#i have so many ideas but I need to read the comic proper to make things make sense

[sparkleresthold]

Would you look at that, even more SG stuff!

Although I don't know that much about the idw comics (just started reading them) i really wanted to draw Overlord and his luscious lips. One thing led to another and it became a Blade Runner redraw.

Some headcanons under the read more

-I imagine him as a Tigatron type of character. He's very calm and soft-spoken, and although made to fight, he craves peace. At one point during the war he becomes so repulsed with the carnage and cruelty displayed by both sides that he withdraws from the conflict entirely. This leads to the decepticon's defeat.

-He turns Garrus-9 into a safe haven for both cons and bot deserters alike.

[thankskenpenders]

And now for something new

So, here's something I was never planning on doing, but I just couldn't shake the idea... Thanks Ken Penders is gaining a sister blog featuring an entirely different comic franchise!

Introducing... Thanks Steve Ditko, a blog where I read the Earth-616 Spider-Man comics, starting all the way back in the '60s! It's gonna be much more casual and less thorough than how I run things here on TKP, though, which I'll explain in a sec.

If seeing me post weird bits from old Spider-Man comics sounds fun and you need no further info, then just head right on over to Thanks Steve Ditko. But for longtime TKP readers, I know you probably have questions...

Number one: Why?

Spider-Man's always been my favorite superhero, and with the Spider-Verse movies kicking ass and my excitement building for the new Insomniac game, I've been in a Spidey mood. Inevitably, a thought occurred to me: Maybe I should actually read the comics that everything else is built off of and see the wildly varying contributions of all the original creators, rather than filtering them through big budget adaptations. If I can power through One Piece and all these other manga with hundreds of chapters, it can't be that hard... right?

And, well, after a few issues I quickly realized that my options were to either clog up my other accounts with random Spider-Man panels for years, or to just make a side blog. And so the side blog was born.

Two: Will this blog replace Thanks Ken Penders?

NO!!!!!!!!!

Okay but prove it

To allow the two to exist side-by-side, Thanks Steve Ditko will have a different format than what Thanks Ken Penders developed. Rather than an in-depth guided tour that critically analyzes every story beat of every issue, TSD will just be a place for amusing panels and brief thoughts as I casually read the comics at my own pace.

If you've seen me make a few tweets about reading Spider-Man recently, I'm basically just moving that to a dedicated Tumblr. It's a place for me to dump these things so that it doesn't fill up my media tab on Twitter for the next decade. (You know, assuming Twitter is still around in a decade.) There will be many issues where I only post two panels that I thought were funny. There will be issues where I don't have anything to say at all. Maybe I'll reach a run that I just cannot get into, and I start skipping around more. Who knows!

This may sound similar to what I thought this blog would be before it blew up. Aside from the simple fact that there's already mountains of Spider-Man commentary out there and therefore less of a void for me to fill, one of the main steps I'll be taking to avoid repeating the past is not enabling an ask box on TSD. I do not need people to ask me to go into ten times more detail on everything. I do not need to write seven essay-length responses to questions about Spider-Man minutiae every day. I do not need a place for people to chide me for not covering certain scenes, issues, or ancillary series.

It also won't have any kind of update schedule. I'm trying to keep it very casual. I'm reading these comics at my own pace, and if I feel like sharing a moment or commenting on something while doing so? It goes there. That's it.

(On the subject of format changes, I'm also listing the issue, writer, and penciller in the body of every post. This is a thing I wish I'd done on TKP so that people didn't misattribute every weird Archie Sonic panel I post to Penders.)

Three: So when will TKP come back from hiatus? You said it'd come back after you finished SLARPG!

I don't know! Sorry. I have a couple things on the backburner right now for TKP, but I'm not sure when I'll get back to proper updates where I read more comics.

I wanted to bring TKP back this year, and that's still possible. The main hurdle is that I want to reread my own archive (again) as a refresher, which is, uh. A lot of posts. I've developed a high standard for myself on here, and I feel like I wouldn't be doing my job right if I forgot half the ongoing subplots and character arcs and didn't bring them up in my analysis. Especially when I'm discussing the work of an author as obsessed with continuity as Ian Flynn. Unfortunately, the nature of this blog means that every time I go on another long hiatus for Life Reasons I have even more comic continuity to catch up on than last time.

(This is a big part of why I'm making Thanks Steve Ditko an extremely casual blog instead of promising to become a Lore Expert on 60+ years of Marvel.)

Mostly I've just been very burnt out this year after having finally finished a video game that took almost eight years to make. I haven't really had the energy for any creative projects, including TKP. But I feel a little bit of a spark here with Spider-Man, so I'm chasing that feeling to try to get back into the swing of blogging about comics - no pun intended.

So, basically, bear with me on this as I start this low-energy side project. But hopefully folks will enjoy Thanks Steve Ditko as its own thing, too.

Look forward to goofy shit like this

[thedarlingdearestdead]

Distraction:

Summary: Confined to a room to catch up on paperwork, Anakin's ADHD brain won't let him function. He ends up just trying to distract you.

Warnings: None. Slightly suggestive? Mostly fluff.

Word count: 1,485

Anakin’s heart fell when he walked into the room. He had been sent to the offices over his holo, summoned by his Master. He had hoped it would be training, or a new mission, or maybe even a social call! 

The offices were not his favourite place in the temple, so he didn’t go there often. Today they were occupied by a few different Jedi, all working away. It was a mind-numbingly boring place. 

And alas, there Obi Wan was, leaning against his desk with an incredibly exasperated, disappointed look on his face. His legs were crossed in front of him and he stood with his usual air of authority and piety. The space was littered in papers. 

Anakin swallowed and filled with dread as his Master raised an eyebrow at him. None of those folders had been so much as opened. None of the books read, or forms filled out. The pile was almost comically big.

In Anakin’s defence, he had been busy. But he also remembered his promise to Obi Wan upon taking the role of General in this war. That he would do it properly. 

“So your holo is working then?” Obi Wan said, unamused. Obi-Wan crossed his arms and fixed Anakin with a stern gaze. "Anakin, do you have any idea how important these reports are? The Council relies on timely and accurate information to make strategic decisions."

Anakin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, Master, you see... I've been a bit busy with the whole 'saving the galaxy' thing. You know how it is."

Obi-Wan sighed, his exasperation deepening. "Saving the galaxy is indeed important, Anakin, but that doesn't mean you can neglect your responsibilities as a General. This paperwork is part of your duty."

He’s heard it so many times before “I know, Obi Wan.” 

"As much as I appreciate your combat skills, you can't solve everything with a lightsaber. The Republic also needs proper administration."

“I know, Obi Wan.”

“You understand?”

“Yes Master.” Replied Anakin, head tilted down slightly, feeling reprimanded and surly. 

“Good. Then you won’t mind that I’ve taken you off the Bandomeer run.”

“Wha-what?! You can’t do that!”

“Oh yes I can. You need to maintain all aspects of your responsibilities, otherwise there’s no point to any of it.”

Anakin gaped, feeling utterly betrayed. He had no words as he looked at his Master’s resolute face.

“I’ll be back in a few days, by then I hope you will have caught up.” Obi Wan did not enjoy the dismayed look on his Padawan’s face - ok maybe a little. But really Anakin had to learn this lesson. Lives can be saved by having these sorts of communications and records completed. It was of the utmost importance he got on top of things. 

He went over to his still seething Padawan and gestured for him to move behind the desk, to get to work. 

Anakin hadn’t noticed before but on the table next to his, you were filling out your own paperwork. You had been uncharacteristically quiet during his exchange with his Master, strangely focused, almost interested, in your papers. 

He turned back to Obi Wan, “Do I have to start now?”

“Yes Anakin, sit down next to Y/N and maybe she can show you how a proper Jedi attends his duties.” His Master looked almost smug and Anakin noticed Y/N bite her lip to hide a smile. 

Anakin felt thoroughly put out as Obi Wan left. Suddenly overwhelmed in the face of his work, and desperately annoyed he wasn’t to be going on his mission. He hated sitting still, he hated writing, he hated the uncomfortable chairs, the smell of old papers and stale caf. 

He leaned back in his seat and let out a groan which made you bristle. He noticed. He ran his hand through his hair. And sighed again loudly to see if you’d say something. You didn’t. 

He supposed he should get a move on. He stretched out his long arms,  not an easy thing in such a cramped space, he noted. He was about to grab the top piece of paper when he realised he didn’t have a pen. So naturally he started to look for one - and he did so in the most annoying way possible. He opened every single draw in his desk unit, finding nothing. He moved all the stacks of paper from one side of the desk to the other, and then reversed the entire thing. 

First, he was stuck doing paperwork instead of going on a mission, and now he couldn't even find a pen to start the tedious task.

He looked helplessly around the room and finally to his right where you were sitting. Your hand was out, eyes still glued to your papers, holding a black pen. 

“Thanks” He said, putting on his most charming smile. But you don’t reply, your hand just fall deftly back down to your work. 

Anakin couldn't help but feel a little put-out by your lack of response. He was used to getting attention and he didn’t want to do his work. And there was something different about you right now. You were really focused, and he found that strangely attractive.

He cleared his throat and leaned over towards you, trying to peek at your work. "What are you working on?"

You looked up at him, surprised by the sudden intrusion. "Just some mission reports," you replied curtly.

“Same.” He said, gesturing to his pile. The look you send him is utterly unimpressed. 

He leaned back in his chair and tried to focus on his work. He couldn’t though. He started tapping the end of his new pen on his work. Trying to get his brain to think, to process the information. His leg was bounding up and down. All in all he was an image of energy and impatience and it make your skin crawl with annoyance. 

“Can you stop that?”

Anakin looked at you innocently, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Stop what?" he asked, even though he knew exactly what you were referring to.

Your irritation was growing by the second, and you shot him a pointed glare. "The tapping and the bouncing, Anakin. It's distracting."

He chuckled, clearly unfazed by your annoyance. "Oh, come on, Y/N, it’s part of the process. Besides, I thought Jedi were supposed to be masters of concentration. It shouldn’t stop you from completing your work, surely?”

He was goading you, definitely trying to draw you in and cure his boredom.

You rolled your eyes, determined to stay focused on your task. “You better get started Anakin, you don’t want your master to have to extend your break from active service.”

“Hey! Woah! That’s a bit uncalled for, don’t you think?”

“Do you think he wouldn’t?”

Anakin stilled. He really wouldn’t put it past his Master to do that. After several minutes of futile attempts at focusing, he let out a deep sigh. "I can't do this," he muttered under his breath. He couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness, like he was trapped in this small room with no escape.

You looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Can't do what?"

"This," he gestured to the pile of paperwork. "I can't focus. I just keep getting distracted."

You let out a small chuckle, but it was void of amusement. "Maybe you should try meditating on it.”

Anakin sighed dramatically, his frustration evident. "Meditating won't help, Y/N. I've tried. I need something... more stimulating."

Your eyes met his, and for a moment, there was a charged silence between you. Anakin's gaze held a hint of mischief, and you couldn't help but feel a tiny bit sorry for him. Despite your annoyance with his antics, he did seem to be suffering somewhat, even if it was his fault.

You tried to maintain your composure, but your heart was racing, and you found it increasingly difficult to focus on your work. "Anakin, we have to finish this paperwork."

Anakin's lips curled into a smirk as he continued to inch closer. "Who says we can't multitask, Y/N?"

Before you could respond, he gently brushed his lips against yours, a soft, lingering kiss that left you breathless. It was a brief moment of stolen passion in the midst of the tedious paperwork, a secret indulgence that neither of you could resist.

When you finally pulled away, your cheeks were flushed, and you couldn't help but smile. "Anakin, we can't do this here."

He grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Why not?”

“Because you haven’t earnt it yet.”

He looks at you appalled. “No, no, no, no. We are not playing that game. Don’t do that!”

“I’m not doing anything!… Until… you do… your work…” You drag out the words and grin at him wickedly. 

He collapses into his chair with a overly dramatic sigh, he makes you laugh. 

[serknighted]

Danse & Hancock's parallels are eating my sanity slowly so by God I will write them here

So. Usually incredibly shy about posting my feelings about characters and my interpretations of them, but I don't think I can sit idly by without addressing 1. how much I love this post about Danse and how his story ties back to the isolation and loneliness of autism, and 2. how much I need more content between Hancock & Danse to exist, because my god sometimes I forget they hate each other in-game. (I strongly suggest you read the post mentioned & linked, they do a fantastic job framing Danse in a way I don't think I could fully articulate)

Danse & Hancock both have stories filled with themes of intense loneliness. Despite their hard work, effort, and prowess in the things they love, it doesn't take good sight to realize that neither of them are very well liked. It's not that they aren't respected, but whether it's Danse's all-too-formal approach to speaking, or Hancock's combination of hard drug use & almost constant overbearing presence (on top of years of slander from bigger cities, but we'll get into that), people see them as a tool of success and a good asset to have around, but not much of a friend, so to speak. Especially in Hancock's case, many people he is overly-affectionate with are often more annoyed by his presence than anything else (even if they do like him).

For Hancock, despite how much he claims to not relate to the isolation of the common ghoul, he's likely over-exaggerating his charisma in an effort to make himself more easily approachable, mostly for his own peace of mind rather than for others. While he sounds quite passive about things many others would react strongly to, I feel it's a combination of him having replaced a layer of how he truly feels with an element of sass on top of the drug use that makes all the trauma more easily bearable (to mixed effect).

One of his lines that has always struck me as conflicting with how he portrays himself is a common generic line he has while traveling with Sole Survivor, praising them for "living out the day" when most others could not. Hancock has seen so many people die to the brutal hands of the Commonwealth; whether it be Vic and his boys gunning down innocent drifters, seeing people succumb to the elements, or, in this case, simply not surviving their travels with him, Hancock seems to have a track record of never properly establishing proper bonds with others before they either die, or decide he's too overbearing to deal with further. He's one of those characters who desperately wants to have a deeper connection with those he loves, but he has consistently lost the chance to do so before he was ever ready, and so he chooses to fill the void with meaningless sexual relationships and one-night stands- anything to make him temporarily forget how much he hates himself and his almost comical lack of social understanding. It's a train of thought that I, as an autistic person, can really understand and relate to-- the desire to know people, but always feeling like no matter how you portrayed yourself, no one seems to want to be around you if you don't provide them with what they desire. It's caused him to deeply undervalue both how much he's done for people (since he believes its expected of him to constantly bend over backwards for the needs of others), and himself, all at the same time.

I don't think Danse fully recognizes how lonely he feels, a lot. He's been so heavily indoctrinated by the Brotherhood of Steel into believing that this is how he should be treated, that his work is for the betterment of humanity, that his sacrifice is a necessary one. The way he speaks almost carelessly about late brothers and sisters in arms makes me think really hard about how rooted this idea of only existing for the "greater good" is. Individuality is questionable & almost taboo, being different is outright abominable. It's the reason why the rhetoric of "Us vs. Them" works-- the BoS as a collective believe that they are doing good for all of humanity, and any outlier to that "perfect" formula is a threat not only to the BoS, but to everything they know. Danse is expected to bend over backwards for people, and no longer questions his loneliness or isolation, as he has all but given up his sense of self for what he believes is right. Another thing that I and many of my autistic friends relate to; a sense of justice so strong that it's overpowering. Like us, Danse is willing to sacrifice anything to do what's right... including himself.

Knowing this, it's easy to understand why he hates Hancock, and that backwards mindset is the reason Hancock hates him. It's an especially vicious cycle that constantly feeds into itself if unchecked, and Hancock knows that he alone cannot convince Danse to break that cycle. Hancock knows he can't beat Danse in a fight; all he has are his words, and logic is useless against an enemy that heeds to no truths. Even after Danse discovers his true nature... you can't expect him to unravel the years of constant reassurance that what he was taught was right in a single night. "Rome wasn't built in a day," and no one gets over their trauma so quickly, either. It's traumatic to have an explanation as to why people hate you. A catch-all reason to people's fear and distaste to you, that is also something you can never, ever change. Danse would sooner hate himself for what he is than accept those he used to murder without a second thought. It's the difficult reality of anyone attempting to unlearn painful conservative narratives; the shame & guilt of hurting others that are more similar to you than you ever wanted to know is sometimes more painful than realizing what you really are.

Hancock, albeit not even close to "recovered" from his mental woes, is much further along the path of acceptance to Danse, but not far enough away that he wouldn't understand where Danse is coming from. For so long, he sat idly by and watched people get hurt, even during his time in Diamond City. The constant conditioning to accept other people's pain as long as it wasn't happening to you still eats at his consciousness; just like Danse, he knows it was wrong to accept it, but the guilt makes it harder to deal with. He, of all people, would understand what it feels like to try so, so hard to fit in, to be normal and accepted, but never quite hit the mark of understanding where he fits in society. That's the reason he is the way he is now; his signature, his "Hancock," is to be as loud and out-of-place as possible-- a constant rebellion against what people expect him to be, a rebellion of oppression and unfair treatment. Danse's sheer existence is an involuntary rebellion of all BoS values, and even if Hancock would be hesitant to become close to Danse for a long while, I think he would be impressed by him, in the end, and more importantly, understand where he's coming from.

Their combined interest in both protecting the people they care about as well as the collective societies those people come from, as well as how nerdy they both are about US history... I think, eventually, they will realize how similar their lives were, how similar they are to each other, and maybe even find some comfort in knowing that they aren't alone in all of the waves of shame, guilt, and loneliness. That there is an overarching group of people who understand them, and that they do have a place in this world. I think once they recognize that similar traumas can manifest in polar opposite conditions (ones that they used to have a narrow, black-and-white outlook on), they'll also find that there is no real reason to hate each other anymore; the world has told them that they must hate each other, but they no longer have any need to listen.

TL;DR autistic Danse & Hancock ftw

[s-sputnik-k]

me: starts watching x-men (2000), is excited to finally be getting into the proper xmen release order

also me: has to immediately pause and take a long sigh and repeat to myself "it's based on comics from the 60s, it's fiction, it's fun sci-fi/superhero stuff, it's fiction, it's made up" when the first line talks about evolution making humans the 'dominant species'

I think I just need to rant, bc I love x-men but even in the newer films the repeated talk about humans being superior or dominant just really irks me. like at this point I think it's not even malicious, it's just genuine ignorance or misunderstanding of evolution (or a rule of cool situation, which is fair enough because, again, it is fiction). but evolution is LITERALLY just becoming more suited to your environment through natural selection. that's all it means

like, first of all, what is the metric for superiority? is it complexity? because I'm sure there are single cell organisms that are extremely suited to their environment. there are also mushrooms with thousands of sexes (my information did come from tumblr, ik, misinformation central, but I do tend to read into the fun facts I learn here afterwards)--we are definitely not the most complicated organism we know of. hell, fungus is so complicated, we put it all in one category when really, we have no idea what most of it has in common other than the fact that they aren't a plant, animal or bacteria (simplified bc I'm not bringing up a classification chart for this)

so maybe it's about longevity. I mean, humans have only existed for, what, 300,000 years? there are so many living things that have existed for significantly longer! and even if we assume optimistically that humans will last much longer into the future, we still aren't winning on an individual lifespan basis. there are literal sea sponges that live longer than us

so, alright, fine, maybe it's about intellect--that is one of our best traits as a species. but intelligence is just one of many, many factors in a particular living thing's evolution. for many creatures, it's better that they aren't intelligent. I'd be willing to bet there are creatures that have evolved to be less intelligent after it became unhelpful. our massive, energy intensive brains are extremely draining (not to mention dangerous in childbirth); some animals can't even justify having colour perception, why would they need to be able to do algebra? it's like if honeybees decided to measure the evolution of all animals based on how well they spread pollen or make honey. like, it's just not a helpful or relevant metric unless you are a honeybee

so, yeah, humans aren't more evolved, we aren't better evolved, we're just. evolved. we are what we are, based on changes in our environment, random mutations and natural selection. and Charles would KNOW THIS but I understand that talking about human evolution and how it led to mutants having cool powers is an engaging way to start a film about, yknow, human evolution and mutants with cool powers

so, I do eventually finish my heavy sigh and unpause the film. because I love these characters and this story, so I will simply close my ears the next time charles says the word dominant, and pretend it didn't happen so that I can enjoy the film without going on another rant

[yanderes-galore]

Yandere joker x hero reader like reader used to work for the Justice League with Batman

Sure! The version of Joker is kept general. Heavily implied to be from the general comics, though. I haven't written for Joker in years so I hope he's in character :)

Yandere! Joker with Hero! Darling

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Sadism, Torture mention, Unstable mental health, Manipulation, Blackmail, Obsession, Delusional behavior, Kidnapping mention, Jealousy, Murder mention, Vague "relationship".

It's hard to get a proper personality for Joker when writing his character, as he is described as "unpredictable".

If you were a hero that used to work for the Justice League alongside Batman, he takes sadistic joy in this.

You knew Bats!? Well, then you'll get along just fine!

He's probably going to hunt you down as you know his pal so well.

Finding peace after retiring from hero work, or even being a hero still is nearly impossible.

No, now you're going to have to deal with the plague known as Joker.

He gets so upset when you contact Batman about him.

Him coming to see you is supposed to be private!

He probably met you when you helped Batman capture him once.

You're not like those Robins he carries around.

No, you're much more fun!

It's then that the Joker sets his sights on you.

You'll be trying to do your own thing and the clown prince himself barges in like he knows you personally.

"Hey there, doll! Mind if I join you?"

He usually addresses you by some sort of nickname based on your alias and makes himself at home wherever.

He becomes more and more troublesome as time goes on.

You already saw him as a threat, the feeling intensifying whenever he tries to physically touch you.

He makes it a goal to become closer and invade your privacy and mind.

His laugh echoes in your ears and you find him an annoyance.

You're very confused as to why he's so friendly with you.

Batman shares the same confusion.

You have an effect on him.

Joker comments with disappointment that whenever you call Batman for help, it's as if you're treating Bats as his babysitter.

"Come on, dear! We're all adults here aren't we? Why can't we have any fun without a supervisor?"

He will soon get tired of you crying to Batman when he's around.

It's best not to flare his temper.

Joker would find a lot of joy in playing around with a hero! darling.

You are great to use as leverage against Batman and he loves the idea of tainting your mind.

Joker would kidnap you and he'd kill for you, when he will is unknown.

The entirety of the clown prince is a game of chance.

He's nearly impossible to read and is a bomb waiting to explode when around you.

There's no doubt he gets jealous of other heroes or civilians around you.

Which leads to murder... that part is somewhat predictable.

He'd hurt you and find it funny.

He seems like the type to toy with his darling.

Although, he probably has a soft spot for you

He knows he can't kill you, no, he needs you.

Instead he relishes in the idea of tormenting you and making you rely on him.

Although, that isn't always his motive.

Joker does like your smile and laugh....

A pleasant sound and a sight for sore eyes.

A delightful counterpart to his haunting laugh and grin.

The Joker has a soft spot for you which can be used, both for and against you.

You can lure him in for capture.

That or the Joker can make how he feels about you known to blackmail you.

If you don't play his game many could get hurt.

You're too soft to want that, right?

He'd break into your home easily, just to greet you with a playful yet deranged smile.

"Looks so boring in here... how about some company?"

He probably likes to feel your touch.

He's insane but he'd probably be touchstarved.

He's seen crying in the comics on the laps of flings or Harley so he's clearly unstable.

He'd do the same to you with no warning.

Joker likes the idea of playing with a hero's emotions and bringing them to their knees.

But he also genuinely craves your affection.

To you, Joker is a disease.

He plagues Gotham and should be Batman's problem.

So why did you have to be wrapped up in the clown prince problem?

The Joker is a parasite to you, clinging to you and refusing to let go.

You're cursed with him and soon... no one will be able to help you.

"Why so quiet? Come on, where's that laugh? Don't be such a downer like Bats, dear... he's such a bore!"

[cuubism]

[[[I fanficced your fanfic, I hope you don't mind 😅 was craving soft/sad cryptid Dream. Feel free to post, delete, modify, ignore, whatever, as you will, it's your universe! And thank you for creating such a compelling one💜]]]

It’s an unremarkable day, meandering into an unremarkable night, when there’s a stiff, solitary knock at the coffee shop door. This, in and of itself, is still unremarkable. That’s how Dream knocks, and Dream comes by almost as many days as he doesn’t; but when Hob goes to let him in, he finds his friend looking— well. Remarkable, in a different way than usual.

Dream looks, in a word, frazzled. In fact, it takes his eyes full, near-comical seconds to focus, before he peers around the empty shop interior. “You are closed?”

“To the public,” Hob assures him, and just in case that isn’t a clear enough answer, he gets a hand on Dream’s elbow and steers him inside and to a clean table. “What can I make you?”

“Nothing,” Dream huffs. “Thank you. There is— a book I must read. I only sought somewhere safe to do so.”

“Okay, well.” Hob smiles. “I’ve got some cleaning up to do down here that should take a while. And if I finish before you do, I’ll come join you. Or we can go up to my flat.”

“Thank you,” Dream repeats. His breathing has calmed, but his eyes have not. He’ll definitely need some cheering up, or calming down— or both— before too long. But for now Hob’s got a shop that needs tidying. And Dream, apparently, has a book that needs reading.

Hob leaves him to it. About half the tables still need wiping-down, not to mention the counters; the syrups need refilling, and tomorrow’s specials menu needs writing, and—

That’s as far as he gets before deciding that he deserves a break and a kiss, thanks. Assuming Dream’s up for that—

—which, it seems, he isn’t.

Sat quietly at the table where Hob left him, Dream is buried in his book’s yellowed pages; tears are streaming silently, though plentifully, down his cheeks.

“Hey.”

Dream’s voice is a croak. “Hob Gadling.”

“Good book?”

It’s a bit of a tease, but Hob’s got a reason for it: if Dream wants the chance to shrug this off, explain that he’s just lost himself in a tearjerker, he deserves that chance. But even as he offers it up, Hob knows it won’t be taken. Dream has not been moved to tender tears by a lovely story; he is properly crying, properly upset.

Hob gentles his voice, squeezes lightly at Dream’s shoulder. “Let me make you some tea.”

“Thank you,” Dream whispers, after a tired pause. His eyes finally move from the text before him; but they sink to the floor, instead of raising to meet Hob’s gaze.

Hob gives another shoulder squeeze, then jogs back to the counter.

Three minutes later he sets before Dream a mug of hot tea and a stack of paper napkins, one of which his friend seizes to wipe his now-dribbling nose. He’s reading again. Hob lets him be.

Hob’s calmer than he might have expected, as the evening progresses. His stomach, sunk at the first sight of Dream’s tears, hasn’t made it back to its proper place yet; and still his mind is steady. Level. Dream needed a safe place; and he came here.

He trusts Hob so much that Hob is starting to trust himself.

When the last of the chores have been completed, Hob settles in the chair opposite Dream. “Finished cleaning,” he tells him, and offers a smile.

“I will leave you.”

“Don’t be daft,” Hob replies, covering Dream’s free hand with his own. “I only wanted to ask if you’d rather stay down here, or go up to the flat? Got stronger stuff than tea up there. And proper tissues, and such.”

(The napkins, which had seemed a good idea at the time, have left the edges of his nostrils red and sore. Combined with his now-puffy eyes, Dream looks a great deal less ethereal than usual— though no less beautiful.)

“Come on,” Hob continues, encircling Dream’s hand now.

“You needn’t worry—”

“You need,” Hob replies, “a drink, and tissues, and maybe a nice blanket.”

Dream blinks. A fresh tear slips free; and he stands.

In his flat, Hob sets Dream up on the sofa, with a blanket across his lap and a glass of whiskey and box of tissues close at hand. Dream reads, and cries, entirely without sound. He’s such a quiet companion, in fact, that Hob must drift off for a while; because when he wakes, Dream has set the book aside, and poured himself a glass of wine from a bottle Hob’s sure wasn’t in his flat.

His eyes are dry now, albeit raw. When he senses Hob stirring, he looks up with a painful expression that's maybe supposed to be a smile.

“Finished your book?” Hob prompts.

“For now.”

“Would you like to talk about it?”

“No. Thank you. Wine?”

“Sure,” Hob replies, taking the opportunity to come and sit at Dream’s side. Their arms brush, and Dream lets go a shuddering breath.

“I’m tired, Hob.”

“Yeah? Rest a bit. And you know you’re welcome to spend the night.”

“Only welcome?”

“Okay. You know I’d lose my mind if you spent the night. Although truth be told I wonder if you couldn’t use a good cuddle more than anything right now.”

Hob’s not sure if that was the wrong thing to say— or maybe the perfect thing to say— but in that instant fresh tears gather in Dream’s eyes.

“Come here,” Hob murmurs, setting his wine on the coffee table and then plucking Dream’s from his hand and doing the same. “Come here. Let me hold you.”

Contrary to his usual reserve, Dream comes easily, wilting into Hob’s arms the moment they are opened to him. In small, uncertain motions, he snuggles close to cry.

It takes a minute for him to settle. At first he tosses about, leaving wet patches in four or five spots on Hob’s shirt; but eventually he makes himself comfortable. Sets about the business of properly weeping— no longer quite silently— and Hob rubs his back as he sniffles and sighs.

“You’re kinder to me than I deserve,” Dream murmurs, after a while of this. Hob spends another moment formulating his reply.

“Whether or not that’s true from your perspective,” Hob replies, eventually, “it isn’t true from mine. I think you deserve a lot of kindness.”

“I really don’t.” Low as it is, Dream’s voice still cracks. “But I thank you for saying so.”

When his tears seem to have run their course (for the second time), Dream lifts his head and regards Hob fondly. His eyes look all the bluer against the red around their edges. He captures Hob’s lips in a soft kiss, mouth barely open; he tastes like salt and chardonnay.

“Thank you,” Dream whispers, when they part.

“I’m just glad you came over, okay?”

He nods.

“Can I get you anything?” Hob asks, then quickly answers his own question. “I’m going to get you a washcloth. Your eyes look like they hurt.”

Dream does not agree aloud; but when Hob returns and dabs the dampened cloth against his eyes, he groans softly. “That feels good.”

“Yeah? Good. Crying helps. But, fuck, it takes it out of you, dunnit?”

“It— does.”

“Please stay the night,” Hob whispers, and lowers his hand so Dream can open his eyes. “My bed’s lovely. And you can borrow some pyjamas. It just kills me to think of you going and being alone right now.”

“I. Have no desire, to be alone tonight, either.”

“Good,” Hob says again, and presses another kiss to Dream’s lips. “We can do whatever you like. If that’s just cuddling up, hey, I’m all for it.”

The inflammation is beginning to fade, just a touch; but the exhaustion in those blue eyes is only growing. “Can we,” Dream asks, “just go to bed now. And decide in a little while?”

“Of course,” Hob cooes; but before he lets Dream stand he cannot help himself from reaching out and touching his face one more time. He forgoes the washcloth. Smooths the pad of one thumb along Dream’s salt-clumpy lower lashes; and Dream, though tiredly, smiles.

FANFIC OF FANFIC!! :D how delightful! and how flattering!

I love fic-of-fic, inspirations and interconnected fics, it reminds me of something Michael Sheen said once on twitter (I saved it) about fanfic being an infinitely branching tree of stories dreaming itself.

Cryptic book lore... cuddles... the cafe is open only to Dream... perfect 🥰 thank you for sharing it! <3

[project-reaper]

Moving forward into 2024!

I haven’t really had a proper chance to say Happy New Years, so this will have to suffice, with a little breakdown of what’s been going on and what’s to come!

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO

I’ve been spending the better part of the last year working on new projects and endeavors. Both with Time Gate and outside of it. From vendoring at markets and working expo’s for the first time to working on art pieces completely outside of Time Gate, 2023 was a hell of a year and it makes me all the more hyped for 2024. That said, I’ve been carrying a weight with me through 2023 that’s made it difficult to enjoy it to the fullest - the weight of knowing that [AFTERBIRTH] is still on hiatus.

This isn’t the longest hiatus that I’ve been on, but it’s certainly starting to approach the record and I wanna get it back on track. Like getting back in shape after spending an entire winter hibernating and eating nothing but junk food, getting back into drawing [AFTERBIRTH] on a schedule is gonna be a process of rebuilding good habits and learning what I can do better to keep those habits alive and well.

The fortunate side to taking hiatuses is that it always does give me a new sense of perspective. In this case, I learned that I put myself through a lot at the start of [AFTERBIRTH]’s production. Like, way more than I realized. At the time I thought I was super capable - and I am! - but now in hindsight I can recognize it wasn’t healthy or sustainable for me to manage that sort of output all on my own. I’m still grinding away at comics like I always do with those other projects I’ve mentioned, but it’s still nothing near the amount of work I put myself through just to meet my own deadlines with [AFTERBIRTH]. I also have this thing called help now in the form of a background artist who’s been working with me on those other projects, which has been an amazing and enriching experience.

Having that time away from [AFTERBIRTH] not only gave me the breathing room I needed to recuperate from the burnout I got myself into, but also got me out of the routines I had stuck myself into, which has given me some new tricks and skills that I’m really hyped to bring back into Time Gate with me.

This does, in a way, mean that I’ve had to really reflect on Time Gate, a lot. It’s a project I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and drawing as a webcomic since I was around 18-19. It’s changed a lot in that time, but I’m finding while a lot of those changes have been reflected in the comic as it is, there are still so many more I want to make - because like the comic, I’ve changed a lot, too, both as an artist and as a person, and considering Time Gate’s always been a sort of personal extension of myself, I no longer resonate with a lot of parts of it that I’ve since outgrown. It’s not so much that I want to hide or take for granted those parts of it that are ‘uglier’, but I want the writing and art to be expressed in the best way it can be because at the end of the day, I’m trying to tell a coherent story that’s enjoyable to read and experience. I’m also the sort of person who learns best by just getting their hands dirty and learning what not to do, and boy, have I spent a lot of years doing just that through Time Gate.

GOING FORWARD

So, going forward, I’ve adjusted my schedule with my other projects to accommodate the time I need to both get back into Time Gate: [AFTERBIRTH] as well as prepare for the upcoming convention season. I’ve got a bunch of plans for this year’s markets with new ideas for prints and stickers and other goodies that I’m really excited to make! And I just, overall, want to pull myself out of the burnout funk. You can’t force recovery to happen on your own time but there does come a point where you gotta start taking steps otherwise you get stagnant, and I feel like that’s where I’ve been the last few months.

AFTERBIRTH FORMAT CHANGE

[AFTERBIRTH]’s format will be changing back to page format in its second season. Vertical format works for some projects and stories, but not for Time Gate. It’s been fun, but part of learning what I’m best at is learning what I’m not best at and the vertical format is too limiting for what I want to do with Time Gate in the future. Color will still be remaining!

REAPER RECOMPILED

I will also be working on the Recompiled editions of Reaper. These will predominantly be the first few volumes redrawn and rewritten to accommodate a tighter story down the road. I know, I know, “don’t get trapped redrawing/rewriting stuff”, but I feel the changes that I wanna make are so necessary that they’re part of what’s holding me back from continuing with [AFTERBIRTH] into Thread of Fate and beyond. There are a lot of really silly and otherwise unnecessary writing decisions I made back during Reaper that I currently feel aren’t working for what I’m trying to accomplish in its sequels, and let’s face it, I wrote it almost ten years ago when I was still very much learning, so it’s due for an upgrade. It'll be the last time too, because it'll be putting us on Loop 9999 and remember what Matty said about surpassing 9999-

This will be something I’ll be picking at slowly but surely. When it’s ready I’ll basically be replacing the old pages and updating any new mirror sites with only the new version (I’m currently planning on trying out NamiComi and Lemoon and of course I'll be continuing to post on ComicFury and GlobalComix).

THE BIG GREEN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM-

All of that will basically be working towards my biggest step - getting the flying fuck off Webtoons. Because let me tell you, I've basically spent the last two years like this:

Y’all know that I’m not really one to roll over and take shit from massive platforms, and Webtoons is no exception. I’ve been posting to it since 2016 and I’m very very much done with it; just like with Tapas it’s no longer the site it used to be and there’s fresh competition entering the market that I’d rather put my focus on. At the very least, I want my independence back, if I’m gonna be stuck having to market and network my own work anyways I’d much rather be doing it for my own site or platforms that aren’t constantly undercutting its creators by removing core features and not implementing necessary ones. I as well as many others have been doing our own investigating into Webtoons and we’re basically feeling like canaries in the mineshaft right now, picking up on some massive warning signs that we want to get ahead of. The worst that can happen is that I pull the same stats I pull on Webtoons somewhere else, what a tragedy that would be LMAO

LIVESTREAMING

And then of course there are my livestreams. Like learning the hard way that I shouldn’t have been drawing [AFTERBIRTH] on such a strict schedule, I’ve learned that streaming on the schedule I used to be streaming on just ain’t for me. Call it the ADHD but I’d much rather stream when I have something to legitimately talk about or showcase rather than force myself to stream even on days when I’m really not feeling up to talking. And I’d like to get back into doing actual video editing content, whether it’s speedpaints or gaming videos or commentary stuff, whatever have you. Now that I have a proper PC rig that’s actually built to do heavy duty stuff, the possibilities of what I can create are a LOT more vast and I wanna take full advantage of them!

That said, if you wanna see an example of what the streams will look like when we return, check out this lil’ time lapse demo:

Definitely couldn't do that on my old setup! It might not be regular streaming like before, but it’ll damn well be higher quality and more fun to watch haha

WELL THAT WAS A BIG WALL OF TEXT WASN'T IT

So yeah! That was a lot of words but I hope it clears up everything that's been happening on my end. Thanks for following along with my work all these years, whether it’s Time Gate or my lil’ secret projects or my streams, through all the ups and the downs. Long-term projects like these may take their toll but there’s so much joy in seeing them change and grow over time, and I want to fully embrace and reflect that growth as best as I can through what I bring you guys.

Thank you all so much, let’s make 2024 a good year <3

[bmodiwrites]

I got a request for single dad!steve & I'm so here for it! I think this little ficlet is going to be the first part in a little series. I have so many ideas, so let me know what you think!

It’s a rare Thursday off that changes Eddie’s life forever.

He’s sitting on his favorite bench in the park when a high pitched yell catches his attention. Looking up from the drawing he’s been zoned into for the past hour, Eddie glances left and then right over his shoulder to see a small girl trying not to cry on the ground.

As a children’s librarian, Eddie is more than familiar with the little lip wobble that’s happening and the usual tears that follow. If he were back at work, his arsenal of book references and character impressions would be the perfect fix. Out in the wild, Eddie isn’t as well equipped.

It doesn’t take a genius to comfort a hurt person, however.

Setting aside his pencil and sketch book, Eddie gets up from the bench and walks quietly over to the little girl. He’s impressed she’s not screaming with agony – the scrape on her knee is worse than most and more than worth a wail or two. Instead of questioning this little girl’s integrity as he approaches, Eddie slowly kneels down in front of her.

“Everything okay over here? I was halfway through my drawing of a goblin when I thought I heard one squealing in the grass.”

It only takes a second of sniffing for the girl to look up at him with a wet attempt at a smile. “I’m not a goblin. I’m a girl. A human girl.” Said girl tries to sound defiant and strong, despite the tears still welling up in her eyes. She’s so close to forgetting her pain, it’s almost comical.

“Are you sure? Some of the goblins I’ve seen sort of look like little girls. They even have pigtails like you,” Eddie says, pointing at the two long braids thrown over either shoulder. The pink helmet she’s wearing does nothing to hide them.  

Just like that, the little girl’s mind is no longer on the injury to her knee – instead, her ire is pointed right at Eddie and his theory on goblins. It’s both sharp and adorable. Especially when the little girl says “I’m absolutely positive. My name is Judy and I’m a human girl, not a goblin.”

This time, Eddie can’t help himself, a chuckle is let loose.

“Okay, okay. You’re a human girl. I just needed to make sure. Goblins are very tricky and I like to know what I’m getting myself into.” Eddie pauses for a second to watch Judy’s eyes grow as interest in his words settle in. It’s still astounding to see wonder light up a person’s world.

Instead of lingering on that thought, Eddie puts a hand between them, intent on introducing himself the proper way now that her goblin status is ironed out. “It’s very nice to meet you, Judy. I’m Eddie.”

Judy doesn’t hesitate to slip her little hand into Eddie’s. Her grip is firm and so is the look she gives him as they shake hands. “There’s a man at the library that’s named Eddie. My daddy talks about him all the time.”

For a second, Eddie is stumped by the girl’s ability to be so candid and loose with her words. He always forgets that children have no filter; it’s both gloriously refreshing and shocking as all hell. Once he’s past the initial rock of his world, Eddie tries to push past his befuddlement. “Huh, it’s kind of a small world. I’m the children’s librarian at the library in town.”

Judy’s adorable hazel eyes lit up as Eddie spoke, realization colors her expression. “That’s why you look so familiar! You’re Mr. Munson, who does all the voices when you read.” She crosses her arms then, trying to look petulant. “No wonder you thought I was a goblin!”

After that, it’s easy to check over Judy’s wounds while they talk about the book he’s going to be reading at story time this week. She’s a fast learner that immediately catches onto the runaround that Eddie is trying to subtly give her. By the third attempt at asking him for the book’s title, Judy gives up with a loud sigh. “You grownups and your secrets. Don’t tell me, then!”

Eddie believes he might cave into the cutest little pout he’s ever seen, but his willpower comes back just in time. “You’ll have to come to story time to find out. The surprise is half the fun.”

Before Judy can agree with him, another loud voice registers in Eddie’s ears. This time, it’s very deep and masculine, more than likely belonging to the dad that Judy’s been mumbling about. He’s proven right a second later when she pipes up “I’m over here, daddy!”

Eddie is not prepared at all for the sight of Judy’s dad running towards them. Everything from the moment Eddie heard Judy’s voice to the familiarity of talking to her makes sense now – Judy’s father is the man Eddie’s been checking out behind the counter for months. The strong thighs and wide shoulders are strong players in Eddie’s fantasies. To be perfectly honest, it’s all a bit too much.

He’s thinking about how small the world really is when that deep voice cuts in –

“Judy, oh my god – I thought you got lost on the path again. What happened to you? Are you okay?”

It’s almost like Eddie isn’t standing right there with a couple of his lunch napkins pressed to Judy’s leg. Even Judy seems to think so.

“Daddy, I’m fine. Eddie is taking care of me. He’s the man from the library, daddy. That does the voices!”

Like he’s been shocked, Judy’s dad jolts to the present where Eddie is there next to him, where their shoulders are brushing and a little girl is watching the whole thing unfold. Eddie lets him come back to himself before using his free hand to wave. “Hi, Judy’s Dad!”

The worried look that’s been on the man’s face since he walked drops down to the ground with Judy’s bike, only to be replaced with a soft smile, sort of like the one Judy first flashed him a few minutes ago. Eddie’s taken aback by how beautiful the man is – despite him being kind of a jerk for a quick second, Eddie is absolutely still on board the hot dad train. Especially now that he knows the little girl the dad belongs to.

They share a look that’s way too long in the presence of such a young person, so Eddie clears his throat. Only then does Judy’s dad start acting like a human again. “I’m Steve. Steve Harrington. Not uh – not just Judy’s dad.”

“Steve Harrington. You’re the middle school guidance counselor, right? I supply a lot of books to Nancy in the library and she’s always talking about you. I had no idea this little one was the kid she’s forever going on about.”

“Yeah, yeah that’s me. I – you know Nancy? It’s crazy to think we’ve been running in the same circles and never met before.” Steve’s cheeks turn a little red then, almost as if he’s admitting to something more than just curiosity.

It’s a gorgeous sight, one that Eddie hopes he gets to see more often.

“She’s been trying to get me to meet her friend Steve for a while. I never thought much about being set up but now I’m kind of sorry I never took her up on the offer.” He stops for a second and looks between a dad and his daughter. “Maybe this way is better, though. More raw – organic.”

The blush brightens on Steve’s cheeks and Eddie knows he’s got him.

“Are you up for it now? I hear the ice cream sundaes at Hop’s are the perfect treatment for a scraped up knee.”

The gasp he gets from Judy is almost as telling as the large smile on Steve’s lips. There’s no hesitation in the way Steve nods eagerly.

“I think that’s exactly what the doctor ordered.”

[dukeoftheblackstar]

got any plo koon fic recs? looking for some new stuff that's good. one shots and long fics welcome! I'll take anything i can get

Shamelessly promoting my own:

Dom!Plo ask by yours truly, submitted by the lovely @mild-disorganization

Some tired dad!Plo headcanons maybe?

And for some that I have read and adored:

Plo Koon Masterlist by @my-head-is-an-animal (Mixed)

Thigh Kink with Plo by @saradika (NSFW)

Not a fic, but hella spice by @saradika (SFW & NSFW)

Friendship - Plo Koon & Wolffe by @wild-karrde (SFW)

PloKit Art (their entire blog) by @uiro-mgmg1 (NSFW - mostly art)

SFW & NSFW Alphabets for Plo by @samspenandsword

My favorite ♥:

Sovereign (PloKit, idk if you're into it, but I am) by @tits-fisto (NSFW but very wholesome)

The Tiniest Councilor by Quiet_Shadow (SFW)

Name and Soul by @decepticonsensual (SFW)

Haven't read but is on queue when I have the mood and will power to actually read and not thirst for our Kel Dor Emperor ♥

of claws and tusks by my bestiecakes ♥ @saengak <- Apparently, it's hella angsty and I reserve the angst for weekend when I'm not out here thirsting for this King.

in deditionem by my bestiecakes ♥ @saengak <- I've seen them write ♥, it makes me squeeeeeeee ♥

Helium by @cynderiaopus who also made my current bomb AF pfp of Plo steepling ♥

Other materials and interesting read:

@exosorcery has very interesting comics and posts about Kel Dors in general. Here's one specific of Plo Koon:

A few faves from them:

@veny-many for their AUs and Plo Koon & Wolfpack Art (also includes others) <- Presenting you the bebbis ♥

My faves:

The entire post AU 66 where Plo lives is a quintessential to any post AU 66 imho because I'm heavily invested in this and I'm about to cry because I need to organize my bookmarks (and update this) so I can give you the proper start to fin link.

I'd post more from @veny-many and @exosorcery, but if you spend a good 10 minutes scrolling, you'll be there forever. Quality art content!

You may also want to check World building and ConLang Kel Dor study, apart from their OC x Plo Koon art. Big thanks for this neat document by @plokoonsdisapprovingeyebrows

[[ @plokoonsdisapprovingeyebrows I hope it's okay to share. If not, I can take it down ♥ ]]

So far just these at the top of my head. Thank you for the Plo-related ask :D! I enjoyed sifting through my bookmarks ♥

Don't forget to give love and reblog, comment, follow these amazing people who do so much for the Plo Koon, Dorin, Kel Dor tags ♥

[drifting-pieces-blog-blog]

I feel like we don't talk about the antisemitic implications of the reveal that Marc is "half demon" in Marc Spector: Moon Knight it's not just weird and not foreshadowed at all it's playing into the whole "Jews are children of satan" thing

I wanted to let you know that I'm not ignoring your ask, but I also haven't had the time to do a PROPER response. But trust me... You've given me something to think about.

It has been.... more than a few years... Since I actually read Marc Spector: Moon Knight. And I have to say, it is a difficult run to read for a LOT of reasons. And the main reason is the absolute butchering of character that is done and the loss of everything Moench worked to establish.

I peaked a bit at the section you are talking about to get a general idea. It's..... it's a wild read. Possession and blood lines and then there's the whole side plot with Frenchie and the desperate attempt to work in main marvel characters like Dr. Strange... Not to mention the massive in and out plot they kept imitating with The Punisher? What was that all about?

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to review and read through this section. Let me tell you, I was tempted to skip it and get to the good stuff... But that wouldn't be fair to any of you.... Or myself... Who tries to make a claim to know all about Moon Knight and who has forgotten so much about it.

I have an idea on how to do it and it's going to take a lot of time and digging. I need to sit down and look up dates, a few historical events, and the writers (They could NOT get a solid writer for this run and it SHOWS).

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) My life is incredibly busy right now and I've been putting a massive amount of time and effort into something very big and this has left little room for Moon Knight things.

Once I am at a good relaxing point in this big life event and have some dates figured out, I plan to sit down and start digging into this nightmare of a run.

I can't say for sure about the antisemitic writing in this run, as there are SO MANY writers and special guests and plots and who knows what Marvel was doing at this point in history... (Cocaine. The answer was cocaine. It's the right time line for it and that is what I'm going with). But You absolutely have given me reason to look into this historically and check out Marvel as a company during this time and look into the story. Especially since I know this was right after the mass writer Exodus to DC and that Marvel was now splitting attention between building an animation industry as well as trying to build up a struggling comic mainstream production line.

(Fun fact, Moon Knight was one of the first widely distributed mainstream comics that was shipped to ALL comic stores on a regular schedule basis).

Anyways, thank you for the ask and thank you for giving me an idea on how to approach this... exciting....run!

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

2. Do you read/reread your own fics?

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

yessss thank you!!

2. Do you read/reread your own fics?

I do! Most fics I write are because I want to see a very specific plot, or a very specific approach to the characters that I have yet to see. So I'm always first and foremost writing for myself, the audience is second.

And yeah, I for sure reread my fics. It's fun!

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

too many lol

Stuff I've actively tinkering away on but haven't published anything yet:

Sequel to What Makes a King ; there's a Vetinari/Downey in the works that I've been rather quiet about ; there's a Shardlake/Barak "but what if possession was real" fic...

Stuff I noodle around in my head that may or may not see the light of day:

What if Downey was a really, really fucked up kind of monstrous werewolf. What then? ; Grima Becomes King - there's shenanigans of working for Sauron, of course. But then there's a bit where he betrays Sauron and everyone is shocked except Eomer who stares into the camera and is like "folks. His name is Grima I-Betray-Everyone-At-Least-Once son of Galmod called Wormtongue. How is anyone surprised?" ; some vague Downey & His Illegitimate Daughter something something - it's very loose ; Krennic and Tarkin part III of the fractal and butterfly series this time with more Space Millenarianism but they're actually getting close to ending the world/universe ; Napoleon & Arthur Meet Grendel and Lots of People Are Brutally Murdered in Fucked Up Ways ; Napoleon Returns to France but this time there are Murder Fairies ....

ummm I think those are the main ones that occupy my thoughts

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

film/tv series for sure - and I'm really torn between Thus Always, What Makes a King, and San Giovanni. Because I want to see all three on the screen, it'd be so fun.

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

Generally. I usually have some idea of the broad overview of the story. So I know the big beats before I start writing/shortly after I start. Sometimes I need to get a chapter or two out of me before the story has enough movement to take proper shape in my head.

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

I was initially nervous to post my Tarkin/Krennic stuff because I was intimidated by the fandom. I worried people wouldn't like my stuff, but that didn't end up being the case at all.

Otherwise I'm not sure I was ever nervous about sharing what I've written. Even the stuff I've gotten weird hate over (it's all the Grima/Eomer stuff), I was never nervous about it. I suppose I don't see the point? People are generally happy when there's more content.

I know most of fandom is very much: Oh yay there are two cakes!

addenda: oh you know, I'm a little nervous about the Shardlake stuff at the moment. But I won't be by the time I finish and stick it up. And I'm only a little nervous in the sense of "new fandom, I know 0 people here" sort of way. Which will leave as soon as I post.

----

Thank you so much for the kind asks!! <3 <3 <3

[survive-object-poll-island]

(( OOC: Have you ever thought to yourself...

"Wow, I really ought to read through SOPI again, but clicking through links to get page-to-page kinda sucks!" or

"I missed a lot of the ask intermission, but I can't be bothered to dig through the blog for all of the lore-relevant asks!" or

"Man, I really want to show a friend of mine SOPI, but I have no idea where to begin!?"

Well WORRY NO LONGER!!!!

Because I have, after many hours of copying and pasting image urls, uploaded all of the comic proper to MSPFA!!!!

Now it will be much, much easier to read the comic!

Asks, Polls, Updates, and Occasional lore drops will continue as usual on Tumblr, and there will of course be stray doodles by me over here that don't make it to the full comic, but essentially everything needed to digest the comic in a linear format will be there for you all on MSPFA.

I am overjoyed!! If you'd like to celebrate this new development, it will help with statistics if you'd like to make an MSPFA account to favorite the comic. With enough favorites, I'll be able to show it to more people! But, of course, that's not necessary and I'm just so glad that I have a clean, free, and easily accessible way to host the comic in a readable format. Hurray!! Hurray!!!

Okok here's the link!! Have fun!! ))

[kerubimcrepin]

Episode 20 - My Friend Bashi (Part 1)

We had reached the milestone of 20 episodes, and I want to sincerely thank the readers for sticking with me so far. :)

I also have a small announcement: after finishing liveblogging this episode, I will take a very small break from the show to do some reading of articles and comics instead.

It's starting to feel awkward - constantly referencing some canon materials without reviewing them on this blog proper, y'know? I originally planned to do this all at once, before the movie, but I think it'll be more fun to do it in multiple reading breaks, during the show.

So many kids in this city, and Joris is friends with none of them. Except for Tatak.

All analysis and plot leaves my body as I think about how much Kerubim cares about Joris.

He's really not perfect, but no matter how much I joke about his failures, he really does care and try his best.

He's too nice for me to actually make fun of in any serious manner.

It's very nice to see the more down-low, bittersweet moments of parenting and childhood portrayed. It's also nice that it's just between the two of them, without Simone.

I love her, but it's very cute to see just Joris and Kerubim, and how they act when they're alone together.

I think that it's interesting, that even at 7yo, Joris is already at the... "this one social interaction was a disaster, and it's over, just irredeemably over"-level overthinking about relationships.

Perhaps it's knowing that for Kerubim it, often times, was like that. Kerubim did inspire very many people to either hate him with passion, or leave him.

Perhaps it's the fact that, besides Kerubim, Kerubim's friends, and Simone, he doesn't have a family; and besides Tatak, he doesn't seem to have any friends: and that makes him struggle with the idea of losing relationships.

Keke I will be real, I think Tatak is his only friend in general.

...Man. I am making myself sad by writing these things.

I don't think Joris ever had good social skills in his life. Just issues after issues.

As I've said in the previous posts, both Keke and Joris have an issue with needing to be liked always all the time, and the way it makes them do things to seem Cool and Awesome. Even if Joris has this issue in a very introverted way.

It might just be normal kids stuff, but it does add a certain flair to the things we see him do as an adult, if one accepts the idea he's always been like this.

Kerubim's way of connecting to others is to draw from his own experiences, and compare them. It's a more... mature way of cheering up people, than just saying "it gets easier!" like he used to.

For all his faults, Kerubim has grown emotionally from his youth. But it can be a thin line between making everything about yourself, and trying to say that it gets better from experience.

Even so, Joris cares a lot about his experiences and life (cough cough. the Lore), so it works for them, both as a way to distract him and to cheer him up. Kerubim knows this, it's his go-to technique.

Anyway.

I think Kerubim either vastly overestimates the depth of what happened here (I highly doubt Ecaflip is giving him tasks because he's "the best"), or he is lying to Joris, because "I spent my whole childhood afraid that my father, who is a living god, would eat me Zeus-style, because of shit like cleaning the toilets badly or not delivering the fish on time." isn't a nice story.

This is exactly what I'm talking about.

A small aside: according to The Wheel Of Destiny #8 Kerubim Crepin (which will be one of the things I liveblog during the Reading Break), Bashi and Kerubim became friends before the events of episode 3, Strich Hunt.

It makes a lot of sense, because before the events of that episode, Ecaflip had... a very rough way of treating and speaking to Kerubim. Even if he had a soft spot for him, enough to save him (and then manipulate him) during said Wheel of Destiny article, I think Kerubim only truly cemented himself as Ecaflip's most favourite in the Strich Hunt episode.

Also, considering the fact that in Wheel of Destiny, little Bashi reports to knowing and strongly disliking Atcham, it's safe to say that in this episode we have a confirmed instance of Atcham being canonically present and simply not mentioned.

...keke sure is the guy who says "im the last living crepin. laugh" while having a brother. insane.

I yet again want to gush about the portrayal of relationships in this show.

I think all of us can relate to meeting someone, and not thinking much, — not yet knowing that they will turn out to be one of the coolest people you've ever met.

Anyway, tangent incoming.

One thing that's interesting to me, is that Kerubim is never depicted as having friends in the temple. From what we see, he spends most of the time alone, or with Ecaflip.

The reasons may be:

He is Ecaflip's favorite. He had important tasks from the moment he joined the temple. It alienated people.

He was Atcham's brother. Kids are judgemental, and Atcham is a perfect bullying target. Chances are, they didn't like him due to the association.

He came in very mentally ill and unsociable, due to, y'know, being orphaned, and never managed to make friends because the impression that he's "the sad mentally ill kid" stayed.

No wonder that he got anxious around three people, and then immediately trusted them when they were nice to him.

He probably hadn't had anyone be nice to him in ages. Or, like, acknowledge him too much, at the very least.

I won't elaborate on how I think Atcham was treated in the temple lest I fucking scare you, (Something-something, literally catboy Rule of Rose,) but I will say that, just like Atcham is still violently mentally ill due to whatever happened to him, Kerubim's experiences with loneliness and alienation as a child most likely fueled his dishonesty and attention-seeking behaviours as an adult.

So I understand why, even though Bashi kinda sucks, Kerubim is so broken up about losing him. There's a lot more tragedy to this than one can first see.

It was a very important moment for Kerubim to finally have a person in his life that wasn't his father (who constantly threatened to fucking eat him), one of the kids who either disliked him or were too intimidated to talk to him, one of the random monks, or his severely mentally ill brother (who fucking hated him.)

He was his first friend.

[lovecanbesostrange]

What I would love to get from Marvel would be a 5 issue mini series for Rogue & Mystique.

I don't have a specific plot in mind, but the general idea would be that Mystique does a thing and Rogue reluctantly joins her.

Raven deals in information, she knows things, she has spy-experience and she has been made aware of something bad happening. It's not world-ending or universe-altering. It doesn't even have to be specifically anti-mutant. It can be some mostly white collar crime that would lead to a lot people suffering, noticeably mutants though. It could also be a political move with lots of backroom whispers, some long con for legislation that in the end would be easily turned into something anti-mutant (that looks appealing at first with a "what harm could possibly come from this"). But that demands a lot of complicated or convuluted explanations. And truth is the plot only needs to make a bare minimum of sense, because the heart of the story is the personal relationship.

The important part would be the outcome of it all. It has to be somewhat time sensitive. The proper channels or any news campaign would take too long. There is no threat to punch outright, Mystique is following a trail and infiltration works best. But well Raven is gonna be Raven and she doesn't care about breaking rules and using unethical means. So at first it looks like Mystique did a typical Mystique-thing and oh look, someone was hurt. Rogue can have a dramatic sigh about it, tells her fur babies to look after Gambit and goes after her.

The first important emotional beat is how the reader already knows more than Rogue and can see how Mystique lets her believe this is all a villain plot at first. If others see her as the bad guy? So be it. Don't care. But Rogue realizes something is up and she does give Mystique the benefit of the doubt (obligatory dead-pan about how this has not turned out well in the past). This comes full circle in the end though. When the threat is neutralized, there is some rumble, there needs to be a scapegoat or baddie for the public news and oh look, it will seem like terrorist Mystique did a bad thing. The truth is buried. But Rogue will know. And she can see that Mystique takes on this position, because this is the optimal outcome.

[Yeah, sorry, this is why I don't write things. There needs to be an actual somewhat political plot happening. Can be flimsy, but making enough sense. And I don't know any details for this.]

Something I need desperately is that every issue uses at least one of Mystique's identities. They need to be mentioned, at least one used to get her access somewhere. We need to revive the running gag of Mystique having more jobs than Barbie. Number one on this list, bring back top model Ronnie Lake. But for the lols, her old credentials from the Daily Bugle still work. Stuff like that. I am a fan of the times when the very many personas Raven has portrayed backfire in a way that she loses her own self. Make this part of the fun, but also the drama.

Also I demand at least one flashback to Brotherhood of Evil Mutants times. A hilarious crime they did together. It is absolutely allowed to tonally clash with the rest, it should read a bit like a relic from a different era. Otherwise flashbacks are important, to either give a commentary on scenes that have happened within the comics or to make this a complicated emotional mess, because they both remember happy family times. Because yes, those do exist. But also maybe I just want to pinpoint when it all went south. When Mystique stabbed Rogue during the Dream's End crossover.

(Bishop The Last X-Man #16 by Lobdell, Derenick, Massengill)

Yeah, Rogue got to stab her back, but up until here, there was always a connection despite being on opposite sides. Still, despite how cartoonishly evil Mystique was in that storyline, this is a thing that did happen. And I would be here for a lightly comical talk about it. (This is much worse than when Mystique shot Rogue, that actually helped save her life in the end, so...)

On the flipside, while Mystique uses her curated list of personalities, Rogue gets to call up her new hero buddies, non-X-Men edition. Most of all I want her to hit up Johnny Storm, because they were so close as Avengers, it's hilarious. And then she introduces Mystique in her alias. (We should not involve Dazzler, that is a bridge too far; also leave Carol out of this, it's for the best. Nobody wants to remember Michael Barnett ever existed.) This is also where Mystique takes a look at the people in Rogue's life and she will opinions on who she would accept as her son- or daughter-in-law more instead of Gambit. The pay-off by the end has to be that Mystique says something very nice about him though and then threatens to kill Rogue if she ever tells him. Very important.

Kinda wanna get back to here in a way:

(X-Men (1991) #94 by Davis, Kavanagh, Farmer, Javins)

[goombasa]

I Read Scott McCloud's Comics Trilogy Recenlty

So yeah, for anyone who doesn't know, Scott McCloud is a pretty big deal in the comics scene, one of the guys who helped to draft up the Creator's Bill of Rights, and has done a lot of major work independently and at major publishers, and near as I can tell, one of the first pretty big creators to actively campaign for the creativity of things like Webcomics. But he's probably most well known nowadays for his non-fiction educational work mostly centered around comic books.

And I finally bought and read all three of them. The ‘Comics Trilogy’ as I've taken to calling cosists of:

Understanding Comics (1993)

Reinventing Comics (2000)

Making Comics (2006)

And this trilogy is incredibly dense with information about the medium, where it was at, and where it was going. In fact, while there are several degrees of separation between each book (about 6-7 years or so), it is very impressive just how fresh and relevant almost all of the information in this trilogy manages to be. Yes, they do show their age in some ways; both Reinventing Comics and Making Comics refer to both the internet and things like drawing tablets as though they were still pretty new and unexplored technology. However, all three of them contain some very astute observations about where Comics as a medium is going and it's really fascinating to see how close to the bull's eye Mr. McCloud was on so many counts.

Discounting that though, these are just interesting to read because all three of them ask you to really examine WHY comic books as a medium work. Understanding Comics for example, serves as a very concise history of comics as a whole and tries to put a decent definition on what qualifies as being a comic (a task that it doesn't entirely succeed at, by Scott's own examination, but it very much gets you thinking on words and pictures, what separates them and how they can be intertwined into a story.

Reinventing comics is more about the potential of the medium and I'll admit, its more philosophical tone on the potential of comics was a bit much for me. I had trouble processing and digesting everything in this book compared to Understanding or Making. I certainly understood what it was going for, and again, this book, out of all three, is fascinating to read with about twenty years of hindsight, as Scott manages to bang-on predicted most of the trends that would come into the medium down the line. Just probably not in the ways he was expecting them to. It's still a very interesting read, but I'll admit, I had a lot more trouble following it than I did the other two books and I had to go back and reread a few sections to full feel like I was grasping the full meaning on a lot of what was said, but it was still a very interesting read.

The third in the series, Making Comics is probably the most straightforward, but this isn't like an online tutorial. Instead it's more like a lengthy instruction manual presenting you with the tools and ideas that can be used to build a comic beyond your skill as an artist. How to letter, how to frame a shot, when you should use captions or sound effects or word balloons. It gives a very detailed overview of everything you'd need to know in order to make your own comics from a practical standpoint. It makes some suggestions on the tools or software to use, but for the most part, it's more about giving you a proper overview of the craft rather than a tutorial for specific tools or software. That's easy enough to find elsewhere on the internet.

I think the reason these books work so well is the way they are presented; They are comic books. They aren't just books that talk about comics, they are COMICS that talk about comics. This isn't even the first time that I've seen this done. Back when I was in middle and high school, I did have a couple of classes that dabbled in using comics instead of traditional text books to introduce their subject matter. In particular, I was introduced to Larry Gonick's books like “The Cartoon History of the Universe” and “The Cartoon Guide to Genetics.” These books are a bit different than that, as yes, they are specifically educational, but they focus specifically on the medium that they are a part of, and I think that does a lot to convey Scott's arguments about just how far the medium can go, and helps to highlight everything that he's talking about with actual real time examples. That's not to downplay Mr. Gonick's contributions to cartooning and comic books as a potential tool for learning and education of course, he's written a LOT of these books over a multitude of different subjects, but one does have to admit, he is very much an exception rather than the standard.

(for an added recommendation, I'd recommend Larry Gonick's “Hypercapitalism” as well, really worth a read on its own)

These books manage to feel timeless in their subject matter and the way that they talk about the medium. Sadly, Comics as a whole today are still struggling to reach a sort of mainstream acceptance as a respectable medium, and yes, we do have big blockbusters for comic characters nowadays, but really, how many people who watch those movies read the comics those stories are based on? And for those that do read the comics, how many books outside of superhero books published by the Big Two do they read? The comics trilogy lays down the ideas of how the medium could potentially be elevated, and while that hasn't happened yet, I am hopeful for the future. If you have never read these before, and you have any interest in comics as a medium, especially what you can find beyond the standard of a super hero comic, I would really recommend this trilogy. Last I checked, I cannot find them being sold as a set anywhere, but all three of them can be found used for pretty cheap. Heck, even brand new, they don't typically go over $15, and I'd say they're worth every penny. Note that this is referring to paperback copies of the books. There are some hardcover versions floating around out there, but those are much harder to find, and consequently are a lot more expensive, at least for Understanding Comics.