#i go in with zero expectations and then if i get art back it��s a nice pleasant surprise

[genericpuff]

no stop this article is too funny

this is from 2020 and while it talks about webtoons in general as a platform and medium, there's an excerpt from Rachel that's ironically and hilariously telling on herself when it comes to her priorities as a creator and how her work has aged incredibly poorly in the past 4 years:

She may as well just be saying, "I like Webtoon because they don't have any quality control" and "the trad publishing market had standards that I couldn't live up to, so instead of actually trying to live up to them, I went with a platform that has zero standards and was willing to make me into the standard regardless of my own qualifications and lack thereof."

Like y'all, take this as advice from someone who's had their fair share of rejection letters... the print industry dumping your unsolicited portfolio in the bin isn't gatekeeping, it's the nature of the business. The way Rachel describes it here - albeit I'm sure it's simplified for the sake of being an interview answer, but still - makes it sound like she was just expecting to walk right into the trad publishing market without an agent, without a completed manuscript or pitch, without any professional representation, and just slam her portfolio of mid-2000's art on the desk expecting them to hire her on the spot.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of barriers that prevent people from getting into the trad market, hurdles that can often be outright unfair (lacking the funds, lacking the connections, etc.) but... there's also a reason many of those barriers are there in practice.

First of all, fun fact: the reason why many publishers don't take unsolicited manuscripts isn't just to help them filter out the spam and low-effort submissions and prevent an overload of submissions (because if they took submissions from anyone and everyone, the overviewing system would break entirely), but it's also for legal purposes so that they don't get sued. Because if Joe Chucklefuck sends in an unsolicited manuscript that just so happens to include a plot point about the multiverse, and then a new book series or movie comes out that is about the multiverse, Joe Chucklefuck might get the sense they're being stolen from and attempt to sue them for plagiarism. This is why it's stressed so much by publishers that any unsolicited manuscripts will not just go unread, but will be thrown straight into the bin.

But second, many publishers simply don't want to take the financial risks on random start-up creators whose only experience is running their own personal projects on Tumblr, much less personal projects like Rachel's, half of which are fetish-content and all of which are unfinished. Of course they weren't gonna take Rachel seriously back then, she hadn't done anything to build up her presence in the industry.

In that sense, yes, self-publishing or pursuing a platform gig like Webtoons probably was Rachel's next best option which would be perfectly acceptable on its own, but it's just so, so telling that she thinks it's a "perk" for Webtoons to lack so much in the way of quality control, and we would ironically see the glaring evidence of that "perk" 3-4 years later in LO's final season when every single element of it as a "professional" piece of work turned to shit. It's no wonder she liked Webtoons in 2020 for letting her do anything she wanted, because what she wanted absolutely would not fly with an actual editor and publishing agency that cared about putting out a polished piece of work. The only way she was able to get "in" with a professional publisher was through Del Rey after Webtoons brokered a deal for her to have LO put into print, and even that level of prestige can't hide the fact that LO sucks ass in print. It's almost like under normal circumstances and without Webtoons carrying her on their shoulders above every other creator on the platform - many of whom actually do have experience in both tradpub and self-publishing - Del Rey wouldn't have paid her any attention. Without Webtoons, no one would take her seriously because she doesn't take what she does seriously, and it shows in her priorities as a creator who simply wants to just do whatever she wants without any sort of reasonable oversight like research or editing which are, again, necessary expectations within the tradpub industry, because it's not just about being a free-thinking self-expressive artist anymore in that industry - it's a business.

Of course, Rachel is probably now laughing from her soapbox over the fact that she now technically helps run an imprint, so haha "poo on the meanie trad market", but considering that imprint has still not launched and has been put on the same "coming soon" track that the LO television show has been on for the past 4+ years on a loop, I'm not holding my breath that it's actually going to amount to anything substantial.

(gotta love how they asked if Rachel was gonna create any more stories and her answer was RSP, which will help other creators bring their stories to life. so at best she didn't answer the question which is nothing new for her, at worst she gave away the fact that she's gonna be acting as some kind of producer who will be given all the credit and praise for other creator's works and efforts lmao no thankssss)

And god knows what the quality control of this imprint is gonna be like if Rachel's attitude toward the trad market overall is, "Nooo they won't let me do what I wantttt :((((" when she admittedly never even broke into the trad market to begin with and had zero experience working within that industry prior to LO.

And even then, Webtoons still doesn't give her as much freedom of choice as she claims to have. I mean ffs, this is the same person whose moderators stated that the Swarovski crystal dress from the finale was done as a "fuck you" to Webtoons for not letting her draw Persephone nude all the time.

She's obviously still being prevented from doing what she wants to do, when a lot of what she wants to do is better off not passing the vibe check and making it into the comic.

Quality control exists for a reason, Rachel. And "letting you do what you want" isn't necessarily a "flex" that Webtoons can claim over trad publishing when that "flex" is forgoing the traditional barriers that would usually prevent someone like you from failing upwards into manufactured fame the way that you have.

And that's my big bag of cents on that.

[therealslimshakespeare]

From Sarge’s kids I think I’m (as of now) excited to learn more about Daisy. She’s got a lot of Elvis in her and she witnesses Elaine go to hell and back to help him beat his addiction and although she’s independent I hope there’s gonna be someone who will be able to do the same for her or stand by her. Not to mention she’s got a twin who they come off as polar opposites (what with Rosalee being a huge Daddy’s girl) and her comments towards her older sister Ella’s marriage - I get the feeling there’s a lot to unpack there.

I think sometimes Elvis felt like he was too much to love and I see a lot of his personal insecurities in Daisy, she even is a popstar like him and that’s a lot of people loving you with maybe them feeling like they aren’t really known for who they are deep down.

I am so happy to hear this, I’ve got a little started on each kid’s own fic (I want one for each like I had for Jesse, just to establish them and then let loose with the intermingling) and I really think hers is compelling. It’s been truly a blast to get to know her and I’ve gotta be honest she may be the most Lisa-like of any Sarge kid in many ways, partly because she’s so Elvis incarnate. It took awhile but me and my scheming buddies have cooked up a good partner for her and she will always have her family as backup and even her godfather Marlon. I think she will, as you said, be publicly adored but can be rather offputting one on one, even though she desperately needs connection. I think eventually, and not after too long, all these relationships get far better, and Daisy finds her little nook in the family easily. She is the one to go to for the zero bullshit takes or help hiding a body. Loyal and fierce that one.

And here, since you made my day asking about her, have a little random snippet I’ve written about her first big debut recording which came from her rehab scribbles and, unfortunately for the family members her lyrics feature -becomes a sensation.

Era: 1978-9ish??

Warnings: moderate…mentions of past divorce, infidelity, a daughter sorta writing a hit tell all? remincence of a one off threesome and Elvis having straight man panic for it (I’m afraid this couple is polyamorous central I’m the 60’s but nothing explicit) big ole family chat with the grown kids, chaos as can be expected…

What about Wendy?

“Daisy Mae!” Elvis bellows her full name because the crime warrants it, and from behind him, her voice answers, not in person from her place sprawled on the couch but behind him, coming through the stereo in a clear cadence that his creative side must acknowledge is skilled and evocative. What Elvis doesn't find so praiseworthy is his Dear Daughter hanging the family laundry out for all to see with lyrics like:

—“So I'll lock the window and turn on the AC, You'll throw your rocks, and you'll scream that you hate me, But it gets old being forever 20, And what about my wings? What about Wendy?”—

out on a clothesline for all the world to commentate on his failings and his marriage.

The music video coming out tomorrow on MTV, teased as featuring a fresh faced Daisy in a montage of her mother’s most iconic looks -including that secretive wedding gown so few of the nation ever saw, rather hammers home the not so subtle point. As far as Elvis is concerned this is about as disloyal as it gets.

And he is having none of it.

“It’s art, Daddy.” Daisy murmurs, utterly unphased by the hurricane of wrath she can match once she gets that cup of coffee Rosalee is making her.

“Is this how you see us?” Elvis demands and Jesse winces to the side, things had been going so smoothly after Danny was born but lord, the Presley’s just can’t manage to be calm for long, Daisy had to record that stupid black book she scribbled in during rehab and, my does it have some choice takes on the events of the last decade. “This how you see your childhood?” Elvus goes on, “Where we loved ya like no one’s ever loved any kids and gave ya everythin’ and-“

“-and slammed a buncha doors in between.“ Daisy shrugs, not meaning to be cruel, but it’s the truth and she’s never had her sibling’s affinity for the affection that the rest of the kids take as blood money for the insanity they got put through. Daisy doesn't hold a grudge against anyone for her childhood, in fact, she’s thankful for the writing material. But she’s not gonna be sorry for writing shit as it was.

Which was mama playing a haggard Wendy while Daddy flitted in and out of the window at whim like Peter Pan.

“Girl,” her daddy begs her to understand as he takes his seat next to her on the sofa, big ringed hand familiar and pleading on her bony knee, as if somehow this appeal of his will lock the song back into her diary and out of the radio -or maybe he doesn’t care about his reputation anymore, he’s gotten lax about that after the divorce, maybe he really is seeking after his child’s good opinion this time when he continues, “I’m all for art’n’shit but have I not taught ya nothin’ bout-“

“Daddy, ya didn’t even write your own songs.” Daisy gently tries to get him to see the difference in their art but Jesse gasps out in horror:

“Daisy!!” like she just shot their father instead of stating the truth. Which is kinda her problem with her family, they can’t take straight facts.

“Alright, alright then,” Elvis simmers a bit but his tone is restrained as he presses his point, “so ya write from the heart and ya wrote about life, I get ya. So then why’d you call mama Wendy when, w-w-when she’s -she’s my Tinkerbell?”

“You’d rather I used your pet little name in public?” Daisy scoffs at his muddled logic and feels bad for the first time after -soon as his brow furrows in genuine hurt. Daddy loves mama, he loves her again like a new man and Daisy doesn’t get how that works but it’s the truth and she’s got no fight to pick with the truth. It makes her admit with a shrug, “I used it ‘cause Marlon always says she’s Wendy.”

You could hear a pin drop the way everyone’s chatter in the living room stops, even the coffee maker stops spluttering in the distance and it’s highly likely Jesse isn’t even breathing as everyone’s head’s swivel, Daddy’s slower but more intent than any, to look at Elaine where’s she sits in the white arm chair, blanket cast over her where Danny fell asleep while nursing. She’s as white as the rocker she sits in.

“Oh does he now?” Elvis rumbles and Daisy feels the unintentional bite of his nails on her knee.

“Well yeah, he does and -always has.” Daisy insists as if the past and present existence of Brando’s opinions on Elvis’ wife makes shit any better, Daisy knows it the second she lets it out that it’s not exactly balm on the scab.

Her voice doesn't make anyone look away from mama and her perfect, frozen face, carefully neutral and soothingly disinterested in the topic.

“That man has only ever called me, Elaine.” mama laughs an airy, dismissive little thing and the bite of Daddy’s rings on Daisy’s knee loosens their grip. “And if he thinks i'm a Wendy -he should say it to my face.” she jokes and Jesse predictably lets out a pained laugh of solidarity.

“-A-a-and w-who the hell did ya get to sew all those recreated outfits, girl?” Daddy is suddenly back on the original topic with a burst of renewed incredulity at her gall and Daisy knows she can use this to her advantage, get him arguing about fashion, tailors and supporting local folks instead of berating her for her lyrics and-

-Ella watches as Elaine’s stiff face smoothes into relief and she lays her head back against the rocker’s cushion and closes her eyes against the hubbub that’s no longer pertinent to her. Not for the first time Ella wonders if mama is as burdened as she is with thoughts and feelings married women shouldn’t have, they really shouldn’t. Marriage should cure a woman of them but Ella had them all alone on the ranch with her husband gone and Mama had Marlon and his lingering looks and her frozen face whenever his name gets mentioned and mama who is staring up at the ceiling like she’s no longer in the room with them at all.

“Peter Pan, Peter Pan, little lost boy actin’ like a big man,” only Marlon could have made that rhyme sound like anything but a goad, only Marlon really saw what Elaine saw when Elvis was sated, pliable, sweet as a newborn and pretty a sin. “Those producers who’ve got him playin’ tough n’ shit don’t know his appeal, they just don’t get it. Goddamn Peter Pan.”

And he had run his fingers over Elvis’ face, catching his drooping eyelids and pulling them down and over his nose to those cherub lips. And Elvis’ eyes hadn’t opened again till next morning when he woke in angry panic.

Elaine stares at the ceiling and feels Danny shift against her breast, snuggling closer, and she wonders if Elvis ever recalls that night like she does. Ever replays it a million times.

Wendy, Wendy Wendy.

Marlon thinks she’s Wendy, Marlon’s told her own daughter that. But never her. No. He’d just raked his hand through the wrecked coiff of Elvis’ gelled hair and admiringly called him Peter Pan. And Elvis, being Elvis in the state of freshly loved and freshly praised, never balked at it before drifting to sleep in their muggy tent.

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy, he never called Elaine that to her face.

Elaine catches Daisy’s eye next time she looks away from the ceiling, an odd moment of recognition. Funny how each child knows a part of her, but it’s the inner workings of Daisy’s curious, generous, honest self -a heart so very like Elvis’ own- that can look back at Elaine and smile at her, while knowing her fully, faults and all. It’s not so bad having grown daughters as a friend, Elaine decides as she watches Elvis flail backwards against the couch to laugh at his daughter's good natured dig at his unmodified wardrobe.

It’s good not to be his only Wendy keeping him young anymore.

Song based on: Wendy by Maisie Peters

Tags:

@powerofelvis

@crash-and-cure

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|

————————-

@mydarlingelvis

@presleysweetheart

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@sexystarfish

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@suraemoon

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@starryschoolgirl

@elvisalltheway101

[astrowaffle]

Wow you guys really seemed to like the steampunk AU, that post got way more attention than I was expecting, so here's some more information and stuff:

-The world is still like a videogame that they got trapped in but now it’s a steampunk adventure-y type game with circus elements 

-The adventures are probably a bit different

-They’re probably more like, fantasy adventure video game style things with like puzzles and fighting? Idk I'm not a big gamer I've never actually played any steampunk video games. What are those like?

-Instead of circus tent, there is a big wagon thingy that I'll draw eventually

-there's still not much of a story and I'm not sure If there'll ever be

-I'd also kinda want to make some mini comics for this au but I suck at coming up with ideas :/

Pomni:  

-She likes to craft things

-friends with Gangle and Ragatha

-still very anxious but less anxious then normal Pomni?

-has a very logical mind and is good at puzzling things together but also doesn’t do well under pressure and typically panics in stressful moments where these skills might be useful

-She can play the flute because flutes are good, they are the best instrument. (I am totally not biased just because I play the flute in marching band)

-My headcanon for regular Pomni is that she’s less anxious than she initially is in the pilot after getting used to things, like, beyond the anxiety, her actual personality is very cheery and friendly, also very logical, because idk it just fits her somehow? So yea, that headcanon also applies to this au 

-but of course she is still an absolute nervous wreck because yes

-How else is she supposed to react in this situation

-also look at those fingerless gloves I want those

-the gears in her eyes turn when she is thinking

Gangle:

-Also likes crafting things

-friends with Pomni, Zooble, and Kinger

-she often borrows  sewing needles from Ragatha to sew her comedy mask back together when it’s torn, and also constantly tries to craft new ones

-She really likes her boots

-I don’t blame her those are some nice boots

-Ok wait a minute what if that little wing bow thingy on her head is actually a pen/quill that she can use to write stuff?

-ooooooh yes I like that

Caine: 

-✨monocle✨

-He can control the time of day with the clock that’s on his hat

-It’s a lot harder for him to heal injuries in this world, he can’t just instantly fix anything anymore it requires a bit more effort

-I’m doing this because I like when injury and pain and suffering

Bubble: um- idk it’s just bubble but now they’re a robot I guess

Kinger:

-ok but what if he had a collection of mechanical insects? Omg designing mechanical insects would be so fun-

-The clock that he wears is broken but he doesn’t notice. And Time is irrelevant anyways

-damn those gloves are fancy

-they probably feel really silky

-and his robe is also very silky because mmm good texture

Zooble:

-They are a robot now

-also a mechanic/inventor because nobody else is and somebody had to learn how to make new robot parts

-their right arm can go s t r e t c h

-bonds with Gangle over their hatred of Jax

-they’re also kinda protective over her

-I lowkey ship them (this ship is so underrated)

-No but seriously why do see zero art of this ship

- Zoob’s in denial about their feelings and still pretends not to care because they’ve had such a “I don’t give a shit about anything” attitude that suddenly developing feelings for someone has caught them off guard cause they suddenly are giving a shit about something and they don’t know how to handle it, But if Jax does anything to Gangle they will rush in to protect her in a heartbeat and just try to play it off as it just being because they don’t like Jax BUT WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH ZOOBLE JUST CONFESS ALREADY-

-ok that got way too rambly let's just move on now

Jax:

-MY FAVORITE

-he likes shiny things

-He will collect those shiny things

-He also very fast because look at those LANKY RABBIT LEGS

-I mean technically that’s already cannon, did you see how fast he ran away after seeing abstracted kaufmo? He just z o o m e d outta there

-those keys on the chain are only a small portion of his collection

-his room is definitely full of weird steampunk knick knacks because yes

-He uses them to prank people

-the centipedes he has to scare/annoy Ragatha are mechanical

-I’m so excited to design mechanical centipedes I love bugs so much guys you have no idea I finally have an excuse to draw insects and maybe people will actually care because it’s fandom related now

-He does not like getting wet. At all. (this is also just a general headcanon for him but especially in this au)

-floofy

Ragatha:

-the seams of her fabric are prone to tearing so she always carries a needle and thread to sew herself back together. she's good at sewing

-My main headcannon for normal Ragatha is that her button eye is a parallel to an eye injury she had in real life before joining the circus, but in this AU she probably acquired the injury in this universe.

-she’s good at using tools and weapons but not in like, a mechanic sorta way like Zooble but in a defense sorta way

-like, she’s very kind and caring but also sorta tough and even though her body is good at falling apart, she knows how to use strategy to fight and um wait what would they even be fighting-

-idk I haven’t thought about that yet

-Gloinks?????

-do those exist in this au???

-wait it’s my au why am I asking this

-overall she is very, “tries to help everyone else and seems very tough on the outside but is prone to falling apart both physically and mentally but just gets good at quickly patching it up and ignoring it until it become too much for her to bear”

-pls help her she needs therapy

-they all need therapy

-I’m pretty sure we’ve all established that at this point

-but I’m just making sure you know that it’s still a consistent factor in this au

[silentglassbreak]

Anonymous

Noah Sebastian x OFC

-

Here's the 3rd part. Hoping to also get this one up quick. This story is really coming together in my head. Also, I know I promised smut, and so far have not delivered. That is coming, pinkly promise. We've got to get the foundation man!

Warnings: Alcohol abuse, overall abuse, mild violence (ie. bar fights), smut, swearing, and altogether just a lot of fuckery.

+It goes without saying. This is a work of fiction. My words are mine. Plagiarism is a crime.

Part 3 - The Grey

Sleep was a wild idea, given everything I had learned last night. I couldn't seem to quit scrolling through Google, YouTube, listening. I felt as though I was educating myself. Learning, in some way, what I was getting into. I wanted to see what I could learn about him, but he was an overall private human, even for a musician.

I did learn he is a Scorpio, born on Halloween. Originally from Virginia. The names of his bandmates. He had quite a few wonderful songs that I had added to my iTunes quickly after hearing them. So far, my favorite was Limits, which was saying a lot, given Just Pretend was still so incredible.

Throughout all of my 'research', the most important fact I learned was that Noah was very good at hiding his alcoholism. I expected to see articles, tweets, or even a TikTok about some scandal. An arrest? A fight? A drunken performance? I found nothing.

I suspect Noah is what I consider a silent drunk. Someone who doesn't drink for fun, but for release. For something to escape to. This had to be true, because I found zero evidence of his addiction on social media or in the depths of Google. I even shamelessly searched 'Noah Sebastian alcoholic' and came up with some very strange fanfiction. Interesting thought...

This almost worried me more. This meant I was going into this blind. The rockstar lifestyle was something not only musicians lived. So how did he manage to do it so quietly? Was his publicist just that good? Did he even have one?

Despite my determination, sleep finally took hold about 4AM, me waking up at noon with the videos of their music still playing on YouTube. I slammed my laptop closed and wiped the drool from my lips.

I needed caffeine.

I slipped into my house slippers, and sauntered to the kitchen, Angel following behind. I heard his quiet whine, and quickly paced to the back door to let him out before he had an accident.

Once I had slurped down half of my energy drink and let Angel back in, I snatched my phone from my bedside table. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I checked through my notifications.

Given it was my day off, I wasn't surprised to see a text from Sam asking if I wanted to come in and help him with his case files. I didn't even open it. That should answer that question.

I opened my messages to reach out to Laura. Her and I needed to speak immediately.

Before I could open her thread, I noticed a message from Noah, which made my throat dry.

Noah: Hollywood Palladium. Doors open at 6PM, but you should get there about 5 to get into your suite. I'll text you once I get offstage and we can figure out how you'll smuggle me out. We go on before Motionless in White.

Noah: Thank you again, Leena. I know this is a pain for you.

This guy isn't actually real. He is sweet as honey. Smooth as butter. And wakes up at 6:30AM, apparently? Who the fuck is this guy?

Me: I'll be there. I haven't told Laura yet. Pray for me.

His response came quickly.

Noah: Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name...

I only responded with laughing emojis and flipped to Laura's thread.

Me: Can you talk?

This was our code. She was working and if she was busy, she would respond. If she wasn't, she'd call.

My phone vibrated in my hand immediately.

"Hey." My voice was a fucking mess. I realized I hadn't used it at all yet.

"What the fuck is up, Kyle? You getting sick?" I cleared my throat and sighed.

"No. Just woke up."

"Late night? You doing okay?" I could hear the concern. 3 years sober, didn't mean it wasn't still something to keep an eye on.

"Yeah babe, I'm good. I need to fucking talk to you, though."

"Sure, what's going on?"

I sighed, not even knowing how to begin. I couldn't exactly tell her the lead singer of one of her favorite bands was a newly recovering alcoholic. Not without permission.

"I uh..." My brain drew a blank. "have not thought this through."

The other end was silent.

"You sure you're okay?"

I sighed hard. "I met Noah Sebastian."

Now there was dead silence on the phone.

"I'm so fucking sorry, I've lost my mind. Can you repeat that?" Her voice was deadly.

"You heard me."

"Noah Sebastian? From Bad Omens?!" I could hear her voice raising some octaves.

"Yeah a few days ago."

"Fucking where?!" I had to hold the phone at a distance from my ear.

"At...my work." My brain worked overtime to work out this lie.

"I call bullshit." She is too good at seeing through me.

"Laura, would you fucking listen?"

"Noah Sebastian did not walk into a fucking mortgage office and just happen to meet my best friend, the loan officer. Bullshit."

"Laura, listen!"

"Fuck! Fine! What?!" I could feel her irritation.

"I have tickets to their show tonight. In their VIP booth."

"Did you help him buy a house or some shit?!" That actually wasn't bad.

"Possibly. Still up in the air."

"You're such a fucking liar."

"Do you want to go or not? We'll be seeing him after."

I could feel her jaw drop to the floor. "We're going to meet the band?"

"No, not the band. I don't think. Just Noah."

"Just Noah? Christ Mileena, did you fuck him or something?!"

"Absolutely not! Laura what the hell?!"

"What?? You don't even listen to Bad Omens." I scoffed at that.

"I fucking do now."

-

After a solid hour of interrogatories from Laura, planning on getting to the event (I would drive, obviously) and what we would wear, we finally hung up.

I had about three and a half hours before I had to leave to pick her up. I had enough time for a walk with Angel, lunch, and to get ready.

When Angel and I set out on the sidewalk, and I had set up my AirPods (3 guesses who I was listening to), my phone chimed with a text. I groaned. Didn't we get through enough details?

When I saw the text though, I was surprised to see Noah's name.

Noah: Hey, weird request, but could I call you for like ten minutes?

I was puzzled, but typed a quick affirmative response.

My phone rang a few moments later.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I'm sorry." His immediate apology confused me.

"Sorry for what?" I could hear him chuckle, his voice slightly hushed.

"Calling. I know it's weird." I half-smiled. There was a level of innocence to Noah that made me feel better about this entire situation.

"Noah, I'm your sponsor. You're allowed to call me any time, day or night."

"But what if I call you at 3AM cause I'm craving sugar?"

I shook my head, weaving down the sidewalk with Angel heeling nicely at my left.

"Then we go get ice cream?"

I could hear the smile in his voice. "No way. You don't mean that."

I proudly responded. "Wouldn't be the first time."

He only snorted in response. I did wonder why he needed to call.

"Are you okay?"

"Mm, yeah. We're at the venue. Did sound check a while ago. The guys cracked open some beers. I told them I was going to take a quick walk to get some air. I feel like they might know something." His concern was thick in his words.

"Ah, okay. Well, super proud of you for walking away. That's amazing on it's own."

"Yeah?" He sounded unsure.

"Oh, one hundred percent."

"Thanks Leena." He sighed. His voice then came out a little smoother. "Did you talk to Laura?"

"I did."

"And how did that go?"

I smirked. "Well, she doesn't believe that I met you at work, so now she's got horrific ideas of how I met you, but she's in."

This made him laugh. "Horrific like how?!"

"I won't repeat it. But either way, she doesn't know how we actually know each other. I'm struggling to figure out how I'm going to explain us giving you a ride home?"

He was quiet, my guess was thinking. "How well do you know her?"

"Better than anyone, why?"

"You trust her?"

"With my life."

"Tell her. It's easier that way. Just maybe ask we don't all chat about it?" This took me back. As private as he is, and he doesn't even know me that well? Why trust me, or someone I trust, with this secret? His reputation is somewhat on the line.

"You sure?"

"Should I not be?"

I sighed. "I wouldn't risk your good name Noah. I promise."

"Thanks Leena." I heard muffled voices in the background. "Hey, I've got to go. See you later?"

I agreed, and we disconnected the call.

-

The ride to the venue was mostly quiet, aside from the soft music on the radio playing.

"So...anything else I should know before we walk in there? Ronnie Radke isn't going to be hanging with us too, is he?"

I chuckled at this.

"Listen babe, I've got to tell you something."

She lifted her eyebrow in a knowing look. "Knew you were lying."

I shrugged. "Look, I'm going to tell you this, but this is covert level secrecy. No one can know. Or Noah is fucked. So promise me? Not even your husband gets to know?"

Her look turned more serious.

"Of course babe. Anything."

"I'm Noah's sponsor." Her jaw dropped open, almost unnaturally so.

"He's in AA too?" I nodded.

"He just started. And he needed a sponsor. I offered. He needed help getting through this show and the after party. So he's going to pretend to be sick after, meet us backstage, and we're going to smuggle him out and drive him home."

I could see the wheels in her head turning. She believed me now. She knew I never lied about AA.

"Oh my God, babe." She shook her head. "I'm so sorry. I pried too hard. Jesus, I feel like an asshole."

I waved her off. "Don't, my love. He gave me permission to tell you." She nodded at that, sitting back in her seat.

After a beat, she giggled to herself. "You sure are the luckiest sponsor ever." That made me laugh. I wasn't so sure yet.

-

The show was electric. The man on stage, singing, was a different person entirely. If it weren't for the fact that he made direct eye contact with me several times throughout the night, I would've never believed him to be the same shy, unsure, uncomfortable man he was in group. On stage, he was confident, he was in control, he was the leader, and the crowd, his flock. It was insane to watch, and I would be lying if I hadn't said I felt absolutely mystified at points. I teared up when they played Just Pretend, vehemently singing along. This was not lost on him, and I caught the smirk he got when he saw my glassy-eyed singing. No different than any other fan. That's okay, that's who I was for now.

We were to not be seen or noticed. We were shadows waiting to seamlessly remove him.

Once the set ended, and everyone waited for Motionless in White to come out, moving in and out of their seats toward the bars and bathrooms, Laura and I followed the security guard who had been told to allow us backstage.

I checked my phone a few times, but still had not heard from him. As we made our way to the meet and greet area, we saw the giant line of fans waiting for their band to show up. We slyly waited against a wall behind the line. We blended in.

"Have you heard from him?" I checked my phone again with no results.

"No, but I would bet he has to do meet and greet first. I don't strike him as the type to disappoint fans."

She nodded in agreement, so we waited.

After about twenty minutes, we heard screaming, and looked over to see them come out, waving at everyone waiting in line. I saw his eyes searching. Was he looking for us?

Pulling out my phone, I shot a quick message.

Me: By the trash cans.

He was talking to a girl with his face on her shirt when he slipped his phone from his pocket and his eyes immediately scanned and found mine. The smallest hint of a smile lifted his lips. I saw him turn his back for a moment, and turning back to sign autographs

Noah: Thought I lost you. M&G will be over in 45min. Meet me in the parking lot?

I sent a thumbs up, instructed Laura of our plans, and we began our trek to the car. Once in the car, I sent a quick location pin to him so he could find us. I got a response a few minutes later.

Noah: Just look for the ancient Tahoe. Roger that.

I rolled my eyes, and despite Laura watching her concert videos, she noticed.

"What?" I showed her my phone, and she smiled.

"Well, he's funny, huh?" I nodded.

"An absolute dork." She bit her lip, turning in my seat.

"Leena?" I looked up at her from my phone screen, looking at my own videos.

"Hmm?"

"Do you like him?" I paid little attention to the question.

"Oh sure, he's a nice guy." She put her hand on my shoulder, making me give her my full attention.

"No, Mileena," she pushed my phone down. "do you like him?"

This made me scoff. "Laura, I barely know him!"

"What's to know? He's a singer in a near famous band. He's got the voice of an angel. He's adorable." This made me roll my eyes again.

"I'm his sponsor." She threw her hands up.

"Is it illegal?" I shook my head.

"No, but it's awful and would make me a terrible human. And I work very hard to be a good human."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "I don't believe that, but okay. I respect it." I smiled at her.

"Thank you Laura."

"But I still think you like him."

I was silent in response, not amused by her pushing.

“He has a girlfriend anyway, Laura.”

I watched her eyes nearly bug out of her head. “He does?!”

“Yeah, he told me yesterday.” I could see the disbelief on her face.

“I’ve never heard that. What’s her name?” I sighed, thinking back to our conversation the day before.

“He…didn’t say? Just mentioned he had one, and she didn’t know about AA yet.”

Her lips pursed. “Not buying it.”

This made my eyes widen.

“What?”

“He has a girlfriend but doesn’t even tell you her name? And doesn’t tell her he’s made a life changing decision to get well? I’m not buying.”

I rolled my eyes. “Christ, Laura, you’ve got trust issues.”

She pointed at me. “Facts. But it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t believe it.” She sat back in her seat.

“I’ll just ask him when he gets here, no worries.”

This caused a flood of panic through me. “Please don’t! He’s not the type to talk about personal stuff. He’s actually pretty withdrawn.”

Her blank expression was telling. “Noah? Noah Sebastian? The guy who just went absolutely insane on that stage? Is withdrawn? Mhm, sure.”

I sat back in my chair and groaned.

“Please? That’s his personal business.”

She nodded. “Fine, but you should ask him.”

I didn’t respond, attention now on the text I had from him saying he was headed our way. I started the car, ready for a quick getaway.

After about ten minutes, I saw his tall frame in the doorway of the elevator, jogging over to the car. I snuck a glance at Laura, who looked as though she may absolutely burst.

“Here comes the rockstar.” She let out in a sing-song voice.

The back left door opened, and he slid inside the seat quickly, buckling his seatbelt and running his fingers through his long, and now greasy, hair.

“Hey!” My voice was about three pitches higher for truly no reason at all. This was not lost on my best friend, whose eyes I saw flash over to be before turning around and looking at Noah, eyes absolutely bulging.

“Jesus, it’s like trying to escape a wild pack of hyenas!” He sat back and sighed heavily as my truck backed out of the space and began moving down the aisle. “I mean the guys, not the fans.”

I looked up in my rearview. “Did you do like we talked about?”

“Yes. Made sure to gag as loudly as possible and everything.” I could see the smile crinkling the corners of his eyes.

He turned his attention to Laura, holding out his hand. “I’m so rude, I’m sorry.” She took his hand, looking absolutely stunned. “I’m Noah.”

All I heard from her was a weak ‘Laura’ in response.

Once we hit the darkened streets, putting the venue behind us, the tension in the truck relaxed.

I looked up in my mirror again, catching Noah’s attention.

“Do you mind if I drop Laura home first? She’s got to get up early for work tomorrow and her house isn’t very far.”

He smiled. “Of course. I’m all the way in Calabasas, so no worries at all.”

I just nodded. The ride was smooth for a moment, until I heard the familiar ring of an iPhone. It was Noah’s.

“Hello?” I couldn’t hear the voice from the other end. “Hey babe.”

Laura’s face whipped over to me, I’m sure seeing my expression darken ever so slightly.

“Yeah, I’ll be okay. I’m not sure what happened, but I started feeling off before the set and by the end, I was throwing up.” He waited for the response. “No, uh…” he hesitated. “I actually haven’t drank at all today.”

Something in my chest swelled. I was such a proud sponsor. He was making an effort, and all I could do was appreciate it.

He nervously laughed. “Yeah, right? Shocking, I know.”

I could hear his tone. It broke my heart for him. I knew that conversation, I had many myself. When people don’t believe you haven’t been drinking, or are shocked to hear it. They’ll even go so far as to get angry at you for quitting. It’s a long, torturous road he’s set down, but hopefully with the right support, he will stay on track.

“Well I just caught an Uber, and I’m going to go home and pass out. Try to get over it.”

I made a conscious effort not to look at him, doing my best to respect his privacy. I could see Laura doing the same, scrolling through her phone.

“Yeah, uh, maybe we should wait until Monday? Make sure I’m not contagious, and all that?” His voice almost sounded brightened, but I was likely imagining things.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But do you want to catch this crap?” He made a sound of approval. “Thought so. I’m almost home so I’ll talk to you later babe.” He wasn’t, but okay. “Mhm, I love you too.” Slight poke to the abdomen. Nothing to worry about. “Bye.”

My hands relaxed slightly on the wheel. No one spoke for a little while. I could see his eyes just watching the streetlights fly past the window. He almost looked sad, but I couldn’t piece together why exactly. I could guess, however, that this is harder than he initially anticipated. It always is.

Laura shared my concern, so she spoke up.

“The show tonight was awesome, Noah! Better than the one back in November!”

This sure perked him, making him sit up in his seat. “Yeah? Thank you for saying that.”

“Oh fuck yeah, dude! Watching you guys play is spiritual, honestly.” This made him crack a wide grin.

I felt a poke on my shoulder, causing me to look up.

“What’d you think Leena? How was your first Bad Omens show?” I could see him searching for my answer, but he’s not the only one who could be a smartass.

I waved my hand in a topsy-turvy fashion. “It was alright.”

“Oh shut the fuck up, you cried during Just Pretend.” Laura was triumphantly smiling.

She’s so dead.

My cheeks were getting warmer, and I instinctively cracked my window. When did it get so hot in here?

Noah let out a giggle, an actual fucking giggle. “I thought I saw that.”

“Dude, how can you see anything up there? Fire? Smoke? Lights?”

He shook his head dismissively and flopped back in his seat. “Please. I can see anything if I’m looking for it.”

His words rang out followed by silence. Laura’s face was deadpanned.

What the fuck does that mean? In a literal sense, I get what he meant but wow, what an innuendo to make. Unintentionally, I’m sure.

The context wasn’t lost on Noah, who only cleared his throat, not speaking another word.

Luckily, we were already cruising down Laura’s street, stopping in front of her driveway.

“Welp, this is my stop.” She turned to look in the backseat. “Thank you so much for the concert. It really was awesome.”

This earned her a grateful head nod from him. “Anytime.”

She wouldn’t be forgetting that.

“I love you babes, call me tomorrow?” She wrapped an arm around me while I agreed to her request. She hopped out of the car and within seconds, she was gone.

“You want to stay back there, or hop up front?”

Without answering, a long leg reached over my console, plopping Noah in the passenger’s seat. I stared at him incredulously while he beamed at me.

I shook my head and put the truck back in drive, waiting for him to direct me to his house.

[sepublic]

People are bringing up how Metroid 2's remake ruined the environmental storytelling it had with the Metroids' lair; But I also think the same could be said for Kraid in Zero Mission. Because in the first game, he's a very elusive guy to find; Players struggle to find him, and unlike Ridley, he even has a doppelganger meant to psyche you out! So when you destroy it, you assume you've done everything, and/or move on to Ridley as well... And then you waste time going all the way to the gate to Tourian, only to realize you got tricked. And then you have to go all the way back to Kraid's lair to find the real one.

I think this provides more characterization than Ridley himself got in the first Metroid, and potentially in Super as well; Kraid as someone who hides, who's clever in his own right and knows how important he is. So instead of facing Samus head-on, he avoids her, possibly because he knows he'll lose.

And this continues into Super, which plays off of gamers' experience with the first game; They're expecting Kraid to be Samus-sized, probably. They find him and then he... dies really easily, so okay, he must have another doppelganger. But the real Kraid must be around the same size, right?

And then he's titanic. Gargantuan. You have to scale the screen to fight Kraid. He doesn't even fit into the whole thing, which is why his actual sprite lacks a tail; There was never going to be enough room for that, so no need to make it.

I do suspect the box art for Super Metroid kinda spoiled that twist... Even if people assumed Kraid and Ridley had their sizes exaggerated on the cover, seeing Ridley be bigger in the prologue would've hinted at the same for Kraid. But man, there really is an unspoken narrative in these games.

Which then fucks me up, how Zero Mission just does away with that entirely! Like yeah I'm fine with Kraid being retconned as always that big. But by reimagining him as a tutorial boss, there's none of that same difficulty and search. There isn't the same mystery, paired with an appropriate theme, behind looking for this elusive figure who hides behind a similar face. He's supposed to be smart like Ridley in his own way, he is a fellow Space Pirate on similar standing.

And it's a shame because Kraid is really lacking in characterization, despite being a boss on the same level as, and arguably harder, than Ridley in the original Metroid; These two and Mother Brain were the OGs, and Kraid and Ridley both are advertised on Super's box art together. I can see why Mother Brain got fleshed out as the big bad of course, and for Ridley, him playing the role of the Space Pirate who manages to get away with the baby Metroid makes sense; He's the only boss mobile enough to leave Ceres.

And by making him a two-parter, that makes him memorable enough (but not too important like Mother Brain) to pay homage to in Fusion... Which leads to that post-game artwork where he leads the Space Pirates because unlike Kraid, you actually fight Ridley('s clone) in Fusion, so it's more meaningful for players of that game to see him in its end screen flashback. And that naturally culminates in the Zero Mission manga where Ridley kills Samus' parents and truly becomes an arch-nemesis more infamous than the OG big bad Mother Brain herself.

But poor Kraid!!! He got shafted. Despite also being in Zero Mission, the manga glosses over him so briefly and he doesn't even have any dialogue or characterization; He's just 'Ridley's comrade', but what does it mean to be brothers-in-arms with that sadist? Which is why I'm grateful for Dread, because Mercury Steam realized he was actually underrated and needed a return, unlike Ridley who already came back as Proteus in their previous game.

They took advantage of the fact that he technically doesn't die or explode onscreen in Super, just sinks into the ground... And the same happens in Dread too. So I'm hoping for some setup with Kraid as Samus' new arch-nemesis (timeline-wise, in terms of real life games coming out that's clearly Sylux). And maybe one day we'll get more story content... Or at least in-game scans and logs that elaborate on Kraid's personality.

[dragonfly0808]

Helia: The Thesis

Kay, so, for Helia’s thesis there won’t be that many spoilers but there will be references to a big even in s3, if you haven’t read after the Eraklyon party in s3 then you run a risk of spoilers, the spoilers will mainly revolve around the changes I made to Helia’s backstory

TRIGGER WARNING: TALK OF SELF-HARM AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, IF THIS TRIGGERS YOU PLEASE SKIP THIS THESIS

First Things First

The first words I have in Helia’s character sheet are:

Sensitive artist that doesn’t kick your ass cause he choses peace.

Helia was always super interesting to me in the OG cause, in the 2000’s I honestly don’t remember many soft boys being portrayed as also being able to be badass and just super cool.

I changed quite a bit of Helia’s backstory cause in the OG we just hear that he drops out of Red Fountain and goes to art school before going back to Red Fountain with zero explanation.

There is a phrase that really inspired a lot of the changes I made to Helia’s backstory and that is: No one will ever know the violence it took to become this gentle.

Over the years I’ve learned that some of the loveliest, gentlest and kindest people are the ones who’ve hated and suffered the most in the past. And that is something that I could really see Helia being.

Helia is someone who really let him anger get the best of him in the past. In my version, Helia grew up angry due to heavy expectations of his parents and being Saladin’s grandson. He’s someone who grew up with endless anger and sadness and who had no real outlet after his art was taken away to not distract him too much from his training as Specialist and Wizard.

(Here’s where the talk of self-harm and attempted suicide starts)

Helia self-harms and tries to take his own life a year before season 2. This decision was… a tad bit drastic and to be honest it wasn’t even fully planned at first but it just made sense to me with his character.

Helia is someone who, after hitting rock bottom, seeks help and slowly starts to get better. He goes back into art to let out all of his pain, he works things out with his parents and gets his life back on track.

And it’s not like he is magically completely healed, like we see in season 3, when he has a reason, his anger can and will get the better of him and it can be scary. He has relapses when things get extreme. But he continues to heal and to grow

Helia isn’t born peaceful. He learns it. He grows into peace slowly over his year at art school where he learns to meditate and to just process his emotions in a more healthy manner and I think that makes his serene and mostly peaceful personality and thought process all the more impactful.

People can tell he’s wise and I think I mention in s2 that he just erradiates this comfort, people want to be liked by Helia.

Healing Isn’t Linear

In s3, we see Helia relapse into his self-harming habits.

This to me was important for his character because, whilst he has learned better ways to cope with his feelings, relapse is a realistic thing that can happen and doesn’t mean you’re doing horribly if that makes sense. Because healing isn’t linear. Especially with everything that happens in season 3, to me it made sense for Helia to snap both in anger and in his past self-destructive tendencies.

Helia attacks Sky when the truth of his curse comes out and we see him be ashamed of it, worried he scared Flora and telling Bloom that that isn’t who he wants to be

Helia is very conscious of his own issues and how he is/wants to be perceived. He is very conscious of when he needs help even if sometimes he still needs a little push to get said help

Something to Fight For

A big part of what helps Helia truly come into his own post s2 is figuring out what he is fighting for.

Before s2 Helia was furious because he didn’t know what to fight for, he was a Specialist mostly due to being a legacy.

He returns to Red Fountain because he always enjoyed the routine of it, but also to finally figure out what he wants to fight for.

So what does Helia fight for?

Well… I’d say that, at first he fights for his friends. He is inspired by them and wants to protect them, after that, he also fights for those who can’t protect themselves, much like his grandfather.

No longer being so pressured by his parents allows him to kind of see things like his family does and he finds that he feels the same way.

Kind of reminds me of the Argent family: We protect those who cannot protect themselves. That’s the same view of the Alarie family

Thoughts Behind his Main Relationships

Riven: Riven is Helia’s best friend and they are kind of two sides of the same coin. They both have had anger issues and, surprisingly enough, Helia was a lot more violent than Riven ever was since Riven had a better hold on his anger due to facing major consequences (*cough* *cough* his dad *cough* *cough*) but they bond over trying to better themselves.

Riven learns to meditate with Helia and occasionally even paints with him. Helia learns to fix stuff with Riven and they both love the routine that comes with being Specialists second only to Brandon so they often do work-outs and bets with each other.

Their friendship is one of very different yet similar lives. They get each other in a: we’ve both come face to face with the darkest versions of ourselves and came out on top, we’ve both hit rock bottom and we’re both working on figuring out how to be better.

They’re both very aware of their darker emotions but never judge the other for it. They both have nightmares regarding their pasts and they can open up because they know that they get one another.

Flora: They’re relationship is just… ufff. I love them so much.

To me, Flora and Helia have both been through a lot and have both learned to make light of the darkness in different ways. They are both on their healing journey and support each other unconditionally.

They are soft souls that have been hit time and time again but have refused to become harsh.

Their relationship is one of complete trust and support. They know what they’ve been through but never fear being pitied or feared by the other because they’re the same in a way.

Their relationship is ‘we’re both pulling ourselves and you make me feel like all of it will never drown me and I know that my soul and yours have known each other for a very long time.’

They find comfort, understanding and safety in their love.

They know they can trust each other with the darkest parts of themselves because they won’t lose them, they are very much connected in a way that is hard to even comprehend.

Their love is a soft one

Musa: These two are platonic soulmates.

They’re the artists of the group, the ones that communicate better on a page or when speaking in prose, they’re the ones that will spill their guts out in the middle of the night with a pen in their hands

They’re the artists that make art not just because they like to but because it’s crucial to their survival and an integral part of who they are.

They both struggle a bit to be vulnerable, Musa more so than Helia, but find that they can lower their guard with each other because they get what it’s like to finally find your voice after years of bearing the stifling forced silence that comes with not being heard by your own family

They just make sense to me as unexpected platonic soulmates

Who is Helia in this Rewrite?

Helia is a young legacy who has suffered the weight of his heritage. He is someone who used to be incredibly lost and angry at the universe and turned that hatred and frustration inward and into self-destructive tendencies.

He is someone who has grown incredibly and learned peace, learned self-love and learned vulnerability. He is someone incredibly aware of who he is and who he wants to be.

He is someone who took a long time to figure out what he is fighting for, what he wants to live for and become. But, once he figured it out, he will not go back, he will forge ahead, not forgetting his past but not letting it drag him down, allowing it to be a lesson

Helia is at his core, an artist: someone incredibly caring, soft and who wants to help people, even if it isn’t as a warrior, he wants to make sure others don’t have to go through the pain that he and his friends have gone through. He is someone who will fight to protect the vulnerable.

He is someone who learned to wring sunlight out of the darkest parts of himself.

Helia is a soft soul, the warm side of a warrior.

———

Masterlist

Helia Moodboard

Helia’s Instagram

Helia and Riven Moodboard

Flora and Helia Moodboard

Musa and Helia Moodboard

[helix-enterprises117]

Halo Reloaded: Cat Ears

John-117, the legendary Spartan, master of all things military and perhaps not so masterful at the subtler art of humor, found himself utterly disarmed—not by anything dangerous by any stretch of the imagination, but by the unexpected addition of mechanical cat ears on Linda-058's helmet. Leaning casually against the cool, unforgiving metal of the UNSC frigate's hangar wall, he observed Linda tinkering with the ears. They twitched with a life of their own, probably zeroing in on the soft hum of the ship's engines or the distant clatter of a dropped wrench somewhere across the bay.

"Cute, aren't they?" Linda's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone playful yet edged with a challenge, as if daring him to comment.

Caught in the act of staring, John straightened up, adopting the slight smirk that usually preceded his attempts at banter. "Cute? That’s a term for kittens and babies, not something I’d expect to see on a Spartan’s battle gear."

Linda chuckled, her helmet now cradled in one arm as she turned to face him fully. "Oh come on, John. You need to broaden your horizons. These ears are the latest in auditory enhancement tech. And yes, they are cute—might help lighten up the mood when we're knee-deep in grunt guts."

John picked up the helmet, examining the ears with a mixture of curiosity and bemusement. "Practical and cute. Still, it’s a bit out there for a Spartan. We're supposed to intimidate, not... charm."

"Who says we can't do both?" Linda quipped, leaning back against the workbench with an easy grace. "Imagine the look on an Elite’s face when they get dropped by someone wearing these. Adds a whole new layer to psychological warfare."

John snorted, the sound muffled by the hangar’s vast emptiness. "I’ll just stick to my usual scare-them-silly routine. You can keep the charming to yourself."

Linda’s grin widened. "Afraid you can't pull it off?"

"Terrified," John admitted, playing along with the light-hearted jab. "There's a fine line between charming and ridiculous."

"Well, if anyone could manage it, it’d be you," Linda responded, pushing off from the bench to stand closer to him. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Just think, John. You, with cat ears—might make the rookies less jumpy around you."

"They’re supposed to be jumpy. Keeps them on their toes," John retorted, though the twinkle in his eye betrayed his amusement.

Linda sighed dramatically. "There you go again, all doom and gloom. Maybe it’s time for a new approach. We could start a trend. Spartans: the fierce warriors who can also do 'adorable.'"

"Adorable isn’t very Spartan," John grumbled, though the smirk lingering on his lips suggested he found the concept more amusing than he let on.

"Neither was fatherhood, but look at us now," Linda pointed out softly, her tone shifting as she touched on the new, uncharted territory they were about to navigate together.

John’s features softened, the playful banter fading into a moment of sincere connection. "That’s different. This is... what we never expected but I wouldn’t change it."

"Exactly," Linda smiled gently, reaching out to take his hand. "We adapt. We overcome. Cute ears and all."John squeezed her hand, his voice firm yet warm with affection. "Together."

"Always," Linda agreed, her smile matching his. "With or without the cat ears."

[strawberryblueberrypies]

Hi! Welcome to my blog!

My name's what's on the tin, but you can call me SBP!

My blog is primarily Sonic related. Dedicated to my OC's but I really wanted to find other cool OC's hence I'm here!

Expect to see: Sonic, digital art, style mimicking (it's fun!), fondness of less beloved Sonic titles, strong girls and birbs!

I won't engage in negativity, be it towards me, others or the franchise. My focus is on being positive and having fun.

MINORS DNI! I do not want to interact with anyone underage! You will be blocked if you follow me!

I also have a Transformers OC blog! Check it out if you're interested!

Here's a short introduction on my 5 Sonic OCs! Please bear in mind it's a work in progress as I slowly replay the games and learn more! Also yes I was trying to copy Yuji Uekawa's/2000's Sonic artwork.

Name: Heat the Mynah

Species: Babylonian

Related games: Sonic Riders, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, Sonic and the Secret Rings (AU because I want excuses to draw Erazor Djinn, Shahra, Erazor again, oh and Erazor)

Extreme Gear: Type-H (Speed type)

Rivals: Amy

Personality: Heat is fun loving and impulsive. She might look like an airhead but she has a cunning manipulative side. She's aware she's cute and often uses her charms to get others to do her bidding. She doesn't use her "powers" for evil but she sure has had Storm bring her stuff at 3AM. Heat also has collectionist tendencies, often keeping stolen treasure for herself instead of selling like the others. Though she loves danger and doesn't seem to have fears, two things make her shake in her boots: certain death and existencial/cosmic threats!

Fun fact: Heat's favorite places to race are Metal City, 90's Boulevard and the Gigan Rocks! Mobius Strip gives her bad memories though.

Name: Mist the Tiger

Species: Indochinese tiger

Home: Sol Dimension

Relevant games: Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic 06 (Maybe?)

Friends: Blaze (Ex-rival), Silver, Cream, Knuckles (Rivals?), Heat (Sorry, Riders is too fun of a concept)

Powers: Water control (Unstable; turns into mist/fog without the Sol Emeralds), Super strength

Personality: Mist is hot-headed and very excited to fight others. She values strength very much and wants to fight anything that moves! Before being defeated, she was very aggressive and selfish but after befriending Blaze she became friendship oriented and affectionate, even if she remains imposing. Mist isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and is very impulsive and restless. In fact she's too much of a meathead to really feel fear.

Fun fact: Her blue gem is a heirloom and is what helps her channel water. It changes color in her super form due to it becoming saturated. It acts like training wheels until she fully gains control over time.

Name: Elegy the Cosmos

Occupation/Species: Goddess of Space

Powers: Teleportation, Psychic communication (she doesn't speak, you can only hear her in your thoughts if she's within speaking range), Dark matter control.

Backstory: Elegy is the Goddess of Space and went to visit Sonic's dimension to stop population overgrowth in his universe eons ago. She spent a lot longer in the dimension than intended, staying away from her Home and gradually becoming weaker as a result. After creating The End she expended all her remaining energy, leaving her trapped. She ventured the universe for millenias trying to regain enough power to go back Home but with so much time passing, she grew to resent the dimension she's trapped in and convinced herself that she has to destroy it.

Personality: Elegy is cold and factual, not caring for lies or manipulation. She focuses on the greater picture, seeing mortals as mere puppets in a greater cosmic theater she's in charge of. She often doesn't understand people and her resentment causes her to seem uninterested in learning about them, but deep down she's still just as curious about their little insignificant antics as she was way back when.

Fun fact: Despite seeming emotionless, Elegy can and does feel emotions. In fact, the white tips of her ears and tail change color depending on what she's feeling at the time.

Name: Poise the Viper

Occupation: L.A.N.C.E. Freelancer

Relevant Games: Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic 06 (Kinda)

Rivals: Rouge the Bat

Powers: High flexibility and speed, Hypnotic smoke

Backstory: Poise is the heir to a rich family with high political power, but due to her irresponsible spending she found herself in massive amounts of debt. With her family unwilling to pay her bills, she had to find a high paying gig. Through her fascination with the Space Colony Ark and Project Shadow, she stumbled upon Lovers Against Nefarious Corporations and Entities, or L.A.N.C.E., a once small and peaceful protest group turned independant organization that's heavily against G.U.N. due to the events 50 years ago. She now works as an agent, being frequently tasked with getting in the way of G.U.N's missions and goals.

Personality: Poise is highly vain, caring a lot about her looks and economic status. She's also very petty. She's sneaky and decieving, hiding the fact she's deeply insecure and in need of external validation with an arrogant and smug mask. She likes to feel wanted and on top of things. She also loves romance and beautiful scenery.

Fun fact: Poise can wear accessories ala SA2's upgrades. She's often tasked with some thanks to L.A.N.C.E's aid during missions.

Name: Umbra the Android

Species: Shadow Android

Relevant games: Sonic Heroes, Shadow the Hedgehog

Allies: Poise the Viper, Invade the Artificial Wisp

Powers: High speed, agility and intelligence. Easy time operating computers. Can't use chaos control but has heightened strength.

Backstory: Umbra is one of the Shadow androids built by Doctor Eggman. The place was found by Poise during a mission and he was retrieved back to L.A.N.C.E. HQ. Upon activation, he was made aware that he was an Android, not the original, and was asked a barrage of questions by L.A.N.C.E. leader, Commander Layla. Her intent was to have him expose through personal account the horrors that happened near the end of Project Shadow, exposing G.U.N. to the public. Despite really having Shadow's memories up until him falling back to Earth, he feigned amnesia, aware that should he give them what they want he'll be discarded just like the original was by G.U.N. 50 years ago. As a result, Layla decided to give him a place to stay in the L.A.N.C.E HQ until he "regained his memory", while also trying to please him due to his high importance. To prevent boredom at being stuck in HQ and possibly help him remember, he was given permission to partake in missions. He was also allowed to customize his body (as long as he uses his original Shadow look during the exposé) and given another top secret L.A.N.C.E project, Invade, to keep company at HQ and help in missions

Personality: Umbra is acutely aware he's a copy of Shadow. Feeling like a "shadow of a shadow", he picked the namd Umbra, his goal being to eventually be his own person. Having Shadow's memories, he's very similar to the original: brooding, serious, stoic, quick to get things done. Where he differs is his attempts to branch out and create meaningful connections, even if he isn't the best at showing affection. He doesn't wish to be alone in the world, aware of his unusual and unnatural circumstance, aware that otherwise he has nowhere to go. Due to his memories, he has tried to create distance from them. But still finds himself feeling rage and grief when remembering Maria and the A.R.K. He hopes to meet Sonic one day, part of him still having that rivalry, part of him hoping he'll be seen as his own person.

Fun fact: Umbra considers Eggman's other robots as siblings. He's melancholic over the fact him and Omega have to fight, hoping to one day be on good terms with him and fight alongside him instead of against.

[trayoftrinkets]

I think it is about time I sell my soul to Brothers Without A Tomorrow because I really do not know how else to thank them for consistently putting out such amazing works— yes, I finally caught up with Dear Zero and am currently experiencing the worst existential crisis of the year so far.

Like I want to throw myself off a cliff so bad because how can something so perfect just exist? It should be kept in a temple and worshipped because oh. my. fucking. god.

The concept? Mindblowing.

The worldbuilding? Jawdropping.

The story so far? Impeccable.

The characters? My new obsession.

The art? Should be worshipped by all of humanity for all the years to come.

I'm happy that this precious piece of media is my introduction to guideverse, a genre that I've been meaning to explore for quite sometime now but did not know from where to begin. But now that I've gotten a taste of this hidden fruit, I think I will be digging through the darkest corners of the internet to find more. But before all that, let's go back to bwat because this is a bwat appreciation post and I need to yap about them.

To say that I'm obsessed with their writing and their art would be an understatement. I will forever be grateful to the stars that allowed me to be alive at the same time as this person and I'm not even being dramatic, I really do owe them my life.

I was first introduced to their works by my best friend, who had asked me to read Taming the Tiger. And when I tell you I felt my world shift.. l mean it in the way that I finally unlocked a door that would let me experience some of the strongest feelings I've ever felt while engaging with any form of media. Like, you know I absolutely love pretty art and amazing stories, right?

So when the two blended in such a seamless way that ticked every one of my boxes, how can you expect me to not vibrate at the frequency of light and erupt into flames? I MEAN LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THEM.

Not to mention how some of the illustrations reminded me so much of ranwan. You know it's serious when my brain connects something to ranwan. I really was fighting for my life out here. And those side stories? Oh, I was sobbing into my pillow, alright.

A few months later, after I was finally able to take in all of Taming the Tiger, I decided it was time to read Miscreants and Mayhem. It was a spur of the moment kind of decision, but oh boy did it spur me to jump off the nearest cliff because Juicy. Fucking. Citrus.

Pleek do mind the tags on this one if you haven't read it yet and/or are planning on reading.

It was a total surprise. In all sense of the word. If you've known me long enough, you know I am always on the hunt for stories with subversive tropes, morally grey black characters and, well, downright the most problematic shit you could imagine. And this manhwa managed to tick some of those boxes. I did have an issue with some stuff but in the grand scheme of things, it was all fine.

I started Smyrna and Capri quite recently (well, almost three months ago but I've been busy so I'm still stuck in the 40s). I was not expecting to like it but to my surprise, it quickly became a favourite.

Absolutely love the chibis in this one, and the little spirits. Oh, they bring me so much joy. I also like the humour and the awkwardness. Got me giggling, kicking my feet in the air. And I kinda dig the whole concept here even if I'm not that into mpreg stuff (buzzer goes wee woo wee woo, lights turn red, a voice speaks into the mic: that is incorr—), so yeah, I hope I can pick it back up and get back to reading soon!

Another work of theirs I've been eyeing to read is Blood Link. It looks tempting, I'll be starting it once I'm done with Smyrna and Capri.

Now, all that being said, some of the main reasons why I love Brothers Without A Tomorrow is not just because of the writing and the art, not just because of the multilayered stories and complex characters, but also because of how they break the established norm in BL Manhwas. Dark skinned characters and masculine bottoms? I will be at the scene of crime!

(pc: pinterest)

[feltpool]

Hot, wet and fun

I have a soft spot for comic book swimsuit specials

They exist for no reason other than to have an excuse to publish pinup images of characters in (often ridiculous) 'sexy' poses while wearing the smallest amont of clothing possible while not getting pulled off the shelves for indecency

Many of these specials pre-date the internet so fill a gap in the market that fandom probably now largely caters to instead

I love the lengths some of them go to to attempt to justify a scene within their established theme - if they bother to have one outside of 'swimwear, beach, and optional (sexy) weaponry'

The Homage Swimsuit Special from 1993 features 34 images of scantily clad women to 10 images of mostly shorts clad men, and the cover lets you know what to expect right from the start

The art varies from fairly standard comic book 'tits, ass and back strain in one easy shot' pics

to a literally white woman (not a vampire) sporting underboob, thigh dagger and an 80 foot wave of hair that Rapunzel would be jealous of (a classic 90's comic book art staple never restricted by gender) waving her crotch about mere inches from her work colleague's head

The chrome clad Void who doesn't wear clothes in the books she regularly appears in is here allowed to be tits out (no female presenting nipples presumably making this ok?) but not 'non existant as far as we're aware' pussy out so is wearing bikini bottoms which then implies that she's choosing to be naked in all of her other appearances?

Are the completely unnecessary bottoms supposed to make this more sexy or could they just not justify portraying her usual Barbie smooth physique in close up? I doubt we'll ever know

This group shot of ladies has it all - tits, ass, and improbably long legs! More superfluous swimwear on Void, women clinging limpet-like to rocks, a bow and arrow aimed at nothing for... reasons? and Voodoo on the far right with glowing pink boobs contrasting strongly with her darker toned skin despite zero sign of sunburn elsewhere.

And to close, I bring you a male character who isn't wearing loose baggy shorts (1 of 2 options in this entire book)

who we're told is wearing a thong, but the only person to know for sure is his teammate in the background planning to sneak up on his ass in a potentially very literal sense

These specials are so ridiculous, so ott, and so much fun

[rev-feaw]

First Impression of Reverse: 1999 from a Long Time Gacha Games Player

Hello! Today I'll tell you my first impression about a new gacha game that just release it's global version not too long ago, "Reverse:1999". I preregistered this game and mind you, I actually had zero intention to add more gacha games into my sleeves especially the turn-based ones, but the art... The ART man!! It caught my attention soo let's dig in!

Before we start I'd like the readers (you) to know that I've been playing gacha games daily for a considered long time, since 2017 and still going on today. Although not a lot of them so here are some that I've played for over 3 months (pretty much understand the overall system):

Fate/Grand Order, Arknights, Genshin Impact, Honkai/Star Rail

Bold are my main daily games. And then here are some that I've tried, well at least I know their UI & prologue lol:

SAO MD (discontinued), Food Fantasy, Granblue Fantasy, Punishing/Gray Raven, Tower of Fantasy

I might bring up some titles to compare and most likely from between the "over 3 months" ones. Then, let's start!

What's the big deal of "gacha game" and why I play them?

I like to draw and gacha games have one of the best community for art clout. No this is serious, and one of my top reason of why I'm playing this borderline gambling type of game.

Gacha games are living from their banner rotation. The second ones are new characters and story reveal that updated regularly... Don't you think these are real good timings for posting?? They also got those art gods that somehow helped the promotion and attract the peasants (me included) to get to know the story and make fanarts too. I'm not kidding. This is why I've been here since I started digital art. Lol.

But every actions need consequences. Gacha games are very high maintenance to stay relevant, from the player's side. You missing one update, you'll feel like an old man. This is the most FOMO (fear of missing out) type of game. The main sacrifice is TIME. So many things need to tend in one game, and if you play multiple it means you have to spare some hours in a day. If you can't, get ready to lose something. Why I don't say money? Because I'm pretty much f2p, I never really spent my money for gacha. But time, time bro. Time also money! This is also why I write this post.

The Premise of Reverse: 1999

The early story kind of reminds me to Persona 3 where there are some special times (Dark Hours in P3) where an ordinary human can't survive and there are some special creatures than survived.

In R:1999 the special time is called "storm" which will turn back time further from your original time. For example, MC is from 1999 but she's sent to 1920s thanks to the storm. So they made a foundation or something to get back to the original time. Well in a sense this is kinda similar to FGO (Fate/Grand Order)'s Chaldea, maybe that's why I'm so driven to try this game lol. The name of those "special creatures" are arcanists.

Actually I don't really understand everything yet, but at least that's the glimpse I got. Also they tried to fix the history or something whenever they're getting sent back so, basically a fancier FGO right?? I have no problem though.

Setting

The game's mainly set in the west in 20th century. I think this is the main perks of the game, because the entire design and aesthetic revolves around this so it can differ greatly from most gacha games that either have fantasy RPG setting or urban post/apocalyptic ones. Personally I really like this.

The Main Character

The MC is such a breath of fresh air!! It's a woman, and people called her "Vertin". So no, not your typical self-insert anime degenerate persona like most gacha games. Here is a very beautiful EP of her:

The Characters

The characters are pretty unique imo, you can play as inanimate object (visually) like apple and satellites. The arcanists are the playable (and summonable) characters. So expect to see various 20th century-themed designs.

Also the designs are dope!! They're unlike most gacha games' characters designs where they wore something weird that will awaken your darkest corner of brain but here they're just dressed NORMALLY LIKE A NORMAL FANCY PERSON I'm so glad. Normal doesn't mean boring, this is a compliment. Even the "fanserviced" ones are still pretty tasteful than just put random windows everywhere.

Summoning

This game has a carry-over pity on 70th roll, soft pity started like in the 60th. They use the same gacha currency on both permanent and limited banners. There's 50/50 like in Mihoyo games. You need 180 clear drops (?) to turn them into one rabbit statue (?) for a summon. I think this one is very similar with Arknights. Personally in my opinion this is very generous and reasonable, but I'm a FGO player so yeah my "generous" standard may differ greatly with a lot of people lol.

Oh you also can get guaranteed *6 from beginner's summoning banner.

(Early) Gameplay & Progression

The gameplay is like FGO with extra steps. Or FGO with fewer steps... Anyway, it's a card game. Each character has cards you can choose per turn. Once the "stars" are filled you can unleash the ultimate. Honestly? A little boring lol, but things may change once I get out early-game phase. People said this is very similar to 7 Deadly Sins game but I never get close to the IP so idk.

You can set which enemy to hit per card unlike FGO where it's done per turn. Personally I think this is neat. Although among the games I've tried I think Honkai/Star Rail still superior for turn-based system since they can control the speed and whatsoever. However this kind of "fixed" system also nice since you don't need to farm artifacts/relics to be playable.

The early stages are so easy. Well, most games have very easy early stages though, unless a certain popular furry tower defense game (*cough* Arknights *cough*).

For character progression pretty much just level up, no need for artifacts/relics like Mihoyo games so it's fast and easy.

You can set a "replay" for autofarming once you get 2 stars achievement on the node. You can also choose the "amount" of drop rate for just one battle. This is very neat!

Dailies, Weeklies, etc

R:1999 has similar progression with Arknights and Mihoyo games with this one. The daily and weekly tasks literally like Arknight's.

Tbh their dailies are quite a hassle lol, you need at least spend 5-15 minutes to clear all.

And their "battlepass", looks like Genshin's battlepass or HSR's Nameless Honor

Gotta admit between ALL the games I've played, nothing beats the simple daily of LOGIN in FGO (in exchange with disastrous gacha and tremendous farming🙏).

UI & Visual

Maybe I should've put this a little earlier lol.

The UI is AMAZING!! One of the best. Really (once again) reminds me of Arknights, since I like their UI too, and even better I think especially their retro aesthetic.

The visual is GORGEOUS. The game is presented in common gacha game storytelling method: visual novel, however they tried to incorporate like L2D animation in the STORY'S VISUAL.

The characters have different art styles, I think done by different artists like most gacha games (the only one who didn't do this are Mihoyo games, please explain). And the sprites are full body non-chibi 2d animations! This one's like FGO, although still like 10% chibified so in terms of sprite style, FGO still has the crown.

Music & other sounds

Music is BANGER!

I rate it 4.5/5. Maybe the 2nd music of gacha games that I like after Genshin. It doesn't sound like basic visual novel ost (looking at you FGO and HSR) in most part, tho since this is basically *still* visual novel, so in some part still sounds pretty stale after you heard it so many times.

The voice over is dope! They used various accents, so it's pretty interesting!

Housing/Dorm

The name of housing/dorm in R:1999 is "Wilderness", something like islands. This is once again reminds me to Arknight's "Base" but outdoor.

End game

Honestly I haven't found the endgame content for this one, if you're looking for challenges maybe games like Arknights and HSR still better choice.

Conclusion

Based on every gacha games I've played, I can say progression, UI, and summoning from Reverse:1999 is similar to Arknights, but turn-based and A LOT easier at the start. If you've played Arknights before I think understanding the system will like walk in the park.

For the story it's somewhat like FGO, of course not the same, but still both are "correcting the history and go back to our time" kind of story.

The game doesn't ask much, so I think if you're a gacha game player and barely have any time for more games, this one's still enjoyable with very minimal investment. Suitable as your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th gacha games. Especially when you're just want to vibe with the art and setting like me.

If you're new in gacha game, there's no problem with trying out this, but I think the game is made with thought that the target market are people that familiar with gacha games. Still, enjoy your time!

Tl;dr if you still want to play your main games daily while join the Reverse:1999 bandwagon, it's totally possible without sacrificing much of your time.

[nothinggathers]

#Tomorrow, you're only a day away#

Almost there! On the 26th of August chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Ghosts in the Machines will go up on AO3. There will be art, there will be me biting my nails down to the bone, there will be much screaming.

So before that fateful day I would like to thank @vladlen4i and @winterbaroness for choosing my dumb Reverse AU idea to make art for, and @sevdrag and @ranunculus-bloom for their efforts in the organisation of this Big Bang event.

It's been so much fun speaking to so many people within this madcap and definitely not dead fandom, and I can't wait to see what everybody else is bringing to the table over the next few weeks.

You get one final sneak peek, and I will see you tomorrow!

“They said to let him in.” The words were quiet.

Goon One seemed as surprised to hear them as Connor, but Connor doubted they set off sharp spikes of concern creeping down his spine in the same way. What had he just walked into?

The masked goon shrugged, and gestured across the bridge with his gun. “Looks like you're good.”

Connor's throat was dry, but he nodded. “Thanks,” he said.

The barrier lifted as Connor rolled his window up, and he set off slowly across the bridge. In his mirror he watched the guards going back to huddle in the shelter of their hut.

Hank's plan was stupid, but Connor wasn't sure his was much better. Hank wanted to walk in here, bold as brass, find the warehouses, and then wake up a bunch of new androids. Deviancy couldn't be forced, but Hank would show them the reasons to choose it.

But how would they get out? Hank couldn't even be sure he'd get in, and then once he did wake up however many thousands of androids, then what? Did they expect to just calmly walk out of Cyberlife Tower and past a bunch of stunned guards? There were three with AK47s sitting at the bridge. Hank and any androids walking towards them would be caught in a bottleneck, and that was assuming they made it out of the tower in the first place. If there were armed guards at the bridge, there were definitely going to be more in and around the tower itself.

And now they were expecting Connor. Shit.

Connor drove slowly over the icy, slippery snow on the bridge. Cyberlife Tower itself was lit like a beacon, jutting into the sky like a bad advertisement for Elijah's Kamski's micropenis. There were more guards stationed by the entrance, patrolling through well worn tracks in the snow. These guys didn't have the luxury of a nice sheltered hut to huddle in out of the weather. Above, drones circled, following their programmed paths.

Connor checked his gun, and stepped out of his car with his badge in hand as one of the guards approached. “Detective Stern?” Connor nodded at the man he automatically designated Goon Four. “This way.”

There were more AK47's. Connor's service weapon would be less than zero help if it came to a fight. He followed Goon Four towards the sheltered entrance of the tower. A scan appeared in soft lines of light, sweeping over Connor, and the guards.

“Agent 47, identified. Detective Connor Stern, identified.”

That was unsettling as fuck. Goon Four's designation was Agent 47. Cyberlife actually numbered their employees.

And they had Connor on record.

He stopped when Hank approached him, that cold annoyance Connor was used to seeing on his face still fixed there, his cold blue eyes locked on Connor. “You really can't just do as you're fucking told, can you?” he asked, lifting a gun.

[dillweedshole]

I give up. Fuck the Frontiers DLC. I quit.

Final Horizon, the Frontiers DLC, started super nicely, I liked everything about it right up until trial 2. trial 3 was fine, 4 was fine too so my hopes were back up. then the master trial hit, and now i'm at the boss, and now it's just bad to me.

here's the thing: I would love if the mechanics were refined and fixed up, the difficulty would 100% be tolerable. I did Doom Eternal's Ultra Nightmare mode, I did Dead Space 2's Hardcore mode, I GOT 106% IN CRASH FUCKING 4. I am TOTALLY FINE with difficulty (especially when it gives you something for doing it (fuck you crash 4 lmfao))

but the game is about as nutritionally balanced as a fast food meal. It's just not bro.

the perfect parry requires near FRAME PERFECT inputs, but you can spam the stomp until the sun collapses. the titan animations look like they SHOULD be telegraphed correctly but they're off. Sometimes the attack hit is late, sometimes it's early.

Y'know what, I also hate these fucking babymen who can't handle that their precious little blue rat game is getting criticized so they hide behind their meaningless skill in a single player video game for children. I can understand wanting difficulty, the rest of Frontiers is a cakewalk, and at the end of the day it's a totally free content update that doesn't change fuck about the main game, but this is not real difficulty. It's bad jank. I love Sonic to the end of the fucking earth but this is literally just annoying content. the last of any big spectacle at the final boss was completely ruined by the terrible gameplay that lead up to it. I am in absolutely no fucking rush to play it, in fact I'll probably just watch it online and uninstall the game to make space for something else. (steam deck storage issues)

I feel like I need to bring something up, relevant to all this: Doom Eternal also got DLC, The Ancient Gods, and it was ALSO fucking NUTS HARD. (talking more about Pt 1 here lmao)

HOWEVER. Once you learned how to play through TAG 1 at a high enough level, the REST OF THE GAME opened WIDE UP. It's a hurdle, but once you do it you feel like a fucking CHAMPION. You genuinely feel like you become a master of the art of "Fucking Shit Up".

Final Horizon makes me feel like a child who just got beat up by the school bullies. I don't feel any cooler or better at the game, I just feel like walking back home and maybe crying and pissing myself a bit.

How cool a comparison, DOOM's TAG 1 is a martial arts master where Final Horizon is a group of school bullies lmfao

It's not rewarding skill at all, it's just needless skill. Skill that will never apply to anywhere else in the main game. Because the game was never built for this type of difficulty. (the pre-trial tower climbs were all perfect though) Combat in Frontiers was almost entirely spectacle. It was fucking cool spectacle but at the end of the day you could totally get through the entire game mashing X and you could get away scot-free.

Now, I think the Cyberspace stages are about where the difficulty is present AND correct. It makes sense HOW they're hard, and they don't break any rules just to make the game harder. You can still do absolutely everything you could do in the base game's Cyberspace levels with zero changes to your moveset, the goal posts are now basically expecting you to use your skills. THAT is good skill usage. Not "Let's make your parry window fuckin 8 frames long, go fuck yourself" like what???

I had an idea for how the combat could be just a bit tougher (i'm no game designer yet so this could be ass): Make the boost gauge affect what attack moves you can make and how many times you can make them, and while in combat it recovers a little slower but speeds up by attacking normally. Spamming stomp would basically be impossible, now you have to time it out. i don't fuckin know i just want frontiers's difficulty to make sense.

[jessepinwheel]

I adore your Circuits series, and that you made obiwan and padme imperfect people and also thoroughly people. I won't ever get enough of clones being people in their own right, either, so if you feel inspired, maybe one of the clones being content in their life and not giving a thought to the Big Damn Heroes?

hi it's been a year but I've been writing race con and I wanted to write a thing where carrion isn't dead so here are some clones. warnings for kamino, I guess?

It is raining on the day CT-3122 leaves Kamino.

He is frightened--he is not ready to leave, hadn't expected to be deployed for another year and a half, at least--but the war is now over and General Windu had issued the transfer orders. All operations in Kamino are to cease--training stopped, medbay cleared, and the clones are to leave Kamino and transition to the civilian sector. In the month since the orders went out, hundreds to thousands of clones have filtered out of Kamino by the day, an exodus that CT-3122 hasn't seen since the war started. Except this time it's not just the oldest zero series and Series 1 clones getting shipped out--it's everyone, down to the youngest Series 4 batches. These days, Kamino feels very empty.

Now it is CT-3122's turn to leave.

Commander Colt told them to make their goodbyes. CT-3122 only had one goodbye to make--to Ossus Mu, his medical instructor. He knows that his brothers, even those among the medical track, do not like the Kaminoans, but Ossus Mu had taught him the art of medicine, how to navigate an autopsy, how to surgically repair a body. In all the four years CT-3122 has known her, she has been patient, never yelling or getting upset with his speech issues. She was not indulgent or easy to please, but she was calm where the trainers had been harsh, and CT-3122 does not think he would have survived Kamino if not for her. So he told her goodbye.

"You are a credit to my teachings, CT-3122," she had told him. "I hope you will put your skills to good use in the future."

It was the first time CT-3122 had been praised so strongly, and he'd been giddy as he saluted her one last time.

He will miss her.

CT-3122 owns nothing but his medical uniform and ID badge, so that is all he takes with him to the transport. Other brothers bring their armor if they are old enough to have any, and some bring small items and bags--undoubtedly some kind of contraband, but the Jedi had told them to bring everything.

He goes up the ramp, gets registered, and settles down in one of many seats.

All the clones had been given a choice, back when the transfer orders had first gone through. They could go to a few places--the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Jedi Service Corps, or one of a few sanctuary planets across the galaxy. They were not required to stay where they picked, but they would remain there for at least a short time to acclimatize to civilian life and, if they chose, make their own way in a galaxy where the war they had been designed for no longer existed.

It is a frightening prospect.

CT-3122 is going to Alderaan. It is a popular choice. There is an established and rapidly-growing clone community, there are many options for occupational training, and according to brothers who have been deployed, it has a very agreeable climate. CT-3122 does not care about any of those things--he is not generally comfortable around brothers he does not know, he already has all the occupational training he could ever want, and he has no basis for comparison when it comes to any climate besides Kamino. He is going there for one reason only: his big brother, Carrion, is there.

One by one, brothers file onto the transport, a mishmash of white armor and cadet uniforms. There's about two hundred of them in total, and it's a slow process to get everyone on board.

One brother sits next to CT-3122. It's Freeze, with her curly hair clipped back and the bright yellow adenosine molecule that CT-3122 had tattooed just below her eye. She's a medical unit and only a few months older, specializing in anesthesiology. CT-3122 has been partnered with her since the beginning of the war, and they work well together. They're not friends, exactly--CT-3122 isn't good at making friends--but they're more than just colleagues. She is confident where CT-3122 is not, and he is comforted by her presence.

"Are you scared?" he signs, low so nobody else sees it.

Freeze smiles and nods. "I've never been more scared," she signs back.

The last of the clones board the transport and the doors lock. Everyone is a little bit nervous, a little bit excited--for almost everyone on this transport, this is the first time they will see the galaxy outside Kamino. A quick glance around reveals that he and Freeze are some of the youngest clones aboard, only seven and a half years apiece. Most brothers their age or younger had chosen to go to the Jedi Temple or to Service Corps--somewhere they can learn, can work, can have someone to tell them what they need to do.

The transport shudders as the powerful engines come alive. Freeze slides her hand into CT-3122's and squeezes tightly. CT-3122 squeezes back.

The transport takes off, and CT-3122's stomach lurches. It's not the first time he has ever been on a ship--all units are required to know the basics of piloting--but the last time he was on a ship was over a year ago, and never on something this large. The ship vibrates unpleasantly all the way down to his bones as it rockets out of atmo, and then with a peculiar pulling sensation, it launches to hyperspace.

In a flash of blue light, they leave Kamino--their lives, their purpose, their home--behind. They will likely never return.

---

The trip to Alderaan takes two days. Two days aboard an unfamiliar ship as they sail through hyperspace. CT-3122 stays with Freeze for most of it, because everyone else on the transport is a stranger. Combat units do not, as a rule, interact much with medical units--they're put off by the fact that medical units are trained directly by the Kaminoans and their course modules after the age of four rarely overlap. Except for a few older medical units coming to briefly check on them, everyone leaves them alone.

CT-3122 spends most of his time next to the viewport, watching the hypnotic streaks of hyperspace fly past. He wonders what will await him when he reaches Alderaan. He has heard the stories, of course--soldiers brought back from the front for advanced medical treatment always told stories about the different worlds and people out there. They talked about planets with forests as far as the eye can see, endless bone-dry deserts, plains full of frozen ice. There were so many living things out there, plants and animals and people of all shapes and sizes and colors.

CT-3122 has never known anything but the white halls of Kamino, and the idea of a world beyond its walls, beyond the endless rainstorms where things were even more vivid and alive than what they had seen in their educational holos has always felt…impossible. He can't even picture it--they are all just stories.

Freeze leans against his side, her head resting on his shoulder as she sleeps soundly, her fingers still twined with his. She is warm, and CT-3122 finds comfort in the weight. He wonders if Freeze, who has always seemed so sure of herself and who she wanted to be, already knows what she will do with her future. He wonders if they will work together again after they reach Alderaan, or if that is another relic they have left behind in Kamino.

He doesn't know. Ever since the war ended, there are so many things he does not know.

---

When the transport drops out of hyperspace, everyone is crowded around the viewports to see. Alderaan is a pale sphere of swirling greens and blues and white--nothing at all like the gray clouds and dark oceans of Kamino. CT-3122 watches as they descend, watches as colors resolve into shapes and lines. He has no idea what he's looking at, but it's fascinating--nothing like the clean topographical maps they'd used in training.

They descend slowly to a large spaceport in the middle of a large sprawling city. And then…the doors open.

Alderaan is bright. The sky is shining blue, the clouds are white, the structures all around them--the mountains, they were called--are green and capped with white. CT-3122 steps down the ramp to be met with a spaceport that has been painted in grays and bright oranges and reds and blues and standing on the landing zone…

Clones. There's a good group of them, maybe forty or so, all dressed in different kinds of clothes--things with designs and frills and colors and layers they would have been immediately disciplined for in Kamino--and not a speck of plain white to see.

CT-3122 takes a deep, shuddering breath. The air is chill, and it doesn't smell like antiseptic or rain--it smells completely new. It hits him, then, that this is real. They've left Kamino behind and he is out in the real galaxy. Out in his new life.

"3122!"

CT-3122 turns towards the sound of his number, just in time for a brother to scoop him up into his arms and squeeze him tight. "You made it!" Carrion says, swinging him around in a circle. He puts CT-3122 down and grins. "I'm so glad to see you, kid."

Carrion looks different from the last time CT-3122 had seen him, when he'd been deployed after Geonosis. He's one of the oldest clones, fully grown and solid enough to show for it with the scar across his cheek distinct as always. But he looks lighter now, more rested, happier. His hair's grown out a bit, hanging down to his shoulders in waves and dyed with a couple streaks of orange to match the 212th.

CT-3122 hugs him back. "Carrion, I couldn't--" He shakes his head. "…I'm really glad to see you, too. It wasn't--you really didn't have to wait. Sir."

Carrion huffs. "Of course I did. That's what big brothers do, right?" He ruffles CT-3122's hair. "And I was hoping I could pick you up and give you the tour myself. The others will be heading to the res halls, but I've got a place downtown, I think you'll like it." Carrion looks up. "And you've got a friend? I think you were…7721, right?"

Freeze waves hello. "That's correct, sir. I go by Freeze."

Carrion nods. "Freeze. I'll be taking '22 with me, but we've got room for one more if you're coming along."

Freeze nods. "Yes, sir, I'd like that."

With that matter settled, Carrion leads CT-3122 and Freeze out to the monorail station, pointing out trees and flowers and buildings as they go. There's so much going on everywhere that CT-3122 thinks his head is going to explode, but he keeps looking around as much as he can just to drink it all in.

"Is it--Alderaan is always like this? Sir?" he asks.

"Oh, just wait until we get to the clone district," Carrion says, pointing out the monorail window. "Right up there, you see it?"

CT-3122 looks where Carrion is pointing, unsure what he's being directed towards, then he sees it.

It's an explosion of color. Murals on the walls, paint on the streets, sculptures and decorated buildings. Everywhere he looks, the district has been marked by his brothers with depictions of battlefields, of new and alien worlds, of sheer chaotic splashes of color. An entire district turned into a canvas.

Freeze gasps, staring at a wall-sized depiction of a dark-skinned Jedi holding a lightsaber to the sky. "Is this allowed?" she asks. "Isn't this vandalism?"

"It's art," Carrion says. "The Queen gave us a place to live and a bunch of paint and told us to do whatever we wanted with it."

It's so much. CT-3122 feels like he's back in his early days on medic track, falling five steps behind because there's just so much he needs to learn. He's not in Kamino anymore. The rules have changed. "Does that--you mean you live here? Sir?"

"No, this is the promenade," Carrion says as the monorail chugs along. "I live two stops down. I'll show you."

Carrion, it turns out, lives on the second floor of a residential building ("it's called a flat") that's made of reddish stone ("that's brick") and painted with swirling flowers. On the landing there is a little hanging device with metal rods that clang against each other in the wind ("that's a wind chime"). Inside, there are wood floors and soft green walls, with large colorful cloths ("those are tapestries") hung along the hallways and an enormous sliding window going out to a balcony that directly overlooks the mountains.

It's so much that CT-3122 feels dizzy, and Carrion must notice because he brings CT-3122 and Freeze into one of the bedrooms (there's three of them!) and has them sit down and drink some water. The bedroom is painted a light yellow but is otherwise quite sedate, and there is one bunk which is much wider than what CT-3122 is used to.

"This is the spare bedroom," Carrion says, pulling up a chair. "You can have it if you want, or you can share with me. Or you can find your own place. You don't have to decide right now. We've only got the one bed for now, but we could probably get another bunk if you prefer--"

"One bunk is--I think we'll be okay. Sir," CT-3122 says. He doesn't mind bunking with brothers, as long as he knows them.

Freeze nods in agreement.

"Okay," Carrion says. "I'll get you onboarded after you get some rest--get your ID and documents sorted out, a personal datapad, your credit chip. I'll take you kids out to buy whatever you need."

"Buy?" Freeze asks.

Carrion nods. "Yeah. You gotta actually go out and pick the things you want to have and pay credits for it. We all get a monthly stipend--a pretty small stipend, but definitely enough to cover all the necessities. It's a lot to learn, but you'll get used to it pretty fast. I'll show you how it works."

Carrion clasps his hands. "But before we do all of that…do either of you know what you want to do?"

Silence. CT-3122 looks at Carrion, then at Freeze. No answers there, either.

CT-3122 says, "I'm a surgeon. Sir."

"You are," Carrion agrees. "And a damn good one. But you're not even eight standard--natborns look at you and see a youngling. They're not going to let you do surgery."

"But I'm a medic!" CT-3122 protests. "I'm--I have strong skills, I can be useful, I--"

Carrion holds his hands up. "I know you are. And if you want to, you can keep doing medicine, and go back to surgery when you're a little older. But…you don't have to. The war's over, kid. You don't have to be wrist-deep in your brothers' guts anymore if you don't want to."

CT-3122 considers that. He's good at medicine--he's one of the best surgeons among all his peers--but he never chose to do it. He'd been assigned to the track when he was three, the same way all clones were.

His stomach twists. It feels like a waste to not use his medical skills. He's spent so long honing them, so long using them to repair his brothers during the war, that to let them go to the wayside feels…

It feels like a betrayal. Of everything he's done and is.

CT-3122 feels someone grab his hand again, and looks over at Freeze.

"I don't have to be a medic anymore?" she asks.

Carrion shakes his head. "No. You don't."

"What do we…have to do instead?" Freeze asks.

"You don't have to do anything," Carrion replies. He looks at CT-3122. "I remember, a long time ago, you asked me what I would want to do if I weren't a soldier."

CT-3122 remembers that. It had been sometime before the war, when CT-3122 had started noticing the trainers turning their jobs over to the older clones and leaving to do other things besides training. Carrion had told him it wasn't worth asking, because they were soldiers and talking about a world where they weren't was talking about a world where they didn't exist.

"Well, we're not soldiers anymore," Carrion says. "I'm helping to build this city for us, because I want this to be a place where all you kids can figure out what you want to be. You're still young. You've got plenty of time to try different things and see what you want to do."

"And that's…not a medic? Sir?" CT-3122 asks.

Carrion sighs. "I can't answer that for you. You have to tell me: do you enjoy doing medicine?"

"I'm good at it. Sir."

"That's not what I asked," Carrion replies. "Do you like it? Does it make you happy? Think about it before you answer, please."

So CT-3122 thinks. He thinks about being three years old and told he is insensitive to the sight of gruesome injury and would make a great sniper but would be more useful as a medic. He thinks about seeing a body that looks just like his, lifeless on a table and being told to cut it open and memorize what it looks like on the inside. He thinks about training exercises gone wrong and saving his brothers. He thinks about the ones gone ever more wrong, and having to tell his brothers that he can't save them, the most he can do is ease their suffering.

He is a good medic. Maybe even a great one. A credit to his teachings. He's saved hundreds of his brothers, brothers that nobody else could have saved because they didn't have his keen judgement or steady hands.

But at the same time, he remembers every brother he has refused to treat because he knew he wouldn't be able to save them. He remembers every brother he has decommissioned because it was better to be decommissioned than wasted, even if that meant making himself the cause of death.

He knows that in the wider galaxy, in a galaxy no longer at war, medicine and death do not go hand-in-hand the way they do in Kamino. But for him, he doesn't think he will ever be able to become a healer who is not also a killer.

"I…don't think I want to be a medic," CT-3122 says. "I don't want to kill my brothers anymore."

"Oh, kid," Carrion says. He pulls CT-3122 into a hug and squeezes tight. He's so much larger that he practically engulfs CT-3122, and CT-3122 sinks his weight against Carrion's chest, clutching the back of Carrion's shirt.

"What do I--What am I s-supposed to do now?" CT-3122 says into Carrion's shoulder. "If I can't--if I'm not a medic, then what am I good for?"

"I don't know, kid," Carrion says. "But we'll find that out together. I promise."

[nesting-dreams]

I love everything Lupin except part 5 and 6. I usually only concentrate on stuff outside of these two and I post positively about them all the time and reblog all kinds of art, so I’m not prone to focusing on stuff I don’t like, but it does need to be said what some of the issues are for these two parts cuz what I dislike about them is sitting away just stewing in my head and it’s annoying me. If you’ve not seen these two parts then I suggest you watch it yourself and just decide for yourself if you like it or not. I don’t personally like part 6 cuz it’s too serious and everyone doesn’t act like themselves. Lack of focus on our main 5 for most of it too. I give examples: Lupin can’t figure out how technology work for some reason when he always is savvy on the latest tech for every series. Then with the fight against the little girl half his size. I’m expected to believe Lupin finds this girl an issue? Fujiko and I are grown women and we could grab her by her neck and toss her off that roof easily. Why’s Lupin struggling so much? He’s a burly, grown man who goes to the gym cuz he’s bored of waiting for Jigen to finish at the gym. 😂 Lupin almost lost to a scrawny girl. If the girl had been hitting the gym too, then maybe I wouldn’t find this so hilarious. Buff flower girl, could of been a thing. Maybe the blood loss is getting to him cuz part 1-4Lupin wouldn’t ever throw fists at a woman or little girl. He’d find a different way to deal with her without throwing hands, especially if she’s half his size in weight. Men can still do stuff when bleeding, I’ve seen men fight in real life over the last beer can or soccer teams and bleed and still use their full strength. . They cockteased the audience with Lupin’s heritage and then chickened out. Nobody really cared to know about his heritage in the first place for this series tbh. So I don’t know why they brought it up just to chicken out. It ends with the show going “Lupin is still Lupin. Where he comes from doesn’t matter”. Yea. I know already. I don’t need this ring around the rosy crap to prove what I know already. The creator Monkey punch always saw Lupin 3 as a mix of Loonie tunes, and Tom and Jerry. Things aren’t supposed to get this serious and boring.

(it feels like the tms team isn’t very good at long arcs. They should just go back to what they are good at which is episodic or get some people who do know how to do them. I didn’t like part 5’s ending cuz suddenly the villain changes his mind for no reason when he said to Ami the previous episode that he doesn’t give a fuck about her. Fujiko had left Lupin with Adeiu which is goodbye forever and then she questions if he loves her at all. Feels like I was gaslit as an audience cuz he literally moves mountains for her. It wouldn’t be a problem if I’ve not seen their history together completely, but it is cuz I know the history. Fujiko forced Lupin to reveal his face in front of people, and Lupin stupidly revealed himself when he never would of done that in past around people over feelings for somebody, he’d do it in a smarter way for Fujiko and his own wellbeing, the villain was literally talking about revealing his face to the world and suddenly changed his mind last second that he’s gonna be a good guy with zero hesitation, gonna conveniently not reveal the secret, felt like how an AI would write a human being, and I didn’t find it romantic or touching at all. Part 5 also made Fujiko into a whiny brat in the flashbacks when she was more composed and collected in previous parts. Part 5 added timelines and continuity as a massive plot point and it basically wrecked the timeline. Things don’t make sense when movies are supposed to be set).

[newmusickarl]

Top 50 Albums of 2023: Honourable Mentions

I’ve spent most of this year thinking to myself that 2023 hasn’t been a hallmark one for music – I think I was wrong.

With 2022 serving up some of my favourite records in recent years and most of my favourite artists releasing new music that delivered on high expectations, I sort of had in mind that 2023 just wasn’t as strong by comparison. But in the process of compiling my annual Top 50 Albums of the Year, revisiting songs and thinking back on the live performances I’ve seen, I’ve been reminded of the sheer depth of quality music we’ve been gifted over the last 12 months.

In 2022 I listened to more new music than any other year I can remember and it seems I pretty much matched this personal best again in 2023. My Apple Music Replay tells me I’ve listened to 733 albums from 884 different artists, 4,835 different songs and a whopping 39,935 minutes of music. Whittling this mass of great music down hasn’t been easy, which is why this year I’m taking a slightly different approach to my year-end countdown. Instead of focussing on just the albums with the daily Top 50 in the build-up to the new year, I’m going to celebrate all the mediums of music I’ve enjoyed instead.

From my own tally that I keep every year, I’ve consumed over 240 newly released Albums & EPs from 2023, listened to around 2,500 songs and witnessed 115 live performances (and counting!) over the last 12 months as well. This has given me the impossible task of choosing my year-end champions in terms of albums, EPs, songs and live shows of the year. The songs will come in playlist form later in the month along with a roundup of my favourite EPs and live shows of the year, but for now I’m beginning with the best albums that the year had to offer.

As ever, these albums come from a multitude of genres (pop, rock, indie, hip-hop, R&B, electronica, shoegaze, punk and post-punk - it’s all here!) so although there is a good chance you won’t enjoy everything on this list, hopefully there is at least something for everyone to enjoy. Of course, the variety also makes it very difficult to rank one above the other, so don’t get too hung up on the placements. Generally, I’ve favoured the albums that:

Had the biggest impact on me and the wider music world in the last 12 months

Had ambition or something unique to offer

I played the most during the year

Ultimately produced my favourite front-to-back listening experience

Before the countdown officially starts tomorrow with the albums that finished 50-41, I wanted to just shout out the albums that I thoroughly enjoyed this year but ultimately just missed out on the Top 50 spots. Essentially these albums would’ve made up the 100-51 placings if I had the time spare to do an even bigger countdown. However as I don’t, here they are as my 50 Honourable Mentions for 2023 in alphabetical order:

Alex Lahey - The Answer Is Always Yes

Arborist - An Endless Sequence of Dead Zeros

Baby Queen - Quarter Life Crisis

BC Camplight - The Last Rotation of Earth

Bdrmm - I Don’t Know

Black Pumas - Chronicles of A Diamond

Boygenius - The Record

Circles Around The Sun - Language

The Coral - Sea of Mirrors

Danny Brown - Quaranta

Declan Welsh & The Decadent West - 2

Depeche Mode - Memento Mori

Empty Country - Empty Country II

Fenne Lily - Big Picture

Fiddlehead - Death Is Nothing To Us

FIZZ - The Secret To Life

Foo Fighters - But Here We Are

Gabriels - Angels & Queens

Gaz Coombes - Turn The Car Around

Gorillaz - Cracker Island

The Hives - The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons

Holding Absence - The Noble Art of Self Destruction

Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch

Jadu Heart - Derealised

James - Be Opened By The Wonderful

Janelle Monae - The Age of Pleasure

Jayda G - Guy

Kevin Abstract - Blanket

Killer Mike - MICHAEL

Lanterns on the Lake - Versions of Us

M83 - Fantasy

Metallica - 72 Seasons

Nile Marr - Lonely Hearts Killers

Noname - Sundial

nothing, nowhere - VOID ETERNAL

Paws - PAWS

RAYE - My 21st Century Blues

Sampha - Lahai

Shame - Food For Worms

Sigur Ros - ATTA

Sleaford Mods - UK Grim

The Slow Readers Club - Knowledge Freedom Power

Somebody's Child - Somebody's Child

Squid - O Monolith

Sundara Karma - Better Luck Next Time

We Are Scientists - Lobes

Wild Nothing - Hold

The Xcerts - Learning How To Live And Let Go

Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World

Zivi - Lost In Love

So that’s what didn’t quite make it - see you back here tomorrow to find out the first ones that did!