age. A Karin Slaughter book starts off with a very vivid description of one (I won't go into detail because it's very... It could be triggering. Just iykyk) and I was absolutely fascinated. So when it came to "what are some of the most extreme but pretty piercings I can give him" there. That was it.

I did also have to double check if his nipple piercings were possible. Takes specific anatomy, but yeah. (side note, him and Ifrit with the navel piercings... Yeah those are hot on men sorry not sorry).

Omega, I didn't want to overload Omega, but I wanted to do ones I hadn't entirely done yet either. I wanted symmetry because he's the pinnacle of quintessence and therefore also perfect to me. Double nostril and snakebites it is. I gave him Orbitals in his ears because I always find them to remind me of space (a planet with its rings). It's a silly reason, but I liked it enough to put it in his design. He does also have nipple piercings because I think most people should lmao.

Cirrus, again, what fit her and what didn't. I figured she'd like pretty things like dermals. Didn't want to give her an anti-eyebrow like Alpha so she got the dermal instead. I also put a few in her horns because I feel she found them to look boring and wanted to spice it up.

Cumulus felt boring to me for five minutes, facially, a nose ring fixed that. She has a navel piercing and then a dermal above that. The navel piercing often has a belly chain attached to it. I have considered nipple piercings for her. She'd absolutely be the type to have cute BVLA clickers in them to highlight it. I didn't want to go too piercing heavy with her because she already has other striking features like her floofy hair.

Oh wow that was longer than I thought it would be haha. I do think a lot when I design and HC stuff, so I'm always willing to yap!

I'm so annoyed they removed yellow for a text colour option since that's air for me. I know yellow on white is ass tier accessibility but stilllll.

[shiny-jr]

you've probably mentioned this previously but what is your fave disney movie and your least favorite? you seem so knowledgeable on them (or at least the ones related to twst) so i'm curious

have a great day!

Gonna take this as an opportunity to procrastinate on writing (yes, I actually have been writing, believe it or not), and rate the movies that inspired TWST. I will not be including the events or any other Disney movie, but I can add that later if y'all wanna hear me yap more.

ELEVENTH: Cinderella.

You know what? I'm about to say it. Cinderella is not a good movie. It feels like it's 50% plot with Cinderella and her story, and then the other 50% is Tom and Jerry kinda tomfoolery with the mice (Jaq and Gus Gus) and Lucifer the cat. I'm not kidding. Watch it again and you'll realize how much precious time was spent on them. Why? I couldn't answer that. It seems like a waste to me when the time could've been spent on other more creative and important scenes.

TENTH: Alice In Wonderland

Like Cinderella, Alice In Wonderland has a similar flaw where time is spent on a scene where Alice or any of the other main characters are not involved at all. However, I don't believe it's as much as Cinderella. I just don't think this movie is very good, I mean, it does a good job at feeling like nonsense but each scene feels like it could be it's own short and it literally would not make a difference.

NINTH: Sleeping Beauty

I'm just not the biggest fan of this movie. I mean, I can give them credit where credit is due. The prince here, Prince Philip, is one of the best of the early princes. He's actually pretty funny. Maleficent carries the film hard, to no one's surprise. Again, I see the same pattern of unnecessary scene, where the kings are drinking wine, singing, then arguing, then making up.

EIGHTH: Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, higher than Sleeping Beauty? You must think me insane. I swear, I have a valid reason. I just really appreciate the historical aspect of it. That's my main reason. I like history. Call me a nerd, I don't care.

SEVENTH: 101 Dalmatians

I like dogs. A lot. Beyond just that, this was one of those films I watched a lot as a kid, and as I got older, I came to appreciate it more and more. The music for it is genuinely solid, even if the plot may not be entirely interesting throughout the entire thing. Plus, they gave one of the most iconic villains of all time (I LOVE the Cruella movie, but that's not the point). One of my favorite things about this movie is the animation. It's old, it's hand drawn, you can see the lines!! I just love that, and I can't explain why, I just do.

SIXTH: Beauty and The Beast

Some might be shocked that this movie is this low. Maybe it should've been higher. Don't get me wrong, I like this film, but I just like the others more. Belle actually isn't my favorite character, but I will say, she's a good character, just not something I'm drawn to. Gaston is an entertaining villain with one of the better villain songs. I will add this, the best addition to this film from the live action was the song "Evermore." We love to hear some male yearning.

FIFTH: Aladdin

The humor carries this film hard. Genie and the duo Jafar and Iago? My favorites. They're great. They are what make the movie special to me, because you don't usually see that type of humor often in Disney movies. It likely has to do with the fact that Genie and Iago are voiced by comedians. The music is great too, but the humor is my favorite part of this film.

FOURTH: The Little Mermaid

Historically speaking, this film is known as the one to start off the "Disney Renaissance" which is just a term used to describe the films that came and did really well after they struggled to create a good film for a while. Ariel is a decent character, but y'all know who I'm here for. URSULA. Did you know, supposedly, they struggled with her design for the longest time until they finally found her look which is based off the drag queen Divine? Look it up. Ugh, she's so iconic.

🥉 THIRD: The Princess and The Frog

Speaking of banger music. This film probably has the best songs, or at least, it's definitely up there in competition. It's also somewhat a bit familiar to me, because I spent many years in one of the neighboring states. Here's where the explanations are gonna get long as we get closer and closer to first place.

Compelling princess? Definitely. Tiana is one of the best princesses, and I will die on this hill. It's not like she was born royalty, she's humble and hardworking, and that's what makes her so unique. If you really think about it, there's not a lot of other Disney characters like her and I appreciate her for that.

Charming prince? Check. I think Naveen is one of the best princes to date. He's definitely in my top three. The design? The ego? The accent? Oh, he's definitely got it. The way he goes from insatiable flirt to down bad for one girl to the point of changing his entire lifestyle is SO GOOD.

Intimidating villain? Oh, for sure. I think people forget about Dr. Facilier a lot. And that's a shame, because he's probably like one of the last great Disney villains we've got. He was a real menace, securing deals like that and then controlling literal shadow creatures? That's terrifying?? I love it.

The cast overall does a really good job, with some household names among them (voicing Eudora, Dr. Facilier, Mama Odie) and Disney legends (voicing Big Daddy La Bouff, Ray (I met his voice actor!!)). I think my only issue with the film is that they stay frogs for longer than they're humans. That's the only real problem I can currently think of. Other than that? Great film.

🥈 SECOND: The Lion King

Make it Hamlet but lions. I'm gonna go back for a second, and remind y'all of my earlier complaints: unnecessary scenes. This movie feels like it has none of that, and that's is GREAT. Immediately it get points from me for that. Aside from that, if you go and watch this movie again right now, it still holds up amazing. It may not be no princess and prince movie, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Not at all.

Catchy soundtrack? Yes! Each song is a banger. Each. One. Even when there's no singing. What I love about it are the influences from African cultures, like the lyrics in Zulu as soon as the movie opens with "Circle of Life" among other details like the instrumentals and background singers. Not to mention, this soundtrack is written by LEGENDS. Hans Zimmer (I listen to his soundtracks all the time for writing) and Elton John. Yeah, that Elton John. My favorite villain song is from this movie. Y'all know the one. Be Prepared. FUN FACT: The voice actor for Scar actually struggled with the later part of Be Prepared, so much so that his voice gave out and someone else had to complete the song. That someone else was the same person who voices Ray from The Princess and The Frog and Ed from the Lion King (I have the signed Scar merch :)). Don't believe me? Listen to the song, and if you listen carefully, you can hear the difference with and after the line "so prepare for the coup of the century."

You can probably guess, that my favorite thing about this movie is Scar. He's such a wretched villain, literally so cunning and evil and manipulative. If you really think about it, and I mean really think about it, he technically won. I mean, for a while, he did win while Simba was gone. The only reason he lost later was because he didn't think Simba was alive. He got what he wanted for a while. What other villain can you say that for?

This movie probably has the smoothest plot out of all the ones on this list. I love revisiting this movie whenever I'm doing research for TWST. I actually did it a lot of times recently for development of lore in the Empyrean AU, and each time I check it out again, I always learn something new about this movie. Every single time.

🥇 FIRST: Hercules

Humor. Music. Characters. Plot. Action. Romance. What doesn't this movie have? Y'all can't seriously tell me you didn't expect this, especially since I've stated multiple times that it's my favorite Disney film and most of y'all know I very much enjoy Idia. Ever wonder why I love Idia's character? It's because of this movie.

I literally used to watch this movie all the time as a kid. Can you guess who was my favorite? I'll give you a hint. It wasn't Pegasus, or Phil, or Zeus, or Hercules, or Megara (although she's super iconic) ... It was Hades. Hades has always been my favorite, y'all do not even understand. Let me try to break it down, why I love not only this character but this entire movie.

The vibe is giving Caesars Palace in Vegas, and I mean that in the best way possible. Which is like so weird and specific, I know, but I think it's because it has the inspirations from Greece, right? But also, the film feels modern too with the whole fame, marketing/merchandise, and fangirls in the movie. So the vibe in itself is very unique and odd to see.

I'm gonna save the best for last, which is why I won't dwell on Hades too much yet. Yet. I'll start with how the movie starts: music. Notice how when I was talking about The Princess and The Frog, I didn't explicitly state it had the best music of all the films. Well, it was because of this one. While I will admit, none of the songs in The Princess and The Frog miss, Hercules has one less than decent song (One Last Hope, sorry Danny DeVito). The others though? All top tier songs. The Gospel Truth by the Muses? BANGER. The I want song by Hercules with Go The Distance? BANGER. Zero to Hero by the Muses? BANGER. I Won't Say by Megara? BANGER. A Star Is Born by the Muses again? BANGER. It's just banger after banger, and the fact that most of them is gospel is just amazing. It's probably the most creative take they could've gone with when composing the songs. I cannot express how much I love the Muses, their voice actors are just so talented. They ate.

Hades. My favorite Disney villain of all the time. Lord, where do I even start? I could probably write a whole essay on this character. First, I think I'll go with his actions. He's a bastard, but god is he a fun one. The way he talks, reactions, and the scenarios play out? It's so amusing, it always made me want to see the whole movie revolve around him even if he was the villain. Hot take? I think he's the strongest Disney villain. I know everyone likes to think Maleficent is the strongest, and yeah, she's strong, but Hades is a GOD. With a capital G. He released and commanded titans that took out MULTIPLE GODS. Yeah, he's evil, but technically, we can say he's like Scar in the sense that he won for like a single minute tops. But a win is a win.

The humor won me over with him, like why is he actually kinda hilarious. And that voice? That is such an unconventional voice to go with, but oddly enough, it works so well? Usually Hades in different media is portrayed as a brooding silent intimidating type of character, but this Hades is nothing like that. He's a fast talker, like a con/business man, and gives some of the most iconic lines. I can recognize that voice anywhere. Actually, I was doing research for TWST (specifically Ignihyde) once, and out of curiosity, I ended up watching part of the movie in Japanese. For research, you know. Y'all, when I tell you that Hades in the Japanese dub sounds EXACTLY like the original English version–– I lost my mind that day.

[dark-night-hero]

I’ve a question please don’t mind

Why are people so obsessed about non-mc reader?

I mean

Just why

We’re the mc’s??

And it’s proven that the boys only have eyes for the mc

So why? I’ve also seen ppl making the mc the villain in their stories and it’s not my cup of tea

So I usually ignore it

But the troupe of

Non-mc reader being the wife of ml’s who are cheating with mc

Then the non-mc reader suffers or sometimes gains a redemption arc as the ml’s grovel at their feets

But

Why?

I kind of hate ppl making the mc such an irredeemable villain when really nothing is relevant to her in the first place

I tried filtering the non-mc tag but nope

This is just my opinion about this matter i hope you don't mind. But I think it has something to do with the what if of: what if I'm a total different persona- someone who was out of the scene- but still exist in the world of lads- would he fall for me for being actually me- or would he stick to this other version of me who alread had this certain connection to me, the MC.

I love MC, I think others love her too (I mean come on, that girl is basically us too. That's correct, thats a fact.) But the difference between MC and NON-MC reader is the fact that MC already has certain connection with the lads man. Zayne and Caleb as her childhood friend. Rafayel as her Bodyguard. Xavier as a Coworker. Sylus as... well those two have a very complicated business partner like relationships. But the thing is, it comes naturally, like fate.

Non-MC readers were the one who doesn't have that natural connection. They aren't the childhood friend, bodyguard, coworker nor business partner. They were just... at most of the time bystander. Like actually us in the real world who was behind the screen watching the lads man and mc interact. It was the version of us that was the bystander. Always there for them but was beyond reach.

And I love that fact, I love that realistic vibe I got from non-mc reader. And yes, while it sound so wrong to get the MC, the other version of ourself be the villain. I kind of get it because it is the easiest way to make it more painful, to make it hurt even better. I suppose if there as any mc like candidate in lads she wouldn't be villainize that much. But she was the only one we have that could actually make it hurt and make it feel so damn insecure about the non-mc reader. After all who could hurt us better than our own self.

Initially, on the part 2 of my caleb non mc significant other. I want solely the mc to be the reason why he left. But then halfway, I was like. Nah. That seemed predictable which lead me to the path I never thought before. Be it another person. Which made it happened. That's when I realise perhaps I too antagonize the mc too much. Made me view her,mc, into different light. At the same time, a non-mc would always and will always be somehow insecure about her no matter how good their relationship is with each other unless the lads boys stop showing like she. The mc was their priority.

Overall, as a angst writer. Non-mc reader was such good writing material in the lads fandom. And if I'm writing for pain and wanted to give, I would use it over and over again. I think that also is the reason for others why they like non-mc trope so much.

Then again, that was just my option hehe.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

asdslfdjal so I don't know if you've said this before and my sincerest apologies if you have but I was just wondering

you've said before that you dislike jack in large part due to his design, but what about his character and writing?

[Referencing this post and this post!]

Unfortunately 🙂‍↕️ I’m not a fan of his character either… I appreciate his dedication and how pure of heart he can be (wanting to play by the rules, thinking about his one life partner, etc.) but I can’t say that I find that all too interesting. He’s too… “good boy” for me, I guess?? Jack feels very much like a standard rough around the edges lone wolf tsundere and I honestly don’t see how he’s different or how he stands out from similar characters.

Writing-wise, I think Jack’s… okay? It’s not that the quality of his writing is bad, it’s just that there are other issues holding his character back that aren’t necessarily Jack’s fault. It’s more like the fault of the general storytelling and the direction the devs took.

For example, Jack constantly gets shafted for events. He is one of the characters with the most event Rs and barely had any event SSRs, and therefore hardly gets spotlighted.

The few times when Jack does get attention, Twst tends to focus on one-note traits like wanting to be fit/work out rather than diversifying his interests or using those traits to imply something more about his character (okay, Jack likes to work out but why?). The most I could say is maybe something like “he is disciplined and very determined because he follows a training schedule and sleeps at 10 pm every night”. The issue is that we already know this, and it just feels like Twst continues to recycle the same facts about Jack over and over rather than coming up with new material. If you want Deep Jack Howl Lore, you need to really squint your eyes for it and read between the lines because canon is giving us not only crumbs, but STALE crumbs.

His biggest appearances in the main story aren’t super memorable either. Book 2 has notoriously bad writing, which doesn’t help Jack’s first appearance, and he’s more of a detriment than a help in book 3 (as Azul catches us in his office because of Jack’s tail). Book 2 tried to do something interesting by having Jack feel betrayed by his dorm leader, whom he idolized, but this idea was poorly conveyed and did not allow for the full extent of Jack’s feelings to be communicated. It’s not until his dream in late book 7 that we get to see just how much this betrayal truly devastated Jack—and that’s far too late to make amends for the damage caused by book 2.

#JusticeForJackHowl 😤

[scraftyisthebest]

I like how Liko is, in a way, more like a more standard JRPG protagonist. Like not necessarily "Pokémon player character" type of protagonist, but rather the kind of protagonist you see in other JRPGs, where she's the "player character", but she's surrounded by multiple other characters who serve as "party members" and they work together in battles against enemies.

The standard JRPG (especially more well-known cases like Persona and Final Fantasy but so many others) usually has multiple characters who serve as party members in addition to the protagonist character, but usually for battles only four characters can be actively participating in battles at any time, which is always the protagonist and three active party members. Which funnily enough, has been the case with Liko at most points: including herself, she's usually in a team of up to four people at any point in time. These party members join the protagonist's adventure at different points in time, usually upon the protagonist agreeing to have them join.

Roy is her most consistent "party member", and Dot is also a constant once she becomes active. The fourth slot has been less constant and has rotated out a bit. For the longest time it was Friede, but he's been removed from the equation, which isn't uncommon in JRPGs: sometimes, a party member dies or has to leave. Friede is also kinda like Oifeys and Jagens in Fire Emblem, the crutch party member who carries Liko and her friends against stronger foes early on but eventually has to be phased out. Amethio even served as a temporary party member against the White Zygarde. And now, Uruto has joined as the current fourth party member, joining for real in Episode 95 and Liko was the one who agreed to let Uruto join them.

Like most RPG heroes, Liko is the heart of the group no matter who the characters around her are. She's the linchpin of the group and she's the one who gets others to open up and eventually join her. She got Dot, who started out as a total recluse unwilling to interact with others, to open up to her, and eventually they forged a close bond of friendship and now Dot is a formal companion on her adventures. She's doing the same with Uruto now, willingly letting him into her circle once he decides he wants to join them (very JRPG-core) and she's also doing a pretty good job at getting him to open up and get closer with her and by extension her group. Even Amethio being a temporary party member against Zygarde was built up well because Liko got him to open his heart to her and build an understanding between the two of them, even though they were enemies to start. He'll undoubtedly be an ally again once he comes back.

It even runs in the family with her, since she's Lucius's descendant and Lucius was very much the heart of his original group. While not strictly JRPG-like, in Dungeons and Dragons fashion he met Gibeon in a tavern before Gibeon joined his group, which fits the "RPG Protagonist" flavor that he embodies, and Liko herself in a way takes after.

It's pretty different from Ash who tended to embody RPG hero tropes more through his Pokémon than through himself. His OG Squad has a four-member ensemble with Pikachu and the three Kanto starters, since the starters are the closest to RPG Protagonist tropes among the creatures. He's from Gen 1 and those games feel more like 90s JRPGs like Dragon Quest. He went from that to having the "boss fight" Pokémon like Dragonite and Gengar by the end. That said, most of his human companions didn't quite feel like JRPG party members the way Liko's friends do. Ash was, for the most part, the primary one in action in his story.

But Liko on the other hand feels more like a typical JRPG protagonist in a good way. She often fights her biggest battles in a team effort with her fellow "party members". And her relationships with others is a huge part of her own character and story.

That's actually pretty cool.

[grimmfauna]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm just imagining Uryuu and Kaito being momentarily startled out of their internal spirals by Ryuuken getting fucking GUT PUNCHED by Medicham or Lucario because he didn't leave fast enough for their tastes adsgf Or they at least attempt it and that's enough for a message even if Ryuuken gets pissy about them 'controlling their pets better'

Also, I'm double checking the pokedex and Weavile is both devious and capable of leaving scratched out signs on trees and boulders for communication. Weaver(? Temp name for weavile maybe idk) just scratching out what is essentially 'stay away' into Ryuuken's front door if left unsupervised for long enough.

Honestly, I can see getting laid on by a giant cat being kind of like deep pressure therapy. Like a big soft weighted blanket that can purr at you. And Uryuu doesn't even have to ask for hugs from Ichi! They just lay on him when they sense him getting anxious feel like it. Lucario coming over and giving him an awkward lil head pat before settling down beside him totally not standing guard because Uryuu is in fairly vulnerable position while trapped

Speaking of Lucario, I think Urahara is the first (well, probably second after Kaito who has lived with it longer) to catch on to the fact that Lucario is so attuned to Kaito's feelings towards people and is frankly DELIGHTED when he connects these dots because he was kind of wondering why he has a new little sentinel and gosh darn it, isn't that so cute? Sometimes, taking care of Kaito is like feeding the feral cat in the alley behind the shop so he's very touched by obvious signs that Kaito cares (Not that he ever doubted it, it's just that some things come slowly, is all). I think Yoruichi and Tessai get to hear Urahara cooing about how cute it is.

All the pokemon helping in training is very true, I was thinking that Kaito's slightly feral about combat-ness would rub off on the team, especially since they already come from a world where battling together is one of the ways to strengthen the bonds between pokemon and trainer so this is all just Pack Bonding Time lmao

heheheh Kaito learning Aura from Lucario, Lucario learning Kido with Kaito from Tessai... They'd be absolute fucking menaces LMAO

And hey! Kaito is just doomsday prepping now that he's run through the full extent of his future knowledge and everything is going to be new to him from here on out /silly (Especially now with both Aizen and Mayuri dead, the stuff after Aizen's betrayal will be ESPECIALLY different, considering the roles those two play in the more recent stuff)

I think Kaito has stories for all of or at least most of the pictures he brought back with him considering that no one else any of the assumed background knowledge of that world. I think it would be nice if he got to ramble about it to Kisuke and whoever is hanging around while they transfer over and check that all the pictures made it. (though I can see Kaito also perhaps getting a little self conscious about talking so much and getting gently prompted to continue, since both him and Uryuu are kind of reserved like that. They're still getting used to people actually wanting to listen to them and not having to be as to the point and curated as they had to be with Ryuuken and their lack of close friends before now)

Like, normally he doesn't talk a lot about himself but this is Easier to talk about because he's not really talking about himself, technically! He's telling them about his pokemon and that world and that's less personal aside from the obvious fondness in his voice for his team lol

for the born into the pokeworld AU, I think it would be hilarious if it had it's own version of dimension hopping Kaito but instead of actually traveling dimensions, he's traveling the different regions and constantly accidentally tripping in the various different Pokegame's plots asdgfhg. Never as the MC or Rival of course but always like, accidentally present and with more ability to contact his family and friends so he can tell them the shit he's fallen into THIS TIME. It'd be especially funny whenever the new 'plot' calls back/references legendaries/mythicals from previous regions and he has to bite his tongue about kind of sort of already knowing them (except Giritina, He can't deny knowing Giritina with the fella just FOLLOWING HIM like this lmaoooo) because otherwise the evil team of the season will try to capture him because why WOULDN'T they if he could be the easy way to their plot. Especially since most times Legendaries are mentioned in the games, the characters talk about how they haven't been seen in a LONG TIME and yet here's this kid who has both seen AND INTERACTED with them?? Need to get him, Now.

Kaito checking his phone and being lowkey bewildered over how his contact list has grown (the MCs and the Mc's friends and rivals from various regions, the numbers of professors he has probably used once or twice, that sort of thing)

I do love the thought of Kaito getting, like, reverse adopted by pokemon, legendary or his own team, just like he sort of unintentionally does to other people (the Teens, Hanataro, his shinigami friends...) and he just kinda doesn't know what to do about it. He also can't really HIDE Giratina unless he puts it in a pokeball but that feels kind of mean after all the time it spent isolated in its own dimension. So he's stuck asking his Poke Professor dad if there's anyway that they could like, help Giratina hide/obscure it's presence while allowing it to still see and experience the world.

I'm restarting my save file for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and was thinking of naming the protag after Kaito (it seems fitting for the game where you get the time space pokemon haha). Which got me thinking- Do you have any thoughts on what starter and pokemon Kaito would have? 🤔

Hahahahaha, very fitting, yes 💖

Hmmm, if we're talking about pokemon from Brilliant Diamond.. I think he'd either start with a Piplup or a Chimchar. Piplup because of the Pokedex description of being very proud and hard to bond with, and Chimchar because it's a fast fighting pokemon and that's sort of his whole thing.

As for a full team, let's see... I'm sticking to Brilliant Diamond pokemon to uh, ease my decisions a bit, and assuming end game final team. A team that I am assembling based on Vibes, not whether or not it is a balanced team capable of rolling up the final fights easily or not, so absolutely zero promises on viability looooool

Empoleon (first partner pokemon, chosen bc he sees himself in it)

Luxray (caught as Shinx, he needs a cute fluffy to pet)

Medicham (caught as Meditite because it saw him practicing jinzen and joined him)

Lucario (from Riley's gift, Riolu/Lucario are just friendshaped, fite me)

Rapidash (caught as Ponyta, sometimes u wanna go fast without doing all the work yourself)

Weavile (caught as Sneasel, companionship and seeing a bit of who he's become in it)

[imabiscuitinthousandworlds]

i just read treacle walker all in one go and i couldn't tell you what exactly it did to me but. it sure is gonna stay with me. it felt like my childhood came back to hug me and fill the dirt with wonder.

[caligvlasaqvarivm]

wanna ask how you feel about the eridan bpd headcanon/theory(?? not sure what to call it!) you're so good at your character analysis and i'd love to see your outlook on it

Since I don't have a degree or any formal training in psychology, I feel deeply uncomfortable diagnosing characters. I've made an autism joke before but only because I'm on the spectrum. He's definitely traumatized and anxious, but I mean those as descriptors of his behavior rather than capital-D Diagnoses. I try to focus on those when I can - the cause and effect of cognition, self-image, and behavior - and those factors may very well match up with DSM criteria, but I try not to touch an actual diagnosis with a ten foot pole unless the author has explicitly stated that X character has Y condition.

[icewindandboringhorror]

I'm so heavily anti-advertising that all pitches sound goofy silly to me/I can never take them seriously, so I have no idea how I'll manage to to advertise my game even if I do finally finish it soon-ish lol...

[lord-squiggletits]

Between TF and my other fandoms like BG3 and TES, I keep finding myself making OCs that have some element of "battle hardened hero who is actually good and righteous, but so traumatized by the toll of war that even after the war ends they feel empty/wrecked and can't enjoy the fruits of victory" and I'm not sure if it's bc I gravitate to a certain type of media where such OCs fit in best, or bc I have a specific character archetype I like and gravitate towards media that contains those things.

[boylebingo]

i’m sorry but i have read The Bear discourse and it’s driving me nuts! to say that there is no chemistry between sydney and carmy other than as friends is just simply Not Based in Reality and whether a relationship is narratively Plausible in our collectively Imagined Future is not (nor does it need to be!) the same as whether you think it would be like a good narrative Choice