#first one was molly and tommy fun fact

[spagetroach]

Work in progress, it's sad enough as it is, cause it didn't happen, but I'm probably gonna make it a whole lot sadder. Or happier, depending on how you look at it. Anyway, first arcane drawing that isn't heavily referenced, and my first timebomb artwork, enjoy!

[pansysgothgf]

The Buddie Grey’s Anatomy AU I wrote is done so here’s the rest of my moodboards for it + the rambling thoughts I have about the characters :)

Hen!! Hen’s the character I was the most excited about but also the character I feel like I did the least with because as much as I adore Cristina, so many of her plot points in the show seemed to revolve around her truly horrific boyfriends/fiancés/husbands. My hatred of Owen Hunt runs deep, so Karen ended up being partially inspired by Burke. I ended up mostly focusing on Hen and Buck becoming friends, but I do wish I got to spend a little more time on her :(

I ended up sharing Bailey’s plot lines and character between Maddie and Chim, which I’m pretty happy with tbh! My favourite scene to write with them was actually the first one of theirs I wrote for this fic, which was my whumptober submission that ended up being a chunk of chapter two. While they’re mostly based after Bailey, Maddie also reminded me a little bit of Jo (both of them surviving abusive husbands) and I gave her one of April’s plot lines in the final chapter, which was exciting! I did briefly consider incorporating Lexi, Molly or Maggie’s plot lines in for Maddie (the whole ‘secret sibling’ thing) but it just didn’t work with the way I set it up.

LUCY MY LOVE!! I became so unintentionally attached to Lucy while writing this so she got WAY more plot than I was initially intending haha! There’s something so magical about watching the first few seasons of Grey’s and seeing the dynamic between all of the roommates, which I tried really hard to incorporate into the fic. Then I realized I’d become attached to Lucy and Ravi and went… oh shit I’m going to have to actually give them plots rip. I had so much fun choosing which Izzie plots to give to Lucy since Izzie has some really amazing stuff to work with in the show. I ended up going with the two biggest plots (imo). Because I changed so much though, I ended up combining Izzie’s cancer plot line and Amelia’s brain tumour to create what I ended up with. I’m pretty happy with it, honestly, I hope I built it up sufficiently enough :)

Ravi!!! Ravi is what people wish George O’Malley could’ve been. As I’ve previously stated, I do not like the majority of Grey’s men, and this includes George. I ended up focusing mostly on George’s issues with confidence and his complicated relationship with his family. I also elected not to go the bus route with Ravi, you’re all welcome. Fun fact! I made Lena the orthopaedic surgeon because my biggest crack ship in all of 9-1-1 is Lena/Ravi. I headcannon them to be a lesbian and a gay man but they match each other’s freak, and they’re both just as surprised about it as anyone.

Honourable mentions (aka characters I want to yap about but didn’t make moodboards for):

Shannon: I based Shannon off of Addison Forbes-Montgomery-Shepherd SPECIFICALLY because of the season 1 finale. They’re both the secret wives that show up and create chaos which I love lol. I specifically left Shannon’s ending pretty ambiguous, mainly because I don’t know if she would’ve stuck around had she lived in 9-1-1. If we’re going off of Grey’s though, she’s living her best life in LA with a group of friends who she cares a lot about. I like to think that at some point Chris reaches out (probably when he’s a lot older) and they create a tentative relationship.

Tommy: I gave Tommy elements of both Mark Sloan and Owen Hunt (just his position at the hospital because seriously, fuck Owen Hunt). I decided on Tommy as Mark before Season 7 started airing which is WILD because I basically flipped a coin between him and Sal, but went with Tommy since he showed up to fly the plane in season 2. I wrote him and Buck kissing after Buck, Bothered and Bewildered though lol! I don’t really think about what happens to Tommy after the ending of the fic, although it’s definitely not what happened to Mark. Seeing as Owen doesn’t exist in this world, neither does the plane crash <3

Ok that’s it thanks for coming to my ted talk :)

[nysocboy]

Gemstones Episode 2.1 Review: Junior likes dicks, Kelvin likes pecs, and f*k yeah, we got both

Season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones began over two years after the Season 1 finale, and the back stories, personalities, and even the genre has changed.  Remember, Danny McBride likes his seasons to be complete stories, with no or few call-backs, so new viewers easily understand what's going on.  In fact, it may be fun for us to start afresh, watch as if we have never seen or heard of these people before.  

Memphis Soul Stew: Memphis, 1968. Teenage Eli Gemstone, the Maniac Kid (Jake Kelley), is playing a heel, a pro wrestling villain: "from the wrong side of the tracks, a newcomer to the League, all muscle, all attitude."  He fights dirty, pretending to reconcile with opponent Kyle Hawk, then throwing him out of the ring.  

As he fights, his manager Glendon Marsh (Wayne Duvall) cheers. Glendon's teenage son Junior (Tommy Nelson) watches, sometimes happy but usually disturbed.  Is he jealous of the attention Eli is getting?  Is he a rebellious teenager during the era of the Generation Gap?.

Nice Cock:  In the locker room, Glendon offers Eli "some bonus pay on the South Side," while Junior looks on, smoking a cigarette, still either jealous or angry. As they leave, they pass a naked guy. "That's a nice cock, Ernie," Glendon says.  Junior is so busy looking that he trips, and then looks back again.  The boy is definitely into cocks and butts.

The Loan Enforcer: Glendon is a loan shark as well as a wrestling manager: the job involves beating up a deadbeat.  Eli and Junior both go, squabbling over who's the boss.  

"Kill 'em!" we hear.  Psych!  It's the tv.  We meet a slovenly, drunken, foul-mouthed, abusive jackass of a husband.  While Junor subdues his wife and baby, Eli punches him a few times and asks for the money, and when he doesn't have it, breaks his thumbs. Junior laughs "derangedly" (according to the subtitles).

Afterwards Glendon drops Eli off, hands him some money, and tells him, "Buy yourself something nice." This is a feminizing statement. 

As Eli drives off on his motorcycle, we hear Buck Owens' "Tall Dark Stranger":

 They say a tall dark stranger is a demon, and  that a devil rides closely by his side.

 So if Junior is the demon, Eli must be the devil riding beside him.  How long will they ride together?

We're fine with the faggots:  In 2022, elderly Eli Gemstone is a megachurch pastor and televangelist.  He and the satellite church ministers are discussing the case of Pastor Butterfield (Victor Williams), caught videotaping his wife and another woman having sex in a dance club restroom, while they were all high on Molly ("we thought they were Sweetarts").  The story made the front page of The New York Times, thanks to reporter Thaniel Block (Jason Schwartzman), who has made a career of publicizing ministerial sex scandals.  Eli wants to be lenient, but the others object.  (Left: random pecs)

A Spanish speaking pastor explains: "My church is ok with the maricones (roughly faggots), but we're not ready for swinging and tropus."     Pastor Diane translates: "His church is really cool with the gays and the queers, but not so much about the swingers and the thruples."  They fire Pastor Butterfield; he tries to commit suicide.

 Why did Pastor Diane translate maricones with two words, gays and queers?  Why queers, doubtless with the old pejorative meaning rather than the contemporary reclamation? I get the impression that the pastors are not really ok with maricones, so any gay ministers might want to stay in the closet, especially with the reporter snooping around.  Since this is the first scene in the present day, it is doubtless setting up one of the main conflicts of the season.  But who is the gay minister  Eli, Junior, or someone not yet introduced?  

F*ck, yeah:  After the morning service, the family drives in a caravan to Jason's Steak House.  They get out of their cars in slow motion and walk past the al fresco area, heterosexual couples reveling in their nuclear family conformity, the "job, house, wife, kids" litany of my youth made visible. The background song brags about their heteronormative success:

Turn your head when I walk by -- I got the world at my feet.

All I want out of every day, is to wake up every morning

Sun is shining, smiling, and we've covered every room 

 Wait -- where's Kelvin?

Suddenly the record scratches off. Two vans pull up with a flexing muscle Christ and the logo "Strength above All Else." Twelve muscle men emerge, wearing identical canvas gis: the God Squad! Closeups of biceps and pecs and abs,bulging, flexing, intruding on the smug primness of the nuclear families.  There is no romance here.  There is no heterosexual desire.  It is raw homoerotic power.

We see their leader from the back of his tiger-splashed leather jacket.  Who is this Messiah of Muscle,  this Pope of the Phallus, demolishing the iron cage of heteronormativity, leading us to the bright, clear love of men for men?    

He turns around for the big reveal.  

Kelvin!  The prissy little femme boy from church earlier?  I thought it would be Junior.

He has changed his jacket: more shiny buttons, a gold bracelet.  And his pants: a porn-star bulge and a bright gold zipper to help guide us to the Promised Land.  Obviously gay, but hardly closeted.  His life, career, and religion all center on masculine beauty.

A man we haven't met before stands beside him, identified as Keefe.  His relationship to Kelvin is unclear.  Assistant or boyfriend?  Acolyte or lover?   

Kelvin gives his God Squad some micromanaging instructions about "eating light," and starts to walk toward the steakhouse.  Keefe stops him. "Excuse me, sir. Will you be dining with the men and I?"  Sir? Assistant. 

Kelvin says no, he'll be dining "above you" with the family.

Keefe: "Shall I join you?"  Boyfriend.

Kelvin: No. "Upstairs church lunch is only for family...and Daddy's closest work associates." 

This upsets Keefe.  He looks like he's about to cry.  Apparently they have enjoyed intimacy before, so he thinks he should be treated as a boyfriend. Never hook up with your boss, Dude: it only leads to trouble.

Kelvin: "Do not take this personal.  No matter how many disciples we gather, you're still my Number One."  So Kelvin is Jesus, and Keefe is the Beloved Disciple.  Assistant

Keefe still looks upset, so Kelvin says "Let me tickle them titty meats" and reaches out to squeeze his nipple through his shirt.  Hey, that's inappropriate with an employee. Boyfriend..

Then he swishes off with a jaunty over-the-shoulder smile, pushing up the gay stereotypic behavior  Boyfriend.

Now we see Kelvin's central conflict: he is closeted after all.  He imagines that being gay is incompatible with the cozy families sitting upstairs in Jason's Steakhouse, so if he wants a career and a family, he must deny Keefe like Peter denied Christ: "Him?  Oh, he's my...um...assistant."  During this season, Keefe will be pushing for a place at the table, recognition as a romantic partner. Will Kelvin find a way to admit him?  

The full review, with nude photos is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[lokilickedme]

Please sort your OC's based on the following metric- what is their preferred holiday pie if they had to pick from only these: apple, pumpkin, or pecan?

I feel like King would be an apple man all the way. The cinnamon, the butter, the crust of sugar on top...he didn't gain twenty pounds in the first ten years of marriage to Molly, winner of the pie competition at the County Claighe Spring Faire every year for eight years running, for nothing.

Chem!Tom is apple too. Fun fact: he's allergic to apples. But Anja doesn't know that, and he's never told her, because the first Thanksgiving dessert she ever baked for him was an apple pie and like the good man he is, he ate every crumb and then claimed the hives all over his face were heat rash from the AC in his car being out.

Baltho: apple. Keene: pumpkin. Dunno why, just seems right. They don't know (or care) much about holidays but they do like to eat.

Pop Heyworth: pecan, specifically the ones Ewan makes at the pub.

Dougan Flannery: apple. Darcy Kendall: apple as well. Bard Ramsay: pecan, because he's gotta be arbitrary and ask for something different than the others just to make it difficult on the cook.

Thomas Dowd: apple

Everyone at the Weemeetwa PD: whatever the library ladies made this year

Jake: pumpkin, no idea why. I think his sister always brings him one every time she comes over and he's just developed a taste for it.

Pete: whatcha got?

Tommy Stark: pecan, because Chloe made him one for their first Thanksgiving together and he decided before he ever even tasted it that it would be his favorite from then on.

Bragneire: partial to pumpkin because it's exotic where he's from and a traveling delegate trying not to get beheaded offered him some as tribute once...he's been obsessed with it ever since and keeps trying to bully Loki's wife into making it for him, since Loki grows pumpkins in his garden. It's been a no so far.

Aleks Lokisson: apple, and he's the one that bakes it because Cara's the breadwinner, he's the housespouse.

Agent 5: pecan. Is so predictable about ordering it everywhere he goes, opposing Agencies have used it as a way of tracking him.

It's 4 in the morning and my brain is fried, if I've forgotten any that you might have been looking for let me know :)

@meri47

[dreamsmp-au-ideas]

Fun fact: If there ever was a chance where Dream does manage to go through the Nether Portal in the GiH au, he would get immediately decimated.

His strengths lie in manipulation, not fighting, as ironic as that is. He relies on others fighting each other and then swoops in and takes everything both parties have.

Straight battles though is a different story.

So if he ever goes and even just steps foot through the nether portal, three things will happen.

The first is that Tommy, Tubbo, and Ranboo would freeze up and Purpled would go and stand in front of them protectively.

The second is that one of the responsible adults punch him in the face. This can range from Eret, Bad, Molly, Remus, or Sirius.

The third thing is that Sam, Puffy, Jack, Sapnap, Quackity, and Karl would come through, chasing Dream down, only to find him face down on the floor.

Reunions happen and a telletubbie is beaten up.

[lillian-nator]

Ranch AU

Or, as we all call it, The Cowboy AU 

Essentially, this was something that I created, and it’s gonna be purely fluffy, with a small bit of angst here and there. Any of the angst will be hurt/comfort. It’s meant to make us all feel better after those fucking harsh lore streams. I started it, based off of some shit in the Dad!Schlatt AU, and after that I honestly didn’t write most of it. It had really been a project in the discord, because we were all sad and shit, so if you have some fluff to offer, please do! I am happy to make almost anything canon - and we could always use more ideas. :)

I hope you enjoy some mindless farm boi fluff!

BASIC INFO: 

It's SBI's Ranch (Phil is Dadza, Tommy, Techno, and Wilbur are his sons)

Phil, sells to the local stores, and manages the crops. He doesn't do too much labor anymore. He hired his boys for that.

Dream, SapNap, Purpled, Tubbo, Callahan, and Punz are all hired farm hands

George, Niki, Ranboo, and Fundy work at the shop where they sell their products; Niki makes all of the dairy products, Fundy and Ranboo stock, label prices, and keeps track of sales, and George works customer service with his Gogy magic.

Wilbur works with the sheep, the goats, and he trains the dogs (Collies - they herd sheep), he also works with the crops a lot

Schlatt isn't hired but he might as well be. He can be found wherever Wilbur is, and is probably drinking a beer he stole from Phil. He doesn't get paid, but he eats all of their food.

Tommy works with the cows, the pigs, the chickens, the horses (sometimes), his goose, and the dogs / cats that they own

Tubbo works with Tommy. Essentially. But he also works on the crops, and the bee farm that they have set up.

Techno works with the horses, and is currently training to be a veterinarian.

Dream works on horses with Techno - they race the horses competitively - but otherwise, is where ever he is needed (usually crops)

Purpled works with Tommy and Tubbo. He mostly works with Tubbo on crops and his bee farm.

Punz and SapNap haul things. As your resident Chads, they are in-charge of moving heavy things and doing manual labor.

Callahan is their repair man. He fixes tractors, and machines on a daily basis.

SOME HEADCANNONS: 

HENRY, a saga:

that henry has a matching bandana to the one Tommy has so that everyone knows thats henry. Tommy doesn't like it when people touch henry so henry gets a bandana - Shark -

when Phil first started raising Tommy, he would've never guessed that he would turn out the way he did.

He was loud, and brash, and hit his brothers, and made fun of the neighbor's kids,  but then Tubbo became Tommy's best friend, and then Phil introduced Tommy to the cows.

The cows are Tommy's everything.

When a Bred Heifer is due, he sits with them everyday past their due date - he sat with Betty for 5 days when she wouldn't birth a calf. He was so fucking worried.

When one of his cows are sick, he sleeps in the barn until they get better. His last days with Harvey fucked him up.

Tubbo, Tommy, Purpled, and Ranboo spend long nights at the farm, and Tommy always leans against Henry as he stares up at the stars.

Henry who his best girl (all cows are girls and Tommy doesn't give a shit about gendered names). Henry who wears a matching bandana. Henry who is fluffy, and warm, and Tommy's everything. -

Sometimes when Tommy had a bad day, whether it’s stress, or school, or just whatever, Tommy sleeps in the Henry’s stall with her. Phil has so many pictures of Tommy curled up with Henry. From when she was first born to now. - Eye

Tommy hates winter because that’s the one time of year Phil won’t let him sleep in the barn. Even with the layers and heat lamps it’s too unsafe. Tommy always gets up extra early in the winter. Both because he has to check and break ice in the water troughs but also because he misses his girl - Eye -

Henry's mother, Betty, was the first Cow Tommy had helped during birth. He sat with her for 5 days when she hadn't gone into labor past her due date. It took 9 hours for Henry to be born, and Tommy was there through the entire thing -

Well, almost the entire thing. He was at school for the first hour of labor, and was so pissed at Phil when Phil knew and didn't immediately come get Tommy from School.

It always felt like Tommy and Henry had a special bond because Tommy literally raised Henry from birth. -

They didn't think Henry was gonna make it when she was first born, but Tommy was fucking determined, and bottle fed that cow every single day and night. When she was slowly weened off milk, Tommy got unironically sad that he didn't have to bottle feed her anymore.

He still visited her every morning, and milked her mother at dawn, right after he got eggs from his hens. -

Henry waits for Tommy at the end of their long ass drive way when he gets home from school. She knows that when the bus pulls up that her boy is back and so she’s always there waiting lazily for pets and a nice walk together back to the house. Even when it’s cold and someone is waiting for the kids to get home in an ATV or something Tommy always walks back to the house with Henry - Eye

Thinking about how long these fucking country roads are. And how Tommy and Tubbo have the same bus stop even though Tubbo and Tommy's houses are a couple of miles away. Tommy has to walk a mile to get to the beginning of his driveway, and seeing his favorite girl there is like a reward at the end of a journey. Tommy probably keeps a bag of feed in his backpack, which is just a mixture of grain, hay and corn, and gives Henry a handful to thank her for waiting for him.

Clementine, The Goose: 

Tommy has a goose, and names it Clementine. 

He found her in the woods one day, when she was very young, and he decided he was going to keep Clementine. 

Clementine is only ever nice to Schlatt and Tommy. No one knows why. 

Clementine follows Tommy around. Very endearing. 

Phil doesn’t question it at this point 

NEW MILO, the sequel:

OG Milo is a kitten that Wilbur found on the side of the road, in the rain, and he took the kitten in, trying to save him. Wilbur immediately got attached.

Techno pulled an all nighter, half spent  trying to save OG Milo and the other half comforting Wilbur. "You couldn't have helped, he was too starved and out in the rain for too long." Phil adds that if Techno can't save something, it can't be saved. - Ethan

Wilbur's next cat was named New Milo in honor - Ethan

Anyway, New Milo has three kittens. Blood God, Boots (given to Fundy), and Bumbles (given to Tubbo). They're called the Bees and they were born Christmas Eve - Ethan

BLOOD GOD, the pussy:

Blood God is Techno's cat. Its just a ferall little molly that loves techno too much. - M -

After Techno helped New Milo have her litter, he wasn't originally gonna keep any of the kittens, but he saw this tiny thing with the orange muzzle and just: stole her.

He is also nicknamed Blood God, for both his skill in hunting and healing

He originally named her Piglet because the orange spot looked like a pig snout [the main reason he chose her and not her stronger littermates] but called her Blood God teasingly when he first adopted her

Wilbur didn't realize he meant it as a nickname and told everyone her name was Blood God

Techno still calls her Piglet, but everyone else calls her Blood God because that's the name on her collar.

Most of their cats aren't collared, but Phil made her a custom collar because he was worried she'd get lost hunting with Techno and Dream - Ethan -

Blood God is such a batshit cat. She's a runt, really, oddly small compared to her siblings, and she's their best mouser

She's the cat that everyone leaves scraps for, but never tries to pet out of fear

Often she'll climb up people's legs and sit on their shoulders, and it's the only time you can pet her.

She is very, very affectionate with Techno and he loves her very much. He has her very well trained, and she comes with him and Dream when they go hunting sometimes alongside a terrier.

She's a little itty bitty calico molly and she has an orange patch right over her muzzle - Ethan

TOMMY'S HENS, the chicks:

He gets real defensive of his hens. They lay eggs for him. They deserve to be treated well. -

Tommy does in fact have an egg incubator; Sometimes it's just better. Tommy prefers letting his hens care for their own eggs, but he does still use the incubator - Ethan -

Some chickens enjoy being thrown so they can flap and shit. A few days after passing ownership of the hens to Tommy, Phil is going down to the crops and just sees Tommy chucking his hens and watching them rush back to be thrown again

he feels a hint of "what the hell" but he notes the gentleness tommy does it with and how the chickens seem to be enjoying it and he shrugs and keeps walking - Ethan -

Once Wilbur was helping Tommy with the chickens and he dropped an egg

Unfertilized, of course, but Tommy looked like you'd just punted a toddler

Three years later, Wilbur isn't allowed to touch the eggs anymore

Tommy's paranoid he'll hurt a live one

"Get out." "What - Tommy it was an accident, it was just one egg." "If you aren't gonna treat Phoebe's eggs with care; You can get the fuck out." "Tommy -" "Out." -

the quality chicken eggs depends usually on how the chicken feels. While under his care, the eggs the chickens produced were really good.

Under Tommy's care? Phil's eggs tasted like horseshit in comparison - Ethan -

They have their like, main barn and to the side of it is a little pond. The chicken coops are a little beside it, with the singular duck coop (he only has four ducks) closest. He calls the area the Business Bay

AGES: 

Tommy - 16 Tubbo - 16 Purpled - 17 Ranboo - 17

Techno - 19 Wilbur - 21 Schlatt - 19 Phil - idk like 45 or some dad shit

Fundy - 18 Niki - 19

SapNap - 18 Dream - 19 George - 20 Punz - 19 Callahan - 20

RANDOM HC’S: 

Tubbo, Niki, Ranboo, and Fundy are siblings. -

Whenever they eat meat they talk about who they're eating. 

They tell stories about their day and such but they always start dinner, when its meat, saying "rip lmao" and telling stories about them

...they don’t do it when they eat beef

Everyone sitting down with their plates of ham Wilbur: so who was it? Phil: Fern Tommy, already eating: rest in peace fern Techno: he shat on my boots once -

Each of the boys get a few animals that aren't allowed to be butchered.

Wilbur has Friend, Enemy, and Skit the Bull. (Wilbur wanted to name a Bull "Shit", but Phil said no because Tommy was 11 and already swearing too much for his liking)

Techno has none of the livestock. He only cares about Blood God, and his horses.

Tommy has a pig [currently unnamed], his Hens (6 or 7 of them, that lay eggs), and his dairy cows -

Phil is ALWAYS chewing on straw. -

Tommy, Techno, and Wilbur all call Phil "Pops" or "Pop". They all used to call him "Papa" though. It's like a coming of age thing for the three of them, when they stop calling him "Papa" and start calling him "Pop".

Phil may or may not have cried when Tommy started calling him "Pop" at the age of 12.

ALTHOUGH, all 3 boys know that if you want anything, you call Phil "Papa". Phil can't resist it. -

Techno and Tommy with starry eyes: pops Phil: no Wilbur: Papa Phil, with slightly less confidence: n-no   - Ethan -

Tommy holding a baby calf in his hands that he walls to bring inside for the night because hes in love with her: papa please!! Phil, practically in tears: fine.   - M

[smile-files]

melon’s comprehensive kinlist!

including name of character, source, image, short personality description, mbti, and then why i kin them! take your time to read, or don’t. i get it if you don’t want to scroll through an entire page just to psychoanalyze me lmao, have a good time

1. wirt (over the garden wall)

an angsty, socially awkward dweebus who nerds out over interior design and plays the clarinet. fears death. infp.

my first kin! for a month after rewatching otgw i desperately wanted to be him. to be like him. anything!! it eventually wore away but i still feel that urge sometimes - the urge to write r/im14andthisisdeep poetry and to distance one’s self from their siblings... and heck - his tape for sara is indeed just as awkward as he is but let me assure you that his poetry and clarinet are actually pretty cool. 9/10 i need to see him more. give me more otgw comics. ok thanks.

2. snufkin (moomins)

a philosophical vagabond of vague age. acts stoic all the time but can and will leave every social situation whether or not it’s humanly possible. infp.

after watching some 90s moomin (and later on moominvalley) i realized how much i liked him and how much i was like him; i soon daydreamed of myself, as snufkin, venting to someone. it made me very happy. i vibe with his general demeanor and ideals (minus his gripes about rules, i follow those by the book) and i love psychoanalyzing him. so fun. so fun.

3. arnold perlstein (the magic school bus)

overly-anxious jewish kid and certified expert on rocks and panicking. owns a pair of fire-proof pyjamas in a lovely shade of green. isfj.

you all saw this one coming. my early childhood lives in my mind rent free and such i can’t help but revisit arn and his character. i’ve always loved him (even in, and quite possibly especially in, the reboot) and i’ve always loved psychoanalyzing every single little thing he does (remember that one time he said he was traumatized? me too). i soon realized a lot of it was me projecting! so sue me. actually, sue miss frizzle. either one of them. i mean, if arnold really didn’t like the field trips he could’ve just filed a restraining order! ...just saying.

4. fluttershy (my little pony)

anxious pastel butterfly baby child. probably loves animals more than she loves herself. cries upon impact. isfj.

the pony i’d mentally point to and think “me”. i had like 10 fluttershy-related things growing up, like plushies or funko pops or that sdcc guardians of harmony thing. while not shy in the same manner, it was nice having a character i could relate to about so much! i cosplayed as her equestria girls form for my first comic con as well, so that’s pretty cool. in addition, me being a little lepidopterist means i was bound to love her. it was destiny~

5. lammy lamb (um jammer lammy)

socially anxious and generally anxious rock star who thinks literally everything is a guitar. has an emotional support girlfriend. infp.

man!! she embodies the feeling when you have to go to the eye doctor by yourself to get your glasses fixed or when you have to call someone over the phone... that sheer tension. the panic. the feeling of ‘i want to throw my entire being into the trash can’. but lammy has a bunch of friends to support her, so she’s cool. died by slipping on a banana peel! same, sister. and man would i like to shred on my ukulele now...

6. loser (bfb)

humble (screw bfb 21), supportive, well-loved cube dude who’s voice is like that of an angel. has an entire fanclub in his honor. enfj.

okay, no, i was never a cool kid or ‘popular’, really, but in school i was never bullied for whatever reason and was generally well-liked; i hung out with a squad of weirdos and yet the cool kids would often talk to me? and try to engage me?? despite my very apparent self-deprecation and awkwardness??? either way i feel like it’s such a blessing to me, that i have so many friends! i often feel like i don’t deserve it, but hey. it’s nice! and heck, back when i was on scratch i had a little fanclub myself :0

7. fan (inanimate insanity)

nerdy, friendly aspie boyo who subliminally vents via blogging. longs for stability in his life; was best friends with an egg. entp.

ever since i noted his aspergers-like behavior i became super attached to him - whether or not it was intentional, i found it nice having a character i can relate those feelings with. he’s really sweet and dorky and i love how he gets along with test tube, paintbrush, and lightbulb! it makes me really happy to see him whenever i do. it made me really sad when he was eliminated. what the heck. yeah i dunno i don’t kin him super strongly but i love him to bits.

8. spinel (steven universe the movie)

emotionally unstable clown girl who stood in a garden for thousands of years. patience of a saint. edge like an 11-year-old me. esfp.

uhh um uh totally wasn’t completely disturbed by how much i related to spinel after watching steven universe the movie... totally wasn’t reminded about how and why i hated middle school... totally didn’t rethink my life that day... that’s it. this is all i’m saying.

9. molly blyndeff (epithet erased)

innocent child who has a terrible father and a wonderful demeanor. teddy bear who needs a hug and a criminal as her new dad. infp.

epithet erased is adorable okay?? i knew molly was infp in the first few minutes... more precisely, i knew she was me. man!! i don’t relate directly to her angst but i still feel it. i can replicate her voice so accurately it’s scary. also, i coined a new thing -  ‘molly cake’! you have a chocolate cake, preferably with chocolate chips inside. use chocolate frosting and add little pastel star sprinkles! on top! my mom would make this cake for us anyway but then i realized it was literally just molly in cake form. and it’s just as sweet!

10. tommy coolatta (hlvrai)

a 30-something-year-old child who rocks a propeller hat. chose his last name off of a dunkin donuts menu despite the fact that he has a father. infp.

everyone loves tommy. he’s so sweet? and funny and loveable?? often times when i say something funny but bizarre, i just remember that tommy has said ‘soda helps you see faster’ and it makes me happy. if i’m going to be a weirdo i want to be the wholesome weirdo who loves soda and has a .png for a dog! also i legally have to kin tommy. i took a test for it (and i’m not complaining! i find it quite flattering).

11. twyla (monster high)

the daughter of the boogeyman; would very much like to boogey out of here, if you know what i mean. avoids people like the plague. infj.

seeing her role in the show and in the movies, i really love twyla? first of all, her voice is my new favorite thing. it’s like... gravelly? and soft? she’s the type of person who would very much like to disappear when in a crowd; thankfully, she literally can. i am drawn to any sarcastic, self-deprecating introvert who takes care of their bonkers extrovert friend (in this case howleen), as i often act as such myself. also the phrase ‘boogey sand’ will never leave my mind now :)

12. lapis lazuli (steven universe)

water gem who wants you to leave. cynical as all heck, sensitive as all hell. is there such thing as a gem therapist? just asking. infp.

in a similar way to twyla, i vibe with lapis’ sarcasm and wit as well as her emotional side. it can be kind of addicting, isolating one’s self. anywho, me and my sister used to do this routine of yelling up to each other this certain dialogue between lapis and peridot when peri was leaving for something (in which lapis replied to everything she said with dry ‘yeah’s); i would always do lapis’ part. i do reply a lot with ‘okay’ or ‘yeah’ or ‘cool’ to things people tell me, as i never really know what to say.

13. brad meltzer (xavier riddle and the secret museum)

shy jewish butterfly kid who absolutely hates time travel. attracted to people who know how to socialize like a normal human being. infp(?).

okay okay so... combine everything from arnold and everything from fluttershy and that’s basically what brad is to me. a jewish socially anxious nerd who loves butterflies and drawing. badabing badaboom, there i am. that’s it.

and boom! all of the kins i can think of, of course not including comfort characters like will byers from stranger things or isabelle from animal crossing. if you have any kins to suggest to me, i would love it! thank you for taking your time to read this, friend! have a fantastic day :)

[doritopaw101]

Arc1, book 1: Chapter 12

They had left camp as soon they could. Well as soon as Bluestar wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up before she left. Icepaw knew why Bluestar was in such a frenzy, it was to protect the clan from Shadowclan and Riverclan if they were bold enough. Things had gone bad to worse in those short days. The attacks had stopped but it went bad when Shadowclan seemed to steal prey from them and even drive it from their territory. Bluestar had said "Prey can wait, as long as cats aren't injured".

He remembered his little chat with her yesterday:

-Flashback-

Icepaw padded into Bluestar's den, head low. He had just finished eating a vole and left Ravenpaw when they had fallen asleep in their shared nest.

"Bluestar, I'm here" he mewed

"Come" she replied

Icepaw padded over til he sat infront of her nest. Bluestar's fur looked a little messy, her back was to him and when she glanced at him, her eyes were clouded with an emotion Icepaw couldn't place "How are you Icepaw?"

"I'm doing well all things considered"

"How are you getting on with the other apprentinces?"

"Chestnutpaw and Dustpaw are pieces of dung. Palepaw's joined them and Graypaw's scared of me on some level. Ravenpaw and Cherrypaw are I'm really fine with since Nettlemist, Gingerblaze, and Embereyes became warriors and don't start with me on Sandpaw"

"How's Training? I hope Tiger-roar isn't giving you a bad time"

Icepaw shook his head "He's actually fun to be around when you get past his rough side. Swanlight's fun too and Riverclan amazing no offense to Thunderclan"

Bluestar hummed "That's good to hear, he's doing better than when he had Darkstripe"

"I'm surprised a cat like Darkstripe was mentored by Tiger-roar"

Bluestar let out a small chuckle. She calmed herself before her next question.

"Have you ever killed Icepaw?"

Icepaw wasn't really uncomfortable as he should have been though he wasn't about tell Bluestar about how he killed a house cat, well not dead really from the information he got out of Tommy that the kittypet survived. A part of his mind told him to go and finish the job and another part of him told him to beg for the cat's forgiveness.

"No" he mewed "What does it feel like?"

"Depends on how you do it, who it was and if it was an accident or on purpose" the leader replied, her voice held nothing

Icepaw snorted "I bet Blackclaw had fun causing Sweetheart's death, but Sunningrocks was a dangerous spot to attack in the first place, learned that from Thrushpelt's death"

Bluestar's claws unsheathed onto the stone "It always is and always will be. We just go with it because it's been going on for so long. Me and Stormstar shrug it off at this point"

"Do you miss Thrushpelt?"

Bluestar perked her eyes "Of course I do, he was a good cat and didn't deserve that death, a father and mate"

"To you or Featherwhisker. I saw how close you too were"

Bluestar was silent for a while "Both"

Icepaw could tell the former deputy's death was still a sore wound "Have you killed Bluestar?"

Bluestar's ears twitched and turned to face him, her eyes gleaming "I have"

Icepaw's perked up, he was interested "How'd you do it? How many?"

"Three though only two actually deserved it, one was growing sickly, greencough, he would have died anyway, I just sped up the ending result and the other one...well I know it was a long time coming"

"Did it feel good killing that cat?" he figured Bluestar wouldn't tell him all of them

Bluestar stared off at the den wall" From what he's done to me, yes yes it was very good watching him take his last breath in pure agony"

"What did you use? For the sickly one I mean"

"Deadly Nightshade" Bluestar laughed without humor "I was training to be a medicine cat in my youth, I know my herbs and my poisons well"

Icepaw cocked his "But they say: The warrior code says not to kill unless absolutely necessary"

Bluestar chuckled "Yes it does say that, but as you already see cats still die for no good reason" she rested her river-colored gaze back on Icepaw "Cats will preach the code at one point but break it at another, everyone's a hypocrite it's a fact of life that I accepted long ago and you should as well"

Icepaw chuckled as well "Knew that since I was a kitten"

Bluestar smiled "You remind me of myself when I was your age, though you didn't lose your mother so young"

"She's practically dead to me" Icepaw said bluntly "She couldn't care less what happened to me or my littermates, she isn't like you, or Willowpelt, Frostbite or Goldenflower, she's like Robinwing if anything"

Bluestar sighed "She's a piece of mouse-dung isn't she"

"That's an understatement and you know it" Icepaw replied "Honestly I should get Nutmeg and have her and Robinwing met"

Bluestar stiffened "Wait...who did you just say?"

"Nutmeg" he repeated "She's my dam, or birth giver doesn't matter but she doesn't deserve the title of mother in my eyes"

Bluestar's eyes held fury and resentment but she seemed to push it away "Get some rest Icepaw, we have a long journey tomorrow and I want you to have you wits with you. I hope this talk stays between us"

Icepaw nodded and began padding but stopped for a moment "Bluestar, if I may ask what was the cat's name that you poisoned?"

Bluestar rolled onto her back as she spoke "Stormtail, his damned name was Stormtail"

-Flashback ends-

Bluestar was leading them with Leopardstorm at her side, Ravenpaw and Graypaw in the middle leaving Icepaw and Tiger-roar in the back. Icepaw remembered his training session with Tiger-roar before they left:

-Flashback-

Icepaw was being lead by Darkstripe to four-trees, a place far from camp.

Darkstripe pushed a thorn branch out of his way and made sure it him in the face. Icepaw hissed in pain and snarled at Darkstripe "What in Starclan's name was that for?"

"Clanborn cats are ready for anything, I hope my old mentor hasn't been going easy on you kittypet" Darkstripe sneered

Icepaw had thanked Starclan the branch hadn't hit his eye.

They stopped at a clearing, Tiger-roar and Nightshade were waiting he also noticed Swiftkit and Lynxkit were there as well Icepaw was shoved into the clearing by Darkstripe.

"Get up Icepaw" Nightshade mewed

Icepaw was on his paws in an instant "What is going on?"

"Training" Tiger-roar mewed "We'll be helping my kits for when they become apprentices" The splint colored tabby flexed his claws "I've trained you in my less harsh knowledge but I'm going to show you the rougher side of training"

"There's more?" Icepaw asked, slightly confused Bluestar took him out a few times for some private training, he figured what Bluestar taught was more advanced and expected that because she was leader of the clan. Bluestar was a fierce battler and knew he would lose a fight against her, if that was her going easy on him then he sure did not want to face her at full strength.

"Of course there is let's hope his kittypet brain can remember that" Darkstripe growled, he scratched his ear with his right paw

Icepaw had enough of the black tabby and did what any cat with pride would do, he attacked him. He sunk his claws into Darkstripe's shoulder's as the tabby tried to shake him off. Icepaw raised a paw then brought it he down on the back of Darkstripe's head he was soon thrown off landing on a bush.

He had no time to think when Darkstripe dragged him out by his tail and then proceeded to rip through his pelt. Icepaw hissed with fury trying to get out but the tabby had him locked.

"Down Darkstripe" Nightshade ordered

Darkstripe narrowed his yellow eyes but yielded.

Icepaw rolled onto his belly 'I should have got him' was his only thought. Scourge taught him better than that and Princess and Luna would be ashamed that he lost so quickly.

"Even Fogtail was better when I trained him" Darkstripe sneered "and yet he got beaten by a kittypet"

"Shut up Let's go again I want Nightshade this time" Icepaw growled already knowing he would regret those words as he saw the black molly smirk wickedly, claws unsheathed with Tiger-roar matching her smirk, but he didn't care he was filled with rage and determined to prove himself.

"Be careful what you ask for kitty"

-Flashback ends-

He followed the others through the grassy clearing and up the slope, into Windclan's territory or the remains of it anyway.

Tiger-roar stopped dead in his tracks, the fur on his back spiking up a little "Stop" he hissed "I smell a Shadowclan patrol"

Icepaw lifted his nose and sure enough, the scent of Shadowclan traveled through the wind. He caught the scent of Littlepaw and Whitepaw on that patrol.

"They're upwind" Bluestar mewed "They won't notice us if we keep moving"

They moved quickly, leaping over rocks, pushing their way through the sweet-smelling heather.

They had finally reached the end of the uplands. They landscape around them changed, shaped and altered beyond what humans could recognize. In the distance Icepaw spotted a familiar gray road.

"I'm guessing we have to cross the Thunderpath right?" he asked

"Indeed Icepaw" Bluestar replied as she bounded forward "Come on, we can make it by moonrise if we keep up the pace"

Icepaw followed her with the others, down the hill, away from the bleak hunting grounds that was once Windclan's territory.

The cold air chilled Icepaw's bones as the darkness of the night was beginning to wrap itself around him. The darkness made Ravenpaw invisible, while he was stuck with his fluffy white fur that made him stick out harshly.

Icepaw's attention was suddenly drawn to the sounds of barking Dogs.

His experience with big creatures were okay for the most part. He spent time with pups and they were okay and the older ones were fine as long as you didn't annoy them.

Ravenpaw had seemed to nearly jump out of his pelt and Graypaw hissed, his thick fur fluffed up more than it usually did. Icepaw was as unfazed as the older cats were.

"Relax" Leopardstorm mewed as he peered through the fence

Icepaw narrowed his eyes on the dogs "They're tied up" he added

Tiger-roar glanced at him but nodded at him curtly "All the better, let's continue"

"Agreed" Bluestar mewed, leading them away.

The sun had began to sink when the reached the Thunderpath. Bluestar had signaled them to stop and wait beneath a hedge. Icepaw watched as the cars flashed past him.

"We'll go one at a time" Tiger-roar growled

"I'll go first" Bluestar stated "This'll be the first time Graypaw's first time to cross the Thunderpath assuming you haven't already Icepaw, he needs to be shown how it's done"

'That's what you think' Icepaw thought but said nothing

Icepaw watched as his leader padded to the edge of the road and looked up and down. She waited as cars flew past her, ruffing her blue-gray fur. Then, when the the machines seemed to disappear for a moment, she raced across to the other side.

Leopardstorm followed after.

"Graypaw Ravenpaw one of you go next" Tiger-roar mewed looking from left to right making sure no cars were around.

Icepaw saw Ravenpaw's eyes widen in fear. Icepaw unlike his peer didn't feel the same fear. Icepaw knew the danger of getting caught under a car but he knew most humans would move out of the way or stop all together, if any cat got hit it could just be bad luck like what happened on the streets of the city and the cluster.

Ravenpaw dashed over to Bluestar, not before hesitating a few times beforehand. Graypaw got lucky, no cars came as he crossed the path.

It was his turn now.

"Off you go" Tiger-roar growled, nudging him a little with his enlarged claws

Icepaw had enough of those claws on his pelt to know not to joke with them. Icepaw waited until the last car pasted by then rushed forward as fast as he could but he saw a that car had veered off the road and began bumping along the grass, heading straight for him!

The calls of Graypaw and Ravenpaw rang on dead ears. Icepaw had thought he was dead but teeth fasted into his scruff and tossed him onto the other side of the road. Icepaw looked up and saw that Tiger-roar had tossed him over.

"Icepaw are you okay?" Ravenpaw asked, his voice filled with concern as he sniffed him

"Yeah I'm okay" he replied

"I thought you were going to be fresh-kill" Ravenpaw mewed

"In twolegplace we call run over animals road-kill" he joked, trying to get his limbs to work with him

"Do you want to rest before we go on?" Bluestar asked, looking him over

Icepaw stood on shaky limbs, there was ringing in his ears but he ignored it "I'm okay let's go"

The cats carried on, with Bluestar in the lead. As they walked Icepaw dropped his pace so he matched Tiger-roar strides.

"Um...Tiger-roar?" he started

"What kitty?" he sneered lowly, Icepaw almost thought he saw relief in those amber and blue eyes

Icepaw brushed off the jibe "Thank you for saving me" he looked at his paws

Tiger-roar huffed "Don't stand still because next time I might not be around to save you"

Icepaw nodded at his words. He dared to lean against the large tom, his ears and eyes were acting up and he whispered that to Tiger-roar. The tabby let him lean on him though grumbling a little.

/

As they approached the foot of Highstones, Bluestar stopped once more. She chose a sun-warmed rock to sit upon, flat and wide enough for all seven cats to rest side by side. "Look before you apprentices" she mewed, tilting her nose toward the dark slope before them "Mothermouth"

"We'll wait here until the moon is higher" Tiger-roar mewed

"Hunt if you're hungry then rest" Bluestar added "You'll need it"

Icepaw was about to follow Graypaw and Ravenpaw when he noticed the slight outline of Goosefeather sitting near Bluestar. He knew they had to be related somehow.

"Rest, what is rest good for in these times" the gray tom rasped "Rest is what gets cats killed, action keeps them alive"

"You'd know all about that wouldn't you" Bluestar growled

Icepaw watched as the tom's eyes locked with his, water-colored blue and sun-touched yellow orbs meeting blood red ones. "The cold fire" he whispered

Goosefeather would call him that sometimes but he didn't say much about it. He did the same with Tiger-roar but it was a good thing the two-colored tabby couldn't see him.

Bluestar seemed to notice and flicked her tail for him to come forward. Icepaw slowly made his way over stopping infront of the rock that his leader laid on.

"Seems you have a gift" she mewed finally

"Gift?" he asked in shock

"Starclan cats mostly appear to you in dreams and in the waking world they are only seen if they want to be seen and by certain cats" Bluestar explained

"I've seen Goosefeather before" he mewed "He's like a tick that won't get off my pelt honestly"

"Let's see if your mind will remain in tact, mine didn't" the gray tom laughed, lashing his fluffy tail "A tick's mind lasted longer than mine"

"I'll try, tell me more about you Goosefeather" Icepaw asked turning his gaze to the gray tom

"I was a seer from the time of Doestar,Pinestar and Sunstar, son of Daisytoe and Rooktail, brother of Moonflower and I was trained by Cloudberry and I trained Featherwhisker and partly your current seer Spottedleaf" Goosefeather drawled

"My darling uncle" Bluestar added sarcastically, flicking her tail.

"I knew you were related"

Goosefeather smirked "Surprisingly"

Bluestar looked amused for a moment then it drowned into seriousness "Have you been seeing dead cats before or after coming to the forest"

Icepaw was about to say after but one memory from his kithood resurfaced back into his mind. It was a reddish-brown tom, Pine. "Before but only once, his name was Pine"

Bluestar hummed in response, seeming to know who the cat was.

Icepaw was about to ask her something but he saw Tiger-roar padded over to them with two squirrels in his jaws.

"We'll talk about this later" Bluestar whispered to which Icepaw nodded he also noticed Goosefeather was gone.

Tiger-roar dropped the squirrels by Icepaw's paws as well as his own.

"Eat kit" he growled already starting to dig in

Icepaw started to eat when Bluestar purred "Must you be so mean to all times Tiger"

"This is how I am" was the tabby's only reply

"Somehow" Leopardstorm rubbed against the half-n-half tabby "Moody furball though reckless as an apprentice"

"Oh he was, I nearly lost my head, you're a reckless cat at times dear Tiger"

Icepaw's eyes widen at this interaction it was like a mother chastising her kit.

"Rosetail,Thrushpelt, and I helped raise him and his sisters, something he and Nightshade seem to forget at times" Bluestar teased

Tiger-roar seemed to mutter something making Icepaw try and fail to bite back a chuckle. "You spit out the prey, I'm not getting you more"

"Yes dad" he drawled. He didn't expect Tiger-roar to cough up his prey which only added to his and Bluestar's amusement.

Eventually when Graypaw and Ravenpaw came back with full bellies they all rested beside their leader until the warmth the vanished from them. Only then did Bluestar call out "Come. It's time"

[avannak]

First of all, I am in L O V E with your HP Zombie AU. I never would’ve considered making the AU canon divergent instead of an entirely separate AU, but you make it work so well and I’m absolutely blown away. Also, not gonna lie, the scene where Dudley and Harry reunite was giving me huge Joel and Tommy vibes, from TLOU. All I could picture was Anna being Dudley’s wife and Dudley saying “we all gotta get wrangled up at some point,” haha!

!!!! YAAS! Thank you! I love it too (zombie!AU if anyone’s wondering; and the boys reuniting) and I know I’ve said this before, but if I had a time turner I would be using it to go back and squirrel myself in a hidden corner of my house and just write it as my other self carried on in life.

I have so many ideas for it, too! A lot of it was inspired from Telltale’s TWD game (fun fact: first video game I played that got me into gaming) and that’s how the AU started brewing in my brain many years before I put anything to public. That’s also where his weapon(s) of choice, the ice picks, were inspired from: Molly and her ice axe... who also inspired Harry’s penchant for climbing and developing parkour... of which I have more backstory for that I’ll never get around to writing T_T

I can tell you that:

When Harry initially decides to head towards the Weasley's after days of waiting for Order contact he runs into other survivors pretty quickly... Has some interesting altercations with the living and the dead. But he eventually runs into another temporary travel buddy: namely the waitress at the underground diner he hung around the previous year. From the sixth movie? Yeah, she gets a cameo. There’s a whoooole early arc with those two that doesn’t end so great. But, hey, she teaches Harry how to drive!

Also, later on I wanted him 100% to have an apocalypse baby. Like Clem. Or Ellie. (Clem was another inspiration for the AU). A little (at first, grudgingly) protection-detail-turned-protégé that tries to follow him up the buildings he scales. The sort of person people call his ‘daughter’, even if he’s only like ten years older than her, and over time he stops bothering to correct them.

Fun fact: I’ve actually been playing TLOU these past few months at a friend’s house (who has a PS). The plan was to finish it before the new one came out, but, well...  Anyway, that’s certainly put me in the mood for zombie stuff again and now I can totally get your Joel and Tommy reference! Omg, Harry and Dudley surviving that traumatic start to the Apocalypse together and developing over their own journeys and then being thrown together again and people seeing them interact thinking “WTF was their relationship?? Are they brothers?? Do they hate each other or love each other?”

At home I’ve been playing AC (I played odyssey and loved it, but then the Ezio collection went on sale so now I’m playing that) so I’ve got all sorts of parkour feels up again as well. Zombies and Parkour are what made this AU come about so...

Haha, anyway, thank you very much for showing interest in this obscure idea and it’s really inspiring to know I’m not alone loving it!

[hopewritcs]

another day, another party.

pairing: billy hargrove x reader

word count: 2.5k

request: “13, 65, 66 w billy? you’re the best!” ( “I dare you to kiss me.” / “We could always crash the party.” /  “I’m not sure you understand how much I care about you.” )

summary: billy and y/n have formed an unusual friendship.  both of them are popular, both of them like to go to parties, and they always wind up crashing at y/n’s house after.  but they’re most definitely just friends.  

notes: post s2 - pre s3

stranger things tag list: @thekidsofneibolt, @madhatterweasley, @shaykeijser, @rainy-bookish-days (if you wanna be added to any tag list, let me know!!)

Billy Hargrove wasn’t someone that Y/N’d expected to be friends with.  But, through mutual friends and several parties that year, they’d wound up thrown together on multiple occasions.  

Now, when they walked in the halls at the school Y/N and Billy were always together.  Naturally, everyone assumed that they were together.  It was something they would laugh about when they skipped class and sat in the back of the school under the bleachers.  

Which is exactly where they were now, a lit cigarette dangling from Billy’s lips as Y/N fumbled with the can of coke she’d brought with her from home.  She wasn’t much of a smoker like Billy, but she still hung around with him when he did.  They both needed to skip class every now and again.  

“So Carol told me about this party she and Tommy are throwing this weekend.”  Y/N huffed, taking a sip from her soda before tilting her head to look at Billy.  “Said it was only going to be a small group, which you know means she’s inviting half the school.  Everyone will be there, I’m sure, except people she and Tommy consider freaks.”  

It almost hurt her to say that.  She never bought into the bogus social hierarchy, calling people names and making fun of anyone for something they’ve done or not done.  It simply wasn’t who Y/N was.  It got her a lot of shit from her supposed friends too.  She’d been caught defending everyone from Jonathan Byers to Steve Harrington ever since she could remember.  While her friends teased her for it, told her to stick with them, she’d just rolled her eyes.  

“We could always crash the party.”  Billy said, exhaling as he pulled the cigarette from his lips and offered it to Y/N.  She declined with a wave of her hand, leaning back and letting the sun wash over her as best it could from under the bleachers.  

“We’re invited to the party, dumbass.”  Which was a problem for her.  Of course, she loved a good party.  Honestly, who didn’t?  What else was there to do in a small town except for get wasted on the weekends and hope to god that the police chief doesn’t show up and take you home kicking and screaming?  But as graduation got closer, it was one of the farthest things from her mind.  

“Then let’s have our own party.  The two of us.  We’ll pick up booze from town and go to yours.”  Billy suggested, sitting up to look at her better.  Y/N, in his time in Hawkins, had become the one single person he gave a shit about in the small town.  She didn’t judge him--didn’t judge anyone for that matter--and carried herself both with an air of how can i help and fuck off, a tangled mix that Billy was more than intrigued by.  Y/N had quickly become the person he relied on, his best friend.  “Your parents are out of town, right?”  

“Yeah, they’ve got my older sister’s parents weekend.  Or an award thing?  Who fucking knows.  They’re visiting her and leaving me here.”  Y/N didn’t sound bitter about it, because she wasn’t.  That was just the facts of the situation.  Would she have wanted to go to whatever it was?  Probably not.  But she would have liked the opportunity--she would have liked it if her parents had asked first.  

“So then it’s settled.  Friday after school we’ll rent a video and have our own party.  Who gives a shit about all of them anyway?”  Billy gestured toward the school wildly with one hand as he snubbed out his cigarette and jumped to a standing position, pulling Y/N off the ground too.  Her soda can spilled on the grass as he grabbed her from her seat.  The bell tolled in the distance.  “We can’t be late.”  Billy said, pointing to the school with a smirk on his lips.  

“Yes, because we can actually be late to leave school for the day, Hargrove.”  

“Just move it, Y/L/N.” 

Friday came by quickly, and the hunt for videos and snacks was upon Billy and Y/N.  Billy drove to the video rental, blasting the cassette in his car stereo and driving fast.  He was laughing.  He knew how much it drove Y/N insane when he drove like this.  

Her hands were grabbing on to her seat as she screamed at him to slow down.  This was just how it was when they drove.  Billy drove like he thought--wild, crazy, little care.  Y/N hated every minute of it, her stomach always flew into her throat when she was in his car.  But he didn’t exactly like being driven around, so they always wound up carpooling in his car ( which she’d mentioned that she could drive once and only got a look across Billy’s face to tell her never to mention it again ).  

“Shit Billy, you’re insane.  Where the hell did you learn to drive?”  It wasn’t so much an actual question, but the same thing she always cried out in the car with him.  “You’re gonna get us killed!”  The panic clear on her features, but she also knew that Billy was in fact in control of the car and nothing would happen.  She knew he liked getting a rise out of her, but she couldn’t help her gut reaction of pure terror.  

When they got out of the car, with her backpack slung over one shoulder she looked toward Billy with a glint in her eyes, “If you drive like that all the way to my house I will kick you out of your own damned car Hargrove!” 

Y/N meant it to be threatening, but Billy was smirking at her.  “Think you can handle that on your own?”  

“Don’t test me.  We’re this close to finding out.”  

He balked out laughter at that comment, and Y/N rolled her eyes--she was still holding her thumb and forefinger just far enough apart that it created any space, and the pair made their way into Family Video.  

Y/N brushed past Billy and immediately began searching for snacks.  Regretfully, since she’d picked the film last time they’d hung out, it was Billy’s turn and she was unsure what direction he would go in.  She’d made him watch A New Hope last time, with hopes they’d continue with the trilogy in another movie night.  Billy had grumbled about a lot of the film, but he hadn’t outright hated it like the time she’d made him sit through Peter Pan.  She knew all the words to songs and Billy had sat on the couch with a pillow over his head to drown out the sounds.  With Billy, he either picked something like Animal House or the Birds.  

After he’d made Y/N watch the horror film she’d jumped the next morning at the sound of a bird tapping against her window, to which he’d made fun of her for.  

A tap on her shoulder told her Billy was behind her and she turned to look at him with her arms full of food.  Her mouth fell open at the video in his hands and she asked, “The Shining?  Didn’t we already watch that one?”  she followed him towards the check out, putting all the candies she’d grabbed up with the video he put there.  

“No, I mentioned it last time but you made me watch that dumb movie with the girl who’s whole family forgot her birthday.  The redhead girl and the dweeby blonde.”  

“Sixteen Candles.  I was so excited when it came out on video!  And that’s Molly Ringwald.  I heard she’s got another movie coming out this year.  Maybe you’ll go see it with me when it comes to the movies?”  

Billy shrugged noncommittally as he fished in his pocket for some cash.  Y/N did the same and both of them paid for the stuff before heading back to the car.  

The first time the pair gone to Family Video to do this--rent a video and buy snacks--the cashier had scoffed and asked why Billy wasn’t paying for the whole thing like a guy should for his girl.  Which led to both Y/N and Billy leaning on the counter laughing when you made eye contact with each other.  Of course, now the comment wouldn’t have been so funny.  

Y/N ordered a pizza, got plates and dished it out before she had settled into the couch with some mixed concoction of what she found in the kitchen--some of the soda the family kept in the fridge and a bit of the whiskey her father preferred.  Billy had taken his alcohol straight, already downing one cup and on a refill.  

The pair were on the couch, each leaning on an armrest as the movie began.  “I bet you you’ll be over on this side of the couch before the first half is over.”  

“You have so little faith in me!”  Y/N faked a gasp, putting an amused smile on her face as she placed her hand on her neck, shaking her head.  

“You’re not denying it.”  

“What do I get if I win?” 

Billy thought for a moment, “I’ll let you pick the next two films.” She figured he must be confident in his film choice because Billy always found something to complain about her video picks.  “But that won’t happen,” he sounded overconfident and it made Y/N laugh as she rolled her eyes.  “So when I win, I dare you to kiss me.”  

Y/N choked on the bite of pizza she’d been chewing and she leaned forward with a wild look in her eyes.  There was no way in hell that Billy had an inkling that she had developed a crush on him, right?  This was just some joke, right.  So she relaxed her seat and looked at him, “That’s the worst bet you’ve ever made in your life Hargrove.  What’s the deal?  Got money riding on the schools are they or aren’t they bet?”  Y/N was teasing him, but she still worried about whatever it was that was really going through his mind.  

Billy shook his head.  He was so calm it was irritating Y/N.  “Nah.”  

“Then what, you just wanna kiss me or somethin?”  she choked on her laughter, shaking her head at him.  

Billy shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention back toward the video playing.  Y/N pouted when she realized that meant she wasn’t going to be getting any answers out of him, so she sighed and turned her attention to the video and continued drinking, the pizza forgotten on her plate.  

Billy knew the movie was going to get under Y/N’s skin.  He knew how she felt about the horror films he’d picked in the past, so he was just waiting for the bet to be over with.  The last bet was during Lady and the Tramp where she’d bet him he would wind up complaining well before the baby was born.  Billy had said he wouldn’t.  The stakes were: if Billy won he could order what he wanted for both of them the next time they ordered from the diner, and if Y/N won she could bring one of her cassette’s into Billy’s car.  High stakes, since Billy hated listening to music he didn’t like, so he’d done his best to not complain.  He really had set against not complaining.  But in the first scene he’d gone and rolled his eyes, leaning on the couch, “But there’s no holes in the present!”  And Y/N had brought in her Cyndi Lauper tape into the camaro, which it now called home.  

Surprisingly, Y/N had made it through most of the movie without jumping over the middle of the couch.  Every time Billy looked over at her, her face was contorted in a look of concentration.  Which only made him roll his eyes, she was determined not to freak out and let him win the bet.  The look of determination in her eyes, even as he watched her flinch from what happened on the screen.  

They were more than half into the move at this point, but Y/N still hadn’t moved from her spot where she’d grounded herself.  She refused to move, except to look at Billy out of the corner of her eyes.  She’d caught him looking her way, but didn’t say anything.  Y/N was still trying to figure out what kind of shit Billy was trying to pull with the whole kiss dare.  

In the future when this movie night would be spoken about, it would be in terms of the bets they’d made and who won.  

When the credits were rolling, Y/N stood up and took the video out of the player and turned back to Billy with an angry tint in her eyes ( definitely partially fueled by the alcohol she’d consumed during the movie ), “So what the fuck was that dare for, Billy?”  

Billy stood up and chuckled at her.  He was playing it off as nothing more than just a simple dare to get under his friend’s skin.  But maybe it had meant more to him.  “Just wanted to see you squirm.”  He said, passing by her to go into the kitchen where he opened the fridge.  “I didn’t think it would affect you this much, Y/N.”  he’d called back to her.  

“I’m not sure you understand how much I care about you then.”  Y/N had meant to say it under her breath, but her voice carried from where she stood in her house to where Billy stood in the kitchen.  

“You care about me?”  Billy asked, suddenly appearing at her side and looking at her with eyes she couldn’t decipher.  

Y/N jumped and turned to face him, “You scared the shit out of me Hargrove.”  she nudged his arm with her fist, sloppily pushing against his chest.  

“You ignoring my question, Y/L/N?”

“What question?” 

Billy sighed and repeated his question from moments before, “You care about me?”  

Y/N’s eyes widened for a split second before she cleared her throat, “Of course I do!  You’re my best friend, Billy.  Of course I care about you.”  It didn’t sound so convincing to either of them.  Y/N was sure her voice had raised a surprising octave and Billy had kept his eyes on hers when she spoke.  

“Kiss me.”  he said quietly.  

“You lost the bet.”  Y/N pointed out with a soft chuckle.  

“This ain’t about the damn bet, Y/N.”  Billy harrumphed, putting a hand on her cheek and looking at her.  In that moment, she sobered up when he said, “Kiss me.”  

And she did.  

In the future, when they’d talk of the bet made that night: both of them would say they won.  

[tricktster]

honestly is it bad that by the end of cobc i didnt even really care about the other characters and just wanted more capra content

I guess spoilers ahoy for my challenging and dare i say it visionary sans/reader monsterfucking fanfic:

Nah I mean Capra, for a character that was never really planned to happen, kind of caught us all - including me - off guard. Like, the actual characters from the game, i think i did... ok with. Like, they were fine. My OCs, by and large, were fun for me to write, and I think I did a good job with most of them. I mean, Tommy never got any screentime, Cody I probably could have been featured in a few more chapters to earn that dramatic payoff at the end, the interns were largely forgettable but I did like Nat and Shadow, Dennis was... gross, Doris was fine, I’ve already fucking forgotten Paula, and Dot, Cody II and Molly are all a blast to write (Haruhi’s basically a nonentity though). Oh and now that it’s been a few years, I can admit that I basically was just thinking of a competent Stanley from the Office when I was writing Dr. Stanley (first name unknown).

And then there was Peter Fucking Capra, who wasn’t supposed to be there and IMMEDIATELY derailed the entire thing. No reason for him to be as fun as he was, or for him to steal the entire goddamn story. He’s everything I think is boring about a protagonist. Like, do we really need any more stories about yet another rich, attractive white dude who thinks he’s better and smarter than everyone else? When I was writing the leadup to his introduction, I really contemplated making him the villain for a hot second and then was like... ugh too obvious.

And then I started actually writing his dialogue, and I totally blindsided my own ass. It usually takes me a few passes before I can figure out a character’s voice, and this asshole sprung forth from my brain fully formed without any effort whatsoever. He has NO excuse for being that easy to write, much less fun to write, and he has NO excuse for immediately overshadowing everything else I was trying to accomplish. The second I wrote his first line of dialogue, I was done with ‘give the people what they want, very quickly, and hope that in return they’ll kick a few bucks towards your broke ass’ and I was on a bold new course of ‘Uh I don’t know exactly why this is happening but I’m fifty chapters in and I guess I’m writing all about THIS RANDOM GUY WHO’S NEVER BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE FOR SOME REASON.’

And, uh, everyone just went along with it? Go back and read the comments on the first Capra chapter sometime, it’s ridiculous. I inexplicably inserted a 38 year old megalomaniac CEO of a small alternative energy corporation into an UNDERTALE SANS/READER FANFIC, and nobody was like... oh this is kind of a thematic curveball. Everyone was entirely accepting of the fact that the thing they’d been reading for 50 chapters was abruptly and without the slightest warning about this now, and I was just like “oh, okay, so he’s fun to write, could be an interesting foil, i’ll just sprinkle him in here and WHOOPS HE’S THE MAIN CHARACTER AND HE SAVED THE WORLD TWICE.”

and instead of losing all of my readers, which by any reasonable analysis should have happened the second I let my relatively pandering fanfic get utterly derailed by a mary sue OC who instantly got way more screentime than he either earned or deserved... everyone was just like “OKAY, YEAH, THIS UNDERTALE SANS/READER FANFIC IS NOW ABOUT 38 YEAR OLD SMALL CORPORATE CEO PETER CAPRA INSTEAD, AND WE’RE ALL SUPER DOWN FOR THAT!”

i don’t even know man. i’ll never be able to pull that one off again. best character i’ve ever written. totally inexplicable setting for him to even exist in, but he’s the best.

[shanie-the-toyaddict]

For those who are wondering...

Here are some FUN FACTS about the OG Hardcore 24/7 Title. In no particular order, and just for those who are wondering “What the shit are we poor bastages in for??” - The 24/7 Rule was instituted by the late Crash Holly to prove that he was a fighting champ. In fact, he wanted to prove he was the toughest guy around with it. Instead, it was a glorious clusterfuck, that led to him constantly having to watch his back because ANYONE could be a contender. - Raven has the most separate title reigns at 27. - Steve Blackman has the longest combined reign at 172 days.

- The very first giant bump (and by that I mean above 20 feet) Shane ever took was during a title defense of this belt. It was at Summerslam 2000. He climbed the Titantron, and got knocked off... backwards.

- By the way, No Shane did NOT win the belt on his own. It took five guys and a kendo stick. Still counts. - Shawn Stasiak has 15 total reigns with this title... with a combined total reign of UNDER A DAY. He kept winning the belt at house shows, then IMMEDIATELY losing it. - All three members of Shane’s “Mean Street Posse” are also champions, but their combined reigns equal maybe ten minutes tops.

- Some of the interesting places this title was defended include a Chuck E Cheese, Various Hotel Rooms, and ANYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF IN AN ARENA.

- The OG belt was intergender. The four women who held it were: Molly Holly, Terri Runnels, Trish Stratus, and Cynthia Lynch (one of the Godfather’s Hos)

- One of the funniest moments of the belt was Molly’s win, after “Mighty Molly” smacked her superhero partner The Hurricane with A GD FRYING PAN. It ended their partnership, btw.

- I’ve posted all the ACTIVE superstars who won, but some of the current INACTIVE superstars who won, and are still employed by the company, include  Funaki, Booker T, William Regal, Christian, Tommy Dreamer and Pete Gas. Road Dogg and Undertaker also both won the title, but not during the 24/7 era. - You think 3 champions in one night is wild? Try 11 title changes in a 2 day period. 10 of those came in a single Wrestlemania match.

- Out of the first 10 OG Hardcore Champions, only SIX are still alive. Four, The British Bulldog, Test, Big Boss Man, and the innovator himself Crash Holly, have all passed away since then.

- There is an entire trading card set based on the early days of the Hardcore Division. It’s called “WWF (yes F) No Mercy”. It came out in 2000, is a strictly foil card set, and yours truly happens to have a master set, including all chase, relic, and promo cards in the official binder. I’m very proud.

Welp. That’s about all I can think of right now. Hope this whets the whistle of SOME of you for the utter CHAOS that will be soon commencing. ENJOY THE FACTS, FOLKS!

[sweetlittlehawke]

Keep Moving Forward

It’s December. Yknow what that means! Let’s reflect on the year. When I made  a post like this last year, it was a hopeful thing. I was excited about the coming year, because I was excited that I’d finally met some people I could hang out with. I love Alea and Brooke to the moon and back, but only having two friends for most of my life is not the best. As much as I denied it for years, my mum’s right. I’m very social. I have social anxiety. But I am a very social person. So, if you wanna read about all that, it’s under a read more. Cause fucking hell did this get long.

So, this year started and I was single, I was in Unity, I was in school, and I was living with my parents. By May I was not single and I was not in Unity. Shortly after that- because end of the semester and stuff and things happening- I was no longer in school or living with my parents. At this point in the year, I’m still not single, nor in Unity (as I doubt I’ll ever go back. To the troupe at least, I absolutely wanna go back to taking classes), or in school. But I have plans to go back to school. I’m halfway to being able to afford a car, and then saving for an apartment, so Sammy and I can go to Cleveland. Because I wanna be close to my friends. I don’t like most of the people I live with presently, and neither does Sam. So we’re gonna move out in July when the lease is up on our place. 

When I made this post last year, I talked about the only table top rpgs I’d played was a D&D 5e oneshot, a game of Roll for Shoes, and was just then stepping into a campaign. Needless to say, that changed. A lot. I’ve played West Marches to it’s end. I’ve been in Alex’s Pathfinder campaign for a year. I spent a semester in Andrew’s Pathfinder campaign (and met my girlfriend through that). I’ve spent two semesters in Jacob’s 5e campaign. I’ve started a campaign of my own at Breakout to get those people into D&D. I’ve gone so far with this, and I love it. I love every second of it. I also mentioned that I’d kinda started in Magic, but hadn’t put any money towards it. That didn’t last either. I’ve built my own custom deck, and that def required spending money. Once Andrew got me a starter deck it was downhill from there. I don’t play a ton, but Magic def did get my interest.

Last year I kinda just made lil shoutouts to Scott, Trevi, and Andrew. But this year I have so many more people to talk about, and to be thankful for. Because they’re not just new people that I’m kinda sorta friends with. They’re my family. So lemme go through this. Lemme take a bit, to talk about this gaggle of people I’ve found, that I love. 

It’s primarily the Pathfinder group. The original Pathfinder group. Alex, Jacob, Andrew, Thomas, Susannah, Molly, and Will. Most of these people are also the people in West Marches, but there are some West Marches people that aren’t in Pathfinder. People like Joey and Adriana, Freddie, Michael, and of course, Trevi and Scott. Now, to go into detail about the specific people, and why I love them.

Alex is just, great. I don’t always feel like I’m super close with him, but he does pay attention to everyone in the group. We recently had a session that really hit that fact home. It was a Christmas session, because it’s December what else are we gonna do? Each of our characters had gifts, and these gifts meant something to each of us. Outside of games though, he’s just as attentive. He’s always supportive, and very understanding of when people need distance or aid. He’s encouraging, and frankly I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him say something bad against anyone. Ambiguous maybe, but never bad.

Jacob- fucking hell this guy. He’s literally the sweetest man I’ve ever met. He’s always trying to help, and encourage people. If he knows he’s done something wrong he apologizes and does whatever it takes to fix it. He knows I’m short on money, so whenever I’m around he’s always offering to buy me food- or just straight up give me his food. He even bought Sammy’s Christmas present for me, because I’m just too broke to do it. I don’t understand how someone can be that selfless?? Jacob wtf?? You’re too good??

Andrew. What an asshole. I love him though. He- quite frankly- is half the reason I’m so close with the Pathfinder group. I befriended him easier than I befriended the others. He’s the one that got me into Pathfinder. At first he seems quiet, and kinda apathetic, he’s incredibly forgetful. But he cares. I got scared one time that I’d fucked up a friendship, and in his awkward Andrew way, he gave me 3 Magic cards and a hug as comfort. It may not sound like much, but giving away Magic cards is a big deal for Andrew. This nerd is also the reason I met my girlfriend, so yknow.

Admittedly, I’m not as close with Thomas as I am some of the others. His personality clashes with mine, so I don’t typically talk to him one on one. But he’s part of the group. We all poke fun at him, but we all poke fun at everyone. This family of ours wouldn’t be the same without him. It’d be too quiet.

Susannah is a darling. I haven’t seen her as much recently, because she dropped out of the Pathfinder campaign, and I haven’t been at school. But we still talk from time to time here on tumblr, or the very rare occasion we see each other on campus we always stop to give each other a hug and say hello. Because our friend group had a hellish spaghetti mess of relationships, and we had a good relationship through that. The guy I liked liked her, and it was kinda rough, but we just helped each other. Then when that spaghetti mess was over, and I was getting with Sammy, she was one of the people I’d text like “Holy shit Sam is so cute HELP”

Molly is the best. She- like Susannah- isn’t in Pathfinder this semester, so I haven’t seen her as much. But she had a similar position in the spaghetti mess but without being so tied to me. She just was right next to Susannah and was super supportive as well. She was the other person I texted about Sam. Cause group chats. I’d text her and Susannah together. But even though we don’t see each other a ton, we’re still close. Hell we’re looking at getting an apartment together next summer.

I really never think I’m that close to Will. He’s very quiet, and he’s not very affectionate, so it’s sometimes hard to tell if he actually likes being around people or he’s just dealing with us. But, after a year of being around him, I’m pretty sure he does actually like us. I think he’s just introverted. He doesn’t want to get in people’s way, so he sits to the side and is quiet. But also, his character in Pathfinder was 110% tryna get another PC laid and Will and Susannah both were willing to let me in on that. So, yeah, pretty sure Will is cool with me. We just have different ways of showing that.

Joey and Adriana I’ll talk about together, because I swear these two are inseparable. When I first met them I thought they were dating, but no they’re just very affectionate- and I can’t blame them for that. I’m the same way with Scott and Trevi. I’ve still not gotten to talk to them a ton, but the conversations I’ve had with them have been good. They seem very light hearted on the surface, just comparing ourselves to our characters, but really that says a lot about us. 

Freddie and Michael, I’ll also put together. Not because they’re together all the time, but because I have less to say about them. I don’t know either as well, but they’re both very warm people. It’s easy to become friends with these two. Freddie loves to rub my hair, cause of course half of it is shaved. Michael’s just akin to a ray of sunshine tbh. 

Trevi. Where do I even start? To just say you’re my friend isn’t enough. You’re more than that. You’re fun to be around and talk to, and dance with. You’re relatable and silly and serious and helpful and supportive. You’ve given me a place to sleep when I was too tired to go home. When you graduated I was terrified of you leaving, either going back home or going out to Cali to get a doctorate, cause I knew you’d talked about it. I didn’t wanna lose you. I’d just gotten to know you. Then you stayed here, and I’m glad. Cause you’re my friend and I love you. A couple weeks ago as you were leaving you signed “I love you”. You had your back turned but there was a window in front of you, so idk if you saw, but I signed it back. Cause I really do.

Now Scott. You sir, have literally changed my life. I would not have met most of the people I’ve talked about. I’d have met Trevi, but without D&D as a common ground, idk that we’d have ended up so close. So thank you, for introducing me to D&D. Thank you for being my DM. Because honestly, no matter how many DMs I have, no matter how great they are. You will always be my DM, because you were the first. And now, you’re graduating. You’re leaving school, and you’re going to Columbia. I’m gonna miss you. As selfish as it is, I don’t want you to leave. I’m glad you’re going to keep moving forward, as we all should. But fucking hell will I miss you. You’ve led me on adventures, fighting monsters and demons, I’ve made pacts with Eldritch gods and become War itself. So you go. You go, live your adventures. Write your stories and play your parts. Keep Moving Forward. But you better get your ass back here and visit from time to time okay? Cause I’m gonna miss you. I’m gonna miss your free hugs, and the meowing, and the hair ruffles, and hugs so tight I feel like you’re bout to crack a rib, and the games, and the stories, and just everything. I’m gonna miss you, and I love you.

This past year, and every one of the people I’ve mentioned have changed me. There’s more people I could talk about. Alea, and Brooke, and Tommy, and Sammy, and Tahli, and Sebastian, and Kenna. My actual family. My cousin and my best friend, who I don’t feel the need to write about, because duh I appreciate them. Duh I love them. Tommy and Sammy who’ve both had their own impacts. Who have both changed my life in their own ways. Then Tahli, Kenna, and Sebastian. My nieces and nephew. Tahli, who wormed her way into my heart in an instant, and got me to a place where I actually cared for the other two. Because for so long I shrugged at Kenna. She lives across the country she’s not gonna know me. But then when Sebastian came along, I was so used to Tahli and her reaction any time I walk in the door. Then Sebastian got hurt, and it wrecked me. Because no, he’s tiny, he’s fragile, this shouldn’t happen to a six month old baby. I was so scared to hold him at Thanksgiving because I didn’t want to hurt him. 

I just. I love my friends. I love that I can say that. Because two years ago I hardly had friends to love, and I certainly didn’t feel like they should love me back. Last year I had a few more friends, and I was feeling a bit better about myself. But this year I’ve realized. It’s not just that I have friends that I love. But that they love me just as much. During intermediate acting Abby called me a yankee candle, cause I apparently had a warm, homey, aura. I felt like that was weird, cause I’m so used to being Shadow. I’m used to being ignore, glanced over. But then suddenly, I have friends that won’t do that. Friends that pay attention and love me. I’m still not sure how to handle that, but I’m doing the best I can. 

[punkscowardschampions]

Carly & Ali

Carly: last nite was good of you Carly: saying thanks cuz i read my text from last nite & it was Carly: I cudnt read it k thats facts Ali: nah, don't mention it, no bitch left behind Ali: plus, I know the cunt doing the ditching, been there, like Ali: was trying to translate but yeah, you were pretty fucked 😂 Ali: how you feeling this am? 💚 Carly: yea? hes not that bad Carly: im a slag like he said tbh Carly: feeling like i had a decent nite all things considered Carly: you? Ali: Gurl, yes he is and no you ain't! Ali: Probably Ali: Who cares if you are, he is, and the rest Ali: I dated him for a bit, so there's no shady, tryna steal your man on the sly going on, don't worry Ali: much the same, my head feels like someone took my eyes out and shoved 'em up my arse, you know? Ali: standard sunday vibes Carly: aw you're sweet but it's no diss on me Carly: like ive cheated on him a few times Carly: but he does it too you're right w that Carly: hes a good fuck when he's not too wasted tho which you kno if you got it too Carly: you're single now tho? Carly: can have him back if you want Ali: Fair play Ali: why not call it open and call it a day? Ali: Probs 'cos he likes fighting as much as he likes fucking Ali: Meh, yeah, was passable, gotta have some reason to keep him around, like Ali: Nah, going out with the girl that drove us back Ali: Remember? Dark hair, angry Carly: yea Carly: you know Carly: shit my bad Carly: she was scary is what i've got in my head Carly: idk my head is sketch cant trust it Ali: That's a fair assessment, I reckon Ali: She wouldn't hate it either so you good 😉 Carly: pretty tho Carly: call it a trade up Ali: Yeah, she's cute Ali: you need any more of the night filling in lemme know, I'll do my best Ali: it was pretty standard though, nothing too wild Carly: no faking it w her cuz shes too drunk Carly: designated driver be like Carly: last i see i was getting with his friend lowkey and he went off about it im blank from then Ali: its a fucking gay crime to ever fake it, no matter what Ali: I can get behind that one tho, not got the time or energy tbh Ali: yeah i think him and his friend then got in a scrap and then they left Ali: bros before hoes mentality hardcore, like idk, have fun jerking each other off then, if that's ur vibe boys Carly: k that sounds legit from what i caught on his socials Carly: didnt upload the circle jerk bless Carly: gay crimes must of been committed Ali: sad face Ali: coulda spat on his back Ali: protip Carly: ill let him know when he texts me later Carly: how did you kno where i live? state of me Carly: sorry to drag you this way Ali: plottwist, i'm a massive stalker with bad intentions Ali: I truly don't know, but I'll tell Lene she should be a cabbie 'cos she managed and I don't think we got any puke in her car Carly: k big lesbian crush on me yea Carly: ioher lots Carly: stealing her girl and wrecking her car in one Ali: Naturally, you cute Ali: I'll give you her number if you like, or just pass along the thanks and soz Carly: awh you're cuter Carly: probs still drunk tho Carly: giving me those kind words Carly: you handle the now ex if you love me Ali: Hahaha, he'd LOVE that Ali: ghosts of gf past Ali: Let me and I'll love you forever Carly: go for it Ali: let's see if I've still got his number Ali: this contact list is a minefield of mistakes but the real embarrassment would be getting them muddled up, fo'shame! Carly: i can give it Carly: used it more recently than you Carly: up there at my top Ali: won't be tellin' him that Ali: don't need the ego boost Ali: but tah Carly: makes it more fun to fuck him over if you praise him first Carly: but maybe thats me Ali: like a shit sandwich Ali: I get it Carly: hungry for anything but that rn Carly: [Sends the number tho] Ali: wanna come for brunch Ali: now you are newly gay Ali: that's what they do, fucking sex in the city up in dis bitch Carly: yea? weird Carly: not what i thought Carly: awh first date tho Ali: forreal, even the butch ones, don't let 'em fool you, its all fancy fucking eggs and screwdrivers by 11am Ali: you call 'em mimosas tho, gotta pretend you're being classy Carly: wtf is a screwdriver Ali: Babe! Ali: Vodka and orange juice Carly: i call it that Carly: gays and their labels Ali: save it for the rant sesh honey Ali: love you talking about how men ain't shit as well Carly: thats the ones i fuck Carly: cant be bringing no poshos to a caravan Ali: Posh boys are only good for the money anyway, I'm sure Ali: not finding any in 24 like regardless Carly: not gonna find out if they do drive by now im a lesbian wife Carly: sorry lads Ali: they had their chance Ali: unlucky boys Carly: should prob tell me your name again if im taking it Ali: Ruins the mystery a bit but alright Ali: Its Ali Ali: Ali McKenna if we're being formal Carly: k you've got the hot brothers Carly: makes sense Ali: 🤔 Ali: I think you're thinking of someone else, babe Carly: not trying to have our first fight but you coulda told me before we got hitched, bitch Carly: you're still hot tho don't be sad Ali: so you could run off with one of my brothers? i think not Ali: unless you meant Tommy 'cos he's very single but that's unlikely because he's never here Ali: stuck with me for now, hoe 😘 Carly: a slag like me could do worse Carly: has Ali: bitch, same Ali: we can compare notes, see how many regrets we got in common Carly: yea Carly: doing it Ali: Good, save it for brunch 'cos I'm coming forreal Ali: we don't have to deal with a gaggle of gossiping gays tho, bring you a maccies breakfast? Carly: k Carly: be fun Carly: you are from what i remember Ali: I like that Ali: No bullshit Ali: Imma start all interactions like be fun please or I'm out Ali: ✌ bringing the fun and the bacon babe Carly: you're not bringing your gf are you Ali: Nah, how awkward, meet the missus, honey Carly: like there's usually a lad in my trio sorry Carly: still learning this lesbian life Ali: oh, are you bi legit? Ali: she's way too jealous for threesomes, you're good Carly: nah i just know what lads want Ali: Oh gurl Ali: that's why Lene ain't coming Ali: the lecture you're avoiding Carly: idc Carly: youre my wife now bitch Ali: 💍💍 Ali: Productive morning, if I do say so myself Ali: and we're hanging, fuck with us Carly: good influence of you cuz i havent done fuck all this week Ali: Hard work being a bi icon, babe Ali: wait 'til I get you on the yoga hype Carly: wtf Carly: is that a joke Ali: nah, I've already done half an hour this morning Carly: bitch i had my fingers crossed you mistyped yogurt Carly: i love you but its a no Ali: 😂 lets be really into yogurt, not fancy stuff, like fucking froobs Carly: phallic Carly: slurping on my dick shaped yogurt Ali: exactly Ali: what do men love more than a representation of their genitals shoved in your mouth? nothing, is the answer, bar the real thing Ali: so seductive Carly: they don't like food in bed tho, but maybe thats my technique Carly: thinking you could use whatever Carly: k just gonna dump this curry out yea bear with Ali: spicy Ali: imagine the yeast infection you'd get from a fromage frais Carly: like sorry but if i can handle cum in my eye you can deal with some saag aloo boy Carly: googling those symptoms would be a laff tho Ali: ugh, now i want indian Carly: date 2, babe Ali: 😍 Ali: this is all moving so fast Ali: 'bout it Carly: thats all i kno about lesbians k Ali: Its so true Ali: Can confirm Carly: is your gf gonna be mad that im flirting with you Carly: cuz im scrappy but she's scary Ali: 😂 Ali: Probably but when I tell her you're straight she'll have to chill Ali: yeah, we're married BUT SHE'S STRAIGHT, BABE Carly: can't tell her how many girls ive fucked cuz i dont remember Carly: convenient Ali: Best keep that on the DL, yeah Ali: like your blatant gay feelings for me Carly: k Carly: been a secret before no big Ali: Awh babe, ain't nothing dirty about this Ali: I shall tell the world Carly: you're sweet Ali: Probably not if you still wanna be getting that D but you know, noblest intentions, like Carly: im over it Carly: go off Ali: when your pussy's the cure Ali: how can I be humble now? 😏 Carly: dont be Carly: proud slags who fucking love froobs Carly: its a mood Ali: that is a whole ass mood Ali: put it on a t-shirt, babe Carly: earn some bread for my table Ali: solid business plan Ali: we can't be the only ones Carly: independent women who don't need no dick Carly: anymore Ali: hell yeah! Ali: unless that dick wanna pay the bills, in which case we'll let 'em Ali: so we can get more froobs Carly: point Ali: oh no, someone put a pic of Molly Briggs vomming on Insta Ali: 1. gross 2. who hasn't been there, poor bitch Carly: sad Carly: hope she's alright Ali: I'd ask but don't really know her and her phone must already be blowing up Ali: plus she threw a netball right in my face once and I don't forget, bitch Ali: jk, I'll just report the pic 😂 Carly: they all call me a whore cba to keep track of which mollys or other bitches Ali: She is a bit of a bitch, ain't gonna sugarcoat it so probably Ali: not saying Karmas real but posted on that friggin' TallaghtSlags page so 🤷 Ali: grab a froob, darling Carly: her name makes me wanna party with her dad but thats as far as im fucking with that family Carly: or mum i dont know who picked it like Ali: Init, proper old skool ravers, obvs Ali: think I'm out of eccies, sadly Ali: last night depleted me Carly: Watch me call my son Bennie cos I got anxiety, baby Ali: Cute tho, whole medicine cabinet of babies Carly: why not im married now Ali: We'll get on that, date 3, like Carly: where you taking me? Ali: up the wheyyyyyyyyyy Ali: well, we had brunch, indian, obvs we're fat bitches Ali: get on that chinese buffet life Carly: you can get on your yoga mat tho Carly: im fucked Carly: letting myself go so soon my bad Ali: Please, you're perfect Ali: I'll have all the kids if you want Carly: blushing is what i am Carly: how many you want? Ali: how many people names are there for drugs? molly bennie mandy charlie umm Ali: and our preachy child, frank Carly: ha Carly: tina that's one Ali: Ooh, yes, a gay icon Carly: billy, bud our weak child, cosmic kelly who's gonna have to style that out Ali: oh kelly, I hope you have the personality to match or we've really fucked you over there, soz babe Carly: can't forget dimitri, lucy or mandy Carly: sweet sweet mary joy Ali: My fanny hurts just thinking about it Carly: christine and tina are obvs twins thats a relief Carly: how manys that? Ali: 13 Ali: Unlucky for some but my actual lucky number! Ali: Fated Carly: ha Carly: it's love and keeps being proven Ali: can't fight what's clearly so right Carly: true Ali: you want a milkshake Ali: i'm having one Carly: yea Carly: strawberry Ali: 'cos u so sweet 💚 Carly: awww Ali: I shall be right there, with brunch fit for a pair of proud slags Carly: k Carly: my parents arent here no need to break the news of wedded bliss Ali: Would be a weird first impression but I could rock it Ali: new fave in-law? I think so Carly: yea Carly: cant fight fate like Carly: been said Ali: forreal, catch me outside if you got something to say, lads Ali: alone time with the bae is always good tho Carly: you kno Carly: love you bitch Ali: love ya 😘

[surefootingdev]

Looking back at our steps at this year’s Norwich Gaming Festival (NGF 2017)

A few words from Tommy about this year’s Norwich Festival:

It has now been three weeks since our trip to the 2017 Norwich Gaming Festival began. First with Matt and I heading down to the education week, followed by Molly joining us during the Indie exhibition week to show off Sure Footing. This was our third visit to this festival and it’s one we’ve not only seen grow in terms of its scale and organisation, but a consistent enthusiasm and energy from the exhibitors and attendees. It is well organised and always a fun time for us.  As such, it is one of the few events that run every year that we guarantee to attend (provided they let us in that is).

However, our attendance was a little different this year. Matt and I visited Norwich in the week prior to the Indie exhibition in order to take part in the education week: a series of talks, workshops and other activities involving primary and secondary school kids. This is a nice change of pace for us, but also something we’re really passionate about: getting kids excited about the prospects of games (and related technologies) as a career and getting them thinking about how to make steps towards that.   

As someone who has taught at university level for 10 years, I often find it frustrating to see how most effort in career advice is aimed at students in the later stages of secondary school (i.e. choosing their A-Levels, BTECs or Scottish Highers), when in truth we need to be thinking about this much earlier than that. This not only ensures you focus efforts on GCSE’s, but also extracurricular activities or after-school clubs can help maintain an enthusiasm and interest at the time when that young boy or girl needs to hear it most. This is especially the case with young girls, many of whom have the capacity and skills for the problem-solving nature of computer programming, but seldom make it to the opening lecture of an undergraduate degree.

I was suitably impressed by the level of knowledge many of the students already had in areas such as programming and problem solving: with many schools now introducing Scratch. Basic principles of algorithmic thinking are being seeded at a very early age and it shows as a throw graduate level problem-solving tasks to primary school children. They were excited, they were interested and having a lot of fun. That makes my job a lot easier! 

On that note, a shout out to Shaun Spalding - my partner in crime for the live game-making sessions who did an *amazing* job - as well as BAFTA’s Mel Phillips and Michael Warburton who also delivered great sessions with the kids. Plus also a thank you to Sarah Power and the team at the Norwich Forum who did a great job to accommodate our needs during the week. 

Now as for the indie exhibition itself, I defer to Matt:

It is always a pleasure displaying at the Norwich Gaming Festival and it is one of the festivals we look forward to every year. Not just because we get let out from behind the desk or the fact that we have a week not working on the game, but we love going to this festival because of the family friendly atmosphere, the players and all the kind words they say about the artwork. Also of course the interesting range of other Indie developers who showcase at the event. This year was especially important for us because for the first year out of the three we have been coming, we were sponsors of the event. This was mainly due to us helping to run workshops the week before the main festival for the Norwich Gaming Festival Education Week, but still a big step - Table Flip Games first official sponsoring!

Each year when we showcase our game we get compliments about the artwork, and we especially get lots of questions about how we came up with the art style and the world of Computra. I would be lying if we had it locked down from the start. Over the last two years of development, it has taken a lot of work, sleepless nights and throwing ideas away to come up with the world of Computra and the art style. We spent a lot of time prototyping ideas for them to be thrown out again and we also had to irritate on design throughout the development process. Tommy and I gave a talk at the festival that went more into depth about our process.

We also get to meet so many amazing gamers during Norwich each year - fellow devs and also families are attending the event. This year we even had folks remembering the game from last year, which brings a big smile to all our faces! 

So, from the Sure Footing team, we send the biggest thank you to all our fans out there and we are looking forward to coming back with more wonderful, wacky and bright neon coloured art in the future 😊.